JP3234543U - Stackable container with built-in channel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stackable container having a built-in channel.
A beverage container 1 includes a main body 2 and a lid 3. The main body 2 includes a bottom wall 23 and a side wall 22 that define an internal volume for storing beverages. The body 2 further includes a built-in channel 20 that communicates fluid with the internal volume. The built-in channel 20 extends substantially along the entire height of the body 2 and includes an upper opening 24 and a lower opening 25. The lid 3 is configured to be attached to the body 2 to seal the internal volume. The lid 3 includes a protrusion 31. The built-in channel 20 extends beyond the upper edge of the body 2 and is partially received within the protrusion 31 of the lid 3. The protrusion 31 includes a downwardly extending groove 34 that coincides with the top of the built-in channel 20.
[Selection diagram] FIG. 2A

Description

The present disclosure generally relates to containers with internal channels, which are particularly useful for consuming beverages that may or may not contain solids.

Against the backdrop of growing environmental awareness around the world, countries, many cities and large corporations have announced a total ban on the use of disposable removable plastic straws. Disposable removable plastic straws have been found to cause significant damage to the environment and marine life. Both photos and videos of such harm have spurred a growing consensus that disposable removable plastic straws should be banned.

For most beverages, such a ban is not an issue. However, this is a major problem for many of Asia's specialty drinks that contain solids. Beverages containing jellies, starches, fruits, blended ice, etc., from the bottom of the beverage container to the top of the container and the consumer, without substantially tilting the container or effectively pouring such contents out of the container. It cannot be optimally enjoyed without a straw to help create a vacuum that can deliver such a solid to the mouth.

Various alternatives have been developed, such as straws made of various biodegradable or compostable materials, but are generally uneconomical due to, for example, higher manufacturing costs or not easily biodegrading. Therefore, there is a market need for an economical yet practical solution to the ban on disposable removable plastic straws.

Provided herein are containers for beverages, the container including a body and a lid, the body including a bottom wall and sidewalls defining an internal volume for storing the beverage, and the body. Further including a built-in channel for fluid communication with the internal volume, the built-in channel extends substantially along the entire height of the body, including an upper part with an upper opening and a lower part with a lower opening, and a lid. Is configured to be attached to the body to seal the internal volume, the lid contains a protrusion, the built-in channel extends beyond the upper edge of the body and is partially accepted within the protrusion of the lid, the protrusion Includes a downwardly extending groove that matches the top of the built-in channel.

According to certain embodiments, the built-in channels are provided inside or outside the internal volume.

According to a particular aspect, the built-in channel is provided on the side wall of the body.

According to certain aspects, the top of the built-in channel is fitted with a downwardly extending groove.

According to certain aspects, the downward extending groove is fitted to the top of the built-in channel.

According to a particular aspect, the body includes a partition for dividing the internal volume into an upper volume and a lower volume so that the ice cube is included in the upper volume. The partition is a sieve-shaped screen filter containing multiple holes.

According to a particular embodiment, the body includes a channel wall, the channel wall forms an internal channel, and the internal channel is attached at least partially to the side wall of the body.

According to a particular aspect, the body comprises a channel wall, the channel wall and a portion of the side wall together form an internal channel.

According to certain embodiments, the lower opening comprises one or more side openings.

According to certain aspects, the protrusions include prefabricated, fragile, weakened lines around the protrusions.

According to certain aspects, the built-in channel includes a bellows tube portion configured to line up with or slightly lower than the upper edge of the side wall of the body when the built-in channel is not in use. ..

According to a particular aspect, the top of the built-in channel is separated from the side wall of the body.

According to certain embodiments, the beverage comprises a liquid and a solid.

According to a particular aspect, the body has a tapered shape from top to bottom, the side walls of the body have a spiral cross section with two ends, and one end of the side wall is one end of the built-in channel. And the other end of the side wall connects to the opposite end of the built-in channel.

Provided herein is a stack of containers, the stack comprising a plurality of containers according to the above embodiments.

