CN107758091B

CN107758091B - Beverage container

Info

Publication number: CN107758091B
Application number: CN201710702990.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马特·辛; 加雷思·布朗; 史蒂芬·凯斯
Original assignee: Impel Studio LLC
Current assignee: Impel Studio LLC
Priority date: 2016-08-17
Filing date: 2017-08-16
Publication date: 2021-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 2037-08-16
Also published as: CN107758091A; CN112978064A

Abstract

A beverage container has a vessel body and a stopper movable from an open drinking position to a closed sealing position when engaged. Vessel body allows for full 360^oA perimeter drinking having a top edge; below the top edge is a cup; below the cup portion is a gasket engagement portion; and below the gasket-engaging portion is an internal thread for receiving and engaging a corresponding external thread of the plug to seal the open end of the vessel body. The upper portion of the stopper has a lug. The lower portion of the stopper is an overhanging wall extending from the upper portion, with a plurality of small holes (or slits) circumferentially disposed on the overhanging wall to allow liquid to flow at a flow rate when the stopper is in the open drinking position. The gasket cooperates with the lug and is pressed against the gasket-engaging portion to seal the open end of the vessel body.

Description

Beverage container

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a travel vessel for beverages. And in particular to an improved beverage container that provides a proper seal in the closed position and allows proper flow of liquid for drinking from any edge in the open position of the smallest part that is easy to use and clean.

Background

The travel jug or cup contains and isolates the liquid beverage and allows the user to drink while on the road (e.g., while driving a car, riding a bus or train, or walking) with a reduced risk of spillage compared to conventional open cups without a lid or top. Existing travel urns are imperfect and all suffer from one or more disadvantages.

Some travel urns do not form a completely sealed container and when inverted or pushed can leak their contents, resulting in spillage of the liquid contents and creating mess or damage to other items. Some travel mugs require liquid to be drawn through a small hole in the lid so that the liquid beverage is not exposed to the ambient air. This lack of contact with ambient air prevents the aroma and flavor of the liquid beverage from reaching the nasal passages of the user, so their enjoyment of their beverage is generally limited. Some travel mugs have a partial drinking opening (i.e., at a particular location of the cup) and do not allow a user to drink from any side of the cup. Instead, the user must first orient the drink opening toward their mouth. Some travel mugs allow a user to drink from either side of the cup, i.e., 360 deg. drinking. Those travel mugs that allow 360 ° drinking may dispense too much liquid when tilted, and/or will spill too much liquid in a wide stream extending beyond the user's mouth, making it difficult to control the flow. This results in the liquid contents being splashed onto the lips, face and clothing of the user, which may also create a safety hazard as the liquid contents are typically very hot. Because cups typically have an opaque body and/or an opaque top cover, the user cannot directly see the level of liquid inside, and is very likely to over-tip or over-tip the cup and accidentally splash the liquid onto his face.

Some travel mugs cannot be opened or closed with one hand. Some travel mugs do not have ergonomic indicators that can bring the cup quickly to the user's lips without having to look down at the cup. Some cups may obstruct the user's front view when drinking and present a safety hazard when operating a motor vehicle.

Most importantly, many cups have design features that are difficult, laborious or impossible to clean. They have multiple sections, hidden channels and chambers, inaccessible recesses, and other features that can trap and harbor food debris, which can support the growth of potentially harmful molds, yeasts, and bacteria.

There is therefore a need for an improved travel vessel which is completely sealed in the closed position and which allows drinking from any edge in the open position for ease of use and cleaning of the smallest components.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is an improved travel vessel (i.e., beverage container) having a vessel body and a stopper. The vessel body has a generally cylindrical body with an open end. The upper portion of the vessel body may have a flare (flare) that is generally frustoconical. The top edge of the vessel body at the open end allows drinking along the entire perimeter (360 °). Below the top edge is a cup-shaped portion formed with an inner wall tapering towards the central axis of the vessel to form a radially extending lip. With further tapering, below the cup portion is a washer engaging portion having a radially extending rim. Below the gasket-engaging portion is an internal thread for receiving and engaging a plug to seal the open end.

The stopper is externally threaded to interact with the internal threads of the vessel body. The upper portion of the stopper has an enlarged radially extending lug. The lower portion of the plug is an overhanging wall extending from the lower surface of the upper portion. The resilient gasket bears on the lower portion of the plug and is compressed to provide a water-tight seal between the radially extending lugs and the inner wall of the vessel body. The stopper has a plurality of small holes (or slits) provided on a lower portion thereof along a circumferential direction thereof to allow liquid to flow at a flow rate when the stopper is in an open drinking position. Upon engaging the stopper with the vessel body, the stopper may be rotated relative to the vessel body to be in an open position (i.e., a drinking position; allowing liquid to flow through the aperture) or a closed position (i.e., a sealing position; preventing liquid from flowing through the aperture).

