U.S. patent application number 16/799777 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-26 for container with self aligning magnetic sleeve.
The applicant listed for this patent is COSMO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED. Invention is credited to Atman BUCH, Sophie LEFBVRE, Michael MCHALE, Sean MILLER, Stephan WEMBACHER.
Application Number | 20210261287 16/799777 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004718215 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210261287 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WEMBACHER; Stephan ; et
al. |
August 26, 2021 |
CONTAINER WITH SELF ALIGNING MAGNETIC SLEEVE
Abstract
A container with a magnetic self-aligning sleeve includes a
container that defines an interior receiving cavity with an opening
at one end adapted to receive liquid or solid, and a base at an
opposing end. The container additionally includes a sleeve defining
a container receiving interior cavity with an opening at one end
receiving the container, and a base at an opposing end. Of note,
the container receiving cavity has an inside diameter that exceeds
an outside diameter of the container. Finally, the container
includes a first pair of magnetic arrays. A first one of the first
pair of magnetic arrays has a primary polarity and is included with
the base of the container. A second one of the first pair of
magnetic arrays has a secondary polarity opposite the primary
polarity and is included with the base of the sleeve.
Inventors: |
WEMBACHER; Stephan; (San
Francisco, CA) ; BUCH; Atman; (San Francisco, CA)
; MILLER; Sean; (San Francisco, CA) ; MCHALE;
Michael; (San Francisco, CA) ; LEFBVRE; Sophie;
(San Francisco, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
COSMO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED |
Tortola |
|
VI |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004718215 |
Appl. No.: |
16/799777 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 7/22 20130101; B65D
7/40 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/40 20060101
B65D006/40; B65D 6/10 20060101 B65D006/10 |
Claims
1. A container with self-aligning sleeve comprising: a container
defining an interior receiving cavity with an opening at one end
adapted to receive liquid or solid, and a base at an opposing end;
a sleeve defining a container receiving interior cavity with an
opening at one end receiving the container, and a base at an
opposing end, the container receiving cavity having an inside
diameter that exceeds an outside diameter of the container; and, a
first pair of magnetic arrays, a first one of the first pair of
arrays having a primary polarity and being included with the base
of the liquid container, and a second one of the first pair of
arrays having a secondary polarity opposite the primary polarity
and being included with the base of the sleeve.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the sleeve and the container
are both cylindrical in shape.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein an exterior portion of the
container interlocks with an interior portion of the liquid
container receiving cavity.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein the exterior portion is a
longitudinal ridge and the interior portion comprises a groove
adapted to receive the ridge.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the magnetic arrays of the
first pair each comprise two equidistantly positioned magnets of
common polarity.
6. The container of claim 5, wherein the magnets are embedded
within the base of the liquid container.
7. The container of claim 1, wherein the magnetic arrays of the
first pair each comprise two equidistantly positioned magnets of
opposite polarity.
8. The container of claim 7, wherein the magnets are embedded
within the base of the container.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein the magnetic arrays of the
second pair each comprise two equidistantly positioned magnets of
common polarity.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein the magnets are embedded
within the base of the sleeve.
11. The container of claim 1, wherein the magnetic arrays of the
second pair each comprise two equidistantly positioned magnets of
opposite polarity.
12. The container of claim 11, wherein the magnets are embedded
within the base of the sleeve.
13. The container of claim 1, further comprising a second pair of
magnetic arrays, a first one of the second pair of arrays having
the secondary polarity and being included with the base of the
container, and a second one of the second pair of arrays having the
primary polarity and being included with the base of the
sleeve.
14. The container of claim 13, wherein the first one of the first
pair of arrays and the first one of the second pair of arrays
comprises four magnets of alternating polarity equidistantly
embedded within the base about a centerpoint of the base of the
container.
15. The container of claim 14, wherein the second one of the first
pair of arrays and the second one of the second pair of arrays
comprises four magnets of alternating polarity opposite that of the
four magnets embedded within the base of the container, and are
equidistantly embedded within the base of the sleeve about a
centerpoint of the base of the sleeve.
16. The container of claim 1, wherein the base of the sleeve
further comprises a toggle lock, the toggle lock comprising a
rocker with two ends and a fulcrum point therebetween coupling the
rocker to the base of the container and providing a fulcrum point
about which the two ends of the rocker rocks moves along an arcing
path, the rocker comprising two positions: a closed position in
which one of the ends engages a receiving structure in the base of
the container while another of the ends moves away from the base of
the container along the arcing path, and an open position in which
the one of the ends moves away from the base of the container along
the arcing path while the another of the ends moves towards the
base of the container along the arcing path, but does not engage
with any portion of the base of the container.
