Frozen juice container

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/304,091, filed on Mar. 4, 2016 entitled “Frozen Juice Container”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety at least by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to fluid containers, but more particularly to a frozen juice container.

2. Description of Related Art

In the art of juice, and more particularly frozen juices, it is typical for frozen juices to come in concentrate form. In order to prepare the juice from the frozen concentrate, the frozen concentrate is placed in a container with water and then stirred with a spoon or other utensil, which can be messy, wasteful and tiresome. Consequently, there is a need for a container that facilitates the preparation of juice from a frozen concentrate.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, a frozen juice container is provided, comprising: a cylindrical body having a hollow chamber for placement of a frozen juice concentrate and a quantity of water; a cylindrical lid having a connection means with the cylindrical body, wherein the cylindrical lid includes a pouring spout, a hinged spout cover element having a sealing cap member, and a pair of integrally extending stubs, wherein the sealing cap member is sized to fit and seal the pouring spout, and the hinged spout cover element is hingedly connected to the cylindrical lid via the pair of integrally extending stubs; and a plurality of protrusions each having a pointed tip, wherein the plurality of protrusions is configured to break the frozen juice concentrate into a plurality of small pieces when the frozen juice container is shaken by a user, allowing the plurality of small pieces to dissolve in the quantity of water to reconstitute the frozen juice concentrate into a juice.

In one embodiment, the connection means is a threaded engagement. In another embodiment, the connection means is a snap-lock. In one embodiment, the plurality of protrusions is located on an underside portion of the cylindrical lid. In one embodiment, the cylindrical lid has a height and a circumference, and the cylindrical lid is angled, such that the height of the cylindrical lid varies around the circumference. In another embodiment, the plurality of protrusions is comprised of a length such that they do not go beyond the height of the cylindrical lid.

In one embodiment, each of the plurality of protrusions are a different length depending on the location of each of the plurality of protrusions on the cylindrical lid such that pointed tips of the plurality of protrusions are aligned. In one embodiment, the cylindrical body comprises side-walls that include a pair of handles forming a cavity allowing a user to hold the cylindrical body. In another embodiment, the cylindrical body and the cylindrical lid is constructed of polyethylene. In yet another embodiment, the cylindrical body and the cylindrical lid is constructed of a thermal insulating material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a frozen juice container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is an exploded view of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a side view of a frozen juice container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 2B-2B of FIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out their invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein to specifically provide a frozen juice container.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A-B, a frozen juice container 10 is illustrated. The frozen juice container comprises a cylindrical body 12 having side-walls that include a pair of handles 14 forming a cavity allowing a user to comfortably hold the cylindrical body. In one embodiment, the frozen juice container further comprises a cylindrical lid 18, wherein the cylindrical lid is in a threaded engagement with the cylindrical body. In alternative embodiment, the cylindrical lid may be secured to the cylindrical body with any locking mechanism known in the art, including but not limited to a snap-lock, a hinged connection, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, a pouring spout 16 is included on the cylindrical lid. The pouring spout may be sealed by a hinged spout cover element 20, wherein the hinged spout cover element is hingedly connected to the cylindrical lid via integrally extending stubs 22, wherein the stubs are integrally attached to the cylindrical lid. The hinged spout cover element comprises sealing cap member 24, wherein the sealing cap member is sized to fit and seal the pouring spout when covered to prevent juice spilling out of the container when stored.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-B, the cylindrical lid comprises an underside portion 26 having a plurality of protrusions 28. In one embodiment, the plurality of protrusions are comprised of a length such that they do not go beyond the edge or height of the cylindrical lid. Since, the cylindrical lid is angled, wherein the height of the cylindrical lid varies around the circumference, each of the plurality of protrusions are a different length depending on the location of each of the plurality of protrusions on the cylindrical lid. Each of the plurality of protrusions comprises a pointed tip. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of protrusions are aligned, such that each pointed tip of the plurality of protrusions are aligned regardless of the length of each of the plurality of protrusions, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. It is to be understood that in alternate embodiments the number, disposition and length of the plurality of protrusions may vary.

In use, the cylindrical lid is removed to allow frozen juice concentrate 30 and water 32 to be placed in the cylindrical body. After the frozen juice concentrate and the water are placed in the cylindrical body, the cylindrical lid is secured back on top of the cylindrical body. Next, the user shakes the frozen juice container while holding the pair of handles located on the cylindrical body. While the user shakes the frozen juice container, the frozen juice concentrate located in the hollow interior of the container gets broken down into a plurality of smaller pieces as the frozen juice concentrate collides with the plurality of protrusions. The plurality of smaller pieces dissolves in the water and then reconstitutes into juice, as well known in the art. The frozen juice container can then be used to serve the reconstituted juice using the pouring spout and can be stored in a refrigerator to preserve the juice.

In one embodiment, the frozen juice container including the cylindrical body and lid may be constructed of a plastic, such as polyethylene. In alterative embodiments, the frozen juice container including the cylindrical body and lid may be constructed of a thermally insulating material.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features and or method acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, in alternate embodiments, a second plurality of protrusions may be provided on the bottom interior of the cylindrical body to facilitate the reduction in the frozen juice concentrate into small pieces. In another embodiment, the cylindrical body may be provided with a single handle rather than a pair of handles as illustrated, or likewise the cylindrical body may not include a handle.

It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal, distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object.

In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) are not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead are used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group.