CONTAINER ASSEMBLY WITH ORIENTATION REFERENCING FEATURE AND METHOD

Abstract

A beverage container assembly enhances a user's ability to manually orient the assembly for safe, spill-free beverage consumption. The assembly includes a beverage container and a lid construction. The beverage container includes select outer container wall surfacing outfitted with certain tactilely distinguishable surfacing. The lid construction includes a primary beverage outlet. The lid construction is attachable to the beverage container such that the primary beverage outlet is situated in superior adjacency to the select outer container wall surfacing. The select outer container wall surfacing including the primary tactile-referencing structure, is in inferior adjacency to the primary beverage outlet for enhancing a user's ability to reference the primary beverage outlet. The container assembly may be supported by a support structure outfitted with structure that mates with the container assembly for preventing re-orientation of the container assembly once supported.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a beverage container assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a beverage container assembly outfitted with distinctive tactile surfacing so as to enable the user to manually re-orient the container assembly in a preferred direction by sensing the tactilely diverse surfacing thereby enabling the user to reduce the likelihood of spillage.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

The broad field of lids for hot beverage containers and hot beverage container assemblies inclusive of lids is exceedingly well-developed. The art relating to means for preventing scalding of beverage consumers (by way of preventing spillage of hot beverages from beverage containers, for example) is a bit more limited. It is most difficult to pinpoint the most pertinent art relevant to the present invention given the wide swath of art swept by beverage container constructions and developments. Nevertheless, some of the more pertinent prior is believed to be briefly described hereinafter.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,493 ('493 Patent), which issued to Robinson, for example, discloses an Integrally Molded Measurer Dispenser. The '493 Patent describes a closure providing a side wall having first and second distal ends, an inner surface and an outer perimeter. A cone-shaped divider projects inwardly and upwardly from a lower perimeter of the side wall and includes a drain-back orifice therethrough. The cone-shaped divider further includes an apex having an opening therethrough. The closure further provides a lid pivotally attached at an outer diameter thereof to the outer perimeter of the side wall first distal end by an integral hinge. The lid includes a shaped substantially conforming to the side wall perimeter.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,390 ('390 Patent), which issued to Kemp, discloses a Container Lid with Cooling Reservoir. The '390 Patent describes a container lid with a cooling reservoir for releasably covering a disposable cup containing a hot beverage. The cooling reservoir includes a side wall with a small opening to allow a small volume of the hot beverage to pass into the cooling reservoir in which the beverage sufficiently cools down to enable the consumer to sip the beverage.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,448,510 ('510 Patent), which issued to Pavlopoulos, discloses a Cup Assembly having a Cooling Compartment. The '510 Patent describes a cup assembly comprising a cup and a lid to define therebetween a first passage and a second passage to allow a liquid cooling compartment between the lid and the cup to be filled with liquid contained in the cup when the first passage is clear and the second passage is blocked and the liquid in the liquid cooling compartment is able to flow out of an outlet in communication with the liquid cooling compartment when the second passage is clear and the first passage is blocked.

United States Patent Application No. 2007/0062943, which was authored by Bosworth, Sr., describes a container lid for a cup-type beverage which includes within the lid a disc-shaped media in which the lid is adapted to be releasably affixed to the beverage container and where the lid is protected from the beverage within the container and wherein the disc may be removed from the lid and utilized for entertainment purposes.

United States Patent Application No. 2010/0264150, which was authored by Leon et al., describes a disposable beverage cup comprising a ledge between the cup's rim and the grasping portion of the cup that is commonly held in the user's hand. The ledge, which comprises a curb, a horizontal plane, and one or more indentations, acts as a barrier between the user's hand and other objects, preventing a lid that has been press fit onto the cup's rim from being dislodged. In order to remove the lid, the user must insert a finger and/or thumb into the indentation(s) and press upward on the lid. The cup has a contour between the ledge and the grasping portion with ergonomic features to increase the user's comfort in handling the cup.

United States Patent Application No. 2010/0320220, which was authored by Hussey et al., describes a plastic lid for a drinks container, for example, a coffee cup. The plastic lid is provided with an ancillary access facility in the form of an opening or a part of the lid easily removable to form an opening. The ancillary access facility allows a person to drink from the container without removal of the lid. After the ancillary access facility has been cleaned or de-contaminated it is protected by the application of a protective cover.

The protective cover may have a variety of shapes, for example, it may cover the entire lid or it may cover only a selected part of the lid, for example, only the area of the lid involving the ancillary access facility. The protective cover protects the ancillary access facility from the inadvertent transfer of germs to the drinking area by the person dispensing the drinks as they push the lid down with their hands to seal the lid to the container top. The protective covers are arranged to be easily stripped from the lid by the application of mere finger pressure.