17. The container of claim 16, wherein each of the ends of the
rocker includes a magnet having the primary polarity causing the
rocker to be biased in one of the open position and the closed
position by a magnetic force between the magnet in one of the ends
closest to the base of the container and the second one of the
first pair of arrays having the secondary polarity opposite the
primary polarity and being included with the base of the
sleeve.
18. The container of claim 16, wherein the rocker is an arm with a
length that exceeds a width of the arm.
19. The container of claim 18, wherein the arm is disposed within
the base of the sleeve at a positive angle relative to an axis
defined by the second one of the first pair of arrays having the
secondary polarity opposite the primary polarity and being included
with the base of the sleeve.
20. The container of claim 16, wherein the receiving structure is a
notch defined in the base of the container and wherein the one of
the ends engaging the notch is a protrusion extending from the one
of the ends towards the base of the container.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of liquid
containers insulated and non-insulated.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] A container is an apparatus that holds a liquid or solid.
Common materials for a container include plastic, glass and various
metals such as aluminum or stainless steel. In many instances, a
container to transport liquids, may be insulative in so far as the
container has a double wall vacuum insulated construction. The cost
of constructing an insulative container, however, exceeds that of
an ordinary container. Thus, one way to achieve insulation of a
liquid contained within a tumbler is to wrap the container with a
sleeve. The most common sleeve for a container is the venerable
"koozie". Typically made from fabric, silicone or foam, the koozie
wraps the tumbler and remains affixed to the tumbler by way of
friction.
[0003] While the traditional koozie may achieve some insulative
properties, the materials associated with the koozie are often
viewed as inexpensive and lacking elegance. As well, the friction
fit nature of the koozie creates a physical challenge in removing
the container from the koozie when desired. It is known to use
ceramic and stone sleeves to insulate a container, however, ceramic
and stone koozies can be quite heavy, breakable when dropped and
hardly portable. As well, since there is no friction fit with a
ceramic or stone koozie, it is not possible to secure the container
to the ceramic or stone koozie or to ensure the orientation of the
container within the ceramic or stone koozie.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of
the art in respect to containers and provide a novel and
non-obvious method for a container with a self-aligning sleeve. In
an embodiment of the invention, the container includes a receiving
cavity with an opening at one end adapted to receive liquid or
solid, and a base at an opposing end. The container additionally
includes a sleeve defining a container receiving interior cavity
with an opening at one end receiving the container, and a base at
an opposing end. Of note, the sleeve receiving cavity has an inside
diameter that exceeds an outside diameter of the container.
Finally, the container includes a first pair of magnetic arrays. A
first one of the first pair of magnetic arrays has a primary
polarity and is included with the base of the container. A second
one of the first pair of magnetic arrays has a secondary polarity
opposite the primary polarity and is included with the base of the
sleeve. In this way, when the container is inserted into the
sleeve, as the base of the container approaches the base of the
sleeve, the magnetic force occurring between the first and second
ones of the first pair of arrays of opposite polarity will secure
the base of the container to the base of the sleeve and also will
cause the orientation of the container to align with the
orientation of the sleeve according to the position of the first
and second ones of the first pair of magnetic arrays.
[0005] In one aspect of the embodiment, the sleeve and the
container are both cylindrical in shape. In another aspect of the
embodiment, an exterior portion of the container interlocks with an
interior portion of the liquid container receiving cavity. To that
end, in yet another aspect of the embodiment, the exterior portion
is one or more longitudinal ridges and the interior portion
comprises a groove corresponding to each of the ridges and adapted
to receive the corresponding ridge.
[0006] In further embodiments of the invention, the magnetic arrays
of the first pair each include two equidistantly positioned magnets
of common polarity and may be embedded within the base of the
container. Alternatively, the magnetic arrays of the first pair
each may include two equidistantly positioned magnets of opposite
polarity that are embedded within the base of the liquid container.
As well, the magnetic arrays of the second pair each can include
two equidistantly positioned magnets of common polarity that are
embedded within the base of the sleeve, or the magnetic arrays of
the second pair may include two equidistantly positioned magnets of
opposite polarity that are embedded within the base of the
sleeve.
[0007] Notably, in an optional embodiment of the present invention,
the container can include a second pair of magnetic arrays. A first
one of the second pair of arrays has the secondary polarity and is
included with the base of the container, and a second one of the
second pair of arrays has the primary polarity and is included with
the base of the sleeve. As such, the first one of the first pair of
arrays and the first one of the second pair of arrays may include
four magnets of alternating polarity equidistantly embedded within
the base about a centerpoint of the base of the container.
