CONTAINER WITH SELF ALIGNING MAGNETIC SLEEVE

Abstract

A container with a magnetic self-aligning sleeve includes a container that defines an interior receiving cavity with an opening at one end adapted to receive liquid or solid, and a base at an opposing end. The container additionally includes a sleeve defining a container receiving interior cavity with an opening at one end receiving the container, and a base at an opposing end. Of note, the container receiving cavity has an inside diameter that exceeds an outside diameter of the container. Finally, the container includes a first pair of magnetic arrays. A first one of the first pair of magnetic arrays has a primary polarity and is included with the base of the container. A second one of the first pair of magnetic arrays has a secondary polarity opposite the primary polarity and is included with the base of the sleeve.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of liquid containers insulated and non-insulated.

Description of the Related Art

A container is an apparatus that holds a liquid or solid. Common materials for a container include plastic, glass and various metals such as aluminum or stainless steel. In many instances, a container to transport liquids, may be insulative in so far as the container has a double wall vacuum insulated construction. The cost of constructing an insulative container, however, exceeds that of an ordinary container. Thus, one way to achieve insulation of a liquid contained within a tumbler is to wrap the container with a sleeve. The most common sleeve for a container is the venerable “koozie”. Typically made from fabric, silicone or foam, the koozie wraps the tumbler and remains affixed to the tumbler by way of friction.

While the traditional koozie may achieve some insulative properties, the materials associated with the koozie are often viewed as inexpensive and lacking elegance. As well, the friction fit nature of the koozie creates a physical challenge in removing the container from the koozie when desired. It is known to use ceramic and stone sleeves to insulate a container, however, ceramic and stone koozies can be quite heavy, breakable when dropped and hardly portable. As well, since there is no friction fit with a ceramic or stone koozie, it is not possible to secure the container to the ceramic or stone koozie or to ensure the orientation of the container within the ceramic or stone koozie.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to containers and provide a novel and non-obvious method for a container with a self-aligning sleeve. In an embodiment of the invention, the container includes a receiving cavity with an opening at one end adapted to receive liquid or solid, and a base at an opposing end. The container additionally includes a sleeve defining a container receiving interior cavity with an opening at one end receiving the container, and a base at an opposing end. Of note, the sleeve receiving cavity has an inside diameter that exceeds an outside diameter of the container. Finally, the container includes a first pair of magnetic arrays. A first one of the first pair of magnetic arrays has a primary polarity and is included with the base of the container. A second one of the first pair of magnetic arrays has a secondary polarity opposite the primary polarity and is included with the base of the sleeve. In this way, when the container is inserted into the sleeve, as the base of the container approaches the base of the sleeve, the magnetic force occurring between the first and second ones of the first pair of arrays of opposite polarity will secure the base of the container to the base of the sleeve and also will cause the orientation of the container to align with the orientation of the sleeve according to the position of the first and second ones of the first pair of magnetic arrays.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the sleeve and the container are both cylindrical in shape. In another aspect of the embodiment, an exterior portion of the container interlocks with an interior portion of the liquid container receiving cavity. To that end, in yet another aspect of the embodiment, the exterior portion is one or more longitudinal ridges and the interior portion comprises a groove corresponding to each of the ridges and adapted to receive the corresponding ridge.

In further embodiments of the invention, the magnetic arrays of the first pair each include two equidistantly positioned magnets of common polarity and may be embedded within the base of the container. Alternatively, the magnetic arrays of the first pair each may include two equidistantly positioned magnets of opposite polarity that are embedded within the base of the liquid container. As well, the magnetic arrays of the second pair each can include two equidistantly positioned magnets of common polarity that are embedded within the base of the sleeve, or the magnetic arrays of the second pair may include two equidistantly positioned magnets of opposite polarity that are embedded within the base of the sleeve.

