FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to beverage containers and particularly to containers for high quality beverages such as wine. This invention relates more particularly to containers utilized in the storing and dispensing of such high quality beverages. While the inventive container is particularly advantageous for use in storing and dispensing high quality beverages such as wine, it is also suitable for use with other liquid materials and other flowable materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Wine is a family of beverages that has enjoyed a long history having been made during ancient times and continuing to be extremely popular throughout the world today. While the majority of wines are generally made using grapes of various types, many wines are also made utilizing other fruits such as various berries and other plants. Additionally, certain popular wines are made using rice or the like.
Not surprisingly, a virtually endless variety of wines are available today to suit a correspondingly extensive variety of consumers. Wines are often made in lower cost varieties, such as table wines available to the consumer at reasonable prices. Such wines may be traditional and are often locally produced. In many instances, wines form a basic staple in the local diet. Wines are often prevalent throughout a given region due in part to scarce and relatively unreliable, or even unavailable, sources of clean pure drinking water. The fermentation process and resulting alcohol content of wine often ensures that wines made from grapes grown in regions having contaminated or otherwise compromised water sources are nonetheless safe for consumption.
In addition to being a staple in the diets of many people living in lower income circumstances, wines also continue to be popular among the vast numbers of middle-class or middle income consumers who tend to have various preferences in wines. It is not uncommon for such consumers to have a particular appreciation for wines produced in a chosen region. Such consumers often exercise substantial effort and expend substantial amounts of money in pursuit of high quality and desirable wines.
At the upper end of the wine quality spectrum are the “fine wines” which are highly regarded and perceived to be of special qualities. These finer wines are usually more rare and highly sought after by consumers that have sufficient incomes to support paying higher prices for their wines. In addition to regional preferences, wines often acquire higher status and desirability when certain vintages, or years of production, gain a reputation or acceptance by which they are considered to have been produced during optimum conditions for the grape harvest. Above and beyond the various qualities of fine wines which lead wine connoisseurs to pursue the so-called superior vintages, a status quality is also frequently assigned to certain wines and certain vintages of wines.
One aspect common to virtually all wines is the process by which the wines are bottled for transport, sale and use. While recent years have shown attempts by some winemakers to utilize other types of containers, the vast majority of wines ranging from lower-cost table wines to high cost finer wines are still bottled in glass bottles. Many table wines and lower cost wines are bottled in half gallon bottles. Medium and higher-quality wines tend to be bottled in bottles having approximately one liter or one quart size. Regardless of the bottle size, the enjoyment of wines tends to be subject to several problems arising primarily from the characteristic by which wines tend to be degraded over time once the bottle has been opened. It seems that wines tend to lose flavor and bouquet following exposure to open air. Since it is not unusual for the consumer to consume a portion, but not all, of a wine bottle at one sitting, effective storage of the remaining contents for future use becomes a problem. While various methods of preserving the unused portion of a wine bottle have been tried, they have thus far proven unsuccessful and as a result most consumers have been compelled to accept the diminished flavor and bouquet of the wine as the remaining bottle contents are consumed in successive sittings.
There remains therefore an unresolved need in the art for a more effective wine container which avoids the loss of bouquet and flavor of unused portions of wine. There remains a further unresolved need in the art for apparatus in the form of a container which facilitates more convenient transport, carrying and use of wine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved beverage container. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved beverage container, particularly suited to providing a wine container, formed of a plurality of stackable, interlocking container segments each of which supports a single serving of wine. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved wine container that supports a plurality of stackable interlocking single-serving container segments that combine to form a conventional wine bottle for ease of transport and storage.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a beverage container comprising: a first container segment including; a first confined interior beverage-receiving volume defining, a first upper engagement portion, a first lower engagement portion, and a first bottleneck; and a second container segment including; a second confined interior beverage-receiving volume, a second upper engagement portion, a second lower engagement portion, and a second bottleneck, the first container segment being removably joined to the second container segment by the engagement of the first lower engagement portion and the second upper engagement portion to form the beverage container in which the first and second confined interior beverage receiving volumes each maintain a quantity of beverage in an individual sealed containment and in which each of the first and second container segments may be removed from an engaged container segment to allow access to a single confined interior beverage receiving volume.
The present invention further provides a beverage container comprising a plurality of stackable, interlocking, single-serving container segments, each of the container segments including; a confined interior beverage-receiving volume, an upper engagement portion, a lower engagement portion, and a bottleneck; a plurality of the container segments formed in a stacked array in which each container segment is removably joined to a container segment below it by the engagement of its lower engagement portion to the upper engagement portion of a container segment below it to form said beverage container in which the confined interior beverage receiving volumes each maintain a quantity of beverage in an individual sealed containment and in which each of the container segments may be removed from an engaged container segment to allow access to a single confined interior beverage receiving volume.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:
FIG. 1 sets forth a side elevation view of a beverage container formed of a plurality of stackable, interlocking single-serving container segments constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective assembly view of a beverage container formed of a plurality of stackable, interlocking, single-serving container segments constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 sets forth a top perspective view of an illustrative stackable, interlocking, single-serving container segment of a beverage container constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 sets forth a side elevation view of an illustrative stackable, interlocking, single-serving container segment of a beverage container constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5 sets forth a section view of the illustrative stackable, interlocking, single-serving container segment of a beverage container constructed in accordance with the present invention shown in FIG. 4 taken along section lines 4-4 therein;
FIG. 6 sets forth a perspective assembly view of a beverage container formed of a plurality of stackable, interlocking, single-serving container segments constructed in accordance with the present invention illustrating an alternative number of container segments;
FIG. 7 sets forth a section view of a pair of illustrative stackable, interlocking, single-serving container segments of a beverage container constructed in accordance with the present invention joined together,
FIG. 8 sets forth a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention beverage container constructed in accordance with the present invention and formed of a plurality of stackable, interlocking single-serving container segments;
FIG. 9 sets forth a perspective assembly view of the alternate embodiment of the beverage container shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 sets forth a top perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the beverage container shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 sets forth a side elevation view of an illustrative stackable, interlocking, single-serving container segment of the alternate embodiment of the beverage container shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 12 sets forth a section view of the illustrative stackable, interlocking, single-serving container segment of the alternate embodiment of the beverage container shown in FIG. 11 taken along section lines 12-12 therein; and
FIG. 13 sets forth a section view of a pair of illustrative stackable, interlocking, single-serving container segments of the alternate embodiment of the beverage container shown in FIG. 8 joined together.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 sets forth a side elevation view of a beverage container, constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 10. In further accordance with the present invention, beverage container 10 is formed of a plurality of stackable, interlocking single-serving container segments 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. In the preferred fabrication of the present invention container segments 1 through 15 are formed to provide a combined shape and appearance which corresponds to a conventional wine bottle. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art however that beverage container 10 may be comprised of a plurality of container segments 11 through 15 which are shaped in a different manner to provide an alternative shape and appearance without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. However, in the preferred fabrication of the present invention, each of the container segments are substantially identical and are, therefore, interchangeable. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, set forth below in greater detail, each of container segments 11 through 15 provides a sealed single-serving container segment which is particularly suited for use in providing a wine container. Container segments 11 through 15 may be fabricated of a selected material in accordance with the container needs. For example, in order to replicate typical wine bottles, beverage container 10 may utilize container segments 11 through 15 that are formed of glass. Alternatively, container segments 11 through 15 may be formed of other materials of the type often used to fabricate wine containers such as high quality plastic or the like.
FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective assembly view of beverage container 10 showing container segments 11 through 15 separated from each other. It will be noted that while FIG. 2 shows container 10 formed of five container segments, it will be understood that, in accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the number of container segments may be varied or adjusted to suit consumer preferences, usage and needs. Thus, for example, it will be noted in FIG. 6 below that a total of four container segments (container segments 11 through 14) are combined to form beverage container 10. This illustrates this important aspect of the present invention in which the number of container segments may be altered or changed in accordance with consumer preference or to accommodate consumer use. By way of example and not limitation, in the event beverage container 10 is initially assembled in accordance with FIG. 2 and thus utilizes a total of five container segments 11 through 15, container segment 15 may be removed from the remaining container segments and utilized in the manner described below leaving a total of four container segments to form beverage container 10. As beverage container 10 is put to further use, container segment 14 may be removed and utilized leaving container segments 11 through 13 to reform beverage container 10, and so on, as each individual container segment is used. Importantly, each container segment not yet used remains sealed and uncompromised until it's eventual cork removal and use.