In one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of apertures are provided on the depending wall and spaced from the lower surface of the upper portion. The outer surface of the wall tapers around the orifice to promote smooth liquid flow out of the orifice.

In another embodiment of the invention, the plug has a plurality of large apertures provided in the depending wall. The elastomeric gasket substantially covers the large hole leaving a small gap to define a hole through which the liquid flows.

In another embodiment of the invention, the resilient gasket completely covers the large hole. The gasket has a plurality of small apertures overlapping the large apertures through which the liquid flows.

In another embodiment of the invention, the stopper has a straw hole optionally for use with a straw. The straw hole has a pivotable cover for sealing and resealing the straw hole.

Extending from the lower edge of the depending wall is at least one tab (detent engagement element) with an opening which interacts with a corresponding protrusion (detent element) on the inner wall of the vessel when the stopper is in the open position. The opening snaps into engagement with the protrusion upon rotating the stopper from the closed position to the open position to indicate that the stopper is in the open position. Optionally, on the outer surface of the tab adjacent to the left and right sides of the opening are a pair of raised ramps. The raised ramp is asymmetric, i.e., has a higher ramp on one side, which makes it more difficult (but not impossible) to continue rotation of the stopper to completely disengage and remove the stopper from the vessel body. It is less difficult to rotate the stopper for initial insertion into the vessel body to engage the stopper with the vessel body.

In another embodiment, the pawl engaging element is a pair of raised bars or cantilevered latches disposed along the external threads of the stopper such that the pair of raised bars or cantilevered latches snap over and engage corresponding protrusions on the inner wall of the vessel.

The gasket may be made of a high contrast coloring to clearly indicate the open position. The color of the gasket is reflected by the polished reflective radially extending lip and the inner wall of the vessel body to provide visual feedback of the stopper position as it is raised.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and are shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the travel vessel of the present invention with the stopper completely separated from the vessel body.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the vessel body.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of fig. 2 taken along line 3-3.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the plug.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the plug.

Fig. 6 is a left or right side view of the plug.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of fig. 4 taken along line 7-7.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a stopper having a pair of raised ramps on the tabs.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the gasket.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 taken along line 10-10.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along line 11-11 with the stopper in the open position.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a perspective sectional view similar to fig. 12 with the plug in the closed position.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail of the plug in the open position to show reflection (reflection) from the gasket.

Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the travel vessel of the present invention with the stopper of the second embodiment fully separated from the vessel body.

Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the stopper of the second embodiment, with the washer fully separated from the stopper.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the stopper of the second embodiment.

Fig. 18 is the same view as fig. 16, with the gasket on the stopper and a portion of the gasket folded.

Fig. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the stopper of the second embodiment, with the washer of the alternate embodiment fully separated from the stopper.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of fig. 19 with the gasket on the plug.

Fig. 21 is an exploded perspective view of the travel vessel of the present invention with the stopper of the third embodiment having a straw hole completely separated from the vessel body.

Figure 22 is a top plan view of the vessel body of figure 21.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 22 taken along line 23-23.

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the stopper of the third embodiment without the straw hole cover.

Fig. 25 is a front view of fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a left or right side view of fig. 24.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 24 taken along line 27-27.

Fig. 28 is the sectional view of fig. 23 with the plug of the third embodiment in the closed position.

Fig. 29 is a perspective view of fig. 28.

FIG. 30 shows the straw hole cover of the stopper of the third embodiment in a partially open position.

Fig. 31A is an enlarged detail of a portion of the ramp shown in fig. 8.

Fig. 31B is a sectional view of fig. 31A.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1 an improved travel vessel 10 for liquids or beverages in accordance with the present invention. The travel vessel (or beverage container) 10 of the present invention includes a vessel body 200 and a stopper 500. The stopper 500 is removably inserted into and engages the vessel body 200. As shown in fig. 1, positional and directional references (such as upper, lower, top, below, left, right, up, down, etc.) are directed to the travel vessel 10 and its components (when in their typical stationary, vertically aligned position of the beverage container).

As shown in fig. 1-3, the vessel body 200 is a generally cylindrical container of rigid material having one open end 201 at the top and a closed end 203 at the bottom to hold a liquid or beverage for dispensing at the open end 201. The upper portion of the vessel body 200 may have a generally frustoconical flared portion 207 such that when the user grasps the vessel body 200, the user has a tactile cue for positioning the top edge 205 of the vessel body 200 to his/her lip without having to look down at the travel vessel 10. The vessel body 200 is double-walled, wherein the space between the inner wall 209 and the outer wall 211 is evacuated of air for improved insulation performance. The top edge 205 of the vessel body 200 is tapered (tapered) at the open end 201 to allow comfortable drinking along the entire 360 ° perimeter of the top edge 205.

