Abstract:
A drinking cup device has a base and a wall upstanding from the base to define a drink chamber for holding liquid. It further includes a food storage element defining a chamber for storing food in a location at the side of the drink chamber over the base. The food storage element and rest of the cup device are relatively movable, between a first position in which the food is accessible and a second position in which the food storage element is stowed on the side of the cup device. The invention makes it possible for a user (typically a small child) to store small items of food, such as raisins, in the food compartment, while still accessing drinks stored in the drink chamber. In a first form of the cup device the food compartment is insertable into the food storage region by a variable amount. In another form of the cup device, the food storage element is rotated at the food storage region to open and close it.

Description:
SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention aims to provide an new and useful drinking cup, and in particular one which may be used to store both a drink and food.  
         [0002]     In general terms, the invention proposes that a drinking cup device, having a base and a wall upstanding from the base to define a drink chamber for holding liquid, should include a food storage element defining a chamber for storing food. The food storage element and rest of the cup device are relatively movable, between a first configuration in which the food is accessible and a second configuration in which the food storage element is stowed on the side of the cup device (i.e. spaced from the drink chamber in a direction which is normal to the vertical axis of the cup when the cup is upright and resting on the base).  
         [0003]     The invention makes it possible for a user (typically a small child) to store small items of food, such as raisins, in the food compartment, and to access drinks stored in the drink chamber.  
         [0004]     Specifically, an expression of the invention is a cup device, the cup device comprising: 
        a cup member having a base, and at least one side wall defining a drink chamber for holding liquid, the drink chamber communicating with a drinking aperture, the side wall being shaped to define a food storage region to the side of the drink chamber and over the base;     a food storage element defining a compartment for holding food material in the food storage region; and     a detent for retaining the food storage element in the food storage region.        
 
         [0008]     Certain portions of the outer surface of wall (other than the part of the wall containing the food storage region) may be considered as defining a convex surface around at least part of the vertical axis of the cup. Some, or more preferably all, of the surface may be curved. For example, at least part of the outer surface of the side wall of the cup member may lie on a cylinder, with an axis upstanding from the base. Preferably, when the food storage element is in the food storage region little or none of the food storage element projects outwardly beyond the convex surface (e.g. no more than 5% or 10% by volume is outside the convex surface). This makes it less likely for shocks to the cup device to dislodge the food storage element from the inserted position. Optionally, when the food storage element is in the food storage region, at least a portion of the outer surface of the food storage element may actually lie on the convex surface (and parallel to it).  
         [0009]     The angle around the vertical axis of the cup which is subtended by the food storage region may have any value in different embodiments, and may for example be 180° (or higher). For example, in the case that it is 180°, then the food storage element and drink chamber may be constitute equal halves of a cylinder.  
         [0010]     However, more typically, the angle subtended by the food storage region is less than 180°, such as about 90°. In this case, the food storage region is more naturally considered as an outwardly directed cavity defined by the side wall, the base and, usually, a lid. The detent is for holding the food storage element in the cavity.  
         [0011]     A first possibility is for the food storage element to be adapted for insertion into the cavity to a variable degree.  
         [0012]     The insertion of the food storage element into the cavity may be by a rotational motion, in which an axis of the food storage element rotates relative to the cup member. For example, the rotational motion may be a pivotal motion about a pivot line.  
         [0013]     A second possibility is for the food storage element to be rotatable within the cavity, between an access position in which the food is accessible and one in which it is not.  
         [0014]     In either case, the food storage element may be separable from the cup member. In this case, the food in the food storage element is accessible when the food storage element is separated from the cup. This may be advantageous, for example, to permit the food compartment to be cleaned. In this case, optionally the cup member and food storage elements can be configured to be capable of supporting the food storage element in an intermediate position in which it is inserted into the cavity by an amount less than in the insertion position. A second detent may be provided to hold the food storage element in the intermediate position. When the food storage element is in the intermediate position and the second detent means is released, the food storage element is removable from the cup member.  
         [0015]     Alternatively, the food storage element may be permanently attached to the cup member. For example, in the case of a food storage element which is insertable into a cavity, the food storage element and cup member may be shaped such that, although the food storage element is movable between the inserted position and an access position in which it is inserted into the cavity to a lesser degree, the food storage element cannot (at least easily) be completely removed from the cavity. In this case, the food in the interior of the food compartment should accessible when the food storage element is in the access position.  
