Multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly

Abstract

A multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly includes an outer container body housing multiple interior liquid beverage storage vessels. A one-piece liquid transfer rod contained within the outer container body releasably attaches to the interior beverage storage vessels in a manner enabling stored liquid beverage to be transferred from the interior beverage storage vessels, through the liquid transfer rod, to outer container body openings.

Claims

1. A multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly, comprising: an outer container body comprising: a main body transitioning, via a shoulder, to an outer container body neck; said main body in the form of a continuous sidewall extending between a main body lower edge and said shoulder, the main body defining a main body interior space; and said outer container body neck in the form of a continuous sidewall extending between a container body neck top wall and said shoulder, the outer container body neck defining an outer container body neck interior space, the container body neck top wall having a plurality of apertures extending completely therethrough; a plurality of interior liquid beverage storage vessels contained within the outer container body; a unitary liquid transfer rod contained within the outer container body, the unitary liquid transfer rod releasably attached to the plurality of interior beverage storage vessels in a manner enabling the transfer of liquid beverage from the plurality of interior liquid beverage storage vessels to the unitary liquid transfer rod; and a closure cap releasably attachable to a lower end of the outer container body.

2. The multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly recited in claim 1, wherein the unitary liquid transfer rod further comprises: a thickened upper end extending vertically between upper and lower surfaces thereof, the thickened upper end having a plurality of liquid transfer channels extending completely therethrough, each one of the plurality of liquid transfer channels extending between an upper opening in the upper surface of the thickened upper end and a lower opening in the lower surface of the thickened upper end, the plurality of liquid transfer channels in alignment with the plurality of container body neck top wall apertures when the multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly is in a fully-assembled state; and a stem length depending downwardly from the lower surface of the thickened upper end along a central axis of the unitary liquid transfer rod, wherein the thickened upper end of the unitary liquid transfer rod has a geometry and size conforming to the outer container body neck interior space.

3. The multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly recited in claim 2, wherein the unitary liquid transfer rod further comprises an upper half of a first frictional coupling system in the form of a raised annular wall projecting downwardly from the lower surface of the thickened upper end and surrounding the lower opening in the lower surface of the thickened upper end.

4. The multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly recited in claim 3, wherein each one of the plurality of interior liquid beverage storage vessels further comprises: a left sidewall; a right sidewall; an upper end wall; a lower end wall; an exterior radial wall spanning rear edges of the respective left sidewall, right sidewall, upper end wall and lower end wall; and a concave interior linear groove spanning front edges of the respective left sidewall, right sidewall, upper end wall and lower end wall, wherein the left and right sidewalls, the upper and lower end walls, the exterior radial wall and the concave interior linear groove, together, define an interior space of each one of the interior liquid beverage storage vessels.

5. The multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly recited in claim 3, wherein each one of the plurality of interior liquid beverage storage vessels further comprises an opening extending completely through the upper end wall.

6. The multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly recited in claim 5, wherein each one of the plurality of interior liquid beverage storage vessels further comprises a lower half of the first frictional coupling system in the form of a raised annular wall projecting upwardly from an upper surface of the upper end wall and surrounding the opening in the upper end wall, wherein the upper and lower halves of the first frictional coupling system enable releasable frictional attachment of the thickened upper end of the unitary liquid transfer rod to the plurality of interior beverage storage vessels in a manner enabling communication of liquid beverages from each one of the interior beverage storage vessels into respective ones of the plurality of liquid transfer channels.

7. The multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly recited in claim 6, wherein the plurality of unitary interior beverage storage vessels, together, define a combined geometry and size conforming to the main body interior space of the outer container body.

8. The multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly recited in claim 7, wherein the concave interior linear grooves of the respective plurality of unitary beverage storage vessels, together, define a liquid transfer rod stem-receiving channel along a central axis of the multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly, wherein the liquid transfer rod stem-receiving channel conforms to the geometry and size of the liquid transfer rod stem.

9. The multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly recited in claim 8, wherein the closure cap further comprises: an upper surface; a lower surface; and a threaded peripheral edge, wherein the threaded peripheral edge of the closure cap threadingly engages corresponding threads on an interior surface of the continuous sidewall of the lower end of the main body of the outer container body.

10. The multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly recited in claim 9, wherein the closure cap has a thickness adequate to engage the lower end walls of the plurality of unitary liquid beverage storage vessels such that the corresponding upper end walls of the plurality of unitary liquid beverage storage vessels are urged against an interior surface of the outer container body shoulder, and such that an upper surface of the thickened upper end of the unitary liquid transfer rod is urged against an interior surface of the top wall of the outer container bottle neck.