In accordance with a further important aspect of the present invention, it will be noted in FIG. 2 that container segment 11 receives a cork 21 which seals container segment 11. Cork 21 is installed during wine bottling and typically remains within container segment 11 when container segment 11 is assembled to container segment 12 within beverage container 10. In a similar manner, container segments 12 through 15 each receive a respective cork 22 through 25 during the wine bottling process. Corks 12 through 25 remain within container segments 12 through 15 when the container segments are assembled within beverage container 10. Thus, it will be understood that each of container segments 11 through 15 remains sealed when combined within beverage container 10 until the container segment is removed from beverage container 10 and until the cork seal of the container segment is removed to access the container segment contents. As a result, the user is able to access the wine within one or more segments while the freshness of the wine within the remaining unused container segments remains intact for future use.
FIG. 3 sets forth a top perspective view of a typical container segment generally referenced by numeral 11. It will be understood that container segment 11 is illustrative of the basic fabrication of the container segments shown herein as utilized in beverage container 10 (seen in FIGS. 1 through 7). Accordingly, the descriptions and illustrations of container segment 11 will be understood to be equally illustrative of and descriptive of and apply equally well to the remaining container segments, such as container segments 12 through 15 (seen in FIG. 1). By way of overview, it will be noted that in the preferred fabrication of the invention, container segments 11 through 15 are substantially identical and each includes an upper portion which is shaped and configured to resemble the upper bottle surface and bottle neck of a typical wine bottle.
More specifically, container segment 11 is generally cylindrical in shape and thus includes a cylindrical wall 31 joined to an upper edge 32 and a bottom edge 37. Upper edge 32 further supports a generally domed surface 34 from which a neck 35 extends upwardly and defines an upper edge 38 and a neck passage 36. The latter extends into the interior of container segment 11 to facilitate depositing wine into and pouring wine from the container segment. A cork 21 is inserted into neck passage 36 to seal and close container segment 11. The outer surface of neck 35 supports a plurality of outwardly extending connector tabs 40 through 42 (connector tab 43 seen in FIG. 4). The structure of neck 35 is set forth below in greater detail in the section view of FIG. 5 in greater detail. However, in accordance with conventional bottle fabrication techniques, neck 35 of container segment 11 is preferably centered on centerline axis 33 (seen in FIG. 4) of the container segment and extends upwardly from domed surface 34.
Connector tabs 40 through 43 function to provide a threaded attachment between container segment 11 and another container segment, such as container segment 12 (seen in FIG. 2). Suffice it to note here that, in accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, described below in detail and seen in FIG. 5, container segment 11 also defines a bottleneck receptacle which is able to receive the neck of a container segment in the manner seen in FIG. 7 This, in turn, facilitates the interlocking of container segments which allows the container segments to be combined to form the inventive beverage container. It will also be noted that cork 21 resides within neck 35 and thus provides a seal and airtight closure of container segment 11. When the consumer desires to remove container segment 11 from beverage container 10 and access the contents of container segment 11, an apparatus such as a conventional corkscrew may be utilized to remove cork 21 from neck 35 thereby allowing the contents of container segment 11 to be poured out through neck passage 36.
FIG. 4 sets forth a side elevation view of container segment 11. As described above, container segment 11 includes a cylindrical wall 31, a bottom edge 37 and an upper edge 32. As is also described above, container segment 11 includes a domed surface 34 which, in turn, supports an upwardly extending neck 35. Neck 35 defines an upper edge 38 and supports a plurality of connector tabs 40 through 43 (connector tab 42 seen in FIG. 3). It will be noted that container segment 11 defines a centerline axis 33 and that cylindrical wall 31, domed surface 34 and neck 35 are centered and aligned along centerline axis 33.
FIG. 5 sets forth a section view of container segment 11 taken along section lines 5-5 in FIG. 4. As described above, container segment 11 includes a cylindrical wall 31 extending between a bottom edge 37 and an upper edge 32. A domed surface 34 extends upwardly from upper edge 32 and supports a a neck 35 having a plurality of outwardly extending connector tabs 40, 41, 42 and 43 (connector tabs 41 and 43 seen in FIG. 4). Neck 35 further includes a neck passage 36. A cork 21 is received within neck passage 36 to provide an airtight and liquid tight seal. Container segment 11 further defines a neck receptacle 51 having a domed surface 52 extending upwardly from bottom edge 37 and a neck socket 53. Neck socket 53 defines a passage 54 having a closed top 55. A plurality of helical ribs such as ribs 56, 57 and 58 are formed upon the surface of passage 54 near closed top 55. Container segment 11 also defines an interior volume 39 which is formed within cylindrical surface 31, domed surface 34 and neck 35. Interior volume 39 is further defined by the surfaces of neck receptacle 51. Thus, access to and closure of interior volume 39 is controlled entirely by the removal or insertion of cork 21 within passage 36. In this manner, the quantity of wine contained within each of the container segments may be maintained in an airtight sealed closure. The operation and function of neck receptacle 51 and a cooperating neck from another container segment is set forth below in FIG. 7. However, suffice it to note here that, domed surface 52, neck socket 53, top 55 and passage 54 are shaped and sized to receive the bottleneck and domed surface of a cooperating container segment. In this cooperative arrangement, the connector tabs of the cooperating container segment engage helical ribs (such as ribs 56, 57 and 58) in a threaded engagement to secure the upper portion of the cooperating container segment within neck receptacle 51.
