WO2023115096A1

WO2023115096A1 - Multi chamber drinking glass and accessories

Info

Publication number: WO2023115096A1
Application number: PCT/AU2022/050525
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erica PARCIO-COOKE; Lauren PECK; Simon Terry; Sam Davies
Original assignee: Doble Glass Co Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-12-21
Filing date: 2022-05-30
Publication date: 2023-06-29

Abstract

A multi-chambered drinking vessel including: a peripheral vessel wall providing a void within which to store and transport fluid, the void having a centre region; at least one dividing wall disposed at least partially in the centre region to provide a plurality of separate chambers in the void; a retainer wall portion extending away from the centre region towards at least one chamber to retain at least some of the fluid in that chamber when the glass is tilted for drinking out of another chamber. A multi-legged drinking straw including: a plurality of tubes for drinking, the tubes including an inlet end and an outlet end; a junction body for connecting the plurality of tubes at a portion between the inlet end and the outlet end, wherein the junction body includes a plurality of transparent or translucent galleries extending therethrough, each one of the plurality of galleries including an inlet end and an outlet end so that the fluid in the drinking straw appears to visually complete the main junction body when a fluid is in the tubes.

Description

MULTI CHAMBER DRINKING GLASS AND ACCESSORIES

Technical Field

[0001] The present technology relates generally to multi -chambered drinking glasses. Also, the present technology relates generally to drinking accessories such as a straw, lids for multichambered glasses, and other closures.

Background Art

[0002] Multi -chambered drinking cups are known. Some can hold two fluids separate in two separate chambers in a cup, but they are limited in that they require closures to work. Others are specifically designed for mixing drinks together on pouring from a cup.

[0003] Closures are fairly effective in reducing spills in the event of a tipping cup. To provide access to fluid in the cup, there must be apertures in the closures. But the apertures are limited in flexibility since they are open, and they therefore are prone to spilling the fluid from the cup.

[0004] In the drinking accessory technology area, known straws comprise a single tube with inlet and outlet ends. This is good in that they provide a private and hygienic drinking experience. But that is not much fun.

[0005] The present inventors have invented a new multi -chambered drinking glass, and/or a glass with one or more accessories, which substantially ameliorates one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages or at least provides a new and useful alternative to known drinking cups, glasses or vessels. The inventors also have invented a new drinking accessory and closure; one that presents an alternative to known accessories and closures.

Summary of Invention

[0006] Broadly the present technology provides a multi-chambered drinking vessel having a generally central dividing wall with at least one fluid retaining wall portion to keep the fluid in at least one chamber from spilling out of that chamber when drinking from another chamber. [0007] In accordance with one aspect of the present technology there is provided a multichambered drinking vessel including: a peripheral vessel wall providing a void within which to store and transport fluid, the void having a centre region; at least one dividing wall disposed at least partially in the centre region to provide a plurality of separate chambers in the void; a retainer wall portion of the dividing wall extending away from the centre region towards at least one chamber to retain at least some of the fluid in that chamber when the glass is tilted for drinking out of another chamber.

[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the present technology there is provided a multilegged drinking straw including: a plurality of tubes for drinking, the tubes including an inlet end and an outlet end; a junction body for connecting the plurality of tubes at a portion between the inlet end and the outlet end, wherein the junction body includes a plurality of transparent or translucent galleries extending therethrough, each one of the plurality of galleries including an inlet end and an outlet end so that the fluid in the drinking straw appears to visually complete the main junction body when a fluid is in the tubes.

[0009] In accordance with a further aspect of the present technology there is provided a closure for a drinking vessel having a plurality of chambers, the closure including: a plurality of spaced apart holes for access to the plurality of chambers; a hole closure for controlling access to the holes.

[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the present technology there is provided a multichambered drinking vessel including: a peripheral vessel wall providing a void within which to store and transport fluid, the void having a centre region; at least one dividing wall disposed at least partially in the centre region to provide a plurality of separate chambers in the void, the dividing wall extending to a top region of the peripheral vessel wall; a closure wall at a top region of the peripheral vessel wall, extending across the dividing wall and sealably connected thereto, to close the separate chambers, to retain at least some of the fluid in that chamber when the glass is tilted for drinking out of another chamber. [0011] The closure wall includes an outlet aperture formed into the closure wall.

