DRINKING APPARATUS AND METHOD

Abstract

An apparatus for use in drinking liquid includes first and second drinking vessels. A connector extends between the drinking vessels. A passage may be provided in the connector. Two people can drink from the drinking apparatus at one time. When two people are drinking from the drinking apparatus, liquid flows between the passage in the connector and the first and second drinking vessels.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the May 7, 2007 filing date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/927,840. The disclosure in the aforementioned provisional application is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and improved drinking apparatus from which two or more people can simultaneously drink.

Drinking vessels, such as glasses, are commonly provided to facilitate the drinking of a liquid by a single person. This may, in some circumstances at least, result in a lack of social interaction while a person is drinking the liquid. Under certain conditions, it would be advantageous to have a drinking apparatus and method which promotes social interaction between individuals while they drink a liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus and method for use in drinking a liquid. The apparatus includes first and second drinking vessels which are interconnected by a connector which extends between the vessels. A passage may be provided in the connector and may be connected in fluid communication with the drinking vessels. This passage, when provided, enables liquid to flow between the connector and the first and second drinking vessels during drinking from the vessels.

When the apparatus is to be utilized, a first person grips the first drinking vessel and a second person grips the second drinking vessel. The mouths of the two people engage their respective drinking vessels and the drinking vessels are tipped toward their mouths. This enables the two people to simultaneously drink from the two vessels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic pictorial illustration depicting the manner in which a drinking apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention may be gripped by two people;

FIG. 2 is a schematic pictorial illustration depicting the manner in which the two people of FIG. 1 may simultaneously drink from the drinking apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic illustration of a portion of the drinking apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic illustration of a joint which is utilized to interconnect sections of the drinking apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic illustration depicting the manner in which a passage in a connector portion of the drinking apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 is connected in fluid communication with a drinking vessel; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary schematic illustration depicting a baffle disposed at an outlet portion of the passage in the connector portion of the passage in the drinking apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Preferred Embodiments of the Invention A drinking apparatus 10 may be used by two persons 12 and 14 (FIG. 1) to drink a liquid contained in the drinking apparatus. When the two people 12 and 14 are to utilize the drinking apparatus 10, the drinking apparatus is first filled with a suitable liquid or beverage. One of the people, for example the person 12, manually grips a first drinking vessel 18 while a second person 14 grips a second drinking vessel 20.

The two people 12 and 14 then raise the drinking vessels 18 and 20 to their lips at the same time, in the manner illustrated schematically in FIG. 2. The two drinking vessels 18 and 20 are then simultaneously tipped toward the mouths of the two people 12 and 14. This results in the two people 12 and 14 simultaneously drinking from the vessels 18 and 20. The two drinking vessels 18 and 20 are of the same size and have the same configuration.

In addition to the drinking vessels 18 and 20, the drinking apparatus 10 includes a connector portion 24 (FIG. 3). The straight connector portion 24 extends between the first and second drinking vessels 18 and 20 and holds them in a fixed spatial relationship relative to each other. Thus, the left (as viewed in FIG. 3), end portion 26 of the rigid connector portion 24 is fixedly connected to a side wall 28 of the first drinking vessel. The opposite or right (as viewed in FIG. 3) end portion 30 of the rigid connector portion 24 is fixedly connected to a side wall 32 of the drinking vessel 20.

The rigid connector portion 24 transmits force between the drinking vessels 18 and 20. Therefore, when one of the drinking vessels 18 or 20 is tipped, the other drinking vessel is also tipped. When two people 12 and 14 (FIG. 2) are drinking from the drinking vessels 18 and 20, both drinking vessels are tipped to the same extent. This is because the connector portion 24 maintains the drinking vessels 18 and 20 in the same spatial relationship relative to each other.

In accordance with one of the features of the illustrated embodiment of the drinking apparatus 10, the straight connector portion 24 is a conduit and includes a passage 38. The passage 38 is linear and is connected in fluid communication with the first drinking vessel 18 and the second drinking vessel 20. The passage 38 enables liquid to flow between the connector portion 24 and the drinking vessels 18 and 20. Although the passage 38 is linear, it may have a nonlinear configuration if desired. It is contemplated that the passage 38 may be omitted from the connector portion 24.

When the drinking apparatus 10 is filled with liquid in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1, the passage 38 is also filled with liquid. When the people 12 and 14 drink from the vessels 18 and 20, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2, liquid flows from the passage 38 in the connector portion 24 into the two drinking vessels 18 and 20. Therefore, as the level of liquid in the drinking vessels is lowered by drinking from the vessels, the volume of liquid in the passage 38 is reduced.

When the drinking apparatus 10 is filled with liquid, in the manner illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, the volume of liquid in the drinking apparatus exceeds the volume of liquid held by the two drinking vessels 18 and 20 by an amount corresponding to the amount of liquid contained in the passage 38. The two drinking vessels 18 and 20 each hold the same volume of liquid. The passage 38 holds a volume of liquid which is slightly smaller than the volume of liquid which can be held by one of the vessels 18 or 20.

To facilitate construction and cleaning of the drinking apparatus 10, the drinking apparatus is formed as two sections, that is, a left section 44 and a right section 46 (FIG. 3). A joint 52 (FIG. 4) is provided to interconnect the left section 44 and the right section 46. The passage 38 extends through the joint 52.

