Multiple Compartment Thermally Insulated Container

Abstract

A double compartment thermally insulated container for two different beverages, the container consisting of a cylindrical housing with a central diametrical partition wall, with two semi-cylindrical beverage receptacles supported therein in the respective semi-cylindrical compartments of the housing, with sealed air spaces provided around the receptacles. A modified form of the invention consists of two cylindrical thermally insulated containers connected together in axial alignment by a connection sleeve.

Description

This invention relates to liquid containers, and more particularly to a double compartment thermally insulated container adapted to receive two different beverages.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved double compartment thermally insulated container which is relatively simple in construction, which involves relatively few parts, and which is easy to disassemble for cleaning.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved thermally insulated container adapted to receive two different liquids, such as a hot liquid and a cold liquid, and to maintain the liquids at their respective different temperatures, the container being inexpensive to fabricate, being durable in construction, being easy to keep clean, and being relatively compact in size.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved multiple-compartment thermally insulated container which provides a means for storing two different liquids, such as a hot liquid and a cold liquid, or two different hot or cold liquids, the container having means for easily obtaining access to either one of the liquids and for safely and conveniently storing same.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an improved double compartment thermally insulated container constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in vertical cross-section, taken substantially on line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another form of double compartment thermally insulated container constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 8--8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view, partly in cross-section of a further modified form of multiple compartment thermally insulated container constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a still further modification of a multiple compartment thermally insulated container according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the multiple container of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the top portion of the container of FIGS. 10 and 11, with cover cap of the container removed and showing typical sealing stoppers employed in the container, one of the stoppers being shown detached from the mouth of its associated beverage receptacle.

FIG. 12A is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 12A--12A of FIG. 12, but showing the sealing stopper inserted in the neck of the associated beverage receptacle.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another form of sealing stopper according to the present invention.

FIG. 13A is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 13A--13A of FIG. 13.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, 14 generally designates an improved double compartment thermally insulated container constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The container 14 comprises a generally cylindrical casing 15 of suitable rigid material, such as metal, plastic or the like, provided with a screw-threaded bottom cap 16, said cap having an internally threaded skirt portion 17 which is threadedly engagable with a correspondingly externally threaded lower end portion of the casing 15 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. The casing is provided with the convergent top end portion 18 and with external threads 19 immediately subjacent the convergent top portion 18. A cup member 20 is threadedly engagable with the threads 19 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2, thereby providing a top closure for the casing 15. A second cup member 21 is nestable inside the first cup member 20 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2.

The casing 15 is provided with a central diametrical partition wall 22 which may be integrally molded with the casing 15 or may be otherwise rigidly secured therein. This defines two generally semi-cylindrical compartments in the casing. Disposed in each of said compartments is a glass or other suitable receptacle 23 which generally conforms in shape with the inside shape of the associated compartment but which is supported in the compartment to define an air space 24 between the container 23 and the wall surfaces of the compartment. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, bottom spacers 25, 25 of suitable heat-insulating material, such as plastic material or the like, are provided in the bottoms of the two respective compartments, said bottom spacers 25 conforming in shape with the bottom portions of the compartments and extending upwardly sufficiently to engage between the wall portions of the walls of the receptacles 23 and the adjacent wall surfaces of casing 15 and partition wall 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the spacer members 25 rest on the bottom cap 16, and additional spacer blocks 26, 26 are provided between the bottoms of members 25 and the bottoms of the receptacles 23.

The blocks 26 may be of any suitable heat-insulating material, such as rubber, plastic, or the like, and may have a substantial degree of resiliency so that they act as compressible springs.

Each receptacle 23 is formed with a semi-circular mouth or rim 28 which is offset inwardly relative to the convergent upper portion 29 of the receptacle, as shown at 30. The top of casing portion 18 is formed with an inturned flange 31, and the top edge of the partition wall 22 is likewise formed with inturned flanged portions 32, 32 whereby an inturned peripheral flange is defined at the top end of each of the beverage receptacle compartments in the casing. A resilient deformable sealing gasket 33 is provided between the rim 28 of each receptacle 23 and the flanged opening adjacent thereto defined by the inturned flanged elements 31, 32 associated with each of the beverage receptacle compartments. Thus, the top sealing gaskets 33 and the bottom spacer members 25 support the receptacles 23, in cooperation with the blocks 26, so as to maintain a substantially continuous air space 24 between each beverage receptacle 23 and the surrounding wall of casing 15 and partition wall 22 in the compartments defined by casing 15 and partition wall 22.