FIG. 6 sets forth a perspective assembly view of a beverage container formed of a plurality of stackable, interlocking, single-serving container segments constructed in accordance with the present invention illustrating an alternative number of container segments. It will be recalled by temporary return to FIGS. 1 and 2, that beverage container 10 may accommodate different numbers of container segments as desired by the user. It will also be recalled that beverage container 10 is able to continue to provide the appearance of a wine bottle notwithstanding the removal of one or more container segments from the beverage container. Returning to FIG. 6, an example is set forth therein in which a beverage container generally referenced by numeral 50 is formed of four container segments 11, 12, 13 and 14. It will be noted that FIG. 6 also shows an intermediate step in the combining of container segments to form the beverage container in which container segments 13 and 14 are joined while container segments 11 and 12 are not. Thus, it will be apparent that beverage container 50 apart from having a different number of container segments is substantially identical to beverage container 10 set forth and described above.
FIG. 7 sets forth a section view of a pair of container segments 11 and 12 which illustrates the attachment of container segments used to form a beverage container in accordance with the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, in accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, each container segment is “self sufficient” in that each container segment provides a closable vessel which may house a quantity of wine in a closed airtight environment. Similarly, a small size beverage container may be constructed by simply utilizing a single container segment or by combining a pair of container segments which would assume the configuration shown in FIG. 7. This illustrates the flexibility provided by the present invention beverage container.
In the example shown in FIG. 7, a pair of container segments 11 and 12 are joined to illustrate the attachment between segments provided by the present invention. Accordingly, the attachment shown in FIG. 7 between container segments 11 and 12 and descriptions thereof will be understood to be equally illustrative of and descriptive of the attachment between any container segments. It's important to note that whether a single container segment or small number of container segments are joined, the beverage container resulting in each case provides an overall shape and appearance similar to a wine bottle.
More specifically, as described above, container segment 11 includes a cylindrical wall 31 extending between a bottom edge 37 and an upper edge 32. A domed surface 34 extends upwardly from upper edge 32 and supports a a neck 35 having a plurality of outwardly extending connector tabs 40, 41, 42 and 43 (connector tabs 41 and 43 seen in FIG. 4). Neck 35 further includes a neck passage 36. A cork 21 is received within neck passage 36 to provide an airtight and liquid tight seal. Container segment 11 further defines a neck receptacle 51 having a domed surface 52 extending upwardly from bottom edge 37 and a neck socket 53. Neck socket 53 defines a passage 54 having a closed top 55. A plurality of helical ribs such as ribs 56, 57 and 58 are formed upon the surface of passage 54 near closed top 55. Container segment 1 also defines an interior volume 39 which is formed within cylindrical surface 31, domed surface 34 and neck 35. Interior volume 39 is further defined by the surfaces of neck receptacle 51. Thus, access to and closure of interior volume 39 is controlled entirely by the removal or insertion of cork 21 within passage 36. In this manner, the quantity of wine contained within each of the container segments may be maintained in an airtight sealed closure.
Similarly, container segment 12 includes a cylindrical wall 71 extending between a bottom edge 77 and an upper edge 72. A domed surface 74 extends upwardly from upper edge 72 and supports a a neck 75 having a plurality of outwardly extending connector tabs 80 and 82. Neck 75 further includes a neck passage 76. A cork 22 is received within neck passage 76 to provide an airtight and liquid tight seal. Container segment 12 further defines a neck receptacle 91 having a domed surface 92 extending upwardly from bottom edge 77 and a neck socket 93. Neck socket 93 defines a passage 94 having a closed top 95. A plurality of helical ribs such as ribs 96, 97 and 98 are formed upon the surface of passage 94 near closed top 95. Container segment 12 also defines an interior volume 79 which is formed within cylindrical surface 71, domed surface 74 and neck 75. Interior volume 79 is further defined by the surfaces of neck receptacle 91.