From a consideration of the foregoing, it will be noted that the prior art perceives a need for a low cost, disposable hot beverage container assembly having a combination container-lid construction outfitted with means for enabling the user to feel or sense via tactile sensation whether the container construction is properly oriented so as to enable the user to selectively and properly orient the container combination so as to avoid scalding during beverage consumption. The prior art thus perceives a need for such a combination hot beverage container-lid construction and associated methodology supported thereby as summarized in more detail hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the aforementioned and other readily apparent objectives, the present invention essentially discloses a disposable type beverage container assembly for enhancing a user's ability to manually orient the beverage container assembly for efficient and safe beverage consumption. A primary object of the beverage container assembly according to the present is to help prevent scalding of the user from accidentally spilled hot beverage by enhancing the user's ability to properly orient the beverage container assembly relative to one's mouth prior to consumption.

A secondary objective according to the present invention is to provide a beverage container assembly with certain tactile-referencing means for enabling the user to manually and properly orient the beverage container assembly in a select direction upon a support structure for directing select outer container surfacing in the select direction so as to display the select outer container surfacing to passersby or audiences, or would-be consumers. In this regard, the present invention contemplates certain beverage container display or orientation-fixation means.

The beverage container assembly according to the present inventions and disclosures are thus contemplated to provide certain low-cost, disposable container-based means for safeguarding a user or hot beverage consumer from accidental spillage of hot beverage from a beverage container so as to prevent scalding primarily and/or spillage secondarily. The beverage container assembly according to the present invention preferably comprises, in combination a disposable beverage container and a disposable lid construction.

The beverage container preferably comprises outer container wall surfacing and an upper container rim. The outer container wall surfacing is preferably outfitted with certain primary tactile-referencing means as exemplified by various types of constructions. The primary tactile-referencing means according to the present invention are outfitted at or upon the outer container surfacing so as to basically provide the user with a tactile primary reference point, which primary reference point 18 may provide the user with readily identifiable or distinguishable tactile type sensory information. The user may thus more easily orient the beverage container so as to place or orient select outer container surfacing in a direction that is most conducive to beverage consumption, and do so without the need for or requirement of visual sensory information.

The lid construction may be preferably oriented and outfitted upon the beverage container such that the primary beverage outlet of the lid construction is in longitudinal alignment with the primary tactile-referencing means. When so oriented and outfitted upon the beverage container, the primary tactile-referencing means may help the user align the primary beverage outlet so as to oppose or face the user's mouth for safer beverage consumption.

The lid construction preferably comprises a lower rim-engaging structure such as a rim-receiving groove that receives and/or engages the container rim for fastening the lid construction to the container. The lid construction further comprises a lid perimeter and the primary beverage outlet. The primary beverage outlet is preferably located inwardly and radially adjacent to the lid perimeter.

The rim-engaging structure is attachable to the upper container rim such that the primary beverage outlet becomes situated in superior adjacency to the select outer container wall surfacing. The select outer container wall surfacing comprises the primary tactile-referencing means, which are in inferior adjacency to the primary beverage outlet for enhancing the user's ability to reference the primary beverage outlet via the primary tactile-referencing means or primary reference point structure.

The primary tactile-referencing means or reference point, in certain embodiments, may also extend in an upward (or downward) direction from the container bottom. Certain embodiments provide primary tactile-referencing means or a primary reference point that has multi-functionality including providing the user with means to manually orient the select outer container surfacing of the container in the preferred or select direction, and mating with underlying structure so as to retain the outer container surfacing in the preferred direction such as when the container is supported by a support.

The beverage container inherently has or comprises a container bottom and a substantially uniform container height. The container height is essentially defined by the distance intermediate the container bottom and the container rim. Primary and/or secondary tactile-referencing means may preferably extend height-wise or longitudinally intermediate the container bottom and the container rim a distance less than the container height for effectively increasing the surface contact area for providing tactile sensory information distinguishable from the typically smooth outer container surfacing.

The beverage container 11 may further preferably comprise inner wall surfacing, which inner wall surfacing may be preferably separated from the outer wall surfacing with thermally-insulative materials and/or construction(s). The primary tactile-referencing means and thermally-insulative material(s) and/or constructions extend intermediate the inner wall surfacing and the outer wall surfacing for thermally insulating the beverage container while simultaneously providing the reference point(s).

While certain primary tactile-referencing means function to provide first tactile sensory information, certain secondary and third tactile-referencing means function to provide second and third types of tactile sensory information. The first, second, and possibly third tactile sensory information types are different or structurally distinguishable for enabling the user to distinguish the primary, secondary and/or tertiary tactile-referencing means via the first, second, and/or third tactile sensory information for enhancing the user's ability to manually orient the beverage container assembly.

Other readily identifiable objects and structural features of the present invention will become more evident from a consideration of the drawings submitted in support of these specifications as briefly described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features of my invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief descriptions of patent drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a beverage container assembly according to the present invention showing a beverage container outfitted with a first type of reference point structure and a lid construction, the first type of reference point structure being longitudinally aligned with a primary beverage outlet of the lid construction.

FIG. 1A is a fragmentary, first enlarged perspective type sectional view of the first type of reference point structure as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1B is a fragmentary, enlarged transverse type sectional view through the first type of reference point structure as otherwise depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a beverage container assembly according to the present invention showing a beverage container outfitted with a second type of reference point structure with a first shape and a lid construction, the second type of reference point structure being longitudinally aligned with a primary beverage outlet of the lid construction.