         [0016]     The drinking aperture may take any form within the scope of the invention. It may for example be a spout (a term used here to refer to the drinking aperture of a cup used by a very small child), or a training rim (the drinking aperture conventionally used by a slightly older child). In the latter case, the training rim may include a flow control means. For example, the training rim may contain a plurality of through holes and a lid of the cup member including the training rim may be rotatable to open a different number of the holes according to the rotational position.  
         [0017]     Additionally, a straw can be provided extending from the drinking aperture into the drink chamber.  
         [0018]     The cup member may have a mechanism for inhibiting drink within the drink chamber from leaving the chamber undesirably (e.g. when the cup is upset), for example a valve.  
         [0019]     Another mechanism for inhibiting undesirable exit of fluid would be for the cup device to be constructed such that, when liquid is present in the drink chamber, the centre of mass of the cup device (including the liquid) is on a side of the vertical axis of the cup such that if the cup is tipped over in that direction the liquid does not exit the drink chamber. This feature is straightforward to produce when the food storage element is not present or is empty, and to a lesser extent applicable also even when the food storage element contains food. This measure is particularly effective in the case that the profile of the cup around its axis is largely or completely curved, so that it is able to roll easily. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     Preferred features of the invention will now be described, for the sake of illustration only, with reference to the following figures in which:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1 , which is composed of FIGS.  1 ( a ) and  1 ( b ), is two views of a cup device which is a first embodiment of the invention in two different respective configurations;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2 , which is composed of FIGS.  2 ( a ) and  2 ( b ), is two views of a cup device which is a second embodiment of the invention in different respective configurations;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3 , which is composed of FIGS.  3 ( a ) and  3 ( b ), is two views of a cup device which is a third embodiment of the invention in different respective configurations; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 4 , which is composed of FIGS.  4 ( a ),  4 ( b ),  4 ( c ) and  4 ( d ), is views of a cup device which is a fourth embodiment of the invention in different configurations. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]     Referring firstly to  FIG. 1 , the cup device which is a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The cup device includes a hollow food storage element  1  and a cup member  3 .  FIG. 1 ( a ) shows the cup device in a configuration in which the food storage element  1  and cup member  3  are separated, while  FIG. 1 ( b ) shows them in ajoined configuration. The cup member  3  includes a base  5 , a generally cylindrical side wall  7  and a cap element  9 . A closed drink chamber for holding drinks is defined between the base  5 , side wall  7  and the cap element  9 . The cap element  9  includes a training rim  10  communicating with the drink chamber. The side wall  7  includes a cavity  11  for receiving the food storage element  1 .  
         [0026]     In the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 ( a ) food may be inserted into and removed from the food storage element  11 . Actually, the food compartment in the food storage element  1  has an opening  2  (upwardly directed in  FIG. 1 ( a )) through which food may be introduced or removed.  
         [0027]     The operation for attachment of the food storage element  1  to the cup member  3  is as follows. The food storage element is oriented such that an axis  13  through it (on its line of vertical symmetry) is inclined relative to the axis  15  of the cup member  3 , and a lower portion  17  of the food storage element  1  is inserted into a lower portion of the cavity  11 . In this configuration the top portion  19  of the food storage element  1  is hardly inserted at all into the cavity  11 . Then the food storage element  1  is rotated such that the axis  13  of the food storage element  1  is brought parallel to the axis  15  of the cup member  3 . In this operation, the movement of the food storage element  1  is guided by a pivoting interaction between a pivot line where the lower part  17  of the food storage element  1  touches the cup member  3 . Gradually, the top portion  19  of the food storage element  1  is inserted into the cavity  11 , to give the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 ( b ).  
         [0028]     The cavity  11  and food storage element  1  are shaped to as to provide a detent which releasably maintains the food storage element  1  is in this position. For example, the action of inserting the food storage element  1  into the cavity may cause a resilient portion of one of the cup member  3  and food storage element  1  to be deformed, and when the food storage element  1  reaches the fully inserted position the resilient portion may assume a configuration in which it retains the food storage element  1  in the inserted position until sufficient force is applied to the food storage element  1  to deform the resilient portion sufficiently to release the food storage element  1 . When the detent releases the food storage element  1 , the food storage element  1  may again rotate so that its top portion  19  partially leaves the cavity  11 . The cavity  11  and food storage element  1  may be shaped such that the food storage element  1  can rest in this position, in which the lower portion  17  of the food storage element  1  is attached to the cup member  3 , but the top portion  19  of the food storage element  1  projects out of the cavity  11 . Optionally, a second detent may be provided to releasably maintain it in this position. Releasing this second detent allows the food storage element  1  to be completely removed from the cup member  3 , to resume the configuration of  FIG. 1 ( a ).  
