U.S. patent application number 11/529909 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-26 for container arrangement.
Invention is credited to Loren R. Graber.
Application Number | 20070090077 11/529909 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37906772 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070090077 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Graber; Loren R. |
April 26, 2007 |
Container arrangement
Abstract
A container arrangement for providing a heating or cooling
effect to a fluid. The arrangement may include two containers, in
which a fluid within one of the containers has a temperature
selected to provide a thermal effect to the fluid in the other
container.
Inventors: |
Graber; Loren R.; (Nappanee,
IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG LLP
600 ONE SUMMIT SQUARE
FORT WAYNE
IN
46802
US
|
Family ID: |
37906772 |
Appl. No.: |
11/529909 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60723231 |
Oct 3, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0237
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/010 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/00 20060101
B65D021/00 |
Claims
1. A container arrangement comprising: a first container comprising
a base, a side wall extending upward from the base, a shoulder
portion extending upward and inward from an upper portion of the
side wall, a cap-receiving portion extending from the shoulder
portion to define a mouth and a cap releasably attached to the
cap-receiving portion to selectively close the first container; a
second container comprising a base, a side wall extending upward
from the base, a shoulder portion extending upward and inward from
an upper portion of the side wall, a cap-receiving portion
extending from the shoulder portion to define a mouth, and a cap
releasably attached to the cap-receiving portion to selectively
close the second container; wherein the base of the first container
defines a cavity dimensioned to receive the second container; and
wherein the second container is configured to withstand expansion
of a fluid within the second container due to freezing.
2. The container arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a
beverage disposed within the second container.
3. The container arrangement of claim 2, wherein the beverage is at
least partially frozen.
4. The container arrangement of claim 2, further comprising a
beverage disposed within the first container.
5. The container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the sidewall
portion of the second container is flexible.
6. The container arrangement of claim 5, wherein the sidewall
portion of the second container is plastic.
7. The container arrangement of claim 6, wherein the sidewall
portion of the first container is flexible.
8. The container arrangement of claim 7, wherein the sidewall
portion of the first container is plastic.
9. The container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the cavity in the
first container includes a notch configured to receive a ridge on
the side wall of the second container.
10. The container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the base of the
second container includes a pull ring for removing the second
container from the first container.
11. The container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the cavity is
approximately cylindrical in shape.
12. The container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the cap-receiving
portion of the second container has external threads and wherein
the cap of the second container has internal threads configured to
threadably engage the external threads.
13. The container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first
container and the second container have a common longitudinal
axis.
14. The container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the second
container is concentric with respect to the first container.
15. The container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the cap-receiving
portion of the second container is received within the cavity.
16. The container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first
container and the second container are transparent.
17. A container arrangement comprising: a first container
comprising a body having a cap-receiving portion in an upper
portion through which a first fluid contained in the first
container can be dispensed and a recessed portion; a second
container comprising a body having a cap-receiving portion in an
upper portion through which a second fluid contained in the second
container can be dispensed; wherein the second container is
nestable within the recessed portion of the first container; and
wherein the second fluid has a higher temperature than the first
fluid.
18. The container arrangement of claim 17, wherein the first
container is plastic.
19. The container arrangement of claim 18, wherein the second
container is plastic.
20. A container arrangement comprising: a first container
comprising a base, a side wall extending upward from the base, a
shoulder portion extending upward and inward from an upper portion
of the side wall, a cap-receiving portion extending from the
shoulder portion to define a mouth and a cap releasably attached to
the cap-receiving portion to selectively close the first container;
a second container comprising a base, a side wall extending upward
from the base, a shoulder portion extending upward and inward from
an upper portion of the side wall, a cap-receiving portion
extending from the shoulder portion to define a mouth, and a cap
releasably attached to the cap-receiving portion to selectively
close the second container; wherein the base of the first container
defines a longitudinally-extending cavity dimensioned to receive
the second container such that the second container is
approximately concentric with the first container; wherein the
sidewall portion of the second container is flexible; and wherein
the cavity in the first container includes a notch configured to
receive a ridge on the side wall of the second container.
