Drinking mug having an outer grip surface
A drinking mug including a rigid liquid container having a continuous side wall, a closed bottom and an open top. An outer sleeve is disposed around the side wall of the container. The outer sleeve includes a bottom portion that extends beyond the closed bottom of the container and that terminates at a bottom edge. A base member is held in contact with the bottom edge of the outer sleeve and spaced from the closed bottom of the container. A foam layer is disposed between the closed bottom of the container and the base member and extends between the outer sleeve and the side wall of the container.
The present invention is generally related to beverage containers, and more particularly to beverage containers that are designed to maintain the temperature of a held beverage.
BACKGROUNDInsulated drinking mugs are used as an everyday item because of their convenience to a user by virtue of their ability to store and maintain beverages at a relatively constant temperature. Because of their frequent use, it is preferable that mugs provide a soft and decorative outer surface. Thus, it is well known to provide mugs with a removable outer sleeve of foam-like material, with a decorative design printed on the outer sleeve. Since the outer sleeve is removable, it can be replaced with other outer sleeves with different designs.
Although removable outer sleeves are suitable for decorative purposes, they do not provide any appreciable insulating properties to the mug, and ultimately provide only unwanted bulk and awkwardness to the final mug design. This is especially true since the removable sleeves are not completely fastened to the mugs such that the sleeves are free to slide and spin around the inner container as the user handles the mugs. Also, mugs must be designed with a handle member that does not interfere with removal and replacement of the sleeves. Such handles contribute to the instability and unsightliness of the mug design.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved mug design including an outer sleeve that provides functional advantages, such as improved insulation, stability and gripping action, as well as decorative properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA drinking mug according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a rigid liquid container having a continuous side wall, a closed bottom and an open top. An outer sleeve is disposed around the side wall of the container. The outer sleeve includes a bottom portion that extends below the closed bottom of the container and that terminates at a bottom edge. A base member is spaced from the closed bottom of the container and held in contact with the bottom edge of the outer sleeve. A foam layer is disposed between the closed bottom of the container and the base member and extends between the outer sleeve and the side wall of the container.
A method of forming a drinking mug according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, where the drinking mug includes a container having a closed bottom, an open top and a continuous side wall, includes the steps of: forming an outer sleeve, the outer sleeve having a bottom portion that terminates at a bottom edge; inserting the container into the outer sleeve such that the bottom portion of the outer sleeve extends below the closed bottom of the container and a void is formed as defined by the closed bottom of the container and the bottom portion of the outer sleeve; forming a foam layer, the foam layer filling the void and extending between the outer sleeve and the container; and attaching a base member such that the base member is spaced from the closed bottom of the container and held in contact with the bottom edge of the outer sleeve.
In at least one embodiment, the outer sleeve includes an insulating sleeve and a grip sleeve disposed around the insulating sleeve.
These and other features of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSVarious exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein:
The present invention is a drinking mug designed such that a user can easily grip the mug without the need for a handle portion. In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the drinking mug includes an outer layer that is suitably textured such that there is sufficient gripping friction between the user's hand and the mug when in use to preclude slippage therebetween. The outer layer is also preferably somewhat pliant such that the outer layer slightly deforms to the shape of the user's hand as the user applies gripping pressure around the mug. Exemplary embodiments of the inventive mug are explained in further detail below.
As shown most clearly in
The mug 1 also includes a base member, generally designated by the reference numeral 40, having a bottom wall 42 and a cylindrical side wall 44 extending upwardly from the bottom wall 42. As shown in
The mug 1 also includes a somewhat pliant foam layer, generally designated by the reference numeral 50, disposed between the closed bottom 14 of the container 10 and the bottom wall 42 of the base member 40 and extending upwardly between the side wall 12 of the container 10 and the outer sleeve 20. The foam layer 50 provides additional insulation to the mug 1 as well as structural support for the area below the container 10.
The mug may further include a lid, generally designated by the reference numeral 60, that covers the open top 16 of the container 10. As shown in
In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the mug 1 may also include a pad member (not shown) placed on the bottom of the base member 40 to cover the head of the screw 32. Alternatively, the head of the screw 32 may be counter-sunk so that it does not protrude from the bottom of the base member 40.
In a method of assembling the mug 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the outer sleeve 20 is formed separately from the container 10, and then the container 10 is inserted into the sleeve 20. In particular, a sheet of material used to form the insulating sleeve 26, such as a sheet of EVA, is first cut to an appropriate size and then rolled up to form a sleeve. The two extremities of the sheet are then sealed together with, for example, adhesive. The grip sleeve 28 is made in a similar fashion. In particular, a sheet of material used to form the grip sleeve 28, such as a sheet of fabric, is cut to an appropriate size, rolled up and then the two extremities of the sheet are sealed together. The insulating sleeve 26 is then inserted into the grip sleeve 28 to form the outer sleeve 20.
