BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITH HANGING TOY

Abstract

A beverage container assembly having a toy removably connected thereto. The beverage container assembly has a container housing, a lid assembly and a receiver. The container housing has a sidewall, a bottom wall, and an opening defining a liquid retaining cavity. The lid assembly is connected to the container housing adjacent the opening of the container housing, and it has an opening providing access to the cavity. The receiver extends from the beverage container and the toy is removably connected to the receiver outside the cavity of the container housing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/400,936 filed Aug. 25, 2022, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter relates to a beverage container, and more particularly, to a travel beverage container with a hanging toy.

BACKGROUND

Beverage containers are known in the art. While such products according to the prior art provide a number of advantages, they nevertheless have certain limitations and do not historically include certain features. The present disclosure seeks to overcome certain of those limitations and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present disclosure is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the disclosed subject technology relates to a beverage container having a toy connected thereto.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly, comprising: a container housing having a sidewall, a bottom wall, and an opening defining a liquid retaining cavity; a lid assembly removably connected to the container housing adjacent the opening of the container housing; a receiver extending from the beverage container assembly; and, a hanging toy removably connected to the receiver.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly, comprising: a container housing having a sidewall, a bottom wall, and an opening defining a liquid retaining cavity; a lid assembly connected to the container housing adjacent the opening of the container housing, the lid assembly having an opening providing access to the cavity of the container housing; a receiver extending from the beverage container assembly; and, a hanging toy removably connected to the receiver outside the cavity of the container housing.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly, comprising: a container housing having a sidewall, a bottom wall, and an opening defining a liquid retaining cavity; a removable lid assembly connected to the container housing adjacent the opening of the container housing, the lid assembly having an opening providing access to the cavity of the container housing; a receiver extending from the beverage container assembly; and, a hanging toy removably connected to the receiver outside the cavity of the container housing.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly wherein the lid housing has an opening to dispense liquid contained in the cavity.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly, wherein the opening is adjacent a spout of the lid housing.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly further comprising a straw within the opening to dispense liquid contained in the cavity.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly, further comprising a seal between the lid housing and the container.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly, wherein the lid assembly has a pivotable carrying handle.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly wherein the pivotable carrying handle is the receiver.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly wherein the hanging toy is a fidget toy.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly wherein the fidget toy is a pop-it fidget toy.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly wherein the receiver is an auxiliary receiver connected to the beverage container housing.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly wherein the receiver is integral with the beverage container housing.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly wherein the receiver is removably associated with the beverage container assembly.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly wherein the lid assembly is removably connected to the container housing.

The disclosed technology further relates to a beverage container assembly wherein the lid has a handle extending therefrom and wherein the handle is the receiver.

It is understood that other embodiments and configurations of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present disclosure, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments of the disclosures are illustrated and, together with the descriptions below are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, and serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front top perspective view of one embodiment of a beverage container with a hanging toy, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a rear top perspective view of another embodiment of a beverage container with a hanging toy, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view about line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing one embodiment of a hanging toy, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view about line 4-4 in FIG. 1, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a rear top perspective view of a beverage container with a plurality of embodiments of viable hanging toys for connection to the beverage container, according to the present disclosure.

In one or more implementations, not all of the depicted components in each figure may be required, and one or more implementations may include additional components not shown in a figure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure. Additional components, different components, or fewer components may be utilized within the scope of the subject disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this disclosure is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the disclosure to the embodiments illustrated. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as one of ordinary skill in the relevant art would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Further, descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the present disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the present disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law.

Generally, this disclosure describes several embodiments of beverage containers 10 with receivers 12 for supporting a removable hanging toy 14. In one embodiment the receiver 12 extends from the beverage container 10. Further, in one embodiment the hanging toy 14 is removably connected to the receiver 12. In another embodiment the hanging toy 14 is removably connected to the receiver 12 outside a cavity 24 of the container 10.

Referring now to the figures, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown multiple embodiments of beverage containers 10 for carrying removable hanging toys 14. As further shown in FIG. 4, the beverage containers 10 generally comprise a container housing 16 having a sidewall 18, a bottom wall 20 and an opening 22 to define a liquid retaining cavity 24. The container housing 16 may be an insulated double-wall container. The liquid beverage is generally retained in the cavity 24 of the container housing 16.

