GB2344580A

GB2344580A - Multicompartment beverage container

Info

Publication number: GB2344580A
Application number: GB9826927A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yih-Jang Wu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-12-09
Filing date: 1998-12-09
Publication date: 2000-06-14
Also published as: GB9826927D0

Abstract

A beverage container includes a container body 10 with a mouth 12, at least one receptacle 20 mounted in the container body and a closure 30. The receptacle has a bottom wall 23 with a weakened area 231 that can be pierced with a straw 40 so that any contents in the receptacle are mixed with the beverage in the container. There may be more than one receptacle (25, fig 6) so that the user has a choice of additives. The straw may be held in place in the container by a groove (281, fig 6) or above the receptacle, which may have a sealing cover 21. The receptacle may be held in place by the sealing cover 21, support means (70, fig 3) or by a peripheral coupling groove (26, fig 8). The container may be a bottle, a cup, a carton, or a ring-pull can.

Description

BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITH ATTACHED RECEPTACLE MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to beverage containers, and more particularly to such a beverage container which has at least one attached receptacle. The present invention relates also to a beverage container which has at least one attached receptacle, and a straw.

Regular beverage containers may be made in any of a variety of forms, for example, can, bottle, cup or barrel, box, etc., and from any of a variety of materials, for example, glass, plastics, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), metal, etc. A variety of beverage containers have been disclosed. Exemplars are seen in Taiwan Patent Publication Nos. 107035; 281984 ; 306238; 314494 and 334755.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the present invention to provide a beverage container which has at least one receptacle received on the inside. It is another object of the present invention to provide a beverage container which has an attached receptacle filled with an additive that can easily be picked up. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a beverage container with an attached receptacle which has an attached straw received on the inside against contamination. According to the present invention, the beverage container comprises a container body, at least one receptacle, a straw and a closure. The container body has a mouth, and a rim around the mouth. The at least one receptacle is respectively mounted in the container body, each having a bottom wall, the bottom wall having a weakened area that can be pierced with the straw.

The straw is received inside the container body, having at least one part disposed adjacent to the mouth of the container body. The closure is covered on the mouth of the container body. Because the straw has at least one part disposed adjacent to the mouth of the container body, the straw can easily be picked up from the container body with the fingers when the closure is opened. Preferably, the straw has a part disposed adjacent to the mouth of the container body within 1 centimeter. The container body can be a box having a bottom wall, a first receiving space surrounded by the bottom wall, and a second receiving space.

The at least one receptacle is respectively supported on a support in the second receiving space inside the container body. The second receiving space can be divided into a plurality of sub-receiving spaces for receiving a plurality of receptacles. The straw is received inside the container body. In one embodiment of the present invention, the straw is slidably positioned in a coupling groove at one peripheral side wall of the at least one receptacle. In another embodiment of the present invention, the straw is directly carried on the sealing cover (s) of the at least one receptacle. When the user opens the closure from the container body, the straw can easily be picked up with the fingers, and the user can conveniently drink the drink through the straw. According to another alternate form of the present invention, the container body is a cup. The at least one receptacle each has a mouth, a rim raised around the respective mouth and supported on at least a part of the rim of the container body, a peripheral side wall, and a coupling groove at the peripheral side wall. The straw is slidably positioned in the coupling groove at one of said at least one receptacle.

According to still another alternate form of the present invention, the beverage container is an easy-opener. According to this design, the at least one receptacle includes one receptacle having a peripheral coupling groove forced into engagement with the rim of the container body, enabling the mouth of the container body to be closed by the receptacle. The straw is mounted in the at least one receptacle. The closure is sealed to the mouth of the container body, having a retained cap. The weakened area at the bottom wall of each of the at least one receptacle can be a plastic film that can easily be pierced through with the attached straw.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a beverage container according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic drawing showing the application of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of a beverage container according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective exploded view of a beverage container according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of a beverage container according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is an exploded view of a beverage container according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is an exploded view of a beverage container according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a cutaway view of a beverage container according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is an exploded view of a beverage container according to a eighth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a beverage container is shown comprised of a container body 10, a receptacle 20, and a closure 30. The beverage container can be a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle for holding a drink.

The receptacle 20 is received in the threaded neck 11 of the container body 10.