As shown in
The foam layer 50 is then inserted to fill in the void 70 and gaps between the container 10 and the outer sleeve 20. In an embodiment of the invention, the foam layer 50 is formed by in situ polymerization of two or more polymeric materials, such as, for example, polymeric isocyanate and a polyurethane material, to form Styrofoam. The formation of the foam layer 50 creates a slight vacuum between the container 10 and the outer sleeve 20, thereby contributing to the insulating properties of the mug 1. Alternatively, the foam layer 50 may be pre-formed as a solid foam insert, such as by molding or by cutting the foam insert out of a solid foam piece. The base member 40 is then attached to the closed bottom 14 of the container 10 using the threaded screw 32, as discussed above. It should be appreciated that a separate fastening system, such as the above-described combination of the screw 32 and fastener element 34, is not necessary. For example, if the container 10 is made of plastic, the base member 40 may be simply held in place by the glue action of the foam layer 50.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, the outer grip sleeve 28 may include a decorative design, such as a sport team logo or a cartoon character. The outer grip sleeve 28 may also be specially molded or textured to provide indentations and/or protrusions for decorative purposes as well as to provide improved grip.
Now that the preferred embodiments have been shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is to be construed broadly and be limited only by the appended claims, and not by the foregoing specification.
Claims
1. A drinking mug comprising:
- a rigid liquid container having a continuous side wall, a closed bottom and an open top;
- an outer sleeve disposed around the side wall of the container, the outer sleeve having a bottom portion that extends below the closed bottom of the container and that terminates in a bottom edge;
- a base member spaced from the closed bottom of the container and held in contact with the bottom edge of the outer sleeve; and
- a foam layer disposed between the closed bottom of the container and the base member and extending upwardly between the outer sleeve and the side wall of the container.
2. The drinking mug of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve comprises:
- an insulating sleeve; and
- a grip sleeve circumferentially disposed around the insulating sleeve.
3. The drinking mug of claim 1, wherein the container is made of a material comprising stainless steel, plastic, ceramic or a combination thereof.
4. The drinking mug of claim 2, wherein the insulating sleeve is made of foamed plastic.
5. The drinking mug of claim 2, wherein the insulating sleeve is made of ethylvinylacetate (EVA).
6. The drinking mug of claim 2, wherein the grip sleeve is made of a material comprising fabric, paper, rubber, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride or a combination thereof.
7. The drinking mug of claim 2, wherein the grip sleeve is made of fabric.
8. The drinking mug of claim 1, wherein the base member is attached to the closed bottom of the container.
9. The drinking mug of claim 8, further comprising a fastener that attaches the base member to the closed bottom of the container, the fastener including:
- a fastening element disposed on the closed bottom of the container, the fastening element comprising a threaded bore; and
- a screw comprising a screw head and a threaded end, the threaded end extending through an opening in the base member and threadedly engaging the threaded bore of the fastening element.
10. The drinking mug of claim 1, further comprising a lid that removably covers the open top of the container.
11. The drinking mug of claim 1, wherein the container is substantially cylindrical.
12. A method of forming a drinking mug including a container having a closed bottom, an open top and a continuous side wall, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming an outer sleeve, the outer sleeve having a bottom portion that terminates in a bottom edge;
- inserting the container into the outer sleeve such that the bottom portion of the outer sleeve extends beyond the closed bottom of the container and a void is formed as partially defined by the closed bottom of the container and the bottom portion of the outer sleeve;
- forming a foam layer, the foam layer filling the void and extending upwardly between the outer sleeve and the container; and
- attaching a base member such that the base member is spaced from the closed bottom of the container and held in contact with the bottom edge of the outer sleeve.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the outer sleeve comprises an insulating sleeve and a grip sleeve disposed around the insulating sleeve, the step of forming an outer sleeve comprising:
- attaching opposite ends of a sheet of insulating material to one another to form the insulating sleeve;
- attaching opposite ends of a sheet of grip material to one another to form the grip sleeve; and
- inserting the insulating sleeve into the grip sleeve.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the container is made of a material comprising stainless steel, plastic, ceramic or a combination thereof.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the insulating sleeve is made of foamed plastic.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the insulating sleeve is made of ethylvinylacetate (EVA).
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the grip sleeve is made of a material comprising fabric, paper, rubber, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride or a combination thereof.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the grip sleeve is made of fabric.
19. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of attaching the base member to the closed bottom of the container.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of attaching the base member to the closed bottom of the container comprises:
- inserting a threaded end of a screw into an opening formed in the base member; and
- engaging the threaded end of the screw with a threaded bore formed in a fastening element disposed on the closed bottom of the container.
21. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of forming the foam layer comprises in situ polymerization of two or more polymeric materials.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 17, 2005
Publication Date: Apr 26, 2007
Inventor: Jin Xue Bin (Zhongshan)
Application Number: 11/282,072
International Classification: B65D 81/38 (20060101);