U.S. patent application number 12/515798 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-25 for drinks packaging.
This patent application is currently assigned to VIN SINGLZ LIMTED. Invention is credited to Graeme Ashley Blake.
Application Number | 20100044335 12/515798 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39429938 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100044335 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Blake; Graeme Ashley |
February 25, 2010 |
DRINKS PACKAGING
Abstract
The invention relates to a drinking vessel for a drinks
packaging product wherein the drinking vessel comprises at least
two parts. The two parts include a main vessel part and a part
adapted to seal a bottle or similar container. The part adapted to
seal the bottle includes a threaded portion and a seal. The
threaded portion can comprise part of a base, or it can be a
threaded sleeve or cap configured to engage with the base. The
drinking vessel is sized and shaped to fit at least partially over
the bottle and to provide a vessel from which the contents of the
bottle can be consumed.
Inventors: |
Blake; Graeme Ashley;
(Hamilton, NZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C.
1000 TOWN CENTER, TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075
US
|
Assignee: |
VIN SINGLZ LIMTED
Hamilton
NZ
|
Family ID: |
39429938 |
Appl. No.: |
12/515798 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
November 22, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NZ07/00344 |
371 Date: |
May 21, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/201 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/56 20130101;
A47G 19/2205 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/201 |
International
Class: |
B65D 50/00 20060101
B65D050/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 22, 2006 |
NZ |
551470 |
Claims
1. A drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product, the drinking
vessel having at least two parts, a base part and a main vessel
part, one or other of the base part or the main vessel part, or
both, incorporating a sealing ring adapted to seal the joint
between the base part and the main vessel part.
2. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing
ring is formed as part of the base part or the main vessel part,
but from a material having different physical characteristics, for
example greater elasticity.
3. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing
ring is formed as part of the base part or the main vessel part by
an overmolding process.
4. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base part
and the main vessel part are joined by a mechanical, or
interlocking, joint.
5. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mechanical,
or interlocking, joint includes one or more lugs on either the base
part or the main vessel part and a cooperating recess or recesses
on the other of the two parts.
6. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base part
further includes a frangibly linked tamper evident seal.
7. A drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product having a main
body and a sealing cap, wherein the sealing cap is adapted to mate
with the inside of the main body in such a manner that when mated
the sealing cap is substantially prevented from rotating relative
to the main body and is substantially prevented from exiting the
main body.
8. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the main body
is adapted to receive the sealing cap within, or adjacent to, a
base portion of the main body.
9. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sealing cap
further includes a tamper evident seal.
10. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the drinking
vessel is adapted to fit at least partially over, and to provide a
closure for, a bottle.
11. A drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product comprising a
main body and a threaded sleeve, wherein the threaded sleeve is
adapted to mate with the main body in such a manner that when mated
the threaded sleeve is substantially prevented from rotating
relative to the main body and is substantially prevented from
exiting the main body.
12. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the drinking
vessel further includes a sealing member which is adapted to aid in
sealing the opening of a drinks container to which the drinking
vessel can be fitted.
13. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the threaded
sleeve further includes a frangibly linked tamper evident seal.
14. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the main body
is adapted to receive the threaded sleeve within, or adjacent to, a
base portion of the main body.
15. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the drinking
vessel is adapted to fit at least partially over, and to provide a
closure for, a bottle.
16. A drinks packaging product incorporating at least one drinking
vessel substantially as claimed in claim 1 and a drinks container.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a drinking vessel that is also
adapted to function as a closure for a drinks container, and to a
drinks packaging product incorporating the drinking vessel.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The applicant of the present invention is also the applicant
of the New Zealand patent application numbers 527195 and 538172,
and has been involved in the development of packaging systems for
single serve drinks for a number of years. The present invention
relates to developments over the systems described in the above
patent applications which address on going problems that have been
experienced during the research and development process.
[0003] The problem has been to devise a tamper evident seal for use
with a drink packaging product which includes both a bottle and a
drinking vessel. Early attempts to solve this problem have involved
the use of a paper or plastic wrap fitted over the join between the
mouth of the drinking vessel and the body of the bottle.
