Beverage Dispensing Container

Abstract

A hand-held drinking container has a unique shape as a sock. The body looks like a flask and has a screw-on cap on the top into which the liquid drink can be poured. A push spout is located on the “toe” section of the flask. The flask has flat sides and a flat top with curved edge sides joined to the sides and the top. The push spout has a retainer nut thereabout that allows a flexible material in a predetermined shape having a hole therein to be placed over the push spout and secured thereto such as a Xmas sock with a push spout hole therein. This flask and sock combination can then be hung from a hook. In another embodiment, the flask would be made of a flexible plastic bladder material and need not be placed in a sock.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS: NA

Reference to Federally Sponsored Research or Development: NA

Reference to Joint Research Agreements: NA

Reference to Sequence Listing: NA

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to drinking containers, and, more particularly, relates to drinking containers such as flasks, and, in greater particularity, relates to drinking containers having an exterior cover addressing a particular occasion.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Beverage dispensing containers are widely used for many occasions from causal drinking to more formal events. Having alcohol therein restricts it use since many states do not allow open containers in vehicles or in public for drinking.

Both Ebay and Amazon provide numerous examples of beverage dispensing containers for alcohol such as drinking flasks. The typical drinking flask is made of a metal having a top inlet where the liquid is poured in and from which drinking is allowed. The flask is typically about 4 by 6 inches and has a curved shape so it conforms closing to one's body and thus is not readily apparent when covered by clothes. Bringing such a container to sports events has become more problematic since security and restrictions on alcohol from outside the events prevent access. These containers can have various designs on the exterior. To avoid such restrictions some containers such as flasks are disguised as binoculars, bras, books, and can be further be made of plastic to avoid detection or other less disguised designs such as a gun with a holster and horn-shaped containers. This type of prior art is not of concern since the containers of the present invention would most likely be used at a residential setting. The use of flasks without any covering lessens the desire to present such flasks as presents, for example, at a party. One prior art covering was a drinking flask enclosed in a pocket-like bag having a pirate-like design. This design would be used when rum is in the container from such brands as Captain Morgan. Some of the drinking flasks were of soft plastic, and more traditional drinking “flasks” were wine skin bags and an animal-like horn with hanging straps thereon. The only drinking flask associated with Xmas was a flask disguised as a Xmas Bulb.

U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0053574 discloses a drinking flask having a removable cover with a hard tube like structure for drinking that allows air into the flask. U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,995 discloses a drinking flask enclosed within several knit covers. U.S. Pat. No. 7,021,486 discloses a flask having a push lid. U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,831 discloses a flexible container that can be worn on the arm of a runner, for example. A flexible tube can be used to drink from the container while running with a filler plug separately located thereon. These patents or applications are incorporated by reference.

Accordingly, there is a need for a beverage dispensing container adapted for use during a holiday event such as Xmas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Beverage dispensing containers are widely used for many occasions from causal drinking to more formal events. Having a desirable beverage therein adds to the occasion of use whether a party or any other important occasion.

The present invention has a preferred embodiment wherein a drinking container such as a flask has a unique shape as a sock. The body of the flask is made from a hard plastic. The top of the flask has a screw-on cap on a portal into which the liquid drink can be poured. A spout is located on the “toe” section of the flask. The flask has flat sides and a flat top with curved edge sides joined to the sides and the top. The push spout has a retainer nut thereabout that allows a flexible material such as fabric or plastic having a hole therein to be placed over the push spout and secured thereto. The flask may be inserted into an outer container in the shape of a Xmas sock with a push spout hole therein. This flask and sock combination can then be hung from a hook. In another embodiment, the flask would be made of a flexible plastic material and need not be placed in a sock.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel beverage dispensing container.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel beverage dispensing container having a unique shape.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide to provide a novel beverage dispensing container having a unique shape that further fits into a cover.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide to provide to provide a novel beverage dispensing container having a unique shape that further fits into a cover that permits a drinking spout in the cover.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide novel beverage dispensing container that is easily constructed from hard or soft plastic.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide novel beverage dispensing container that is shaped like a Xmas sock or an object used in another holiday event.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the embodiments, which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the beverage dispensing container of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a side view of the beverage dispensing container of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is an end view of the beverage dispensing container of FIG. 1A of the present invention;

FIG. 1D is a top view of the beverage dispensing container of FIG. 1A of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a cover for the beverage dispensing container of FIG. 1A for the present invention in the shape of a sock;

FIG. 3A is a side cross section view of a beverage dispensing container of the present invention being soft plastic; and

FIG. 3B is a side cross section view of a beverage dispensing container of the present invention being soft plastic and having no cap.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Beverage dispensing containers are widely used for many occasions from causal drinking to more formal events. Having a unique styled container adds flavor to any occasion.

Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1D, the present invention has a preferred embodiment wherein a beverage dispensing container 10 such as a flask has a unique shape as a sock flask 12. FIGS. 1B to 1D illustrated various dimensions of the sock flask 12. Although the dimensions clearly show a particular embodiment, other dimensions and variations of such are clearly within the scope of the invention. A body 14 of the flask 12 is made from a hard plastic by a conventional molding process known to those skilled in the art of making plastic bottles, for example. The plastic may be colored, textured, opaque, clear, etc. A top 16 of the flask 12 has a screw-on neck 18. A cap is not shown being conventional. The neck 18 is a portal into which the beverage can be poured. A beverage dispensing outlet 20 maybe a push spout 22 located on a lower or toe section 24 of the flask 12.