Below the top edge 205 is a formed cup-shaped portion 213 tapered by the inner wall 209 towards the central axis of the vessel body 200, having a radially extending lip 215. Below the cup-shaped portion 213 is a gasket engagement portion 217 formed by a further tapering of the inner wall 209, having a radially extending rim 219. Below the gasket engagement portion 217 is an internal thread 221 for engagement with the plug 500 to seal the open end 201. Below internal thread 221 or at internal thread 221 is a pair of detent elements on internal wall 209, shown in fig. 2 and 3 as hemispherical protrusions 223a and 223 b. Although two detent elements are shown, there may be more or less than two detent elements.

The vessel body 200 is made of a rigid material, such as stainless steel, plastic, etc. Although the vessel body 200 is shown without a handle, it may have one or more handles. The vessel body 200 may be single walled rather than double walled. The vessel body 200 may be completely cylindrical or have other different profiles known to those skilled in the art (e.g., having concave and/or convex curves, frustoconical, octagonal, non-uniform, etc.). Other elements known to those skilled in the art may be present on the surface of the outer wall 211 of the vessel body 200 to provide tactile cues (e.g., surface treatments, protrusions, indentations, etc.) for positioning the top edge 205 of the vessel 10.

As shown in fig. 1 and 4-7, the upper portion 501 of the plug 500 has an enlarged radially extending lug (ledge) 503. The lower portion of the plug 500 is a tubular depending wall 507 extending downwardly from the lower surface 505 of the radially extending lug 503. A plurality of through holes (or slits) 509 are circumferentially disposed on the depending wall 507 and spaced from and below the lower surface 505 of the radially extending lug 503. Below the plurality of apertures 509 is external threads 511 on the depending wall 507 for engaging the vessel body 200 to seal the open end 201.

The upper portion 501 of the plug 500 is recessed with a rib 523 spanning diametrically across the concave region 515 dividing the concave region 515 into two

concave cavities

515a and 515b for receiving a user's finger to grasp the rib 523. A resilient washer 700a is carried on the bung 500 at the junction where the tubular depending wall 507 extends from the lower surface 505 of the radially extending lugs 503.

The plurality of apertures 509 allow liquid to flow at a flow rate when the plug is in the open drinking position. Preferably, the flow rate of liquid through the aperture 509 is 30mL per second to 40mL per second. The outer surface of the depending wall 507 tapers around and toward the aperture 509 to promote easy and smooth flow of liquid out of the aperture 509. Due to the tapered region 513 surrounding each aperture 509, the thickness of the depending wall 507 is thin at the aperture 509, which facilitates cleaning and rinsing of the aperture 509 and its surroundings. The tapered region 513 is shown as being non-uniform around the bore 509, i.e., tapering slower above the bore 509 (with a lower gradient), faster and steeper below the bore 509 (with a higher gradient), and tapering midway on the left and right sides of the bore 509 (between the lower and higher gradients). However, the tapered region 513 may be uniform, i.e., equal in gradient around the aperture 509, have a variation in gradient different from that shown, or taper only above and below the aperture 509. The tapered region 513 above the aperture 509 forms an inclined plane to facilitate the flow of liquid when the user tilts the vessel 10 for drinking.

Extending downwardly from the lower edge of depending wall 507 are a pair of diametrically

disposed tabs

517a and 517 b. The diametrical axes of the

tabs

517a and 517b are perpendicular to the diametrical axis of the rib 523. Through

holes

519a and 519b are provided on each of the

tabs

517a and 517 b. The through

holes

519a and 519b serve as detent engagement elements that interact with corresponding detent elements (the hemispherical protrusions 223a and 223b on the inner wall 209) when the plug 500 is in the open position. Alternatively, fig. 8, 31A, and 31B illustrate a tab 517a or 517B having a pair of raised ramps 521A and 521B that abut openings 519a or 519B on the outer surface of the tab 517a or 517B. The pair of raised

ramps

521a and 521b are asymmetric in height, having a high ramp 521a on the left side of the through-hole 519a and a low ramp 521b on the right side of the through-hole 519 b. Each ramp (high ramp 521a and low ramp 521b) has a higher end of the ramp adjacent the opening 519 a. Although the figures show a pair of

tabs

517a and 517b, there may be more or fewer tabs.