The accompanying drawings include figures to further illustrate and clarify the above and other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that these drawings show only certain embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit their scope. It will also be understood that these drawings are not always drawn to a constant scale. The present disclosure will now be described and described with additional specificity and details by using the accompanying drawings below.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container with a built-in channel according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a container with a built-in channel according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a container with built-in channels and dividers according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another container having a built-in channel according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a container lid according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

4A-4D is an enlarged view of the lower part of the built-in channel according to the specific embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another container with a built-in channel according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another container with a built-in channel according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another container with a built-in channel according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another container with a built-in channel according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another container with a built-in channel according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another container with built-in channels and dividers according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

It is a top view of the container of FIG. 8A.

It is a top view of the three containers of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another container with a built-in channel according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another container with a built-in channel and a sealed opening according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.

(Detailed explanation of the device)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a container 1 according to a specific aspect of the present disclosure. The container 1 includes a main body 2 and a lid 3. Container 1 is used to store beverages. Container 1 includes metal (eg, stainless steel), plastic (eg, PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS and PC), paper (eg, waxed paper), glass, wood, ceramic, or a combination thereof. , Can be made of any food grade material. The method for manufacturing the container differs depending on the material used, and examples thereof include molding, casting, machining, forging, pressing, and welding. Such methods are within the capacity of those skilled in the art and will not be described in further detail herein. The container 1 may be reusable or disposable. The container 1 can take any suitable form such as a cup, a bottle, a can, a pouch, a cartridge, a capsule, and the like.

The main body 2 of the container 1 can have a different shape or configuration. The body 2 can have a regular or irregular shape. In certain embodiments, the body 2 can have a substantially cylindrical shape, a truncated cone shape, a cubic shape, or any other desired shape.

The lid 3 of the container 1 can take various shapes or configurations as long as it effectively seals the body 2 and at least partially or completely prevents the leakage of beverages from it.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the container 1. The main body 2 includes a side wall 22 and a bottom wall 23, which together define an internal volume in the main body 2 for storing a beverage. Beverages include liquids (eg, milk, tea, wine, water, juice, and combinations thereof), liquid and gas mixtures (eg, carbonated beverages such as soda or beer), liquid and solid mixtures (eg, Boba, etc.). It can be in the form of jellies, fruits, smoothies, blended ice, drinks with garnish or drink seasonings), or viscous liquids (eg milkshakes and yogurts). As will be apparent from the present disclosure, the container 1 of the present disclosure is particularly suitable for beverages containing liquids and solids such as bubble tea.

In certain embodiments, the upper edge of the side wall 22 of the body 2 is received within a circumferential notch defined by the outer edge 32 of the lid 3, whereby the lid 3 is secured to the body 2. Other forms for fixing the lid 3 to the main body 2 are also possible and are within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the lid 3 is attached to the body 2 by a snap fit, lock catch, screw connection, or other means known in the art provided on the upper edge of the body 2 and / or the outer edge 32 of the lid 3. Can be done. Does the tight connection between the upper edge of the side wall 22 and the outer edge 32 of the lid 3 form a seal between the lid 3 and the body 2 to prevent the leakage of beverage from the internal volume of the body 2? , At least limited. Alternative or additional sealing means known in the art are also possible.

In a particular embodiment, the channel wall 21 is provided in the main body 2. The channel wall 21 defines a built-in channel 20 that communicates fluidly with the internal volume of the body 2 within the internal volume of the body 2, either alone or in combination with a portion of the side wall 22 of the body 2. In certain embodiments, the channel wall 21 may be permanently attached to the side wall 22 of the body 2 by welding, gluing, or otherwise. In certain embodiments, the channel wall 21 may be integrally formed with the body 2. The built-in channel 20 has an upper portion having an upper opening 24 and a lower portion having a lower opening 25. The built-in channel 20 allows the consumer to create a vacuum in the channel and draw the liquid beverage and the solids contained therein through the built-in channel 20, so that the consumer does not need a removable plastic straw. Beverages and drinks can be enjoyed within the internal volume of the main body 2 of the container 1. The built-in channel 20 extends substantially along the entire height of the main body 2 from the bottom to the top of the main body 2.