[0004] However this type of seal has a number of problems. It
involves the use of an additional item of material, and this
additional item must be fitted by adding another step to the
production line used to fill and seal the drink packages. This
additional material and production step adds to the cost of
producing each packaged drink.
[0005] Also, a tamper evident seal which is removed from the
packaged drink when the package is opened is a problem. The person
opening the drink has one hand to hold the bottle and one to hold
the drinking vessel, and another item can be a nuisance and is
likely to become a litter hazard. This problem can be significant
in an airline situation where seated passengers are provided with
drinks, and where a tear off seal is yet another object to handle
and one that will often end up on the floor or under seat cushions
etc.
[0006] In New Zealand patent application number 538172 a tamper
evident seal was developed which was situated within the drinking
vessel and which engaged with the neck of the bottle. However, it
was found to be difficult to obtain a water tight seal at the join
of the two part drinking vessel of that earlier design. At present
it is also considered that the design could be improved upon to
simplify manufacture or reduce manufacturing costs.
OBJECT
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a drinking vessel or a drinks packaging product which will
at least go some way towards overcoming the above mentioned
problems, or at least provide the public with a useful choice.
STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention may broadly be
said to consist in a drinking vessel for a drinks packaging
product, the drinking vessel having at least two parts, a base part
and a main vessel part, one or other of the base part or the main
vessel part, or both, incorporating a sealing ring adapted to seal
the joint between the base part and the main vessel part.
[0009] Preferably the sealing ring is formed as part of the base
part or the main vessel part, but from a material having different
physical characteristics, for example greater elasticity.
[0010] Preferably the sealing ring is formed as part of the base
part or the main vessel part by an overmolding process.
[0011] Preferably the sealing ring is formed by overmolding a
thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material onto the base part or the
main vessel part.
[0012] While the base part and the main vessel part can be joined
using glue or welding, preferably the base part and the main vessel
part are joined by a mechanical, or interlocking, joint.
[0013] Preferably the mechanical, or interlocking, joint includes
one or more lugs on either the base part or the main vessel part
and a cooperating recess or recesses on the other of the two
parts.
[0014] Preferably the base part further includes a frangibly linked
tamper evident seal.
[0015] Accordingly, in a second aspect, the invention may broadly
be said to consist in a drinking vessel for a drinks packaging
product, wherein the drinking vessel is formed from at least three
parts, a base part, a main vessel part and a threaded cap part.
[0016] Preferably each of the three parts, the base part, the main
vessel part and the threaded cap part are made from a material
selected to suit the function of that part, for example a rigid
clear plastics material, e.g. a styrene plastics material, for the
main vessel part to give a glass like appearance and feel, and a
softer and more elastic plastics material, e.g. polypropylene or
polyethylene, for the cap part to facilitate the incorporation of a
tamper evident seal in the cap portion.
[0017] Preferably a mechanical joint is provided between the cap
part and the base part and/or the main vessel part.
[0018] Preferably the mechanical joint is configured to
substantially prevent the cap part from exiting the interior of the
drinking vessel once assembled.
[0019] Preferably the mechanical joint is configured to
substantially prevent relative rotation between the cap part and
the base part and/or the main vessel part.
[0020] Preferably the mechanical joint includes protrusions in the
base part and/or the main vessel part which are adapted to mate
with corresponding recesses in the cap part.
[0021] Preferably the base part is connected to the main vessel
part by welding or by the use of a glue.
[0022] Preferably the mating surfaces of the base part and/or the
main vessel part, where they can be connected, are shaped to
facilitate a weld.
[0023] Optionally the base part is connected to the main vessel
part by a mechanical joint.
[0024] Accordingly, in a third aspect, the invention may broadly be
said to consist in a drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product
having a main body and a sealing cap, wherein the sealing cap is
adapted to mate with the inside of the main body in such a manner
that when mated the sealing cap is substantially prevented from
rotating relative to the main body and is substantially prevented
from exiting the main body.
