CN111071615B

CN111071615B - Beverage container and container stack

Info

Publication number: CN111071615B
Application number: CN201811221430.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 许天衣
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-10-19
Filing date: 2018-10-19
Publication date: 2021-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-19
Also published as: JP3234543U; CA3050396A1; TWI681906B; SG11202103818WA; TW202015985A; US20200122912A1; CN111071615A; WO2020078256A1

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a beverage container and a container stack. The container includes a body and a lid. The body includes a bottom wall and a side wall defining an interior volume for storing the beverage. The body also includes an internal passage in fluid communication with the interior volume. The built-in channel extends substantially along the entire height of the body and includes an upper opening and a lower opening. The lid is configured to be attached to the body to seal the interior volume. The cover includes a hollow protrusion. The built-in channel extends beyond the upper edge of the body and is partially received within the protrusion of the cover.

Description

Beverage container and container stack

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to a container having a built-in channel that is particularly suitable for drinking beverages that may or may not contain solids.

Background

With the increasing global environmental awareness, countries, many cities and large enterprises have announced the complete ban on the use of disposable separable plastic straws. Disposable detachable plastic straws have been shown to cause serious damage to the environment and marine wildlife. The pictures and videos of these injuries have led to an increasing acceptance of the prohibition against the use of disposable detachable plastic straws.

For most beverages, this ban does not pose a problem. However, this is a major problem for many asian specialty beverages that have solids therein. Beverages containing jelly, starchy materials, fruit, ice mixes, and the like cannot be optimally enjoyed without the straw assisting in creating a vacuum that can transport these solids from the bottom of the beverage container to the top of the container and into the mouth of the consumer without substantially tilting the container and effectively pouring the contents out of the container.

Various alternatives have been developed, such as straws made of various biodegradable or compostable materials, but they are generally not economical due to, for example, higher manufacturing costs or poor biodegradability. Therefore, there is a need in the market for an economical and practical solution to prohibit disposable detachable plastic straws.

Disclosure of Invention

The present disclosure provides a container for a beverage, the container comprising a body and a lid, the body comprising a bottom wall and a side wall defining an interior volume for storing the beverage, the body further comprising an internal channel in fluid communication with the interior volume, the internal channel extending substantially along the entire height of the body and comprising an upper opening and a lower opening; a lid is configured to be attached to the body to seal the interior volume, the lid including a hollow protrusion, wherein the built-in channel extends beyond an upper edge of the body and is partially received within the protrusion of the lid.

According to certain aspects, the built-in channel is disposed inside or outside the interior volume.

According to certain aspects, the built-in channel is disposed within a sidewall of the body.

According to certain aspects, the body includes channel walls that form the built-in channel, and the built-in channel is at least partially attached to the side wall of the body.

According to certain aspects, the body includes a channel wall, the channel wall and a portion of the sidewall together forming a built-in channel.

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

According to certain aspects, the protrusion comprises a line of weakness surrounding the protrusion.

According to certain aspects, the built-in channel comprises a bellows segment.

According to certain aspects, an upper portion of the built-in channel is spaced apart from the sidewall of the body.

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

According to certain aspects, the body has a tapered shape from top to bottom, and the sidewall of the body has a spiral cross-section with two ends, wherein one end of the sidewall is connected to one edge of the built-in channel and the other end of the sidewall is connected to an opposite edge of the built-in channel.

There is provided herein a stack of containers, wherein the stack comprises a plurality of containers according to the previous aspect.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings contain drawings that are included to further illustrate and explain the above and other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only certain embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit its scope. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. The disclosure will now be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container with a built-in channel according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a container having a built-in channel according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a lid of a container according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

4A-4D are enlarged views of the lower portion of a built-in channel according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another container having an internal passageway according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another container having an internal passageway according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another container having an internal passageway according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of another container having an internal passageway according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8B is a top view of the container of FIG. 8A; and

fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another container with an internal channel according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a container 1 according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The container 1 comprises a body 2 and a lid 3. The container 1 is used for storing beverages. The container 1 may be made of any food grade material, such as metal (e.g., stainless steel), plastic (e.g., PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, and PC), paper (e.g., waxed paper), glass, wood, ceramic, or combinations thereof. The method of manufacturing the container may vary depending on the material used, such as molding, casting, machining, forging, stamping, and welding. These methods are within the ability of those skilled in the art and are not discussed in detail herein. The container 1 may be reusable or disposable. The container 1 may take any suitable form, such as a cup, bottle, jar, sachet, box or capsule.

