Beverage Container with Dual Storage Compartments

Abstract

A beverage container includes a first container unit having a first receiving compartment and a second container unit. The second container unit includes a second container body having a second receiving compartment, and a utility lid detachably mounted on the second container body. The utility lid has an access opening. The beverage container is operated between an assembled mode and a segregated mode, wherein in the assembled mode, the first container unit and the second container unit are detachably attached to form an integral beverage container, wherein in the segregated mode, the first container unit is detached from the second container unit so that a user is allowed to access objects stored in the second receiving compartment through the access opening.

Claims

1. A beverage container, comprising: a first container unit having a first receiving compartment and comprising a first container body; and a second container unit, which comprises: a second container body having a second receiving compartment; and a utility lid detachably mounted on the second container body, the utility lid having an access opening, wherein the beverage container is operated between an assembled mode and a segregated mode, wherein in the assembled mode, the first container unit and the second container unit are detachably attached to form an integral beverage container, wherein in the segregated mode, the first container unit is detached from the second container unit so that a user is allowed to access objects stored in the second receiving compartment through the access opening.

2. The beverage container as recited in claim 1, wherein the first receiving compartment is formed in the first container body, the first container body having a first main portion, a first contracted top portion formed on top of the main portion, and a first contracted bottom portion formed below the first main portion, wherein a diameter of each of the first contracted top portion and the first contracted bottom portion is smaller than that of the first main portion, the first receiving compartment being formed in at least the first main portion.

3. The beverage container as recited in claim 2, wherein the second container body has a second main portion, a second contracted top portion formed on top of the second main portion, and a second contracted bottom portion formed below the second main portion, wherein a diameter of each of the second contracted top portion and the second contracted bottom portion may be smaller than that of the second main portion, the second receiving compartment being formed in at least the second main portion.

4. The beverage container as recited in claim 2, further comprising a base lid detachably attached on one of the first container body and the second container body.

5. The beverage container as recited in claim 4, wherein the base lid has an annular lid body and a base threaded portion formed on an inner circumferential edge of the annular lid body, while the second container unit further has a second bottom threaded portion formed on the second bottom contracted portion, wherein the base threaded portion is arranged to detachably connect to the second bottom threaded portion for detachably and selectively connecting the base lid to the second container body.

6. The beverage container as recited in claim 3, wherein the utility lid further comprises a peripheral wall, and a plurality of covering panels extending from the peripheral wall, wherein the access opening is formed as the space between the covering panels, each of the covering panels extending from an inner side of the peripheral wall at positions above the second receiving compartment.

7. The beverage container as recited in claim 6, wherein the utility lid further has an upper threaded portion formed on the inner side of the peripheral wall at a position above the covering panels, the first container body further having a first bottom threaded portion formed on the first contracted bottom portion for detachably connecting to the upper threaded portion so as to detachably connect the first container unit to the utility lid from the top thereof.

8. The beverage container as recited in claim 7, wherein the utility lid further has a lower threaded portion formed on the inner side of the peripheral wall at a position below the covering panels, the second container body further having a second upper threaded portion formed on the second contracted top portion for detachably connecting to the lower threaded portion of the utility lid so as to detachably connect the utility lid to the second container body.

9. The beverage container as recited in claim 1, wherein the first container body has a first contracted bottom portion formed below the first main portion, wherein a diameter of the first contracted bottom portion is smaller than that of the first main portion, the first contracted bottom portion being configured as a hollow structure so as to form an accommodating compartment therein.

10. The beverage container as recited in claim 9, wherein the second container body further has a top rim and an external threaded portion formed on the top rim, while the first container body further has an internal threaded portion formed on an inner side of the first contracted bottom portion in the accommodating compartment, wherein the utility lid is arranged to accommodate in the accommodating compartment while the external threaded portion of the second container body detachably connects to the internal threaded portion of the first container body so as to allow the first container unit to detachably connect to the second container unit.