The beverage container 10 may also have a lid assembly 26. In one embodiment the lid assembly 26 generally comprises a lid housing 28 that is removably connected to the container housing 16 of the beverage container 10 adjacent the opening 22 of the container housing 16. In one embodiment, the container housing 16 has internal threads and the lid housing 28 has mating external threads to removably connect the lid housing 28 to the container housing 16. The lid housing 28 also preferably has an opening 30 providing access to the cavity 24 of the container housing 16 to dispense liquid contained in the cavity 24. In one embodiment, the opening 30 may or may not have a spout 32, and the opening may or may not have a straw 34, to assist in dispensing the liquid in the cavity 24. Further, in one embodiment, the opening 22 is adjacent the spout 32. And, in another embodiment, the straw 34 is within the opening 22 to dispense liquid contained in the cavity 24. Additionally, in one embodiment, the lid assembly 26 may have a cover 36 to cover the opening 30. The cover 36 may be pivotable about a pivot connection 38 to open and close over the opening 30. A button 40 may be provided to release the cover 36 from the closed position to move to an open position for dispensing the liquids from the cavity 24. Further, the lid assembly 26 may have a vent 42 and a vent seal 44. Finally, a seal 46 is preferably provided between the lid housing 16 and the container housing 16 to prevent liquid from leaking out of the cavity 24. The lid assembly 26 may have a lock 48 to prevent the cover 36 from being moved from the closed position.

In one embodiment, the lid assembly 26 also has a pivotable carrying handle 50.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5, a hanging toy 14 is provided and removably secured to the receiver 12 of the beverage container 10. Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the hanging toy 14 may be secured to an auxiliary receiver 62, such as a cable 62 or string 62. Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the hanging toy 14 may be secured to the handle 50 of the lid assembly 26. In such an embodiment the handle 50 operates as the receiver 12. In alternate embodiments, the hanging toy 14 may be secured to other receivers 12 of the beverage container assembly 10, including receivers of the beverage container housing, the lid assembly and components associated with the lid assembly. In one embodiment, the receiver 12 is integral with the beverage container housing. In an alternate embodiment, the receiver 12 is removably associated with the beverage container assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the hanging toy 14 preferably has a securing member 70 to secure the hanging toy 14 to the receiver 12 of the beverage container 10. In one embodiment, the securing member 70 comprises a male 72 and female component 74. The male component 72 is looped around the receiver 12 (alternate receiver 62 or handle 50), and then placed through an opening 76 in the female component 74 and releasably retained therein. For example, the male component 72 may have one or more ribs 78 that fit through the opening 76 of the female component 74 via pressing therethrough, but which are larger than the opening 76 and are thereby retained until excess force is used to pull them back through. In alternate embodiments the securing member 70 may be structure other than a male and female component.

In one embodiment, the hanging toy 14 is a fidget toy 80. A fidget toy is typically a small object used for pleasant but purposeless activity with the hands (manual fidgeting or stimming). The fidget toy 80 can be squeezed, pulled, or moved around by a child. It is believed that fidget toys help some individuals to tolerate anxiety, frustration, agitation, boredom, and excitement. They are also commonly used by those with sensory difficulties. One type of fidget toy is a pop-it fidget toy 80. The pop-it fidget toy 80 generally comprises a silicone toy with pokable bubbles 82, often in a half-spherical shape, that can be inverted/flipped and re-used. As shown in FIG. 5, the pop-it fidget toy 80 can be arranged in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, and are used as a stress-reliever. In alternate embodiment, the hanging toy is not a fidget toy, but is some other toy.

The embodiments detailed hereinabove may be combined in full or in part, with any alternative embodiments described.

A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” The term “some” refers to one or more. Underlined and/or italicized headings and subheadings are used for convenience only, do not limit the subject technology, and are not referred to in connection with the interpretation of the description of the subject technology. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various configurations described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description.

Numerous modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Preferred embodiments of this disclosure are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the disclosure. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure.

Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” as used herein are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way. Further, the term “plurality” as used herein indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. Additionally, the term “having” as used herein in both the disclosure and claims, is utilized in an open-ended manner.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the terms “and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list (i.e., each item). The phrase “at least one of” does not require selection of at least one item; rather, the phrase allows a meaning that includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. By way of example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” each refer to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, and C.

To the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Phrases such as an aspect, the aspect, another aspect, some aspects, one or more aspects, an implementation, the implementation, another implementation, some implementations, one or more implementations, an embodiment, the embodiment, another embodiment, some embodiments, one or more embodiments, a configuration, the configuration, another configuration, some configurations, one or more configurations, the subject technology, the disclosure, the present disclosure, other variations thereof and alike are for convenience and do not imply that a disclosure relating to such phrase(s) is essential to the subject technology or that such disclosure applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect or some aspects may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa, and this applies similarly to other foregoing phrases.

A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” The term “some” refers to one or more. Underlined and/or italicized headings and subheadings are used for convenience only, do not limit the subject technology, and are not referred to in connection with the interpretation of the description of the subject technology. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various configurations described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.”

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of particular implementations of the subject matter. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

The title, background, brief description of the drawings, abstract, and drawings are hereby incorporated into the disclosure and are provided as illustrative examples of the disclosure, not as restrictive descriptions. It is submitted with the understanding that they will not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the detailed description, it can be seen that the description provides illustrative examples and the various features are grouped together in various implementations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed subject matter requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed configuration or operation. The claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

It will be understood that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the Claims are not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the disclosure and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.

Further, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims and to encompass all legal equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intended to embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirements of the applicable patent law, nor should they be interpreted in such a way.

Claims

1. A beverage container assembly, comprising:

a container housing having a sidewall, a bottom wall, and an opening defining a liquid retaining cavity;

a lid assembly removably connected to the container housing adjacent the opening of the container housing;

a receiver extending from the beverage container assembly; and,

a hanging toy removably connected to the receiver.

2. The beverage container assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid housing has an opening to dispense liquid contained in the cavity.

3. The beverage container assembly of claim 2, wherein the opening is adjacent a spout of the lid housing.

4. The beverage container assembly of claim 2, further comprising a straw within the opening to dispense liquid contained in the cavity.

5. The beverage container assembly of claim 1, further comprising a seal between the lid housing and the container.

6. The beverage container assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid assembly has a pivotable carrying handle.

7. The beverage container assembly of claim 1, wherein the hanging toy is a fidget toy.

8. The beverage container assembly of claim 7, wherein the fidget toy is a pop-it fidget toy.

9. The beverage container assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiver is an auxiliary receiver connected to the beverage container housing.

10. The beverage container assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiver is integral with the beverage container housing.

11. The beverage container assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiver is removably associated with the beverage container assembly.

12. A beverage container assembly, comprising:

a container housing having a sidewall, a bottom wall, and an opening defining a liquid retaining cavity;

a lid assembly connected to the container housing adjacent the opening of the container housing, the lid assembly having an opening providing access to the cavity of the container housing;

a receiver extending from the beverage container assembly; and,

a hanging toy removably connected to the receiver outside the cavity of the container housing.

13. The beverage container assembly of claim 12, wherein the lid assembly is removably connected to the container housing.

14. The beverage container assembly of claim 12, further comprising a straw within the opening to dispense liquid contained in the cavity.

15. The beverage container assembly of claim 12, wherein the lid assembly has a pivotable carrying handle, and wherein the handle is the receiver.

16. The beverage container assembly of claim 12, wherein the hanging toy is a fidget toy.

17. The beverage container assembly of claim 12, wherein the receiver is an auxiliary receiver.

18. A beverage container assembly, comprising:

a container housing having a sidewall, a bottom wall, and an opening defining a liquid retaining cavity;

a removable lid assembly connected to the container housing adjacent the opening of the container housing, the lid assembly having an opening providing access to the cavity of the container housing;

a receiver extending from the beverage container assembly; and,

a hanging toy removably connected to the receiver outside the cavity of the container housing.

19. The beverage container assembly of claim 18, wherein the receiver is integral with the beverage container housing.

20. The beverage container assembly of claim 19, wherein the lid has a handle extending therefrom and wherein the handle is the receiver.