The flask 12 has a sock-like shape having an ankle section, a heel section and a toe section. Some of the lines shown illustrate the curved construction and the locations where the curved sections joint the flat sections. The flask 12 has flat sides 26 and 28, not shown, and the flat top 16 with curved edge sides 30 joined to the sides 26 and 28 and the top 16 to present an aesthetic appearing container. The flask 12 has an ankle section 60, a heel section 62 and the toe section 24. In FIG. 1B, the center line through the ankle section 60 and the toe section 24 join at an angle between 100 to 140 degrees, preferably at about 120 degrees. The ankle section 60 is a rectangular box-like section with smooth edges. The heel section 62 in the present embodiment comprises the flat sides 26 and 28 with two curved edge sides 64 and 66 having radii of 6 and 3 inches respectively. The toe section 24 includes also the flat sides 26 and 28 with a curved tip 68 having a radius of 2 inches. The push spout 22 is mounted in the toe section 24.

The push spout 22 has a screw-on retainer cap 32 thereabout that allows a flexible material such as fabric or plastic having a hole 38 therein to be placed over the push spout 22 and secured thereto with a ring 34. The flask 12 may be inserted into an outer container or cover 36 in the shape of a Xmas sock with the push spout hole 38 therein. This flask 12 and sock 36 combination can then be hung from a hook by a strap 40 thereon.

In embodiments as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a flask 50 shown by a cross section may be made of a flexible plastic material with a cap 52 thereon in the form of a bladder in the shape of a sock as discussed above. A hole 56 at the top in the plastic wall can be used to hang the flask. Another embodiment of a flask 70 is shown in FIG. 3B without a neck and cap thereon. An opening 72 includes a sealable device 54 such as a zip lock means to prevent spilling. The spout 22 is connected to one of the walls in the toe section.

In light of the above disclosure, the present invention provides a novel beverage dispensing container 10 having unique shape of a sock. Clearly, other types of shapes are possible and suitable for a particular type of occasion. The present invention provides a novel beverage dispensing container 10 having a unique shape that further fits into a cover styled as a Xmas sock. This unique cover permits a drinking spout to be secured therein. The style of the beverage dispensing container is constructed from hard or soft plastic and may assume many different solid or soft shapes. The present invention thus provides a drinking flask placed inside of a Xmas-like sock that could be hung from a Xmas tree, a mantel or any other appropriate location.

In summary, the hand-held beverage dispensing container comprises a hollow body being shaped as a predetermined object with a beverage dispensing spout located in a lower section and an aperture at the top section of the object for filling. In order to relieve air pressure when dispensing fluid, the cap must be slightly unscrewed. The aperture has a neck with a removable cap thereon. In the preferred embodiment, the dispensing spout is a push spout, but other styles of spouts may be acceptable. Although a hard plastic or soft plastic body is discussed, other materials such as metals may be used in the construction thereof such as shown in conventional drinking flasks. In the present invention, the drinking flask is shaped like a sock and has a cover also shaped like a sock to provide a novel combination. The cover may be of different colored fabrics or soft plastic, for example, upon which decorations, logos, etc. can be placed. The cover includes a hole therein located at the bottom for the spout. The body of the flask has substantially flat sides having sufficient space thereon for a placement of symbols, words or other indications. Such indications may be further included on the cover. The hand-held beverage dispensing container may be shaped with a body up to approximately 5 inches in width and 14 inches in height and to 2 inches thick. Clearly, other dimensions are possible. The volume of the container may range from between 0.5 and 2.5 liters, preferably about 2.25 liters, but clearly other volumes are possible. Due to its unique shape, a hanging device should be included thereon such as a looped strap or a hole through the plastic body. If the container is made of soft plastic, an opening on the top thereof may be without a capped aperture, but may be still sealable such as by a zip lock. The method of providing a unique beverage dispensing container is as disclosed above.

Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A hand-held beverage dispensing container, said beverage dispensing container comprising a body being shaped as a predetermined object with a beverage dispensing spout located in a lower section and an aperture in a top section of the object for pouring beverage therein.

2. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein said body is hard plastic.

3. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein said body is soft plastic.

4. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein said predetermined object is shaped as a sock having an ankle section, a heel section and a toe section, an angle between the ankle section and the toe section being between 100 to 140 degrees, preferably 120 degrees.

5. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 4, wherein said predetermined object is shaped as a Xmas sock.

6. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 1, further including a removable cover for said container.

7. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 6, further said cover being shaped as a sock, and including a hanging device thereon.

8. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 7, wherein said cover is shaped as a Xmas sock.

9. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 6, wherein said cover includes a hole therein located at the bottom on thereof for the spout.

10. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 8, wherein said Xmas sock includes a hole therein located at the bottom of the sock for the spout.

11. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein said spout further includes a nut-like device for securing a cover thereto.

12. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein said dispensing spout is a push spout.

13. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 6, further including a hanging device thereon.

14. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein said body has substantially flat sides having sufficient space thereon for a placement of symbols, words or other indications.

15. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 1, said container having a sufficient interior volume being between 0.5 and 2.5 liters.

16. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 3, wherein a top opening is sealable.

17. The hand-held beverage dispensing container as defined in claim 1, wherein said body is up to approximately 5 inches in width and 14 inches in height and 1 to 2 inches thick.

18. A method for providing a hand-held beverage dispensing container, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a body being shaped as a predetermined object with a beverage dispensing spout located in a lower section of the object and a sealable aperture in a top thereof; and

providing a cover for said body, said cover having a aperture for the dispensing spout therein.

19. The method as defined in claim 18, further:

providing said predetermined object as a sock.

20. The method as defined in claim 19, further providing said predetermined object as a Xmas sock.