         [0029]     Turning to  FIG. 2 , a second embodiment of the invention is shown. Elements of the second embodiment corresponding to the first embodiment are shown by reference numerals  100  higher. In contrast to the first embodiment, the food storage element  101  of the second embodiment is permanently connected to the cup member  103 . The connection between the food storage element  101  and cup member  103  is such that the two are mutually pivotable. The pivoting is between a first configuration, shown in  FIG. 2 ( a ), in which the axis  113  of the food storage element  101  is inclined forward compared to the axis  115  of the cup member  105  so that the top  119  of the food storage element  101  projects out of the cavity  111  (but the food storage element  101  is unable to fully exit the cavity  111 ), and the configuration shown in  FIG. 2 ( b ) in which the axes  113 ,  115  are substantially parallel and the food storage element  101  is in the inserted position.  
         [0030]     Turning to  FIG. 3 , a third embodiment of the invention is shown. Elements of the third embodiment corresponding to the first embodiment are shown by reference numerals  200  higher. The food storage element  201  of this embodiment is fully separable from the cup member  203 , as shown in the configuration of  FIG. 3 ( a ). The food storage element includes an upper opening  202  through which food can be inserted into it or removed from it. In this embodiment the cup member  203  and food storage element  210  are equal halves of a cylinder located over the base  205 . The cylinder is formed by inserting the food storage element  210  into the semi-circular food storage region  211  over the base  205 , to give the configuration shown in  FIG. 3 ( b ).  
         [0031]     A detent (not shown) is provided for releasably holding the food storage element  201  in this position. This may be a snap-fit connection.  
         [0032]     When the food storage element  201  is inserted into the food storage region  211  the opening  202  may be blocked by a downwardly facing surface of the cap  209  at the top of the gap  211 , so that the food compartment is closed. Alternatively, it could have its own lid.  
         [0033]     Note that the rear wall  231  of the food storage element  210  could be omitted, so that the food storage element is rather like a “door” over the food storage region. The door may swing open, slide open, and/or be pulled off completely for access to the food storage region.  
         [0034]     Turning to  FIG. 4 , a fourth embodiment of the invention is shown. Elements corresponding to those of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  are shown by reference numerals  300  higher.  FIG. 4 ( a ) is an exploded view of the food storage element  301  and the cup member  303 . The food storage element  301  and the cup member  303  are each generally cylindrical, but the cup member  303  includes on its side a cavity  311  for receiving the food storage element  301 . The food storage element  301  is hollow and contains a front opening  302  and a tab  344 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 4 ( b ) is a cross-sectional view of the cup device in a horizontal plane (not including the aperture  302  or the tab  344 ) with the food storage element  301  inserted into the cavity  311 . The opening of the cavity  311  (i.e. the distance between the lips  340 ) is slightly narrower than the diameter d of the cavity, which is substantially equal to the diameter of the food storage element  301 , so that when the food storage element  301  is inserted into the cavity  311  (e.g. by a snap-fit installation) it is retained there. Thus, the lips  340  act as a detent (optionally, it may or may not be possible, easily, for an adult user to remove the food storage element  301  from the cavity  311 , and replace it). The drink chamber is shown in  FIG. 4 ( b ) as  341 . Note that in variations of this embodiment, the lips  340  may be as far apart as d, and some alternative detent means is provided to hold the food storage element  301  in the cavity  311  (e.g. releasably).  
         [0036]     FIGS.  4 ( c ) and  4 ( d ) show the cup device in a front view with the food storage element  301  inserted into the cavity  311 , and in two different respective rotational positions (i.e. around the axis  313  of the food storage element  301 ). The food storage element  301  can be moved between these positions using the tab  344 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 4 ( c ), the aperture  302  is open. In the configuration shown in  FIG. 4 ( d ), the aperture  302  is rotated behind the side wall  307  so that the food compartment is closed.  