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary, first enlarged perspective type sectional view of the second type of reference point structure as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2B is a fragmentary, enlarged transverse type sectional view through the second type of reference point structure as otherwise depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a beverage container assembly according to the present invention showing a beverage container outfitted with the second type of reference point structure with a second shape and a lid construction, the second type of reference point structure being longitudinally aligned with a primary beverage outlet of the lid construction.

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary, first enlarged perspective type sectional view of the second type of reference point structure as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a first top perspective view of a beverage container according to the present invention showing a beverage container outfitted with a third type of reference point structure, the third type of reference point structure being formed at the container bottom, the beverage container being rotated about its container axis such that the third type of reference point structure is directed orthogonally out of the page relative to the container axis.

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary, first enlarged perspective type sectional view of the third type of reference point structure as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a second top perspective view of a beverage container according to the present invention showing a beverage container outfitted with the third type of reference point structure, the beverage container being rotated about its container axis such that the third type of reference point structure is directed obliquely out of the page relative to the container axis.

FIG. 5A is a fragmentary, first enlarged perspective type sectional view of the third type of reference point structure as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a first enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's hand holding a beverage container according to the present invention, a ring finger of the user's hand covering the third type of reference point structure for providing the user with tactile sensory information.

FIG. 7 is a second enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's hand holding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumb of the user's hand covering the first type of reference point structure for providing the user with tactile sensory information.

FIG. 8 is a first elevational view of a beverage container assembly according to the present invention showing a beverage container with a first container wall construction outfitted with the fourth type of reference point structure and a lid construction, the beverage container being rotated about its container axis such that the fourth type of reference point structure is directed orthogonally out of the page relative to the container axis.

FIG. 8A is a transverse type sectional view of the beverage container assembly as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a second elevational view of a beverage container assembly according to the present invention showing a beverage container with a second container wall construction outfitted with the fourth type of reference point structure and a lid construction, the beverage container being rotated about its container axis such that the fourth type of reference point structure is directed orthogonally out of the page relative to the container axis.

FIG. 9A is a transverse type sectional view of the beverage container assembly as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is a third elevational view of a beverage container assembly according to the present invention showing a beverage container with a third container wall construction outfitted with (1) both (a) the fourth type of reference point structure and (b) a fifth type of reference point structure and (2) a lid construction, the beverage container being rotated about its container axis such that the fourth type of reference point structure is directed orthogonally out of the page relative to the container axis.

FIG. 10A is a transverse type sectional view of the beverage container assembly as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a fourth elevational view of a beverage container assembly according to the present invention showing a beverage container with a fourth container wall construction outfitted with (1) both (a) the fourth type of reference point structure and (b) the fifth type of reference point structure and (2) a lid construction, the beverage container being rotated about its container axis such that the fourth type of reference point structure is directed orthogonally out of the page relative to the container axis.

FIG. 11A is a transverse type sectional view of the beverage container assembly as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 11.

FIG. 11B is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional depiction of a single fifth type of reference point structure as sectioned from and otherwise shown in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11C is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional depiction of the fourth type of reference point structure as sectioned from and otherwise shown in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12 is a third enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's hand holding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumb of the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference point structure for providing the user with tactile sensory information.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged top perspective type depiction of a user's hand holding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumb of the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference point structure for providing the user with tactile sensory information.

FIG. 14 is a fourth enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's hand holding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumb of the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference point structure (in longitudinal alignment with the third type of reference point structure) for providing the user with tactile sensory information, the beverage container being positioned in superior adjacency to a container support structure and a lid construction exploded from the beverage container.

FIG. 15 is a fifth enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's hand holding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumb of the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference point structure (in longitudinal alignment with the third type of reference point structure) for providing the user with tactile sensory information, the beverage container being positioned in superior adjacency to a container support structure and a lid construction being attached to the beverage container.

FIG. 16 is a sixth enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's hand holding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumb of the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference point structure (in longitudinal alignment with the third type of reference point structure) for providing the user with tactile sensory information, the beverage container being positioned in superior adjacency to a container support structure and a lid construction being exploded from the beverage container, the fourth type of reference point structure being outfitted with visually perceptible logo information.

FIG. 17 is a seventh enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's hand holding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumb of the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference point structure (in longitudinal alignment with the third type of reference point structure) for providing the user with tactile sensory information, the beverage container being positioned in superior adjacency to a container support structure and a lid construction being attached to the beverage container, the fourth type of reference point structure being outfitted with visually perceptible logo information.

FIG. 18 is an eighth enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's hand holding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumb of the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference point structure (in longitudinal alignment with the third type of reference point structure) for providing the user with tactile sensory information, the beverage container being positioned in superior adjacency to a container support structure and a lid construction being exploded from the beverage container, the fourth type of reference point structure being outfitted with visually perceptible logo information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND ASSOCIATED METHODOLOGIES

Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the preferred embodiments of the present invention primarily concern a disposable type beverage container assembly 10 for enhancing a user's ability to manually orient the beverage container assembly 10 for efficient and safe beverage consumption. In other words, the beverage container assembly 10 according to the present invention basically functions to prevent scalding of the user from accidentally spilled hot beverage by enhancing the user's ability to properly orient the beverage container assembly relative to one's mouth prior to consumption.

