Drinking Cup Having Multiple Compartments and Straw Holder
A drinking cup having a vessel, a partition positioned within the vessel and a clip coupled with the vessel. The vessel has a side wall and bottom defining an interior configured to retain liquid. The partition divides the interior of the vessel into at least two compartments. The clip is configured to receive at least one drinking straw.
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to drinking cups. More specifically, the invention relates to a drinking cup having multiple compartments for simultaneously containing multiple liquids, and a storage device for retaining multiple drinking straws to the cup.
2. Description of Related Art
Drinking cups with the ability to retain liquid are well known in the art. Cups are typically manufactured for the particular utilitarian purpose of holding a liquid, they do not typically provide any interest or entertainment value to a user. Instead, cups are simply intended to hold a liquid for a user to drink.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a whimsical drinking cup, intended to be used primarily by children. The cup included multiple compartments within the interior portion, thus allowing the cup to hold multiple liquids simultaneously in the separate compartments. Preferably, the exterior of the cup body is manufactured from a transparent or translucent material so that the contained liquids can be viewed through the body of the cup. A hollow handle attached to the side of the cup allows the cup to be easily held, and further allows liquid from one of the compartments within the cup to flow through the handle so that the liquid is viewable in the handle. A lid, having multiple apertures corresponding to each of the multiple compartments within the cup, allows a straw to be inserted into the corresponding compartment for drinking the liquid from that compartment. A retaining clip on the exterior surface of the cup allows multiple straws to be removably attached to the cup for convenient storage.
In a preferred embodiment, the drinking cup also comprises a stop attached to the exterior of the vessel beneath and in substantially vertical alignment with the clip such that an end of a straw retained by the clip rests against the stop. Preferably, the cup also comprises a lid with apertures sized to receive a drinking straw. The lid may also have flaps movable to cover and uncover the apertures.
Additional aspects of the invention, together with the advantages and novel features appurtenant thereto, will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
Vessel 12 is generally cylindrical in shape, with side wall 22 defining an outer perimeter of the vessel, and bottom 24 attached to side wall 22 around the perimeter at the lower end of vessel 12 to enclose the lower end of the vessel. Partition 14 is affixed to the interior wall of vessel 12 and to bottom 24 to form fluid-tight compartments 32, 34. A hollow handle 26 attached to side wall 22 includes a passageway 31 extending therethough, with upper and lower openings 28, 30 through side wall 22 placing passageway 31 in fluid communication with compartment 34 so that fluid within the compartment will flow into passageway 31 and thus be viewable in the handle. Preferably, vessel 12 and handle 26 are formed integrally, and are made of a transparent or translucent material such as plastic. Similarly, partition 14 is preferably formed integrally with vessel 12, and is preferably made from a transparent or translucent material. Most preferably, partition 14 is made from the same material as vessel 12.
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Of course, other variations of the specific embodiment described are contemplated by the present invention. For example, partition 14 may be configured to divided the interior container portion 13 into more than two compartments. If partition 14 is configured in a “Y” shape, the interior portion would be divided into three compartments, if partition 14 is configured in an “X” shape, the interior portion would be divided into four compartments, and so forth. Or, more than one handle could be included on the cup, so that each compartment has an associated handle through which the liquid within that compartment could be viewed. And, the vessel portion could be made from an opaque material so that the liquid within a compartment is only visible through the transparent handled associated with that compartment. Similarly, the handles could be made from an opaque material, or not include a passage, such that the liquids are only viewable through the transparent vessel 12. These and other variations and configurations are contemplated by, and within the scope of, the present invention.
While partition 14 is preferably formed integrally with vessel 12 and bottom 24, other configurations and variations are contemplated by the present invention. For example, shallow grooves could be formed in side wall 22 and bottom 24 in the interior container portion 13 of vessel 12. Partition 14 could then press-fit within the grooves, or the grooves could include a resilient seal to isolate the adjacent compartments from each other. Thus, partition 14 could be removed from vessel 12 to allow easy and thorough cleaning of the cup.
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Of course, other variations and configurations of the lid, clip, and stop are within the scope of the present invention. For example, clip 20 may be removably attached to vessel 12. And, while two straws are shown, with corresponding compartments and apertures, any number of compartments may be configured within vessel 12. In the case of multiple compartments, lid 16 may be configured with corresponding apertures for each compartment, and clip 18 and stop 20 may be configured to hold multiple straws corresponding to each of the compartments.
