PARTITIONED BEVERAGE CONTAINER

Description

BACKGROUND

The drinking of a warm beverage can be one of life's great pleasures. A sip of coffee or tea can kick start a morning or can warm the body's soul on a winter evening.

However, sometimes the warm beverage can be too hot to drink. When so, a user must sit and wait for the beverage to cool to an enjoyable temperature as the ambient temperature slowly brings the beverage temperature down. Once the beverage reaches the desired temperature, the user then will typically want to drink rapidly before the beverage drops below the desired temperature, or the user will have to drink the beverage cooler than desired or will reheat the beverage and start the process all over. Instead of waiting, the user can go ahead and drink at the elevated temperature at the risk of burn or discomfort.

The problem is exacerbated when a person needs to drink a beverage on the go. To-go and/or disposable beverage containers, also known as travel mugs or to-go drink containers, have been around for decades and have mostly been developed for the purpose of keeping a beverage as hot as possible for as long as possible. Conventional hot beverage containers come in a variety of styles and have insulated walls that surround a beverage reservoir where a beverage to be consumed by a user is contained. Typically, a lid or top will be provided to help further maintain the desired temperature of the beverage in the beverage reservoir, with varying degrees of success. However, some insulated containers are so effective in maintaining temperature that a hot beverage can stay too hot for a long period of time.

In order for a user of an insulated container to have an enjoyable sipping experience, the user will sometimes remove the lid to allow the beverage to cool to a desired temperature. However, this process has its own problems. The lidless tumbler loses stability and can also be a spilling hazard, especially if the beverage is being sipped while the user is moving or riding in a car. Once the beverage is at the desired temperature, a user must go through the arduous process of replacing the lid which can increase the risk of spillage, especially if the lid is one that is difficult to secure properly. A removed lid can also become easily misplaced.

Moreover, conventional lids for insulated beverage containers suffer from other problems. For example, existing lids tend to be very utilitarian and generally provide a less-than-ideal drinking experience, particularly when it comes to the enjoyment of a hot beverage, such as coffee or tea. Typically, a lid for an insulated beverage container has a small hole through which a beverage being contained can flow as it is being consumed by a user. The act of drinking through the hole can be unsatisfying for some users, though. The feel on the user's lips is not the same as the feel on the lips when sipping out of a traditional mug or cup. In addition, the aromas of the beverage do not rise unimpeded to the nose of the user just before and during the sip. Furthermore, the flow of the beverage into the user's mouth is dependent on the size and shape of the hole more than the opening of the user's lips and tilt of the cup.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved beverage container, particularly a hot beverage container. There is a further need for a beverage container that provides an improved beverage temperature profile during the course of consumption. There is a further need for a hot beverage container that allows a hot beverage to be consumed sooner than conventional hot beverage containers. There is a further need for a hot beverage container that allows a portion of a hot beverage that is to be sipped to cool faster than another portion of the hot beverage that is to be stored or later sipping.

SUMMARY

The present invention satisfies one or more of these needs. In one aspect of the invention, an improved beverage container is provided

In another aspect of the invention, an improved hot beverage container is provided.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container provides an improved beverage temperature profile during the course of consumption of a beverage.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container is provided that allows a portion of a hot beverage to be consumed sooner than with a conventional container.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container is provided that allows a portion of a hot beverage to be consumed sooner than with a conventional container without the need to remove a lid of the container.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container that allows a portion of a hot beverage that is to be sipped to cool faster than another portion of the hot beverage that can be stored for later sipping.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container provides a more enjoyable sipping experience of a hot beverage for a user.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container provides a rim-based sipping experience of a hot beverage.

In another aspect of the invention, a hot beverage container provides a rim-based sipping experience of a portion of a hot beverage while maintaining the temperature of another portion of the hot beverage.