[0025] Preferably the main body is adapted to receive the sealing
cap within, or adjacent to, a base portion of the main body.
[0026] Preferably the sealing cap further includes a tamper evident
seal.
[0027] Preferably the main body of the drinking vessel is made of a
clear material.
[0028] Preferably the drinking vessel is adapted to fit at least
partially over, and to provide a closure for, a bottle.
[0029] Preferably the drinking vessel is sized such that at least
half of the contents of the drinks packaging product or bottle can
be accommodated in the drinking vessel.
[0030] Preferably the base portion of the drinking vessel is
provided with a suitably configured and sized footprint upon which
the drinking vessel can stand upright in a stable manner.
[0031] Preferably the diameter or width of the footprint upon which
the drinking vessel can stand is similar to the diameter or width
of the main body of the drinking vessel.
[0032] Preferably the drinking vessel is a stemmed drinking
vessel.
[0033] Optionally the drinking vessel is a flat bottomed tumbler
style drinking vessel having a short tubular shaped protruding
portion connected to the interior of the base of the drinking
vessel which is adapted to receive the sealing cap.
[0034] Accordingly, in a fourth aspect, the invention may broadly
be said to consist in a one piece drinking vessel for a drinks
packaging product comprising a main drinking vessel body part and a
threaded cap part which is situated in the interior of the main
body part, wherein the threaded cap part includes a frangibly
linked tamper evident seal.
[0035] Preferably the drinking vessel is a flat bottomed tumbler
style of drinking vessel.
[0036] Optionally the drinking vessel is stemmed drinking
vessel.
[0037] Preferably the cap part further includes a frangibly linked
tamper evident seal.
[0038] Preferably at least the main body of the drinking vessel is
made of a clear material.
[0039] Preferably the drinking vessel is adapted to fit at least
partially over, and to provide a closure for, a drinks packaging
product or a bottle.
[0040] Preferably the drinking vessel is sized such that at least
half of the contents of the drinks packaging product or bottle can
be accommodated in the drinking vessel.
[0041] Accordingly, in a fifth aspect, the invention may broadly be
said to consist in a drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product
comprising a main body and a threaded sleeve, wherein the threaded
sleeve is adapted to mate with the main body in such a manner that
when mated the threaded sleeve is substantially prevented from
rotating relative to the main body and is substantially prevented
from exiting the main body.
[0042] Preferably the drinking vessel further includes a sealing
member which is adapted to aid in sealing the opening of a drinks
container to which the drinking vessel can be fitted.
[0043] Preferably the threaded sleeve further includes a frangibly
linked tamper evident seal.
[0044] Preferably the main body is adapted to receive the threaded
sleeve within, or adjacent to, a base portion of the main body.
[0045] Preferably the main body of the drinking vessel is made of a
clear material.
[0046] Preferably the threaded sleeve is made of an at least
partially flexible material.
[0047] Preferably the drinking vessel is adapted to fit at least
partially over, and to provide a closure for, a bottle.
[0048] Preferably the drinking vessel is sized such that at least
half of the contents of the drinks packaging product or bottle can
be accommodated in the drinking vessel.
[0049] Preferably the base portion of the drinking vessel is
provided with a suitably configured and sized footprint upon which
the drinking vessel can stand upright in a stable manner.
[0050] Preferably the diameter or width of the footprint upon which
the drinking vessel can stand is similar to the diameter or width
of the main body of the drinking vessel.
[0051] Preferably the drinking vessel is a stemmed drinking
vessel.
[0052] Optionally the drinking vessel is a flat bottomed tumbler
style drinking vessel having a short tubular shaped protruding
portion connected to the interior of the base of the drinking
vessel which is adapted to receive the threaded sleeve.
[0053] In a sixth aspect, the invention may broadly be said to
consist in a drinks packaging product incorporating at least one
drinking vessel substantially as specified herein and a drinks
container.