As shown in fig. 9-10, one embodiment of the resilient gasket is a gasket 700a having an annular body 701 with two depending

lips

703 and 705 arranged concentrically. An outer depending lip 703 having a larger diameter extends further (i.e., higher in height) from the annular body 701 than an inner depending lip 705 having a smaller diameter. Gasket 700a is made of an elastomeric or elastomeric material, such as silicone rubber or other materials known to those skilled in the art for gaskets. As shown in fig. 11-13, washer 700a is frictionally positioned on plug 500 with annular body 701 abutting lower surface 505 of upper portion 501 of plug 500 and inner depending lip 705 abutting and surrounding depending wall 507 of the lower portion of plug 500.

Stopper 500 is made of a rigid material such as Tritan, available from Eastman Chemical Company of Kingsport, Tennessee, Kingport, Tennessee^TM) Polycarbonate, plastic, etc. The plurality of apertures 509 are shown in the drawings as being evenly distributed circumferentially on the depending wall 507, but may be unevenly distributed so long as the apertures 509 are all flush and horizontally aligned.

The use of the travel vessel 10 is simple and easy, wherein the plug 500 can be easily removed and inserted and engaged into the vessel body 200, as shown in fig. 11-13. After the vessel body 200 is filled with the desired liquid or beverage, the plug 500 is inserted through the open end 201 of the vessel body 200 such that the external threads 511 of the plug 500 engage and interact with the internal threads 221 of the vessel body 200. The user may position his thumb and forefinger (or other fingers) in the two

cavities

515a and 515b, respectively, to grip the rib 523, thereby rotating the stopper 500. By rotating the stopper 500 in the clockwise direction, the stopper 500 is lowered into the vessel body 200. When the opening 519a of the stopper 500 engages the projection 223a of the vessel body 200, the stopper 500 is in the open position (the interaction of the corresponding opening 519b, projection 223b, tab 517b, etc. is the same and will not be separately described below). To position the plug 500 in such an open position, sufficient force is required to rotate the plug 500 so that the projection 223a can ride over the high slope 521a to rest within the opening 519 a. When the protrusion 223a passes over the high slope 521a, the tab 517a is slightly bent. Tactile and/or audible feedback from the snap action between the opening 519a and the projection 223a is provided to the user to signal proper positioning of the stopper 500 in the vessel body 200 in the open position. Additional markings or indicia 225, such as a drip symbol, may be provided on the cup portion 213 of the vessel body 200 to indicate the open position. When rib 523 is aligned with indicia 225, it indicates that plug 500 is in the open position. Once the plug 500 is in the open position, it is not easily rotated to the closed position or disengaged due to the presence of the pair of

ramps

521a and 521 b. To position the plug 500 into the closed position, the user may continue to rotate the plug 500 in the clockwise direction. The projection 223a requires a certain force to jump over the higher end of the low slope 521 a. Once the projection 223a is disengaged from the opening 519a, the plug 500 is rotated until the gasket 700a interacts with the gasket-engaging portion 217, wherein the enlarged radially-extending ledge 503 presses the compression gasket 700a (specifically, the overhanging lip 703) against the gasket-engaging portion 217 to create a water-tight seal against the open end 201 of the vessel body 200. Movement of the plug 500 from the open position to the closed position requires approximately a quarter turn of rotation. The plug 500 is sized to fit completely under the top edge 205 of the vessel body 200 and to be recessed into the vessel body 200 when the plug 500 is in the open or closed position. This minimizes the risk of the stopper 500 being inadvertently unscrewed (or rotated or disengaged) relative to the vessel body 200 during transport, even if the vessel 10 is in a bag with other loose items.

To reverse the steps for initially placing the stopper 500 in the closed position, the user rotates the stopper 500 counterclockwise to raise the stopper 500 relative to the vessel body 200. Once the projection 223a has cleared the low slope 521b with relative ease and is positioned in the opening 519a, the plug 500 is in the open position. When the protrusion 223a passes the low slope 521b, the protrusion 517a bends slightly and provides tactile and/or audible feedback to the user from the snap action between the opening 519a and the protrusion 223a to signal proper positioning of the stopper 500 in the capsule body 200. Once the through-hole 519a engages the projection 223a, it becomes more difficult for the plug 500 to continue to rotate counterclockwise to fully disengage and remove the plug 500 from the vessel body 200 due to the higher end of the high slope 521a abutting the opening 519 a. Even if the tab 517a is slightly bent, the protrusion 223a clears the upper end of the high slope 521a requiring sufficient rotational force to completely disengage and remove the stopper 500 from the vessel body 200. This prevents accidental over-rotation of the plug 500 from the open position which would result in uncontrolled dispensing of liquid from the open end 201 of the vessel body 200.

