U.S. patent application number 11/130499 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for drinking container.
This patent application is currently assigned to BETRAS PLASTICS, INC.. Invention is credited to Betras, Joe, Leake, Michael J..
Application Number | 20050269322 11/130499 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35446569 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050269322 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Betras, Joe ; et
al. |
December 8, 2005 |
Drinking container
Abstract
The present invention discloses and claims a drinking container
having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion
defines an upper orifice, and the lower portion defines a lower
orifice. A lid attaches to the upper portion, and a bottom is
removably connected to the lower portion. The bottom has a first
position for adding contents to the drinking container through the
lower orifice and a second position for sealing the lower orifice.
The bottom may further include a gripping surface for handling the
drinking container.
Inventors: |
Betras, Joe; (Spartanburg,
SC) ; Leake, Michael J.; (Garden Grove, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DORITY & MANNING, P.A.
POST OFFICE BOX 1449
GREENVILLE
SC
29602-1449
US
|
Assignee: |
BETRAS PLASTICS, INC.
|
Family ID: |
35446569 |
Appl. No.: |
11/130499 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60572680 |
May 21, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/4.26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/0885 20130101;
B65D 2251/023 20130101; B65D 1/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/004.26 |
International
Class: |
B65D 006/28 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A drinking container comprising: a. a hollow body having an
upper portion and a lower portion, wherein said upper portion
defines an upper orifice and said lower portion defines a lower
orifice and wherein the area of said lower orifice is greater than
the area of said upper orifice; b. a lid connected to said upper
portion; and c. a bottom removably connected to said lower portion,
wherein said bottom has a first position for filling said hollow
body through said lower orifice and a second position for sealing
said lower orifice.
2. The drinking container of claim 1, wherein the area of said
lower orifice is greater than or equal to approximately 1.7 times
the area of said upper orifice.
3. The drinking container of claim 1, wherein said lid defines an
orifice.
4. The drinking container of claim 3, wherein said orifice in said
lid has an open position and a shut position.
5. The drinking container of claim 1, further including a ring
disposed between said bottom and said lower portion.
6. The drinking container of claim 1, further including a threaded
connection between said bottom and said lower portion.
7. The drinking container of claim 1, further including a clamp for
removably securing said bottom to said lower portion.
8. The drinking container of claim 1, wherein said bottom includes
a gripping surface.
9. A method for filling a drinking container having an upper
portion and a lower portion comprising: a. attaching a lid to the
upper portion of the drinking container; b. adding contents to the
drinking container through the lower portion; and c. attaching a
bottom to the lower portion to seal the lower portion and retain
the contents in the drinking container.
10. The method of claim 9, further including opening the lid and
adding additional contents through the upper portion.
11. The method of claim 9, further including inserting a ring
between the bottom and the lower portion.
12. The method of claim 9, further including clamping the bottom to
the lower portion to seal the lower portion to retain the contents
in the drinking container.
13. The method of claim 9, further including threading the bottom
on the lower portion to seal the lower portion to retain the
contents in the drinking container.
14. A drinking container comprising: a. a hollow body for holding
liquid, said hollow body having an upper portion connected to a
lower portion, each of said upper and lower portions having a
circumference thereof; b. a lid connected to said upper portion;
and c. a bottom removably connected to said lower portion; d.
wherein said lower portion circumference is greater than said upper
portion circumference.
15. The drinking contain of claim 14, wherein said lower portion
circumference is greater than or equal to approximately 1.3 times
said upper portion circumference.
16. The drinking container of claim 14, wherein said lid defines an
orifice having an open position and a shut position.
17. The drinking container of claim 14, further including a ring
disposed between said bottom and said lower portion.
18. The drinking container of claim 14, further including a
threaded connection between said bottom and said lower portion.
19. The drinking container of claim 14, further including a clamp
on said lower portion for removably connecting said bottom to said
lower portion.
20. The drinking container of claim 14, wherein said bottom
includes a gripping surface.
Description
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 60/572,680 filed May 21, 2004 entitled
"ICE-TO-GO" which is incorporated here for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many different types, sizes, and shapes of drinking
containers are known in the art. A typical drinking container
includes a hollow body, such as a cup or bottle, for holding
contents such as liquid and ice. The container generally includes
an opening at the top for filling the container with contents and
for consuming the contents from the container.
[0003] The size of the opening in the container presents a tradeoff
in benefits. For example, a smaller opening at the top of the
container provides a facilitates easier drinking directly from the
container. However, the smaller opening also limits the size of ice
that can be added to the container. The smaller opening may also
limit the rate at which the container may be filled with liquid. In
contrast, a larger opening at the top of the container allows the
container to receive larger pieces of ice and facilitates faster
filling of the container with liquid; however, the larger opening
is considered less desirable for drinking directly from the
container.
[0004] Some drinking containers may further include a removable lid
attached to the opening at the top of the container. The removable
lid may further include a smaller opening or flip top to facilitate
consumption of the contents. As a result, the container may have a
larger opening to accommodate larger pieces of ice and/or faster
filling of the container with liquid. The removable lid can then be
attached to the opening to effectively reduce the size of the
opening for drinking directly from the container.
[0005] Although the addition of a removable lid provides some
benefits, there still exists a need for an improved drinking
container that can quickly receive ice and liquid yet still provide
a convenient opening for drinking directly from the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Objects and advantages of the invention are set forth below
in the following description, or may be obvious from the
description, or may be learned through practice of the
invention.
[0007] A drinking container according to the present invention
includes a hollow body having an upper portion and a lower portion.
The upper portion defines an upper orifice, and the lower portion
defines a lower orifice. The area of the lower orifice is greater
than the area of the upper orifice. The drinking container may also
include a lid connected to the upper portion and a bottom removably
connected to the hollow body. The bottom has a first position for
filling the hollow body through the lower orifice and a second
position for sealing the lower orifice.