11. The multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly recited in claim 1, wherein the container body neck top wall further comprises a plurality of closure tabs attached thereto by respective living hinges, the plurality of closure tabs configured and positioned for selectively sealing the plurality of apertures extending through the container body neck top wall.

12. The multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly recited in claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary neck sleeve configured for threading engagement with corresponding threads on an exterior surface of the continuous sidewall of the outer container body neck.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The components in the drawing figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top front exploded view of a multi-compartment beverage container subassembly 10, in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a bottom front exploded view of the multi-compartment beverage container subassembly shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top right perspective view of a unitary interior beverage storage vessel 42, in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a frictional attachment/engagement structure 56 of the unitary interior beverage storage vessel 42 introduced in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a bottom right perspective view of the unitary interior beverage storage vessel 42 introduced in FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the unitary interior beverage storage vessel 42 introduced in FIG. 3;

(8) FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of a unitary liquid transfer rod 60, in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a frictional attachment/engagement structure 66 of the unitary liquid transfer rod 60 introduced in FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the unitary liquid transfer rod 60 introduced in FIG. 7;

(11) FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the unitary liquid transfer rod 60 introduced in FIG. 7;

(12) FIG. 11 is a top plan view of an outer container body 20, in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present invention;

(13) FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the outer container body 20 introduced in FIG. 11;

(14) FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the outer container body 20 introduced in FIG. 11; and

(15) FIG. 14 is a bottom front perspective view of the multi-compartment beverage container subassembly 10 shown in a fully-assembled state, with the closure cap 70 removed to expose the assembled interior storage vessels 40 and liquid transfer rod 60.

(16) In the accompanying figures, reference numerals designate corresponding elements throughout the different views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(17) The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. There is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that any specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

(18) Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, exploded views of the multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly of the present invention is shown generally as reference number 10. Generally, the multi-compartment liquid beverage container assembly 10 includes an outer container body 20, a plurality of interior beverage storage vessels (shown generally as reference number 40), a liquid transfer rod 60, an outer container body closure cap 70, and (optionally) an auxiliary neck sleeve 80.

(19) Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 11-14, the structure of the outer container body 20 will now be described in more detail. Outer container body 20 includes a main body 22 in the form of a continuous sidewall. Accordingly, this structure is alternatively referred to herein as a “main body,” “main body sidewall,” and “main body continuous sidewall.” Main body 22 extends between outer container shoulder 26 and main body sidewall lower edge 29. Outer container shoulder 26 is further defined by an exterior shoulder surface 26a and an opposite interior shoulder surface 26b. Main body sidewall 22 is further defined by an exterior surface 22a and an interior surface 22b. Interior surface 22b incorporates a threaded interior surface portion 22c proximate to main body sidewall lower edge 29. As described in further detail below, threaded interior surface portion 22c enables threaded coupling of closure cap 70 to the bottom of main body 22 of outer container body 20.

(20) At its upper end, outer container body 20 includes a neck 24 in the form of a continuous sidewall. Accordingly, this structure is alternatively referred to herein as a “neck,” “neck sidewall,” and “neck continuous sidewall.” Main body sidewall 22 transitions, via shoulder 26, to neck sidewall 24. Although shoulder 26 is shown having a flat horizontal orientation, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the shoulder could alternatively be provided having a straight or curved inward taper. Neck 24 extends between outer container shoulder 26 and neck top wall 28. Neck 24 is further defined by an exterior surface 24a and an interior surface 24b. Neck exterior surface 24b incorporates a threaded exterior surface portion 24c proximate to shoulder upper surface 26a. As described in further detail below, threaded exterior surface portion 24c enables threaded coupling of auxiliary neck sleeve 80 to the lower end of neck 24 of outer container body 20. Neck top wall 28 is further defined by an exterior surface 28a and an opposite interior surface 28b. Spaced-apart liquid beverage dispensing openings 28c are provided extended completely through neck top wall 28. A corresponding plurality of closure tabs 25, each including a fitment nub 25a and attached to neck top wall 28 via a living hinge 25b, are provided for selectively sealing off the respective liquid beverage dispensing openings 28c. Main body 22, shoulder 26, neck 24 and neck top wall 28, together, define an outer container body interior space (generally indicated by reference arrow 30). As described in further detail below, outer container body interior space 30 has a geometry and size particularly suited for close-fitting receipt of unitary liquid transfer rod 60 and interior beverage storage vessels 40, once these components have been sub-assembled to one another.

