USRE45935E1

USRE45935E1 - Container for holding foods and drinks

Info

Publication number: USRE45935E1
Application number: US14/313,658
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward L. Taufer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-01-05
Filing date: 2014-06-24
Publication date: 2016-03-22
Also published as: US8485383B2; US20080164260A1

Abstract

A container includes multiple compartments for holding drinks and food. In an exemplary embodiment, a first compartment holds a drink of choice, such as soda, water or juice, and a second compartment holds a food of choice, such as popcorn, pretzels or chips. A third compartment may also be provided for holding a second food of choice, such as candy.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to containers for holding items and more particularly the present invention relates to containers for holding food and drinks.

BACKGROUND

Food and drinks are oftentimes consumed together, such as during meals or in between meal snacks. Drinks are typically provided in one container, such as a cup or glass, and food provided in a separate container, such as a dish, tray or cup. Depending on the nature of the use, the containers are either reusable, such as being made of plastic, glass or ceramics, or disposable, such as being made of paper or cardboard. In either situation, however, it is cumbersome for a single individual to hold and carry food and drinks in separate containers. For example, at a movie theatre, a person may purchase popcorn that is provided within a paper box or cup, soda that is provided in a paper cup and candy that is prepackaged in a paper box. It is difficult if not impossible for one person to carry all of these items, especially considering it is also necessary for other items to be carried as well, such as tickets, coats and handbags, and for doors to be opened to enter the theatre and seats unfolded in order to sit down. Moreover, once seated, it is awkward for one person to have to continue to hold each of these items during the movie.

In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a single container to hold drinks and food.

SUMMARY

A container includes multiple compartments for holding drinks and food. In an exemplary embodiment, a first compartment holds a drink of choice and a second compartment holds a food of choice. A third compartment may also be provided for holding a second food of choice. Additional compartments may also be provided where desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes, with reference to the attached drawings, and for illustration purposes only, various exemplary embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

As described herein is an exemplary embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention. The container as described herein may comprise any desired number of compartments for holding food and/or drinks and may be of any desired shape, size and/or composition. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a container 10 is provided having a plurality of compartments comprising three

compartments

12, 14, and 16, which will be described in more detail below. As should be understand, any number of compartments may be provided where desired.

In the present embodiment, the compartment 12 is adapted to hold a liquid of choice, such as, without limitation, soda, juice, water, tea or coffee. Both hot and cold liquids may be used within the compartment 12. Compartment 12 as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a generally cylindrical shaped cavity defined by opposing upper and

lower walls

22 and 24 circular in shape connected by a shell 26 cylindrical in shape.

Compartment

14 is adapted to hold a food of choice, such as, without limitation, bulk snack foods in the nature of popcorn, pretzels and potato chips, as examples. As should be understood, other types of foods may also be utilized as well. In the illustrated embodiment, compartment 14 comprises a generally cup-shaped cavity defined by the circular upper wall 22 connected with the cylindrical shell 26. The shell 26 extends beyond the upper wall 22 and continues to a terminating end of the container 10 defining the second compartment 14. In use, food can be placed directly into the compartment 14, such a by hand or through use of a scoop, as examples. The separation and isolation between the

compartments

12 and 14 operates to keep the food free from moisture and completely dry. An optional cap may be provided on the end of the cylindrical shell 26 to retain the items within the compartment 14. The cap may be a separate item attachable to the container 10 or may be provided directly attached to the cylindrical shell 26, such as by a hinge or connector portion, and opened or closed as desired.

Compartment

16 in the present embodiment comprises a cavity defined by the cylindrical shell 26 and a spaced outer wall 28 connected at opposite ends to the cylindrical shell 26. In this embodiment, the outer wall 28 and the cylindrical shell 26 create a generally rectangular shape to the compartment 16, although any desired shape may be provided as desired. Compartment 16 is adapted to hold a second food of choice, which in the present embodiment comprises a prepackaged item, such as, without limitation, rectangular boxes of candy or other items. As should be understood, items of any other shapes or sizes may also be utilized that are suitable to fit within the compartment 16. In certain embodiments, the outer wall 28 may be resilient relative to the shell 26, such as due to the material of the outer wall 28 or due to the addition of a resilient member, such as a spring or rubber portion. In such embodiments, the resiliency of the outer wall 28 may facilitate placing and securing of the second food of choice within the compartment 16.