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Thus, the cup of the present invention provides a whimsical, practical cup for use by children. The multiple compartments allow multiple liquids to be contained, the transparency of the vessel and handle allow the multiple liquids to be viewed, and the retaining clip and shelf provide integral storage of drinking straws for each of the liquids in the multiple compartments.
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objectives herein above set forth, together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the invention.
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. For example, even though handle 26 is shown in
The term “substantially”, “approximately” or “generally” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation which could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related.
While specific embodiments have been shown and discussed, various modifications may of course be made, and the invention is not limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts and steps described herein, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims. Further, it will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A drinking cup, comprising:
- a vessel having an interior and exterior, said vessel having a top, open end and a bottom, closed end;
- a partition positioned within said vessel, said partition dividing said interior of said vessel into at least two compartments;
- a clip attached to said exterior of said vessel, said clip configured to receive at least one drinking straw; and
- a stop attached to said exterior of said vessel beneath and in substantially vertical alignment with said clip such that an end of a straw received by said clip rests against said stop.
2. The drinking cup of claim 1, wherein said clip is configured to receive two drinking straws.
3. The drinking cup of claim 1, wherein said stop is integral with said vessel.
4. The drinking cup of claim 1, further comprising a lid configured to engage with said top of said vessel and cover said open end.
5. The drinking cup of claim 4, wherein said lid comprises at least one aperture configured to receive a drinking straw, said aperture positioned on said lid to align with one of said compartments when said lid is engaged with said vessel.
6. The drinking cup of claim 5, further comprising a flap hingedly attached to said lid such that said flap is movable to cover and uncover said aperture.
7. The drinking cup of claim 6, further comprising a stopper extending from said flap, said aperture configured to receive said stopper when said flap covers said aperture.
8. The drinking cup of claim 6, further comprising another aperture configured to receive a drinking straw, said other aperture positioned on said lid to align with the other of said compartments when said lid is engaged with said vessel.
9. The drinking cup of claim 8, further comprising another flap hingedly attached to said lid such that said other flap is movable to cover and uncover said other aperture.
10. The drinking cup of claim 1, wherein said vessel further comprises an integral handle, said handle having upper and lower openings in fluid communication with one of said compartments, and said handle having a passageway with a fluid retaining capacity extending between said upper and lower openings.
11. The cup of claim 1, further comprising a frame affixed to said vessel, said frame configured to receive an identifying tag.
12. A cup, comprising:
- a vessel having a side wall and a bottom coupled with said side wall, said side wall and bottom defining an interior configured to retain liquid;
- a partition positioned within said interior of said vessel, said partition dividing said interior into at least two compartments; and
- a clip coupled with said vessel, said clip configured to receive at least one straw.
13. The cup of claim 12, further comprising a stop extending from said vessel beneath said clip such that an end of a straw received by said clip rests against said stop.
14. The cup of claim 12, further comprising a lid configured to engage said side wall opposite said bottom for substantially enclosing said interior.
15. The cup of claim 14, wherein said lid comprises at least one aperture configured to receive a straw, said aperture positioned on said lid to align with one of said compartments when said lid is engaged with said vessel.
16. The cup of claim 15, further comprising a flap hingedly coupled with said lid and movable to cover and uncover said aperture.
17. The cup of claim 1, further comprising a frame affixed to said vessel, said frame configured to receive an identifying tag.
18. A drinking cup, comprising:
- a vessel having an interior and exterior, said vessel having a top, open end and a bottom, closed end;
- means for dividing said interior of said vessel into a plurality of compartments;
- means for receiving a drinking straw, said receiving means coupled with said exterior of said vessel; and
- a stop attached to said exterior of said vessel beneath said receiving means such that an end of a straw received by said receiving means rests against said stop.
19. The drinking cup of claim 18, wherein said dividing means is a partition positioned within said vessel.
20. The drinking cup of claim 18, wherein said receiving means is a clip coupled with said exterior of said vessel and configured to receive a drinking straw.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 25, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 30, 2009
Inventors: Inez Sims (Wichita, KS), Katherine Harris (Wichita, KS)
Application Number: 12/020,153
International Classification: A47G 19/22 (20060101); B65D 1/24 (20060101); B65D 25/28 (20060101);