In certain embodiments, the lower opening 25 of the built-in channel 20 is separated from the bottom wall 23 of the body 2 by a distance d so that the beverage, especially solid particles of the beverage, can flow into the built-in channel 20. In certain embodiments, the distance d can be 0.1-2.5 cm, 0.5-2.0 cm, 0.7-1.5 cm, or 0.9-1.2 cm. In certain embodiments, the upper opening 24 of the built-in channel 20 is aligned with or slightly lower than the upper edge of the side wall 22 of the body 2. In certain embodiments, the upper portion of the built-in channel 20 includes a bellows tube portion (FIG. 7A). The upper opening 24 of the built-in channel 20 is aligned with or slightly lower than the upper edge of the side wall 22 of the body 2 when the built-in channel 20 is not in use. The bellows tube portion can be extended so that the upper opening 24 can protrude beyond the upper edge of the side wall 22 of the main body 2 by a distance D during use. Instead, the upper opening 24 can project beyond the upper edge of the side wall 22 by a distance D. In certain embodiments, the distance D can be 0-4 cm, 1-3 cm, or 1.5-2.5 cm. The protruding arrangement allows the built-in channel 20 to be shaped closer to a conventional straw, thereby making the built-in channel more accessible for consumer use. In certain embodiments, the top of the built-in channel 20 is spaced from the side wall 22 of the body 2 so that the consumer's lips can easily surround the top of the built-in channel 20. Then, by applying a suction force, a vacuum can be created inside the built-in channel 20. The cross-sectional dimensions of the built-in channel 20 are defined so that the beverage, especially the solid particles of the beverage, can be easily aspirated at an appropriate flow rate. The choice of cross-sectional dimensions is within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art and may be partially selected based on the dimensions and hardness of any solid present in the beverage. In certain embodiments, the built-in channel 20 has cross-sectional dimensions of 0.1-2.5 cm, 0.5-2.0 cm, 0.7-1.5 cm, or 0.9-1.2 cm.

In a particular embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, a partition 27 is provided in the main body 2. The partition 27 is a sieve-shaped screen filter having a plurality of holes provided therein. The holes can be sized to allow the passage of liquids and small solids and prevent the passage of substantially larger ice cubes and solids. The internal volume inside the main body 2 is divided into an upper volume 28 and a lower volume 29 by a partition 27. In particular, in the case of some beverages containing a solid at the bottom of the container 1 and an ice cube floating in the beverage, the solid and the ice cube are mixed, so that when the consumer drinks the beverage early, the solid is iced. It may be difficult for the consumer to aspirate the solid through the ice cube because there is not enough liquid to separate it from the cube. Therefore, the partition 27 can advantageously hold the ice cube within the upper volume 28 and prevent the solid from mixing with the ice cube in a manner that is inconvenient to the consumer. The partition 27 may be a removable screen filter, and its position may be adjustable along the entire height of the container 1. The partition 27 is not limited to a linear and flat screen filter. Screen filters with other shapes and curvatures, such as concave or convex, may be used without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2C shows a cross-sectional view of another container 1 having a built-in channel according to a particular aspect of the present disclosure. In these embodiments, instead of permanently attaching the built-in channel 20 to the body 2 of the container 1, the built-in channel 20 is placed below as a separate channel or a channel partially attached to the body 2 of the container 1. Be projected. The built-in channel 20 extends substantially along the entire height of the main body 2 from the bottom to the top of the main body 2. In certain embodiments, the built-in channel 20 may extend to the bottom wall 23 or the side wall 22. In a particular embodiment, the built-in channel 20 communicates fluidly with the internal volume of the body 2 within the internal volume of the body 2. The built-in channel 20 has an upper portion having an upper opening 24 and a lower portion having a lower opening 25. The built-in channel 20 allows the consumer to create a vacuum in the channel and draw the liquid beverage and the solids contained therein through the built-in channel 20, so that the consumer does not need a removable plastic straw. Beverages and drinks can be enjoyed within the internal volume of the main body 2 of the container 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the lid 3 including the outer edge 32, the protrusion 31 provided in the vicinity of the outer edge 32, and the plane 33 connecting the protrusion 31 and the outer edge 32. The protrusion 31 is integrated with the lid 3. The protrusion 31 is hollow to accommodate the upper part of the built-in channel 20 and helps to create a substantially airtight environment in the container and lid. In certain embodiments, the protrusion 31 includes a downwardly extending groove 34 that matches the profile of the upper portion of the built-in channel 20. The upper part of the built-in channel 20 can fit into the groove 34, which facilitates the coupling of the lid 3 to the body 2. When the built-in channel 20 extends beyond the upper edge of the body 2, the protrusion 31 protects the top of the built-in channel 20 from external contamination. In addition, additional mechanical support can be provided to reduce the risk of physical damage to the internal channel 20 during transportation, storage, and use.

