Beverage Container

Abstract

A beverage container including a container and a cover member therefor. A plurality of mixing vanes are formed integrally with the bottom face of the cover member and extend radially outwardly from a central hub portion to outer end portions. The vanes are tapered from a relatively narrow width at the hub portion to a greater width at the end portions. The vanes serve to impart a swirling action to liquid in the container when the container is moved rapidly up and down.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a beverage container having internal means for imparting a swirling action to liquid therein upon up and down movement of the container. The object of this invention is to provide such a mixing container which is both effective and of simple construction.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A beverage container comprising a container and cover member adapted for sealing installation in the container to provide a sealed compartment inside the container. A plurality of mixing vanes are mounted at one end of the compartment. The vanes extend radially outwardly from a central hub portion to outer end portions and are tapered from a relatively narrow width at the hub portion to a greater width at the end portions. In the preferred embodiment the mixing vanes are formed integrally with the bottom face of the cover member.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage shaker which embodies the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cover member employed in the beverage shaker of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cover member shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings in detail, the present invention is comprised of two basic parts, namely a container 10 and a cover 12 therefor. Container 10 may be of any suitable construction such as that shown in FIG. 2 wherein a double wall container is provided having an outer shell 14 and an inner shell 16 separated by air space 18 to provide good insulation properties. Inner shell 16 is tapered outwardly at the top portion 20 thereof to snugly accommodate cover member 12 as best shown in FIG. 2.

The cover member 12 is preferably made in the form of a cup-shaped stopper having sidewalls 22 which curve upwardly and outwardly. The cover member is provided with a bottom wall portion 24 which, with sidewalls 22, form a container which may be graduated and used for measuring liquids to be blended or mixed in the container.

Viewing the cover member from the bottom, the bottom wall portion 24 has a substantially convex configuration. A plurality of mixing vanes 26 are formed integrally with the bottom wall portion 24 of the cover member. Vanes 26 originate at a center hub 28 and curve radially outwardly therefrom toward the outer periphery of the wall portion 24. The lower edges 30 of the vanes 26 taper downwardly from hub 28 and the upper edges 32 taper upwardly from the hub. Thus, as most clearly shown in FIG. 2 each vane tapers outwardly from a relatively narrow width at the hub 28 to a greater width at the ends thereof.

The cover member 12 may be securely installed in the container 10 by simply inserting it to the position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the curved sidewalls of the cover nest securely within the curved sidewalls of the inner shell 16. With the cover member installed as shown in FIG. 2, and with liquid in the container, a thorough mixing of such liquid is accomplished by an up and down movement of the container. The shaking of the covered container will cause the liquid therein to impinge on the vanes 26 which in turn will tend to induce a swirling action to the liquid to thus facilitate a thorough mixing and blending of the liquid. As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the mixing vanes 26 curve outwardly from hub portion 28 in a clockwise direction. This configuration will induce a counterclockwise swirling action to the liquid. It will be appreciated that the vanes could be constructed to curve in just the opposite direction, in which event they will tend to induce a clockwise swirling action.

While the mixing vanes 26 in the preferred embodiment are shown mounted on the bottom face of the cover member 12 it will be appreciated that a similar mixing action could be attained by mounting the mixing vanes on the bottom surface of inner container 16.

Claims

I claim:

1. A beverage container comprising:

a container having an interior surface which tapers outwardly at the top portion thereof:

a cover member having a bottom face and side walls which curve upwardly and outwardly from said bottom face, with the curve of said side wall conforming to the interior taper of said container to provide a snug fit between said cover and said container, said cover being in the form of a cup-shaped container which may be graduated and used for measuring liquid to be blended or mixed in said container, a plurality of mixing vanes formed integrally with and extending from the bottom face of said cover member, said vanes extending radially outwardly from a central hub portion to outer end portions with the lower edges of said vanes tapering downwardly from said hub portion and with the upper edges of said vanes tapering upwardly from said hub portion.

2. The container according to claim 1 in which said mixing vanes curve as they extend from said hub portion to the outer end portions thereof.