CONTAINER INTERCONVERTABLE BETWEEN GLASS AND BOTTLE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a container, and more particularly, to a container convertible between a cup and a bottle. A container convertible into a cup according to the present disclosure includes: a main body having a bottle shape and including a closed knob and an opened opposite portion; a base connecting cap inserted and coupled to the knob; a cover coupled to the opposite portion of the main body; and a base member disposed below the cover and wrapped together with the cover by a film. Here, the container is converted into the cup by fastening the base connecting cap to the base member in a state in which the main body is rotated by 180 and the base member is taken out.

Claims

1. A container convertible into a cup, the container comprising: a main body having a closed knob and an opened opposite portion; a base connecting cap inserted and coupled to the knob; a cover coupled to the opposite portion of the main body; and a base member disposed below the cover, wherein the container is converted into the cup by fastening the base connecting cap to the base member in a state in which the main body is rotated by 180 and the base member is taken out.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the base connecting cap, which has a hat-like shape, has one side at which a knob fitting part fitted to an outer side of the knob of the main body is disposed and the other side at which an inner fastening part and an outer fastening part, which are fastened to the base member, are disposed, and the base member, which has a disk shape, comprises: an outer rim; a circular hollow part having an inner hollow; and a groove part that forms a predetermined space between the outer rim and the hollow part, which have lower ends connected to each other.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein double fastening is performed such that the inner fastening part of the base connecting cap is engaged with an inner side of the hollow part through a projection, and the outer fastening part is fitted to the groove part.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the base connecting cap has a first inclined surface extending from one end of the knob fitting part at a predetermined inclined angle to have a hat-like shape, the base member has a second inclined surface extending inward from the outer rim at a predetermined inclined angle, and the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface form an integrated base shape by one predetermined radius of curvature through fastening between the base connecting cap and the base member.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the base connecting cap has a cap shape when the container has a bottle shape, and the base connecting cap forms an external curvature image of a base shape of a wine glass when the container has a glass shape as the base connecting cap is coupled with the base member.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover and the base member are wrapped together with a portion of the main body by a film.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the base connecting cap has one side at which a knob fitting part fitted to an outer side of the knob of the main body is disposed, the other side at which a fastening part fastened to the base member is disposed, and an outer rim on which a fastening projection is disposed, and the base member, which has a disk shape, has an outer side at which a hollow part to which the base connecting cap is inserted is formed and an inner side at which a fastening protrusion fastened with the fastening projection is formed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain principles of the present disclosure. In the drawings:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a container convertible into a cup according to the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the container convertible into the cup according to the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the container converted into the cup according to the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view and a coupling cross-sectional view illustrating a base connecting cap and a base member of the container convertible into the cup according to the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a process of converting the container from a bottle into a cup according to the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating comparative images of an outer shape of a conventional container (bottle) and an outer shape of the container (bottle) according to the present disclosure; and

[0030] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the coupling between the base connecting cap and the base member of the container convertible into the cup according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Hereinafter, a container convertible into a cup according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] The detailed description on the specific embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings should be read in relation with the accompanying drawings, and the drawings are regarded as a part of the description of the entire invention. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

[0033] Spatially relative terms, such as beneath, below, lower, above, upper and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are used for convenience of description and are not intended to limiting of the invention.

[0034] When it is described that an element is coupled to, engaged with, or connected to another element, it should be understood that the element may be directly coupled or connected to the other element but still another element may be coupled to, engaged with, or connected to the other element between them.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a container convertible into a cup according to the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the container convertible into the cup according to the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state in which the container convertible into the cup is converted to the cup.

[0036] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a container 10 convertible into a cup according to the present disclosure is freely converted between a bottle shape as illustrated in FIG. 1 and a cup shape as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0037] In particular, in the case of the bottle shape as in FIG. 1, the container is manufactured in a state in which contents (alcoholic beverages or drinks) are already filled and an inlet (or outlet) is sealed. The container has a liquor bottle shape or drink bottle shape which is generally sold on a market and in which alcoholic drinks or beverages are stored, instead of an empty bottle for the purpose of filling liquids. Although the contents are preferably in a liquid state, the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0038] Hereinafter, for clarity in the following description, the upper portion of the drawing in FIG. 1 will be referred to as upper, upward, top, or upper side, and the lower portion will be referred to as lower, downward, bottom, or lower side.