In certain embodiments, the lid 3 is removably attached to the body 2 after the body 2 has been filled with a beverage. In certain embodiments, the lid 3 can be permanently attached to the body 2 after the body 2 has been filled with a beverage. In these embodiments, the coupling between the protrusion 31 and the built-in channel 20 is substantially airtight, and the protrusion 31 on the lid 3 can be broken. In a particular embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a weakened line 35 is preformed around the protrusion 31 of the lid 3. For example, the weakened wire 35 is made by reducing material, using weaker material, providing pull tabs, or other means known in the art without degrading sealing and / or vacuum function. obtain. The weakened wire 35 allows the upper part of the protrusion 31 to be torn from the rest of the protrusion 31 by applying an appropriate force. In this way, the remaining portion of the protrusion 31 functions as a straw together with the built-in channel 20 of the main body 2. In certain embodiments, the protrusion 31 includes a removable cap. By opening or removing the cap, the remaining portion of the protrusion 31 and the built-in channel 20 of the main body 2 function as a straw. The flat surface 33 of the lid 3 may be provided with one or more ventilation holes (not shown). The ventilation hole can be made by penetrating the flat surface 33, removing a part of the lid 3, or providing an intersecting slit in the flat surface 33.

4A-4D show a modification of the lower opening 25 of the built-in channel 20 according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure. In addition to the opening 251 at the bottom of the built-in channel 20, one or more side openings 252 are further provided at the bottom of the built-in channel 20. FIG. 4A shows one side opening 252 adjacent to the bottom opening 251, FIG. 4B shows two opposing side openings 252 adjacent to the bottom opening 251 and FIG. 4C shows the bottom opening 251. Shows three circumferentially arranged side openings 252 adjacent to. FIG. 4D shows three side openings 251 isolated from the bottom opening 251. The side opening 252 is particularly useful when the beverage in the container 1 contains both liquid and solid. Solid particles can be of various sizes. Solid particles having a size larger than the cross-sectional dimension of the built-in channel 20 may be present and may partially block or block the bottom opening 251 of the built-in channel 20 when aspirated by the consumer. .. Under such circumstances, the side opening 252 ensures that the liquid is still sucked along the built-in channel 20. It should be noted that the present disclosure limits the number, shape, or distribution of the side openings 252 as long as they can facilitate suction of liquids and / or solids from within the body 2 via the built-in channel 20. Is not intended to impose.