The container 10 further comprises a channel 40 provided in the cylindrical shell 26 and which extends into the compartment 12 at one end and into a cone-shaped funnel 42 at a second end. The cone-shaped funnel 42 is connected with and extends outwardly from the cylindrical shell 26 proximate its upper end and adjacent to the compartment 14. As will be described in more detail below, the combination of the cone-shaped funnel 42 and channel 40 operate to allow liquid along with ice if desired to enter into and fill the compartment 12, such as by pouring the liquid from a soda gun or other container into the cone-shaped funnel 42. In addition, the liquid can then exit out from the compartment 12 via a straw that is placed into the funnel 12 and through the channel 40, in order to reach the liquid within the compartment 12. The opening through the funnel 42 and channel 40 may alternatively serve as an “integral” straw. An optional cap may also be provided to go onto the end of the funnel 42. The cap may be a separate member or the cap may be secured to the funnel 42, such as by a hinge or connector portion, and placed onto or off of the end of the funnel as desired.

In this embodiment, an optional handle 50 is also provided connected with the cylindrical shell 26. The handle in this embodiment is generally arch shaped, although any other shapes or number of handle portions may also be provided.

The container 10 may be comprised of separate components connected together or may be comprised of a one-piece, unitary construction. In some exemplary embodiments, the components may be detachable for cleaning or storing, such as where the container is of a reusable construction. Any suitable connectors may be utilized to secure the components, such as, for example, a threaded engagement between the first and second compartments. Any desired shape and/or configuration may be utilized for the container 10 and its various elements, including, without limitation, the

compartments

12, 14 and 16, cylindrical shell 26, funnel 42 and handle 50; for example, cylindrical as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or alternatively box shaped, rectangular, triangular, any combination of the foregoing, or any other shapes. In addition, it should be understood that the various elements of the container 10 may be provided at any desired location, and the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is in no way intended to be limiting as to the possible locations for where the various elements of the container 10 may be provided, including, without limitation, the

compartments

12, 14 and 16, funnel 42, channel 40, and handle 50. The container 10 may be made utilizing conventional forms of manufacture or any other conventional manner known to one skilled in the art, and from any suitable material or materials, such as, without limitation, plastic, cardboard, paper, glass, combinations of the foregoing or other suitable materials. In certain embodiments, the container 10 may be made of paper and/or cardboard or other such types of materials to keep costs of the materials to a minimum, so as to make it more practical for applications where the container is to be disposable after each use.

The embodiments as described herein are not intended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of the present invention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be granted. It should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A container for simultaneously holding liquids and foods to be consumed by a user comprising:

a first compartment for holding a liquid of choice for consumption by said user, the first compartment comprising spaced upper and lower walls connected by a shell to define an enclosed structure that includes it central cavity into which the liquid of choice is held;

a second compartment for holding a food of choice for consumption by said user, the second compartment being adjacent to and connected with the first compartment, wherein the second compartment is defined by the upper wall and the shell, with the upper wall defining a solid structure that operates as a barrier so that the second compartment is isolated from the first compartment in order to keep the liquid from entering the second compartment so that the food of choice within the second compartment is kept dry, and with the shell extending beyond the upper wall in a direction opposite the first compartment and continues to a terminating end, wherein the second compartment defines a structure that includes an upper cavity within the terminating end of the shell into which the food of choice is held;

a channel extending through the shell and into the central cavity of the first compartment;

wherein the channel operates as a two-way passage between the central cavity and environment outside of the first compartment, so that a) through which the liquid of choice is provided for filling of the central cavity of the first compartment and b) through which a user may consume the liquid of choice contained in the central cavity;

wherein the container further comprises a funnel connected with the shell at the location of the second compartment and with the funnel having a passage therethrough connected with the channel, the funnel further having a terminating end into which liquid can both be provided to fill the central cavity in the first compartment and taken out from the central cavity to be consumed from the first compartment by the user, wherein the user can consume the liquid from the central cavity by either sucking upon the terminating end of the funnel or inserting a straw into the terminating end and through the passage and channel to enter the central cavity and sucking upon the straw.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a handle connected with the shell for a user to hold the container.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the container further comprises a cap for placement onto the shell for enclosing the second compartment, in order to retain the food of choice within the second compartment.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the container further comprises a cap for enclosing the passage in the funnel in order to retain the liquid within the first compartment.

5. The container of claim 4, further comprising as straw extending within the passage in the funnel, the channel and into the first compartment.