[0012] The dividing wall is sinuous to inhibit the flow in various ways from each chamber.

[0013] The other features of the dividing wall are set out below in relation to other aspects of the technology, but apply to this aspect as well.

MULTI-CHAMBERED VESSEL

[0014] In one embodiment the peripheral vessel wall is glass.

[0015] In one embodiment the peripheral vessel wall is steel, Perspex, plastic or aluminium.

[0016] In one embodiment the dividing wall is glass.

[0017] In one embodiment the dividing wall is steel, Perspex, plastic or aluminium.

[0018] In one embodiment there are one or more sumps provided in one or more of the chambers at selected positions along the dividing wall.

[0019] In one embodiment the one or more sumps are provided by a baffle wall portion extending across the void.

[0020] In one embodiment the baffle wall portion is a part of the dividing wall.

[0021] In one embodiment the baffle wall portion is a v-shape arrangement of a part of the dividing wall.

[0022] In one embodiment the baffle wall portion is a sinusoidal arrangement of a part of the dividing wall.

[0023] In one embodiment the baffle wall portion is a square wave-shaped arrangement of a part of the dividing wall.

[0024] In one embodiment there are two retainer wall portions, wherein one retainer wall extends towards one chamber and the other retainer wall extends towards another chamber disposed in an opposed side of the void.

[0025] In one embodiment the retainer portion is disposed at the top of the baffle wall portion.

[0026] In one embodiment the dividing wall includes a bifurcation wherein the dividing wall divides into two retainer wall portions.

[0027] In one embodiment the bifurcation includes a notch to receive items. These items may be decorations or temporary storage of cold items such as ice. [0028] The retainer portion may include one or more drains or apertures to retain ice or allow fluid to flow into one or more of the chambers.

[0029] In one embodiment each chamber includes two sumps adjacent the dividing wall.

[0030] In one embodiment the dividing wall is a sinuous plate extending across the void between two opposed sides or parts of the peripheral vessel wall.

[0031] In one embodiment the dividing wall is sawtooth-shaped, or square-wave shaped, or straight.

[0032] In one embodiment the dividing wall provides three, four, five, six or seven sumps.

[0033] In one embodiment the sinuous plate provides two chambers that are substantially identical in volume.

[0034] In one embodiment the notch at the top of the bifurcation is filled in to inhibit ingress of dirt, food and other impurities.

[0035] In one embodiment a stand is included, on which the vessel is mounted.

[0036] In one embodiment the stand is a plinth.

[0037] In one embodiment the stand is a stem.

STRAW

[0038] In one embodiment the tubes are plastic.

[0039] In one embodiment the tubes are steel or aluminium.

[0040] In one embodiment the junction body is a peripheral body with a central hole, the peripheral body being of a similar cross section as the tubes.

[0041] In one embodiment the galleries are the same cross section as the tubes.

[0042] In one embodiment the straw is moulded from plastic.

[0043] In one embodiment a leg extends downwardly from an inlet of the junction, and an arm extends upwardly from the outlet of the junction.

CLOSURE

[0044] In one embodiment the hole closure is hinged. [0045] In one embodiment the hole closure is a plate that is dimensioned to extend across only one hole at a time.

[0046] In one embodiment the hole closure is slidable between one hole on one side of the closure to another hole at another side of the closure so that one hole is open at any one time.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0047] To enable a clearer understanding, preferred embodiments of the technology will be described below with reference to the attached drawings and in those drawings:

[0048] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a multi-chambered drinking glass in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

[0049] Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the glass of Figure 1;

[0050] Figure 3 is a plan view of the glass of Figure 1;

[0051] Figure 4 is a side elevation view of stemmed multi -chambered glass;

[0052] Figure 5 is a side elevation view of another form of multi-chambered drinking vessel, which has a closure;

[0053] Figure 6 is a plan view of one embodiment of closure for a multi-chambered drinking vessel;

[0054] Figure 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of closure for a multi -chambered drinking vessel;

[0055] Figure 8 is a plan view of a yet further embodiment of closure for a multi-chambered drinking vessel;

[0056] Figure 9 is a side elevation view of a drinking straw in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

[0057] Figure 10 is a side elevation view of a drinking straw in accordance with another embodiment of the present technology;

[0058] Figure 11 is a side elevation section view of another embodiment of drinking vessel in accordance with the present technology;

[0059] Figure 12 is a plan view of a closure with a rotating cover to selectively expose an outlet aperture of one or other chambers when moved to an open position; and [0060] Figure 14 shows different types of a different embodiment, being a travel mug style of drinking receptacle.

