APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED BEVERAGE CANISTER HOLDING, HANDLING AND DRINKING

Abstract

The improved beverage canister is configured with six predetermined and preformed indentations. Of the six predetermined and preformed indentations, four indentations are located on the rear of the beverage canister. These four predetermined and preformed indentations are located where the user would place his four fingers when drinking. The fifth predetermined and preformed indentation would be located above the vertical centerline of the beverage canister on the front of the beverage canister. This fifth predetermined and preformed indentation is located for the user's thumb. The sixth predetermined and preformed indentation is located on the front of the beverage canister, just below the top portion of the beverage canister and right below the opening where the beverage exits the opening. The optional improved body texture could consist of a partially or entirely knurled surface or a textured label to improve the grip of the canister.

Claims

1. A beverage canister for improving a user's grip, comprising: a bottom portion; a top portion, said top portion comprising a tab and an opening; a body portion, said body portion comprising a lower ring and an upper ring, such that said body portion is mostly perpendicular to said bottom portion between said lower ring and said upper ring, said body portion further comprising a front side and a rear side; said body portion comprising at least one predetermined and preformed indentation, said at least one predetermined and preformed indentation located and configured to accept at least one of said user's fingers, said at least one predetermined and preformed indentation incorporated into said beverage canister during said manufacturing process and prior to a beverage being dispensed into the beverage canister.

2. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 1, wherein said at least one predetermined and preformed indentation comprises one predetermined and preformed indentation.

3. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 2, wherein said one predetermined and preformed indentation is located on said rear side of said beverage canister.

4. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 2, wherein said one predetermined and preformed indentation is located on said front side of said beverage canister.

5. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 1, wherein said at least one predetermined and preformed indentation comprises two predetermined and preformed indentations.

6. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 5, wherein said two predetermined and preformed indentations are located on said rear side of said beverage canister.

7. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 5, wherein said two predetermined and preformed indentations are located on said front side of said beverage canister, and one of said front side predetermined and preformed indentations is configured for the user's mouth.

8. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 5, wherein one of said two predetermined and preformed indentations is located on said rear side of said beverage canister, and one of said two predetermined and preformed indentations is located on said front side of said beverage canister, and said one of said two predetermined and preformed indentations located on said front side of said beverage canister is configured for the user's mouth.

9. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 1, wherein said at least one predetermined and preformed indentation comprises three predetermined and preformed indentations.

10. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 9, wherein said three predetermined and preformed indentations are located on said rear side of said beverage canister.

11. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 9, wherein one of said three predetermined and preformed indentations is located on said front side of said beverage canister and is configured for the user's mouth, and two of said three predetermined and preformed indentations are located on said rear side of said beverage canister.

12. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 1, wherein said at least one predetermined and preformed indentation comprises four predetermined and preformed indentations.

13. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 12, wherein said four predetermined and preformed indentations are located on said rear side of said beverage canister.

14. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 12, wherein one of said four predetermined and preformed indentations is located on said front side of said beverage canister and is configured for the user's mouth, and three of said three predetermined and preformed indentations are located on said rear side of said beverage canister.

15. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 1, wherein said at least one predetermined and preformed indentation comprises five predetermined and preformed indentations.

16. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 15, wherein one of said five predetermined and preformed indentations is located on said front side of said beverage canister and is configured for the user's mouth, and four of said five predetermined and preformed indentations is located on said rear side of said beverage canister.

17. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 1, wherein said at least one predetermined and preformed indentation comprises six predetermined and preformed indentations.

18. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 17, wherein two of said six predetermined and preformed indentations is located on said front side of said beverage canister and one of said two of said six predetermined and preformed indentations is configured for the user's mouth, and four of said six predetermined and preformed indentations are located on said rear side of said beverage canister.

19. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 1, wherein said at least one predetermined and preformed indentation comprises a body texture surface.

