Mixing Container Configured for Funneled Engagement with Drink Containers

Abstract

A container and system therefor is provided herein, wherein the containers are configured to store and transport user chosen contents therein, such as supplements or powders for mixing with liquids in a secondary container. A removable upper lid of the container is configured to form a stand when frictionally engaged to a lower lid engaged to the body. In use, the containers having a funnel shape that are positionable to a funneled engagement with the secondary container for depositing of the contents thereof into a fluid or other container. The containers are configured for a nesting engagement of a kit having multiple container bodies to nest in a compact stack.

Claims

1. A container apparatus comprising: a body having a shape defined by a sidewall; a first opening at a first end of the body communicating with an internal cavity of the body; a second opening at a second end of the body opposite the first end, the second opening communicating with the internal cavity; a first lid removably engageable at the first end of the body to form a first sealed engagement over the first opening; a second lid removably engageable at the second end of the body to form a second sealed engagement over the second opening; the second end of the body sized for forming a funneled engagement with a secondary container, whereby contents positioned within the internal cavity can be communicated into an interior of the secondary container with the second end of the body in the funneled engagement; a mounting projection extending from a central area of one side surface of the first lid, the mounting projection having a recess formed therein; an exterior surface of the second lid positionable to a removable engagement within the recess; the first lid defining a stand to support the body in an upright position whereby the contents are positionable through the first opening into the internal cavity with the body held in the upright position by the stand.

2. The container apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: the shape of the body defined by the sidewall being a funnel shape, the funnel shape narrowing from a wider end of the body defined by the sidewall surrounding the first opening to a narrow end of the body defined by the sidewall surrounding the second opening.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. The container apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: the removable engagement of the exterior surface of the second lid within the recess being a frictional engagement of an interior wall surrounding the recess with the exterior surface of the second lid.

6. (canceled)

7. The container apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: the container apparatus provided as a kit including a plurality of nestable_bodies.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. The container apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: a connecting member extending from an exterior surface of the sidewall opposite an interior surface of the sidewall surrounding the internal cavity; and a passage communicating through an opening in the connecting member, the passage for positioning a connector therein whereby the container can be engaged to the person of a user for carrying supported by the connector.

11. (canceled)

12. The container apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: the first lid being removably engageable to the first end of the body in a first threaded connection of threads formed on the first cap with first mounting threads formed on the sidewall at the first end of the body; and the second lid being removably engageable to the second end of the body in a second threaded connection of threads formed on the second cap with second mounting threads formed on the sidewall at the second end of the body.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. A container apparatus comprising: a funnel body with a top opening and a bottom opening opposite the top opening, the bottom opening narrower than the top opening; a first lid configured to releasably attach to the funnel body for closing the top opening; a second lid configured to releasably attach to the funnel body for closing the bottom opening; wherein the first lid has an underside with a mount configured to releasably attach the second lid, the underside and the mount forming an integral part of the first lid, and wherein upon attachment, the second lid is flush with the first lid.

22. The container apparatus of claim 21, the first lid configured to form a base for standing the funnel body in an upright position.

23. The container apparatus of claim 21, further comprising an annular member with aperture formed on the side of the funnel body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

[0029] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting.

[0030] In the drawings:

[0031] FIG. 1 depicts the container herein showing a side view of the sidewall forming the container body and showing a first lid removably engaged at a first end and a second lid removably engaged at an opposite second end along with a member extending from the exterior having a passage therein.

[0032] FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of the container of FIG. 1 showing the cooperative removable engagements of the first lid and second lid to opposite ends of the body of the container.

[0033] FIG. 3 depicts the first lid removed from an engagement covering the first opening of the container body and ready for insertion of the second lid into a frictional engagement into a recess depending into the mounting projection extending from the lower surface of the first lid.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows the device of FIG. 3 wherein the first lid defines a stand to hold the container body elevated while the second lid is removably engaged within the recess of the mounting projection.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a sectional view through FIG. 4 showing the sidewall of the container body surrounding the internal cavity of the container and showing the second lid frictionally engaged within the recess of the mounting projection.

[0036] FIG. 6 depicts the container body of the device and system herein, operatively engaged with a secondary container and operating as a funnel for the contents held within the internal cavity of the container body.

[0037] FIG. 7 shows the body of the container provided in a kit featuring a plurality of container bodies which are positionable to a nested stack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

Embodiments of the Invention

[0038] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only. As such, they are not intended to be limiting in any fashion or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

[0039] Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-7, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 a depiction of the container device 10 herein. As shown in the side view in FIG. 1, a sidewall 11 defines a substantially funnel shape to the body 12 of the container device 10 herein.

[0040] As shown in the figures, a first lid 14 is configured for a removable engagement over a first opening 16 portioned at a first end of the body 12. The first opening 16 communicates with an internal cavity 18 (FIGS. 4-5) of the body 12 of the container device 10 allowing access thereto.

[0041] Also shown in FIG. 1 is a second lid 20 which is removably engaged at a second end of the body 12 to cover a second opening 22 which also communicates with the internal cavity 18. This second lid 20 has a disengaged position, shown in FIG. 2, as does the first lid 14 also shown disengaged in FIG. 2. Cooperative connectors 24 located adjacent the first opening 16 are configured to removably engage with mating cooperative connectors 26 formed on the first lid 14. Cooperative connectors 24 adjacent the second opening 22 are configured to removably engage with the mating cooperative connectors 26 formed into the second lid 20. Currently, threads formed on the body 12 of the container device 10 form the cooperative connectors 24, and mating threads form the mating cooperative connectors 26. However, other cooperative connectors and mating cooperative connectors which provide the equivalent removable engagement can be employed and are anticipated in the scope of this application. However, due to the ease of use, intuitive engagement, and the ability for the user to easily tighten the contact of both the first lid 14 and second lid 20 to form sealed engagements over the respective first opening 16 and second opening 22, threaded connectors are preferred.