11. The beverage container as recited in claim 10, wherein the base lid has an annular lid body and a base threaded portion formed on an inner circumferential edge of the annular lid body, while the second container unit further has a second bottom threaded portion formed on the second bottom contracted portion, wherein the base threaded portion is arranged to detachably connect to the second bottom threaded portion for detachably and selectively connecting the base lid to the second container body.

12. The beverage container as recited in claim 10, wherein the utility lid further comprises a peripheral wall, and a plurality of covering panels extending from the peripheral wall, wherein the access opening is formed as the space between the covering panels, each of the covering panels extending from an inner side of the peripheral wall at positions above the second receiving compartment.

13. The beverage container as recited in claim 12, wherein the utility lid further has an outer threaded portion externally formed on the peripheral wall for detachably connecting to the second container body, the second container body further having an internal threaded portion formed on an inner side of the top rim for detachably connecting to the outer threaded portion of the utility lid.

14. The beverage container as recited in claim 1, further comprising a movable handle arrangement which comprises a handle, the handle being arranged to be operated between a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein in the folded position, the handle is arranged to be pivotally moved toward the first container body so as to reduce an overall size of the beverage container, wherein in the unfolded position, the handle is arranged to be pivotally moved to radially extend from the first container body.

15. The beverage container as recited in claim 14, further comprising at least one mounting bracket extending from the first container body, and a lock device provided in the mounting bracket, the handle further having an upper transversely extending member connecting to the mounting bracket for pivotally moving between the folded position and the unfolded position.

16. The beverage container as recited in claim 15, wherein the mounting brackets has a top mounting portion, a bottom mounting portion, and an extension mounting portion extending between the top mounting portion and the bottom mounting portion to form a substantially U-shaped structure of the mounting bracket, and a mounting compartment formed in a space surrounded by the top mounting portion, the bottom mounting portion, and the extension mounting portion.

17. The beverage container as recited in claim 16, wherein the movable handle arrangement further comprises a locking device which comprises a locking member movably provided on the upper transversely extending member, and a resilient element mounted in the upper transversely extending member for exerting an urging force toward the locking member so as to lock a relative position between the handle and the first container body.

18. The beverage container as recited in claim 17, wherein the locking member comprises a main locking panel, a pusher member upwardly extending from the main locking panel, and a plurality of sliding panels downwardly extending from the main locking panel, the handle further having a sliding slot formed on the upper transversely extending member, wherein the sliding panels are arranged to slide along the sliding slot for locking and unlocking the handle, while the resilient element is arranged to exert an urging force toward the locking member for pushing the locking member in a direction toward the corresponding mounting bracket.

19. The beverage container as recited in claim 18, wherein the mounting bracket further has a first indention and two second indentions formed on a front surface and two side surfaces of the mounting bracket respectively, the locking member further having a protruding member formed on the main locking panel, wherein when the locking member is slid toward the corresponding mounting bracket, the protruding member is arranged to engage with one of the first indention and the second indentions.

20. The beverage container as recited in claim 19, wherein the mounting bracket further has a securing slot formed on the extension mounting portion, while the handle further has a securing protrusion protruding from the upper transversely extension portion in such a manner that the securing protrusion is arranged to engage with the securing slot in a pivotally movable manner when the handle is engaged with the mounting bracket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the beverage container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 is another exploded perspective view of the beverage container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a section front view of the beverage container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second container unit of the beverage container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 6 is another exploded perspective view of the second container unit of the beverage container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a utility lid of the beverage container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the utility lid of the beverage container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a beverage container according to a first alternative mode of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 10 is a sectional side view of a beverage container according to the first alternative mode of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the beverage container according to the first alternative mode of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a first container unit of the beverage container according to the first alternative mode of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second container unit of the beverage container according to the first alternative mode of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a utility lid of the beverage container according to the first alternative mode of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the beverage container according to the first alternative mode of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating that the beverage container has a handle.

[0029] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the beverage container according to a second alternative mode of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating that the beverage container has a pivotally movable handle.

