MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT MUG WITH LID

Abstract

A travel cup includes a cup base or body portion divided in volume by at least one partition, an inner cup lid having openings placed vertically there through, the inner cup lid removably attached to the top inside rim of the cup base or body, an outer cup lid having openings placed vertically there through, the outer cup lid removably seated within the vertically extending body of the inner cup lid, and a friction plug connector to connect the outer lid in seated position against the inner lid such that the outer lid may be rotated against friction of the lid interface, the friction induced by the friction plug connector.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

N/A

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of travel cups and pertains particularly to methods and apparatus for a reusable travel cup having multiple watertight compartments.

2. Description of Related Art

In the art of reusable travel cups, there are many shapes and styles: cups with handles and screw-on lids, cups made of paper with plastic snap-on tops and various types of holes for straws and for drinking, and cups that are insulated to keep liquids cold or warm.

One detriment to all of these reusable cups is that each one is designed to hold only one type of liquid at a time which must then be cleaned and refilled each time a first liquid is finished and a new liquid is added. Many times, an athlete may go to a gym for a workout and have multiple vitamin, protein, or electrolyte liquids for before, during, and after a workout. This situation causes the athlete to fill and carry multiple cups or bottles to each workout, clean multiple containers after each workout, and overcrowd the athlete's workout bag that is already over-packed with clothes, shoes, and other items.

Therefore, what is clearly needed is a single cup with multiple compartments for storing separate liquids, one unit for space saving, and one adjustable lid for simple easy access to different liquids at different times.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a travel cup is provided and includes a cup base or body portion divided in volume by at least one partition, an inner cup lid having openings placed vertically there through, the inner cup lid removably attached to the top inside rim of the cup base or body, an outer cup lid having openings placed vertically there through, the outer cup lid removably seated within the vertically extending body of the inner cup lid, and a friction plug connector to connect the outer lid in seated position against the inner lid such that the outer lid may be rotated against friction of the lid interface, the friction induced by the friction plug connector.

In one embodiment, the cup base or body portion, the inner and outer lids, and the plug connector are molded of a food grade plastic material. In another embodiment, the cup base or body portion, the inner and outer lids, and the plug connector are fabricated of a food grade metallic material. In a further embodiment, the cup base or body portion, the inner and outer lids, and the plug connector are fabricated from a combination of plastic and metallic materials.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner lid has at least two drink openings and at least two straw openings wherein one drink opening, and one straw opening provide access to one liquid compartment created by partitioning. In this embodiment, the outer lid has one drink opening and one straw opening, the drink opening align able to individual ones of the at least two drink openings on the inner lid, and wherein the straw opening is alignable to individual ones of the at least two straw openings on the inner lid.

In one embodiment, the inner cup lid is threaded into the top inside rim of the cup base or body. In one embodiment, the partitioning within the cup base or body creates two or more compartments each having substantially equal volume, each able to contain a liquid. In one embodiment, the travel cup further including an inward chamfer formed around the top of the outer lid for user comfort when drinking from the travel cup.

In one embodiment, the friction plug connector is adjustable to produce more or less friction against the inner and outer lids. In all embodiments, the at least one partition has at least two outside edges that conform to the inside wall of the cup base or body creating isolated watertight compartments able to contain liquids. In all embodiments, the friction produced by the friction plug connector prevents liquid from leaking through the lid interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a travel cup with multiple compartments for containing liquids.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the travel cup of FIG. 1 assembled.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective of a travel cup with multiple compartments for containing liquids according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the travel cup of FIG. 3 assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In various embodiments described in enabling detail herein, the inventor provides a unique reusable travel cup having multiple accessible storage compartments for containing liquids. One goal of the invention is to provide a travel cup having more than one internal compartment for containing liquids that may each be accessible through uniquely designed openings. Another goal is to provide the travel cup in different sizes and having a different number of liquid containment compartments.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a travel cup 100 with multiple compartments for containing liquids. In this embodiment, travel cup 100 includes four basic parts. Travel cup 100 includes a cup base portion 106, an inner lid 104, an outer lid 103, and plug connector 101. In one embodiment, travel cup 100 may be a food grade plastic molded product. In another embodiment, travel cup 100 and basic components introduced above may be fabricated from a metal like food grade stainless steel, or collectively, a combination of materials may be considered, for example, a steel base portion and plastic lids or a plastic form for the base portion with stainless steel lids.

Cup base 106 includes a female thread pattern 107 provided around the inside rim of cup base portion 106. Inner lid 104 includes a male thread pattern provided around the periphery of the interfacing side of the lid. In a preferred embodiment, inner lid 105 is threaded onto cup base portion 106 and forms a watertight seal. In this embodiment, cup base portion 106 has a plurality of compartment partition walls 108a, 108b, and 108c depicted in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, partitions 108a, 108b, and 108c intersect at the center of cup base portion 106 and are angularly arrayed or fixed at one hundred and twenty (120) degrees apart the outer edges of the three partitions 108a, 108b, and 108c conforming to the inside wall of cup base portion 106 in a water tight manner. In this case, three liquid containers of equal volume are formed that may be leveraged to isolate three separate liquids in cup 100 in a watertight manner. Liquids may include but are not limited to energy drinks, vitamin waters, protein shakes, or other desired liquid mixtures.