FIG. 5 shows another built-in channel 20 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The channel wall 21 defines a built-in channel 20 that communicates fluidly with the internal volume of the body 2 within the internal volume of the body 2, either alone or in combination with a portion of the side wall 22 of the body 2. In certain embodiments, the channel wall 21 may be permanently attached to the side wall 22 of the body 2 by welding, gluing, or otherwise. In certain embodiments, the channel wall 21 may be integrally formed with the body 2. In these embodiments, the built-in channel 20 extends to the bottom wall 23 of the body. Therefore, the built-in channel 20 is provided with only one or more side openings 252. In certain embodiments, one or more side openings 252 of different sizes are provided along the built-in channel 20 or in the same longitudinal position except around the built-in channel 20.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another container 1 according to a particular aspect of the present disclosure. In these embodiments, the built-in channel 20 is not provided inside the main body 2 of the container 1, but the built-in channel 20 is provided outside the main body 2 of the container 1 so as to communicate with the internal volume of the main body 2 in fluid communication. ing. Similarly, the channel wall 21 defines a built-in channel 20 that communicates fluidly with the internal volume of the body 2 externally, either alone or in combination with a portion of the side wall 22 of the body 2. In certain embodiments, the channel wall 21 may be permanently attached to the side wall 22 of the body 2 by welding, gluing, or otherwise. In certain embodiments, the channel wall 21 may be integrally formed with the body 2. One or more lower openings 25 may be provided on the side wall 22 of the body 2 that communicates fluidly with the built-in channel 20. The lid 3 is adapted accordingly. In particular, the protrusion 31 of the lid 3 is arranged outside the outer edge 32 of the lid 3. In certain embodiments, the built-in channels 20 are arranged in an inside-out configuration with recesses created by the length of the inside-out configuration. In certain embodiments, the built-in channel 20 is wrapped around the body 2 of the container 1 or arranged in another aesthetic configuration.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of another container 1 according to a particular aspect of the present disclosure. In these embodiments, the built-in channel 20 is not provided inside or outside the container 1, but the built-in channel 20 is provided in the side wall 22 of the main body 2 or around the main body 2 of the container 1. In certain embodiments, the built-in channel 20 can be permanently attached to the body 2 by welding, gluing, or otherwise. In certain embodiments, the built-in channel 20 can be formed integrally with the body 2. In certain embodiments, the protrusion 31 on the lid 3 includes a downwardly extending groove 34 that matches the profile of the upper portion of the built-in channel 20. The upper part of the built-in channel 20 can fit into the groove 34, which facilitates the coupling of the lid 3 to the body 2. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7B, by fitting the groove 34 extending downward into the built-in channel 20, it becomes easy to seal the lid 3 to the main body 2 without spilling.

8A-8D show another container 1 according to one aspect of the present disclosure. In these embodiments, the container 1 generally has a tapered shape from top to bottom, as shown in FIG. 8A. The built-in channel 20 is provided around the main body 2 of the container 1. In a particular embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8B, a partition 27 is provided in the main body 2. The internal volume inside the main body 2 is divided into an upper volume 28 and a lower volume 29 by a partition 27. Since the container 1 is tapered from top to bottom, the perimeter of the partition 27 can be determined so that it can fit in a particular horizontal position along the height of the container 1.

FIG. 8C is a top view of the container 1. The side wall 22 of the body 2 has a generally spiral cross section with two ends 221, 222. In the built-in channel 20, one end of the built-in channel 20 (upper end of FIG. 8C) connects one end portion 221 of the side wall 22, and the opposite end of the built-in channel 20 (lower end of FIG. 8C) is the other end 222 of the side wall 22. Is arranged to connect. This arrangement is particularly effective when stacking the containers 1. This is because when the container 1 is placed on top of another container 1, the inner volume of the lower container 1 can be fully utilized to hold or contain the upper container 1. Therefore, the overall size of the stack of containers 1 is minimized.

As shown in FIG. 8D, there is an arrangement in which three containers 1A, 1B, and 1C are stacked together. The first container 1A is placed on a second container 1B having an internal volume capable of holding or accommodating the first container 1A. The second container 1B is placed on a third container 1C having an internal volume capable of holding or accommodating the second container 1B. After stacking the three containers 1A, 1B, 1C, the built-in channel 20A of the first container 1A is placed next to the built-in channel 20B of the second container 1B, and then next to the built-in channel 20C of the third container 1C. Will be done.