[0030] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a movable handle arrangement of the beverage container according to the second alternative mode of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 18 is a sectional side view of the movable handle arrangement of the beverage container according to the second alternative mode of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket of the beverage container according to the second alternative mode of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting bracket of the beverage container according to the second alternative mode of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 21 is another perspective view of the mounting bracket of the beverage container according to the second alternative mode of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a locking device of the beverage container according to the second alternative mode of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the locking device of the beverage container according to the second alternative mode of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0037] The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is the preferred mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in any limiting sense. It is presented for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention.

[0038] In the following descriptions, it should also be appreciated that the terms arrange and set in the following description refer to the connecting relationship in the accompanying drawings for easy understanding of the present invention. For example, the arrange and set can refer to one element directly or indirectly set or arrange on another element. Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual connection limitation of the elements of the present invention.

[0039] It should also be appreciated that the terms center, length, width, thickness, top, bottom, front, rear, left, right, vertical, horizontal, upper, lower, interior, and exterior in the following description refer to the orientation or positioning relationship in the accompanying drawings for easy understanding of the present invention without limiting the actual location or orientation of the present invention. Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual location limitation of the elements of the present invention.

[0040] Moreover, it should be appreciated that the terms first, second, one, a, and an in the following description refer to at least one or one or more in the embodiment. In particular, the term a in one embodiment may refer to one while in another embodiment may refer to more than one. Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual numerical limitation of the elements of the present invention.

[0041] It should be appreciated that the terms install, connect, couple, and mount in the following description refer to the connecting relationship in the accompanying drawings for easy understanding of the present invention. For example, the connection can refer to permanent connection or detachable connection. Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual connection limitation of the elements of the present invention.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 of the drawings, a beverage container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Broadly, the beverage container may comprise a first container unit 1 and a second container unit 2. The beverage container may be used for storing a predetermined amount of liquid such as water, or food such as snacks, and may be carried in a portable manner.

[0043] The first container unit 1 may have a first receiving compartment 11. The second container unit 2 may comprise a second container body 20 and a utility lid 22. The second container body 20 may have a second receiving compartment 21.

[0044] The utility lid 22 may be detachably mounted on the second container body 20. The utility lid 22 may have an access opening 221, wherein the beverage container may be operated between an assembled mode and a segregated mode, wherein in the assembled mode, the first container unit 1 and the second container unit 2 may be detachably attached to form an integral beverage container, wherein in the segregated mode, the first container unit 1 is detached from the second container unit 2 so that a user is allowed to access objects stored in the second receiving compartment 21 through the access opening 221 of the utility lid 22.

[0045] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the beverage container may further comprise a base lid 3 provided underneath the second container unit 2 for providing a base of the beverage container (the base lid 3 will be described below). The first container unit 1, the second container unit 2, and the base lid 3 may be coaxially arranged along a longitudinal direction of the beverage container.

[0046] The first container unit 1 may be designed to be elongated in shape and may be arranged to store a predetermined amount of liquid such as water in the first receiving compartment 11. The first container unit 1 may comprise a first container body 10 wherein the first receiving compartment 11 may be formed therein. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first container body 10 may have a generally circular cross-sectional shape. On skilled in the art would have appreciate that other cross-sectional shapes may also be possible.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the first container body 10 may have a first main portion 101, a first contracted top portion 102 formed on top of the main portion 101, and a first contracted bottom portion 103 formed below the first main portion 101, wherein a diameter of each of the first contracted top portion 102 and the first contracted bottom portion 103 may be smaller than that of the first main portion 101. The first receiving compartment 11 may be formed in at least the first main portion 101.

[0048] On the other hand, the second container unit 2 may be provided at a position underneath the first container unit 1. As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the second container unit 2 may comprise the second container body 20 and the utility lid 22 detachably attached to the second container body 20, wherein the second receiving compartment 21 may be formed in the second container body 20. Furthermore, the access opening 221 may be formed in the utility lid 22 so that the access opening 221 may communicate the second receiving compartment 21 with an exterior of the second container body 20. In other words, when the second container unit 2 is detached from the first container unit 1, a user may be able to access the items stored in the second receiving compartment 21 through the access opening 221 formed in the utility lid 22.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the second container body 20 may have a second main portion 201, a second contracted top portion 202 formed on top of the second main portion 201, and a second contracted bottom portion 203 formed below the second main portion 201, wherein a diameter of each of the second contracted top portion 202 and the second contracted bottom portion 203 may be smaller than that of the second main portion 201. The second receiving compartment 21 may be formed in at least the second main portion 201.

