GB2370555A

GB2370555A - Multi-function container

Info

Publication number: GB2370555A
Application number: GB0116929A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tara Roskell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-02
Filing date: 2001-07-11
Publication date: 2002-07-03
Also published as: GB0116929D0; GB0100012D0

Abstract

A multi-function container (10) comprises a generally hollow body (1) and a base member (4) which is securable to each end of the body (1) to provide, in one orientation of the container (10), a closure and base (4) for the body (1) and, in another, inverted orientation of the container (10'), a base (4) for the body (1) whose now-open top (3) renders the interior of the body (1) accessible. The container may take the form of a bottle convertible into a wine glass.

Description

MULTI-FUNCTION CONTAINER

DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a multi-function container for storing and dispensing therefrom a drink or comestible.

Small bottled drinks containing sufficient beverage for one person, are very convenient but are uncomfortable to drink directly from and are disliked by many people.

Small wine bottles containing a glass or two of wine are also convenient but, in certain circumstances, such as outside events or in flight, a drinking glass is also required, effectively doubling the amount of storage space required.

The present invention seeks to overcome, or at least substantially reduce, the above disadvantages associated with known methods of dispensing drinks from a glass by, essentially, providing a multi-function container comprising a generally hollow body and a base member which is securable to each end of the body to provide, in one orientation of the container, a closure and base for the body and, in another, inverted orientation of the container, a base for the body whose now-open top renders the interior of the body accessible.

The invention provides further a multifunction container for the storage, presentation and dispensing of a comestible or drink, comprising a generally hollow body and a base member which, in one orientation of the container, is secured detachably to an otherwise open end of the body to provide a closure and a base therefor and which, in another, inverted orientation of the container, is securable to the other end of the body, to provide a base for the now-inverted body and to permit access to the interior of the body via the now open end thereof.

Preferably, the hollow body is in the shape of a bottle, such as a wine bottle, whereby, in the one orientation of the container, the base member acts as a closure base of the bottle. With the bottle inverted and the base member removed, such member can then be secured to the neck end of the bottle, to provide a base for the so-formed glass, such as a wineglass, provided by the now open-topped body.

The base member can be detachably secured to the one end of the body in any suitable manner, for instance, by mating screw threads or a snap-fit.

Preferably, the base member, when detachably secured to the one end of the body, is in fluid tight engagement therewith, in order to prevent any leakage of the contents such as wine, from the interior of the body.

Similarly, when the container is in its other, inverted orientation, with the base member removed from the body to allow access to the interior thereof, the base member may be secured, preferably detachably, to the other, now lower end of the body, to provide a base therefor.

In a preferred embodiment, with the container body filled with a comestible or drink, such as a beverage, for example, wine, such contents are sealed within the body by a sealing membrane extending over the area of the otherwise open end of the body, such that the base member, when secured to that end, does not come in contact with the contents of the body.

Preferably, the multi-purpose container is in the form of a wine bottle, such that, in the inverted orientation thereof, a stemmed wineglass is provided.

The components of the container can be made of any suitable material, for example, plastics material, and arranged to hold a measure of wine or other beverage sufficient for, say, one person.

In use of the container, and initially with the base member secured to the otherwise open end of the body, the container is inverted, so that the otherwise open end of the body is now uppermost. The base member is then removed and

secured to the other, now lowermost end of the body, to provide a vessel from which the contents of the body can be dispensed.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, preferred embodiments in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a filled, multi-function wine bottle in one orientation thereof; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the bottle of Figure 1 shown in another inverted orientation thereof, with the base being removed; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle in its inverted orientation, with the body being secured to the base; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle in its inverted orientation, with base attached, providing a stemmed wineglass; and Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of another embodiment of wine bottle in respective upright and inverted orientations.

Referring firstly to the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, Figure 1 illustrates a

multi-function wine bottle shown in its upright orientation, as indicated generally at 10.

The bottle 10 comprises a body 1 whose upper neck end 2 is sealed.

The lower body end 3, which is otherwise open, is closed and sealed by a base member 4 screwthreaded thereto.

The base member 4, which constitutes the base of the bottle 10 in its upright orientation, extends upwardly and inwardly of the body 1 and has, in its upper region, a central recess 5 which is sealed from or in communication with the interior of the body 1.

