CUP

Abstract

A cup generally includes a container body and a cap connected on the container body. The cap has a hollow transparent base defining a central through space and an annular channel around the central through space, a plurality of decorative objects located in the annular channel of the hollow transparent base, a sealing ring, and a top plate. The annular channel of the hollow transparent base can be sealed by the top plate and introduced with a liquid. The top plate defines a first annular groove at its undersurface. The sealing ring is disposed in the first annular groove of the top plate to prevent a beverage or drink contained in the container body from leakage. The decorative objects floating on the liquid contained in the hollow transparent base allow the cup to have an attractive appearance and can increase the fun drinking the beverage or drink.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cup and, more particularly, to a cup which includes a cap containing therein a liquid and decorative objects floating on the liquid, to allow the cup to have an attractive appearance and to increase the fun of drinking a beverage or drink.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In conventional cups for water or beverages, the appearances of the cups are often enriched by shape designs or providing patterns at the outer surfaces of the cups. Since today's consumers usually pursue a colorful life, conventional cups are difficult to meet their needs. Besides, the patterns shown on most conventional cups are created in simple color, and this usually leads to monotonous and stereotyped visual experience; therefore, conventional cups cannot attract the attention of consumers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a cup having a decorative cap to increase the fun of drinking a beverage or drink. The cup of the present invention generally comprises a container body and a cap. The container body has a neck portion defining an opening, through which the container body can be filled with a beverage or drink. The cap, which can be connected with the neck portion of the container body, has a top plate, a hollow transparent base defining a central through space and an annular channel around the central through space, a plurality of decorative objects located in the annular channel of the hollow transparent base, and a sealing ring, The annular channel of the hollow transparent base can be sealed by the top plate, which is placed on top of the hollow transparent base, and can be introduced with a liquid. The central through space of the hollow transparent base can receive the neck portion of the container body. The top plate defines at its undersurface a first annular groove corresponding to a top edge of the neck portion surrounding the opening of the neck portion. The sealing ring is disposed in the first annular groove of the top plate to prevent the beverage or drink contained in the container body from leakage.

More specifically, the hollow transparent base defines a liquid injection hole at its bottom for introducing the liquid into the annular channel thereof, and the liquid injection hole can be sealed by a plug.

More specifically, the top plate of the cap defines a central through hole for allowing a straw to be inserted into the container body.

More specifically, the top plate of the cap defines two second annular grooves at its undersurface to be engaged with two top edges of the hollow transparent base, so that the top plate can be combined with the hollow transparent base to become an integral structure, so that the annular channel of the hollow transparent base can be sealed by the top plate.

One advantage of the present invention is that the hollow transparent base is introduced therein with a liquid and provided therein with a plurality of decorative objects capable of floating on the liquid, so that the cup can have an attractive appearance to increase the fun of drinking a beverage or drink contained in the cup, thus attracting the attention of consumers and increasing their purchase desires.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a 3-dimensional view of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematically working view of the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To achieve the object and effect of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is provided and illustrated in the following paragraphs with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, a cup according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown, which generally comprises a container body 1 and a cap 2. The container body 1 has a neck portion 12 provided with a threaded portion 10 and defining an opening 14, through which the container body 1 can be filled with a beverage or drink. The cap 2, which can be threadedly connected with the neck portion 12 of the container body 1, has a hollow transparent base 20, a plurality of decorative objects 21, a sealing ring 22, and a top plate 23. The top plate 23 and the hollow transparent base 20 can be made of plastic.

The hollow transparent base 20, which is an annular member, defines a central through space 200 and an annular channel 202 around the central through space 200, wherein the central through space 200 is defined by an internal wall of the hollow transparent base 20, and the annular channel 202 is located between the internal wall and an external wall of the hollow transparent base 20 and is open at its top. The internal wall of the hollow transparent base 20 is provided with a threaded portion 201 corresponding to the threaded portion 10 of the container body 1. The decorative objects 21, which can be objects of any shapes, glitter particles or sequins, are located in the annular chamber 202. The top plate 23 defines at its undersurface a first annular groove 230 and two second annular grooves 231 around the first annular groove 230, wherein the first annular groove 230 is located corresponding to the top edge of the neck portion 12 surrounding the opening 14 of the neck portion 12, while the two second annular grooves 231 are located corresponding to the top edges of the internal and external walls of the hollow transparent base 20. The top plate 23 can be placed on top of the hollow transparent base 20 such that the second annular grooves 231 of the top plate 23 are engaged with the top edges of the internal and external walls of the hollow transparent base 20 to seal the annular channel 202. The hollow transparent base 20 defines at its bottom a liquid injection hole 203, via which the annular channel 202 of the hollow transparent base 20 can be introduced with a liquid (A), such as water (see FIG. 3). After putting the liquid (A) in the annular channel 202, the liquid injection hole 203 can be sealed by a plug 24, which can be made of plastic. The sealing ring 22 can be disposed in the first annular groove 230 of the top plate 23. As such, when the cap 2 is threadedly connected with the neck portion 12 of the container body 1, the sealing ring 22 can be located between the top plate 23 and the container body 1, and thus it can prevent a beverage or drink contained in the container body 1 from leakage. Furthermore, the top plate 23 of the cap 2 defines a central through hole 232 for allowing a straw 3 to be inserted into the container body 1.