In another aspect of the invention, a method of sipping a beverage comprises providing a beverage tumbler as described herein and using the beverage tumbler as described herein.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a chamber creating system within the tumbler body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a chamber creating system within the tumbler body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the beverage storage chamber is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of the sidewall, a portion of the bottom, and the top wall, wherein the sipping chamber is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of the sidewall, and a portion of the bottom, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a chamber creating system within the tumbler body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, and wherein the partitioning wall comprises a pair of longitudinally extending side edges that each sealingly engage the sidewall of the beverage container body.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a chamber creating system within the tumbler body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, and wherein the sipping opening comprises a rim portion over which beverage from the sipping chamber can flow when being sipped and wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber passes through the sipping chamber before flowing over the rim portion.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a chamber creating system within the tumbler body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, wherein the partitioning wall is a moveable partitioning wall that can be moved from a first position where there is no sipping chamber to a second position where a sipping chamber is created.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container insert is adapted to be insertable into a beverage container body, the beverage container insert comprising a chamber creating system removably insertable into a beverage container interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein when inserted into the beverage container body interior, the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, of the bottom of the beverage, wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container insert is adapted to be insertable into a beverage container body, the beverage container insert comprising a chamber creating system removably insertable into a beverage container interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein when inserted into the beverage container body interior, the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the beverage storage is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of a sidewall of the beverage container body, a portion of a bottom of the beverage container body, and the top wall, wherein the sipping chamber is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of the sidewall of the beverage container body, and a portion of the bottom of the beverage container body, wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; and wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container insert is adapted to be insertable into a beverage container body, the beverage container insert comprising a chamber creating system removably insertable into a beverage container interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein when inserted into the beverage container body interior, the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, of the bottom of the beverage, wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, wherein the beverage container insert comprises a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the beverage container insert to the beverage container body at a desired position within the beverage container body, and wherein the coupling mechanism comprises the partitioning wall comprising a pair of longitudinally extending side edges that each are adapted to sealingly engage the sidewall of the beverage container body and to position the beverage container insert in the desired position.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container insert is adapted to be insertable into a beverage container body, the beverage container insert comprising a chamber creating system removably insertable into a beverage container interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein when inserted into the beverage container body interior, the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, of the bottom of the beverage, wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, wherein the beverage container insert comprises a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the beverage container insert to the beverage container body at a desired position within the beverage container body, and wherein the coupling mechanism comprises one or more outward extensions on the top wall, wherein the one or more outward extensions are adapted to contact a top of the beverage container body to position the beverage container insert in the desired position.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container insert is adapted to be insertable into a beverage container body, the beverage container insert comprising a chamber creating system removably insertable into a beverage container interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein when inserted into the beverage container body interior, the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, of the bottom of the beverage, wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, wherein the beverage container insert comprises a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the beverage container insert to the beverage container body at a desired position within the beverage container body, and wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a threaded member that is adapted to engage threads on the beverage container body to position the beverage container in the desired position.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container insert is adapted to be insertable into a beverage container body, the beverage container insert comprising a chamber creating system removably insertable into a beverage container interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein when inserted into the beverage container body interior, the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, of the bottom of the beverage, wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, wherein the beverage container insert comprises a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the beverage container insert to the beverage container body at a desired position within the beverage container body, and wherein the partitioning wall comprises a bottom, and wherein the desired position is a position where the bottom of the partitioning wall is spaced from the bottom of the beverage container body, and wherein a gap between the bottom of the partitioning wall and the bottom of the beverage container body creates the communication channel.

In another aspect of the invention, a disposable beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and bottom that define a container body interior, wherein the sidewall and bottom are made of disposable material; and a beverage container insert insertable into a beverage container body, the beverage container insert comprising a chamber creating system, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein when the beverage container insert is inserted into the beverage container body interior, the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the beverage storage is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of a sidewall of the beverage container body, a portion of a bottom of the beverage container body, and the top wall, wherein the sipping chamber is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of the sidewall of the beverage container body, and a portion of the bottom of the beverage container body, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings which illustrate exemplary features of the invention. However, it is to be understood that each of the features can be used in the invention in general, not merely in the context of the particular drawings, and the invention includes any combination of these features, where:

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a version of a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 1B is a schematic sectional side view through a longitudinal midline of the beverage container of FIG. 1A in the direction of 1B-1B;

FIG. 2A is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage container of FIGS. 1A and 1B in a filled condition and an upright position;

FIG. 2B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage container of FIG. 1A in a filled condition and a tilted position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of another version of a beverage container of the invention in a separated configuration;

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of another version of a beverage container of the invention in a separated configuration;

FIG. 5A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 5B is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 5C is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 5D is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 6A is a schematic perspective view from the front and side of a version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 6B is a schematic perspective view from below of a version of the beverage container insert of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a beverage container including the beverage container insert of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the beverage container of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9A is a schematic perspective view from the side of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 9B is a schematic perspective view from the side of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 10A is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 10B is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 11A is a schematic top view of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 11B is a schematic side view of the beverage container insert of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 11C is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of the beverage container insert of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12A is a schematic top view of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 12B is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of the beverage container insert of FIG. 12A;

FIG. 13A is a schematic perspective view from above of a portion of a version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 13B is a schematic perspective view from above of another portion of the version of a beverage container insert of FIG. 13A;

FIG. 13C is a schematic perspective view from above of a beverage container of the invention with the beverage container insert of FIGS. 13A and 13B;

FIG. 14A is a schematic perspective view from above of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 14B is a schematic perspective view from above of a beverage container of the invention with the beverage container insert of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view from above of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