Notably, in an optional embodiment of the present invention, the container can include a second pair of magnetic arrays. A first one of the second pair of arrays has the secondary polarity and is included with the base of the container, and a second one of the second pair of arrays has the primary polarity and is included with the base of the sleeve. As such, the first one of the first pair of arrays and the first one of the second pair of arrays may include four magnets of alternating polarity equidistantly embedded within the base about a centerpoint of the base of the container. Additionally, the second one of the first pair of arrays and the second one of the second pair of arrays also includes four magnets of alternating polarity opposite that of the four magnets embedded within the base of the container, and are equidistantly embedded within the base of the sleeve about a centerpoint of the base of the sleeve. Note

Finally, in even yet another aspect of the embodiment, the base of the sleeve may include a toggle lock. The toggle lock includes a rocker with two ends and a fulcrum point therebetween coupling the rocker to the base of the container and providing a fulcrum point about which the two ends of the rocker rocks moves along an arcing path. The rocker includes two basic positions: a closed position in which one of the ends engages a receiving structure in the base of the container while another of the ends moves away from the base of the container along the arcing path, and an open position in which the one of the ends moves away from the base of the container along the arcing path while the another of the ends moves towards the base of the container along the arcing path, but does not engage with any portion of the base of the container. In this regard, the receiving structure can be a notch defined in the base of the container so that the end of the rocker engaging the notch is a protrusion extending from the end towards the base of the container.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the rocker can be an arm and may be disposed within the base of the sleeve at a positive angle relative to an axis defined by the second one of the first pair of arrays having the secondary polarity opposite the primary polarity and being included with the base of the sleeve. Optionally, each of the ends of the rocker includes a magnet having the primary polarity causing the rocker to be biased in one of the open position and the closed position by a magnetic force between the magnet in one of the ends closest to the base of the container and the second one of the first pair of arrays having the secondary polarity opposite the primary polarity and being included with the base of the sleeve.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a component assembly view of a container with self-aligning sleeve;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the container of FIG. 1 inserted into the self-aligning sleeve of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a pictorial illustration of toggle lock operation on a base of the container of FIG. 1 from closed position, to open position to sleeve rotation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide for a liquid container with self-aligning sleeve. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a self-aligning magnetic sleeve include a container and a sleeve receiving the container. A base of the tumbler includes a magnetic array as does a base of the sleeve. The polarity of the magnetic array in the base of the tumbler is opposite that of the magnetic array in the base of the sleeve. Each magnetic array can include a pair of magnets, or preferably four magnets, disposed equidistantly about the respective bases in a sequence of alternating polarity, with the sequence of the magnetic array in the base of the container differing from the sequence of the magnetic array in the base of the sleeve. In this way, not only will the base of the container become secured to the base of the sleeve upon insertion of the container into the sleeve, but also the securing of the container in the sleeve will only occur when the magnetic array of the base of the container aligns with the magnetic array of the sleeve thusly providing a container in a self-aligning sleeve.

In further illustration, FIG. 1 is a component assembly view of a container with self-aligning sleeve. As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid container with self-aligning sleeve includes a container body 110, cylindrical in nature, with a diameter Dcontainer and defining a cavity 100 in which liquid may be stored. The container 110 further includes an opening 120 into which content can enter the cavity 110. Finally, the container 110 includes a base 130. Affixed to the base 130 is at least one magnetic array of one or more magnets 140A, 140B. The magnets 140A, 140B are either of a primary polarity (magnet 140A) or a secondary polarity (magnet 140B) opposite the primary polarity of magnet 140A. As shown in FIG. 1, the magnets 140A, 140B may be arranged circumferentially about a centerpoint of the base 130, equidistant from one another, and in a sequence of alternating polarity so that magnet 140A follows magnet 140B which follows magnet 140A and so forth.

A sleeve 180 also is provided. The sleeve 180 also may be cylindrical in shape with a diameter Dsleeve which exceeds Dcontainer. The sleeve 180 includes an opening 170 into which the container 110 may be inserted. The sleeve 180 also may be wrapped with a fabric or paper wrap 190, for instance leather. Finally, the sleeve 180 can be a rigid substrate such as a nylon or plastic or carbon fiber or metal with an outer soft covering such as leather, fabric or paper wrap. Finally, the sleeve 180 includes a base 185. Like the base 130 of the container 110, the base 185 of the sleeve 180 has affixed thereto, a second magnetic array of one or more magnets 140A, 140B.