[0050] The base lid 3 may be detachably attached to either one of the first container unit 1 or the second container unit 2 for providing a supporting base for the corresponding container unit. More specifically, when the beverage container is in the assembled mode, the base lid 3 may be detachably attached on the second contracted bottom portion 203 of the second container body 20 so as to detachably attach on the second container unit 2. On the other hand, when the beverage container is in the segregated mode, the base lid 3 may be detachably attached on the first contracted bottom portion 103 of the first container body 10 so as to allow a user to use just the first container unit 1 as a water bottle.

[0051] In other words, the beverage container of the present invention may flexibly be used as the user wishes. For example, in the assembled mode, the user may use the beverage container as a water bottle while carrying some snack items in the second container unit 2. When the beverage container is in the segregated mode, the user may use either the first container unit 1 (as just a water bottle) or the second container unit 2 (as just a snack container). The base lid 3 may be detachably attached to either one of them.

[0052] The detachable connection between the base lid 3 and the first contracted bottom portion 103 or the second contracted bottom portion 203 may be accomplished through threads. Thus, each of the base lid 3, the first contracted bottom portion 103 and the second contracted bottom portion 203 may have a plurality of threads formed thereon. Optionally, the base lid 3 may be configured from an anti-slipping material such as rubber for preventing slipping of the beverage container. Specifically, the base lid 3 may have an annular lid body 32 and a base threaded portion 31 formed on an inner circumferential edge of the annular lid body 32, while the second container unit 20 may further have a second bottom threaded portion 24 formed on the second bottom contracted portion 203, wherein the base threaded portion 31 may be arranged to detachably connect to the second bottom threaded portion 24 for detachably connecting the base lid 3 to the second container body 20, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

[0053] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the utility lid 22 may be configured from soft but durable material, such as silicon rubber, wherein the utility lid 22 may be detachably attached to the second container body 20, preferably through threads. When the utility lid 22 is detachably attached to the second container body 20, a user may be able to access the second receiving compartment 21 through the access opening 221.

[0054] Specifically, the utility lid 22 may further comprise a peripheral wall 223, and a plurality of covering panels 224 extending from the peripheral wall 223, wherein the access opening 221 may be formed as the space between the covering panels 224. Each of the covering panels 224 may extend from an inner side 2231 of the peripheral wall 223 at positions above the second receiving compartment 21. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the access opening 221 may be formed by a central opening 2211 and a plurality of extension slots 2212 radially extending from the central opening 2211, as shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 8 of the drawings. It is worth mentioning that the exact pattern of the access opening 221 may vary depending on the circumstances the present invention is manufactured or utilized.

[0055] The access opening 221 may allow a user, such as a child, to access the second receiving compartment 21 without actually detaching the utility lid 22 from the second container body 20. For example, a kid may obtain some snacks through the access opening 221 without the hassle of turning the utility lid 22. Some kids, such as those with younger ages, may not even have the strength to turn the utility lid 22. The retrieval of snacks through the access opening 221 may also help controlling the amount of snacks that can be conveniently get by the kid, and to help exercising the kid's motor skills.