FIG. 16A is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of another version of a beverage container of the invention in a non-partitioning configuration;

FIG. 16B is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of the beverage container of FIG. 16A in a partitioning configuration; and

FIG. 16C is a schematic top view of the beverage container of FIG. 16A in a partitioning configuration.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a beverage container. In particular, the invention relates to a reusable or disposable beverage container that helps control the temperature of a beverage. Although the invention is illustrated and described in the context of being useful for containing and allowing the sipping of a hot beverage, the present invention can be used in other ways, as would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the present invention should not be limited just to the examples and embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a version of a beverage container 100 according to the present invention. The beverage container 100 may be any type of beverage container, such as a cup, mug, stein, tumbler, glass, or the like that is intended to contain one or more servings of a beverage in a manner that allows the beverage to be sipped by a user of the beverage container 100. The user can be a single individual, a plurality of individuals, an individual that is providing a sip of the beverage to another individual, and/or a user that is receiving a sip of the beverage under the assistance of another individual. The beverage container 100 is typically, but not necessarily, made of one or more of stainless steel; plastic, such as polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and high density polyethylene; paper product, such as carboard and wood pulp; ceramic materials, such as glass, porcelain, clay; and the like. The beverage container 100 can be reusable or disposable. The beverage container 100 includes a beverage container body 105 made up of a sidewall 110, a bottom 115, and an open top 120. The sidewall 110 has a sidewall interior surface 125 and the bottom 115 has a bottom interior surface 130. Together the sidewall 110 and the bottom 115 define a container body interior 135 that serves as a beverage containing reservoir lined by sidewall interior surface 125 and the bottom interior surface. The open top 120 provides access to the container body interior 135.

As can also be seen in the version of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the beverage container 100 of the present invention includes a chamber creating system 140 that is positioned or positionable within the container body interior 135 to divide the container body interior into a plurality of chambers. The chamber creating system 140 can be an integral part of the beverage container, or the chamber creating system 140 or a portion thereof can be a separate part, as will be discussed below. The chamber creating system 140 comprises a partitioning wall 145 and a top wall 150. The partitioning wall 145 extends downwardly from the top wall 150 in the region of the open top 120 into the container body interior 135 as best seen in FIG. 1B. In the version shown, the partitioning wall 145 extends in an at least partially vertical direction within the container body interior 135 when the beverage container 100 is in the upright position shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The partitioning wall 145 of the chamber creating system 140 cooperates with the sidewall 110 and/or bottom 115 of the container body 105 to divide the container body interior 135 into a plurality of separate chambers.

For example, in the version of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the partitioning wall 145 of the chamber creating system 140 separates the container body interior 135 into a first chamber, a beverage storage chamber 155, and a second chamber, a sipping chamber 160. The partitioning wall 145 has a first surface 165 on a storage chamber side of the partitioning wall 145 and a second surface 170 on a sipping chamber side of the partitioning wall 145. The beverage storage chamber 155 is thus defined by the first surface 165 of the partitioning wall 145, an interior surface 175 the top wall 150, and a portion of the sidewall interior surface 125 and/or a portion of the bottom interior surface 130. The sipping chamber 160 is defined by the second surface 170 of the partitioning wall 145 and a different portion of the sidewall interior surface 125 and/or a different portion of the bottom interior surface 130. The beverage storage chamber 155 is designed to serve as a beverage storage reservoir in which a beverage to be sipped can be contained and/or stored in a manner that preserves the temperature of the beverage within the beverage storage chamber 155.

The beverage storage chamber 155 communicates with the sipping chamber 160 through a communication channel 180 located at or near the bottom of the beverage container 100 and/or at or near the bottom of the container body interior 135. The communication channel 180 allows a beverage within the beverage storage chamber 155 to flow into the sipping chamber 160. The sipping chamber 160 is designed to contain a portion of the beverage that is to be sipped by a user. The partitioning wall 145 comprises a pair of longitudinally extended side edges 185 that are sized, shaped, and contoured to engaged the sidewall interior surface 125 in a sealing manner so that beverage from the beverage storage chamber 155 does not substantially seep through to the sipping chamber and so that the communication channel 180 is the predominant path of passage of beverage from the beverage storage chamber 155 to the sipping chamber 160. At or near the open top 120 of the container body 105, in the version of FIGS. 1A and 1B, is a sipping opening 190 of the beverage container 100 at the upper extent of the sipping chamber 160. Within the sipping opening 190 is a rim portion 195, as will be described in more detail.

