Drinking container

Abstract

The present invention discloses and claims a drinking container having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion defines an upper orifice, and the lower portion defines a lower orifice. A lid attaches to the upper portion, and a bottom is removably connected to the lower portion. The bottom has a first position for adding contents to the drinking container through the lower orifice and a second position for sealing the lower orifice. The bottom may further include a gripping surface for handling the drinking container.

Description

The present application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/572,680 filed May 21, 2004 entitled “ICE-TO-GO” which is incorporated here for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different types, sizes, and shapes of drinking containers are known in the art. A typical drinking container includes a hollow body, such as a cup or bottle, for holding contents such as liquid and ice. The container generally includes an opening at the top for filling the container with contents and for consuming the contents from the container.

The size of the opening in the container presents a tradeoff in benefits. For example, a smaller opening at the top of the container provides a facilitates easier drinking directly from the container. However, the smaller opening also limits the size of ice that can be added to the container. The smaller opening may also limit the rate at which the container may be filled with liquid. In contrast, a larger opening at the top of the container allows the container to receive larger pieces of ice and facilitates faster filling of the container with liquid; however, the larger opening is considered less desirable for drinking directly from the container.

Some drinking containers may further include a removable lid attached to the opening at the top of the container. The removable lid may further include a smaller opening or flip top to facilitate consumption of the contents. As a result, the container may have a larger opening to accommodate larger pieces of ice and/or faster filling of the container with liquid. The removable lid can then be attached to the opening to effectively reduce the size of the opening for drinking directly from the container.

Although the addition of a removable lid provides some benefits, there still exists a need for an improved drinking container that can quickly receive ice and liquid yet still provide a convenient opening for drinking directly from the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects and advantages of the invention are set forth below in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

A drinking container according to the present invention includes a hollow body having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion defines an upper orifice, and the lower portion defines a lower orifice. The area of the lower orifice is greater than the area of the upper orifice. The drinking container may also include a lid connected to the upper portion and a bottom removably connected to the hollow body. The bottom has a first position for filling the hollow body through the lower orifice and a second position for sealing the lower orifice.

In particular embodiments, the area of the lower orifice may be greater than or equal to approximately 1.7 times the area of the upper orifice. In other particular embodiments, the lid may define an orifice, and the orifice in the lid may have an open position and a shut position. Alternate embodiments of the invention may include a ring disposed between the bottom and lower portion. Other embodiments may include a threaded connection between the bottom and the lower portion. Other embodiments may include a clamp for removably securing the bottom to the lower portion. In alternate embodiments the bottom may include a gripping surface.

An alternate embodiment of a drinking container may include a hollow body having an upper portion connected to a lower portion, with each of the upper and lower portions having a circumference thereof. The drinking container may further include a lid connected to the upper portion and a bottom removably connected to the lower portion. The lower portion circumference is greater than the upper portion circumference.

In specific embodiments, the lower portion circumference may be greater than or equal to approximately 1.3 times the upper portion circumference. The lid may further define an orifice having an open position and a shut position. Other embodiments may include a ring disposed between the bottom and the lower portion. Further embodiments may include a threaded connection between the bottom and the lower portion. In still further embodiments, the drinking container may include a clamp on the lower portion for removably connecting the bottom to the lower portion. In particular embodiments, the bottom may include a gripping surface.

The invention also includes a method for filling a drinking container having an upper portion and a lower portion. The method includes attaching a lid to the upper portion of the drinking container and adding contents to the drinking container through the lower portion. The method further includes attaching a bottom to the lower portion to seal the lower portion and retain the contents in the drinking container.

In alternate embodiments, the method may further include opening the lid and adding additional contents through the upper portion. Particular embodiments may further include inserting a ring between the bottom and the lower portion. Other embodiments may include clamping the bottom to the lower portion to seal the lower portion to retain the contents in the drinking container. Still further embodiments may include threading the bottom on the lower portion to seal the lower portion to retain the contents in the drinking container.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon review of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to present embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

The present invention relates generally to a drinking container 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the drinking container 10 generally includes a hollow body 12, such as a cup or bottle, for holding a liquid. The hollow body 12 may be virtually any shape, such as round, square, or trapezoidal, and may be any size convenient for use. The hollow body 12 may be made from plastic, glass, composite materials, or even metal, such as stainless steel.

The hollow body 12 has an upper portion 14 and a lower portion 16. The upper portion 14 defines an upper orifice 18, and the lower portion 16 defines a lower orifice 20. The area and circumference of the lower orifice 20 is greater than the area and circumference of the upper orifice 18. In particular embodiments, the circumference of the lower orifice 20 may be greater than or equal to approximately 1.3 times the circumference of the upper orifice 18. In other particular embodiments, the area of the lower orifice 20 may be greater than or equal to approximately 1.7 times the area of the upper orifice 18.