[0054] Preferably the drinks container is a made of a plastics
material.
[0055] Preferably the drinks container is substantially bottle
shaped and includes shoulder where the diameter of the bottle
reduces part way up the main body of the bottle shape.
[0056] Preferably the drinking vessel is sized such that at least
half of the contents of the bottle can be accommodated in the
drinking vessel.
[0057] In a seventh aspect, the invention may broadly be said to
consist in a method of packaging a drink into a drinks packaging
product which includes a drink container and a drinking vessel, the
method including the steps of; [0058] filling the drink container,
[0059] capping the drink container with a cap that is adapted to
externally engage with a drinking vessel, and [0060] fitting a
drinking vessel that is adapted to engage with the cap, onto the
cap.
[0061] The invention may also broadly be said to consist in the
parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the
specification of the application, individually or collectively, and
any or all combinations of any two or more of the parts, elements
or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which
have known equivalents, such equivalents are incorporated herein as
if they were individually set forth.
DESCRIPTION
[0062] Further aspects of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description which is given by way of
example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0063] FIG. 1 is an exploded cross sectional view of a first
example of a drinking vessel of the present invention,
[0064] FIG. 2 is an exploded cross sectional view of a second
example of a drinking vessel of the present invention,
[0065] FIG. 3 is an exploded cross sectional view of a third
example of a drinking vessel of the present invention,
[0066] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a fourth example of a
drinking vessel of the present invention,
[0067] FIG. 5 is an exploded cross sectional view of a fifth
example of a drinking vessel of the present invention,
[0068] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a drinking
vessel of the present invention and a drink container, and
[0069] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the drinking vessel and
the drink container in an assembled state.
EXAMPLE ONE
[0070] With reference to FIG. 1, a first example of a drinking
vessel (10) for a drinks packaging product is shown having at least
two parts, a base part (11) and a main vessel part (13). The
drinking vessel (10) is characterised in that one or other of the
base part (11) or the main vessel part (13), or both, incorporate a
sealing ring (15). In this example, there is a single sealing ring
(15) which is on the base part (11). The sealing ring (15) is
adapted to seal the join between the base part (11) and the main
vessel part (13) when the two parts are assembled.
[0071] Formed as an integral part of the base part (11) is a
threaded bottle cap (17) which also includes a frangibly linked
tamper evident ring (19). When assembled, the drinking vessel (10)
forms a drinking vessel that can also be used as a closure of a
drinks container, for example a drink bottle. The drinking vessel
(10) can be screwed onto a bottle to close the bottle, and when
removed from the bottle can be used as a drinking vessel.
[0072] In this example, the lower part (25) of the main vessel part
(13) of the drinking vessel (10) is tapered to form a stem feature
immediately above the base. The diameter of the stem feature is
determined primarily by the outside diameter of the cap (17).
[0073] The sealing ring (15) can be formed as part of the base part
(11) or the main vessel part (13), but from a material having
different physical characteristics, for example from a material
having a greater elasticity. The sealing ring (15) can be formed by
an overmolding process, for example by overmolding the sealing ring
(15) onto the surface of the base part (11) or into a groove about
the circumference of the base part (11).
[0074] A suitable material for the sealing ring (15) is a
thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material.
[0075] The base part (11) and the main vessel part (13) can be
joined using glue or welding, for example, ultrasonic welding.
However in this example the base part (11) and the main vessel part
(13) are joined by a mechanical, or interlocking, joint. Lugs (21)
on the interior of the main vessel part (13) are configured to mate
and lock into corresponding recesses (23) provided on the exterior
of the base part (11). The use of a mechanical joint eliminates the
need for an additional welding step during manufacture.
EXAMPLE TWO
[0076] With reference to FIG. 2, a second example of a drinking
vessel (30) for a drinks packaging product is shown. In this
example the drinking vessel (30) is formed from at least three
parts, a base part (31), a main vessel part (33) and a threaded cap
part (35).