Operation of the beverage container 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B is illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A shows the beverage container 100 at least partially filled with a beverage 200 to be sipped by a user. As can be seen, the beverage 200 is contained both within container body interior 135 and is divided into a portion that is in the beverage storage chamber 155 and a portion that is in the sipping chamber 160. In the version shown, the communication channel 180 is a free-flowing passageway that allows the beverage 200 to flow freely between the beverage storage chamber 155 and the sipping chamber 160. Because a liquid will tend to flow to find a common level when not acted on by outside forces, the beverage storage chamber beverage height 205 is approximately the same as the sipping chamber beverage height 210 when the beverage container 100 is in an untilted, ready-to-sip, upright position as shown in FIG. 2A. The beverage 200 can be prefilled, filled by pouring through the sipping chamber 160, or filled in manners that will be discussed hereinbelow.

To sip the beverage 200, a user tilts the beverage container 100 as shown in FIG. 2B. FIG. 2B shows a tilted position of the beverage container 100 just before the beverage 200 in the sipping chamber 160 will spill over the rim portion 195 and out of the sipping opening 190. As the beverage container 100 is tilted from the upright position of FIG. 2A to a tilted position such as the one shown in FIG. 2B, the top wall 150 serves to close the top of the beverage storage chamber 155 and prevents the beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155 from being poured out of the top of the beverage container 100. The only exit for beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155 is through communication channel 180 and then through the sipping chamber 160. With continued tilting beyond the tilt of FIG. 2B, the beverage 200 in the sipping chamber 160 will begin to flow out of the sipping opening 190 as it flows towards and over the rim portion 195. A small vent hole or the like, such as a hole on the order of 1 mm diameter in the top wall 150 or other position, can be provided to allow air into the beverage storage chamber 155 to help facilitate the flow of beverage from the beverage storage chamber 155 into the sipping chamber 160 and/or in the opposite direction.

The beverage container 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B and shown in operation in FIGS. 2A and 2B offers several unique advantages over existing beverage containers. For example, when the beverage is an extremely hot beverage, the sipping chamber 160 can act as a cooling chamber bringing the temperature of just the amount of beverage to be sipped down to a drinkable temperature while keeping the portion of the beverage in the beverage storage chamber 155 hot for a longer period of time. This not only allows the user to begin sipping the beverage 200 sooner than if there were no sipping chamber 160, it provides an improved temperature profile over the course of the consumption of the beverage 200. The maintenance of the temperature of the beverage in the beverage storage chamber 155 prolongs the sipping experience. The sipping experience provided by the sipping chamber 160 of the beverage container 100 is thus further enhanced by the beverage storage chamber 155 which serves to keep the beverage 200 at a desired temperature for a longer period of time. More specifically, with the beverage container 100 of the invention, the portion of the beverage 200 that is in the sipping chamber 160 is exposed to ambient temperature along its top surface. In contrast, the portion of the beverage 200 that is in the beverage storage chamber 155 is insulated from the ambient temperature in that no portion or surface of the beverage 200 that is within the beverage storage chamber 155 is directly exposed to ambient temperature. The beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155 is instead surrounded and/or enclosed by the sidewall 110 of the container body 105, the bottom 115 of the container body 105, the partitioning wall 145, the top wall 150, and the portion of the beverage 200 in the sipping chamber 160 that is near the communication channel 180. Each of these components that directly contact the beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155 can serve to insulate the beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155 from ambient temperature.

To increase the temperature maintaining ability, the beverage container 100 can include an insulating system. For example, the container body 105 can be in the form of a traditional mug or cup, or the container body 105 can be in the form of a travel beverage tumbler, and either of which can be designed to maintain the temperature of a beverage in the container body interior 135. In particular, a travel beverage tumbler can be designed to allow a user to drink a beverage on the go and also commonly referred to as an insulated tumbler, a travel mug, a portable mug, an insulated cup, a to-go cup, an on-the-go cup, a thermal mug or cup, a thermos mug or cup, and the like. The beverage container 100 in the form of a travel beverage tumbler can include an insulating system that is designed to reduce the transfer of heat through at least a portion of the sidewall 110 and/or the bottom 115. The insulting system can be provided, for example, by a sidewall 110, bottom 115, and/or other mechanisms that are designed to prevent or reduce heat transfer so that a beverage 200 contained within the container body interior 135 is maintained at a desired temperature for a period of time. Various designs of the insulating system are available, including for example, one or more of making the sidewall 110 and/or bottom 115 out of insulating material, such as a ceramic and/or a foam material, inserting insulating material within a sidewall 110 and/or bottom 115, using a double wall construction for the sidewall 110 and/or bottom 115, and the like, all of which are conventionally known in the art. In addition, the partitioning wall 145 and/or the top wall 150 of the chamber creating system 140 can be provided with insulating properties, such as those described above for the insulating system to further reduce the heat transfer associated with a beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155. The beverage container 100 may optionally include additional systems or items for maintaining the temperature of a beverage, such as active heating and/or cooling elements that are incorporated into the or positionable in proximity to the beverage container 100.