A sealing cover 21 is fixedly closed on the mouth 22 of the receptacle 20. The diameter of the sealing cover 21 is greater than the mouth 22. The outer diameter of the receptacle 20 is not greater than the inner diameter of the threaded neck 11. When the receptacle 20 is inserted into the threaded neck 11 of the container body 1, the peripheral edge 211 of the sealing cover 21 is supported on the rim 121 of the mouth 12 of the threaded neck 11 of the container body 1.

The closure 30 is threaded onto the threaded neck 11 of the container body 10, and closed on the sealing cover 21.

When the closure 30 is opened, a straw 40 is used and pierced through a weaken area 212 at the center of the sealing cover 21 and a weaken area 231 at the center of the bottom wall 23 of the receptacle 20, enabling an additive 50 which is contained in the receptacle 20 to fall to and to be mixed with the drink 60 in the container body 10. For example, the drink 60 can be sarsaparilla (rootbeer), and the additive 50 can be fine salt. The receptacle 20 can be removed from the threaded neck 11 of the container body 10, so that the user can decide not to add the additive 50 to the drink 60, or to add the additive 50 to the drink 60 subject to the desired amount.

Figure 3 shows an alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the container body 10 has a bottom wall 13, a first receiving space 14, and a second receiving space 15. The first space 14 and the second receiving space 15 are arranged adjacent to each other. The second receiving space 15 is further divided into two sub-receiving spaces to receive two receptacles 20. The receptacles 20 are supported on a support 70, and received in the second receiving space 15. The sealing covers 21 are covered on the receptacles 20. The closure 30 is covered on the mouth 12 of the container body 10. The two receptacles 20 can be separately installed in the second receiving space 15, or joined together before installation.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the first receiving space 14 can be filled with a first drink for example pineapple juice, and the receptacle (s) 20 can be filled with a second drink for example watermelon juice.

Figure 4 shows another alternate form of the present invention.

According to this embodiment, the receptacle 20 has a peripheral wall 28, and a coupling groove 281 at the peripheral wall 28; the straw 40 is slidably positioned in the coupling groove 281.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the first receiving space 14 can be filled with a first drink for example pineapple juice, the receptacle (s) 20 can be filled with a second drink for example watermelon juice, and the user can use the straw 40 to drink the first drink (pineapple juice) in the first receiving space 14.

Alternatively, the user can remove the straw 40 from the coupling groove 281, and then pierced the straw 40 through the weakened area 212 of the sealing cover 21 and the weakened area 231 at the bottom wall 23 of the receptacle 20 to drink the mixture of the first drink (pineapple juice) and the second drink (watermelon juice).

Figure 5 shows still another alternate form of the present invention.

According to this alternate form, the straw 40 is a bendable straw 40 bent on its middle and directly put on the receptacles 20 at the top, and covered by the closure 30.

Figure 6 shows still another alternate form of the present invention.

According to this alternate form, the beverage container is a cup, and the receptacle 20 has a rim 24 around its mouth 22. When the receptacle 20 is inserted into the mouth 16 of the container (cup) body 10, the rim 24 of the receptacle 20 is supported on at least a part of the rim 161 of the mouth 16 of the container body 10. The receptacle 20 further has a peripheral wall 28, and a coupling groove 281 at the peripheral wall 28. The straw 40 is slidably positioned in the coupling groove 281. The receptacle 20 has two receiving chambers 25 for holding powder sugar, milk, cake, peanut, spice, beverage, or any other dessert.

Figure 7 shows still another alternate form of the present invention.

This alternate form is similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 6, however the straw 40 according to this alternate form is a bendable straw directly received at the top side of the receptacle 20 and covered by the closure 30.

Figure 8 shows still another alternate form of the present invention.

According to this embodiment, the beverage container is an easy-opener (a beverage can with a retained cap). The receptacle 20 is received in the container (can) body 10, having a peripheral coupling groove 26. The peripheral coupling groove 26 is forced into engagement with the rim 171 of the mouth 17 of the container body 10 to close the mouth 17, enabling the receptacle 20 to be positioned in the mouth 17 of the container body 10 and the mouth 17 of the container body 10 to be closed by the receptacle 20. The closure 30 is a metal cover sealed to the mouth 17 of the container body 10, having a retained cap 31.

