Beverage Container

Abstract

A beverage container includes at least a bag. The bag includes a relatively flexible body and a relatively rigid neck formed together with the relatively flexible body. The relatively rigid neck includes an aperture through which beverage can travel into and out of the bag.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a beverage container and, more particularly, to an easy-to-carry beverage container.

2. Related Prior Art

There are various containers for beverage. For example, there are bottles, kettles, jars, jugs and bags. Bottles and bags are particularly useful for users who are traveling. Bags are less rigid than bottles. Hence, a bag can be carried more easily than a bottle when it is empty. However, a bottle can be maneuvered to pour beverage more easily than a bag. Therefore, a bag is often equipped with a flexible tube as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,349 and Taiwanese Patent Nos. 291654, 533783 and M437102 for example.

Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a foldable flat beverage container that can easily be stored and carried.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the beverage container includes at least a bag. The bag includes a relatively rigid neck provided on a relatively flexible body. The relatively rigid neck includes an aperture through which beverage can travel into and out of the bag.

In another aspect, the beverage container further includes a restraining element for bundling the relatively rigid neck and the relatively flexible body when the bag is folded.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of eight embodiments referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a beverage container according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the beverage container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a beverage container according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a beverage container according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the beverage container shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a beverage container according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a beverage container according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a beverage container according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the beverage container in another position than shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a beverage container according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a beverage container according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the beverage container in another position than shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of a beverage container according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a side view of a beverage container according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a side view of the beverage container in another position than shown in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a beverage container according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The beverage container includes a bag 10 and a cap 40. The bag 10 includes a neck 14 provided on a body 12. The body 12 is a relatively flexible portion of the bag 10 while the neck 14 is a relatively rigid portion of the bag 10.

The body 12 can be made of food-grade silicone, rubber, PU, thermo-plastic rubber (“TPR”), or a combination of the three. TPR includes but not limited to TPE, TPV, TPU or TPO. The above-mentioned materials are flexible and less vulnerable to heat than other flexible food-grade materials. The body 12 is transparent or translucent so that the beverage level therein can be observed. The body 12 includes a front strip, a rear strip, two lateral strips, a lower strip 22, and a space 24 defined by these strips. The lower strip 22 is an elongated strip with a length-width ratio of 1.5:1 or larger. The lower strip 22 can roughly be a rectangular strip. The lower strip 22 includes a bottom 56 that is flat so that the bag 10 can firmly be placed on a plane. Both of the front and rear strips include pleats 26 so that the body 12 can expand to contain a lot of beverage and shrink to fit in a limited space. The pleats 26 enhance the rigidity of the body 12.

The neck 14 includes a front strip, a rear strip, two lateral strips and an upper strip. The neck 14 further includes an aperture 32 made in the upper strip and a groove 36 made in the front, rear and lateral strips. The neck 14 can be a slim (or flat) portion made with a width identical to or smaller than 5 cm.

The cap 40 includes a ring 41 connected thereto by a string and a plug 42 formed on a lower side. The ring 41 and the plug 42 are elastic elements.

The body 12 and the neck 14 are made together by molding for example. The ring 41 is placed in the groove 36 to connect the cap 40 to the neck 14. The plug 42 can easily be fit in the aperture 32 to shut the bag 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is a beverage container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except several things. Firstly, the neck 14 extends longer for better handling of the bag 10. Secondly, the neck 14 is formed with a thread 48. A cap 44 is used instead of the cap 40. The cap 44 is formed with a thread 46 that can be engaged with thread 48 to close the bag 10.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is a beverage container according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is identical to the second embodiment except several things. Firstly, reinforcing strips 54 are adhered to at least one of the lateral strips of the body 12 to enhance the rigidity of the bag 10. The reinforcing strips 54 can be made in various aesthetically pleasant forms such as flowers. The reinforcing strips 54 can alternatively be made in various geometric figures. Secondly, a cap 50 is used instead of the cap 44. The cap 50 is identical to the cap 44 except including a rectangular profile. Thirdly, the bottom 56 is concave.

The bottom 56 is flat or concave as illustrated above. The bottom 56 can however be in any other proper shape as long as it can form a flat surface or define a plane for contact with a flat surface such as a table, a desk and the ground. Thus, the bag 10 can stand on the table, desk or ground.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is a beverage container according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is identical to the third embodiment except that the reinforcing strips 54 are embedded in at least one of the lateral strips of the body 12.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is a beverage container according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is identical to the fourth embodiment except that the reinforcing strips 54 are formed together with at least one of the lateral strips of the body 12 by molding.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is a beverage container according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment is identical to the third embodiment except several things. Firstly, a restraining element 60 is used instead of the reinforcing strips 54. The restraining element 60 is made with an annular (or continuous) configuration. Only the body 12 is bundled by the restraining element 60 to facilitate the handling of the bag 10 when the bag 10 is in use. The body 12 is folded, and the body 12 and the neck 14 are both bundled by the restraining element 60 to reduce the profile of the bag 10 when the bag 10 is in storage. The restraining element 60 can be made of textile for example. Secondly, the cap 50 is formed with a groove 51 instead of the thread 46 while the neck 14 is formed with a rib 58 instead of the thread 48. The rib 58 can be placed in the groove 51 to close the bag 10.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is a beverage container according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. The seventh embodiment is identical to the sixth embodiment except including a restraining element 62 instead of the restraining element 60. The restraining element 62 is identical to the restraining element 60 except that it is in the form of a cup.

