WO2003096850A1

WO2003096850A1 - A container

Info

Publication number: WO2003096850A1
Application number: PCT/AU2003/000584
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Lyle Masters; George Popov
Original assignee: Christopher Lyle Masters; George Popov
Priority date: 2002-05-16
Filing date: 2003-05-16
Publication date: 2003-11-27
Also published as: WO2003096850A9; AUPS237002A0

Abstract

A drinking container (10) including a cup body (11) that receives a liquid, such as water that is solidified. The cup body (11) has an upper rim (14) upon which there is secured a lid assembly (15). The lid assembly (15) includes a lid body (16) that projects inwardly of the body (11) so as to form a cavity in the solidified liquid. A lid top (17) extends across the top of the body (16). In use of the above container (10) the lid assembly (15) is removed thereby exposing a hollow (19) that would typically receive an alcoholic based beverage.

Description

A CONTAINER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to containers and more particularly but not exclusively to containers to receive a liquid to be frozen/solidified.

Background of the Invention

It is know to form containers, such as drinking vessels, from ice. For example there is described in International Application PCT/AUOl/01144 a drinking vessel including an outer cup formed of plastics or other material. Delivered to the interior of the cup is water. A lid is placed on the cup, so as to protrude into the cup. When the water is frozen a hollow is formed in the ice. When the lid is removed the hollow is exposed to receive a drinking liquid.

Previously known cups of the above type suffer from the disadvantage that should the ice begin to melt the outer cup may become separated from the ice.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention

There is disclosed herein a container to receive a liquid that solidifies, said container having a wall surrounding a cavity to receive said liquid, said wall terminating in an upper rim, a lid secured to said rim and projecting into said cavity so that upon removal of said lid the solidified liquid provides a hollow, and wherein the said wall is adapted to retain the solidified liquid in said cavity.

Preferably said wall is adapted to retain the solidified liquid by including a projection to extend inwardly of the solidified liquid. Preferably said wall is adapted to retain the solidified liquid by including a side wall that changes in transverse cross section so as to retain the solidified liquid in the cavity.

Preferably said lid when removed is adapted to be used as a coaster. Preferably the container includes at least one flange extending inwardly of said wall so as to be included in the solidified liquid.

There is further disclosed herein, in combination the above mentioned container, and said liquid, said liquid being water, chocolate, or fruit juice.

Brief Description of the Drawings Prefeπed forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a drinking container; Figure 2 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a further drinking container; Figure 3 schematically depicts in section side elevation five further alternative shaped drinking containers; and

Figure 4 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a modification of the container of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a drinking container 10. The drinking container 10 includes a cup body 11 consisting of a side wall 12 extending upwardly from a bottom wall 13. The side wall 12 terminates at its upper edge with a rim 14. If so required the cup body 11 may have its external surface at least partly covered by an insulating material.

Engaged with the rim 14 is a lid assembly 15 that includes a lid body 16 and a lid top 17.

The container body 12 provides a cavity 18 into which the lid body 16 projects. Extending across the upper end of the lid body 16 is the lid top 17. Typically the lid top 17 would be removable and could be used as a "drink coaster". Typically the lid top 17 may be provided with printed material.

Typically the cavity 18 would receive a liquid that solidifies. As a first example the liquid could be water. When the water is frozen and the body 16 and lid top 17 removed, there is provided a hollow 19. The hollow 19 would receive a drinkable liquid such as an alcohol based refreshment.

In the embodiment of Figure 1 the body 11 has a number of means by which the ice is contained within the body 11. For example the side wall 12 has a wall portion 20 that converges inwardly so that the transverse cross section of the container 11 diminishes toward the rim 14. Accordingly even if the ice partially melts the ice is contained within the cavity 18. As a further example the wall 11 may be provided with a "key" in the form of a projection 21. In this embodiment the projection 21 is provided with a number of ribs or barbs 22.

In the above described preferred embodiment the lid top 17 aids in insulating the hollow 19 so that the water freezes from the body 11 inwardly.

Typically the body 11 would consist of halves that are subsequently joined, such an assembly would enable the body 11 to be moulded from plastics material.

Preferably the drinking container 10 is configured so that an ice rim 30 overlays the rim 14 of the side wall 12. This could be accomplished by having the body 16 curved at its periphery to provide an outer angular flange 31. The flange 31 engages the outer surface of the side wall 12 so as to provide a space within which water is located and as subsequently frozen to provide the ice rim 30 that projects above the rim 14 and would be engaged by the users lips. In an alternative embodiment the ice rim 30 may merely extend upwardly from the upper extremity 31 of the rim 14. In the embodiment of Figure 2 the body 11 is provided with a series of barbs 23 that project upwardly into the cavity 18 so as to be anchored within the ice formed. The barbs 23 project from the bottom wall 13. In the embodiment of Figure 3 various means again are illustrated to ensure that the solidified liquid remains anchored within the body 11. For example in the first container, again there is provided a barb 24 and side wall portion 25 that tapers inwardly. In the second container again a barb 24 is provided. Additionally a tapered wall portion 26 extends upwardly from the bottom wall 13. In the next container the body 11 includes a solid base 27 provided with a barb 28. The ice would then form the bowl 29 that is to receive the liquid to be consumed.

In the last two containers of Figure 3, again barbs 24 are employed. In particular one or more barbs 24 may be used. In Figure 4 a modified container 10 is illustrated.

In the container 10 an annular flange 32 extends inwardly from the wall 12 and is embedded in the ice to inhibit water flow to the rim 14 should the ice start to melt and the container 10 used by tilting.

If so required the container 10 and liquid contained in the cavity 18 may be transported and subsequently lowered in temperature so that the liquid solidifies. For example where water is employed the water may be in liquid state during transportation and merely frozen at the point at which it is to be consumed.

As a further example a crushed fruit may be employed to fill the cavity 18 and the hollow 19 may be filled with yogurt. The hollow 19 would only be filled upon the body 16 and top 17 are removed.

Preferably, the surface 33 of the body 16 is coated with a releasing agent, such as gelatine, to facilitate separation of the body 16 from the solidified liquid (ice).

Claims

Claims:

1. A container to receive a liquid that solidifies, said container having a wall surrounding a cavity to receive said liquid, said wall terminating in an upper rim, a lid secured to said rim and projecting into said cavity so that upon removal of said lid the solidified liquid provides a hollow, and wherein the said wall is adapted to retain the solidified liquid in said cavity.

2 The container of claim 1, wherein said wall is adapted to retain the solidified liquid by including a projection to extend inwardly of the solidified liquid.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein any said wall is adapted to retain the solidified liquid by including a side wall that changes in transverse cross section so as to retain the solidified liquid in the cavity.

4. The container of any one of claims 1 to 3 further including at least one flange extending inwardly of said wall so as to be included in the solidified liquid.

5. The container of claim 1, 2 or 3 or 4, wherein said lid includes a lid body that projects inwardly of the cavity and a lid top that is adapted to be removed from said body and used as a coaster.

6. In combination the container of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said liquid, said liquid is water, chocolate, or fruit juice, with the liquid being solidified.

7. The container of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said liquid is water and projects above said rim so as to be engaged by a users lip when used to dispense a drinkable liquid.