Description of Embodiments

[0061] Referring to the drawings there is shown a multi-chambered drinking vessel generally indicated at 10. The vessel 10 is configured so that a person can fill the two chambers 11 and 12 with different coloured fluids to make a striking visual effect. More importantly, and more functionally, the person can fill the chambers 11 and 12 with two different fluids, such as wine and water, and then drink each alternately, without mixing them in the same mouthful. What that means is that the person drinking only drinks one fluid at a time, which is the fluid in the proximal chamber, since the fluid in the distal chamber is retained in the distal chamber.

[0062] Structurally, the way in which those functions are implemented in Figures 1 to 3 is that there is provided a peripheral vessel wall 13, providing a void 14 within which to store and transport fluid (not shown). The void 14 has a centre region 15. The centre region 15 of the two- chamber vessel 10 refers to a centreline region 16, along which, substantially, there is a dividing wall 17 disposed along, to provide two separate chambers 18, 19, one on either side thereof. Finally, there is a retainer wall portion 20, 21, extending away from the centreline region 16 towards a respective chamber 18, 19, to retain at least some of the fluid in its chamber (say, 18) when the vessel 10 is tilted for drinking out of the other chamber (say, 19).

[0063] The peripheral vessel wall 13 is glass 9, but the wall could equally effectively be steel, Perspex, plastic or aluminium. Similarly, the dividing wall 17 is glass as shown in the Figures, but equally effectively the dividing wall 13 could be steel, Perspex, plastic or aluminium.

[0064] To facilitate the retention of the fluid in the chambers during a tilt, there are provided two sumps 22 in each of the chambers 18, 19 at selected positions along the dividing wall 17. So, sumps 23, 24 are disposed in chamber 18, while sumps 25, 26 are disposed in chamber 19. There could be three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more sumps 22 on each side of the dividing wall 17. They could be equal in size as they go along the wall, or be the same size.

[0065] The sumps 22 are provided on each side of the dividing wall 17 by virtue of the wall 17 being curved, sinuous, or sawtooth-shaped, or square-wave in shape. The sumps are staggered along the wall since a sump on one side provides the inverse on the other. So the sumps 22 are formed by baffle wall portions 27 extending across the void 14. The baffle wall portion 27 is a part of the dividing wall 17, and there are several of them, since up to two baffles are required to form a sump. So it can be seen that baffle walls 27 and 28 form sump 24, and baffle wall portions 29 and 30 form sump 26. It could be that the baffle wall portions 27 are v-shaped arrangements of a part of the dividing wall 17, but in the vessel 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3 the baffle wall portions 27 are generally curved or sinuous portions of a part of the dividing wall 17. It should be noted that there is a little overlap in the naming conventions between the baffle wall portions of the dividing wall; for instance, baffle wall portion 30 also forms retaining wall portion 21, and baffle wall portion 29, which helps to form sump 26 in chamber 19 on one side of the dividing wall 17, is also baffle wall 28 to help form sump 24 in the other chamber 18.

[0066] The baffle wall portions 27 could be sawtooth (triangular) or square wave-shaped arrangements of a part of the dividing wall, depending on the visual effect desired. As can be seen in the Figures 1 to 3, the sumps are of different sizes along the wall. There could be sawtooth sumps 22 at a base end of the wall, and then square wave shaped sumps 22 at the top end of the wall, and curved sumps 22 in the middle, or other similar arrangements.

[0067] The dividing wall 17 includes a bifurcation 99 at an upper region thereof, wherein the dividing wall divides into two retainer wall portions 20 and 21. The bifurcation 99 includes a notch 98 which can receive items. The notch 98 at the top of the bifurcation 99 could be filled in to increase strength of the arrangement and which would inhibit ingress of dirt, food and other impurities into the notch 98. The notch 98 could receive ice and there could be drainholes to hold the ice in position while the glass is tilted for drinking. The drainholes (not shown) could also allow cold water to drain into one or more of the chambers. There could be drainholes on one retaining wall and not the other, to provide a warm/cold drinking experience, or other kind of mixing experience, where the mixing occurs on a delay, for example.