         [0037]     In each of the four embodiments, the outer surfaces of the walls  7 ,  107 ,  207 ,  307  of the cup member  3 ,  103 ,  203 ,  303  away from the cavity  11 ,  111 ,  211 ,  311  lie substantially on a notional cylinder. When the food storage element  1 ,  101 ,  201  is in the inserted position shown in FIGS.  1 ( b ),  2 ( b ),  3 ( b ), and in all rotational positions shown in  FIG. 4 , it is substantially all within this cylinder. In other words, substantially none of the food storage element  1 ,  101 ,  201 ,  301  (e.g. no more than 10% by volume, or better still no more than 5% by volume) projects radially outward ly from the axes  15 ,  115 ,  215 ,  315  by more than the maximum radius of the wall  7 ,  107 ,  207 ,  307  of the cup member  3 ,  103 ,  203 ,  303 . The outer surface of the food storage element  1 ,  101 ,  201 ,  301  may, in the inserted position, lie substantially on the notional cylinder. Thus, in the configurations of FIGS.  1 ( b ),  2 ( b ),  3 ( b ),  4 ( a ),  4 ( c ) and  4 ( d ), the cup device has a substantially cylindrical profile around the whole of the axis  15 ,  115 ,  215 ,  315  along the portion of the axis  15 ,  115 ,  215 ,  315  which is between the cap  9 ,  109 ,  209 ,  309  and the base  5 ,  105 ,  205 ,  305 .  
         [0038]     Although only four embodiments of the invention have been illustrated, many variations are possible within the scope of the invention as will be clear to a skilled reader. For example, the training rims  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310  of any of the embodiments may take various forms or indeed be replaced by any other form of drinking aperture conventional in cup devices, such as a spout.  
         [0039]     In any embodiment of the invention, the drinking aperture may be closable, and/or permit flow at a selected one of a plurality of possible rates. For example, the drinking aperture may have a mouthpiece element which can be moved between a first position in which the user can use the mouthpiece element to drink liquid from the drink chamber, and a second position in which the mouthpiece does not pass the liquid. In the second position a drinking hole in the mouthpiece may be covered, reducing the risk that in use it may become contaminated. Optionally, the mouthpiece may be pivotable between these positions.  
         [0040]     In the case of the training rims  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 , the training rim may include a number of holes (e.g. three) and the user (e.g. a parent of the child) may select the number of these holes which is open. This selection may, for example, depend upon a rotational position of the cap element  9 ,  109 ,  209 ,  309 .  
         [0041]     The cap element  9 ,  109 ,  209 ,  309  may be connected releasably to the rest of the respective cup member  3 ,  103 ,  203 ,  303  so that the drink chamber can be accessed, for example for filling or cleaning.  
         [0042]     Optionally, the cup device of any of the embodiments above may include a “freezer stick” element, that is an element having a high specific heat which is separable from the rest of the cup device and can be inserted into a freezer, and then, once reduced to a low temperature, reattached to the cup.  
         [0043]     The mouthpiece may be in communication with a tube extending into the drink chamber, so that a user can suck liquid from the drink chamber through the tube and out of the cup device through the mouthpiece. Due to the tube, drink can be sucked from the cup device only when the cup device is substantially upright.  
         [0044]     The centre of mass of the assembled drinking cup device is preferably disposed oppositely, relative to a central vertical axis  15 ,  115 ,  215 ,  315  of the cup, from the opening of the tube into the drink chamber. Thus, if the cup device overbalances it will tend to fall in the direction such that the opening of the tube is raised. This reduces the risk of liquid within the drink chamber exiting the cup device via the tube, or at least reduces the amount of liquid which will exit the cup. Furthermore, if the centre of mass of the cup device is opposite the food storage element this means that there is reduced risk of the food storage element falling out.  
         [0045]     The provision of the centre of mass of the cup in a desired location is just one way of limiting the risk of undesirable egress of fluid from the cup. Alternatively, or additionally, a valve may be provided, e.g. in the drinking aperture.  
         [0046]     Although in the embodiments of the invention described above the food storage element is almost entirely in the food storage region (in the case of the first three embodiments, when the food storage element is inserted into that region), this is not required. Rather only a part of the food storage element may enter the food storage region, while a substantial portion of it extends out. This is not preferred presently because it leads to increased risk of the food storage element being knocked out of the food storage region.  
         [0047]     Also, although the outer profile of all the embodiments is substantially circular about the vertical axes of the cup member (which is advantageous to provide the rolling motion described above), this too is not essential to the invention. For example, cup may include one or more handles.