The plug 500 is rotatable relative to the vessel body 200 in either an open position (i.e., a drinking position; allowing liquid to flow through the aperture 509) or a closed position (i.e., a sealing position; preventing liquid from flowing through the aperture 509). There is no variable control of the flow of liquid as the plug 500 rotates from the open position to the closed position. When the stopper 500 is in the open position, the gasket 700a is disengaged from the gasket-engaging portion 217 and, upon tilting the vessel 10, liquid can flow from the vessel body 200 through the one or more apertures 509 towards the cup-shaped portion 213 (as shown by arrow F in fig. 12) to the top edge 205 from which a user can suck. The cup-shaped portion 213 allows liquid to collect to permeate its fragrance into the ambient air when drawn by the user. The space between the plug 500 and the vessel body 200 adjacent the aperture 509 does not regulate the flow of liquid, but is greater than necessary so that the dispensed liquid from the aperture 509 forms a trickle so that the liquid does not spill onto the user's face when the vessel 10 is tipped for drinking. The circumferentially disposed holes 209 allow air to enter the vessel body 200 through some of the holes 209 (acting as vents to replace the dispensed liquid) while liquid can smoothly flow out of other holes 209 and allow the user to drink 360 ° around the top edge 205. The apertures 209 are positioned spaced from the lower surface 505 of the radially extending lugs 503 such that even when the vessel 10 is abruptly tilted, the momentum from the liquid flow does not cause the liquid to immediately leave and possibly splash against the user's face, but instead first strikes the lower surface 505 in a more gentle manner before flowing out of the apertures 509. The ease of liquid flow from the apertures 509 is further guided by the inclined planes formed at the tapered region 513 around each aperture 509.

As shown in fig. 14, a high contrast colored gasket 700a may be used to provide additional visual feedback to the user that the stopper 500 is in the open position (drinking position). When the bung 500 is in the raised open position, the colour from the washer 700a reflects off the cup-shaped portion 213, as shown by rays x and y. The cup 213 may be highly reflective, such as polished stainless steel, to provide a specular effect. Visually, the user can easily notice the coloration on the cup-shaped portion 213 to know that the stopper 500 is in the open position by looking at the vessel 10. On the other hand, when the plug 500 is in the closed position, the enlarged radially extending lugs 503 press the gasket 700a against the gasket-engaging portion 217, the gasket 700a is visually hidden, and the color of the gasket 700a can no longer be reflected off the cup-shaped portion 213. The user can easily notice the lack of color and thus the stopper 500 is in the closed position.

Fig. 15-18 show a second embodiment of a plug 500a that is similar to plug 500 except that instead of having a plurality of apertures (or slits) 509 in depending wall 507 that allow a certain flow rate, apertures (or slits) 509a are defined by a plurality of large apertures 525 that are substantially covered by a gasket 700 b. The upper portion 501 of the plug 500a has an enlarged radially extending lug 503. The lower portion of the plug 500a is a tubular depending wall 507 extending downwardly from the lower surface 505 of the radially extending lug 503. A plurality of large apertures 525 are circumferentially disposed on the depending wall 507 and spaced from and below the lower surface 505 of the radially extending lug 503. Below the plurality of large apertures 525 is external threads 511 on the depending wall 507 for engaging the vessel body 200 to seal the open end 201.

A resilient washer 700b is carried on the plug 500a at the junction where the tubular depending wall 507 extends from the lower surface 505 of the radially extending lug 503. The gasket 700b has an annular flange 707 from which an annular wall 709 extends. Gasket 700b optionally has an annular groove 711 in annular wall 709. When the washer 700b is frictionally positioned over the bung 500a, the annular flange 707 abuts the lower surface 505 of the radially-extending ledge 503 and the annular wall 709 abuts and surrounds the depending wall 507. The annular wall 709 substantially covers the large aperture 525 of the plug 500a, leaving a small gap to form an aperture (or slit) 509a through which the liquid flows at a flow rate, such as 30mL per second to 40mL per second. The use of the large bore 525 in cooperation with the gasket annular wall 709 allows easy access to the large bore 525 and to all surfaces with a cleaning tool for thorough cleaning or rinsing. Due to the flexible and resilient aspects of the gasket 700b, the annular wall 709 will flex and move under the force of the water flow during cleaning or rinsing, exposing the large aperture 525. The annular groove 711 also allows the lower portion of the annular wall 709 to be folded or lifted to provide easy access to the large bore 525 for cleaning or rinsing. There are no hidden, hidden channels or other features or components that prevent thorough cleaning or rinsing of all surfaces and components of the stopper 500b and vessel body 200.

An alternative to tab 517a having through hole 519a as the pawl engaging element of plug 500 is at least one pair of raised bars 527 along external threads 511 on plug 500 a. Two or more pairs of projecting rods 527 may be used. When the stopper 500 is in the open position, corresponding detent elements (such as hemispherical protrusions 223a on the inner wall 209 of the vessel body 200) interact with a pair of protruding rods 527. The hemispherical protrusion 223a on the inner wall 209 of the vessel body 200 used with the plug 500a is located closer to the top edge 205 than when used with the plug 500 because the pair of protruding rods 527 are positioned along the external thread 511 rather than below the external thread 511 as is the through hole 519 a.