[0008] In particular embodiments, the area of the lower orifice may
be greater than or equal to approximately 1.7 times the area of the
upper orifice. In other particular embodiments, the lid may define
an orifice, and the orifice in the lid may have an open position
and a shut position. Alternate embodiments of the invention may
include a ring disposed between the bottom and lower portion. Other
embodiments may include a threaded connection between the bottom
and the lower portion. Other embodiments may include a clamp for
removably securing the bottom to the lower portion. In alternate
embodiments the bottom may include a gripping surface.
[0009] An alternate embodiment of a drinking container may include
a hollow body having an upper portion connected to a lower portion,
with each of the upper and lower portions having a circumference
thereof. The drinking container may further include a lid connected
to the upper portion and a bottom removably connected to the lower
portion. The lower portion circumference is greater than the upper
portion circumference.
[0010] In specific embodiments, the lower portion circumference may
be greater than or equal to approximately 1.3 times the upper
portion circumference. The lid may further define an orifice having
an open position and a shut position. Other embodiments may include
a ring disposed between the bottom and the lower portion. Further
embodiments may include a threaded connection between the bottom
and the lower portion. In still further embodiments, the drinking
container may include a clamp on the lower portion for removably
connecting the bottom to the lower portion. In particular
embodiments, the bottom may include a gripping surface.
[0011] The invention also includes a method for filling a drinking
container having an upper portion and a lower portion. The method
includes attaching a lid to the upper portion of the drinking
container and adding contents to the drinking container through the
lower portion. The method further includes attaching a bottom to
the lower portion to seal the lower portion and retain the contents
in the drinking container.
[0012] In alternate embodiments, the method may further include
opening the lid and adding additional contents through the upper
portion. Particular embodiments may further include inserting a
ring between the bottom and the lower portion. Other embodiments
may include clamping the bottom to the lower portion to seal the
lower portion to retain the contents in the drinking container.
Still further embodiments may include threading the bottom on the
lower portion to seal the lower portion to retain the contents in
the drinking container.
[0013] Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate
the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon
review of the specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set
forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification,
including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to present embodiments
of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of
explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In
fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance,
features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be
used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment.
Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such
modifications and variations as come within the scope of the
appended claims and their equivalents.
[0020] The present invention relates generally to a drinking
container 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the drinking container 10
generally includes a hollow body 12, such as a cup or bottle, for
holding a liquid. The hollow body 12 may be virtually any shape,
such as round, square, or trapezoidal, and may be any size
convenient for use. The hollow body 12 may be made from plastic,
glass, composite materials, or even metal, such as stainless
steel.
[0021] The hollow body 12 has an upper portion 14 and a lower
portion 16. The upper portion 14 defines an upper orifice 18, and
the lower portion 16 defines a lower orifice 20. The area and
circumference of the lower orifice 20 is greater than the area and
circumference of the upper orifice 18. In particular embodiments,
the circumference of the lower orifice 20 may be greater than or
equal to approximately 1.3 times the circumference of the upper
orifice 18. In other particular embodiments, the area of the lower
orifice 20 may be greater than or equal to approximately 1.7 times
the area of the upper orifice 18.
[0022] The container 10 may further include a lid 22 connected to
the upper portion 14 or upper orifice 18. The lid may be any type
of lid known in the art for covering the upper orifice 18, such as
a screw-on top 24, as shown in FIG. 1, or a snap-on top 26, as
shown in FIG. 2. The lid 22 may be removed from the upper portion
14 or upper orifice 18 for drinking directly from the container 10.
Alternately, the lid 22 may include an orifice 28, as shown in FIG.
3, or an orifice 30 and flip-top 32, as shown in FIG. 4, for
drinking from the container 10 through the orifice in the lid.
[0023] The container 10 further includes a bottom 34 that is
removably connected to the hollow body 12. In particular
embodiments, the bottom 34 may be connected to the lower portion
16, although connection with any portion of the hollow body 12 is
within the scope of the present invention. The outer perimeter of
the bottom 34 may include a gripping surface 36 to facilitate
holding and manipulating the bottom 34.
[0024] A fitting 38 between the bottom 34 and lower portion 16 may
be used to removably connect the bottom 34 and hollow body 12. The
fitting 38 may be a male 40 to female 42 coupling, as shown in FIG.
2. FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the fitting 38 as a threaded
connection 44 between the lower portion 16 and the bottom 34. FIG.
4 illustrates the use of a hinge 46 and latch 48 to removably
connect the bottom 34 and lower portion 16. As shown in FIG. 3, a
ring 50 or washer may be used between the bottom 34 and lower
portion 16 to prevent any leakage through this connection. Other
means for removably connecting the bottom and hollow body are known
to one of ordinary skill in the art and within the scope of the
present invention.
[0025] In a first position, the bottom 34 is separate from, removed
from, or pivoted away from the hollow body 12 to reveal the lower
orifice 20 and allow contents into the container 10. In a second
position, the bottom 34 is connected to the hollow body 12 to seal
the lower orifice 20 to retain contents in the container 10.
[0026] The present invention also provides in improved method for
filling a drinking container 10 constructed as shown in FIGS. 1-4.
Using any of these embodiments, a user may scoop contents, such as
ice or liquid, into the container 10 through the lower orifice 20.
The user can then attach the bottom 34 to the lower orifice 20 to
seal the lower orifice 20 and retain the contents in the drinking
container 10. If desired, the user may open the lid 22 and add
additional contents through the upper orifice 18.
[0027] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of the
invention set forth herein without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and
their equivalents.
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