AU2013101237A4 - A spill proof beverage container - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A sealable drinking container comprising: a vessel having an open top; a seal assembly across the open top and including a seal assembly beverage port and a seal assembly air port; a lid covering the seal assembly and rotatable thereon, said lid including a lid beverage port anda a lid air port; wherein the lid is rotatable from a closure position in which said lid's ports are non-aligned with the seal assembly's ports to a drinking position wherein said lid's ports are aligned with the seal assembly's ports for passage of beverage from the vessel therethrough.

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT A SPILL PROOF BEVERAGE CONTAINER The following statement is a description of the invention: 1 A SPILL PROOF BEVERAGE CONTAINER TECHNICAL FIELD [01] The present invention relates to containers, such as cups for transporting coffee and the like. Although the invention is primarily intended for hot beverages it can of course also be used for beverages of other temperatures. BACKGROUND ART [02] Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge. [03] The present invention will be described primarily in the context of its use for storing and transporting hot beverages, e.g. coffee. It will however be realized that the embodiments of the invention may be used for other beverages and liquids as well. [04] Over the last decade the practice of making and drinking espresso coffee has become very widespread in Australia and other countries. For example, commuters and other travelers frequently purchase takeaway coffee as a convenience and because they are short on time. [05] Takeaway coffee is usually provided in disposable cardboard cups which are covered with a plastic spill cover. These cups are often not recycled and contribute to landwaste, which is undesirable. Furthermore, the cups are expensive to manufacture and environmentally unfriendly as energy and raw materials are consumed in their production.

2 [06] In view of the above problem, some coffee outlets provide coffee to customers who bring with them a reusable and refillable cup. These cups are typically made of steel or aluminum. [07] However, it has been found that the cups may not seal well, so that coffee is spilt during transportation. Furthermore, the cups tend to allow the coffee to cool more quickly than is desirable. [08] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hot beverage container which can be reused and refilled and which addresses one or more of the above described problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [09] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided sealable drinking container comprising: a vessel having an open top; a seal assembly across the open top and including a seal assembly beverage port; a lid covering the seal assembly and rotatable thereon, said lid including a lid beverage port; wherein the lid is rotatable from a closure position in which said beverage ports are non-aligned to a drinking position wherein said beverage ports are aligned for passage of beverage from the vessel therethrough. [10] The lid may include a top and one or more sides that depend downward therefrom wherein the one or more sides depend downward over an upper portion of the vessel. [11] Preferably at least a lower portion of the vessel is surrounded by a heat insulating jacket.

3 a. The lid and the seal assembly may include complementary engagement formations arranged to retain the lid to the seal for relative rotation thereto. [12] Preferably the seal assembly includes an air port for passage of air into the vessel whilst the container is in the drinking position. [13] The seal may for example be made of TPE plastic whereas the vessel is preferably made of a polypropylene. Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) are a family of polymers that can be repeatedly stretched without permanently deforming the shape of the part [14] Preferably the lid includes a top and one or more sides that depend downward therefrom wherein the one or more sides depend downward over an upper portion of the vessel. [15] It is preferred that the vessel below the one or more sides of the lid be surrounded by a jacket. Preferably the jacket imparts a heat insulating property to the vessel to thereby reduce the speed at which a hot beverage therein cools. The jacket may be made of plastic or alternatively it may also be made of other naturally occurring and insulating materials, for example molded cork. [16] Preferably the jacket includes an underside which is formed with one or more apertures. Preferably the underside of the vessel includes one or more projections which abut against sides of the apertures. [17] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the one or more apertures of the underside of the jacket comprises a central circular aperture and the one or more projections comprise a circular wall projecting downward from the underside of the vessel.

4 [18] Preferably the underside of the top of the lid and the upper side of the top of the seal include complementary engagement formations arranged to retain the lid to the seal. [19] In a preferred example of the invention, the complementary engagement formations include downwardly and outwardly diverging surfaces of the lid which abut inwardly and upwardly converging surfaces of the seal assembly. [20] Preferably rotation of the lid relative to the sealing assembly is restricted to a relatively narrow angular range by means of complementary formations formed on the lid and the sealing assembly. For example, rotation of the lid relative to the sealing assembly may be restricted by a circular sector which projects upward from the top of lid and which is received into a circular sector shaped recess that depends downward from the topside of the lid. [21] In a preferred embodiment of the invention an internal wall of the lid and an outer wall of the vessel are respectively formed with a number of cooperating complementary locking formations. [22] Preferably the cooperating locking formations include a first formation defining a peripheral locking member and a second formation defining a recess for receiving said locking member. [23] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the second formation includes at least a first protrusion into the recess for providing tactile feedback to a user of the progress of the locking member into the recess upon rotation of the lid relative to the vessel. [24] Preferably the second formation includes a second protrusion into the recess located to provide tactile feedback upon alignment of apertures of the sealing assembly and the lid being achieved.