6. A container having a plurality of compartments for holding liquid and food at the same time comprising:

spaced upper and lower walls connected by a shell defining a first compartment, with the first compartment for holding a liquid of choice, the first compartment defining an enclosed structure that includes a central cavity into which the liquid of choice is held;

the shell extending beyond the upper wall and continuing to a terminating end defining a second compartment, the second compartment for holding a food of choice and isolated from the first compartment in order to keep the liquid from entering the second compartment, the second compartment being integrally connected and fixed to the first compartment, wherein the second compartment defines a structure that includes an upper cavity within the terminating end of the shell into which the food of choice is held, and with the upper wall defining a solid structure that operates as a barrier so that the second compartment is isolated from the first compartment in order to keep the liquid from entering the second compartment so that the food of choice within the second compartment is kept dry;

an outer wall spaced from the shell and with the outer wall having one or more end portions connected with the shell as defining a third compartment for holding a second food of choice;

a channel extending through the shell and into the central cavity of the first compartment, wherein the shell is defined by an outer surface and an inner surface at spaced separation, with the channel defining a first end located in adjacent to the second compartment and protruding through the outer surface of the shell, the channel extending within the spaced separation in a substantially longitudinal direction from the second compartment and toward the first compartment, and the channel further defining a second end located in the first compartment and protruding through the inner surface of the shell, wherein the channel is the only opening in the first compartment and operates as a two-way passage between the central cavity and environment outside of the first compartment, so that a) through which the liquid of choice is provided for filling of the central cavity of the first compartment without requirement to open or disassemble any portion of the first compartment and b) through which a user may consume the liquid of choice contained in the central cavity; and

a funnel integrally connected with the shell at the location of the second compartment and with the funnel having a passage therethrough connected with the channel, the funnel further having a terminating end into which liquid is both provided to fill the central cavity in the first compartment and taken out from the central cavity to be consumed from the first compartment by the user, wherein the user can consume the liquid from the central cavity by either sucking upon the terminating end of the funnel or inserting a straw into the terminating end and through the passage and, channel to enter the central cavity and sucking upon the straw.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the container comprises a one-piece, unitary construction.

8. A container for simultaneously holding liquids and foods to be consumed by a user comprising:

a first compartment for holding a liquid of choice for consumption by said user, the first compartment comprising spaced upper and lower walls connected by a shell to define an enclosed structure that includes a central cavity into which the liquid of choice is held;

a second compartment for holding a food of choice for consumption by said user, the second compartment being adjacent to and connected with the first compartment, wherein the second compartment is defined by the upper wall and the shell, with the upper wall defining a solid structure that operates as barrier so that the second compartment is isolated from the first compartment in order to keep the liquid from entering the second compartment so that the food of choice within the second compartment is kept dry, and with the shell extending beyond the upper wall in a direction opposite the first compartment and continues to a terminating end, wherein the second compartment defines a structure that includes an upper cavity within the terminating end of the shell into which the food of choice is held;

a channel extending through the shell and into the central cavity of the first compartment, wherein the shell is defined by an outer surface and an inner surface at spaced separation, with the channel defining a first end located in the second compartment and protruding through the outer surface of the shell, the channel extending within the spaced separation in a substantially longitudinal direction from the second compartment and toward the first compartment, and the channel further defining a second end located in the first compartment and protruding through the inner surface of the shell;

wherein the channel operates as a two-way passage between the central cavity and environment outside of the first compartment, so that a) through which the liquid of choice is provided for filling of the central cavity of the first compartment and b) through which a user may consume the liquid of choice contained in the central cavity.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the container comprises a one-piece, unitary construction.

10. The container of claim 8, further comprising a third compartment for holding a second food of choice.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the container further comprises an outer wall spaced from the shell and with the outer wall having one or more end portions connected with the shell as defining the third compartment.

12. A container having a plurality of compartments for holding liquid and food at the same time comprising:

a funnel integrally connected with the shell at the location of the second compartment and with the funnel having a passage therethrough connected with the channel, the funnel further having a terminating end into which liquid is both provided to fill the central cavity in the first compartment and taken out from the central cavity to be consumed from the first compartment by the user, wherein the user can consume the liquid from the central cavity by either sucking upon the terminating end of the funnel or inserting a straw into the terminating end and through the passage and channel to enter the central cavity and sucking upon the straw.