[0077] Each of the three parts, the base part (31), the main vessel
part (33) and the threaded cap part (35) can be made from a
material selected to suit the function of that part. For example a
suitable material for the main vessel part (33) is a rigid clear
plastics material, for example a styrene plastics material, which
provides a somewhat glass like appearance and feel. A softer and
more elastic plastics material, e.g. polypropylene or polyethylene,
can be used for the cap part (35) to facilitate the incorporation
of a tamper evident seal (36) in the cap part (35). The tamper
evident seal (36) must stretch over a mating ring about the neck of
a bottle and shrink back toward their original size so that the
seal will stay with the bottle when the cap part (35) is
removed.
[0078] Preferably a mechanical joint is provided between the cap
part (35) and the base part (31) and/or the main vessel part (33).
In this example, a ridge (37) extends about the circumference of
the cap part (35) and this ridge can be captured between an
internal shoulder (39) on the main vessel part (33) and a rim (41)
on the base part (31) when the two parts (31) and (33) are
assembled together. In this way, the ridge (37) substantially
prevents the cap part (35) from exiting the interior of the
drinking vessel (30).
[0079] Preferably the mechanical joint between the cap part (35)
and the base part (31) and/or the main vessel part (33) is
configured to substantially prevent relative rotation between the
cap part (35) and the base part (31) and/or the main vessel part
(33). In this example, the cap part (35) is provided with a series
or recesses (43) about the periphery of its lower surface (45)
which are configured to mate with a series of protrusions (47)
situated on the base part (31). When the drinking vessel (30) is
assembled the protrusions (47) engage with the recesses (43) to
substantially prevent relative rotation between the cap part (35)
and the base part (31).
[0080] The base part (31) can be connected to the main vessel part
(33) using glue,or by welding, for example using ultrasonic
welding. The mating surfaces of the base part (31) and/or the main
vessel part (33), where they can be connected, can be shaped to
facilitate a weld, for example by making the lower surface (49) of
the lower lip of the main vessel part (33) "V" shaped as shown.
[0081] This design allows the main vessel part (33) and the base
part (31) to be manufactured from the same material, for example
from a styrene plastics material, since neither part includes the
tamper evident seal (36). And since both the main vessel part (33)
and the base part (31) can be manufactured from the same material,
they can be welded together.
[0082] Optionally the base part (31) can be connected to the main
vessel part (33) by a suitable mechanical joint.
[0083] As with the previous example, in this example also, the
lower part (51) of the main vessel part (33) of the drinking vessel
(30) is tapered to form a stem feature immediately above the base.
The diameter of the stem feature is determined primarily by the
outside diameter of the cap (35).
EXAMPLE THREE
[0084] With reference to FIG. 3, a third example of a drinking
vessel (60) for a drinks packaging product is shown. In this
example the drinking vessel (60) includes a main body (61) and a
sealing cap (63). The sealing cap (63) is adapted to mate with the
inside of the main body (61) in such a manner that when mated the
sealing cap (63) is substantially prevented from rotating relative
to the main body (61) and is substantially prevented from exiting
the main body (61).
[0085] The sealing cap (63) includes an internal thread (65) and is
configured to be a suitable closure device for a bottle having a
mating thread about its opening. The sealing cap (63) can be
provided with a tamper evident seal (66) to indicate whether the
bottle has been opened after the cap (63) was initially installed.
Preferably the main body (61) of the drinking vessel (60) is made
of a clear material so that the state of the tamper evident seal
can be viewed prior to removal of the drinking vessel (60) from the
bottle.
[0086] A softer and more elastic plastics material, e.g.
polypropylene or polyethylene, can be used for the sealing cap (63)
since it includes the tamper evident seal (66). The tamper evident
seal (66) must stretch over a mating ring about the neck of a
bottle and shrink back toward its original size so that the seal
will stay with the bottle when the cap (63) is removed.
[0087] The main body (61) of the drinking vessel (60) is configured
to fit at least partially over the bottle to which it is fitted.
Preferably the drinking vessel (60) is sized such that at least
half of the contents of the drinks packaging product or bottle can
be accommodated in the drinking vessel (60).
