BEVERAGE CONTAINER

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part to MX/f/2024/000480, filed Feb. 16, 2024. The entire contents of the above application are hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

FIELD

The present invention relates in general to the field of recyclable and reusable beverage containers prepackaged with ice.

BACKGROUND

Customers prefer to have many of their beverages served over ice to keep the beverage cold. However, dispensers for ice may not be readily available, and if they are available, customers may have concerns about the purity of the ice and/or the associated cost. Often, customers desiring a beverage over ice may have to purchase the beverage, a separate container, and ice, and then combine the ice and beverage into the container. Accordingly, there is a need for a cost-effective container that is capable of storing ice for extended periods of time while simultaneously preventing the ice from becoming contaminated.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to address the needs of the art by providing a beverage container configured to store and keep prepackaged ice clean and preserved until delivered to the end consumer.

The beverage container includes a bottom holder comprising a bottom end, an open top end, and a surrounding wall that define an internal volume configured to hold ice with or without a liquid. A thermal seal covers the bottom holder and prevents contamination of the ice. A lid is configured to cover the open top end and fit over the thermal seal of the bottom holder. The lid is removably attached to the bottom holder, and optionally, may include a connecting member for tethering the lid to the bottom holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the beverage container in accordance with the embodiments of the invention and showing the lid attached.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the beverage container in accordance with the embodiments of the invention and showing the lid removed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the beverage container in accordance with the embodiments of the invention and showing the lid attached.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of the beverage container in accordance with the embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the beverage container in accordance with the embodiments of the invention

FIG. 6 is a side view of the beverage container in accordance with the embodiments of the invention showing the thermal seal beneath a transparent lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to FIGS. 1-4, a beverage container 10 in accordance with embodiments of the invention is shown. The beverage container 10 includes a bottom holder 20 having a bottom end 30, an open top 40 (as seen in FIG. 4), and a surrounding wall 50 that collectively define an internal volume space configured to hold ice 60 (with or without a liquid). The bottom holder 20 is preferably conically shaped such that the circumference of the bottom end 30 is smaller than the circumference of the open top 40, and the circumference of the surrounding wall 50 gradually increases as it approaches the open top 40. Preferably, the bottom holder 20 is made from a recyclable plastic, including for example, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, The ice 60 is contained and insulated in the bottom holder 20 by a thermal seal 70 that is heat sealed to the top edge 80 of the holder 20. To aid in the removal of the thermal seal from the bottom holder, a tab 90 integral to the thermal seal 20 but not attached to the bottom holder 20 may be used. In operation, the consumer would utilize the tab 90 to provide a force sufficient to break the heat seal and remove the thermal seal 20 from the top edge 80 of the holder 20. Preferably, the thermal seal 20 and tab 90 is made from a recyclable plastic, including for example, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The thermal seal 70 also serves to protect the stored ice 60 from bacteria and contamination.

Turning to FIGS. 4-5, the preferred embodiment of the beverage container 20 further includes a lid 100 that is removably attached to the bottom holder 20. The lid 100 has an internal edge (not shown) that is operable to engage a corresponding rim (not shown) disposed around the top edge 80 of the bottom holder. In operation, the lid 100 can be attached to the top edge 80 of the bottom holder 20 by applying light downward pressure on the lid 100 such that the internal edge engages and is secured around the corresponding rim of the bottom holder 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the lid 100 may include a top sloping surface that forms an ergonomic spout 101 operable to aid in the consumption of the beverage. The spout 101 contains a drinking port 120 that may be configured to receive a straw (not shown) for purposes of consumption. The drinking port 120 may contain a valve (not shown) configured to provide a substantial liquid seal around the straw when in use. For example, this can include a plastic film layer with a small aperture, or a plurality of flaps, that are resiliently biased in a closed position. When the straw penetrates the plastic film layer (or flaps), the plastic film (or flaps) will flex open and conform to the perimeter of the straw to provide a seal. Alternatively, the drinking port 120 can be an aperture without any type of seal configured to allow the flow of liquid from the container to the spout 101.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 1, the lid 100 may be tethered to the bottom holder 20 via a connecting member 130. For the preferred embodiment, the connecting member is a pliable plastic film that is attached to the lid 100 on one end and the bottom holder 20 on the other end. However, alternative configurations and embodiments may be used so long as the connecting member 130 is operable to tether the lid 20 to the bottom holder 20. For example, prefabricated mounts (not shown) could be attached to the lid 100 and bottom holder 20 which are operable to be attach to any form of connecting member 130 known in the art, including a hinged connection, or a hydraulic or spring activated connection.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference has been made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used to describe these embodiments. However, this specific language intends no limitation of the scope of the invention, and the invention should be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. The particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative examples of the invention and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the invention in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional aspects of the system (and components of the individual operating components of the system) may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections or logical connections may be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component is essential to the practice of the invention unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”. Numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.