13. A container for simultaneously holding liquids and foods to be consumed by a user comprising:

a second compartment for holding a food of choice for consumption by said user, wherein the second compartment is adjacent to and connected with the first compartment, wherein the second compartment is defined by the upper wall and the shell, with the upper wall defining a solid structure that operates as a barrier so that the second compartment is isolated from the first compartment in order to keep the liquid from entering the second compartment so that the food of choice within the second compartment is kept dry, and with the shell extending beyond the upper wall in a direction opposite the central cavity of the first compartment and continues to a terminating end, wherein the second compartment defines a structure that includes an upper cavity within the terminating end into which the food of choice is held;

a connector for releasably securing the first compartment and the second compartment so that the first compartment and the second compartment may be secured together for use and detachable, the connector comprising portions of the first compartment and the second compartment for directly connecting and disconnecting the first compartment and the second compartment, the central cavity of the first compartment being uncovered when the first compartment and the second compartment are disconnected, and the central cavity of the first compartment being covered by the second compartment when the first compartment and the second compartment are connected together, so that the liquid of choice is retained within the central cavity;

a channel extending through the shell and into the central cavity of the first compartment, wherein the shell is defined by an outer surface and an inner surface at spaced separation, with the channel defining a first end located adjacent to the second compartment and protruding through the outer surface of the shell, the channel extending within the spaced separation in a substantially longitudinal direction from the second compartment and toward the first compartment, and the channel further defining a second end located in the first compartment and protruding through the inner surface of the shell; and

a straw positioned in and extending through the channel, with the straw including a first end extending out of the channel in a first direction from the inner surface of the shell toward the central cavity of the first compartment for contacting the liquid of choice retained within the central cavity, the straw further including a second end extending out of the channel in a second direction from the outer surface of the shell toward the environment outside of the first compartment through which a user may consume the liquid of choice contained in the central cavity.

14. The container of claim 13, further comprising a cap having a connector portion directly attached to the container, the cap sized at least as large as a diameter of the upper cavity of the second compartment, with the cap movable to a closed position adjacent to the terminating end of the second compartment for enclosing the cavity of the second compartment in order to retain the food of choice within the second compartment and movable away from the terminating end of the second compartment to an open position so that the cavity is accessible to gain access to the food of choice within the second compartment, the connector portion of the cap remaining directly attached to the container when the cap is in the closed position and the open position, and while the cap is being moved between the open and closed positions.

15. The container of claim 13, further comprising a third compartment for holding a second food of choice.

16. The container of claim 15, wherein the container further comprises an outer wall spaced from the shell and with the outer wall having one or more end portions connected with the shell as defining the third compartment.

17. The container of claim 13, wherein the connector between the first compartment and the second compartment comprises a snap-fit connection.

18. The container of claim 13, further comprising a funnel connected with the shell at the location of the second compartment and with the funnel having a passage therethrough connected with the channel.

19. A container for simultaneously holding liquids and foods to be consumed by a user comprising:

a first compartment for holding a liquid of choice for consumption by said user, the first compartment comprising spaced upper and a lower walls connected by a shell to define an enclosed structure that includes a central cavity into which the liquid of choice is held;

a second compartment for holding a food of choice for consumption by said user, wherein the second compartment is adjacent to and connected with the first compartment, wherein the second compartment is defined by the upper wall connected by the shell, with the upper wall defining a solid structure that operates as a barrier so that the second compartment is isolated from the first compartment in order to keep the liquid from entering the second compartment so that the food of choice within the second compartment is kept dry, and with the second shell extending beyond the upper wall in a direction opposite the central cavity of the first compartment and continues to a terminating end, wherein the second compartment defines a structure that includes an upper cavity within the terminating end into which the food of choice is held;

a connector for releasably securing the first compartment and the second compartment so that the first compartment and the second compartment may be secured together for use and detachable, the connector comprising portions of the first compartment and the second compartment for directly connecting and disconnecting the first compartment and the second compartment, the central cavity of the first compartment being uncovered when the first compartment and the second compartment are disconnected, and the central cavity of the first compartment being covered by the second compartment when the first compartment and the second compartment are connected together, so that the liquid of choice is retained within the central cavity, wherein the connector between the first compartment and the second compartment comprises a snap-fit connection;

a straw positioned in and extending through the channel, with the straw including a first end extending out of the channel in a first direction from the inner surface of the shell toward the central cavity of the first compartment for contacting the liquid of choice retained within the central cavity, the straw further including a second end extending out of the channel in a second direction from the outer surface of the shell toward the environment outside of the first compartment through which a user may consume the liquid of choice contained in the central cavity; and

a cap having a connector portion directly attached to the container, the cap sized at least as large as a diameter of the upper cavity of the second compartment, with the cap movable to a closed position adjacent to the terminating end of the second compartment for enclosing the cavity of the second compartment in order to retain the food of choice within the second compartment and movable away from the terminating end of the second compartment to an open position so that the cavity is accessible to gain access to the food of choice within the second compartment, the connector portion of the cap remaining directly attached to the container when the cap is in the closed position and the open position, and while the cap is being moved between the open and closed positions.