GB2182639A

GB2182639A - Drink carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2182639A
Application number: GB08527125A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Nevil Heaton Johnson; Giorgio Orifice
Original assignee: Scientific Applied Research SAR PLC
Current assignee: Scientific Applied Research SAR PLC
Priority date: 1985-11-04
Filing date: 1985-11-04
Publication date: 1987-05-20
Also published as: GB8527125D0

Abstract

A drink carrier comprises a plurality of drinking vessels 2, each vessel 2 being readily separable from an adjacent vessel 2 and being capable of being 10 sealed and being readily openable. A series of vessels 2 may form a belt and may be joined by readily breakable or cuttable tabs 14. A drinking straw is preferably contained within each vessel 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Drink carrier This invention relates two a drink carrier. In particular, the invention relates to a drink carrier for releasably conveying a plurality of drinking vessels.

Accordingly, the invention provides a drink carrier comprising a means carrying a plurality of drinking vessels, each vessel being readily separable from an adjacent vessel and being capable of being sealed and being readily openable.

Desirably, a drinking straw, or the like, is contained within each separate drinking vessel. Preferably such drinking straw is formed from interconnected telescoping segments. Alternatively, the straw may be formed from a corrugated material to enabie elongation thereof.

The straw may conveniently be constructed from a plastics material.

Conveniently, each drinking vessel is shaped asan elongate tube. Such tubes may be of ci rcular, square, rectangular or any convenient cross-section.

In one preferred arrangement the vessels are connected releasablytogetherto form a belt like arrangement. For example, the vessels may be connected in side by side arrangement by one or more tab means. Such tab means may be constructed of a readily breakable or cuttable material, or may be con structed with areas of weakening to a I low for tabs to be readily broken or may be constructed in any other suitable manner.

In an alternative arrangement, each vessel in a connected series of vessels may be co-joined to the top of a first adjacent vessel and to the bottom of a second adjacent vessel so that a zig-zag arrangement is formed.

The vessel carrier may be constructed in the form of a belt or bandoleer or may be adapted to be con nected with such a belt or bandoleer.

Desirably,the vessels are constructed from a plastics material.

The vessels may be transparent, translucent and may be coloured.

Desirably, the vessels contain means for locking a straw in a fixed position until required for drinking.

Such means may comprise a locating lug, orthe like, projecting upwardlyfrom an internal lower surface ofthe vessel.

In orderthatthe invention may be more readily un derstood, so thatfurther features thereof may be appreciated, various embodiments ofthe invention will now be described, byway of example, with refer pence to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of a drink carrier ofthe invention, illustrating three exemplary forms of vessel; Figure2 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on the line ll-ll of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the upper part of an alternative vessel; and Figure 4illustrates schematically an alternative means of interconnecting the vessels.

Referring to Figure 1, a carrier 1 comprises a plura lity of interconnected vessels 2. Desirably, the vessels are interconnected to form a belt or bandoleer, appropriate buckle or other fastening means (not shown) being provided at opposing ends of a connected chain of vessels 2.

Each vessel 2 comprises a lower chamber defining portion 3 and an upper neck portion 4, which neck portion 4 is closed by a removable cap 5. A channel 6 is defined through the neck portion 4to enable filling ofthe chamber portion 3 with a desired fluid and to enable thatfluid to be drunkfrom the vessel. Desir- ably the channel 6 is sized to receive a drinking straw forfacilitating drinking of the fluid from the chamber.

As best seen in Figure 2, a drinking straw7 is conveniently provided within the vessel 2. An upstand ing annularflange 8 isformed projecting upwardly from the interior of a base portion 9 ofthe chamber portion 3,the annulus oftheflange being sizedtore- ceive and to hold securely one end of the drinking straw 7 the other end of the straw being received within a recess 10 formed in a lowersurface 11 ofthe cap 5. The recess 10 is aligned with the channel 6 in the neck portion 4, sothatthestraw7 may be of a length to project slightly upwardly ofthe channel 6 in the neck portion 4 when the cap 5 is closed thereon.

This means that when the cap 5 is opened or removed a sufficient amount ofthe straw 7 will project from the vessel to enable the straw to be grasped for drinking.

In a particularly preferred arrangement, the drinking straw 7 is adapted to be of extendible length so that the straw can be drawn outwardly of the vessel 2 whilst being of a length sufficientto reach to the bottom of the chamber portion 3. The drinking straw 7 may, for example, be constructed from connected telescoping elements or may be formed, at least partially,from corrugated material to allow the length of the straw to be stretched.

The straw may be so held within the cap 5that when the cap is removed the straw is drawn upwardlyto facilitate grasping thereof. Desirably a flange 12 is formed aboutthe periphery of the drink ing straw 7, towards the lowerend thereof, to prevent the drinking straw from being removed completely from the vessel.