(21) Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1-6, the structure of an individual interior liquid beverage storage vessel 42 will now be described. Each interior liquid beverage storage vessel may be defined by: left sidewall 44; right sidewall 46; exterior radial wall 48 adjoining radially exterior, or outer, edges of the left and right sidewalls; upper end wall 50; lower end wall 52; and a concave interior linear groove 54 adjoining radially interior, or inner, edges of the left and right sidewalls. A frictional engagement structure, shown generally as reference numeral 56, is preferably integrated into upper end wall 50. Frictional engagement structure 56 is comprised of opening 58 in upper end wall 50, and raised annular wall feature 59 protruding from the exterior surface of the upper end wall. Preferably, raised annular wall feature 59 bounds, or circumscribes, opening 58. Prior to assembly, an adhesive seal/label (L) or the like may be assembled to annular wall feature 59 in a manner effectively sealing opening 58 to prevent leakage or contamination of any liquid beverage contained within interior liquid beverage storage vessel 42; particularly, during transport and storage. As described in more detail below, the adhesive seal/label (L) is removed during the assembly process.

(22) Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, and 7-10, the structure of the unitary liquid transfer rod 60 will now be described in more detail. Unitary liquid transfer rod 60 generally includes a thickened upper end 62 having a stem 64 depending linearly downward therefrom. Thickened upper end 62 may be further defined by a cylindrical exterior side surface 62a extending between upper surface 62b and lower surface 62c. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the particular cylindrical geometry of the thickened upper end 62 is merely exemplary; alternative geometries could be employed to provide the same functionality without departing from the intended scope of the invention. However, it is important that the cross-sectional geometry of thickened upper end 62 conforms to the corresponding geometry of neck 24. Stem 64 may be further defined by exterior side surface 64a and lower end 64b.

(23) Significantly, liquid transfer channels 68 are provided extending through thickened upper end 62 of liquid transfer rod 60 for enabling the transfer of liquid beverage from the interior of each interior liquid beverage storage vessel 42 to the corresponding liquid beverage-dispensing openings 28c in top wall 28 of neck 24. Each liquid transfer channel 68 extends from an upper transfer channel opening 68b in the upper surface 62b of thickened upper end 62 to a lower transfer channel opening 68c in the lower surface 62c of thickened upper end 62. A frictional engagement structure, shown generally as reference numeral 66, is preferably integrated into lower surface 62c of thickened upper end 62. Frictional engagement structure 66 is comprised of opening 68c in lower surface 62c, and raised annular wall feature 69 protruding from lower surface 62c of thickened upper end 62 of liquid transfer rod 60. Raised annular wall feature 69—surrounding/bounding, or circumscribing, opening 68c—may incorporate a textured (e.g. ribbed) exterior peripheral surface 69a. As described in more detail below, during assembly of liquid transfer rod 60 to the interior liquid beverage storage vessels 40 the ribbed exterior peripheral surface 69a of each raised annular wall feature 69 frictionally engages the corresponding interior surface 59a of the raised annular wall feature 59 of a respective interior liquid beverage storage vessel 42. In this manner, frictional engagement structure 66 of thickened upper end 62 of unitary liquid transfer rod 60, and frictional engagement structure 56 of unitary interior liquid beverage storage vessel 42, define respective upper and lower halves of a first frictional coupling system.

(24) Although not shown in the accompanying drawing figures, it is contemplated to incorporate a similar second frictional coupling system for enabling frictional engagement of the thickened upper end 62 of liquid transfer rod 60 with lower surface 28b of top wall 28 of neck 24. For instance, a raised annular wall structure (not shown) similar to raised annular wall feature 69 may be provided surrounding upper channel openings 68b of upper surface 62b of thickened upper end 62 of liquid transfer rod 60, and a corresponding raised annular wall structure (not shown) similar to annular wall feature 59 may be provided projecting downwardly from interior surface 28b of neck top wall 28, and bordering the perimeters of liquid beverage dispensing openings 28c in top wall 28 of neck 24.

(25) Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 14, closure cap 70 is preferably in the form of a circular disk defined by upper surface 70a, lower surface 70b, and threaded perimeter edge 70d. Furthermore, finger gripping features 70c may be provided in lower surface 70b to aid a user during threading attachment/removal of closure cap 70 to/from threaded lower interior surface portion 22c of main body sidewall 22.