[0039] The container 10 may include: a main body 11 containing contents such as alcoholic beverages or drinks and accommodating the contents; a base connecting cap 12 that is fitted to an upper portion of the main body 11; a cover 13 sealing a lower portion of the main body 11; and a film 14 which covers the lower portion of the main body 11 and on which a label or product information is printed.

[0040] The main body 11 may be made of a glass or plastic material and have a bottle shape having a narrow upper portion and a wide lower portion, to have a bottle shape at a position in FIG. 1 and a cup shape (particularly, a wine glass) at a position in FIG. 3.

[0041] Although the main body 11 preferably has an approximately circular cross-sectional shape, the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the main body 11 may have a polygonal cross-sectional shape or other cross-sectional shapes.

[0042] The base connecting cap 12 is a member fitted to a projection 11a disposed at an upper end of the main body 11 and fastened to a base member 15.

[0043] In general, a bottle is manufactured by a blow molding process that is a (injection molding) method of injecting (blowing) air and pressing in a mold frame. Since a product manufactured by the blow molding method has an empty space obtained by blowing air thereinto, the blow molding method is generally used to manufacture a container for storing contents.

[0044] Since air is injected from a knob (i.e., a mouth of the bottle) in a conventional bottle container, the knob is opened to form an inlet, and the opposite side forms a bottom.

[0045] However, the container according to the present disclosure has a structure that is reversed from that of the conventional bottle container, i.e., a structure in which a knob is closed, and the opposite side is opened.

[0046] This is because, when converted into a cup (based on a shape of a wine glass), the opposite side becomes an inlet instead of the knob.

[0047] Thus, unlike the conventional bottle container, the base connecting cap 12 serves as a fastening member that is fastened with the base member 15 during rotation to secure standing stability in the glass shape in addition to as a cap that improves visibility of a bottle shape with a cap closed before the cap is closed in the bottle shape instead of serving to block an opened portion (generally, an inlet).

[0048] The term knob may refer to both a mouth of the bottle and a thin and long handle of a wine glass when converted into the glass.

[0049] The cover 13 is rolled by a film 14 and easily exposed to the outside when the film 14 is removed.

[0050] A sealing member 16 is fitted inside the cover 13 for sealing purposes, and a base member 15 that serves as a base when converted into the cup is disposed on a bottom surface of the cover 13. Similarly, the base member 15 may be also rolled by the film 14 and exposed to the outside when the film 14 is removed.

[0051] Preferably, the film 14 is rolled until a lower portion and a lower end corner of the main body 11 to cover the cover 13 and the base member 15 and prevent the cover 13 and the base member 15 from being separated when the film 14 is not removed.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a detailed view illustrating a cap for connecting a base and a base member of the container convertible into a cup according to the present disclosure.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 4, (A) is a detailed structure view illustrating the base connecting cap 12, (B) is a detailed structure view illustrating the base member 15, and (C) is a cross-sectional view illustrating fastening of the base connecting cap 12 and the base member 15.

[0054] The base connecting cap 12 serves as a fastening member that is fastened to the base member 15 during rotation to secure standing stability in the glass shape in addition to as a cap that improves visibility of the bottle shape.

[0055] To performed the above-described two roles, the base connecting cap 12 has a hat-like shape to improve external visibility in the bottle state (refer to FIG. 7) and maintains a wine glass shape in the glass state (refer to FIG. 3).

[0056] The hat-like-shaped base connecting cap 12 has one side at which a knob fitting part 121 fitted to an outer side of the knob of the main body 11 is disposed and the other side at which an inner fastening part 122 and an outer fastening part 123, which are fastened with the base member 15, are disposed.

[0057] In the knob fitting part 121, cut portions 124 may be defined at predetermined positions to allow easy radial expansion and contraction.

[0058] The inner fastening part 122 has a cylindrical shape, and the outer fastening part 123 is spaced a predetermined gap from the inner fastening part 122 to have a first inclined surface 125 that extends from one end of the knob fitting part 121 at a predetermined inclined angle to have a hat-like shape.

[0059] The base member 15 has a disk shape and includes: an outer rim 151; a second inclined surface 152 extending inward from the outer rim 151 at a predetermined inclined angle; a circular hollow part 153 having an inner hollow; and a groove part 154 that forms a predetermined space between the second inclined surface 152 and the hollow part 153, which have lower ends connected to each other.

[0060] (C) of FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section in a state in which the base connecting cap 12 is fastened to the base member 15.

[0061] Double fastening is performed such that the inner fastening part 122 of the base connecting cap 12 is engaged with an inner side of the hollow part 153 through a projection, and the outer fastening part 123 is fitted to the groove part 154.