21. A container arrangement comprising: a first container
comprising a body having a cap-receiving portion in an upper
portion through which a fluid contained in the first container can
be dispensed and a recessed portion; a second container nestable
within the recessed portion of the first container; wherein the
second container is configured to withstand expansion of a fluid
within the second container due to freezing.
22. The container arrangement of claim 21, wherein the second
container includes a cap receiving portion in an upper portion
through which a fluid contained in the second container can be
dispensed.
23. The container arrangement of claim 22, wherein the second
container includes a flexible portion.
24. The container arrangement of claim 22, wherein the first
container and the second container are plastic.
25. The container arrangement of claim 22, wherein a first beverage
is disposed within the first container and a second beverage is
disposed within the second container.
26. The container arrangement of claim 25, wherein the second
beverage is at least partially frozen.
27. The container arrangement of claim 22, further comprising means
for denesting the second container from the first container.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/723,231 filed on Oct. 3, 2006, the entire
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to containers, more
specifically, a container arrangement for providing a heating or
cooling effect to a fluid.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0003] Various cooling apparatus are currently used to keep fluids
cold. For instance, refrigerators, thermoses, and coolers are
currently employed. Other methods of keeping fluids cold after
being removed from a cooling apparatus, such as adding ice, have
been employed. There are instances, however, when adding ice to a
fluid is either not desired or is infeasible, based upon where the
container originates. For example, containers of cold beverages
that are purchased in convenience stores or from vending machines
are usually without ice due to the container being sealed and
cooled at a temperature above freezing. However, once the container
is removed from the cooling apparatus, the container and its
contents continuously rise in temperature until reaching ambient.
The present invention allows a first container containing a fluid
to be cooled with a second container, which contains a fluid cooled
to a temperature lower than that in the first container.
[0004] In one illustrative embodiment, a first container is capable
of holding a fluid. The first container is formed to be coupled
with a second container containing a fluid. In this embodiment, the
first container and the fluid therein are typically cooled to a
desired temperature. The second container and fluid therein can be
cooled to a temperature less than that of the first container. If
the first container is placed in an environment having a higher
temperature, the first and second container can be coupled to one
another, allowing the second container to keep the fluid in the
first container at a temperature lower than ambient for a longer
period of time.
[0005] In another embodiment, the first container includes a
cavity, which is formed to receive the second container. In another
illustrative embodiment, the surface of the cavity is formed to be
coupled with the outer surface of the second container. In another
illustrative embodiment, the cavity of the first container is
substantially cylindrical in shape and includes a circumferential
notch disposed therein. The second container is also substantially
cylindrical in shape and includes a circumferential ridge disposed
on its outer surface. When the second container is disposed in the
cavity of the outer container, the ridge of the second container is
disposed in the notch of the cavity to secure the second container
within the cavity. In other illustrative embodiments, the second
container can be secured within the first container in other ways,
such as a lid to seal off the cavity once the second container is
disposed therein. Also, the first and second containers can include
a locking assembly, which allows the second container to include
pegs that are received by slots in the first container. The second
container can be rotated once disposed therein to lock the pegs
within the slots.
[0006] In another embodiment, the second container includes a pull
ring which allows the second container to be removed from the first
container once secured into place.
[0007] In another embodiment, the first container holds a beverage
which is to be consumed. The second container also includes the
same beverage, but at a lower temperature. When the beverage in the
first container is consumed, the second container can be removed
and opened, allowing the beverage in the second container to be
consumed as well.
[0008] In another embodiment, the second container contains water,
which expands upon freezing. In this embodiment, the first
container is formed of a flexible material such as plastic,
allowing any expansion of the second container due to freezing the
water to be accommodated by the first container while securing the
second container therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present disclosure will be described hereafter with
reference to the attached drawings which are given as non-limiting
examples only, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an illustrative embodiment of
first and second container.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows another side view of the first and second
containers of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the illustrative embodiments
shown in FIG. 2.
[0013] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out
herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, and
such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope
of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an illustrative embodiment of a
first container 10 and a second container 12. Both containers 10,
12 are shown to be substantially cylindrical in shape. First
container 10 is illustratively shown to be shaped in the form of a
20 oz. plastic bottle commonly sold containing beverages such as
drinking water or soda. Containers 10, 12 can be formed of
different material, however, such as aluminum, for example. In some
embodiments, the containers 10, 12 may be transparent or
translucent. Containers 10, 12 are shown to include screw-on caps
11, 13, respectively, such as those typically found on plastic
drinking bottles. In this illustrative embodiment, first container
10 includes cavity 14, which is disposed along the central
longitudinal axis of first container 10. Cavity 14 has an opening
16 located at the bottom 18 of outer container 10. Cavity 14 is
shown to include a circumferential notch 20 disposed therein.
[0015] FIG. 1 also shows second container 12 to include ridge 22,
which is circumferentially disposed around the outer surface of
second container 12. Second container 12 is also shown to include
pull ring 24, which is described in detail regarding FIG. 3. FIG. 2
shows a side view of the illustrative embodiments of containers 10,
12 with second container 12 disposed within cavity 14. In this
illustrative embodiment, inner container 12 can be disposed in
cavity 14 through minimal amount of force to allow it to be
inserted by hand. Second container 12 can be disposed in cavity 14
so that ridge 22 is received by notch 20, thereby securing second
container 12 within cavity 14 of first container 10. Other
illustrative embodiments allow ridge 22 to be disposed on cavity 14
and notch 22 to be disposed in second container 12.
[0016] In this illustrative embodiment, second container 12
includes a frozen fluid 26, such as ice, for example. In such
embodiments the second container 12 preferably is at least
partially formed from a resilient or flexible material to allow for
the expansion of the frozen fluid 26 within the second container
12. If the second container 12 were plastic, for example, the
plastic would flex to accommodate the frozen fluid 26. First
container 10 contains a fluid 28. Fluid 28 can be pre-cooled
through refrigeration, or other means of cooling. Second container
12 is inserted into cavity 14 to keep fluid 28 at a cooler
temperature longer than it would be otherwise remaining in the
ambient environment.
[0017] Fluid 28 can be consumable as a beverage, so that cap 11 can
be removed and fluid 28 consumed through opening 30 of first
container 10. Fluid 26 can also be consumable as a beverage,
allowing second container 12 to be removed from first container 10
and having fluid 26 consumed therefrom. Cap 13 is removed to allow
fluid 26 to flow through opening 32.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the arrangement shown in FIG.
2. FIG. 3 shows pull ring 24 disposed on bottom 33 of second
container 12. Pull ring 24 is coupled to bottom 33 with tag 34.
When second container 12 is to be removed from cavity 14, pull ring
24 can be pulled. The pulling force will remove second container 12
from cavity 14, where cap 13 can be removed and fluid 28 can be
accessed.
[0019] While the illustrative embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through
3 disclose containers separately formed from one another, other
embodiments can include a first and second container integrally
formed with one another. For example, another embodiment can
include a first container having a second container formed therein.
The first container can be formed into various shapes, such as that
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. An opening to the second container can be
disposed along the exterior surface of the first container. This
allows, for example, the second container to be filled with a fluid
and then chilled or frozen. Subsequently, the first container can
be filled with a fluid which is slowed from rising to meet ambient
temperature by the lower-temperature fluid in the second
container.
[0020] Other illustrative embodiments include a second container
containing a fluid at a temperature higher than that of the first
container. This allows the second container to keep a fluid in the
first container at a temperature higher that ambient for a longer
period of time. This embodiment can be used for fluids such as hot
soups, for example.
[0021] Additional features and advantages of the containers will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of
the following detailed descriptions exemplifying the best mode of
carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
[0022] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, from the
foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain
the essential characteristics of the invention and various changes
and modifications may be made to adapt the various uses and
characteristics without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
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