Inner lid 104 includes a vertical rim of a predisposed height that has an inside diameter just smaller than the outside diameter of outer lid 103. In this way, inner lid 104 provides an annular friction seat for outer lid 103 to rest inside. The upper surface of inner lid 104 and the lower surface outer lid 103 are smooth and flat enough so that outer lid 103 may be turned 360 degrees in either direction while seated within inner lid 104.

Outer lid 103 may include a chamfer 102 provided around the top inside diameter that may provide comfort to the lips of a user drinking from cup 100 and that may reduce spillage of liquids by a user when using a drink opening like drink opening 110 provided through both lids. Outer lid 103 also has at least one drinking straw opening 109. Outer lid 103 further includes an opening 111 substantially at center for plug connector 101. Plug connector 101 is employed to fasten or connect outer lid 103 seated flush with the inner lid 104 and to produce a frictional interface between the lids.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a travel cup analogous to cup 100 of FIG. 1 assembled. In this embodiment travel cup 200 is assembled with outer lid 103 seated down inside inner lid 104. Cup base portion 106 of FIG. 1 is not visible in this view. The inner lid 104 is covered by the rim portion of outer lid 103. It may be assumed in this embodiment that there are three equal volume compartments for containing three separate liquids as described further above relative to cup 100 of FIG. 1.

In this embodiment, inner lid 104 has three straw access openings provided there through and spaced at roughly the same degree pattern as compartment partitions 108 (a-c) giving access through the inner lid to each of the isolated liquids. Straw openings 109 (a-c) are depicted in broken boundary lines to illustrate that they are below the outer lid bottom surface. Outer lid 103 has straw opening 109 placed on an identical bolt circle as straw openings 109 (a-c). Straw opening 109 is rotated off and out of alignment with any of straw openings 109 (a-c), however, a user may rotate outer lid 103 left or right to align straw opening 109 with any of the three straw openings 109 (a-c) placed through the inner lid 104 to gain drinking access by straw to any of the three described liquid compartments.

The bolt circle containing the straw openings is substantially smaller than a bolt circle containing drink openings depicted herein as drink openings 110a, 110b, and 110c placed through inner lid 104. In this embodiment, a drink opening 110 in outer lid 103 is rotated to be in alignment with drink opening 110a placed through inner lid 104 giving a user drinking access to one of the three separate liquid compartments within the body of the cup. The bolt circles containing the drinking openings and the straw openings are concentric to each other and to the center of the cup occupied by connector plug 101.

Drink openings 110(a-c) in inner cup 104 are collectively located proximal to the outside peripheral edge the underlying surface of inner cup 104. In this embodiment, they are spaced 120 degrees apart like straw openings 109 (a-c) and the partitioned liquid compartments identified in FIG. 1 above. The patterns are offset relative to the straw access openings 109(a-c) and openings 110(a-c) so that just one of any drink opening or straw opening may be accessed by the user at any one time by correctly rotating the outer lid to align the desired openings for the desired liquid compartment. Therefore, in this view, drinking opening 110 in outer lid 103 is aligned over drinking opening 110a in inner lid 104 while drink openings 110b and 110c are in a closed or non-aligned position.

A rotation of 120 degrees of outer lid 103 in a clockwise direction will open another drink opening 110 (110b) or counterclockwise will open 110 (110c). A rotation of 60 degrees in a clockwise direction will open a straw access opening 109 (109b) or counterclockwise will open straw access opening 109 (109c). Straw access opening 109a and drink opening 110a of inner lid 104 provide access to the same isolated or partitioned liquid compartment, straw access opening 109b and drink opening 110b provide access to a second liquid compartment of the same volume, and straw access opening 109c and drink opening 110c to a third liquid compartment of the same volume. The open volume of liquid is determined by the rotation of outer lid 103 and matching a hole opening on outer lid 103 with a like hole opening on inner lid 104.

Plug connector 101 is frictionally loose enough so that outer lid 103 may rotate inside of inner lid 104 but frictionally snug so that there is no leakage between the lids or an inadvertent disconnect between outer lid 103 and inner lid 104 when in use or stored. In one embodiment, the frictional connector plug 101 is adjustable to produce more or less friction force against the inner and outer lids. It is also important to note that there are any number of ways the inventor may provide markings on the outer lid 103 or inner lid 104 to distinguish each separate volume section for the user.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective of a travel cup 300 with multiple compartments for containing liquids according to another embodiment of the invention. Cup 300 has a cup base portion 306 that is divided into two equal volume liquid compartments by a single partition 308. Like cup 100 and 200, travel cup 300 has a female thread pattern 307 around the inside top ring of the cup that matches an external male tread pattern 305 on the outer lower periphery of an inner lid 304 for purpose of assembly.