The outer periphery of the neck end 2 of the body 1 and the inner periphery of the recess 5 of the base member 4 are shaped and dimensioned in a complementary manner.

The bottle 10 is filled with wine 6.

A shoulder 7 is provided on the base member 4, to be gripped by the fingers of a user.

In Figures 2 to 4, the bottle is shown in its inverted orientation, indicated generally at 10'.

In Figure 2, the base member 4 is shown being removed from the now-open end 3 of the body 1, which is now uppermost, in the direction of the arrows A.

Similarly, the neck end 2 of the body 1 is now lowermost.

Figure 3 shows the neck end 2 of the bottle body 1 being inserted, as a friction fit, into the recess 5 in the base member 4, in the direction of the arrow B, whilst Figure 4 shows the neck 2 so-inserted in the recess 5, to provide a stemmed wineglass full of wine 6 which is accessible to a user.

Turning now to the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, here there is shown a multifunction wine bottle in respective upright and inverted orientations 10, 10', as a wine-filled bottle and a wine-filled glass, as discussed above in relation to the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 4.

However, in this second embodiment, a sealing membrane 8 is provided sealed around the interior of the body 2 and above the base member 4 in the bottle orientation 10, as shown in Figure 5, to prevent the wine 6 within the bottle body 1 coming in contact with the upper surface of the base member 4.

Thus, when the bottle is placed in its inverted orientation 10', as shown in Figure 6, the base member 4 is not wetted with wine 6.

Subsequently, the sealing membrane 8 can be removed, to allow the wine 6 to be drunk from the body 1 of the wineglass 10'.

Claims

1. A multi-function container comprising a generally hollow body and a base member which is securable to each end of the body to provide, in one orientation of the container, a closure and base for the body and, in another, inverted orientation of the container, a base for the body whose now-open top renders the interior of the body accessible.

2. A multi-function container for the storage, presentation and dispensing of a comestible or drink, comprising a generally hollow body and a base member which, in one orientation of the container, is secured detachably to an otherwise open end of the body to provide a closure and a base therefor and which, in another, inverted orientation of the container, is securable to the other end of the body, to provide a base for the now-inverted body and to permit access to the interior of the body via the now open end thereof.

3. A multi-function container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hollow body is in the shape of a bottle, such as a wine bottle, whereby, in one orientation of the container, the base member acts as a closure base of the bottle and, with the bottle inverted and the base member removed, such member is securable to the neck end of the bottle, to provide a base for the so-formed glass, provided by the now open-topped body.

4. A multi-function container according to claim 3, wherein the so-formed glass is a wineglass.

5. A multi-function container according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the base member is detachably securable to the one end of the body.

6. A multi-function container according to claim 5, wherein the base member is detachably securable to the one end of the body by mating screw threads.

7. A multi-function container according to claim 5, wherein the base member is detachably securable to the one end of the body by a snap-fit.

8. A multi-function container according to any preceding claim, wherein the base member, when detachably secured to the one end of the body, is in fluid tight engagement therewith, in order to prevent any leakage of the contents, such as wine, from the interior of the body.

9. A multi-function container according to any preceding claim, wherein, when the container is in its other, inverted orientation, with the base member removed from the body to allow access to the interior thereof, the base member is securable to the other, now lower end of the body, to provide a base therefor.

10. A multi-function container according to claim 9, wherein the base member is detachably securable to the other, now lower end of the body, to provide a base therefor.

11. A multi-function container according to any preceding claim, wherein, when the container body is filled with a comestible or drink, such contents are sealed within the body by a removable sealing membrane extending over the area of the otherwise open end of the body, such that the base member, when secured to that end, does not come in contact with the contents of the body.

12. A multi-function container according to any preceding claim in the form of a wine bottle, such that, in the inverted orientation thereof, a stemmed wineglass is provided.

13. A multi-function container according to any preceding claim, wherein the components of the container are arranged to hold a measure of wine or other beverage sufficient for, say, one person.

14. A multi-function container according to any preceding claim, wherein the components of the container are made from plastics material.

15. A multi-function container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.