Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – For liquid or liquid-holding container
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-19
2003-07-29
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
For liquid or liquid-holding container
C224S148400, C224S148500, C224S162000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06598770
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to beverage containers and, more specifically, to a beverage container that may be selectively fastened and secured around the waist of an individual.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container that may be fashionably worn as a belt.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container that can be worn to improve the user's balance, particularly child users.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container that may replace conventional beverage containers.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container that may provide the user of the beverage container with a temperature monitoring system.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container that may act as a weighted device to assist in the workout routine of the user or to provide beverages during outside activities, such as an amusement park, zoo, horseback riding, bike riding, roller skating, boating, or and the like.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container that has a detector window to monitor the consumption of the beverage within the beverage container belt.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
The present invention is a beverage container belt. The beverage container belt consists of a beverage container housing and two belt strap ends with fastening means. The belt straps are located one at each of the distal ends of the beverage container housing.
The belt straps may be of a sturdy yet pliable fabric that consists of mating hook-and-loop material. The belt straps provide the user of the beverage container belt with the means for securing the beverage container belt around the waist.
The beverage container housing is an elongated and flexible structure that provides the beverage storage means for the beverage container belt.
The container housing consists of a filling plug, a filling orifice, an isolating element, a fluid level indicator, a temperature indicator, and a straw with a winder mechanism. The filling plug provides the means for retaining a fluid once it has been placed into the beverage container belt via the filling orifice. The filling orifice is an aperture that provides the mating means for the filling plug as they work in conjunction to retain any fluid placed within the beverage container belt.
The isolating element is a pliable, water resistant, and temperature retardant strip of fabric that may provide the means for preventing the body heat of the user from changing the temperature of the fluid or beverage being stored within the beverage container belt.
The fluid level indicator is a transparent element furnished with measurement marking means and located on the front most end of the beverage container belt at one of its distal ends. The fluid level indicator provides the user of the beverage container belt with the means for monitoring the contents being stored within the beverage container belt.
The temperature indicator resembles that of a conventional thermometer that displays the temperature as a color, the color corresponding to a known temperature range. The temperature indicator provides the user of the beverage container belt with the means for monitoring the temperature of the fluid or beverage contents being stored within the beverage container belt. The temperature indicator is also located on the front most end of the beverage container belt.
The winder mechanism is a spring loaded unit that is located on the front most end of the beverage container belt at the distal end opposite the level and temperature indicators. The winder mechanism provides the user of the beverage container belt with the means of selectively extending or rewinding the retractable straw.
The winder mechanism includes a nozzle, a selectively extendible straw, a winder mechanism housing, a collecting member, a spool plate, and a coiled spring. The winder mechanism housing provides the housing means for all of the components that comprise the winder mechanism.
The nozzle is a cone shaped structure that protrudes from the extendible straw. The extendible straw is an elongated straw coiled within the winder mechanism housing. The extendible straw provides the user of the beverage container belt with the means for hands-free drinking.
The extendible straw in turn is positioned for free spinning with respect to the beverage container housing as the extendible straw is extended from the winder mechanism housing.
The collecting member is an L-shaped cylindrical structure that is positioned within the beverage container housing and provides the means for extracting substantially all of the fluids/or beverage being stored within the lowest point of the beverage container belt.
The user of the beverage container belt fills and then secures the beverage container belt around his or her waist. With the beverage container belt in place and using the extendable retractable straw the individual may now carry on with a full range of physical activities without the hindrance of having to stop or locate a conventional beverage container.
A portable liquid container is provided that comprises: an elongated, flexible container, the container having a passage for receiving liquids, and a closing member for closing the passage, the container further having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends having fastening members for fastening the first end to the second end such that the container may be belted about a user; a hollow mating member having a first end, the first end having an opening positioned within the container, and a second end, the second end having an opening positioned outside the container; a hollow collection member positioned within the container, the collection member having a first end and a second end, the first end being positioned within the container to receive liquids from within the container, the collection member second end being mated with the mating member for liquid passage through the mating member; an extendable and flexible straw having a first end and a second end, the first end being mated with the mating member for liquid passage into the straw, the straw first end being rotatable with respect to the mating member; and a winder mechanism positioned on the container, the winder mechanism receiving the straw from the mating member, coiling the straw within the winder mechanism, and discharging the straw second end from within the winder mechanism, the winder mechanism allowing the straw to be uncoiled and extended beyond the winder mechanism, the winder mechanism having a spring for rewinding the extended straw within the winder mechanism.
In another embodiment, the container further comprises a layer of heat insulating material attached to the container and positioned such that the material is between the container and the user when the container is belted about the user.
In another embodiment, the container further comprises a temperature gauge attached to the container, the gauge indicating the temperature of the contained liquids.
In another embodiment, the temperature gauge further comprises at least two color indicators for indicating the liquid temperature.
In another embodiment, the number of color-coded indicators is four, the indicators comprising a red, yellow, green and blue indicator.
In another embodiment, the container further comprises a fluid level indicator, the fluid level indicator indicating the level of the contained liquids.
In another embodiment, the container is constructed from a heat insulating material.
In another embodiment, the container further comprises a liner, the liner being impermeable with respect to liquid.
In another embodiment, the liner is constructed from a heat insulation material.
In another embodiment, the container first and second end fastening members comprise a first hook-and-loop
Elkins Gary E.
Kroll Michael I.
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