For example, when a user's visual sensory preceptors or eyes are otherwise tasked such as while driving, the user becomes necessarily distracted by the primary visual task at hand. The user may wish to perform a secondary task such as consuming hot beverage(s) while performing the primary task. In order to enhance the safety of the simultaneously performing both the primary and secondary tasks, the beverage container assembly 10 according to the present invention provides the user with tactile sensory information for enabling the user to properly and/or manually orient the beverage container assembly relative to the user's mouth so that spillage does not occur.

Given that a primary objective of the present disclosures is to provide a beverage container assembly 10 with primary tactile-referencing means for enabling the user to manually and properly orient the beverage container assembly 10 in a select direction, the present invention further contemplates that the primary tactile-referencing means can be utilized to orient the beverage container assembly upon a support structure for directing select outer container surfacing in a select direction so as to display the select outer container surfacing to passersby or audiences, or would-be consumers.

A further example of the need to properly align a lid construction relative to a container construction is in the case of paper-based disposable hot beverage (e.g. coffee) cups, which cups often comprise a longitudinal seam. If the primary beverage outlet of a lid construction is oriented relative to the longitudinal seam or is near proximity thereto, hot beverage leakage or spillage via gaps at the lid-to-container seam junction. The gaps are created due to imperfect surface transitions at the seam site. In order to prevent spillage, it is often necessary to orient the primary beverage outlet 180 rotational degrees from the seam site. Accordingly, lid orientation relative to the container base is often important for avoiding inadvertent spillage.

The beverage container assembly 10 according to the present inventions and disclosures are thus contemplated to provide certain low-cost, disposable container-based means for safeguarding a user or hot beverage consumer from accidental spillage of hot beverage from a beverage container so as to prevent scalding primarily and/or spillage secondarily. The beverage container assembly 10 according to the present invention preferably comprises, in combination a disposable beverage container as at 11 and a disposable lid construction as at 12.

The beverage container 11 preferably comprises outer container wall surfacing as at 13 and an upper container rim as at 14. The outer container wall surfacing 13 is preferably outfitted with certain primary tactile-referencing means as exemplified by various types of constructions, including but not limited to one or more indentation(s) as at 15, one or more raised protuberances as at 16; or one or more areas of textured surfacing (i.e. areas of relatively minutely sized indentations and protuberances as compared to indentations 15 or protuberances 16) as at 17.

The primary tactile-referencing means according to the present invention are outfitted at or upon the outer container surfacing 13 so as to basically provide the user with a tactile primary reference point 18 (a structure that is structurally distinctive from the typically smooth outer container surfacing 13), which primary reference point 18 may provide the user with readily identifiable or distinguishable tactile type sensory information via the user's primary tactile sensors (e.g. one's fingers 19 particularly or skin 20 generally).

Although beverage container assembly 10 according to the present invention contemplates reference point(s) that may provide the user with readily identifiable or distinguishable tactile type sensory information via the user's primary tactile sensors (e.g. one's fingers 19 particularly or skin 20 generally), it is further contemplated that the beverage container assembly 10 could be outfitted with certain means for cooperably associating with other types of non-tactile type sensors, such as laser beams, reflector sensors, mating sensors, etc. for use in automatic delivery systems.

The user, when receiving the tactile type sensory information via the user's tactile sensor(s) as exemplified by one's fingers 19, may thus more easily orient (e.g. rotate 101 the beverage container 11 about a container axis of rotation as at 100) the beverage container so as to place or orient select outer container surfacing of the beverage container in a direction that is most conducive to beverage consumption, and do so without the need for or requirement of visual sensory information.

For example, the select outer container surfacing 13 may be oriented in a direction that opposed or faces a user's mouth. Alternatively, the select outer container surfacing 13 may be oriented in a direction that opposes or faces an audience or passersby. In this last regard, it is contemplated that the primary tactile-referencing means may be utilized so as to direct or orient the select outer container surfacing 13 in a direction that is most conducive to show or display visual sensory information (e.g. branding information or a logo 21) to an audience or passersby.

The lid construction 12 may be preferably oriented and outfitted upon the beverage container 11 such that the primary beverage outlet 22 of the lid construction 12 is in longitudinal alignment with the primary tactile-referencing means. When so oriented and outfitted upon the beverage container 11, the primary tactile-referencing means (as exemplified by the primary reference point 18) help the user align the primary beverage outlet 22 so as to oppose or face the user's mouth for safer beverage consumption (e.g. the avoidance of spillage of hot beverage prevents inadvertent scalding of the user).

Stated another way, the primary tactile-referencing means are preferably situated in inferior adjacency to the primary beverage outlet 22 so that when the primary tactile-referencing means are manually oriented in the preferred direction, the primary beverage outlet 22 similarly faces or is directed in the preferred direction. The primary beverage outlet 22 is thus preferably situated in superior adjacency to the select outer container surfacing 13.