The lid 3 is not always necessary. In certain embodiments, the built-in channel 20 does not project beyond the outer edge 32 of the body 2. Instead of the lid 3, as shown in FIG. 9A, a plastic sealing film 4 may be applied over the body 2 of the container 1 after the container 1 is filled with a beverage. The application of the plastic sealing film 4 is well known in the art. In certain embodiments, the built-in channel 20 includes a bellows tube portion 26. After peeling off the plastic sealing film 4, the built-in channel 20 can be extended to project outward from the body 2 of the container 1. In certain embodiments, the built-in channel 20 is pre-bent or buckled inside the body 2 of the container 1. After peeling off the plastic sealing film 4, the built-in channel 20 can restore its natural configuration, thereby projecting beyond the outer edge 32 of the body 2. Similarly, the body 2 of the container 1 can be used with a conventional lid without the protrusions 31 of the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the plastic sealing film 4 includes a pre-provided sealing opening 41 above the built-in channel 20, as shown in FIG. 9B. The plastic sealing film 4 does not need to be peeled off, instead the sealing opening 41 is peeled off or removed so that it protrudes outside the body 2 of the container 1 or the consumer can remove the beverage and solid from the container 1. The built-in channel 20 may be extended to open an opening that can be used to pull out.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, after reviewing this disclosure, the container may have other suitable parts, variations, and arrangements. Although the present disclosure has been described for a particular embodiment, other embodiments apparent to those skilled in the art are also within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is intended to be defined only by the following claims.

Claims (17)

A container for beverages
A body that includes a bottom wall and side walls that define an internal volume for storing the beverage, the body further comprising a built-in channel that fluidly communicates with the internal volume, and the built-in channel is substantially the body. A body that extends along the entire height of the body and includes an upper part with an upper opening and a lower part with a lower opening.
A lid configured to be attached to the body to seal the internal volume, said lid comprising a lid containing protrusions.
The built-in channel extends beyond the upper edge of the body and is partially received within the protrusion of the lid.
The protrusion comprises a downwardly extending groove that coincides with the top of the built-in channel. The container according to claim 1, wherein the built-in channel is provided inside or outside the internal volume. The container according to claim 1, wherein the built-in channel is provided in the side wall of the main body. The container of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the built-in channel is adapted to the downwardly extending groove. The container according to claim 1, wherein the downward extending groove is adapted to the upper portion of the built-in channel. The container according to claim 1, wherein the main body includes a partition for dividing the internal volume into the upper volume and the lower volume so that the ice cube is included in the upper volume. The container according to claim 6, wherein the partition is a sieve-shaped screen filter including a plurality of holes. The container according to claim 1, wherein the main body includes a channel wall, the channel wall forms the built-in channel, and the built-in channel is at least partially attached to the side wall of the main body. The container according to claim 1, wherein the main body includes a channel wall, and a part of the channel wall and the side wall together form the built-in channel. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lower opening includes one or more side openings. The container of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises a fragile, weakened wire prefabricated around the protrusion. The built-in channel includes a bellows tube portion configured to line up with or be slightly lower than the upper edge of the side wall of the body when the built-in channel is not in use. Item 1. The container according to item 1. The container according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the built-in channel is separated from the side wall of the main body. The container according to claim 1, wherein the beverage comprises a liquid and a solid. The body has a tapered shape from top to bottom, the side wall of the body has a spiral cross section with two ends, and one end of the side wall connects to one end of the built-in channel. The container of claim 3, wherein the other end of the side wall is connected to the opposite end of the built-in channel. A stack of containers, wherein the stack comprises a plurality of containers according to claim 15. A stack of containers according to claim 16, comprising a first container and a second container, wherein the built-in channel of the first container is arranged next to the built-in channel of the second container.

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