[0042] Additionally shown in FIGS. 1-2 and other figures are a connecting member 28 which extends from a first end engaged to the body 12 to a distal edge. A passage 30 is formed through the connecting member 28. This passage 30 is configured for engagement of a connector therethrough to removably connect the device 10 to clothing or backpacks or the like worn by the user. Such allows for the container device 10 to be packed within luggage or a backpack or the like, or to be hung exterior thereto or on the person of the user.

[0043] Shown in FIG. 3 is a depiction of the first lid 14 removed from engagement to the first end of the body 12 of the device 10 and positioned for placement in a removable engagement with the second lid 20 which is still engaged to the body 12. The lower surface 32 or interior surface of the first lid 14 has a mounting projection 34 extending therefrom. A recess 36 formed into the mounting projection 34 is sized to form a frictional engagement with the exterior surface 38 of the second lid 20 as shown in FIGS. 4-5. This removable frictional engagement of the first lid 14 with the second lid 20 is particularly preferred as it allows the first lid 14 to form a support to hold the body 12 in an upright position as in FIGS. 4-5.

[0044] The support, as shown, extends a distance substantially equal to or just slightly larger than the first opening 16 and forms an especially stable mount that is resistant to tipping of the body 12. This is most important in that it allows the user to place the body 12 in the supported position engaged with the first lid 14 which defines a support base while they place supplements or other food material into the internal cavity 18 through the first opening 16. The provision of the first lid 14, which also functions as a support when removed, thus, allows users to place the body 12 in the supported position atop the first lid 14 and measure and fill the food or supplements or the like in the proper or desired amounts into the internal cavity 18. Thereafter, the first lid 14 may be re-engaged over the first opening 16 to seal it and the material inside.

[0045] The mounting projection 34 is preferably formed of polymeric material which is slightly elastic in nature such that when the second lid 22 is slid into the recess 36, the wall defining the mounting projection 34 can slightly stretch and thereafter, impart a biased contact against the exterior surface 38 of the second lid 20. Such a biased contact will improve the holding of the body 12 in the supported position of FIGS. 4-5. Also shown in FIG. 3 are one or a plurality of projections 40 extending from the interior surface of the mounting projection 34 and into the recess 36. These projections can contact against the exterior surface 38 of the second lid to improve the biased frictional engagement of the mounting projection 34 therewith, to hold the body 12 in the supported position as in FIGS. 3-4.

[0046] Shown in FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the body 12 while in the supported position as in FIG. 4. As shown, the sidewall 11 of the body 12 defines the substantially funnel like shape thereof as well as defining the size and volume of the internal cavity 18. Also shown are an annular ledge 42 which can contact against the first lid lower edge 44 of the first lid 14 to form a secondary seal. A primary seal is formed by the contact of the lower surface 32 of the first lid 14 against the upper edge 46 of the sidewall 11 which surrounds the first opening 16.

[0047] In FIG. 6 is depicted the container body 12 operatively engaged in a removable engagement with a secondary container 48. As shown, the exterior circumference of the body 12 at the second end from which the second lid 20 is disengaged, is equal to or slightly smaller than the fill opening 52 of the secondary container 48. Such fill openings are widely employed as drink openings in such containers, for example a water bottle, where the user may tip the secondary container to have fluid from within exit through the fill opening 52. As such, it is preferred that the diameter and/or circumference of the body 12 at the second end, on which the second lid 20 engages to a removable sealed engagement, is formed to slide into the fill opening 52 of the chosen secondary container 48. This allows the body 12 of the device 10 to act as a funnel, wherein the contents of the internal cavity 18, such as food or supplements or the like, may be communicated into the interior cavity of the secondary container 48 easily.

[0048] The device 10 herein can be sold or marketed as a kit such as is shown in FIG. 7 wherein a plurality of bodies 12 are made available. Each body 12 will be engageable at the first end thereof with the first lid 14. Each body 12 will be removably engageable at the second end of the body 12 with the second lid 20.

[0049] Each of the bodies 12 are engageable with adjacent bodies 12 to form a nesting engagement. By nesting engagement is meant herein that each of the bodies 12 have substantially the same funnel shape wherein bodies 12 adjacent and on the first side of one body 12, and each are sequentially insertable into the internal cavity 18 of an adjacent body 12 by insertion therein through the exposed first opening 16. Thereafter, sequential additional bodies 12 can be sequentially engaged in the nesting engagement by insertion of each sequentially into the open first opening 16 of previously engaged bodies 12. The ability to form such a nesting engagement is most preferred for the device 10 herein because it significantly reduces the area needed to store multiple bodies 12 for use, which is common with many users who will place multiple different supplements or food and the like in multiple different bodies 12, so it can be consumed at an appropriate time.

[0050] It should be noted that the container device and system herein, has other applications potentially, and one skilled in the art could discover these or discern such on reading this disclosure. The description of the features and employment of this invention does not limit the claims of this application and applications for the device and system herein developed by those skilled in the art will be included in this invention.

[0051] Further, while all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the container device and system invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.