The top of each beverage receptacle 23 is provided with a resilient deformable stopper 35 of generally semi-circular shape adapted to sealingly engage in the mouth of the receptacle in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. Each stopper 35 is provided with a flanged top portion 36 limiting its insertion into the associated receptacle mouth, the tops of the stoppers 35 being engagable by a cover cap 37 threadedly engagable on the top of the convergent portion 18 of casing 15, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus, the cover cap 37 is threadedly engagable on the top end of convergent casing portion 18 and when tightened, exerts downward clamping pressure on the flanged stoppers 35, 35. The clamping force exerted by the cap 37 is transmitted through the stoppers 35 and the receptacle 23 to the bottom resilient cushioning blocks 26, 26, thus resiliently clamping the receptacles 23, 23 and providing them with cushioned support so that they are protected against breakage, for example, when the assembly is accidentally dropped or jarred.

The spacer members 25, which are of generally cup-like shape, are preferably of suitable resilient material, such as rubber, resilient plastic material, or the like, to provide shock-absorbing effects, in cooperation with the blocks 26. If the spacer members 25 are of rubber or other similar resilient deformable material, the blocks 26 may be of substantially rigid construction.

It will be readily apparent that the receptacle 23 may contain two different liquids, for example, a hot liquid in one and a cold liquid in the other, and that access to said liquids may be obtained independently, since each receptacle 23 has its own independent stopper 35. It will be further apparent that the receptacles 23 may be readily removed for cleaning, or the like, by merely unscrewing the bottom cap 16, which allows the receptacles 23 to be then withdrawn from their associated compartments. When removing the receptacles, the cups 20 and 21 are removed, after which the cap 37 is detached, and the stoppers 35 are removed. The bottom cap 16 is then unscrewed and the spacer members 25 and 26 are removed, thereby providing access to the bottom portions of the receptacle 23. The receptacles 23 may then be removed by pushing them inwardly at their mouth portions, which forces them out through the open bottom end of casing 15. The receptacles, after cleaning, may be replaced by following a reverse procedure.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 8, the structure therein disclosed is somewhat similar to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, except that the main casing, shown at 15', does not have a removable bottom cap, but is instead provided with an integral bottom wall 16'. The inner receptacles, shown at 23',23' are generally semi-cylindrical in shape and rest on the bottom spacer blocks 26,26. The main casing 15' is provided with a top bushing member 80 having an externally threaded outwardly projecting intermediate annular rib 81 with which the outer cup, shown at 20' is threadedly engagable. The bushing member 80 has an externally threaded depending lower portion 82 and an externally threaded top portion 83. Lower portion 82 is threadedly engaged in the top portion of main casing 15' with the top rim of casing 15' in abutment with rib 81. A cover cap 84 is threadedly engaged on the top bushing portion 83. An auxiliary cup 21' is nestingly received between cap 84 and outer cup 21', as shown. The bushing member 80 is provided with an inwardly projecting annular rib 31' subjacent top portion 83. A single integral double gasket 33' is interposed between the rim portions 28' of the receptacles 23' and the inwardly projecting rib 31' of the bushing member 80. The gasket 33' is provided with the central diametrical thickened portion 40 which is engaged between the flat portions of the rims 28', shown at 41,41. The central gasket portion 40 is provided with a bottom groove which receives the top edge of the diametrical central partition wall 22' of casing 15'. As shown in FIG. 6, the inner cup or cap 84 exerts downward clamping pressure on the resilient deformable stoppers 35' in the same manner as the cover cap 37 in the previously described embodiment of the invention, and thereby resiliently clamps the receptacles 23' against the spacer members 26, which may be of resilient deformable material, as above-mentioned, to provide cushioned support for the receptacles 23', 23'.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rim portions of the receptacles 23' are provided with outwardly projecting stop ribs 42 to limit the downward displacement of the gasket 33' relative to the mouth portions of the receptacles.

To remove receptacles 23' for cleaning, it is merely necessary to uncover the container, namely, by unscrewing the caps 20' and 84, removing the stoppers 35' and then reaching downwardly into the receptacles 23' and pulling them upwardly out of casing 15'. The basket 33' will follow the receptacles and may be detached to allow the receptacles to be separately cleaned. The container may be reassembled by following a reverse procedure.