Outer lid 304 includes a chamfer 302, a drink opening 310, a straw access opening 309, and an opening for plug connector 311, which are all analogous to the descriptions given of the corresponding elements in travel cup 100, lid 104 of FIG. 1. A plug connector 301 is provided to connect outer lid 303 to inner lid 304 when assembled.

In this embodiment, the openings are numbered in the inner lid to one straw opening to each liquid compartment and on drink opening to each liquid compartment. A user rotation of 180 degrees of the outer lid 303 clockwise or counter-clockwise aligns a drink opening 310, depicted here aligned with one of the drink openings in the inner lid 304 with the other drink opening in inner lid 304 or the opposite liquid compartment. From this position the user may rotate the outer lid 303 ninety-degrees clockwise or counterclockwise to align straw opening 309 with either straw openings in the inner lid 304. Connector plug 301 and partition 308 function as their counterparts plug connector 101 and partitions 108(a-c) of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a travel cup 400 analogous to travel cup 300 of FIG. 3 assembled. Outer lid 303 is situated above inner lid 304 so only the outer lip of inner lid 304 is visible. Outer lid 303 is connected to inner lid 304 by plug connector 301.

Straw access openings 309a and 309b are shown in the off position, and, when outer lid 304 is rotated either direction 90 degrees, straw access opening 309 may aligned with one of the straw access openings 309a or 309b.

Drink opening 310 (310a) is shown in the open position. A rotation of outer lid 303 of 90 degrees counterclockwise will close drink opening 310 (310a) to a compartment, or counterclockwise rotation will open straw access opening 309 (309) in a second volume. A rotation of outer lid 303 of 180 degrees will also open a new drink opening 310 (310b) in a second volume on the opposite side of cup assembly 400 and allow access for drinking out of a second volume. In this embodiment, straw access openings 309a and 309b are on opposite sides of the same diameter line, and drink openings 310a and 310b are also opposite each other. The partition 308 (not visible) runs diagonally in this view.

Variations in other embodiments may include but are not limited to having unequal liquid compartment volumes. In one embodiment, more than three liquid compartments may be provided within the cup base portion. In one embodiment openings through the outer and inner lids may vary in shape and diameter and pattern placement or configuration without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, an accessory like a pour spout may be provided as a plastic molded part and snapped or pressed into an opening for liquid poring purposes.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that the arrangement of elements and functionality for the invention is described in different embodiments in which each is exemplary of an implementation of the invention. These exemplary descriptions do not preclude other implementations and use cases not described in detail. The Uses and methods depicted within this description are purely emblematic of definitive ways in which to build and operate this invention and are not to be understood to be limiting of scope in any way. While the uses and methods have been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many alterations could be made in the details of the construction and the arrangement of the apparatus and its components without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A travel cup comprising:

a cup base having an inner volume divided by at least one partition;

a cup lid comprising an inner lid having at least first and second openings providing access to the volume, the inner cup lid removably attached to a top inside rim of the cup base and an outer lid having openings providing access to the inner lid, the outer lid seated and aligned with the inner lid;

wherein either the first or second opening is selected by rotating the outer lid against the inner lid, thereby selectively changing location of through openings to the volume from the outer lid.

2. The travel cup of claim 1, wherein a friction plug connector connects the outer lid in seated position against the inner lid.

3. The travel cup of claim 1, wherein the cup base and the inner and outer lids are fabricated of any one of a food grade plastic material and a food grade metallic material.

4. The travel cup of claim 1, wherein the cup base and the inner and outer lids are fabricated from a combination of plastic and metallic materials.

5. The travel cup of claim 1, wherein the inner lid has at least two drink openings and at least two straw openings wherein one drink opening, and one straw opening provide access to one liquid compartment created by partitioning.

6. The travel cup of claim 5, wherein the outer lid has one drink opening and one straw opening, the drink opening is alignable to individual ones of the at least two drink openings on the inner lid, and the straw opening is alignable to individual ones of the at least two straw openings on the inner lid.

7. The travel cup of claim 1, wherein the inner cup lid is threaded into the top inside rim of the cup base.

8. The travel cup of claim 1, wherein the partitioning within the cup base creates two or more compartments each having substantially equal volume, each able to contain a liquid.

9. The travel cup of claim 1 further including an inward chamfer formed around a top of the outer lid for user comfort when drinking from the travel cup.

10. The travel cup of claim 2, wherein the friction plug connector is adjustable to produce more or less friction against the inner and outer lids.

11. The travel cup of claim 1, wherein the at least one partition has at least two outside edges that conform to the inside wall of the cup base creating isolated watertight compartments able to contain liquids.

12. The travel cup of claim 2, wherein the friction produced by the friction plug connector prevents liquid from leaking through the lid interface.