The lid construction 12 preferably comprises a lower rim-engaging structure such as a rim-receiving groove that receives and/or engages the container rim 14 for fastening the lid construction 12 to the container 11. The lid construction further comprises a lid perimeter and the primary beverage outlet 22. The primary beverage outlet 22 is preferably located inwardly and radially adjacent to the lid perimeter as generally depicted in the figures supporting these specifications.

The rim-engaging structure is attachable to the upper container rim 14 such that the primary beverage outlet 22 becomes situated in superior adjacency to the select outer container wall surfacing 13. The select outer container wall surfacing 13 comprises the primary tactile-referencing means, which are in inferior adjacency to the primary beverage outlet 22 (or in longitudinal alignment with the primary beverage outlet 22) for enhancing the user's ability to reference the primary beverage outlet 22 via the primary tactile-referencing means or primary reference point 18.

The outer wall surfacing 13 is preferably circular in transverse cross-section, and the primary tactile-referencing means or primary reference point 18 may preferably extend radially inwardly from the outer wall surfacing 13 for enhancing the user's ability to reference the primary beverage outlet 22 via partial manual insertion of a user's tactile sensor or finger 19 into the radially inwardly extended (i.e. indented) primary tactile-referencing means as at indentations 15.

The primary tactile-referencing means or reference point, in certain embodiments, may also extend in an upward (or downward) direction from the container bottom 25 as generally depicted in FIGS. 4-6. The embodiments shown in FIGS. 4-6 provide primary tactile-referencing means or a primary reference point 18 that has multi-functionality. Firstly, the primary reference point 18 in FIGS. 4-6 provides the user with means to manually orient the select outer container surfacing 13 of the container 11 in the preferred direction. Secondly, however, the primary reference point 18 may be mated with underlying structure so as to retain the outer container surfacing 13 in the preferred direction such as when the container is supported by a support structure or base structure as at 23 such as a serving table or automated delivery platform.

The support or base structure 23 may be provided with a certain basal protuberance as at 24 that is matable with the indentation type primary reference point 18, and thus the select outer container surfacing 13 may be retained in the preferred direction when the container 11 is mated with the support structure 23 via the indentation type primary reference point 18 and the basal protuberance 24. It is contemplated that the primary reference point 18 may alternatively take on more of a male type protuberance structure that is matable with a female type indentation formed on the support structure. Although not specifically illustrated and referenced as such in the figures supporting these specifications, such an arrangement is believed within the ordinary comprehension of those skilled in the art.

When the primary tactile-referencing means are exemplified by a primary reference point 18 of the type generally depicted in FIGS. 4-6, it is believed that the container 11 may be further outfitted with secondary tactile-referencing means or secondary reference point 26 as also exemplified by various types of constructions, including but not limited to one or more indentation(s) as at 15, one or more raised protuberances as at 16; or one or more areas of textured surfacing (i.e. areas of relatively minutely sized indentations and protuberances as compared to indentations 15 or protuberances 16) as at 17; and/or combinations thereof.

Noting that the outer wall surfacing 13 is preferably circular in transverse cross-section, the primary or secondary tactile-referencing means may alternatively extend radially outwardly from the outer wall surfacing 13 for enhancing the user's ability to reference the primary beverage outlet 22 via engagement of the user's tactile sensor or finger 19 with the radially outwardly extended primary tactile-referencing means or primary reference point 18.

The radially outwardly extended primary tactile-referencing means may comprise or be defined by area of textured surfacing 17, which area may comprise any number of shapes. A circular area 27 of textured surfacing 17 is generally depicted in FIGS. 2 and 2A, and a rectangular or square area 28 of textured surfacing 17 is generally depicted in FIGS. 3 and 3A. The areas of textured surfacing effectively increase the surface contact area between the user's tactile sensor or finger(s) 19 and the primary or secondary tactile-referencing means for increasing the amount of tactile sensory information available to the user via the user's tactile sensor.

The beverage container 11 inherently has or comprises a container bottom 25 and a substantially uniform container height as at 102. Referencing FIG. 14, the reader will see that the container height is essentially defined by the distance intermediate the container bottom 25 and the container rim 14. The primary or secondary tactile-referencing means, as exemplified by the primary or secondary reference points 18 or 26, may preferably extend height-wise or longitudinally intermediate the container bottom 25 and the container rim 14 a distance 103 less than the container height 102.

The height-wise or longitudinally extended primary (or secondary) tactile-referencing means effectively function to increase the surface contact area for providing tactile sensory information distinguishable from the typically smooth outer container surfacing 13. The longitudinally extended primary (or secondary) tactile-referencing means further direct the user's tactile sensor or finger 19 toward the primary beverage outlet as marked with a X at 22′ in FIG. 12, arrows 104 depicting finger movement toward the outlet marked X at 22′.

The beverage container 11 may further preferably comprise inner wall surfacing as at 29, which inner wall surfacing 29 may be preferably separated from the outer wall surfacing 13 with thermally-insulative materials and/or construction(s) as at 30. Referencing FIGS. 9A, 10A, 11A, 11B, and 11C, the reader will note that the primary tactile-referencing means and thermally-insulative material(s) and/or constructions 30 extend intermediate the inner wall surfacing 29 and the outer wall surfacing 13 for thermally insulating the beverage container 11 while simultaneously providing the reference point 18.