Additionally, the second one of the first pair of arrays and the
second one of the second pair of arrays also includes four magnets
of alternating polarity opposite that of the four magnets embedded
within the base of the container, and are equidistantly embedded
within the base of the sleeve about a centerpoint of the base of
the sleeve. Note
[0008] Finally, in even yet another aspect of the embodiment, the
base of the sleeve may include a toggle lock. The toggle lock
includes a rocker with two ends and a fulcrum point therebetween
coupling the rocker to the base of the container and providing a
fulcrum point about which the two ends of the rocker rocks moves
along an arcing path. The rocker includes two basic positions: a
closed position in which one of the ends engages a receiving
structure in the base of the container while another of the ends
moves away from the base of the container along the arcing path,
and an open position in which the one of the ends moves away from
the base of the container along the arcing path while the another
of the ends moves towards the base of the container along the
arcing path, but does not engage with any portion of the base of
the container. In this regard, the receiving structure can be a
notch defined in the base of the container so that the end of the
rocker engaging the notch is a protrusion extending from the end
towards the base of the container.
[0009] In one aspect of the embodiment, the rocker can be an arm
and may be disposed within the base of the sleeve at a positive
angle relative to an axis defined by the second one of the first
pair of arrays having the secondary polarity opposite the primary
polarity and being included with the base of the sleeve.
Optionally, each of the ends of the rocker includes a magnet having
the primary polarity causing the rocker to be biased in one of the
open position and the closed position by a magnetic force between
the magnet in one of the ends closest to the base of the container
and the second one of the first pair of arrays having the secondary
polarity opposite the primary polarity and being included with the
base of the sleeve.
[0010] Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in
part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious
from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and
attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly
pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that
both the foregoing general description and the following detailed
description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not
restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description, serve to explain
the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein
are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the
invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and
instrumentalities shown, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a component assembly view of a container with
self-aligning sleeve;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the container of FIG. 1
inserted into the self-aligning sleeve of FIG. 1; and,
[0014] FIG. 3 is a pictorial illustration of toggle lock operation
on a base of the container of FIG. 1 from closed position, to open
position to sleeve rotation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Embodiments of the invention provide for a liquid container
with self-aligning sleeve. In accordance with an embodiment of the
invention, a self-aligning magnetic sleeve include a container and
a sleeve receiving the container. A base of the tumbler includes a
magnetic array as does a base of the sleeve. The polarity of the
magnetic array in the base of the tumbler is opposite that of the
magnetic array in the base of the sleeve. Each magnetic array can
include a pair of magnets, or preferably four magnets, disposed
equidistantly about the respective bases in a sequence of
alternating polarity, with the sequence of the magnetic array in
the base of the container differing from the sequence of the
magnetic array in the base of the sleeve. In this way, not only
will the base of the container become secured to the base of the
sleeve upon insertion of the container into the sleeve, but also
the securing of the container in the sleeve will only occur when
the magnetic array of the base of the container aligns with the
magnetic array of the sleeve thusly providing a container in a
self-aligning sleeve.
[0016] In further illustration, FIG. 1 is a component assembly view
of a container with self-aligning sleeve. As shown in FIG. 1, a
liquid container with self-aligning sleeve includes a container
body 110, cylindrical in nature, with a diameter Dcontainer and
defining a cavity 100 in which liquid may be stored. The container
110 further includes an opening 120 into which content can enter
the cavity 110. Finally, the container 110 includes a base 130.
Affixed to the base 130 is at least one magnetic array of one or
more magnets 140A, 140B. The magnets 140A, 140B are either of a
primary polarity (magnet 140A) or a secondary polarity (magnet
140B) opposite the primary polarity of magnet 140A. As shown in
FIG. 1, the magnets 140A, 140B may be arranged circumferentially
about a centerpoint of the base 130, equidistant from one another,
and in a sequence of alternating polarity so that magnet 140A
follows magnet 140B which follows magnet 140A and so forth.
[0017] A sleeve 180 also is provided. The sleeve 180 also may be
cylindrical in shape with a diameter Dsleeve which exceeds
Dcontainer. The sleeve 180 includes an opening 170 into which the
container 110 may be inserted. The sleeve 180 also may be wrapped
with a fabric or paper wrap 190, for instance leather. Finally, the
sleeve 180 can be a rigid substrate such as a nylon or plastic or
carbon fiber or metal with an outer soft covering such as leather,
fabric or paper wrap. Finally, the sleeve 180 includes a base 185.
Like the base 130 of the container 110, the base 185 of the sleeve
180 has affixed thereto, a second magnetic array of one or more
magnets 140A, 140B.
[0018] As in the case of the base 130 of the container 110, the
magnets 140A, 140B of the base 185 of the sleeve 180 are either of
a primary polarity (magnet 140A) or a secondary polarity (magnet
140B) opposite the primary polarity of magnet 140A. As in the case
of base 130 of the container 110, the magnets 140A, 140B may be
arranged circumferentially about a centerpoint of the base 185,
equidistant from one another, and in a sequence of alternating
polarity so that magnet 140A follows magnet 140B which follows
magnet 140A and so forth.
