Espresso mug device

An espresso mug device for holding and transporting espresso shots includes a mug with a base wall and a peripheral wall that is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall to define an inner volume. An open top side provides access to the inner volume. A rim extends around the open top side. A lid with an upper plate and a lip is removably positionable over the open top side to selectively inhibit access to the inner volume. A mug gasket is coupled to the rim. A lid gasket is coupled to the lip of the lid. The mug gasket and the lid gasket each include a rubber material wherein the mug gasket and the lid gasket are designed to seal a junction between the mug and the lid to inhibit airflow into the inner volume and to insulate contents of the mug from outside temperatures.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to travel mugs and more particularly pertains to a new travel mug for holding and transporting espresso shots.

The prior art relates to travel mugs. Travel mugs are often used to hold and transport beverages. For example, some travel mugs are thermally insulated so that the contents of the travel mugs are insulated from outside temperatures. Users may put coffee, hot tea, or other beverages into the travel mugs so that the users can enjoy their beverages on the go. Accordingly, many travel mugs are made to hold volumes of 12 fluid ounces or more. However, if a user prefers espresso shots to coffee or hot tea, the 12 fluid ounce volume can be too large. Thus, there is a need for a travel mug that is designed to hold espresso shots.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a mug with a base wall and a peripheral wall that is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall to define an inner volume. The mug has an open top side to provide access to the inner volume. A rim is coupled to the peripheral wall distally to the base wall. The rim extends around the open top side. A lid includes an upper plate and a lip that is coupled to and extends downwardly from the upper plate. The lid is removably positionable over the open top side of the mug to selectively inhibit access to the inner volume wherein the lip is positionable around the rim. A mug gasket is coupled to the rim. A lid gasket is coupled to the lid. The mug gasket and the lid gasket each comprise a rubber material wherein the mug gasket and the lid gasket are configured to seal a junction between the mug and the lid to inhibit airflow into the inner volume and to insulate contents of the mug from outside temperatures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the espresso mug device 10 generally comprises a mug 12. The mug 12 generally has a base wall 14 and a peripheral wall 16 that is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall 14 to define an inner volume 18. The mug 12 generally has an open top side 20 to provide access to the inner volume 18. The inner volume 18 may be between 2.5 fluid ounces and 10.0 fluid ounces wherein the mug 12 is configured to hold a plurality of espresso shots. For example, the plurality of espresso shots may include between 1.0 and 6.0 espresso shots, which typically have a volume between 1.5 fluid ounces and 9.0 fluid ounces. The inner volume 18 may be between 2.5 fluid ounces and 10.0 fluid ounces such that the mug 12 is further configured to hold a volume of creamer that is added to the plurality of espresso shots.

A rim 22 may be coupled to the peripheral wall 16 distally to the base wall 14. The rim 22 may extend around the open top side 20. For example, the peripheral wall 16 may be curved outwardly approaching the rim 22 wherein the open top side 20 is enlarged to facilitate access into the inner volume 18.

A handle 24 may be coupled to the peripheral wall 16 of the mug 12. The handle 24 is generally configured to facilitate the mug 12 in being held. The handle 24 may extend outwardly from the peripheral wall 16. The handle 24 may be positioned proximate to the rim 22.

A lid 26 generally comprises an upper plate 28 and a lip 30 that is coupled to and extends downwardly from the upper plate 28. The lid 26 is removably positionable over the open top side 20 of the mug 12 to selectively inhibit access to the inner volume 18. The lip 30 may be positionable around the rim 22. The upper plate 28 and the lip 30 may comprise a resiliently deformable material wherein the lid 26 is configured to be upwardly bendable to facilitate removal of the lid 26 from the mug 12.

An air vent 34 may extend through the upper plate 28 wherein the air vent 34 is configured to facilitate airflow out of the inner volume 18 when the air vent 34 is uncovered. For example, the air vent 34 may be positioned proximate to the lip 30.

A cover 36 may be pivotably coupled to the upper plate 28. The cover 36 is positioned proximate to the air vent 34. The cover 36 may be upwardly pivotable from the upper plate 28 to uncover 36 the air vent 34. The cover 36 may be downwardly pivotable toward the upper plate 28 to close the air vent 34 to inhibit airflow out of the inner volume 18.

The cover 36 may include a plug 38 that is coupled to and extends downwardly from the cover 36. The plug 38 may be alignable with the air vent 34. More specifically, the plug 38 is positionable within the air vent 34 wherein the plug 38 is configured to inhibit contents of the mug 12 from leaking out of the air vent 34 when the cover 36 is pivoted downwardly to close the air vent 34.

A clip 48 may be pivotably coupled to the upper plate 28 of the lid 26. The clip 48 may be downwardly pivotable to engage the rim 22 wherein the clip 48 secures the lid 26 to the mug 12. The user may pivot the clip 48 upwardly to release the rim 22 and remove the lid 26 from the mug 12.

Some embodiments may include a pair of clips 48 that are each pivotably coupled to the upper plate 28. The pair of clips 48 may be aligned with each other across the upper plate 28, for example being positioned on opposing sides of the upper plate 28 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The pair of clips 48 may be spaced from the air vent 34.

Each clip of the pair of clips 48 may extend downwardly from the upper plate 28 past the lip 30 of the lid 26. Each clip of the pair of clips 48 may be downwardly pivotable to engage the rim 22 wherein the pair of clips 48 secure the lid 26 to the mug 12. Each clip of the pair of clips 48 may be upwardly pivotable to release the rim 22 and release the lid 26 from the mug 12. For example, the user may grip the handle 24 to facilitate the user in releasing one or both of the pair of clips 48 so that the user can remove the lid 26 to drink from the mug 12.

A mug gasket 40 may be coupled to the rim 22. The mug gasket 40 may be coextensive with the rim 22. The mug gasket 40 may be positioned over the rim 22. For example, the mug gasket 40 may be centrally positioned on the rim 22.

A lid gasket 42 may be coupled to the lid 26. The lid gasket 42 may be coextensive with the lip 30 of the lid 26. The lid gasket 42 is configured to abut the mug gasket 40 when the lid 26 is positioned over the open top side 20 of the mug 12. For example, the lid gasket 42 may further comprise a ring 44 that is coupled to the upper plate 28. The ring 44 is generally positioned adjacent to the lip 30. A belt 46 may be coupled to and extend downwardly from the ring 44. The belt 46 is generally positioned against the lip 30 of the lid 26.

The mug gasket 40 and the lid gasket 42 may each comprising a rubber material wherein the mug gasket 40 and the lid gasket 42 are configured to seal a junction between the mug 12 and the lid 26 to inhibit airflow into the inner volume 18 and to insulate contents of the mug 12 from outside temperatures. For example, the ring 44 may abut the mug gasket 40 over the rim 22 and the belt 46 may extend downwardly from the ring 44 against rim 22, or the peripheral wall 16, within the mug 12 to seal the junction between the mug 12 and the lid 26.

In use, the inner volume 18 of the mug 12 may be designed to hold between 2.0 and 6.0 shots of espresso. A typical shot of espresso has a volume of about 1.5 fluid ounces. The inner volume 18 may accordingly be between 1.5 fluid ounces and 9.0 fluid ounces. In other embodiments, the inner volume 18 may be increased by around 1.0 fluid ounce to accommodate creamer or milk that may be added to the plurality of espresso shots. The inner volume 18 in such embodiments may be between 2.5 fluid ounces and 10.0 fluid ounces. With the lid 26 positioned over the open top side 20, the espresso mug device 10 may facilitate the user in holding and transporting the plurality of espresso shots without spilling the plurality of espresso shots.