Also, the beverage container 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B offers additional advantages. For example, when a place the user's lips on the rim portion 195 to receive the beverage 200 from the sipping chamber 160 into the user's mouth, a rim-based sipping experience is created for the user. The rim-based sipping experience involves the pressing of a user's lips against the rim portion 195 and a cascading of the beverage 200 over the rim portion 195 in a way that is more like sipping from a traditional cup or mug than the sipping experience with a conventional beverage tumbler where beverage flows through a hole in a lid. With the beverage container 100 of the invention, a user can feel the beverage on the lips and can control the flow into the mouth by controlling the opening of the lips and/or the tilt of the beverage container 100. In addition, the user can better smell the beverage both before the beverage is sipped and during the sip because there is less of a barrier between the user's nose and the beverage 200 that is in the sipping chamber 160 than when a lid with a small opening is used. When the beverage is a hot beverage, the user can feel the heat on the user's face and/or through the user's nose.

In the version of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the parts of the beverage container 100 may be integrally connected. For example, the container body 105 and the chamber creating system 140 can be integrally or permanently connected to one another so as to form an interconnected device. The beverage container 100 in its integrally connected form can be a single-use device that is made from one or more materials intended to be disposed of or recycled, or the integrally connected form can be a multi-use device made of one or more materials that are cleanable.

In another version, such as shown in FIG. 3, the beverage container 100 can have one or more separable components. For example, in the version shown, the chamber creating system 140 is in the form of an insert 300 that is selectively insertable into a container body 105. With the insert 300, a traditional container body 105 can be converted into a beverage container 100 of the invention that includes a beverage storage chamber 155 and a sipping chamber 160. The insert 300 can be inserted into the container body 105 during use as a dual chamber beverage container 100 and can be removed from the container body 105 for cleaning and/or to revert the container body 105 to its traditional use. In this version, a coupling mechanism 305 can be provided that allows the insert 300 including at least a portion of the chamber creating system 140 to be selectively and separably coupled to the container body 105. In the version of FIG. 3, the coupling mechanism 305 is a friction fit between the side edges 185 of the partitioning wall 145 and the sidewall interior surface 125 of the container body 105 and/or a friction fit between an outer edge 310 of the top wall 150 and the sidewall interior surface 125 of the container body 105. In one version, at least the side edges 185 of the partitioning wall 145 and/or the outer edge 310 of the top wall 150 can be made of slightly flexible material, such as silicone or rubber, that allows the side edges 185 and/or the outer edge 310 to mold or conform to the sidewall 110 in a manner that creates a seal that will prevent the flow of beverage between the edges and the sidewall 110. The coupling mechanism 305 selectively couples the insert 300 to the container body 105 in a way that allows the insert 300 and/or chamber creating system 140 to be removed from the container body 105 for cleaning or the like. Furthermore, the separation of the chamber creating system 140 allows the container body 105 to be used as a traditional cup if desired and/or to allow a beverage to be cooled to a desired temperature before reinsertion of the insert 300.

In one version, the insertion depth of the insert 300 into the container body interior 135 can be limited to create the communication channel 180. For example, the insertion depth can be at a position where a bottom 315 of the partitioning wall 145 is a predetermined height above the bottom 115 of the container body 105. By having the bottom 315 of the partitioning wall 145 terminate short of the bottom 115 of the container body 105, a gap is created, and the gap can become the communication channel 180. The insertion depth can be limited by a number of possible systems. For example by properly sizing and shaping the parts of the insert 300 the insertion depth of the insert 300 into the container body 105 can be limited when there is a taper to the shape of the sidewall 110, as is the case in FIG. 3. Alternatively, one or more channels, slots, or the like can be provided on the sidewall interior surface 125 that receive a portion of the insert 300, such as the side edges 185 of the partitioning wall 145. Optionally, the channels can terminate to limit the insertion depth of the insert 300. In another version, the coupling mechanism 305 can be in the form of a snap fit or can include a rotational attachment system, such as thread or a bayonet connector, and the like, as will be discussed.

FIG. 4 shows another version of the beverage container 100. The version of FIG. 4 is similar to the version of FIG. 3. However, in the version of FIG. 4, the bottom 315 of the partitioning wall 145 extends all the way to the bottom 115 of the container body 105, and an opening 405 is provided near the bottom 315 of the partitioning wall 145 that serves as the communication channel 180 between the beverage storage chamber 155 and the sipping chamber 160 when the insert 300 is inserted into the container body 105.