(26) Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, an optional auxiliary neck sleeve 80 may be releasably attached to neck 24 of outer container body 20 to function as a drinking spout. The auxiliary neck sleeve 80 preferably has a unitary body in the form of a cylindrical sidewall 82 having a lower edge 86 and transitioning at an upper end to a reduced-diameter upper edge 84. The auxiliary neck sleeve 80 (including exterior surface 82a and opposite interior surface 82b) defines a beverage spout passageway 88 therethrough. A threaded portion 82c may be provided along a lower portion of the interior surface 82b to enable threading engagement with the threaded portion 24c of exterior surface 24a of outer container neck 24. The auxiliary neck sleeve 80 functions to combine individual streams of liquid beverage (i.e. flowing through the liquid-dispensing openings 28c in top wall 28 of neck 24) into a single combined beverage flow during the act of drinking. At its upper end, auxiliary sleeve 80 may include a drinking spout cap 87 attached thereto via a living hinge 85.

(27) The interior beverage storage vessels 40 are intended to be reusable. Accordingly, it is preferred that they are molded from an appropriate polymer, such as High Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE). With that said, the invention is not intended to be so limited—any suitable alternative materials may be used to construct the interior beverage storage vessels 40 and the outer container body 20, without departing from the intended scope of the invention. A method for assembling multi-compartment beverage container assembly 10 will now be described.

(28) As noted above, prior to assembly, an adhesive seal/label (L) or the like may be assembled to annular wall feature 59 in a manner effectively sealing opening 58 to prevent leakage or contamination of any liquid beverage contained within interior liquid beverage storage vessel 42; particularly, during transport and storage. During the assembly process, the adhesive seal/label (L) is removed to expose opening 58 and annular sidewall 59 of storage vessel 42, and the individual storage vessels 42 are brought together (as generally shown by reference numeral 40) such that the linear grooves 54, together, define a lower stem receiving channel 55 (see FIG. 14). In other words, lower stem receiving channel 55 is formed by adjacent concave interior linear grooves 42 of interior beverage storage vessel subassembly 40.

(29) Subsequently, lower stem 64 of liquid transfer rod 60 is inserted into lower stem receiving channel 55 until frictional engagement structures 66 of thickened upper end 62 of unitary liquid transfer rod 60 frictionally engage corresponding frictional engagement structures 56 of interior liquid beverage storage vessels 42. In this manner, a frictional attachment between thickened upper end 62 and interior beverage storage vessels 42 is formed such that the interiors of the beverage storage vessels are in fluid communication with the corresponding liquid transfer channels 68 extending through thickened upper end 62 of liquid transfer rod 60.

(30) Subsequently, this subassembly of interior liquid beverage storage vessels 42 and liquid transfer rod 60 is inserted into interior space 30 of outer container body 20, such that thickened upper end 62 of liquid transfer rod 60 is seated within an upper interior space of outer container body 20 defined by neck 24 and neck top wall 28, and combined unitary interior beverage storage vessel subassembly 40 is received within a lower interior space of outer container body 20 defined by main body continuous sidewall 22 and shoulder 26. More specifically, upper surface 62b of thickened upper portion 62 of liquid transfer rod 60 abuts interior surface 28b of neck top wall 28, and cylindrical exterior surface 62a of thickened upper end 62 frictionally engages interior surface 24b of cylindrical necks sidewall 24. Moreover, the upper surfaces of upper end walls 50 of respective interior liquid beverage storage vessels 42 abut interior surface 26b of shoulder 26 of outer container body 20, and the outer surfaces of exterior radial walls 48 frictionally engage interior surface 22b of main body sidewall 22 of outer container body 20.

(31) Referring now particularly to FIG. 14, at this point of the assembly process the lower end walls 52 of the sub-assembled interior liquid beverage storage vessels 42 are inset from lower edge 29 of main body sidewall 22 to expose threaded lower interior surface portion 22c. Subsequently, outer container body closure cap 70 is attached to the lower end of outer container body 20 via mating of threaded peripheral edge 70d of container body closure cap 70 with threaded lower interior surface portion 22c of main body sidewall 22. Preferably, closure cap 70 has finger gripping features 70c integrated into closure cap exterior surface 70b to facilitate user attachment of the closure cap to the outer container body.

(32) Although not shown in the accompany drawings, applicant contemplates incorporating a tamper prevention feature into the multi-compartment liquid beverage assembly 10 to prevent post-assembly removal of interior liquid beverage storage containers 40. By way of example, applicant contemplates incorporating mechanical snap-fit coupling between snap-fit engagement structures 66 of thickened upper end 62 that self-destruct upon detachment of liquid transfer rod 60 from corresponding interior liquid beverage storage containers 40.

(33) Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to describe preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.