[0019] Notably, when the magnets 140A, 140B of the base 130 of the
container 110 are vertically aligned with the magnets 140A, 140B of
the base 185 of the sleeve 180, two configurations result. In a
first configuration, the magnets 140A of the base 130 repel the
magnets 140A of the base 185 that are vertically opposite the
magnets 140A of the base 130. The same is held true of the magnets
140B of the base 130 when vertically aligned with the magnets 140B
of the base 185. In a second configuration shown in FIG. 1, the
magnets 140B of the base 130 that are vertically opposite magnets
140A of the base 185 magnetically attract the magnets 140A of the
base 185 and the magnets 140A of the base 130 that are vertically
opposite the magnets 140B of the base 185 magnetically attract the
magnets 140B of the base 185 so as to cause the base 130 to become
secured to the base 185. Thus, to cause the removal of the
container 110 from the sleeve 180 when the container 110 is
magnetically secured to the sleeve 180, a rotation of the sleeve
180 in an opposite direction to that of the container 110 will
cause repelling magnetic forces to push the container 110 out of
the sleeve 180.
[0020] Once the container 110 has been inserted into the sleeve
180, the container can be locked into place. In further
illustration, FIG. 2 schematically shows the tumbler of FIG. 1
inserted into the self-aligning sleeve of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG.
2, an exterior portion of the container 110 interlocks with an
interior portion of the sleeve 180. In this regard, a longitudinal
ridge 210 may be formed on an exterior surface of the container 210
and a groove 220 adapted to receive the ridge 210 may be formed in
an interior surface of the sleeve 180. The groove 220 may have a
length that exceeds a length of the protrusion 210 and a width that
exceeds a width of the protrusion 210, and a depth that exceeds a
depth of the protrusion 210. Optionally, multiple grooves may be
provided to correspond to multiple protrusions. As well, the groove
may have a width at an end within the sleeve 180 furthest from the
opening of the sleeve 180 that is wider than the width of the
groove nearest the opening of the sleeve 180 so that a rotation of
the sleeve 180 or an opposite rotation of the container 110 causes
the protrusion 210 to interlock with the groove 220 and prevent the
removal of the container 110 from the sleeve 180.
[0021] The container 110 also may be secured to the sleeve 180 by
way of a magnetically assisted toggle lock. In yet further
illustration, FIG. 3 pictorially shows a toggle lock operation on
the base 130 of the tumbler of FIG. 1 from closed position, to open
position. As shown in FIG. 3, a toggle lock 370 is affixed to the
base 185 of the sleeve 180 and a rocker with two ends 330 and a
fulcrum 320 therebetween coupling the rocker to the base 185 of the
sleeve 180, and with a length that exceeds its width. The fulcrum
320 provides a fulcrum point about which the two ends 330 of the
rocker move along an arcing path. The rocker of the toggle lock 370
includes a closed position in which a protrusion 350 of one of the
ends 330 engages a receiving structure 310 in the base 130 of the
container 110, such as a notch formed in the base 130 of the
container 110, while another of the ends 330 moves away from the
base 130 of the container 110 along the arcing path. In this way,
once the toggle lock 370 is placed into the closed position, the
base 130 of the container 110 cannot rotate relative to the base
185 of the sleeve 180 so long as the protrusion 350 engages the
receiving structure 310.
[0022] The rocker of the toggle lock 370 also includes an open
position in which the one of the ends 330 moves away from the
receiving structure 310 of the base 130 of the container 110 along
the arcing path while the other of the ends 330 moves towards the
base 130 of the container 110 along the arcing path, but does not
engage with any portion of the base 130 of the container 110. When
in the toggle lock 370 is in the open position, the base 130 of the
container 110 is able to rotate relative to the base 185 of the
sleeve 180. Optionally, each of the ends 330 of the rocker includes
a magnet 340B having the primary polarity of the magnets 140B
opposite to the polarity of the magnets 140A causing the rocker to
be biased in one of the open position and the closed position by a
magnetic force between the magnet 340B in one of the ends closest
to the base 130 of the container 110 and the second one of the
first pair of magnetic arrays of magnets 140A having the secondary
polarity opposite the primary polarity and being included with the
base 185 of the sleeve 180.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the rocker of the toggle lock 370 is
disposed within the base 185 of the sleeve 180 at a positive angle
relative to an axis defined by the second one of the first pair of
arrays of magnets 140A having the secondary polarity opposite the
primary polarity and being included with the base 185 of the sleeve
180. In this way, the toggle lock 370 can move from open to closed
position, and from closed to open position, with magnetic assist
without undue repelling magnetic force provided by the magnets 140B
of the base 130 of the container 110.
[0024] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "includes" and/or "including," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0025] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and
equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the
claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or
act for performing the function in combination with other claimed
elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the
invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The
embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the invention and the practical application, and to
enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the
invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0026] Having thus described the invention of the present
application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it
will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible
without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the
appended claims as follows:
* * * * *