The use of the plug 500a with the vessel body 200 is similar to the use of the plug 500. After filling the vessel body 200 with the liquid or beverage, the stopper 500a is rotated in a clockwise direction, lowering the stopper 500a into engagement with the vessel body 200. When projection 223a is positioned between a pair of projection bars 527, plug 500a is in the open position. To position plug 500a in this open position, sufficient force is required to rotate plug 500a so that projection 223a can pass into one of projection bars 527. Tactile and/or audible feedback is provided from projection 223a past nub lever 527 to signal that stopper 500a in vessel body 200 is properly positioned in the open position. To position the plug 500a in the closed position, the user may continue to rotate the plug 500a in the clockwise direction. The protrusion 223a requires a certain force to pass over the other protrusion rod 527. Once the projections 223a are disengaged and moved between the pair of projecting rods 527, the plug 500a is rotated until the washer 700b interacts with the washer-engaging portion 217, wherein the enlarged radially-extending lugs 503 press the flange 707 of the washer 700b against the washer-engaging portion 217 to create a water-tight seal to the open end 201 of the vessel body 200. The inversion step of the stopper 500a from the closed position to the open position is similar to the inversion step of the stopper 500, and is only the inversion of the step from the open position to the closed position described above.

Fig. 19-20 illustrate an alternative elastomeric washer 700c that may be used with plug 500 a. A washer 700c is carried on the plug 500a at the junction where the tubular depending wall 507 extends from the lower surface 505 of the radially extending lug 503. Similar to gasket 700b, gasket 700c has an annular flange 707 from which an annular wall 709a extends, and an annular groove 711 on annular wall 709 a. When the washer 700c is frictionally positioned over the bung 500a, the annular flange 707 abuts the lower surface 505 of the radially-extending ledge 503 and the annular wall 709a abuts and surrounds the depending wall 507. The annular wall 709a extends from the annular flange 707 further than the annular wall 709 such that the annular wall 709a completely covers the large aperture 525 of the plug 500 a. A plurality of small flow regulation apertures 713 are positioned radially around the annular wall 709a and overlap the large aperture 525 through which liquid may flow. The orifice 713 allows the liquid to flow through at a flow rate, such as 30mL per second to 40mL per second. The use of the large bore 525 in cooperation with the small bore 713 in the annular wall 709a allows for easy access to the large bore 525 with a cleaning tool and access to all surfaces for thorough cleaning or rinsing. Due to the flexible and resilient aspects of the gasket 700c, the annular wall 709a flexes and moves under the force of the water flow during cleaning and rinsing, exposing the large aperture 525. In addition, the apertures 713 formed in the resilient washer 700c make it easier to clean than holes of rigid material because the annular wall 709a may deform to access the apertures 713 when cleaning or rinsing and remove any hardened or clogged debris in or around the apertures 713. The annular groove 711 also allows the lower portion of the annular wall 709a to be folded or lifted to provide easy access to the large bore 525 during cleaning or rinsing.

Fig. 21 to 30 show a travel vessel 10a having a stopper 500b and vessel body 200a of a third embodiment. The vessel body 200a is substantially similar to the vessel body 200 except that the vessel body 200a has a tapered profile from top to bottom with a sleeve 227 over a middle portion of the vessel body 200 a. The sleeve 227 has a plurality of recesses 229 to enhance the grip of the user and provide tactile cues for positioning the top edge 205 of the vessel 10 a. The sleeve 227 may be made of the same or different material as the vessel body 200a, and may be made of an elastic material. On the inner wall 209 of the vessel body 200a below the gasket engagement portion 217 there is at least one detent element in the form of a bar-

like protrusion

223c or 223d, which also serves as an internal thread of the vessel body 200a for engaging the plug 500b to seal the open end 201. Although two

detent elements

223c and 223d are shown, there may be more or less than two detent elements.