The body 2 of the container 1 may take on different shapes or configurations. The body 2 may have a regular or irregular shape. In certain embodiments, the body 2 may have a substantially cylindrical shape, a frustoconical shape, a cubical shape, or any other desired shape.

The lid 3 of the container 1 may take different shapes or configurations as long as it effectively seals the body 2 and at least partially or completely prevents the beverage from leaking therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container 1. The body 2 comprises a side wall 22 and a bottom wall 23 which together define an internal volume within the body 2 for storing the beverage. The beverage may be in liquid form (e.g., milk, tea, wine, water, juice, and combinations thereof), a mixture of liquid and gas (e.g., a carbonated beverage such as soda or beer), a mixture of liquid and solid (e.g., a beverage with pearls, jelly, fruit, smoothie, blended ice, dish, or beverage flavoring), or a liquid with a viscous consistency (e.g., milkshakes and yogurt). As is apparent from the present disclosure, the container 1 of the present disclosure is particularly suitable for beverages containing both liquids and solids, such as bubble tea.

In some embodiments, the upper edge of the side wall 22 of the body 2 is received within a circumferential recess defined by the outer rim 32 of the lid 3, thereby securing the lid 3 to the body 2. Other forms for securing the cover 3 to the body 2 are also possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the cover 3 may be attached to the body 2 by a snap fit, a latch, a 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 cover 3. The tight coupling between the upper edge of the side wall 22 and the outer edge 32 of the lid 3 effects a seal between the lid 3 and the body 2 to prevent or at least limit leakage of beverage from the interior volume. Alternative or additional sealing means known in the art are also possible.

In certain embodiments, channel wall 21 is disposed within body 2. The channel wall 21 alone or in combination with a portion of the sidewall 22 of the body 2 defines the built-in channel 20 within and in fluid communication with the interior volume of the body 2. In certain embodiments, channel wall 21 may be welded, glued, or otherwise permanently attached to sidewall 22 of body 2. In some embodiments, the channel wall 21 may be formed as one integral piece with the body 2. The built-in channel 20 has an upper portion with an upper opening 24 and a lower portion with a lower opening 25. The built-in channel 20 enables the consumer to create a vacuum within the channel to draw the liquid beverage and any solids that may be contained therein through the built-in channel 20 so that the consumer can enjoy the beverage within the interior volume of the body 2 of the container 1 without the need for a separable plastic straw. The built-in channel 20 extends from the bottom to the top of the body 2 substantially along the entire height of the body 2.

In certain embodiments, the lower opening 25 of the built-in channel 20 is spaced apart from the bottom wall 23 of the body 2 by a distance d such that beverage, in particular solid particles of beverage, can flow into the built-in channel 20. In certain embodiments, the distance d may be 0.1-2.5cm, 0.5-2.0cm, 0.7-1.5cm, or 0.9-1.2 cm. In some embodiments, the upper opening 24 of the built-in channel 20 is flush with or slightly below the upper edge of the side wall 22 of the body 2. In certain embodiments, the upper portion of the built-in channel 20 comprises a bellows segment (FIG. 7). The upper opening 24 of the built-in channel 20 is flush with or slightly below the upper edge of the side wall 22 of the body 2 when the built-in channel 20 is not in use. In use, the bellows section may be extended such that the upper opening 24 may protrude a distance D beyond the upper edge of the side wall 22 of the body 2. Alternatively, the upper opening 24 may protrude beyond the upper edge of the side wall 22 by a distance D. In certain embodiments, the distance D may be 0-4cm, 1-3cm, or 1.5-2.5 cm. The protruding arrangement allows the built-in channel 20 to be closer to a conventional straw, making the built-in channel easier for the consumer to use. In certain embodiments, the upper portion of the built-in channel 20 is spaced from the side wall 22 of the body 2 such that the upper portion of the built-in channel 20 can be easily surrounded by the lips of the consumer. A vacuum may then be created within the built-in channel 20 by applying suction. The cross-sectional dimensions of the built-in channel 20 are defined to enable easy pumping of the beverage, in particular solid particles of the beverage, at a suitable flow rate. The selection of cross-sectional dimensions is well within the ability of one of ordinary skill in the art and may be selected, in part, based on the size and hardness of any solids present in the beverage. In certain embodiments, the internal channels 20 have cross-sectional dimensions of 0.1 to 2.5cm, 0.5-2.0cm, 0.7-1.5cm, or 0.9-1.2 cm.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lid 3, which includes the outer edge 32, the projection 31 near the outer edge 32, and the flat surface 33 connecting the projection 31 and the outer edge 32. The projection 31 is an integral part of the lid 3. The protrusion 31 is hollow to accommodate the upper portion of the built-in channel 20 to help create a substantially airtight environment within the container and lid. In some embodiments, the protrusion 31 includes a downwardly extending recess 34, the recess 34 conforming to the contour of the upper portion of the built-in channel 20. The upper portion of the built-in channel 20 may be fitted into the groove 34, thereby facilitating the coupling of the cover 3 with the body 2. In case the built-in channel 20 extends beyond the upper edge of the body 2, the protrusion 31 provides protection for the upper part of the built-in channel 20 from external contamination. By providing additional mechanical support, it also reduces the risk of physical damage to the built-in channel 20 during transport, storage and use.