In assembling the parts of the cup, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, firstly, the decorative objects 21 can be put into the annular channel 202 of the hollow transparent base 20. Secondly, the top plate 23 can be placed on top of the hollow transparent base 20, such that the two second annular grooves 231 of the top plate 23 can be engaged with the top edges of the hollow transparent base 20, and then the top plate 23 can be fixedly attached with the hollow transparent base 20 to become an integral structure by using ultrasonic welding technique. Thirdly, the annular channel 202 of the hollow transparent base 20 can be introduced with the liquid (A) by way of the liquid injection hole 203. It is preferred that the annular channel 202 is not completely filled with liquid (A); namely, there is an unused space in the annular channel 202, so that shaking the cup enables the liquid (A) contained in the annular channel 202 to fluctuate, and thus the decorative objects 21 floating on the liquid (A) can be moved along with the fluctuating liquid. Fourthly, the liquid injection hole 203 can be sealed by attaching the plug 24 to the liquid injection hole 203. Through ultrasonic welding, the plug 24 can be fixedly attached to the liquid injection hole 203. Thus, the liquid (A) contained in the annular channel 202 of the hollow transparent base 20 can be prevented from leaking out of the hollow transparent base 20. Fifthly, the sealing ring 22 can be fitted into the first annular groove 230 of the top plate 23 of the cap 2.

Finally, the top end of the straw 3 can be inserted through the central through hole 232 of the top plate 23 of the cap 2 from a position below the top plate 23, and then the cap 2 can be rotated in a direction to be connected to the neck portion 12 of the container body 1 by way of the threaded engagement of the threaded portion 201 of the cap 2 and the threaded portion 10 of the neck portion 12 of the container body 1, and thus the bottom end of the straw 3 can come near to the inner bottom of the container body 1.

In use, a user can take out the cap 2 together with the straw 3 by rotating the cap 2 in an opposite direction to fill the container body 1 with a desired beverage or drink; thereafter, the cap 2 can be connected back to the neck portion 12 of the container body 1. In drinking the beverage or drink, the user can shake the cup to allow the decorative objects 21 to move along with the liquid (A) contained in the annular channel 202 of the hollow transparent base 20, thus showing an attractive appearance and increasing the fun of drinking the beverage or drink, and this can attract the attention of consumers and increase their purchase desires.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment above, it should be recognized that the preferred embodiment is given for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention and that various modifications and changes, which will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cup comprising a container body and a cap, wherein the container body has a neck portion defining an opening, through which the container body can be filled with a beverage or drink; the cap, capable of being connected with the neck portion of the container body, has a top plate, a hollow transparent base defining a central through space and an annular channel around the central through space, a plurality of decorative objects located in the annular channel of the hollow transparent base, and a sealing ring, the annular channel of the hollow transparent base being sealed by the top plate placed on top of the hollow transparent base and being introduced with a liquid, the central through space of the hollow transparent base capable of receiving the neck portion of the container body, the top plate of the cap defining at its undersurface a first annular groove corresponding to a top edge of the neck portion surrounding the opening of the neck portion, the sealing ring being disposed in the first annular groove of the top plate to prevent the beverage or drink contained in the container body from leakage.

2. The cup of claim 1, wherein the hollow transparent base defines a liquid injection hole at its bottom for introducing the liquid into the annular channel thereof, and the liquid injection hole is sealed by a plug.

3. The cup of claim 1, wherein the top plate of the cap defines a central through hole for allowing a straw to be inserted into the container body.

4. The cup of claim 1, wherein the top plate of the cap defines two second annular grooves at its undersurface to be engaged with two top edges of the hollow transparent base, so that the top plate is combined with the hollow transparent base to become an integral structure, so that the annular channel of the hollow transparent base can be sealed by the top plate.