The rim portion 195 of the of the beverage container 100 can be provided on the container body 105, as shown in the version of FIG. 3, or can be provided as part of the insert 300 and/or the chamber creating system 140. Whether provided on the container body 105, on the chamber creating system 140, or elsewhere, the rim portion 195 can be sized and shaped to simulate a traditional mug or cup. The rim portion 195 can have a radius of curvature that is the same or different from the radius of the open top 120 of the container body 105. The transverse radius of curvature and/or the thickness of the rim portion 195 can be selected to mimic a traditional mug or cup. For example, in one version, the rim portion 195 can have a thickness of from about 1 mm to about 10 mm. In particular versions, the rim portion 195 can be designed to mimic a paper cup and can have a thickness of from about 1 mm to about 4 mm. In another version, the rim portion 195 can be designed to mimic a china cup and can have a thickness of from about 3 mm to about 5 mm. In another version, the rim portion 195 can be designed to mimic a stone mug and can have a thickness of from about 4 mm to about 6 mm.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D show other versions of a beverage container 100 of the invention. FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are similar to the version of FIGS. 1A and 1B but with differently shaped chamber creating system 140 configurations. For example, in the version of FIG. 5A, the chamber creating system 140 includes an angled partitioning wall 505. Alternatively, the version of FIG. 5A can be considered to have a vertical partitioning wall 145 and an angled top wall 150. In the version of FIG. 5B, the chamber creating system 140 includes a curved partitioning wall and top wall combination 510. In the version of FIG. 5C, the partitioning wall 145 of the chamber creating system 140 has a curved shape 515 that can match the curvature of the container body 105. In the version of FIG. 5D, the chamber creating system 140 comprises an inwardly extending partitioning wall 520. With the version of FIG. 5D, a larger sipping chamber space 525 is created near the bottom of the sipping chamber 160. This version can provide a slower beverage cooling process, if desired.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show another version of a beverage container insert 300 of the invention. The version of FIGS. 6A and 6B is similar to the version of FIG. 3. FIG. 7 shows the version of FIGS. 6A and 6B being inserted into a container body interior 135, and FIG. 8 shows the beverage container 100 with the insert 300 in place. With the version of FIGS. 6A and 6B, one or more outward extensions 605 are provided that extend outwardly from the top wall 150 of the chamber creating system 140. The one or more outward extensions 605 include a bottom surface 610 that engages the rim portion 195 or other portion of the container body 105 to prevent over insertion of the insert 300 into the container body interior 135 and to assure the bottom 315 of the partitioning wall 145 is at the proper height to create the communication channel 180. Also, in the version of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the partitioning wall 145 has a contour with a longitudinally extending inward curvature 615. When the insert 300 of FIGS. 6A and 6B is inserted into the container body interior 135, the longitudinally extending inward curvature 615 of the partitioning wall 145 extends from the sipping opening 190 to the bottom 315 of the partitioning wall 145. The design of the partitioning wall 145 with the longitudinally extending inward curvature 615 provides the ability to increase the volume of the sipping chamber 160 relative to the sipping opening 190 and/or to more closely match the shape of the sipping opening 190.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show other versions of a beverage container insert 300 of the invention. The version of FIGS. 9A and 9B are similar to the version of FIG. 3, but in the version of FIGS. 9A and 9B, the insert 300 is in the form of a top cap 905 that is connectable to the top of a container body 105 to form the coupling mechanism 305 to couple the insert 300 to the container body 105. In the versions shown, the top cap 905 includes threads 910 that engage with threads on the container body 105. Alternatively, the top cap 905 can connect to the container body 105 in another manner, such as by a press fit, snap fit, or a bayonet connector. In the version of FIG. 9A, the rim portion 195 that the user contacts with the user's lips is on the container body 105, as in the version of FIG. 3. In the version of FIG. 9B, the rim portion 195 is part of the top cap 905 with the top cap 905 including an opening 915 that is the sipping opening 190.

The beverage container 100 of the invention in the versions described above not only has the advantage of providing an improved sipping experience, it also has the advantage of being able to maintain the temperature of a beverage 200 contained within the beverage storage chamber 155 even in the absence of a lid that covers the open top 120 of the container body 105 due to the top wall 150 that covers and insulates the beverage storage chamber 155. That being said, in another version, a cover member, such as a detachable cover member, can be optionally provided. Advantageously, if provided, the cover member for the beverage container 100 does not need to be provided with a hole for sipping. The cover member can provide an additional layer of temperature preservation for a beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155 and/or can help prevent the loss of desired temperature of a beverage 200 in the sipping chamber 160. The lack of a hole contributes to the temperature preservation. Also, even if the cover member is misplaced, the beverage container 100 continues to maintain the temperature of the beverage 200 in its absence.