[0056] The peripheral wall 223 of the utility lid 22 may be configured as having an annular structure, wherein the covering panels 224 may be provided in the peripheral wall 223. Moreover, the utility lid 22 may be simultaneously and detachably connected to the first container unit 1 and the second container body 20. In order to accomplish this, the utility lid 22 may further have an upper threaded portion 225 formed on the inner side 2231 of the peripheral wall 223 at a position above the covering panels 224. On the other hand, the first container body 10 may further have a first bottom threaded portion 13 formed on the first contracted bottom portion 103 for detachably connecting to the upper threaded portion 225 so as to detachably connect the first container unit 1 to the utility lid 22 from the top thereof. The upper threaded portion 225 may be formed along an upper and inner side of the peripheral wall 223. Thus, an external diameter of the first contracted bottom portion 103 may correspond to an internal diameter of the peripheral wall 223, as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

[0057] On the other hand, the utility lid 22 may further have a lower threaded portion 226 formed on an inner side 2231 of the peripheral wall 223 at a position below the covering panels 224. The lower threaded portion 226 may be formed along a lower and inner side of the outer peripheral wall 223. The second container body 20 may further have a second upper threaded portion 23 formed on the second contracted top portion 202 for detachably connecting to the lower threaded portion 226 of the utility lid 22 so as to detachably connect the utility lid 22 to the second container body 20.

[0058] In the assembled mode, the first container unit 1 and the second container unit 2 may be arranged in an axial orientation. An outer diameter of each of the first container unit 1, the second container unit 2, and the base lid 3 may be identical, so that the beverage container as a whole as a substantial uniform outer diameter.

[0059] It is worth mentioning that the beverage container may comprise a plurality of second container units 2, wherein each two adjacent second container units 2 may be detachably attached with each other, while the top second container unit 2 may detachably attach on a subsequently lower second container unit 2 in a similar manner, while the bottommost second container unit 2 may detachably attach on the base lid 3 in the manner described above. As such, a user of the present invention may select a suitable number of the second container units 2 depending on the circumstances in which the present invention is to be utilized.

[0060] The beverage container may further comprise a beverage lid 5 detachably connect to the first contracted top portion 102 of the first container body 10 for detachably sealing the first receiving compartment 11. A straw may be provided for allow convenient drinking of the beverage received in the first receiving compartment 11.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 9 to FIG. 14 of the drawings, a beverage container according to a first alternative mode of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The first alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment described above, except the utility lid 22. Broadly, the beverage container may comprise a first container unit 1 and a second container unit 2. The beverage container may be used for storing a predetermined amount of liquid such as water, or food, and may be carried in a portable manner.

[0062] The first container unit 1 may have a first receiving compartment 11. The second container unit 2 may comprise a second container body 20 and a utility lid 22. The second container body 20 may have a second receiving compartment 21.

[0063] The utility lid 22 may be detachably mounted on the second container body 20. The utility lid 22 may have an access opening 221, wherein the beverage container is operated between an assembled mode and a segregated mode, wherein in the assembled mode, the first container unit 1 and the second container unit 2 may be detachably attached to form an integral beverage container, wherein in the segregated mode, the first container unit 1 is detached from the second container unit 2 so that a user is allowed to access objects stored in the second receiving compartment 21 through the access opening 221 of the utility lid 22. In this first alternative mode of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the beverage container may further comprise a base lid 3 provided underneath the second container unit 2 for providing a base of the beverage container.

[0064] The first container unit 1 may comprise a first container body 10 wherein the first receiving compartment 11 may be formed therein. As in the preferred embodiment, the first container body 10 may have a generally circular cross sectional shape.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 of the drawings, the first container body 10 may have a first contracted bottom portion 103 formed below the first main portion 101, wherein a diameter of the first contracted bottom portion 103 may be smaller than that of the first main portion 101. The first receiving compartment 11 may be formed in at least the first main portion 101. The first contracted bottom portion 103 may be configured as a hollow structure so as to form an accommodating compartment 14 therein. The accommodating compartment 14 may be arranged to detachably and partially accommodate the second container unit 2 (described below).

[0066] The second container unit 2 may be provided underneath the first container unit 1. As shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings, the second container unit 2 may comprise the second container body 20 and the utility lid 22 detachably attached on the second container body 20, wherein the second receiving compartment 21 may be formed in the second container body 20. Furthermore, the access opening 221 may be formed in the utility lid 22 so that the access opening 221 may communicate the second receiving compartment 21 with an exterior of the second container body 20. In other words, when the second container body 20 is detached from the first container unit 1, a user may be able to access the items stored in the second receiving compartment 21 through the access opening 221 formed in the utility lid 22.