FIG. 9 illustrates another form of the invention wherein respective thermally insulated containers of identical construction, shown at 46, 46 are detachably secured together in axial alignment and in end-to-end relationship by means of a connecting sleeve member 47. Thus, each container 46 is of substantially conventional thermally insulated construction and is provided with a covering cup 48 which has internal threads engaged with external threads 49 provided on the casing of the container 46. Each container is provided with a reduced bottom end portion having external threads 50.

Each cup 48 is provided with a reduced top end portion, as viewed in FIG. 9, having external threads 51. The connecting sleeve 47 has an intermediate horizontal partition wall 52, the portion above wall 52 having internal threads 53 which are threadedly engagable with the threads 50 of a thermos container 46 and the lower portion of the sleeve below 64 partition wall 52 having internal threads 54 which are threadedly engageable with the reduced threaded portion 51 of a cup 48. Thus, a pair of thermally insulated containers 46, 46 may be connected together by the provision of a sleeve 47 engaged on the threaded cup portion 51 of the lower container with the threaded portion 50 of the upper container threadedly engaged with the threads 53 in the upper portion of sleeve 47, as shown in FIG. 9.

As above-mentioned, in the arrangement of FIG. 9, the respective thermally insulated containers 46 are of generally conventional construction and are provided with their normal cover caps 55, which are receivable in the reduced upper portions of the cups 48, in the positions of the cups illustrated in FIG. 9.

Obviously, by employing the required number of connector sleeves 47, any number of thermally insulated containers 46 may be connected in end-to-end relationship, thereby providing for a corresponding number of different beverages to be stored.

FIGS. 10 and 11 disclose a further embodiment of the present invention wherein the multiple compartment thermally insulated container is in the form of a double compartment thermally insulated jug whose internal construction is generally similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, except that the container is of substantially greater volume and is provided with a cover cap 60, which corresponds to the cover cap 37 employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4. The container of FIGS. 10 and 11, which is designated generally at 61, therefore comprises a main casing 62 having the reduced neck portion 63 and having the removable bottom cover cap 64 which is threadedly engaged on the lower end portion of casing 62. The top cover 60 is threadedly engaged on the upper portion of the reduced neck 63. Disposed in the casing 62 are the respective substantially semi-cylindrical beverage receptacles 65,65 which are located in respective compartments defined on opposite sides of a central diametral partition wall 66, similar to the partition wall 22 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4. The receptacles 65 have reduced, generally semi-cylindrical top portions 67, a suitable gasket means similar to the gaskets 33,33 may be employed to seal the top portion of the respective air spaces defined between the receptacle 65 and the inside wall surfaces of casing 62 and partition wall 66. Likewise, suitable spacing elements, such as the elements 25 and 26 of FIGS. 1 through 4 may be employed in the bottom portions of the respective compartments to support the bottom ends of the container 65 and to maintain the air space between each receptacle and the adjacent wall surfaces of casing 62 and transverse partition wall 66.

Connected to the lower portion of each receptacle 65 and extending through diametrically opposite portions of casing 62 are respective spigot assemblies 68, 68 for dispensing the liquids contained in the receptacles 65. The spigot assemblies 68 are suitably rigidly secured to opposite portions of the wall of casing 62.