Plug 500b is similar to plug 500 except that it has a straw aperture 529 optionally for use with a straw (not shown) and utilizes a different detent engagement element than

plugs

500 and 500 a. Below the plurality of apertures 509 are external threads 511 on the depending wall 507 for engaging the vessel body 200a to seal the open end 201. As an alternative to the tab 517a of the plug 500 having a through hole 519a or the pair of projecting rods 527 of the plug 500a, the pawl-engaging element of the plug 500b is at least one cantilevered latch 531 along the external thread 511. Two or more cantilever latches 531 may be used. Each cantilever latch 531 has a pair of opposing

bars

533a and 533b extending from a base 535. Each distal free end of the

rods

533a and 533b is a raised

hook

537a and 537 b. The distance between the corresponding raised

hooks

537a and 537b is slightly greater than the length of the

stem protrusion

223c or 223d on the inner wall 209 of the vessel body 200a, such that the cantilevered latch 531 may interact with the

corresponding stem protrusion

223c or 223d when the stopper 500b is in the open position. Similar to the positioning of the detent elements that interact with the pair of raised posts 527 of plug 500a, the

post projections

223c and 223d on the interior wall 209 of vessel body 200a used with plug 500b are positioned closer to top edge 205 than the detent elements used with plug 500 because cantilever latches 531 are positioned along external threads 511 rather than below external threads 511 as through holes 519 a.

The ribs 523a on the upper portion 501 of the plug 500b are wider than the ribs 523 of the

plugs

500 and 500 a. A straw hole 529 passing through the upper portion 501 is provided on the recessed portion 543 of the rib 523 a. A straw (not shown) may be inserted through the straw aperture 529 to alternatively access the liquid in the vessel body 200 a. The pivotable straw hole cover 539 is fitted with a circular plunger 541 for selectively sealing and resealing the straw hole 529. When the straw hole cover 539 is in the closed position, the plunger 541 seals the straw hole 529, and the straw hole cover 539 is flush with the upper surface of the rib 523 a. This minimizes the risk of the straw hole cover 539 being accidentally pivoted into an open position during shipping, even if the vessel 10 is in a bag with other loose items. The recessed portion 543 of the rib 523a allows easy access to the free end of the straw hole cover 539 to pivot it to the open position.

The use of the plug 500b with the vessel body 200a is similar to the use of the plug 500 a. After the vessel body 200a is filled with the liquid or beverage, the stopper 500a is rotated in a clockwise direction, lowering the stopper 500b into and engaging the vessel body 200 a. When the lever projection 223c is positioned between the corresponding

hooks

537a and 537b of the cantilever latch 531, the stopper 500b is in the open position. To position the plug 500b in this open position, sufficient force is required to rotate the plug 500b so that the lever projection 223c can pass over one of the hooks 537 a. When the lever projection 223c passes over the hook 537a, the lever 533a is slightly bent. Tactile and/or audible feedback is provided from the stem protrusion 223c over the hook 537a to signal that the stopper 500b of the vessel body 200a is properly positioned in the open position. To position the plug 500b in the closed position, the user may continue to rotate the plug 500b in the clockwise direction. The lever projection 223c requires a certain force to pass over the other hook 537 b. Once stem protuberance 223c disengages and moves between

hooks

537a and 537b, plug 500b rotates until washer 700a interacts with washer-engaging portion 217, wherein enlarged radially-extending ledge 503 presses washer 700a (specifically, overhanging lip 703) against washer-engaging portion 217 to create a water-tight seal to open end 201 of vessel body 200 a. The inversion step of the stopper 500b from the closed position to the open position is the same as the inversion step of the stopper 500a, which is only the inversion from the open position to the closed position described above.

To alternatively access the liquid or beverage in the vessel body 200a without rotating the plug 500b, the user may pivot open the straw hole cover 539 and insert a straw through the straw hole 529. After use, a user may remove the straw from the straw aperture 529, pivoting the straw aperture cover 539 to a closed position wherein the plunger 541 seals the straw aperture 529 to provide a water-tight seal.

Due to the location and predetermined flow rate of the apertures in the stopper through which the liquid flows, the liquid will not splash onto the user's face due to excessive flow or excessive tilting of the vessel body, especially when the contents are not visible to the user (such as with an opaque stopper and/or an opaque vessel body).

While the various embodiments of the travel vessel of the present invention described above utilize corresponding external and internal threads for the interaction and engagement of the stopper with the vessel body, other types of movable accessories known to those skilled in the art (e.g., bayonet style, etc.) may be used. Similarly, different types of pawl engaging elements and pawl elements known to those skilled in the art may be used. The various pawl engaging elements and pawl elements described above may be used in conjunction with any of the stopper embodiments. To safely regulate the flow rate and flow pattern of the liquid dispensed from the vessel body, the flow of liquid through the orifice of the stopper allows only a certain liquid flow rate regardless of the rotational positioning of the stopper between the open and closed positions (i.e., the orifice and flow rate may not be regulated by unscrewing the stopper between the open and closed positions).

The features of the invention shown and described herein are of preferred embodiments. It should be understood, therefore, that this description is intended to cover unforeseeable embodiments that may not materially depart from the spirit of this description.