[0068] The sinuous plate dividing wall 17 provides two chambers 18 and 19 that are substantially identical in volume.

[0069] A stand 75/175 may included, shown in Figure 4, on which the vessel 10/110 is mounted. The stand may be a plinth or a stem 177 to form a beer glass or a multi-chambered Champagne/sparkling wine flute 110.

[0070] The vessel in Figure 5 is configured to have a closure 250 attached to form a multichambered travel vessel 210. The multi-chambered travel vessel 210 includes two chambers 218 and 219 which are accessible by two holes 280 and 281 in the closure 250. There are hinged hole closures 290 and 291 to control access to the holes 280 and 281 (shown in Figure 6). There may also be sliding hole closures 390 and 391 shown in Figure 8 which can slide independently of one another. The opening of one hole 480 may be dependent on the closing of another hole 481 with the invention of the single sliding hole closure 290 shown in Figure 7. [0071] Advantageously, the multi -chambered vessel shown can provide a visually interesting effect wherein two different-coloured fluids can be kept separate in separate chambers in the one vessel. One liquid can be sipped from one chamber while another is retained in the other chamber, without the need for any moving parts or closures or other elements. Fluid in one chamber could contain ice to keep the other fluid cool by contact with the dividing wall 17. A person could drink water from one chamber while drinking wine from the other. The person could remember not to fill the wine chamber until the water chamber has also been finished.

This maintains hydration.

[0072] The water chamber 19 could be the same size as the wine chamber 18, or the dividing wall could be well over to one side of the void 14 so that the wine chamber 18 is smaller than the wine chamber so that the person would not drink as much wine as water, if they adhere to the rule of not refilling the wine until the water has been drunk.

Drinking straw accessory

[0073] A multi-legged drinking straw 500 is shown in Figures 9 and 10 and includes a plurality of tubes 501 for drinking, the tubes including an inlet end 502 and an outlet end 503. The multilegged drinking straws 500 are to allow two people to drink different drinks from the same multi-chambered vessel at the same time. Furthermore, the straws in the Figures 9 and 10 provide a visual incentive to drink at the same time by providing one or more transparent sections in a junction body. The drinking of coloured liquids from each chamber at the same time visually completes the periphery of the junction, which can indicate emotional or physical or intellectual or other compatibility.

[0074] There is provided a junction body 504 for connecting the plurality of tubes 501 at a portion between the inlet end 502 and the outlet end 503. The junction body 504 includes a plurality of transparent or translucent galleries 505 extending therethrough, each one of the plurality of galleries 505 including an inlet end 506 and an outlet end 507 so that the fluid in the drinking straw 500 appears to at least visually complete the main junction body 505 when a fluid is in the tubes 501. If the junction body 504 is in the shape of a heart, the drinkers can play a game where the drinking of their different fluids completes the heart, at least visually, so as to indicate compatibility. For fun, one of the players could play hard to get, where when one player drinks, the other could refrain, and then the heart is not visually completed.

[0075] The tubes 501 are plastic, and the junction body is a peripheral body 508 with a central hole 509 the peripheral body being of a similar cross section as the tubes 501. [0076] Figure 13 and 14 show travel mug embodiments of the present technology which include a sinuous dividing wall to provide sumps as described above, but which include a closure wall 220 at the top of the peripheral vessel wall, which acts like the retainer wall to inhibit flow from the non-drinking chamber during tipping to drain the drinking chamber. The closure wall seals against the dividing wall at the top, and has two drinking apertures. Other features described above may be included. There may be insulated walls.

[0077] It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0078] It is to be understood that any prior art publication referred to herein does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art.

[0079] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A multi-chambered drinking vessel including: a peripheral vessel wall providing a void within which to store and transport fluid, the void having a centre region; at least one dividing wall disposed at least partially in the centre region to provide a plurality of separate chambers in the void; a retainer wall portion extending away from the centre region towards at least one chamber to retain at least some of the fluid in that chamber when the glass is tilted for drinking out of another chamber.

2. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with claim 1 wherein the peripheral vessel wall is glass.

3. The multi-chambered drinking vessel in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the peripheral vessel wall is steel, Perspex, plastic or aluminium.

4. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the dividing wall is glass.

5. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the dividing wall is steel, Perspex, plastic or aluminium.

6. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein there are one or more sumps provided in one or more of the chambers at selected positions along the dividing wall.

7. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the one or more sumps are provided by a baffle wall portion extending across the void.

8. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the baffle wall portion is a part of the dividing wall.

9. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the baffle wall portion is a v-shape arrangement of a part of the dividing wall.

10. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the baffle wall portion is a sinusoidal arrangement of a part of the dividing wall.

11. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the baffle wall portion is a square wave-shaped arrangement of a part of the dividing wall. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein there are two retainer wall portions, wherein one retainer wall extends towards one chamber and the other retainer wall extends towards another chamber disposed in an opposed side of the void. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the dividing wall includes a bifurcation wherein the dividing wall divides into two retainer wall portions. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the bifurcation includes a notch to receive items. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein each chamber includes two sumps adjacent the dividing wall. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the dividing wall is a sinuous plate extending across the void between two opposed sides or parts of the peripheral vessel wall. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the dividing wall is sawtooth-shaped, or square-wave shaped, or straight. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the dividing wall provides three, four, five, six or seven sumps. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the sinuous plate provides two chambers that are substantially identical in volume. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the notch at the top of the bifurcation is filled in to inhibit ingress of dirt, food and other impurities. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein a stand is included, on which the vessel is mounted. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein the stand is a plinth. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 22 wherein the stand is a stem. A multi-legged drinking straw including: a plurality of tubes for drinking, the tubes including an inlet end and an outlet end; a junction body for connecting the plurality of tubes at a portion between the inlet end and the outlet end, wherein the junction body includes a plurality of transparent or translucent galleries extending therethrough, each one of the plurality of galleries including an inlet end and an outlet end so that the fluid in the drinking straw appears to visually complete the main junction body when a fluid is in the tubes. The multi -legged drinking straw in accordance with claim 24 wherein the tubes are plastic. The multi-legged drinking straw in accordance with claim 24 or 25 wherein the tubes are steel or aluminium. The multi-legged drinking straw in accordance with any one of claims 24 to 26 wherein the junction body is a peripheral body with a central hole, the peripheral body being of a similar cross section as the tubes. The multi -legged drinking straw in accordance with any one of claims 24 to 26wherein the galleries are the same cross section as the tubes. The multi-legged drinking straw in accordance with any one of claims 24 to 26wherein the straw is moulded from plastic. The multi-legged drinking straw in accordance with any one of claims 24 to 26wherein a leg extends downwardly from an inlet of the junction, and an arm extends upwardly from the outlet of the junction A closure for a drinking vessel having a plurality of chambers, the closure including: a plurality of spaced apart holes for access to the plurality of chambers; a hole closure for controlling access to the holes. The closure in accordance with claim 31 wherein the hole closure is hinged. The closure in accordance with claim 31 or 32 wherein the hole closure is a plate that is dimensioned to extend across only one hole at a time. The closure in accordance with claim 31, 32, or 33 wherein the hole closure is slidable between one hole on one side of the closure to another hole at another side of the closure so that one hole is open at any one time. A multi-chambered drinking vessel including: a peripheral vessel wall providing a void within which to store and transport fluid, the void having a centre region; at least one dividing wall disposed at least partially in the centre region to provide a plurality of separate chambers in the void, the dividing wall extending to a top region of the peripheral vessel wall; a closure wall at a top region of the peripheral vessel wall, extending across the dividing wall and sealably connected thereto, to close the separate chambers, to retain at least some of the fluid in that chamber when the glass is tilted for drinking out of another chamber. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with claim 35 wherein the closure wall includes an outlet aperture formed into the closure wall. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with claim 35 or 36 wherein the dividing wall is sinuous to inhibit the flow in various ways from each chamber. The multi -chambered drinking vessel in accordance with claim 35 or 36 wherein the dividing wall has the features claimed in any one of claims 2 to 23.