In certain embodiments, the lid 3 is removably attached to the body 2 after the body 2 is filled with the beverage. In certain embodiments, the lid 3 may be permanently attached to the body 2 after the body 2 is filled with the beverage. In these embodiments, the coupling between the protrusion 31 and the built-in channel 20 will be substantially airtight, and the protrusion 31 of the lid 3 may be made breakable. In some embodiments, the weakening line 35 is preformed around the protrusion 31 of the lid 3, as shown in fig. 3. For example, the lines of weakness 35 may be made by reducing material, using weaker material, providing a pull tab, or other means known in the art without degrading the sealing and/or vacuum functions. With the weakening line 35, the upper part of the protrusion 31 can be torn away from the rest of the protrusion 31 by applying a suitable force. In this way, the remainder of the projection 31, together with the built-in channel 20 of the body 2, acts as a straw. In certain embodiments, the protrusion 31 comprises a removable cap. The opening or removal of the cap allows the remainder of the protrusion 31 and the built-in channel 20 of the body 2 to act as a straw. One or more vents (not shown) may be provided in the planar surface 33 of the lid 3. The vent may be created by piercing the flat surface 33, by removing a small portion of the lid 3, or by providing intersecting slits in the flat surface 33.

Fig. 4A-4D illustrate variations of the lower opening 25 of the built-in channel 20 according to certain embodiments 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 provided at the lower portion 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; fig. 4C shows three circumferentially arranged side openings 252 adjacent to the bottom opening 251. Fig. 4D shows three side openings 251 spaced from the bottom opening 251. The side opening 252 is particularly useful when the beverage in the container 1 includes both liquids and solids. The solid particles may have different sizes. When a consumer applies suction, there may be solid particles of a size greater than the cross-sectional size of the built-in channel 20 and partially blocking or obstructing the bottom opening 251 of the built-in channel 20. In this case, the side openings 252 ensure that liquid can still be sucked in along the built-in channel 20. The present disclosure is not intended to impose any limitation on the number, shape or distribution of side openings 252 as long as they can facilitate the withdrawal of liquids and/or solids from within body 2 through built-in channel 20.

Fig. 5 illustrates another built-in channel 20 according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. Channel wall 21 alone or in combination with a portion of sidewall 22 of body 2 defines and is in fluid communication with internal channel 20 within the interior volume of body 2. In certain embodiments, channel wall 21 may be welded, glued, or otherwise permanently attached to sidewall 22 of body 2. In some embodiments, the channel wall 21 may be formed as one integral piece with the body 2. In these embodiments, the built-in channel 20 extends to the bottom wall 23 of the body. Thus, only one or more side openings 252 are provided in the built-in channel 20. In certain embodiments, more than one side opening 252 of different sizes are provided at the same longitudinal location along the internal passageway 20 or around the internal passageway 20.