Referring to FIG. 11, there is a beverage container according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. The eighth embodiment is like the first embodiment except several things. Firstly, there is a flexible tube 16 in addition. The flexible tube 16 is inserted in the aperture 32. Beverage is sucked into a user's mouth from the bag 10 through the flexible tube 16. Secondly, a cap 43 is used instead of the cap 40. The cap 43 is formed together with the neck 14 by molding for example. The cap 43 includes a pressing element 45 formed in an internal side and a hook 49 formed on an external side. The neck 14 includes a recess 18.

Referring to FIG. 12, the cap 43 is kept on the neck 14 by inserting the hook 49 in the recess 18. The flexible tube 16 is folded by the cap 43 and pressed against the upper strip of the neck 14 by the pressing element 45. Thus, there is no leak of beverage through the flexible tube 16 when the bag 10 is closed by the cap 43.

Referring to FIG. 13, there is a beverage container according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. The ninth embodiment is like the first embodiment except several things. Firstly, the neck 14 of the bag 10 is as flexible as the body 12. Secondly, there is additionally a rigid collar 11 fit around the neck 14. The rigid collar 11 includes two bosses 13. Thirdly, the cap 40 includes two grooves 47 each extending like a section of a thread. The bosses 13 are placed in the grooves 47 and then the cap 40 is rotated on the rigid collar 11 so that the cap 40 is attached to the rigid collar 11. The combination of the bosses 13 with the grooves 47 is particularly useful to precisely position the cap 40 on the rigid collar 11 when the cap 40 is tight on the rigid collar 11 where the cap 40 and the rigid collar 11 are made of a non-circular configuration.

The rigid collar 11 can be connected to the neck 14 by any other proper means such as adhesion, ultrasonic waves, buckles and hooks. The cap 40 can be engaged with the rigid collar 11 by any other proper means such as threads, buckles and hooks.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, there is a beverage container according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. The tenth embodiment is like the first embodiment except that there are two plates 15 extending from two opposite sides of the neck 14. Each of the plates 15 and the neck 14 can be used together as a clip for holding onto a belt worn by a user for example when the bag 10 is filled with beverage. The plates 15 can be used together as a clip for holding the body 12 in a folded or rolled position when the bag 10 is clear of beverage.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A beverage container comprising a bag comprising:

a relatively flexible body mainly made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of silicone, rubber, PU and thermo-plastic rubber;

a relatively rigid neck provided on the relatively flexible body, wherein the relatively rigid neck includes an aperture through which beverage can travel into and out of the bag; and

at least one reinforcing element provided on the relatively flexible body in a manner selected from the group of adhesion, embedding and molding.

2. The beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the relatively flexible body is at least translucent so that beverage level in the bag is observable.

3. The beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the relatively flexible body includes a bottom with a length-width ratio of at least 1.5:1.

4. The beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the relatively flexible body includes at least one pleat.

5. The beverage container according to claim 1 comprising at least one restraining element selected from the group consisting of an annular element and a cup.

6. The beverage container according to claim 1 comprising:

a flexible tube inserted in the aperture so that the beverage can be sucked into a user's mouth from the bag through the flexible tube; and

a cap for closing the bag, wherein the cap includes a pressing element for pressing the flexible tube against the relatively rigid neck while the cap bends the flexible tube for double leak-prevention.

7. A beverage container including a bag made with a flat configuration with a length-width ratio of at least 1.5:1 and made of at least one flexible material selected from the group consisting of silicone, rubber, PU and thermo-plastic rubber.

8. The beverage container according to claim 7, wherein the bag is made with a width smaller than 5 cm.

9. The beverage container according to claim 7, comprising at least one reinforcing element attached to the bag in a manner selected from the group consisting of adhesion, embedding and molding.

10. The beverage container according to claim 7, comprising a restraining element selected from the group consisting of an annular element and a cup.

11. A beverage container comprising a bag made of a flexible foldable material and at least one plate provided on one side of the bag.

12. The beverage container according to claim 11, comprising at least one reinforcing element attached to the bag in a manner selected from the group consisting of adhesion, embedding and molding.