5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [25] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: [26] Figures 1 to 3 depict a sealable drinking container according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [27] Figure 4 comprises elevation and cross section views of a sealing assembly of the container. [28] Figure 5 comprises elevation and cross section views of a lid of the container. [29] Figure 6 comprises elevation and cross section views of a vessel of the container. [30] Figure 7 comprises elevation and cross section views of a jacket of the container. [31] Figure 8 comprises elevation and cross section views of the jacket located about the vessel. [32] Figure 9 shows the assembled container in cross section. [33] Figure 10 shows a further and preferred embodiment of a sealable drinking container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

6 [34] Figure 11 shows the sealable drinking container of Figure 10 with lid removed to thereby depict a vessel of the container. [35] Figure 12 shows the underside of the lid of the container of Figure 10 with sealing assembly rotatably fastened thereto. [36] Figure 13 shows the lid of the container of Figure 10 and an exploded view of the sealing assembly. [37] Figure 14 shows the underside of the lid of the container of Figure 10 and the upperside of the sealing assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [38] Referring now to Figure 1, there is depicted a sealable drinking container for a hot beverage according to a first embodiment of the present invention in the form of drinking cup 1. The drinking cup 1 is shown in exploded view in Figure 2 in order that its structure may be more readily discerned. Plan elevations of the assembled cup are shown in Figure 3. [39] Referring now to Figure 2, the drinking cup one includes a vessel 2 having an open top which receives the beverage, for example coffee. Various elevation views of the vessel are presented in Figure 6. [40] As shown in Figure 2, across the open top of the vessel 2 there locates a seal assembly 4 which closes the vessel 2. Details of the seal assembly may be further observed in the plan elevations of Figure 4. [41] Referring again to Figure 2, the seal assembly 4 is formed with two holes through its top side, namely a beverage port 8 and an air port 14. Consequently, the beverage within the vessel 2 is able to pass through the beverage port 8 and similarly air is able to enter the vessel 2 via the air port 14.

7 [42] Referring now to Figure 5 in addition to Figure 2, a lid 6 covers the seal assembly 4 and is arranged for rotation on the seal assembly. The lid includes a top 16 through which there is formed a lid beverage port 10 and lid air port 12. Consequently, the lid can be rotated from a closure position in which lid's beverage and air ports 10 and 12 are non aligned with the seal assembly's ports 8 and 14, to a beverage dispensing position in which the ports of the lid and seal are aligned. [43] In the aligned position air is able to pass through the lid air port 12, sealing assembly air port 14 into the vessel. Similarly, coffee, or some other liquid, is able to pass from the vessel through the sealing assembly beverage port 8 and the lid beverage port 10. [44] In the presently described exemplary embodiment of the invention the seal 4 is made of TPE plastic whereas the vessel 12 is made of a polypropylene. Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) are a family of polymers that can be repeatedly stretched without permanently deforming the shape of the part. Consequently, the seal assembly 4 may be removed from the vessel in order that it can be washed and then relocated back onto the vessel for further use. [45] The lid includes one or more sides, namely side 18, which depend downward from the top 16. As can be seen in Figure 1, the side 16 depends downward over about a third of the height of the vertical wall of the vessel 2. [46] The vertical wall of the vessel 2, beneath the side 18 of the lid 6, is surrounded by a jacket 20, elevation views of which are shown in Figure 7, which comprises a cylindrical plastic sleeve dimensioned to fit snugly over the vessel 2. The jacket 20 imparts a heat insulating property to the vessel which assists in reducing the speed at which a hot beverage in the vessel cools. The jacket 20 may be made of plastic or alternatively it may also be made of other naturally occurring and 8 insulating materials, for example molded cork may be used in some embodiments. [47] Referring now to Figure 7, the jacket 20 includes an underside which is formed with one or more apertures, namely a central circular hole 22 in the base of the vessel. In addition, as shown in Figure 6, the underside of the vessel 20 includes one or more projections, namely a downwardly projecting footing 24, which abuts against the side of the central circular hole 22 of the jacket 20. [48] As can be seen in Detail B of Figure 8, the footing 24 descends to a level flush with the outside of the jacket 20 and provides a base for the container against a supporting surface therebelow. [49] Referring now to Figure 9, the underside of the top of the lid 6 and the upperside of the top of the seal 4 include complementary engagement formations arranged to retain the lid to the seal. [50] The complementary engagement formations include downwardly and outwardly diverging surfaces 26 of the lid which abut inwardly and upwardly converging surfaces 28 of the seal assembly 4. Accordingly, the lid may only be pulled off the sealing assembly by applying sufficient force to deform the surfaces 28 of the seal assembly in order that they no longer retain the diverging surfaces 26 of the lid. [51] The degree of rotation of the lid relative to the sealing assembly is restricted by a circular sector 30 which projects upward from the top of lid 6 and which is received into circular sector shaped recess 32 formed in a projection that depends downward from the topside of the lid 6 and which describes a larger angle. Consequently, the air ports and beverage ports of the lid and sealing port are prevented from being misaligned by more than a few degrees.