FIG. 10A shows a version of a beverage container 100 of the invention in which the beverage container 100 is in the form of a disposable beverage container 1000. By disposable it is meant that the beverage container is designed for single use or very few uses. Disposable beverage containers 1000 are made of inexpensive materials that can be readily discarded, preferably with minimal impacts to the environment and landfill usage. For example, the components of the disposable beverage container 1000 can be made of one or more of a paper product, such as cardboard or wood pulp, and a plastic product, such as polystyrene, polypropylene, and the like. FIG. 10A shows a version of a beverage container 100 similar to the version of FIG. 3. In the version of FIG. 10A, the container body 105 is a disposable cup 1005, and the insert 300 is inserted into the disposable cup 1005 to create a disposable beverage container 1000 having a beverage storage chamber 155 and a sipping chamber 160 as discussed above. In the version of FIG. 10A, the outer edge of the top wall 150 of the chamber creating system 140 is positioned at or near or contacts the top of the rim portion 195 of the container body 105. Optionally, as shown in FIG. 10B, a hoop 1010 can be provided that is securable to the top of the container body 105 in a manner that secures the top wall 150 in place. In the particular version of FIG. 10B, the hoop 1010 can contain the rim portion 195 that contacts the user's lips during sipping of a beverage.

FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C show a version of an insert 300 in the form of a one-piece insert 1100 for insertion into a container body 105, such as a disposable cup 1005 as shown in FIG. 10A. The one-piece insert 1100 of FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C includes a partitioning wall 145 that is integrally formed with the top wall 105 in a manner that it is bendable relative thereto. The partitioning wall 145 can thus be bent as shown in FIG. 11B from the configuration of FIG. 11A to the configuration of FIG. 11C. In the configuration of FIG. 11C, the one-piece insert 1100 can be inserted into the container body 105. Also, the version of FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C can includes a cup-latching member 1105, such as a molded portion that contours to the top of a disposable cup 1005, at the top wall outer edge 310. The cup-latching member 1105 is sized and shaped to engage and/or secure the one-piece insert 1100 to the top of the disposable cup 1005.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show a version of a one-piece insert 1100 similar to the version of FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C. While the version of FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C is particularly useful with a generally cylindrically shaped disposable cup 1005, FIGS. 12A and 12B show a version with a partitioning wall 145 having a tapered shaped 1205 to correspond to a disposable cup 1005 that has a more tapered interior shape.

FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C show a version of an insert 300 in the form of a two-piece insert 1300 for insertion into a container body 105, such as a disposable cup 1005 as shown in FIG. 10A. FIG. 13A shows a version of a partitioning wall 145 that is a separate member from the top wall 150 shown in FIG. 13B. FIG. 13C shows both the top wall 150 attached to a disposable cup 1005 and the partitioning wall 145 being inserted into a partitioning wall opening 1305 in the top wall 150. A ledge 1310 can be provided at the top of the partitioning wall 145 to contact the top wall 150 and limit the insertion depth of the partitioning wall 145.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show a plug 1400 that can be provided with the two-piece insert 1300 of FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C, or similarly with any other version shown and/or described herein, to selectively cover the sipping opening 190 of a beverage container 100 of the invention. FIG. 14A shows the plug 1400 in an unplugging position where the beverage in the beverage container 100 can be sipped. FIG. 14B shows the plug 1400 in a plugging position where the sipping opening 190 and the sipping chamber 160 is covered by the plug 1400 to help prevent spillage and/or to help keep the beverage at a desired temperature. FIG. 15 shows a plug 1400 that can be used with the one-piece insert of FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C.

FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C show another version of a beverage container 100 of the invention. The version of FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C is a transformable beverage container 1600 that includes a moveable partitioning wall 1605. The moveable partitioning wall 1605 is moveable from a first position, as shown in FIG. 16A, where the transformable beverage container 1600 is in a non-partitioning configuration 1610 to a second position, as shown in FIGS. 16B and 16C, where the transformable beverage container 1600 is in a partitioning configuration 1615. In the particular version of FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C, the moveable partitioning wall 1605 is in the form of a bistable arcuate member. In the first position, as shown in FIG. 10A, the moveable partitioning wall 1605 is in an outwardly arced condition where the moveable partitioning wall 1605 is contoured to and contacts or is in close proximity to the sidewall interior surface 125 of the container body 105. In this position, there is no sipping chamber 160 created within the container body interior 135. In the second, position, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, the moveable partitioning wall 1605 is inwardly arced in a manner that creates a sipping chamber 160. A lid can be provided which is not shown in FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C. The lid has a sipping opening 190 that is alignable with the sipping chamber 160 so that the opening of the sipping opening 190 can help to cool the beverage in the sipping chamber 160, as discussed above. A user can change the configuration of the transformable beverage container by applying a force to the moveable partitioning wall 1605 to move it from its first position to its second position or to move it from its second position to its first position. Accordingly, a user can, for example, use the transformable beverage container 1600 in the partitioning configuration 1615 when the beverage is too hot or when the user wants to keep the beverage in the beverage storage chamber 155 warm, and the user can move the transformable beverage container 1600 to the non-partitioning configuration 1610 when the user wants to use the beverage container 100 as a conventional beverage container. In the version shown in FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C, the longitudinally extending side edges 185 of the partitioning wall 145 are affixed to the sidewall 110 of the container body 105. Alternatively, the moveable partitioning wall 1605 can be on an insert 300, such as any of the insert versions described above, with the moveable partitioning wall 1605 being separate from the container body 105. The version of FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C is particularly useful as a disposable beverage container 1000.