As mentioned above, in the anticipated use of the present invention, a plurality of container segments, each filled with a quantity of beverage, such as wine, which are each sealed by a cork seal, are joined in a stacked array in the attachment shown in FIG. 7 to form a beverage container manner shown in FIG. 1. In the example shown in FIG. 7, this attachment is provided by the insertion of neck 75 of container segment 12 into passage 54 of neck socket 53 within container segment 11. The attachment is secured by the threaded engagement of connecting tabs, such as tabs 80 and 82 and helical ribs such as ribs 56, 57 and 58 formed within passage 54 of neck socket 53 of container segment 11. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that alternative methods of attachment may be employed to secure neck 75 of container segment 12 within neck socket 53 of container segment 11 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the thread disposition between neck 75 of container segment 12 and neck socket 53 of container segment 11 may be switched providing a plurality of helical ribs upon neck 75 of container segment 12 and a plurality of extending connector tabs within the interior of passage 54 of container segment 11. Further variations of engagement mechanisms may be contemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which may for example include cooperating conventional threads.
The important aspect with respect to the present invention is the resulting structure which provides a beverage container formed of a plurality of stackable interlocking single-serving container segments which, in combination, provide the appearance and shape of a conventional wine bottle. Within the array of container segments, each container segment maintains a sealed quantity of wine or other suitable beverage. The inwardly extending bottleneck of each container segment and the seal cork disposed therein facilitate this stacked array of sealed container segments.
FIG. 8 sets forth a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention beverage container generally referenced by numeral 110. By way of overview, and with concurrent reference to FIGS. 1 through 7 and FIGS. 8 through 13, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art by comparison of beverage container 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 and beverage container 110 shown in FIGS. 8 and 13 that the container segments are substantially identical with the exception of the locations of the attachment apparatus used to join the container segments.
Thus, the container segments forming beverage container 10 utilize pluralities of connector tabs extending outwardly from the connector segment necks cooperating with pluralities of helical ribs ported within the interior of the container segment neck sockets. Conversely, the container segments forming beverage container 110 utilize pluralities of connector tabs extending outwardly from the connector segment conical surfaces cooperating with pluralities of helical ribs supported within the interior of the container segment neck receptacles. Apart from these differences, beverage container 10 and beverage container 110 are substantially identical.
Returning specifically to FIG. 8, beverage container 110 is formed of a plurality of stackable, interlocking single-serving container segments 111, 112, 113 and 114. Container segments 11 through 114 may be fabricated of a selected material in accordance with the container needs. For example, in order to replicate typical wine bottles, beverage container 110 may utilize container segments 11 through 114 that are formed of glass. Alternatively, container segments 111 through 114 may be formed of other materials of the type often used to fabricate wine containers such as high quality plastic or the like.
FIG. 9 sets forth a perspective assembly view of beverage container 110 showing container segments 111 and 112 separated from each other and container segments 113 and 114 joined together. It will be noted that while FIG. 9 shows container 110 formed of four container segments, it will be understood that, in accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the number of container segments may be varied or adjusted to suit consumer preferences, usage and needs. Thus, for example, it will be noted in FIG. 1 above that a total of five container segments (container segments 11 through 15) are combined to form beverage container 10. Container segment 111 receives a cork 121 to seal the container segment. Similarly, container segments 112 and 113 also receive respective corks 122 and 123. While not seen in FIG. 9, it will be understood that container segment 114 also receives a cork 124 in a similar fashion. In this manner, the sealed airtight integrity of each of container segments 111 through 114 is maintained.
FIG. 10 sets forth a top perspective view of a typical container segment generally referenced by numeral 111. It will be understood that container segment 111 is illustrative of the basic fabrication of the container segments shown herein as utilized in beverage container 110 (seen in FIGS. 8 through 13). Accordingly, the descriptions and illustrations of container segment 111 will be understood to be equally illustrative of and descriptive of and apply equally well to the remaining container segments, such as container segments 112 through 114 (seen in FIG. 8). By way of overview, it will be noted that in the preferred fabrication of the invention, container segments 111 through 114 are substantially identical and each includes an upper portion which is shaped and configured to resemble the upper bottle surface and bottle neck of a typical wine bottle.