20. The beverage canister for improving a user's grip of claim 19, wherein said body texture surface comprises a knurled surface on some or all of said at least one predetermined and preformed indentation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The preferred embodiments of the disclosure will be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to the limit the disclosure, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates the rear view of an improved beverage canister for handling and drinking beverages in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates the front view of an improved beverage canister for handling and drinking beverages in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a perspective view of an improved beverage canister for handling and drinking beverages in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate multiple perspective views of an improved beverage canister for handling and drinking beverages in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0036] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the front and rear view of an improved beverage canister for handling and drinking beverages in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[0037] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar features in the various views, the present disclosure pertains to an improved beverage canister that is configured with preformed and predetermined finger and/or mouth indentations to assist with the handling, holding and drinking of the beverage canister.

[0038] FIGS. 1 through 5 show an improved beverage canister 10 for holding and handling beverages, along with an improvement for drinking the beverage in the canister in accordance with the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows an improved beverage canister 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment. As is well known in the industry, the beverage canister 10 is made up of a bottom portion 12, a vertical cylindrical wall or body portion 14, and a top portion 16. In some situations, the bottom portion 12 and the body portion 14 are integrated into a single portion. For this disclosure, the bottom portion 12 and the body portion 14 are considered as separate portions; however, the disclosure would apply to any beverage canister manufacturing process. The top portion 16 contains a beverage canister tab 18 (FIG. 2) that used to open the beverage canister so that the beverage contents can be poured out or the user can drink from the beverage canister 10 at the opening 19.

[0040] As also understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that most beverage canisters 10 have two rings located in the body portion 14. The lower ring 20 is near the bottom portion 12 of the beverage canister 10, and the upper ring 22 is near the top portion 16 of the beverage canister 10. Each ring 20, 22 completely surrounds the body portion 14, and the beverage canister body 14 then bevels or slants to the bottom portion 12 or top portion 16, respectively. This configuration allows for a majority of the beverage canister body 14 to be perpendicular to the bottom portion 12 and top portion 16.

[0041] This configuration is also good for packaging and transporting multiple beverage canisters at a time, however, the configuration does not make it easy for one drinking from the beverage canister to handle or hold the beverage canister. The configuration also does not make it easy for one to drink out of the beverage canister, without tilting one's head backwards in an uncomfortable angle to avoid spilling the beverage.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows the rear side of the improved beverage canister 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. The rear side is the side that faces away from the drinker, when drinking the beverage. The preferred embodiment of the improved beverage canister comprises four predetermined and preformed indentations 24, 26, 28, 30 on the rear side of the beverage canister body 14 that is perpendicular to the beverage canister bottom 12. Each of the four indentations 24, 26, 28, 30 are predetermined and preformed to be located, sized and configured to accept and support the fingers on the drinker's hand. As detailed herein, the four indentations 24, 26, 28, 30 do not necessarily need to be parallel or the same size.

[0043] Accordingly, the first predetermined and preformed indentation 24 is located and configured near the top of the beverage canister body 14 where the drinker would place his or her index finger (not shown) when drinking a beverage from the beverage canister 10. The second predetermined and preformed indentation 26 is located and configured near the top half of the beverage canister body 14 below the first predetermined and preformed indentation 24, where the drinker would place his or her middle finger (not shown) when drinking a beverage from the canister 10. The third predetermined and preformed indentation 28 is located and configured near the lower half of the beverage canister body 14 below the second predetermined and preformed indentation 26, where the drinker would place his or her ring finger (not shown) when drinking a beverage from the beverage canister 10. The fourth predetermined and preformed indentation 30 is located and configured near the bottom of the beverage canister body 14 below the third predetermined and preformed indentation 28, where the drinker would place his or her pinkie finger (not shown) when drinking a beverage from the beverage canister 10.

[0044] These four predetermined and preformed indentations 24, 26, 28, 30 are used to allow the beverage drinker to easily hold and handle the beverage canister 10 when drinking the beverage. Although the predetermined and preformed indentations 24, 26, 28, 30 are shown as the same size and the same distance apart in FIG. 1, the present disclosure contemplates that the predetermined sizes of each predetermined and preformed indentation 24, 26, 28, 30 can be varied, including deeper indentations 24, 26, 28, 30 for one or the other. The predetermined and preformed indentations 24, 26, 28, 30 can also be preformed and sloped based on the configuration of the human hand, and not necessarily be parallel to each other as shown.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows the front side of the improved beverage canister 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. The front side is the side that faces towards the drinker, when drinking the beverage. The preferred embodiment of the improved beverage canister comprises fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32 and a sixth predetermined and preformed indentation 34 on the front side of the beverage canister body 14. The fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32 is located, sized and configured to accept the thumb on the drinker's hand (not shown), and is located on the front side of the canister 10 closer to the canister top 16 of the canister body 14.