[0062] Also, the first inclined surface 125 and the second inclined surface 152 may form an integrated base shape by one predetermined radius of curvature to form an outer bottom shape of a wine glass after being fastened.

[0063] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a conversion process of the container convertible into a cup according to the present disclosure.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 5, (A) illustrates a finished product containing contents therein.

[0065] Referring to (B) of FIG. 5, a user purchases and uses the container in a shape of (A), and then removes the film 14 and takes out the base member 15 when drinking contents.

[0066] Thereafter, the main body 11 is rotated by 180 as in (C).

[0067] When the base connecting cap 12 fitted to the upper end of the main body 11 is coupled with the base member 15 after rotating the main body 11 by 180, the wine glass shape is obtained through processes in (D) and (E).

[0068] When the user removes the cover 13 for drinking in a state of (E), the complete wine glass shape is obtained to allow drinking as illustrated in (F).

[0069] FIG. 6 shows comparative images of an outer shape of a conventional container (bottle) and an outer shape of the container (bottle) according to the present disclosure.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 6, (A) shows a conventional container convertible into a cup, and (B) shows the container convertible into a cup according to the present disclosure.

[0071] The conventional container has an outer shape of an empty bottle without a cap at a knob, while the container according to the present disclosure has an outer shape of the bottle with the cap fastened by the base connecting cap.

[0072] The present disclosure may improve an aesthetic appearance as a finished product and an industrial design value of the product. In particular, the present disclosure may improve the aesthetic appearance of the product by applying a structure of the base connecting cap, which is inserted to the knob portion closed based on the manufacturing method (blow molding method) of the bottle to have an image like a cap and is for maintaining standing stability when converted into the cup.

[0073] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of fastening between the base connecting cap and the base member of the container convertible into a cup according to the present disclosure.

[0074] The example illustrated in FIG. 7 shows another fastening example different from that of FIG. 4. However, the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, other fastenings between the base connecting cap 12 and the base member 15 according to the present disclosure may be performed.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 7, as described above, a bottle may be converted into a cup such that the base connecting cap 22 is fitted into the projection 11a of the main body 11, and the main body 11 with the base connecting cap 22 fitted is rotated by 180 and fastened to the base member 25.

[0076] A fastening projection 22a may be formed on an outer side of the base connecting cap 22, and a fastening protrusion 25a may be formed on an inner side of the base member 25.

[0077] The base member 25 may have at least one opening (not shown) into which the base connecting cap 22 is inserted. When the base connecting cap 22 is rotated by a predetermined angle in a state in which the base connecting cap 22 is inserted through the opening, the fastening projection 22a is caught by the fastening protrusion 25a to secure fastening force.

[0078] The base connecting cap 12 may have one side at which a knob fitting part 221 fitted to an outer surface of the knob of the main body 11 is disposed and the other side at which a fastening part 222 fastened with the base member 15 is disposed.

[0079] The base member 25 may have a disk shape and include a hollow part 251 into which the base connecting cap 22 is fitted.

[0080] As described above, the container convertible into a cup according to the present disclosure includes the cap-like structure due to the closed end of the knob according to the molding method of the bottle, this cap serves as a medium for connecting the base to improve the stability and fastening strength of the cup in the cup shape, and ultimately complete an image similar to that of the wine glass.

[0081] According to the above-described configuration, the container may be purchased (or sold) in the form of the bottle, used in the form of the cup for drinking, and then reused in the form of the bottle after drinking is completed. Furthermore, the bottle may be converted into the cup having the shape similar to that of the wine glass to improve the convenience and practicality when drinking beverages or alcoholic drinks.

[0082] Also, the container may have the shape capable of improving the external visibility as the bottle in consideration of the manufacturing characteristics of the glass bottle and be convertible into the cup having the improved standing stability when the 180 position conversion is performed in consideration of the manufacturing characteristics of the glass bottle and the shape of the bottle.

[0083] However, the effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned benefits and may be variously extended without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0084] Features, structures, and effects described in the above embodiments are incorporated into at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, but are not limited to only one embodiment. Moreover, features, structures, and effects exemplified in one embodiment may easily be combined and modified for another embodiment by those skilled in the art. Therefore, these combinations and modifications should be construed as falling within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0085] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

TABLE-US-00001 10: Container 11: main body 12: Base connecting cap 13: Cover 14: Film 15: Base member 16: Sealing member