The container 10 may further include a lid 22 connected to the upper portion 14 or upper orifice 18. The lid may be any type of lid known in the art for covering the upper orifice 18, such as a screw-on top 24, as shown in FIG. 1, or a snap-on top 26, as shown in FIG. 2. The lid 22 may be removed from the upper portion 14 or upper orifice 18 for drinking directly from the container 10. Alternately, the lid 22 may include an orifice 28, as shown in FIG. 3, or an orifice 30 and flip-top 32, as shown in FIG. 4, for drinking from the container 10 through the orifice in the lid.

The container 10 further includes a bottom 34 that is removably connected to the hollow body 12. In particular embodiments, the bottom 34 may be connected to the lower portion 16, although connection with any portion of the hollow body 12 is within the scope of the present invention. The outer perimeter of the bottom 34 may include a gripping surface 36 to facilitate holding and manipulating the bottom 34.

A fitting 38 between the bottom 34 and lower portion 16 may be used to removably connect the bottom 34 and hollow body 12. The fitting 38 may be a male 40 to female 42 coupling, as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the fitting 38 as a threaded connection 44 between the lower portion 16 and the bottom 34. FIG. 4 illustrates the use of a hinge 46 and latch 48 to removably connect the bottom 34 and lower portion 16. As shown in FIG. 3, a ring 50 or washer may be used between the bottom 34 and lower portion 16 to prevent any leakage through this connection. Other means for removably connecting the bottom and hollow body are known to one of ordinary skill in the art and within the scope of the present invention.

In a first position, the bottom 34 is separate from, removed from, or pivoted away from the hollow body 12 to reveal the lower orifice 20 and allow contents into the container 10. In a second position, the bottom 34 is connected to the hollow body 12 to seal the lower orifice 20 to retain contents in the container 10.

The present invention also provides in improved method for filling a drinking container 10 constructed as shown in FIGS. 1-4. Using any of these embodiments, a user may scoop contents, such as ice or liquid, into the container 10 through the lower orifice 20. The user can then attach the bottom 34 to the lower orifice 20 to seal the lower orifice 20 and retain the contents in the drinking container 10. If desired, the user may open the lid 22 and add additional contents through the upper orifice 18.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of the invention set forth herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A drinking container comprising:

a. a hollow body having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein said upper portion defines an upper orifice and said lower portion defines a lower orifice and wherein the area of said lower orifice is greater than the area of said upper orifice;

b. a lid connected to said upper portion; and

c. a bottom removably connected to said lower portion, wherein said bottom has a first position for filling said hollow body through said lower orifice and a second position for sealing said lower orifice.

2. The drinking container of claim 1, wherein the area of said lower orifice is greater than or equal to approximately 1.7 times the area of said upper orifice.

3. The drinking container of claim 1, wherein said lid defines an orifice.

4. The drinking container of claim 3, wherein said orifice in said lid has an open position and a shut position.

5. The drinking container of claim 1, further including a ring disposed between said bottom and said lower portion.

6. The drinking container of claim 1, further including a threaded connection between said bottom and said lower portion.

7. The drinking container of claim 1, further including a clamp for removably securing said bottom to said lower portion.

8. The drinking container of claim 1, wherein said bottom includes a gripping surface.

9. A method for filling a drinking container having an upper portion and a lower portion comprising:

a. attaching a lid to the upper portion of the drinking container;

b. adding contents to the drinking container through the lower portion; and

c. attaching a bottom to the lower portion to seal the lower portion and retain the contents in the drinking container.

10. The method of claim 9, further including opening the lid and adding additional contents through the upper portion.

11. The method of claim 9, further including inserting a ring between the bottom and the lower portion.

12. The method of claim 9, further including clamping the bottom to the lower portion to seal the lower portion to retain the contents in the drinking container.

13. The method of claim 9, further including threading the bottom on the lower portion to seal the lower portion to retain the contents in the drinking container.

14. A drinking container comprising:

a. a hollow body for holding liquid, said hollow body having an upper portion connected to a lower portion, each of said upper and lower portions having a circumference thereof;

b. a lid connected to said upper portion; and

c. a bottom removably connected to said lower portion;

d. wherein said lower portion circumference is greater than said upper portion circumference.

15. The drinking contain of claim 14, wherein said lower portion circumference is greater than or equal to approximately 1.3 times said upper portion circumference.

16. The drinking container of claim 14, wherein said lid defines an orifice having an open position and a shut position.

17. The drinking container of claim 14, further including a ring disposed between said bottom and said lower portion.

18. The drinking container of claim 14, further including a threaded connection between said bottom and said lower portion.

19. The drinking container of claim 14, further including a clamp on said lower portion for removably connecting said bottom to said lower portion.

20. The drinking container of claim 14, wherein said bottom includes a gripping surface.