9 [52] In use a consumer is able to pull the lid 6 off the top of the seal assembly 4. The seal assembly 4 can then be removed from the vessel 2 and the vessel filled with a hot beverage, or other suitable liquid as desired. [53] The seal assembly 4 is then reinserted on the vessel 2 to seal the liquid. The lid 6 is then inserted onto the seal assembly 4 and rotated so that the beverage ports and air ports of the seal assembly and the lid do not align in order to prevent leakage through those ports during transportation. [54] When it is desired to drink from the container the lid is rotated so that the ports of the lid and the seal assembly are brought into alignment. The consumer can then tilt the container so that beverage flows out through lid beverage port 10 for drinking. At the same time, air flows in through air port 12 into the vessel 12 in order to assist the flow of beverage. [55] A further, and preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 10-13. The same item numbers will be used in Figures 10-13 as in Figures 1 to 9 to refer to items in common with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 9. [56] As shown in Figure 10, the exterior of the preferred drinking cup 40, according to the preferred embodiment is visually the same as that of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1. However as can be seen in Figures 11 and 12, the outside of the vessel 42 is formed with a number of peripheral engagement formations 43. The engagement formations 43 mate with corresponding locking members in the form of locking ridges 59 formed o nthe inside of lid 48 (visible in Figure 12). [57] The engagement formations 43 comprise a common peripheral ring 45, which extends radially outward from the vessel 42 and runs around the circumference of the vessel. Each engagement formation 10 includes an upper rail 47 which extends radially outward from the vessel and which describes an angle of a little less than 60 degrees about the axis of the vessel. It will be realized that the exact number of engagement formations 43, and the angle that they describe is not critical provided there are sufficient of them and they are of adequate length to retain the lid to the vessel as will be described. [58] The upper rail 47 and the lower ring 45 cooperate to define a retaining channel 49 therebetween. The retaining channel 49 has an entrance 51 at one end and a stop 53 at an opposite end. The stop 53 spans between the upper rail 47 and the lower ring 45. [59] First and second necking protrusions 55 and 57 extend upwardly from the peripheral ring 45 so as to partially occlude the channel 49. Necking protrusion 55 is located just inside the entrance 51 to the channel 49 whereas necking protrusion 57 is located almost half way along the channel 49. As will be explained, the necking protrusions provide tactile feedback to a user during attachment of the lid to the vessel. [60] Referring now to Figure 12, it will be observed that the interior of the side wall of the lid 48 is formed with a peripheral locking ridge 59. The locking ridge 59 has a leading head 61 and a trailing tail 63. The head 61 and the tail 63 have heights correspond to about the height of the channel 49 whereas the portion of the locking ridge 59 between the head 61 and the tail 63 has a height that is about the distance between the top of the necking protrusions 55, 57 and the bottom of the upper rail 47. [61] Although only one locking ridge 59 is visible in Figure 12, the lid 48 is formed with three in total which each correspond to one of the three engagement formations 43 of the vessel 42. Both the locking ridges 59 of the lid and the retaining formations 43 of the vessel are 11 formed integrally with the rest of the lid and vessel respectively during the molding of each said part. [62] A seal assembly 65 is visible in Figure 12 where it is shown in place rotationally engaged to the underside of the lid 48. The seal assembly 65 is retained by the underside of the lid in similar fashion to that of the first embodiment as explained in relation to Figure 9. The seal assembly 65 and the inside ofht elid are formed with a circular sector 30 and circular sector shaped recess 32 (visible in Figure 14) in similar fashion to items 30 and 32 of the previously described embodiment. It will however be noted that reinforcing stays 70 are provided in the preferred embodiment illustrated in figure 14 to impart additional rigidity to the side walls of circular sector recess 32 as shown in Figure 14. [63] The seal assembly 65 includes a disk 67 which is formed with a handle 69 extending from its underside. The handle may be used to rotate the disk so that its beverage and air holes align, or misalign, with the beverage and air holes of the lid. The handle may also be grasped by a user to detach the seal assembly from the lid, e.g. for the purpose of cleaning the two parts. [64] The seal assembly 65 includes a resilient elastomeric sealing member 71 locates around the periphery of the disk and about the disks air and beverage holes. The sealing member 71 and the disk 67 are preferably formed using a compound molding process so that they are tightly formed together. [65] In use the vessel 42 and the lid 48 are initially detached from each other. A user then fills the vessel with a beverage. (For the purposes of this explanation it will be assumed that the beverage and air holes of the lid are