[0067] The second container body 20 may further have an external threaded portion 251 formed on a top rim 25 thereof, while the first container body 10 may further have an internal threaded portion 141 formed on an inner side of the first contracted bottom portion 103 in the accommodating compartment 14, wherein the utility lid 22 may accommodate in the accommodating compartment 14 while the external threaded portion 251 of the second container body 20 may detachably connect to the internal threaded portion 141 of the first container body 10 so that the first container unit 1 may detachably connect to the second container unit 2, as shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings.

[0068] The base lid 3 may be detachably attached to the second container unit 2 for providing a supporting base for the entire beverage container. More specifically, when the beverage container is in the assembled mode, the base lid 3 may be detachably attached on the second contracted bottom portion 203 of the second container body 20 so as to detachably attach on the second container unit 2.

[0069] The beverage container in this first alternative mode may flexibly be used as the user wishes. For example, in the assembled mode, the user may use the beverage container as a water bottle while carrying some snack items in the second container unit 2. When the beverage container is in the segregated mode, the user may use either the first container unit 1 (as just a water bottle) or the second container unit 2 (as just a snack container). The base lid 3 may be detachably attached to either one of them. Moreover, in this first alternative mode of the present invention, the user may use the second container body 20 irrespective of whether or not the utility lid 22 is attached to the second container body 20. However, when the utility lid 22 is indeed attached to the second container body 20, the utility lid 22 may flexibly function as described above.

[0070] The detachable connection between the base lid 3 and the second contracted bottom portion 203 may be accomplished through threads in the manner described in the preferred embodiment above. Thus, the base lid 3 may have an annular lid body 32 and a base threaded portion 31 formed on an inner circumferential edge of the annular lid body 32, while the second container unit 20 may further have a second bottom threaded portion 24 formed on the second bottom contracted portion 203, wherein the base threaded portion 31 may be arranged to detachably connect to the second bottom threaded portion 24 for detachably connecting the base lid 3 to the second container body 20, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 13 of the drawings.

[0071] Referring to FIG. 12 to FIG. 13 of the drawings, the beverage container may further comprise a multi-functional sleeve 261 attached to the second container body 20 at a position underneath the external threaded portion 251. The multi-functional sleeve 261 may serve different purposes. For example, the multi-functional sleeve 261 may be configured from anti-slipping material for preventing slip. On the other hand, the multi-functional sleeve 261 may have different colors for enhancing aesthetic appearance of the beverage container. The multi-functional sleeve 261 may be attached on an indention 26 circumferentially formed on the second container body 20.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 14 of the drawings, the utility lid 22 in this first alternative mode may be similar to that of the preferred embodiment described above. The utility lid 22 may comprise a peripheral wall 223, and a plurality of covering panels 224 extending from the peripheral wall 223, wherein the access opening 221 may be formed as the space between the covering panels 224. Each of the covering panels 224 may extend from an inner side 2231 of the peripheral wall 223 at positions above the second receiving compartment 21. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the access opening 221 may be formed by a central opening 2211 and a plurality of extension slots 2212 radially extending from the central opening 2211.

[0073] Furthermore, the utility lid 22 may further have an outer threaded portion 225 externally formed on the peripheral wall 223 for detachably connecting to the second container body 20. Accordingly, the second container body 20 may have an internal threaded portion 28 formed on an inner side of the top rim 25 for detachably connecting to the outer threaded portion 225 of the utility lid 22. FIG. 11 illustrates that the utility lid 22 may be attached to the second container body 20, while the external threaded portion 251 is exposed to detachably attach to the internal threaded portion 141 of the first container body 10.