More specifically, container segment 111 is generally cylindrical in shape and thus includes a cylindrical wall 131 joined to an upper edge 132 and a bottom edge 137. Upper edge 132 further supports a generally conical surface 134 from which a neck 135 extends upwardly and defines an upper edge 138 and a neck passage 136. The latter extends into the interior of container segment 111 to facilitate depositing wine into and pouring wine from the container segment. A cork 121 is inserted into neck passage 136 to seal and close container segment 111. The outer surface of conical surface 134 defines a wall 145 which in turn supports a plurality of outwardly extending connector tabs 140 through 142 (connector tab 143 seen in FIG. 11). The structure of neck 135 is set forth below in greater detail in the section view of FIG. 12 in greater detail. However, in accordance with conventional bottle fabrication techniques, neck 135 of container segment 111 is preferably centered on centerline axis 133 (seen in FIG. 11) of the container segment and extends upwardly from conical surface 134.
Connector tabs 140 through 143 function to provide a threaded attachment between container segment 111 and another container segment, such as container segment 112 (seen in FIG. 9). Suffice it to note here that, in accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, described below in detail and seen in FIG. 12, container segment 111 also defines a bottleneck receptacle which is able to receive the neck of a container segment in the manner seen in FIG. 13 This, in turn, facilitates the interlocking of container segments which allows the container segments to be combined to form the inventive beverage container. It will also be noted that cork 121 resides within neck 135 and thus provides a seal and airtight closure of container segment 111. When the consumer desires to remove container segment 111 from beverage container 110 and access the contents of container segment 111, an apparatus such as a conventional corkscrew may be utilized to remove cork 121 from neck 135 thereby allowing the contents of container segment 111 Ito be poured out through neck passage 136.
FIG. 11 sets forth a side elevation view of container segment ′11. As described above, container segment ′11 includes a cylindrical wall ′31, a bottom edge ′37 and an upper edge ′32. As is also described above, container segment ′11 includes a conical surface 134 which, in turn, supports an upwardly extending neck 135. Conical surface 134 further defines a wall 145 which supports a plurality of connector tabs 140 through 143 (connector tab 142 seen in FIG. 10). Neck 135 defines an upper edge 138. It will be noted that container segment 111 defines a centerline axis 133 and that cylindrical wall 131, conical surface 134 and neck 135 are centered and aligned along centerline axis 133.
FIG. 12 sets forth a section view of container segment 11 taken along section lines 12-12 in FIG. 11. As described above, container segment 111 includes a cylindrical wall 131 extending between a bottom edge 137 and an upper edge 132. A wall 145 extends upwardly from upper edge 132 and supports a conical surface 134 which in turn supports a neck 135. Wall 145 includes a plurality of outwardly extending connector tabs 140, 141, 142 and 143 (connector tabs 141 and 143 seen in FIG. 11). Neck 135 further includes a neck passage 136. A cork 121 is received within neck passage 136 to provide an airtight and liquid tight seal. Container segment 111 further defines a neck receptacle 151 having a conical surface 152 extending upwardly from bottom edge 137 and a neck socket 153. Neck socket 153 defines a passage 154 having a closed top 155. A plurality of helical ribs such as ribs 156, 157 and 158 are formed on the interior surface of neck receptacle 151 near bottom edge 137. Container segment 111 also defines an interior volume 139 which is formed within cylindrical surface 131, conical surface 134 and neck 135. Interior volume 139 is further defined by the surfaces of neck receptacle 151. Thus, access to and closure of interior volume 139 is controlled entirely by the removal or insertion of cork 121 within passage 136. In this manner, the quantity of wine contained within each of the container segments may be maintained in an airtight sealed closure. The operation and function of neck receptacle 151 and a cooperating upper portion from another container segment is set forth below in FIG. 13. However, suffice it to note here that, conical surface 152, neck socket 153, top 155 and passage 154 are shaped and sized to receive the bottleneck and conical surface of a cooperating container segment. In this cooperative arrangement, the connector tabs of the cooperating container segment engage helical ribs (such as ribs 156, 157 and 158) in a threaded engagement to secure the upper portion of the cooperating container segment within neck receptacle 151.
FIG. 13 sets forth a section view of a pair of container segments 111 and 112 which illustrates the attachment of container segments used to form a beverage container in accordance with the present invention. Thus, a pair of container segments 111 and 112 are joined to illustrate the attachment between segments provided by the present invention.