Comparatively referencing FIGS. 10A and 11A, the reader will note that the wall construction of the container 11 may be either single layered as generally depicted in FIG. 10A or multi-layered as generally depicted in FIG. 11A. It is contemplated that the primary tactile-referencing means may either extend entirely through the wall construction as generally depicted in FIG. 10A or partially through the wall construction as generally depicted in FIG. 11A.

Referencing FIGS. 10, 10A, and 11A, the reader will further note that the beverage container assembly 10 according to the present invention may further provide outer wall surfacing 13 comprising certain secondary or tertiary tactile-referencing means as at reference point(s) 31. The secondary or tertiary nature of the reference points 31 depend on whether the beverage container assembly 10 is outfitted with the container bottom-based reference point 18 as generally depicted in FIGS. 14-18.

When the beverage container assembly 10 is outfitted with the container bottom-based primary reference point 18 as depicted in FIGS. 14-18, the secondary tactile-referencing means are exemplified by the secondary reference point structure 26, and the tertiary tactile-referencing means are exemplified by the tertiary reference point structure(s) 31. Alternatively, when the beverage container assembly 10 is outfitted with the outer container surfacing-based primary reference point container bottom-based reference point 18 as depicted in FIGS. 1-13, the secondary tactile-referencing means are exemplified by the secondary reference point structure(s) 31.

The primary tactile-referencing means function to provide first tactile sensory information, the secondary tactile-referencing means function to provide second tactile sensory information, and if the beverage container assembly 10 is outfitted with tertiary tactile-referencing means, said tertiary tactile-referencing means function to provide third tactile sensory information. The first, second, and possibly third tactile sensory information types are different or structurally distinguishable for enabling the user to distinguish the primary, secondary and/or tertiary tactile-referencing means via the first, second, and/or third tactile sensory information for enhancing the user's ability to manually orient the beverage container assembly 10 primary via the first tactile sensory information or primary reference point 18.

Referencing FIGS. 10A and 11A, the reader will note that the secondary or tertiary reference points 31 may be preferably circumferentially and periodically spaced about the periphery of the container 11 at the outer container surfacing 13 for directing the user's tactile sensor toward the primary tactile-referencing means. The reference points 31 may either be defined as indentation type structures 15 as illustrated or as protuberance type structures (not specifically illustrated) given the typically or preferably smooth outer container surfacing 13. The secondary or tertiary reference points 31 contribute increased contact surface area so as to enhance the user's ability to discern reference point structure and increase friction (grip-ability) between the user's tactile sensors or fingers and the beverage container assembly 10.

While the foregoing specifications set forth much specificity, the same should not be construed as setting forth limits to the invention but rather as setting forth certain preferred embodiments and features. For example, as prefaced hereinabove, it is contemplated that the present invention essentially provides a container assembly for enabling a user to effectively and manually orient said container assembly by providing tactile sensory informatory cues upon the exterior container construction.

The container assembly according to the present invention thus preferably and essentially comprises a container (as at 11), which container comprises certain exterior container structure such as a container bottom as at 25 and/or select outer container surfacing as at 13. The exterior container structure comprises primary tactile-referencing means as hereinabove exemplified for providing first tactile sensory information, which primary tactile-referencing means are in longitudinal alignment with the select outer container surfacing for enabling the user to manually orient the container via said first tactile sensory information.

The container assembly according to the present invention may further preferably comprise a container stand or support structure as at 23. The container support structure or container stand preferably comprises certain reference-mating means, which reference-mating means are matable with the primary tactile-referencing means for enabling the user to effectively and manually orient the container 11 relative to the container support structure 23.

It is contemplated in this regard, that the primary tactile-referencing means may comprise either female or male type structure matable with either male or female type reference-mating means. Female type primary tactile-referencing means have been exemplified in these specifications and the drawings in support thereof for purposes of brevity, it being well understood within the art that either matable scenario is plausible according to the present invention.

The container assembly according to the present invention may further preferably comprise a lid construction as at 12. The lid construction 12 according to the present invention preferably comprises a primary (beverage) outlet (as at 22) and is attachable to the container such that the select outer container surfacing is located in inferior adjacency to or in longitudinal alignment with the primary outlet. The primary tactile-referencing means essentially function to enable the user to reference via tactile sensation the lid-based primary outlet via the container-based primary tactile-referencing means.

The container of the container assembly preferably comprises a substantially uniform container height as at 102. The primary (or secondary) tactile-referencing means extend longitudinally a certain distance (as at 103) less than or equal to the container height 102 for increasing the height-wise or longitudinal tactile surface contact area available to the user's tactile sensor as exemplified by a finger 19.

The container of the container assembly according to the present invention may further preferably comprise a thermally-insulative material construction. The primary tactile-referencing means may extend into or be otherwise cooperably associated with the thermally-insulative material construction so as to simultaneously thermally insulate the container while providing said primary tactile-referencing means.