[0046] By placing the fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32 closer to the canister top 16, when the user holds the canister 10, the user's thumb will properly locate in the fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32. For example, the user's fingers will be placed on the rear side of the canister 10 (whether there are some or all rear side indentations 24, 26, 28, 30 or none at all), and the user's thumb will automatically be placed closer to the top 16 of the front side of the canister 10.

[0047] This is where the fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32 is to be located. Additionally, when the thumb is properly placed in the fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32 near the canister top 16 of the front of the canister 10, the user will have a better hold on the canister 10 as the center of gravity will drop below the thumb as more of the beverage is removed from the canister 10. Similar to the previous four predetermined and preformed indentations 24, 26, 28, 30, the fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32 does not have to be parallel to the bottom portion 12, but can be sized and/or located in a position that replicates the thumb location of an average drinker. This fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32 also helps with the proper position of the canister to the user's mouth by use of the predetermined and preformed thumb indentation being located directly in line with beverage opening.

[0048] In the preferred embodiment, the sixth predetermined and preformed indentation 34 is also located on the front side of the beverage canister body 14, but is located near the top of the beverage canister body 14 and in or just above the ring 22 of the beverage canister 10. The sixth predetermined and preformed indentation 34 is located, sized and configured so that the beverage canister 10 will fit better along the drinker's mouth and, in particular, the drinker's bottom lip (not shown) when drinking the beverage from the beverage canister 10. The sixth predetermined and preformed indentation can be shaped and sized to better fit the mouth and lower lip of the average drinker.

[0049] With all of these six predetermined and preformed indentations 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, the size, shape and location can be revised to be customized to a particular arrangement to allow that user to better hold, handle and drink the beverage in the beverage canister 10. For example, the beverage canister can have three different sizes, small. Medium and large, for different size drinkers and each drinker can choose the size that best suits that drinker. Additionally, each drinker can be measured or sized for their own particular indentations that would fit their hand and mouth, and they can then use those measurements to order specific sized indentations in their beverage canisters 10.

[0050] Further, the method of manufacturing the beverage canister 10 contemplates that a particular drinker can determine the size, shape, angle and location of the six predetermined and preformed indentations that suits him or her best and use that configuration to order beverage canisters 10 with that particular size. Either way, whether the six predetermined and preformed indentations 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 in the beverage canister 10 are made from an average size calculation or are made from a custom fit, the present disclosure provides for an improved beverage canister 10 and improvements for handling and holding the improved beverage canister 10, and for drinking from the improved beverage canister 10.

[0051] The method of manufacturing provides for incorporating the predetermined and preformed indentation or indentations into the beverage canister prior to filling the beverage canister with the beverage. However, in an alternative embodiment, incorporating the predetermined and preformed indentation or indentation can occur after filling the beverage canister with the beverage.

[0052] FIGS. 3A and 3B show the front side of the beverage canister 10 in which the sixth predetermined and preformed indentation 34 is located on or above the ring 22 of the beverage canister body 14. FIG. 3A shows three different views of the sixth predetermined and preformed indentation 34, for reference purposes. FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of the sixth predetermined and preformed indentation 34 on the beverage canister body 14. The sixth predetermined and preformed indentation 34 is also shown in FIG. 3B in relationship to the beverage canister tab 18 for better understanding as to where the drinker's mouth and lower lip will be placed during the drinking process.

[0053] FIGS. 4A and B show the front side of an alternative embodiment of the beverage canister 10 in which the fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32 is located below the ring 22 of the beverage canister body 14. FIG. 4A shows three different views of the alternative embodiment fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32, for reference purposes. FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of the alternative embodiment fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32 on the beverage canister body 14. The alternative embodiment fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32 is also shown in FIG. 4B in relationship to the beverage canister tab 18 for better understanding as to where the drinker's thumb will be placed during the drinking process with the alternative embodiment.