More specifically, as described above, container segment 111 includes a cylindrical wall 131 extending between a bottom edge 137 and an upper edge 132. A wall 145 and a conical surface 134 extend upwardly from upper edge 132. Conical surface 134 supports a neck 135. Wall 145 ports a plurality of outwardly extending connector tabs 140, 141, 142 and 143 (connector tabs 141 and 143 seen in FIG. 11). Neck 135 further includes a neck passage 136. A cork 121 is received within neck passage 136 to provide an airtight and liquid tight seal. Container segment 111 further defines a neck receptacle 151 having a conical surface 152 extending upwardly from bottom edge 137 and a neck socket 153. Neck socket 153 defines a passage 154 having a closed top 155. A plurality of helical ribs such as ribs 156, 157 and 158 are formed within neck receptacle 151 near bottom edge 137. Container segment 111 also defines an interior volume 139 which is formed within cylindrical surface 131, conical surface 134 and neck 135. Interior volume 139 is further defined by the surfaces of neck receptacle 151. Thus, access to and closure of interior volume 139 is controlled entirely by the removal or insertion of cork 121 within passage 136. In this manner, the quantity of wine contained within each of the container segments may be maintained in an airtight sealed closure.
Similarly, container segment 112 includes a cylindrical wall 171 extending between a bottom edge 177 and an upper edge 172. A conical surface 174 and wall 185 extend upwardly from upper edge 172. Conical surface 174 supports a neck 175. Wall 185 supports a plurality of outwardly extending connector tabs 180 and 182. Neck 175 further includes a neck passage 176. A cork 122 is received within neck passage 176 to provide an airtight and liquid tight seal. Container segment 112 further defines a neck receptacle 191 having a conical surface 192 extending upwardly from bottom edge 177 and a neck socket 193. Neck socket 193 defines a passage 194 having a closed top 195. A plurality of helical ribs such as ribs 196, 197 and 198 are formed upon the interior surface of neck receptacle 191 near bottom edge 177. Container segment 112 also defines an interior volume 179 which is formed within cylindrical surface 171, conical surface 174 and neck 175. Interior volume 179 is further defined by the surfaces of neck receptacle 191.
As mentioned above, in the anticipated use of the present invention, a plurality of container segments, each filled with a quantity of beverage, such as wine, which are each sealed by a cork seal, are joined in a stacked array in the attachment shown in FIG. 13 to form a beverage container manner shown in FIG. 8. In the example shown in FIG. 13, this attachment is provided by the insertion of neck 175 of container segment 112 into passage 154 of neck socket 153 within container segment 111. The attachment is secured by the threaded engagement of connecting tabs, such as tabs 180 and 182 and helical ribs such as ribs 156, 157 and 158 formed within neck receptacle 151 of container segment 11. The important aspect with respect to the present invention is the resulting structure which provides a beverage container formed of a plurality of stackable interlocking single-serving container segments which, in combination, provide the appearance and shape of a conventional wine bottle. Within the array of container segments, each container segment maintains a sealed quantity of wine or other suitable beverage. The inwardly extending bottleneck of each container segment and the seal cork disposed therein facilitate this stacked array of sealed container segments.
In accordance with the anticipated use of the present invention beverage container, when access to a serving of the wine is desired, the user simply separates the bottom most container segment from the beverage container and removes the cork seal therefrom in a conventional manner. The quantity of wine disposed within the open container segment is fresh and unaffected in the same manner as the wine within a newly opened conventional wine bottle. The user then is able to distribute and consume the contents of the open container segment by pouring the contents into a conventional wine glass, and so on. The seal cork may be replaced within the container segment neck to restore the container seal if any unused portion remains. However, in the preferred fabrication of the invention, the size of the container segments is chosen to constitute the anticipated single-serving quantity which a typical user would consume thereby avoiding the need to attempt to reseal the container segment. The point of the invention is to provide the individual single-serving container segments. The separation and opening of a container segment from the remaining container segments does not affect the sealed environment of the remaining container segments. Accordingly, the user is able to access one or more container segments and return the remaining container segments in an unaffected and fresh condition to storage for an indefinite period.
What has been shown is a novel beverage container formed of a stacked array of interlocking single-serving container segments which allows indefinite storage of the container segments and which facilitates access to the beverage contained within a selected container segment without compromising the remaining quantities of the beverage.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