Fig. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another container 1 according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. In these embodiments, rather than providing the built-in channel 20 within the body 2 of the container 1, the built-in channel 20 is provided outside the body 2 of the container 1, in fluid communication with the interior volume of the body 2. Similarly, channel wall 21, alone or in combination with a portion of sidewall 22 of body 2, defines built-in channel 20 outside body 2 and in fluid communication with the interior volume of body 2. In certain embodiments, channel wall 21 may be welded, glued, or otherwise permanently attached to sidewall 22 of body 2. In some embodiments, the channel wall 21 may be formed as one integral piece with the body 2. One or more lower openings 25 may be provided in the side wall 22 of the body 2 in fluid communication with the built-in channel 20. The cover 3 is adapted accordingly. In particular, the protrusion 31 of the lid 3 is located outside the outer edge 32 of the lid 3.

Fig. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another container 1 according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. In these embodiments, rather than providing the built-in channel 20 inside or outside the interior volume of the container 1, the built-in channel 20 is disposed within the sidewall 22 of the body 2 or on the periphery of the body 2 of the container 1. In certain embodiments, the built-in channel 20 may be welded, glued, or otherwise permanently attached to the body 2. In some embodiments, the built-in channel 20 may be formed as one integral piece with the body 2.

Fig. 8A and 8B illustrate another container 1 according to certain aspects 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 at the periphery of the body 2 of the container 1. Fig. 8B is a top view of the container 1. The side wall 22 of the body 2 has a substantially spiral-shaped cross-section with two

ends

221, 222. The built-in channel 20 is arranged such that one edge of the channel 20 (the top edge in fig. 8B) connects one end 221 of the side wall 22 and the opposite edge of the channel 20 (the bottom edge in fig. 8B) connects the other end 222 of the side wall 22. This arrangement is particularly useful for stacking containers 1. Because the inner volume of the lower container 1 can be utilized to accommodate or house the upper container 1 when the container 1 is on top of another container 1. Thus, the overall size of the stack of containers 1 is minimized.

The cover 3 is not always necessary. In some embodiments, the built-in channel 20 does not protrude beyond the outer edge 32 of the body 2. After the container is filled with the beverage, as shown in fig. 9, a plastic sealing film 4 may be applied on top of the body 2 of the container 1 instead of the lid 3. The use of plastic sealing films 4 is well known in the art. In certain embodiments, the built-in channel 20 includes a bellows segment 26. After peeling off the plastic sealing film 4, the built-in channel 20 may extend to protrude outside the body 2 of the container 1. In certain embodiments, the built-in channel 20 is pre-bent or flexed within the body 2 of the container 1. Once the plastic sealing membrane 4 is peeled away, the built-in channel 20 can resume its natural configuration, protruding beyond the outer edge 32 of the body 2. Similarly, the body 2 of the container 1 may be used with a conventional lid without the protrusion 31 of the present disclosure.

One of ordinary skill in the art will understand, upon reading this disclosure, that the container may have other suitable components, variations, and arrangements. While the present disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A beverage container comprising:

a body comprising a bottom wall and a side wall defining an interior volume for storing a beverage, wherein the body further comprises an in-line channel in fluid communication with the interior volume, wherein the in-line channel extends substantially along the entire height of the body and comprises an upper opening and a lower opening; and

a lid configured to be attached to the body to seal the interior volume, wherein the lid comprises a hollow protrusion,

wherein the built-in channel extends beyond an upper edge of the body and is partially received within the hollow protrusion of the cover;

wherein the lower opening is spaced from the bottom wall by a distance of 0.1-2.5 cm;

wherein the built-in channel is disposed within a sidewall of the body; and

wherein the body has a tapered shape from top to bottom and a sidewall of the body has a spiral cross-section with two ends, wherein one end of the sidewall is connected to one edge of the built-in channel and the other end of the sidewall is connected to an opposite edge of the built-in channel.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the body comprises channel walls, wherein the channel walls form the built-in channel and the built-in channel is at least partially attached to a sidewall of the body.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a channel wall, wherein the channel wall and a portion of the sidewall together form the built-in channel.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the lower opening comprises one or more side openings.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the hollow protrusion comprises a line of weakness surrounding the hollow protrusion.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the built-in channel comprises a bellows segment.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein an upper portion of the built-in channel is spaced apart from a sidewall of the body.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the beverage comprises a liquid and a solid.

9. A stack of containers, wherein the stack comprises a plurality of containers according to claim 1.