aligned at this stage although they need not be.) The lid is then located over the top of the vessel and pushed down so that the locking members 59 of the lid abut the upper edge of the ring 45 12 between the locking formations 43. At the same time the sealing member 71 is brought against the inside of the top edge of the vessel 42. The user then rotates the lid 48 (clockwise when viewed from the top). As the lid 48 is initially rotated the sealing assembly 65 remains stationary due to the sealing member 71 having a relatively high coefficient of static friction with the inside of the upper edge of the vessel 42. [66] During this initial period the portion 30 rotates within the part 32 so that the beverage and air holes of lid 48 rotate past the beverage and air holes of the seal assembly 65 to bring them to a misaligned configuration. [67] As the lid 42 is rotated clockwise the head 61 of locking ridge 59 proceeds through the entrance 51 of the locking formation 43 of the vessel 42. The user is provided with tactile feedback of the progress of the head 61 as it encounters and passes each of the necking protrusions 55 and 57 before finally abutting the stop 53 at the end of the channel 49, by which point the length of the locking member 59 of the lid 48 is located under the lower edge of the upper rail 47 of the vessel 42. [68] As the lid 48 rotates the circular sector recess 32 of the lid 48 sweeps about the circular sector 30 of the sealing assembly 65 until their respective radial sides abut. The seal assembly and the lid then rotate together until the head 61 of the lid locking member 59 abuts the stop 53 of the retaining formation 43 of the vessel. In this configuration the lid is very firmly retained by the vessel with the beverage and air holes of the sealing assembly and the lid misaligned so that the entire cup assembly is spill proof. [69] When the time comes to drink from the cup assembly 41 the user turns the lid 48 counter-clockwise (when viewed from above). The circular sector recess 32 of lid 42 then moves through a small angular 13 range about the circular sector 30 of the sealing assembly 65 while the sealing assembly 65 remains fast with the vessel. The rotation of the lid relative to the sealing assembly is sufficient to bring the beverage and air holes of the lid and sealing assembly into alignment. The user may then drink through the beverage hole of the lid. The lid remains firmly retained by the vessel at this point since a substantial length of the locking ridge 59 continues to be retained within the channel 49 of the retaining formation 43. [70] It will therefore be realized that in a preferred embodiment of the invention the lid remains tightly sealed to the vessel while the user is able to open and close the beverage hole by turning the lid. Furthermore, due to the necking protrusions 55 and 57 the user can tell, by tactile feedback, when the beverage hole is open and also when the lid has been turned sufficient for it to be about to reach a position for detachment from the vessel. That is necking protrusion 57 is spaced at a distance from stop 53 for it to interact with the head 61 of the locking ridge 59 at the point where the beverage holes of the seal assembly and the lid become aligned. Furthermore, necking protrusion 55 is located at a point where, upon the lid being turned anti-clockwise, head 61 is about to pass out of channel 49 through the entrance 51 of the retaining formation 43. [71] It will of course be realized that the orientation of the retaining formations 43 and the locking ridge 59 could be reversed so that the lid would need to be turned counter-clockwise for locking and clockwise for detaching from the vessel. [72] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. [73] The term "comprises" and its variations, such as "comprising" and "comprised of" is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features. It is to be understood that the 14 invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art. [74] Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms. [75] Any embodiment of the invention is meant to be illustrative only and is not meant to be limiting to the invention. Therefore, it should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A sealable drinking container comprising: a vessel having an open top; a seal assembly across the open top and including a seal assembly beverage port; a lid covering the seal assembly and rotatable thereon, said lid including a lid beverage port; wherein the lid is rotatable from a closure position in which said beverage ports are non-aligned to a drinking position wherein said beverage ports are aligned for passage of beverage from the vessel therethrough.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the lid includes a top and one or more sides that depend downward therefrom wherein the one or more sides depend downward over an upper portion of the vessel.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least a lower portion of the vessel is surrounded by a heat insulating jacket.

4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lid and the seal assembly include complementary engagement formations arranged to retain the lid to the seal for relative rotation thereto.

5. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal assembly includes an air port for passage of air into the vessel whilst the container is in the drinking position.