[0054] As with all of the embodiments disclosed herein, the placement of one or more predetermined and preformed indentations 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 in the canister body 14 will allow the canister 10 user to grip the canister 10, without looking at the canister 10 and be able to properly orient the canister 10 before placing the opening of the canister top 16 against the user's lips before drinking the contents of the canister 10. As an example, if the user is watching a movie and the room is dark, the user can reach for the canister 10, and without looking down, place the fingers and thumb of the hand in the proper location based on the particular one or more predetermined and preformed indentations 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 in the canister body 14. Additionally, if the user is having a conversation with another person, the proper orientation of the canister 10 can be determined without looking away from the other person.

[0055] Additional alternative embodiments include beverage canisters 10, which have a different combination of the predetermined and preformed indentations 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 described herein. One alternative embodiment comprises the first 24, second 26, third 28, fourth 30, and sixth 34 predetermined and preformed indentations, thereby not providing a predetermined and preformed thumb indentation in the front of the body portion 14 of the beverage canister 10.

[0056] An additional alternative embodiment comprises the first 24, second 26, third 28, fourth 30, and fifth 32 predetermined and preformed indentations, thereby not providing a predetermined and preformed drinking indentation in the front of the body portion 14 of the beverage canister 10. This alternative embodiment is used for improving the handling and holding of the beverage canister 10 while not taking advantage of the sixth predetermined and preformed indentation 34 that improves the drinking functionality.

[0057] An additional alternative embodiment comprises only the sixth predetermined and preformed indentation 34 by itself. This alternative embodiment allows the drinker take advantage of the sixth predetermined and preformed indentation 34 for increasing the drinking functionality of the beverage canister 10 without the need for predetermined and preformed indentations for the fingers or thumb.

[0058] An additional alternative embodiment comprises only the fifth 32 and sixth 34 predetermined and preformed indentations. This alternative embodiment allows the drinker to establish a thumb hold while also taking advantage of the sixth predetermined and preformed indentation 34 for better drinking functionality.

[0059] An alternative embodiment comprises only the fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32. This alternative embodiment allows better hold and orientation.

[0060] Alternative embodiments further comprise any combination of one or more of the predetermined and preformed indentations 24, 26, 28, 30 on the rear side of the body 14, along with one or more predetermined and preformed indentations 32, 34 located on the front side of the body 14 of the beverage canister 10. For example, the first predetermined and preformed indentation 24 (index finger) and the second predetermined and preformed indentation (middle finger), along with the fifth predetermined and preformed indentation 32 (thumb) and the sixth predetermined and preformed indentation 34 (for the mouth).

[0061] All combinations of predetermined and preformed indentations are contemplated in the present disclosure, and all of these combinations of predetermined and preformed indentations 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 in the canister body 14 can provide proper orientation and gripping without the need for viewing the canister 10 before placing the canister top 16 in the proper location with respect to the user's mouth for accessing the beverage in the canister 10.

[0062] Additionally, the canister 10 can be manufactured to include an optional improved body texture comprising a knurled surface or a textured label. The textured surface would improve the handling of the canister. The body texture or knurled surface can be located on some or all of the canister 10 for easier gripping.

[0063] FIGS. 5A and 5B show examples of canisters 10 manufactured or subsequently provided with partial or entirely knurled surfaces 40. A knurled surface 40 is any type of surface created in the manufacturing process or added afterwards to give the generally slippery surface of a canister 10 a better grip. This could include raised knurled surfaces created during the manufacturing process but it could also be a textured label added after the can is manufactured and filled with the beverage. The knurled surface 40 can be located on the entire 42 canister 10 or only on the predetermined and preformed indentations 44 or a combination of the locations 42, 44. Also, some of the predetermined and preformed indentions may have a knurled surface while others do not 46.

[0064] It will be understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure, which have been described, are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present disclosure. Although numerous embodiments of this disclosure have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure.

[0065] All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the disclosed system and methods.

[0066] Additionally, joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosed apparatus, system and methods as disclosed herein.