[0088] The main body (61) is adapted to receive and to retain the
sealing cap (63) within, or adjacent to, a base portion (67) of the
main body (61). A protruding lip (71) which can extend part way or
all the way about the circumference of the cap (63), or similar
protrusions, can be configured to mate with a corresponding groove
(73) or recesses in the interior of the main body (61) to prevent
the cap (63) exiting the main body (61) once installed. When the
cap (63) is pushed into the inside of the main body (61) the lip
(71) can engage with the groove (73) to substantially prevent the
cap (63) exiting the main body (61). The cap (63) can be made from
a plastics material and the elasticity of the material will allow
it to compress slightly during installation. Preferably the
protruding lip (71) is provided with a lead-in taper, as shown, to
facilitate installation of the sealing cap (63) into the main body
(61).
[0089] The cap (63) can also be provided with protrusions or
recesses that are configured to mate with corresponding recesses or
protrusions in the inside diameter of the main body (61) to prevent
the cap (63) from rotating within the main body (61). This is
important to enable the drinking vessel (60) to be removed from a
bottle or other drinks packaging product. In this example the main
body (61) is provided with a relatively fine internal spline form
(75) which is configured to mate with a corresponding external
spline form (77) about the outside diameter of the cap (63). When
the cap (63) and the main body (61) are assembled the engaged
spline forms substantially prevent relative rotation between the
cap (63) and the main body (61). The use of fine spline forms is
advantageous in that they are easily engaged when the cap (63) is
inserted into the main body (61) without the need for careful
alignment.
[0090] The base portion (67) of the drinking vessel (60) can be
provided with a suitably configured and sized foot (69) upon which
the drinking vessel (60) can stand upright in a stable manner.
Preferably the diameter or width of the footprint of the foot (69)
is similar to the diameter or width of the main body (61) of the
drinking vessel (60).
[0091] The drinking vessel (60) can be a stemmed drinking vessel as
shown, however in an alternative embodiment, the drinking vessel
(60) can be a flat bottomed tumbler style drinking vessel having a
short tubular shaped protruding portion connected to the interior
of the base of the drinking vessel which is adapted to receive the
sealing cap (63).
EXAMPLE FOUR
[0092] With reference to FIG. 4, a fourth example of a drinking
vessel (80) for a drinks packaging product is shown. In this
example the drinking vessel (80) is a one piece drinking vessel
comprising a main drinking vessel body (81), and a threaded cap
(83) which is situated in the interior of the main body (81). The
cap (83) includes a frangibly linked tamper evident seal (85).
[0093] The cap (83) comprises an internally threaded cylinder (87)
which connects to a base (89) of the main body (81). The cap (83)
formed by combining the cylinder (87) and a section of the base
(89) can be used as a closure for a drinks packaging product or
bottle. The tamper evident seal (85) is connected by a frangible
link (86) to the other end of the threaded cylinder (87).
[0094] In this example, the drinking vessel (80) is a flat bottomed
tumbler style of drinking vessel. However, it is envisaged that the
drinking vessel (80) could also be a stemmed style of drinking
vessel as shown and described herein in examples one to three and
example five. An advantage of the flat bottomed tumbler style of
drinking vessel is the space about the cap (83) which can be useful
to facilitate the operation of a plastics injection molding tool if
required to form the shapes of the frangible link (86).
[0095] Preferably at least the main body (81) of the drinking
vessel (80) is made of a clear material to allow the state of the
tamper evident seal to be inspected prior to removal of the
drinking vessel (80) from a drinks packaging product or bottle.
Since the drinking vessel (80) is a one piece vessel, and it
includes a tamper evident seal (85), it would be preferable to make
the vessel (80) from a plastics material having sufficient memory
so that the seal (85) will shrink back to, or near, its original
size after it is fitted over a protruding ring on the neck of a
bottle. A suitable plastics material would be a polypropylene or a
polyethylene plastics material.