Claims

1. A beverage container comprising:

a vessel body having an open end and a closed end;

a stopper for sealing the open end of the vessel body in a closed sealing position and for sealing the open end of the vessel body in an open drinking position; and

a gasket on the stopper, the gasket sealing the open end of the vessel body in cooperation with the stopper, the gasket having a first height;

wherein the vessel body comprises:

a generally cylindrical body formed by an inner wall and an outer wall;

a top edge at the open end, the top edge adapted to drink from the beverage container 360 ° along the top edge;

a cup portion below the top edge, the cup portion formed to taper through the inner wall toward a central longitudinal axis of the vessel body to form a radially extending lip;

a gasket engagement portion located below the cup portion, the gasket engagement portion being formed to further taper through the inner wall toward the central longitudinal axis of the vessel body to form a radially extending rim;

receiving and engaging means for receiving and engaging said plug to seal said open end below said gasket-engaging portion; and

at least one protrusion of a detent element extending from the inner wall and below the washer engaging portion;

wherein the stopper includes:

an upper portion having an enlarged radially extending lug and a lower surface;

a lower portion having a tubular depending wall extending from the lower surface of the upper portion;

a plurality of apertures circumferentially disposed on said depending wall and spaced from said lower surface of said upper portion, wherein a height of each of said plurality of apertures is less than said first height of said gasket, and each of said plurality of apertures is sized to allow beverage to flow from said vessel body at a predetermined, fixed flow rate anywhere along 360 ° of said top edge when said stopper is in said open drinking position, and said plurality of apertures are entirely above said receiving and engaging means of said vessel body when said stopper is in said open drinking position;

an engagement device for engaging the vessel body to seal the open end below the plurality of holes;

at least one opening of a detent engagement element located on said lower portion of said stopper for engagement with each said protrusion of said detent element of said vessel body within said opening when said stopper is in said open drinking position; and is

Wherein the gasket is located on the plug at a junction where the tubular depending wall extends from the lower surface of the upper portion, and the gasket is compressed between the enlarged radially extending ledge of the plug and the gasket-engaging portion to provide a water-tight seal of the open end of the vessel body when the plug is in the closed, sealed position, and the plurality of apertures are vertically spaced from the gasket along the central longitudinal axis below the gasket.

2. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of apertures has a perimeter, the depending wall has an outer surface, and the outer surface tapers toward and around the entire perimeter of each of the plurality of apertures to promote smooth flow of beverage through the plurality of apertures.

3. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the receiving and engaging means of the vessel body comprises an internal thread and the engaging means of the plug comprises a corresponding external thread.

4. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the depending wall of the stopper has a lower edge, the detent element is at least one protrusion extending from the inner wall, and the detent engagement element of the stopper further comprises:

at least one tab extending from the lower edge of the depending wall; and

each of the at least one opening is located on each of the at least one tab for engagement with the protrusion on the inner wall of the vessel body.

5. The beverage container of claim 4, wherein said at least one tab has an outer surface, and said pawl engagement element further comprises:

a pair of projection ramps located on the outer surface of the at least one tab and abutting the opening, each projection ramp of the pair of projection ramps having a high end and a low end, wherein the high end of each projection ramp of the pair of projection ramps abuts the opening.

6. The beverage container of claim 5, wherein the pair of projection ramps are asymmetrical in height, wherein one projection ramp of the pair of projection ramps is higher than the other projection ramp of the pair of projection ramps.

7. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the gasket comprises:

an annular body;

an outer depending lip extending from the annular body, the outer depending lip having a first diameter and the first height; and

an inner depending lip extending from the annular body and concentrically arranged relative to the outer depending lip, the inner depending lip having a second height lower than the first height and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter;

wherein the annular body abuts the lower surface of the upper portion of the plug, the inner depending lip abuts and surrounds the depending wall of the lower portion of the plug, and the outer depending lip is pressed against the gasket-engaging portion of the vessel body by the enlarged radially-extending ledge of the plug to provide a water-tight seal of the open end of the vessel body when the plug is in the closed, sealed position.

8. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the gasket is made of a predetermined, fixed, high contrast color, wherein the color reflects off of the cup-shaped portion of the vessel body when the stopper is in the open drinking position to provide visual feedback of the open drinking position of the stopper.

9. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion of the pawl element and the at least one opening of the pawl engagement element cooperatively provide audible and tactile feedback indicating that the stopper is in the open drinking position when engaged.

10. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the plug has a concave region with a rib diametrically spanning across the concave region, the rib dividing the concave region into two cavities.

11. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the generally cylindrical body of the vessel body has an upper portion and a middle section.

12. The beverage container of claim 11, wherein the upper portion of the vessel body has a frustoconical flare.

13. The beverage container of claim 10, wherein the cup portion of the vessel body has indicia for indicating that the stopper is in the open drinking position when the rib is aligned with the indicia.

14. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the vessel body is made of stainless steel.