Each receptacle 65 is provided with a suitable stopper which is sealingly engagable in its mouth, for example, with a stopper such as that illustrated in FIG. 12 or 13. Thus, the stopper of FIG. 12, shown generally at 69, may comprise a bottom semi-circular plate member 70 adapted to be received in the generally semi-circular mouth of a receptacle 65 in the manner shown in FIG. 12A. The plate member 70 is provided with an upstanding vertical arm 71 projecting perpendicularly therefrom at its intermediate portion, the arm extending through an aperture 72 in the intermediate portion of a generally semi-circular top plate 73 which is substantially larger than the bottom plate 70 and which is adapted to overlie and be supported on the top rim of the reduced top portion 67 of the associated receptacle 65 in the manner shown in FIG. 13. The bottom plate 70 is formed to define a generally semi-circular seat 74 at its periphery on which is engaged a correspondingly shaped resilient deformable gasket ring 75 whose top surface is engaged by the plate member 73. Pivoted at 76 to the top end of the arm 71 is a cam lever 77, said lever having a pair of depending cam-shaped legs 78, 78 disposed on opposite sides of the arm 71 and pivotally connected thereto at 76 by a transverse pivot pin. As shown in FIG. 13, the pivotal connection 76 is eccentrically located with reference to the camming edge portions of the parallel cam elements 78, 78, said edge portions having flat detent portions 80' at a substantially larger radial distance from the pivotal connection 76 than the lower end of the lever 77 as viewed in FIG. 13. Thus, when the lever 77 is rotated from the upstanding position thereof shown in FIG. 13 to a horizontal position, such as shown at the right side of the lower portion of FIG. 12, the associated lower plate element 70 is pulled upwardly to compress the associated gasket ring 75 and to deform said gasket ring outwardly with sealing force, causing the gasket to sealingly engage the inside surface of the adjacent top receptacle portion 67. The lever 77 is locked in sealing position, namely, in a horizontal position, by the locking engagement of the flat edge portions 80' of its cam elements 78 with the top plate member 73, as is illustrated at the right side of the lower portion of FIG. 12.

Therefore, it will be readily apparent that whenever it is desired to dispense liquid from either receptacle 65, the top cap is removed and the stopper 69 associated with the receptacle from which the desired beverage is to be dispensed is released, allowing the liquid to flow from the associated spigot 68. As shown in FIG. 12, the stopper 69 may be released by rotating its locking lever 77 to an upright position, which relaxes the compressive force on its sealing gasket 75 and therefore allows the stopper assembly to be lifted upwardly and to be disengaged from the mouth of the associated receptacle 65. The stopper may be replaced by employing a reverse procedure.

FIG. 13 illustrates another form of stopper, shown generally at 90, which may be employed in accordance with the present invention. The stopper 90 comprises a generally semicylindrical main body 91 of molded plastic material having an integral peripheral top flange 92. A flat rubber gasket 93 is provided beneath flange 92. Another rubber gasket 94 is suitably cemented to the periphery of body 91 at its intermediate portion, as shown in FIG. 13A.

The stoppers 90 may be used in place of the stoppers 35' of FIG. 5, or in place of the stoppers 35 of FIG. 2, as well as in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved multiple compartment thermally insulated container have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple compartment thermally insulated container comprising a main casing means, partition means defining separate compartments in said main casing means, respective beverage receptacles in said compartments, spacer means supportingly engaging said receptacles and defining sealed air spaces between the receptacles and the adjacent inner surfaces of the main casing means and the partition means, detachable cover means on the main casing means, wherein said main casing means comprises an elongated chamber and said partition means comprises an inner longitudinally extending partition wall in said chamber, said compartments being defined on opposite sides of said partition wall, wherein said chamber is generally cylindrical and said partition wall is diametrically located in said chamber, whereby said compartments are generally semi-cylindrical in shape, wherein said beverage receptacles are generally semi-cylindrical in shape, wherein said spacer means includes resilient deformable gasket means mounted between the rims of the beverage receptacles and the adjacent top edge portions of the chamber and partition wall respectively, resilient upwardly facing cup-like members of heat insulating material supported on the bottom of the chamber and generally conforming in shape with the bottom portions of said compartments, said cup-like members having walls extending upwardly sufficiently to engage between the lower portions of the side walls of the receptacles and the adjacent wall surfaces of the main casing means and partition means, and spacer blocks between the bottoms of the receptacles and the bottom walls of the cup-like members, and respective resilient deformable stoppers in the top ends of the receptacles, said detachable cover means being normally engaged with and exerting force on both of said stoppers to urge the receptacles against said spacer means.

2. The multiple compartment thermally insulated container of claim 1, and wherein the chamber is provided with a removable bottom.

3. The multiple compartment thermally insulated container of claim 1, and wherein said cup-like members are of plastic material.

4. The multiple compartment thermally insulated container of claim 1, and wherein said cup-like members are of resilient deformable material and said spacer blocks are of substantially rigid construction.

5. The multiple compartment thermally insulated container of claim 1, and wherein the chamber is provided with a removable bottom cover cap threadedly engaged with the chamber.

6. The multiple compartment thermally insulated container of claim 5, and wherein the top ends of the receptacles are generally semicircular in shape, said stoppers having substantially semicylindrical main body portions conforming with and received in the top ends of the receptacles and having flanged top portions overlying the top ends of the receptacles.