[0096] Preferably the drinking vessel (80) is adapted to fit at
least partially over a bottle, and preferably the drinking vessel
(80) is sized such that at least half of the contents of the drinks
packaging product or bottle can be accommodated in the drinking
vessel (80).
EXAMPLE FIVE
[0097] With reference to FIG. 5, a fifth example of a drinking
vessel (100) for a drinks packaging product is shown. In this
example the drinking vessel (100) includes a main body (101) and a
separate threaded sleeve (103). The threaded sleeve (103) is
adapted to mate with the main body (101) in such a manner that when
mated the threaded sleeve (103) is substantially prevented from
rotating relative to the main body (101) and is substantially
prevented from exiting the main body (101).
[0098] Preferably the drinking vessel further includes a sealing
member (105) which is adapted to aid in sealing the opening of a
drinks container to which the drinking vessel (100) can be fitted.
The sealing member (105) can be a typical laminated seal, for
example a laminated plastics and aluminium seal as is used in the
drinks packaging industry.
[0099] An advantage of this design is that the sealing member (105)
can be fitted prior to the threaded sleeve (103), making it simpler
to install the sealing member (105) which will typically have an
outside diameter that is greater than the inside diameter of the
threads (107) of the threaded sleeve (103).
[0100] Preferably the threaded sleeve (103) further includes a
frangibly linked tamper evident seal (108).
[0101] The main body (101) is adapted to receive and to retain the
threaded sleeve (103) within, or adjacent to, a base portion (109)
of the main body (101). A protruding lip (111) which can extend
part way or all the way about the circumference of the threaded
sleeve (103), or similar protrusions, can be configured to mate
with a corresponding groove (113) or recesses in the interior of
the main body (101) to prevent the threaded sleeve (103) exiting
the main body (101) once installed. When the threaded sleeve (103)
is pushed into the inside of the main body (101) the lip (111) can
engage with the groove (113) to substantially prevent the threaded
sleeve (103) exiting the main body (101). The threaded sleeve (103)
can be made from a plastics material and the elasticity of the
material will allow it to compress slightly during installation.
Preferably the protruding lip (111) is provided with a lead-in
taper to facilitate installation of the threaded sleeve (103) into
the main body (101).
[0102] The threaded sleeve (103) can also be provided with
protrusions or recesses that are configured to mate with
corresponding recesses or protrusions in the inside diameter of the
main body (101) to prevent the threaded sleeve (103) from rotating
within the main body (101). This is important to enable the
drinking vessel (100) to be removed from a bottle or other drinks
packaging product. In this example the main body (101) is provided
with a relatively fine internal spline form (115) which is
configured to mate with a corresponding external spline form (117)
about the outside diameter of the threaded sleeve (103). When the
threaded sleeve (103) and the main body (101) are assembled the
engaged spline forms substantially prevent relative rotation
between the threaded sleeve (103) and the main body (101). The use
of fine spline forms is advantageous in that they are easily
engaged when the threaded sleeve (103) is inserted into the main
body (101) without the need for careful alignment.
[0103] Preferably the drinking vessel (100) is adapted to fit at
least partially over, and to provide a closure for, a bottle.
[0104] The main body (101) of the drinking vessel (100) can be made
of a clear material and the threaded sleeve (103) can be made of an
at least partially flexible material. Suitable materials are a
clear styrene plastics material for the main body (101) and
polypropylene or polyethylene plastics material for the threaded
sleeve (103). A clear material is also advantageous for the main
body (101) of the drinking vessel (100) since it allows the
condition of the tamper evident seal (108) to be inspected.
[0105] A softer and more elastic plastics material, e.g.
polypropylene or polyethylene, can be used for the threaded sleeve
(103) since it includes the tamper evident seal (108). The tamper
evident seal (108) must stretch over a mating ring about the neck
of a bottle and shrink back toward their original size so that the
seal (108) will stay with the bottle when the drinking vessel (100)
complete with sleeve (103) is removed.