It is contemplated that the joint 52 may have many different constructions. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the joint 52 is of the telescopic type and includes a socket portion 56 which telescopically receives a plug portion 58. The passage 38 extends through the socket portion 56 and the plug portion 58 of the joint 52. Therefore, when the plug portion 58 is telescopically inserted into the socket portion 56, the passage 38 extends through the joint 52. When the socket portion 56 and plug portion 58 are telescopically interconnected, the joint 52 is disposed midway between the first and second drinking vessels 18 and 20.

A baffle 64 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is provided in an outlet portion 66 of the passage 38. The baffle 64 retards the flow of liquid between the passage 38 and the drinking vessel 18. This results in a dampening of fluid flow between the passage 38 and the drinking vessel 18. The baffle 64 prevents slight tilting movements of the drinking vessel 18 from causing rapid flow of fluid between the passage 38 and the drinking vessel.

The baffle 64 divides an opening between the passage 38 and the drinking vessel 18 into a relatively large upper portion 72 and a relatively small lower portion 74 (FIG. 6). It should be noted that the passage 38 has the same generally oval cross sectional configuration throughout its extent, that is, throughout the connector portion 24 of the drinking apparatus 10. Although the opening in the outlet portion 66 has an overall oval configuration, it should be understood that the opening may have a different configuration if desired. For example, the opening may have a circular configuration. Of course, the passage 38 would have the same cross sectional configuration as the opening between the passage and the drinking vessel 18.

Although only the baffle 64 formed between the first drinking vessel 18 and the passage 38 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, it should be understood that a second baffle is provided between the passage 38 and the second drinking vessel 20. The second baffle has the same configuration as the baffle 64. The second baffle divides a generally oval opening into upper and lower portions corresponding to the upper and lower portions 72 and 74 of the opening between the first drinking vessel 18 and the passage 38. It is contemplated that the baffles 64 may be omitted if desired.

The vessels 18 and 20 are provided with identical flanges 80 and 82 (FIG. 3). The flanges 80 and 82 facilitate manual gripping of the drinking vessels 18 and 20 by the people 12 and 14. In addition, the flanges 80 and 82 provide references for visually comparing the volumes of liquid in the drinking vessels 18 and 20. The flanges 18 and 20 also provide a decorative effect for the drinking vessels 18 and 20. Of course, the flanges 18 and 20 may be omitted if desired.

The left and right sections 44 and 46 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of the drinking apparatus 10 are each advantageously molded as one piece of clear polymeric material. The polymeric material which forms the left and right sections 44 and 46 of the drinking apparatus 10 is transparent. Since the drinking apparatus 10 is transparent, the level of liquid in the drinking vessels 18 and 20 is clearly visible. In addition a flow of liquid between the passage 38 in the connector portion 24 and the drinking vessels 18 and 20 can be viewed during drinking of liquid from the vessels by two people 12 and 14. In one specific embodiment of the invention, the drinking apparatus 10 was injection molded as two pieces of clear acrylic plastic. Of course, the drinking apparatus 10 may be formed in a different manner using different materials if desired.

In view of the foregoing description, it is apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved apparatus 10 and method for use in drinking a liquid. The apparatus 10 includes first and second drinking vessels 18 and 20 which are interconnected by a connector 24 which extends between the vessels. A passage 38 may be provided in the connector and may be connected in fluid communication with the drinking vessels 18 and 20. This passage 38, when provided, enables liquid to flow between the connector 24 and the first and second drinking vessels 18 and 20 during drinking from the vessels.

When the apparatus 10 is to be utilized, a first person 12 grips the first drinking vessel 18 and a second person 14 grips the second drinking vessel 20. The mouths of the two people 12 and 14 engage their respective drinking vessels 18 and 20 and the drinking vessels are tipped toward their mouths. This enables the two people 12 and 14 to simultaneously drink from the two vessels 18 and 20.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in drinking liquid, said apparatus comprising a first drinking vessel, a second drinking vessel, and a straight conduit extending between said first and second vessels, said conduit having a linear passage which is connected in fluid communication with said first and second drinking vessels to enable liquid to flow between said conduit and said first and second drinking vessels during drinking from said apparatus.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including a first baffle which retards flow of liquid between said conduit and said first drinking vessel and a second baffle which retards flow of liquid between said conduit and said second drinking vessel.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first baffle has a side surface which forms a portion of a side surface of said first drinking vessel and said second baffle has a side surface which forms a portion of a side surface of said second drinking vessel.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including a releasable connection at a center portion of said conduit to interconnect a first portion of said conduit connected with said first drinking vessel and a second portion of said conduit connected with said second drinking vessel, said releasable connection being releasable to facilitate cleaning of said apparatus.

5. An apparatus for use in drinking liquid, said apparatus comprising a first drinking vessel, a second drinking vessel, and a connector which extends between and interconnects said first and second drinking vessels.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further including a passage extending through said connector and connecting said first drinking vessel in fluid communication with said second drinking vessel.

7. A method comprising the steps of providing a drinking apparatus having first and second drinking vessels which are interconnected by a rigid connector which extends between the vessels, a first person gripping the first drinking vessel, a second person gripping the second drinking vessel, engaging the first drinking vessel with lips of the first person, contemporaneously therewith, engaging the second drinking vessel with lips of the second person, tipping the first drinking vessel toward the mouth of the first person, tipping the second drinking vessel toward the mouth of the second person, and the first and second persons simultaneously drinking from the first and second drinking vessels.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 further including the steps of conducting a flow of liquid from a passage in the rigid connector into the first drinking vessel while the first person is drinking from the first drinking vessel and conducting a flow of liquid from the passage in the rigid connector into the second drinking vessel while the second person is drinking from the second drinking vessel.