The receptacle 20 is shaped like a plastic cover having a receiving chamber 27 on the inside, a weaken area (not shown) that can easily be pierced with a straw, and a sealing cover (not shown).

Figure 9 shows still another alternate form of the present invention.

This alternate form is similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 8. However, the embodiment shown in Figure 9 is equipped with a straw 40. The straw 40 is bendable, and detachably attached to the receptacle 20 at the top. As illustrated, the receptacle 20 has a peripheral coupling groove 26 for engagement with the rim 171 of the mouth 17 of the container body 10. The closure 30 is a metal cover closed on the mouth 17 of the container body 10 and covered over the receptacle 20, having a retained cap 31. The matching arrangement of the straw 40 and the receptacle 20 is suitable for use in the fabrication of beverage cans.

It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A beverage container comprising: a container body having a mouth and a rim around said mouth; at least one receptacle mounted in said container body, said at least one receptacle having a bottom wall, said bottom wall having a weakened area that can be pierced with a straw; and a closure covering the mouth of said container body.
2. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein said container body has a threaded neck around said mouth and integral with the rim of said container body for holding said at least one receptacle in said mouth, there being only one said receptacle and the receptacle having a mouth and a sealing cover covering the respective mouth.
3. The beverage container of claim 2 wherein the sealing cover of the receptacle has a peripheral edge supported on the rim at the threaded neck of said container body.
4. The beverage container of any preceding claim wherein said container body comprises a bottom wall, a first receiving space surrounded by said bottom wall, a second receiving space, and support means to support at least one receptacle in said second receiving space.
5. The beverage container of claim 4 wherein said second receiving space of said container body is divided into a plurality of sub-receiving spaces in which said support means is installed to hold said at least one receptacle in place.
6. The beverage container of claim 4 wherein said at least one receptacle has a mouth and a sealing cover on the respective mouth.
7. The beverage container of any preceding claim wherein said container body is a cup and said at least one receptacle has a mouth and a rim raised around the respective mouth and supported on at least a part of the rim of said container body.
8. The beverage container of claim 7 wherein said at least one receptacle has two separated receiving chambers.
9. The beverage container of any preceding claim wherein said at least one receptacle includes one receptacle having a peripheral coupling groove forced into engagement with the rim of said container body, enabling the mouth of said container body to be closed by the receptacle, and said closure comprises retained cap.
10. A beverage container comprising: a container body having a mouth and a rim around said mouth; at least one receptacle respectively mounted in said container body, said at least one receptacle having a bottom wall, said bottom wall having a weakened area that can be pierced with a straw; a straw mounted in said container body; said straw having at least one part disposed adjacent to the mouth of said container body; and a closure covering the mouth of said container body.
11. The beverage container of claim 10 wherein said container body comprises a bottom wall, a first receiving space surrounded by said bottom wall, a second receiving space, and support means to support said at least one receptacle in said second receiving space; and at least one of said receptacles has a peripheral side wall and a coupling groove at the peripheral side wall in which said straw is slidably positioned.
12. The beverage container of claim 11 wherein there is a plurality of said receptacles, and said second receiving space of said container body is divided into a plurality of sub-receiving spaces in which said support means is installed to hold at least one said receptacle in place.
13. The beverage container of claim 11 or claim 12 wherein said at least one receptacle has a sealing cover, and said straw is put on the sealing cover of at least one said receptacle.
14. The beverage container of any of claims 10 to 12 wherein said container body is a cup; said at least one receptacle has a mouth, a rim raised around the respective mouth and supported on at least a part of the rim of said container body, a peripheral side wall, and a coupling groove at the peripheral side wall; and said straw is slidably positioned in the coupling groove at at least one said receptacle.
15. The beverage container of claim 14 wherein said at least one receptacle has two separated receiving chambers.
16. The beverage container of claim 14 or claim 15 wherein said at least one receptacle has a sealing cover, and said straw is put on the sealing cover of at at least one said receptacle.
17. The beverage container of any of claims 10 to 16 wherein said at least one receptacle includes one receptacle having a peripheral coupling groove forced into engagement with the rim of said container body, enabling the mouth of said container body to be closed by the receptacle, and said closure comprises a retained cap.
18. The beverage container of any of claims 10 to 17 wherein said straw has at least one part disposed adjacent to the mouth of said container body within 1 centimetre.
19. A beverage container substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or to Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8 or Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.