[0106] Preferably the drinking vessel (100) is sized such that at
least half of the contents of the drinks packaging product or
bottle can be accommodated in the drinking vessel (I 00). The base
portion (107) of the drinking vessel (100) can be provided with a
suitably configured and sized foot (119) upon which the drinking
vessel (100) can stand upright in a stable manner. Preferably the
diameter or width of the footprint of the foot (119) is similar to
the diameter or width of the main body (101) of the drinking vessel
(100).
[0107] The drinking vessel (100) can be a stemmed drinking vessel
as shown, however in an alternative embodiment, the drinking vessel
(100) can be a flat bottomed tumbler style drinking vessel having a
short tubular shaped protruding portion connected to the interior
of the base of the drinking vessel which is adapted to receive the
threaded sleeve (103).
[0108] General
[0109] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a drinks packaging product
(130) is shown comprising at least a drinking vessel (10), (30),
(60), (80) or (100), as described above, and a drinks container,
which in this case is a bottle (131). Preferably the bottle (131)
is made of a plastics material, as it is generally possible to
manufacture plastic bottles to higher dimensional tolerances than
glass bottles. In FIG. 7 the drinks packaging product (130) is
shown with the drinking vessel (10), (30), (60), (80) or (100)
assembled onto the bottle (131), while in FIG. 6 these two items
are shown prior to assembly.
[0110] A raised ring (132) is provided about the neck (133) of the
bottle (131). This ring (132) is adapted to engage with the tamper
evident seal (19), (36), (66), (85) or (108) (not shown) of the
drinking vessel (10), (30), (60), (80) or (100) when it is fitted
onto the bottle (131), and to prevent the tamper evident seal (19),
(36), (66), (85) or (108) departing from the bottle (131) when the
drinking vessel (10), (30), (60), (80) or (100) is later
removed.
[0111] In FIGS. 6 and 7 a stemmed drinking vessel shown, however
clearly a flat bottomed tumbler style of drinking vessel similar to
that described in example four above can be fitted to the bottle
(131) in a similar manner.
[0112] A bottle seal (105) is shown and described with reference to
FIG. 5 above, however a similar suitable bottle seal (not shown)
can also be used with each of the other drinking vessels (10),
(30), (60) or (80), the seal being positioned within the cap part
of each drinking vessel (10), (30), (60) or (80).
[0113] It can be seen from these figures that the drinking vessel
(10), (30), (60), (80) or (100) fits over the bottle (131). The
upper part (135) of the bottle (131) has a smaller diameter than
the lower part (137) of the bottle (131). A shoulder (139)
separates the two parts of the bottle (131). The rim of the
drinking vessel (141) can butt against the shoulder (139) to at
least partially seal the interior of the drinking vessel (10),
(30), (60), (80) or (100) during transportation and storage of the
assembled drinks package (130).
[0114] Preferably the drinking vessel (10), (30), (60), (80) or
(100) is sized such that at least half of the contents of the
bottle (131) can be accommodated in the drinking vessel (10), (30),
(60), (80) or (100).
[0115] The drinking vessel (60) described in example three above
allows an alternative method of packaging a drink into a drinks
package which includes a drink container and a drinking vessel, the
method including the steps of, [0116] filling the drink container,
[0117] capping the drink container with a cap that is adapted to
externally engage with a drinking vessel, and [0118] fitting a
drinking vessel that is adapted to engage with the cap, onto the
cap.
[0119] Variations
[0120] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way
of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and
additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope
thereof.
[0121] Definitions
[0122] Throughout this specification the word "comprise" and
variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are
not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or
steps.
[0123] Advantages
[0124] Thus it can be seen that at least the preferred form of the
invention provides a drinking vessel which provides manufacturing
and assembly options which can allow lower manufacturing and/or
assembly costs. The various options described provide a drinking
vessel with a relatively simple construction that can effectively
seal a bottle. In addition, the designs allow suitable materials to
be used in the manufacture of each part of the drinking vessel,
that is materials that match the different requirements of each
part of the drinking vessel.
* * * * *