As in the case of the base 130 of the container 110, the magnets 140A, 140B of the base 185 of the sleeve 180 are either of a primary polarity (magnet 140A) or a secondary polarity (magnet 140B) opposite the primary polarity of magnet 140A. As in the case of base 130 of the container 110, the magnets 140A, 140B may be arranged circumferentially about a centerpoint of the base 185, equidistant from one another, and in a sequence of alternating polarity so that magnet 140A follows magnet 140B which follows magnet 140A and so forth.

Notably, when the magnets 140A, 140B of the base 130 of the container 110 are vertically aligned with the magnets 140A, 140B of the base 185 of the sleeve 180, two configurations result. In a first configuration, the magnets 140A of the base 130 repel the magnets 140A of the base 185 that are vertically opposite the magnets 140A of the base 130. The same is held true of the magnets 140B of the base 130 when vertically aligned with the magnets 140B of the base 185. In a second configuration shown in FIG. 1, the magnets 140B of the base 130 that are vertically opposite magnets 140A of the base 185 magnetically attract the magnets 140A of the base 185 and the magnets 140A of the base 130 that are vertically opposite the magnets 140B of the base 185 magnetically attract the magnets 140B of the base 185 so as to cause the base 130 to become secured to the base 185. Thus, to cause the removal of the container 110 from the sleeve 180 when the container 110 is magnetically secured to the sleeve 180, a rotation of the sleeve 180 in an opposite direction to that of the container 110 will cause repelling magnetic forces to push the container 110 out of the sleeve 180.

Once the container 110 has been inserted into the sleeve 180, the container can be locked into place. In further illustration, FIG. 2 schematically shows the tumbler of FIG. 1 inserted into the self-aligning sleeve of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, an exterior portion of the container 110 interlocks with an interior portion of the sleeve 180. In this regard, a longitudinal ridge 210 may be formed on an exterior surface of the container 210 and a groove 220 adapted to receive the ridge 210 may be formed in an interior surface of the sleeve 180. The groove 220 may have a length that exceeds a length of the protrusion 210 and a width that exceeds a width of the protrusion 210, and a depth that exceeds a depth of the protrusion 210. Optionally, multiple grooves may be provided to correspond to multiple protrusions. As well, the groove may have a width at an end within the sleeve 180 furthest from the opening of the sleeve 180 that is wider than the width of the groove nearest the opening of the sleeve 180 so that a rotation of the sleeve 180 or an opposite rotation of the container 110 causes the protrusion 210 to interlock with the groove 220 and prevent the removal of the container 110 from the sleeve 180.

The container 110 also may be secured to the sleeve 180 by way of a magnetically assisted toggle lock. In yet further illustration, FIG. 3 pictorially shows a toggle lock operation on the base 130 of the tumbler of FIG. 1 from closed position, to open position. As shown in FIG. 3, a toggle lock 370 is affixed to the base 185 of the sleeve 180 and a rocker with two ends 330 and a fulcrum 320 therebetween coupling the rocker to the base 185 of the sleeve 180, and with a length that exceeds its width. The fulcrum 320 provides a fulcrum point about which the two ends 330 of the rocker move along an arcing path. The rocker of the toggle lock 370 includes a closed position in which a protrusion 350 of one of the ends 330 engages a receiving structure 310 in the base 130 of the container 110, such as a notch formed in the base 130 of the container 110, while another of the ends 330 moves away from the base 130 of the container 110 along the arcing path. In this way, once the toggle lock 370 is placed into the closed position, the base 130 of the container 110 cannot rotate relative to the base 185 of the sleeve 180 so long as the protrusion 350 engages the receiving structure 310.