In the versions of the beverage container 100 shown and described, the sipping opening 190 is shown to extend a portion of the circumference around the top of the beverage container 100. For example, the sipping opening 190 can extend along a circumferential arc of the beverage container 100 a circumferential distance of at least about 0.25 inches, or at least about 0.5 inches, or at least about 1 inch. In one version, the sipping portion extends circumferentially from about 5 degrees to about 180 degrees, or from about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees, or from about 15 degrees to about 60 degrees, around the top of the beverage container 100.

The components of the beverage container 100 can be sized and shaped in any suitable manner. For example, the relative sizes and/or volumes of the temperature beverage storage chamber 155 and the sipping chamber 160 can be selected to provide a desired drinking experience and can be tailored to best suit a particular shape and/or to best contain and distribute a particular beverage. In one version, the volume of the beverage storage chamber 155 can range from about 5 ounces to about 30 ounces or from about 8 ounces to about 24 ounces. The volume of the sipping chamber 160 can be from about 0.5 ounces to about 3 ounces, or from about 0.75 ounces to about 2 ounces, or about 1 ounce. In one version the ratio of the volume of the beverage storage chamber 155 to the volume of the sipping chamber 160 can be from about 2:1 to about 30:1, or about 5:1 to about 30:1 or from about 12:1 to about 20:1.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with regard to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible, and alterations, permutations and equivalents of the versions shown will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. For example, the cooperating components may be reversed or provided in additional or fewer number, and all directional limitations, such as up and down and the like, can be switched, reversed, or changed as long as doing so is not prohibited by the language herein with regard to a particular version of the invention. Like numerals represent like parts from figure to figure. When the same reference number has been used in multiple figures, the discussion associated with that reference number in one figure is intended to be applicable to the additional figure(s) in which it is used, so long as doing so is not prohibited by explicit language with reference to one of the figures. Also, the various features of the versions herein can be combined in various ways to provide additional versions of the present invention. Furthermore, certain terminology has been used for the purposes of descriptive clarity, and not to limit the present invention. Throughout this specification and any claims appended hereto, unless the context makes it clear otherwise, the term “comprise” and its variations such as “comprises” and “comprising” should be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, limitation, or step but not the exclusion of any other elements, limitations, or steps. Throughout this specification and any claims appended hereto, unless the context makes it clear otherwise, the term “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” should be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, limitation, or step and the exclusion of any other elements, limitations, or steps or the exclusion of any other essential elements, limitations, or steps, respectively. Throughout the specification, any discussion of a combination of elements, limitations, or steps should be understood to include (i) each element, limitation, or step of the combination alone, (ii) each element, limitation, or step of the combination with any one or more other element, limitation, or step of the combination, (iii) an inclusion of additional elements, limitations, or steps (i.e. the combination may comprise one or more additional elements, limitations, or steps), and/or (iv) an exclusion of additional elements, limitations, or steps or an exclusion of essential additional elements, limitations, or steps (i.e. the combination may consist of or consist essentially of the disclosed combination or parts of the combination). All numerical values, unless otherwise made clear in the disclosure or prosecution, include either the exact value or approximations in the vicinity of the stated numerical values, such as for example about +/-ten percent or as would be recognized by a person or ordinary skill in the art in the disclosed context. The same is true for the use of the terms such as about, substantially, and the like. Also, for any numerical ranges given, unless otherwise made clear in the disclosure, during prosecution, or by being explicitly set forth in a claim, the ranges include either the exact range or approximations in the vicinity of the values at one or both of the ends of the range. When multiple ranges are provided, the disclosed ranges are intended to include any combinations of ends of the ranges with one another and including zero and infinity as possible ends of the ranges. Therefore, any appended or later filed claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein and should include all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.