The cap 5 may be positioned over the neck portion 4 ofthe vessel 2 to be in snap-fit relation therewith or, alternatively, the cap 5 may be formed integ rally with the neck portion 4, an area or areas ofweakening being formed at the interface of the cap 5 and neck portion 4to facilitate removable of the cap 5 by cutting, breaking, etc.

Any convenient means may be used for locking the drink straw 7 in place during transport of the vessel 2.

For example, referring to the right hand vessel illustrated in Figure 1, an upwardly projecting lug 13 may be formed internally on the base portion 9 of the chamber portion 3 of the vessel 2. The lug 13 is arranged to be coaxially aligned with the channel 6 and is sized to fit closely within the internal passageway of the drinking straw.

The vessels 2 may be connected together in any suitable manner. In one preferred arrangement, referring again to Figure 1,thevessels2areinter- connected bytabmeans 14. Thetab means 14are provided with an area, or areas, of weakening to allow individual vessels to be broken away from adjacent vessels. Althoug h only a single tab means 14is illustrated a pluralityofsuch means may connect adjacent vessels.

As shown in Figure 1, the vessels may, conveniently, be connected in side by side relation so that adjacent vessels are aligned substantially parallel to one another. Alternatively, as illustrated schematically in Figure 4, adjacent vessels may be co-joined alternatively top and bottom so that a substantially zig-zag arrangement is formed.

Referring now to Figure 3, an alternative arrangement is illustrated in which a channel 6a formed within the neck portion 4 has a diameter significantly largerthanthatofthedrinking straw 7 and in which the vessel is closed by a snap-off closure element 15.

The closure element 15 has a blind recess 16 formed therein, the recess 16 having a diameter sized to fit closely aboutthe external periphery of the drinking straw7 and acts to retain the drinking straw 7 releasably in position. The interface 17 between the closure element 15 and the neck portion 4 is formed from weakened material to facilitate snap removal ofthe closure element 15. When the closure element 15 is broken away from the vessel 2 the drinking straw 7 is left projecting outwardly of the vessel 2.

The vessels 2 may be of anyconvenient shape for examplethey may be of square, circular, rectangular oranyotherconvenientcross-section.The neck portion 4 may be of reduced dimensions relative to the chamber defining portion 3 or may have substantially the same external dimensions as the portion 3 where the neck portion is of reduced dimensions the shoulders may be square or rounded.

The vessels may be constructed oftransparent, translucent, clear or coloured material and likewise the drinking straw 7 may be clearor may becoloured.

Any, attractive, combination of colours for both the drinking straw and the vessel may be used.

In a particularly preferred arrangement a carrier of the invention is used in the form of a child's belt, each individual vessel being filled with a child's drink. The same or a different drink may be provided in adjacent vessels. Such belts may be sold in selectable lengths and may be sold in combination with other products.

Although the invention as described above is in the form of a plurality of interconnected vessels a separate beltorstrap means having defined thereon pouches orthe like adapted to receive individual vessels may be provided.

Further, although the vessels are primarily intended for containing drinks anyotherfluid for other purposes may be contained in such vessels.

Claims

1. A drink carrier comprising a means carrying a plurality of drinking vessels, each vessel being readily separable from an adjacent vessel and being capable of being sealed and being readily openable.

2. A carrier according to claim 1, further comprising a drinking straw, or the like, contained within each separate drinking vessel.

3. A carrier according to claim 2, wherein the drinking straw isformed from interconnectedtelescoping segments.

4. Acarrieraccordingto claim 2,whereinthe straw is formed at least partially from a corrugated material to enable elongation thereof.

5. Acarrieraccordingto any oyeofclaims 2to4, wherein the straw is constructed from a plastics material.

6. Acarrieraccordingto anyoneof claims2to5, wherein each drinking vessel is shaped as an elongatetube.

7. Acarrieraccordingto anyoneof claimstob, further comprising means for locating the drinking straw in position during transportation ofthevessel.

8. A carrier according to claim 7, wherein said means for locating the drinking straw comprise an upstanding lug on the base ofthe vessel and a co- operating internal recess in a cap ofthevessel.

9. A carrier according to any one of claims 1 to8, wherein the vessels are connected releasably together to form a belt like arrangement.

10. A carrier according to claim 9, wherein the vessels are connected in side by side arrangement by one or more tab means.

11. A carrier according to claim 10, such tab means is constructed of a readily breakable or cuttable material, and/or is constructed with areas of weakening to allowthetabsto be readily broken.

12. A carrier according to clai m 9, wherein each vessel in a connected series of vessels is co-joined to the top of a first adjacent vessel and to the bottom of a second adjacent vessel so that a zig-zag arrangement is formed.

13. Acarrieraccordingto anyoneofclaims 1 to 12, wherein the vessels are constructed from a plastics material.

14. A carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein vessels may be transparent, translucent and/or may be coloured.

15. A carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a separable cap portion is provided to seal the vessel.

16. A carrier substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any one ofthe accompanying drawings.

17. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein.