Abstract:
A drinking container comprising a shell having an outer surface, an inner surface, a top portion, and a base, wherein the shell is transparent. The drinking container further comprises a sleeve having an open end, wherein the sleeve is fitted inside the shell and the sleeve is reflective. The drinking container also includes a plurality of optic panels or designs formed on the inner surface of the shell. The combination of transparent and reflective materials causes the outer surface of the shell to have a paneled appearance when, in fact, the outer surface of the shell is smooth and cylindrical.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a drinking container and, more specifically, a drinking container having optic panels, fluting, or other decorative design.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     There are many unique features that have been applied to drinking containers. One such feature, as disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 384,246 to McKnight, includes optic panels situated around the circumference of the interior of glassware. The optic panels create an illusion that the outside of the drinking container is paneled, when in fact the outside surface is smooth and cylindrical.  
         [0005]     With the number of coffee and tea drinkers gradually increasing, various drinking containers have hereto been developed to appeal to the individual styles of this growing segment of the population. A drinker who utilizes any such unique drinking container expresses his or her individual style. Thus, a coffee or tea drinker may prefer a drinking container embodying optic panels which create the same effect as found in the prior art. To this end, a drinking container that is to hold a hot temperature beverage requires that the drinking container maintain both its aesthetically pleasing feature as well as its functionality. Prior art single-layer glassware with optic panels incorporated therein are not effective to create a paneled illusion, if the beverage, such as coffee, is dark. This is because a dark beverage prevents light from reflecting through the optic panels. Furthermore, single-layer glassware is not generally conducive to holding coffee and tea, as the lack of insulating layers causes the heat of the beverage to quickly dissipate or may even prevent the user from holding the hot drinking container.  
         [0006]     Other material may be used to form the optic panels that create the desired paneled illusion in the presence of a dark, hot temperature beverage. Such insulating material needs to be fastened together, which precludes the use of glassware. Furthermore, the use of material other than glass results in the ability to mold the drinking container with functional elements, decreased weight, increased flexibility in decorating the drinking container, and cheaper production costs.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, what is needed and has not heretofore been developed is a functional drinking container for holding dark, hot temperature beverages that appear to have a paneled external appearance when in fact the external surface is smooth and cylindrical.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention provides, in the preferred embodiment, a drinking container including a shell having an outer surface, an inner surface, a top portion, a base, and a plurality of optic panels formed on the inner surface of the shell. The drinking container further includes a sleeve having an open end, wherein the sleeve is fitted and secured inside the shell. Finally, a lid may be used to cover the drinking container and to fully contain a beverage therein. The shell is of a transparent material and the sleeve is of a reflective material. Preferably, the shell is acrylic and the sleeve is metallic. The combination of transparent and reflective materials causes the outer surface of the shell to have a paneled appearance, when in fact the outer surface of the shell is smooth and cylindrical. This paneled appearance is also noticeable when the drinking container holds a dark, hot temperature beverage. The construction of the drinking container in terms of material results in the ability to mold the drinking container with functional elements, increased flexibility in decorating the drinking container, and cheaper production costs.  
         [0009]     The optic panels may be substituted with other designs, including fluting of various widths. Alternatively, the inner surface of the shell may include other symmetrical and/or asymmetrical designs, figures, shapes, patterns, etc. Furthermore, instead of having the optical panels or other design formed on the inner shell, the optic panels may also be formed on an outside surface of the sleeve.  
         [0010]     These and other advantages of the present invention will be understood from the description of the preferred embodiments, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements throughout. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a drinking container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the drinking container shown in  FIG. 1  without a lid;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the sleeve;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the drinking container shown in  FIG. 1  without a sleeve;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is top view of the drinking container shown in  FIG. 1  with neither a lid nor a sleeve;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the lid of the drinking container shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0017]      FIGS. 7-12  are views of a drinking container according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     For purposes of the description hereinafter, the spatial or directional terms, such as “inner”, “outer”, “top”, “bottom”, “downward”, and derivatives thereof, shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific apparatus illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, is simply an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.  
         [0019]     A drinking container  10  according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 . In the preferred embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the basic elements of the drinking container  10  include a shell  12 , a sleeve  14 , a lid  16 , and a handle  18 . The drinking container  10  may assume various dimensions, yet still be practical in size for drinking purposes.  FIG. 1  shows the drinking container  10  assembled with all of the above-identified elements, whereas  FIGS. 2 and 4  show the drinking container  10  with the lid  16  removed and the sleeve  14  removed, respectively. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the basic construction of the drinking container  10  includes the sleeve  14  situated within the shell  12 , the handle  18  affixed to the shell  12 , and the lid  16  covering the top of the drinking container  10 .  
         [0020]     The shell  12  includes an outer surface  20 , an inner surface  22 , a top portion  24 , and a base  26 . In the preferred embodiment, the shell  12  is substantially cylindrical in shape, yet has a slight taper extending from the top portion  24  to the base  26 . The shell  12  includes a plurality of optic panels  28  on the inner surface  22  of the shell  12 , preferably integrated with the inner surface  22 . The plurality of optic panels  28  preferably extends heightwise from the top portion  24  of the shell  12  toward the base  26  of the shell  12 , preferably in a circumferential manner and closely spaced apart, as shown in  FIG. 4 . In the preferred embodiment, the material of shell  12  is a transparent acrylic although, ideally, the material may be any low-heat conductive transparent material. Due to the reflective properties of the plurality of optic panels  28 , upon ordinary observation, the shell  12  appears to be paneled, when in actuality the surface of the shell  12  is smooth and cylindrical. A person having ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the dimensions and specific layout of the plurality of optic panels  28  required to achieve this desired visual effect for any embodiment of the drinking container  10 . The optic panels  28  may be of any shape, width, or orientation, which would provide the appearance of a non-smooth surface texture to the outer surface  20  of the shell  12 . Thus, it is to be understood that other embodiments of the present invention may include fluting of various widths in place of the optic panels  28 . Alternatively, the inner surface  22  of the shell  12  may include other symmetrical and/or asymmetrical designs. A design is to encompass any figure, pattern, or other ornamental shape. For example, a repeating triangular or random trapezoidal pattern may extend along the inner surface  22  of the shell  12 . Furthermore, instead of having the optic panels  28  or other design formed on the inner shell, the optic panels  28  or such other design may be formed on an outside surface of the sleeve, thereby creating a similar optical effect, as that created by use of the design on the inner surface  22  of the shell  12 .  
         [0021]     The handle  18  is preferably affixed to a molded protruding section  30  on the shell  12 . The handle  18  may be molded with grips to ergonomically accommodate the drinker&#39;s fingers and thumb. With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , and with continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , a circumferential ledge  32  is situated at the top portion  24  of the shell  12 . Additionally, a screw hole  34  is centrally located in the base  26  of the shell  12 . The screw hole  34  is sufficient in diameter to accommodate a screw  36  therein. An insulating pad  38  is affixed to the bottom of the base  26 . The insulating pad  38  allows the drinker to safely place the drinking container  10  with a hot beverage therein on most any surface.  
         [0022]     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and with continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the sleeve  14  includes an open end  40 , a closed end  42 , a lip  44 , a circumferential groove  46 , and a threaded connection  48 . In the preferred embodiment, the sleeve  14  is substantially cylindrical in shape, yet has a slight taper extending from the open end  40  to the closed end  42 . Specifically, the dimensions of the sleeve  14  are such that, when the sleeve  14  is fully inserted into the shell  12 , the sleeve  14  does not abut the shell  12 . This creates an insulative air layer to reduce the heat transfer from the hot beverage in the sleeve  14  to the outer surface  20  of the shell  12 . Preferably, the material of the sleeve  14  is metallic although, ideally, the material may be any reflective material which may be subjected to high temperature liquids yet not undergo any structural deformities, such as melting. To optimally produce the desired paneled illusion, the material of which the sleeve  14  is constructed ideally embodies a light reflective characteristic, such as found in most metals. It is to be understood that the metallic material may be a composite, such as, but not limited to, a metal and ceramic mix. The lip  44  is formed around the open end  40 , resulting in the circumferential groove  46  to face downward. The threaded connection  48 , for accommodating the screw  36  therein is situated at the closed end  42  of the sleeve  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the sleeve  14  is fully inserted into the shell  12  so that that the circumferential groove  46  engages the circumferential ledge  32  of the shell  12 . Thus, the lip  44  extends past the top portion  24  of the shell  12 , yet is flush with the outer surface  20  of the shell  12 . Additionally, the sleeve  14  is secured within the shell  12  by having the screw  36  inserted into the screw hole  34 , pushed through the base  26  of the shell  12 , and screwed into the threaded connection  48  of the sleeve  14 . It is to be understood that various other means for securing the sleeve  14  within the shell  12  may be employed, including, but not limited to, snaps, rivets, and glue.  
         [0023]     With reference to  FIG. 5 , and with continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the lid  16  is used to cover the open end  40  of the sleeve  14 . Preferably, the lid  16  frictionally engages the sleeve  14  so as to prevent the beverage from spilling out of the drinking container  10 . The lid  16  may comprise various means for accessing manageable amounts of the beverage while minimizing heat loss. This includes, but is not limited to, a laterally slidable opening, a pivotable opening, or a latch incorporated within the lid  16 .  
         [0024]     As previously mentioned, in order to hold a dark, hot temperature beverage and provide the paneled illusion, the drinking container requires a different type of construction and the use of material other than single-layer glassware. Hence, the use of different materials, such as acrylic and metal, is preferred in terms of providing functionality of the drinking container and flexibility in the design of the drinking container. Additionally, acrylic materials are highly moldable. This allows for functional elements to be integrated within the drinking container  10 , such as the circumferential ledge  32 , the molded protruding section  30 , and the screw hole  34 . Furthermore, acrylic may be easily decorated in that acrylic is conducive to a variety of colors, patterns, and designs. These benefits translate into manufacturing cost savings.  
         [0025]     The above invention has been described with reference to the preferred and alternative embodiments. Obvious modifications, combinations, and alterations will occur to others upon reading the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications, combinations, and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.