The container assembly according to the present invention may further comprise secondary tactile-referencing means in addition to the primary tactile-referencing means. The primary tactile-referencing means provide first tactile sensory information or sensations and the secondary tactile-referencing means provide second tactile sensory information or sensations. The first and second tactile sensory information are sensitively different for enabling the user to manually distinguish the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means via the first and second tactile sensory information for enhancing the user's ability to manually orient the container.

The container assembly according to the present invention may further preferably comprise certain tertiary tactile-referencing means in addition to the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means. The primary and secondary tactile-referencing means are preferably longitudinally aligned, while the tertiary tactile-referencing means are preferably periodically and circumferentially spaced relative to the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means.

The primary and secondary tactile-referencing means provide a first set of tactile sensory information, while the tertiary tactile-referencing means provide a second set of tactile sensory information. The first and second sets of tactile sensory information are different for enabling the user to sensitively distinguish the primary and secondary versus tertiary tactile-referencing means via the first and second sets of tactile sensory information for enhancing the user's ability to manually orient the container.

Further, it is contemplated that the foregoing specifications support certain container assembly orientation method(s) for enabling a user to manually orient a container assembly. The method(s) according to the present invention may be said to preferably comprise the step of initially outfitting a container (as at 11) with certain primary tactile-referencing means. The primary tactile-referencing means are preferably outfitted upon exterior container structure for providing first tactile sensory information and are in longitudinal alignment with the select outer container surfacing.

The primary tactile-referencing means are located via a user's tactile sensor as typically defined or exemplified by a user's finger. The outfitted container may thus be manually oriented so as to selectively orient the select outer container surfacing in a first direction. The container assembly orientation method according to the present invention may further comprise the steps of providing a container support as exemplified by support structure 23, which container support is preferably outfitted with certain reference-mating means. The primary tactile-referencing means may thus be mated with the reference-mating means. The mated primary tactile-referencing means and reference-mating means basically function to fixedly orient the container such as preventing the container from rotation about its axis 100.

The container assembly orientation according to the present invention may further comprise the steps of providing a lid construction, which lid construction preferably comprises a primary outlet. The container may then be outfitted with the lid construction after rotating the lid construction about its axis such that the select outer container surfacing is located in inferior adjacency to the primary outlet. The primary tactile-referencing means thus enable the user to manually align the primary (beverage) outlet so as to orient the outlet more properly at the user's mouth.

The container assembly orientation method may be said to further preferably comprise the step of outfitting the container with secondary tactile-referencing means, which secondary tactile-referencing means are outfitted upon exterior container structure in longitudinal alignment with the primary tactile-referencing means. The longitudinally aligned primary and secondary tactile-referencing means reinforce select manual orientation of the container by providing sensitively distinguishable structure and added contact surface area to the user for enhanced container manipulation.

The container assembly orientation method may further comprise the step of outfitting the container with certain tertiary tactile-referencing means. The tertiary tactile-referencing means are preferably periodically and circumferentially spaced relative to the (longitudinally aligned) primary and secondary tactile-referencing means. While the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means provide a first set of tactile sensory information, the tertiary tactile-referencing means provide a second set of tactile sensory information. The first and second sets of tactile sensory information are sensitively different for enabling the user to distinguish the primary and secondary versus tertiary tactile-referencing means via the first and second sets of tactile sensory information for enhancing the user's ability to manually orient the container.

Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to certain preferred embodiments and certain methodologies, it is not intended that the novel arrangement and methods be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosures, and the appended claims and drawings.

Claims

1. A beverage container assembly, the beverage container assembly for enhancing a user's ability to manually orient said beverage container assembly for beverage consumption, said beverage container assembly comprising, in combination:

a beverage container and a lid construction, the beverage container comprising outer container wall surfacing, the lid construction comprising a lid perimeter and a primary beverage outlet, the primary beverage outlet being located inwardly adjacent to the lid perimeter, the lid construction being attachable to the beverage container such that the primary beverage outlet becomes situated in superior adjacency to the outer container wall surfacing, the outer container wall surfacing comprising primary tactile-referencing means, the primary tactile-referencing means being in inferior adjacency to the primary beverage outlet for enhancing a user's ability to reference the primary beverage outlet via the primary tactile-referencing means, the beverage container assembly thus for enhancing a user's ability to manually orient said beverage container assembly for beverage consumption.

2. The beverage container assembly of claim 1 wherein the primary tactile-referencing means extend inwardly from the outer wall surfacing for enhancing the user's ability to reference the primary beverage outlet via partial manual insertion of a user's tactile sensor into the inwardly extended primary tactile-referencing means.

3. The beverage container assembly of claim 1 wherein the primary tactile-referencing means extend outwardly from the outer wall surfacing for enhancing the user's ability to reference the primary beverage outlet via engagement a user's tactile sensor with outwardly extended primary tactile-referencing means.

4. The beverage container assembly of claim 3 wherein the outwardly extended primary tactile-referencing means comprise textured surfacing, the textured surfacing for increasing the surface contact area between the user's tactile sensor and the primary tactile-referencing means.