[0074] The access opening 221 may allow a user, such as a child, to access the second receiving compartment 21 without actually detaching the utility lid 22 from the second container body 20.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 15 of the drawings, in a first alternative mode of the preferred embodiment, the beverage container may further comprise a handle 6 formed on the first container unit 1 for allowing a user to grab thereon. Moreover, the first container unit 1 may further comprise a lid 5 attached to the first container body 10.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 16 to FIG. 23 of the drawings, in a second alternative mode of the preferred embodiment, the beverage container may further comprise a handle 6 formed on the first container unit 1 for allowing a user to grab thereon. More specifically, the handle 6 may be movably supported by the first container body 10 so that the handle 6 may pivotally move with respect to the first container body 10. In this second alternative mode, the first container unit 1, the second container unit 2 and the base lid 3 may be identical to those of the first alternative mode.

[0077] In this second alternative mode, the beverage container may further comprise a movable handle arrangement 60 which comprises the handle 6, a plurality of (but at least one) mounting brackets 7, and a locking device 8 provided in at least one of the mounting brackets 7. In this second alternative mode, the handle 6 may be configured as having a U-shaped cross section having an upper transversely extending member 61, a lower transversely extending member 62 and a longitudinally extending member 63 extending between the upper transversely extending member 61 and the lower transversely extending member 62.

[0078] The mounting brackets 7 may extend from the first container body 10 and connect to the upper transversely extending member 61 and the lower transversely extending member 62 of the handle 6 respectively in a pivotally movable manner. As such, the handle 6 may pivotally move with respect to the first container body 10 and may be restrained by the locking device 8. The mounting brackets 7 may be connected to the first container body 10 through a wide variety of methods, such as screws, welding, or other mechanical methods.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 18 to FIG. 19 of the drawings, each of the mounting brackets 7 may have a top mounting portion 701, a bottom mounting portion 702, and an extension mounting portion 703 extending between the top mounting portion 701 and the bottom mounting portion 703 to form a substantially U-shaped structure of the mounting bracket 7, and a mounting compartment 71 formed in a space surrounded by the top mounting portion 701, the bottom mounting portion 702, and the extension mounting portion 703. Each of the upper transversely extending member 61 and the lower transversely extending member 62 of the handle 6 may have a connecting portion 601 arranged to accommodate in the corresponding mounting compartment 71. Accordingly, the handle 6 may further have two mounting holes 60 formed on the connecting portion 601. As shown in FIG. 20 of the drawings, each of the mounting brackets 7 may be configured to have a hollow structure and may comprise a supporting frame 73 received therein. The supporting frame 73 may have two horizontal panels 732 each having a passage hole 7321, and a vertical panel 731 extending between the two horizontal panels 732 to form a substantially U-shaped structure corresponding to the U-shaped structure of the mounting bracket 7.

[0080] Each of the mounting brackets 7 may further comprise a mounting pin 72, wherein when the connecting portion 601 is accommodated in the corresponding mounting compartment 71, the mounting pin 72 may pass through the corresponding mounting hole 60 and the passage holes 7321 so as to pivotally connect the handle 6 to the mounting brackets 7. The mounting pin 72 may be configured as a screw and may be arranged to penetrate through the top mounting portion 701, the two horizontal panels 732 through the passage holes 7321, the corresponding transversely extending members 61, 62, and the bottom mounting portion 702 for pivotally connecting the handle 6 to the corresponding mounting bracket 7.

[0081] In this second alternative mode of the present invention, the handle 6 may be operated between a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein in the folded position, the handle 6 may be pivotally moved toward the first container body 10 so as to reduce the beverage container into a relatively compact size, wherein in the unfolded position, the handle 6 may be pivotally moved to radially extend from the first container body 10. As such, a user is allowed to grab on the handle 6 and hold the beverage container.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 23 of the drawings, the locking device 8 may be operatively provided on the handle 6 to retain the handle 6 in the folded position or the unfolded position. More specifically, the locking device 8 comprise a locking member 81 movably provided on the upper transversely extending member 61, and a resilient element 83 such as a spring mounted in the upper transversely extending member 61 for exerting an urging force toward the locking member 81.