The rocker of the toggle lock 370 also includes an open position in which the one of the ends 330 moves away from the receiving structure 310 of the base 130 of the container 110 along the arcing path while the other of the ends 330 moves towards the base 130 of the container 110 along the arcing path, but does not engage with any portion of the base 130 of the container 110. When in the toggle lock 370 is in the open position, the base 130 of the container 110 is able to rotate relative to the base 185 of the sleeve 180. Optionally, each of the ends 330 of the rocker includes a magnet 340B having the primary polarity of the magnets 140B opposite to the polarity of the magnets 140A causing the rocker to be biased in one of the open position and the closed position by a magnetic force between the magnet 340B in one of the ends closest to the base 130 of the container 110 and the second one of the first pair of magnetic arrays of magnets 140A having the secondary polarity opposite the primary polarity and being included with the base 185 of the sleeve 180.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rocker of the toggle lock 370 is disposed within the base 185 of the sleeve 180 at a positive angle relative to an axis defined by the second one of the first pair of arrays of magnets 140A having the secondary polarity opposite the primary polarity and being included with the base 185 of the sleeve 180. In this way, the toggle lock 370 can move from open to closed position, and from closed to open position, with magnetic assist without undue repelling magnetic force provided by the magnets 140B of the base 130 of the container 110.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims as follows:

Claims

1. A container with self-aligning sleeve comprising:

a container defining an interior receiving cavity with an opening at one end adapted to receive liquid or solid, and a base at an opposing end;

a sleeve defining a container receiving interior cavity with an opening at one end receiving the container, and a base at an opposing end, the container receiving cavity having an inside diameter that exceeds an outside diameter of the container; and,

a first pair of magnetic arrays, a first one of the first pair of arrays having a primary polarity and being included with the base of the liquid container, and a second one of the first pair of arrays having a secondary polarity opposite the primary polarity and being included with the base of the sleeve.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the sleeve and the container are both cylindrical in shape.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein an exterior portion of the container interlocks with an interior portion of the liquid container receiving cavity.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the exterior portion is a longitudinal ridge and the interior portion comprises a groove adapted to receive the ridge.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the magnetic arrays of the first pair each comprise two equidistantly positioned magnets of common polarity.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the magnets are embedded within the base of the liquid container.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the magnetic arrays of the first pair each comprise two equidistantly positioned magnets of opposite polarity.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the magnets are embedded within the base of the container.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the magnetic arrays of the second pair each comprise two equidistantly positioned magnets of common polarity.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein the magnets are embedded within the base of the sleeve.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the magnetic arrays of the second pair each comprise two equidistantly positioned magnets of opposite polarity.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein the magnets are embedded within the base of the sleeve.

13. The container of claim 1, further comprising a second pair of magnetic arrays, a first one of the second pair of arrays having the secondary polarity and being included with the base of the container, and a second one of the second pair of arrays having the primary polarity and being included with the base of the sleeve.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein the first one of the first pair of arrays and the first one of the second pair of arrays comprises four magnets of alternating polarity equidistantly embedded within the base about a centerpoint of the base of the container.

15. The container of claim 14, wherein the second one of the first pair of arrays and the second one of the second pair of arrays comprises four magnets of alternating polarity opposite that of the four magnets embedded within the base of the container, and are equidistantly embedded within the base of the sleeve about a centerpoint of the base of the sleeve.

16. The container of claim 1, wherein the base of the sleeve further comprises a toggle lock, the toggle lock comprising a rocker with two ends and a fulcrum point therebetween coupling the rocker to the base of the container and providing a fulcrum point about which the two ends of the rocker rocks moves along an arcing path, the rocker comprising two positions:

a closed position in which one of the ends engages a receiving structure in the base of the container while another of the ends moves away from the base of the container along the arcing path, and

an open position in which the one of the ends moves away from the base of the container along the arcing path while the another of the ends moves towards the base of the container along the arcing path, but does not engage with any portion of the base of the container.

17. The container of claim 16, wherein each of the ends of the rocker includes a magnet having the primary polarity causing the rocker to be biased in one of the open position and the closed position by a magnetic force between the magnet in one of the ends closest to the base of the container and the second one of the first pair of arrays having the secondary polarity opposite the primary polarity and being included with the base of the sleeve.

18. The container of claim 16, wherein the rocker is an arm with a length that exceeds a width of the arm.

19. The container of claim 18, wherein the arm is disposed within the base of the sleeve at a positive angle relative to an axis defined by the second one of the first pair of arrays having the secondary polarity opposite the primary polarity and being included with the base of the sleeve.

20. The container of claim 16, wherein the receiving structure is a notch defined in the base of the container and wherein the one of the ends engaging the notch is a protrusion extending from the one of the ends towards the base of the container.