5. The beverage container assembly of claim 1 wherein the beverage container comprises a container bottom and a container height, the primary tactile-referencing means extending longitudinally a distance less than the container height, the longitudinally extended primary tactile-referencing means for increasing the tactile surface contact area available to the user's tactile sensor and for directing the user's tactile sensor toward the primary beverage outlet.

6. The beverage container assembly of claim 1 wherein the beverage container comprises inner wall surfacing and thermally-insulative material, the primary tactile-referencing means and thermally-insulative material extending intermediate the inner wall surfacing and the outer wall surfacing for thermally insulating the beverage container assembly while providing said primary tactile-referencing means.

7. The beverage container assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer wall surfacing comprises secondary tactile-referencing means, the primary tactile-referencing means for providing first tactile sensory information, the secondary tactile-referencing means for providing second tactile sensory information, the first and second tactile sensory information being sensitively different for enabling the user to distinguish the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means via the first and second tactile sensory information for enhancing the user's ability to manually orient the beverage container.

8. The beverage container assembly of claim 7 wherein the secondary tactile-referencing means are periodically and circumferentially spaced relative to the primary tactile-referencing means for directing the user's tactile sensor toward the primary tactile-referencing means.

9. A container assembly, the container assembly for enabling a user to manually orient said container assembly in a select direction, said container assembly comprising:

a container, the container comprising exterior container structure and select outer container surfacing, the exterior container structure comprising primary tactile-referencing means, the primary tactile-referencing means for providing first tactile sensory information and being in longitudinal alignment with the select outer container surfacing for enabling the user to manually orient the container such that the select outer container surfacing is directed in a select direction.

10. The container assembly of claim 9 comprising a container support structure, the container support structure comprising reference-mating means, the reference-mating means being matable with the primary tactile-referencing means for preventing re-orientation of the container after mated engagement therebetween.

11. The container assembly of claim 9 comprising a lid construction, the lid construction comprising a primary outlet, the lid construction being attachable to the container such that the select outer container surfacing is located in inferior adjacency to the primary outlet, the primary tactile-referencing means for enabling the user to reference the primary outlet via the primary tactile-referencing means.

12. The container assembly of claim 9 wherein the container comprises a container height, the primary tactile-referencing means extending longitudinally within the container height for directing the user's tactile sensor along the select outer container surfacing.

13. The container assembly of claim 9 wherein the container comprises a thermally-insulative material construction, the primary tactile-referencing means extending into the thermally-insulative material construction, the thermally insulating material construction for thermally insulating the container while simultaneously providing said primary tactile-referencing means.

14. The container assembly of claim 9 wherein the exterior container structure comprises secondary tactile-referencing means, the primary tactile-referencing means for providing first tactile sensory information, the secondary tactile-referencing means for providing second tactile sensory information, the first and second tactile sensory information being sensitively different for enabling the user to manually distinguish the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means via the first and second tactile sensory information for enhancing the user's ability to manually orient the container.

15. The container assembly of claim 14 comprising tertiary tactile-referencing means, the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means being longitudinally aligned, the tertiary tactile-referencing means being circumferentially spaced relative to the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means, the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means for providing a first set of tactile sensory information, the tertiary tactile-referencing means for providing a second set of tactile sensory information, the first and second sets of tactile sensory information being sensitively different for enabling the user to distinguish the primary and secondary versus tertiary tactile-referencing means for enhancing the user's ability to manually orient the container.

16. A container assembly orientation method for enabling a user to manually orient a container assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

outfitting a container with primary tactile-referencing means, the primary tactile-referencing means being outfitted upon exterior container structure for providing first tactile sensory information and being in longitudinal alignment with the select outer container surfacing;

locating the primary tactile-referencing means via a user's tactile sensor; and

manually orienting the outfitted container so as to selectively orient the select outer container surfacing in a first direction.

17. The container assembly orientation method of claim 16 comprising the steps of:

a. providing a container support, the container support being outfitted with reference-mating means; and

b. mating the primary tactile-referencing means with the reference-mating means, the mated primary tactile-referencing means and reference-mating means preventing re-orientation of the container.

18. The container assembly orientation method of claim 16 comprising the steps of:

a. providing a lid construction, the lid construction comprising a primary outlet; and

b. outfitting the container with the lid construction, the container being outfitted with the lid construction such that the select outer container surfacing is located in inferior adjacency to the primary outlet.

19. The container assembly orientation method of claim 16 comprising the step of outfitting the container with secondary tactile-referencing means, the secondary tactile-referencing means being outfitted upon exterior container structure in longitudinal alignment with the primary referencing means, the longitudinally aligned primary and secondary tactile-referencing means for reinforcing select manual orientation of the container.

20. The container assembly orientation method of claim 19 comprising the step of outfitting the container with tertiary tactile-referencing means, the tertiary tactile-referencing means being circumferentially spaced relative to the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means, the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means for providing a first set of tactile sensory information, the tertiary tactile-referencing means for providing a second set of tactile sensory information, the first and second sets of tactile sensory information being sensitively different for enabling the user to distinguish the primary and secondary versus tertiary tactile-referencing for enhancing the user's ability to manually orient the container.