Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct – Drinking device
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-28
2001-08-21
Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
Drinking device
C220S709000, C222S001000, C215S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276559
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a liquid container and more particularly, to a liquid container with an insulated vessel, a heat-sealing device, an upper drinking chamber and a pump system for transferring the liquid in the vessel to the drinking chamber.
2. Description of the Related Art
The consumption of hot liquids such as coffee and tea has become a common activity. Travel mugs and coffee mugs are popular consumer items. There are two common problems with drinking hot liquids and with containers that retain hot beverages. The first problem is that once the scolding hot liquid is placed in the container, the user either bums himself or herself in an effort to drink the liquid or cannot consume the liquid until it reaches an ideal drinking temperature. The second problem is that if the user leaves the container for a long period of time, the beverage becomes too cold for consumption and the user must discard the cold, stale beverage. This problem is common in the prior art because such containers expose the hot liquid to ambient during the entire time that the liquid is being consumed. This exposure to ambient causes the hot liquid to rapidly cool.
It would be desirable to provide a liquid container that is designed to dispense into a drinking chamber a small quantity of hot liquid to be then consumed while the remaining portion of the hot liquid is contained within a thermally insulated vessel that seals the heat and freshness of the beverage. It is also desirable that once the user consumes the liquid in the drinking chamber, the user can pump up another small quantity of hot liquid from the insulated vessel for consumption.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid container. In one embodiment, the container comprises a vessel for containing a liquid wherein the vessel has an open top and a closed bottom. In another embodiment, the container further comprises a pump device being designed to be mounted onto the vessel; the pump device has upper and lower portions and an internal cavity extending from the lower portion through the upper portion; and the lower portion comprises a protrusion extending inwardly into the cavity and forms an opening. In still anther embodiment, the container further comprises an upper drinking chamber having a cup with an internal reservoir and an external undersurface; the drinking chamber is designed to be mounted onto the pump device and the vessel; the cup is designed to fit within the cavity of the pump device, and the internal reservoir of the cup is open to ambient. In yet another embodiment, the container further comprises a first heat-sealing device being connected to the external undersurface of the cup; the first heat-sealing device is designed to seal the opening when the drinking chamber is mounted onto the pump device and the vessel. In still yet another embodiment, the container comprises a liquid dispensing tube having opposing ends, one end being attached to the drinking chamber and the second end being situated within the vessel, whereby the activation of the pump device causes pressurized air to flow into the vessel to force the liquid to flow from the vessel through the tube into the drinking chamber. The container of the present invention is designed for usage with both hot and cold liquid.
In a further embodiment, the pump device comprises a bellows. In yet a further embodiment, the container further comprises a lid wherein the lid is designed to fit onto the drinking chamber, and the lid has an aperture for drinking access. In still a further embodiment, the lid further comprises a closing mechanism for sealing the aperture. In still yet a further embodiment, the closing mechanism comprises a sliding door.
In yet another further embodiment, the drinking chamber comprises a valve and a cap for controlling the flow of the liquid. In still another further embodiment, the vessel comprises external screw threads and the retainer ring comprising internal counter threads being compatible with said screw threads of the vessel thereby mating the pump device to the vessel.
In still yet another further embodiment, the drinking chamber comprises an external sleeve. In another embodiment, the pump device is situated within the sleeve and the cup of the drinking chamber when the drinking chamber is mounted onto the pump device. In still another embodiment, an upward and downward movement of the sleeve causes the activation of the pump device. In another embodiment, the pump device has an upper annular ring and a lower retainer ring. In a further embodiment, the pump device is removably mounted onto the vessel via the retainer ring. In still a further embodiment, the upper drinking chamber is removably mounted onto the pump via the annular ring.
In yet another embodiment, the drinking chamber further comprises a stand pipe; and the tube is connected to the stand pipe, the liquid normally flowing from the tube into the stand pipe and into the internal reservoir of the cup, the liquid may flow back through the stand pipe during a recovery stroke of the pump device into the vessel thereby decreasing the overflowing of liquid in the internal reservoir of the cup. In still yet another embodiment, the upper portion of the pump device comprises external threads and the drinking chamber comprises counter threads compatible with the threads of the pump device thereby allowing the drinking chamber to mate with the pump device.
In a further embodiment, the first heat-sealing device has a diameter greater than the diameter of the opening created by the protrusion at the lower portion of the pump device. In still a further embodiment, the first heat-sealing device is constructed of a pliable and flexible material, such as a silicone. In another embodiment, the external undersurface of the cup has upper and lower parts, and the container further comprises a second heat-sealing device. In yet another embodiment, the first heat-sealing device is situated at the lower part of the undersurface and the second heat-sealing device is situated at the upper part of the undersurface of the cup, such that when the drinking chamber is mounted onto the pump device and the lower reservoir, the first and second heat-sealing devices seal the internal cavity of the pump device. In a further embodiment, the first and second heat-sealing devices are silicon rings. In still a further embodiment, the first and second heat-sealing devices are sonic welded onto the undersurface of the cup. In another embodiment, the first and second heat-sealing devices form a vapor barrier seal. In yet a further embodiment, the drinking chamber is pushed downwardly onto the pump device to thereby force the first heat-sealing device through the opening and thermally seal the open top of the vessel. In still yet a further embodiment, the drinking chamber is pulled upwardly from the pump device to pull the first heat-sealing device away through the opening and unseal the top of the vessel.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a liquid container. In still another embodiment, the method comprises: providing a vessel for containing a liquid wherein the vessel has an open top and a closed bottom. In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises: mounting a pump device onto the vessel, the pump device having upper and lower portions and an internal cavity extending from the lower portion through the upper portion; the lower portion comprising a protrusion extending inwardly into the cavity and forming an opening.
In a further embodiment, the method further comprises: providing an upper drinking chamber having a cup with an internal reservoir and an external undersurface, the drinking chamber being designed to be mounted onto the pump device and the vessel; the cup being designed to fit within the cavity of the pump device, and the internal reservoir of the cup being open to ambient. In still a further embodiment, the method further comprises: connecting a first heat-sealin
de la Rosa Dan M.
Moy Joseph M.
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