[0083] The locking member 81 may comprise a main locking panel 811, a pusher member 812 upwardly extending from the main locking panel 811, and a plurality of sliding panels 82 downwardly extending from the main locking panel 811. On the other hand, the handle 6 may further have a sliding slot 631 formed on the upper transversely extending member 61, wherein the sliding panels 82 may be arranged to slide along the sliding slot 631 for locking and unlocking the handle 6, while the resilient element 83 may exert an urging force toward the locking member 81 for pushing the locking member 81 in a direction toward the corresponding mounting bracket 7. The resilient element 83 may be accommodated in the sliding slot 631 for exerting an urging force against the locking member 81. The pusher member 812 may be equipped with anti-slipping material 813 so as to allow easy pushing by the user of the present invention. Note that the main locking panel 811, the pusher member 812 and the sliding panels 82 may form an integral component.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 23 of the drawings, the locking device 8 may further comprise a plurality of guiding panels 841 and a guiding shaft 84 extending between the two guiding panels 841. Moreover, each of the sliding panels 82 may further have a slot 821, wherein the guiding panels 841 may be mounted on an outer side of the upper transversely extending member 61 respectively, while the guiding shaft 84 may be arranged to penetrate the upper transversely extending member 61 and the slots 821 of the sliding panels 82.

[0085] The locking member 81 may be arranged to engage with the corresponding mounting bracket 7 for locking and unlocking the handle 6. Accordingly, at least one of the mounting brackets 7 may further have a first indention 74 and two second indentions 75 formed on a front surface 704 and two side surfaces 705 of the corresponding mounting bracket 7 respectively. The locking member 81 may further have a protruding member 85 formed on the main locking panel 811, wherein when the locking member 81 is slid toward the corresponding mounting bracket 7, the protruding member 85 may be arranged to engage with the first indention 74. Note that the engagement between the protruding member 85 and the first indention 74 may be retained by the biasing force of the resilient element 83. As such, when the handle 6 is in the unfolded position, the protruding member 85 may be urged by the resilient element 83 to engage with the first indention 74. The first indention 74 may then restrict the protruding member 85 from pivotally moving toward two sides of the handle 6 so as to retain the handle 6 at the unfolded position. In this second alternative mode of the present invention, an axial direction of the first indention 74 and that of each of the second indentions 75 may form 90 of angle of inclination.

[0086] In order to reinforce the retention ability on the part of the mounting bracket 7, the mounting bracket 7 further have a securing slot 76 formed on the extension mounting portion 703, while the handle 6 may further have a securing protrusion 611 protruding from the upper transversely extension portion 61 in such a manner that the securing protrusion 611 may engage with the securing slot 76 in a pivotally movable manner when the handle 6 is engaged with the mounting bracket 7. The engagement between the securing protrusion 611 and the securing slot 76 may serve to further reinforce the locking engagement between the handle 6 and the mounting bracket 7 and enhance the stability of the handle 6 being locked in either the folded position or the unfolded position.

[0087] On the other hand, when the pusher member 812 is pushed by the user, the pusher member 812 may overcome the urging force exerted by the resilient element 83 and slides in the direction away from the first container body 10, the protruding member 85 may disengage from the first indention 74. As such, the handle 6 is free to pivotally move from the unfolded position to the folded position.

[0088] When the handle 6 is moved from the unfolded position to the folded position, the locking device 8 may also move with the handle 6. The protruding member 85 may then be moved to align with one of the second indentions 75. When the user releases his or her pushing force against the pusher member 812, the pusher member 812 may be urged by the resilient element 83 so as to push the protruding member 85 to engage with the corresponding second indention 75. The second indention 75 may restrict further movement of the protruding member 85 and the locking member 81 so as to retain the handle 6 in the folded position.

[0089] It is worth mentioning that the movable handle arrangement 60 disclosed in the second alternative mode may also be utilized and installed in the beverage container disclosed in the preferred embodiment above. This combination is also covered by the scope of the present invention.

[0090] The present invention, while illustrated and described in terms of a preferred embodiment and several alternatives, is not limited to the particular description contained in this specification. Additional alternative or equivalent components could also be used to practice the present invention.