Abstract:
A beverage container that resembles the well-known gasoline can shape includes a spout, an integrally formed top handle, and a rear handle assembly that includes an interior handle space dimensioned to store 3-6 shot glasses in a vertically nested stack. An access door in a side wall enables use of replaceable sealed cartridge that contains the liquid being transported and served, the spout including a punch to tap the cartridge. A condiments tray is slidably disposed in a drawer space below the cartridge for separately storing mixological condiments, and includes a push button activated latch that keeps the tray closed and secure in the drawer space.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date priority of Provisional Application No. 61/920,845, filed Dec. 26, 2013 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       SEQUENCE LISTING, ETC ON CD 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates to beverage containers and, more particularly, to alcoholic beverage containers that transport the beverage as well as the accoutrements used to serve the beverage. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0007]    At many casual parties and gatherings, it is customary for the guests or attendees to bring with them a beverage that they will be consuming at the event. Depending on the tastes of the individual and the nature of the event, the beverage may be alcoholic and consist of a selection from the list of beer, wine, sparkling wine, and distilled spirits. This custom of BYO (Bring Your Own) enables many people to convene social gatherings of friends and families without undertaking the expense of purchasing alcoholic beverages, which are otherwise often the most expensive cost item of a party. 
         [0008]    If the party attendee wishes to bring an alcoholic beverage of distilled spirits, it is often necessary or expected to serve the beverage with traditional condiments. For example, tequila is usually accompanied by lime sections, salt, or bitters, and rum may be accented with citrus fruit, sweet fruit or sugar, and the like. It is simple enough to transport a bottle of spirits, but the addition of condiments requires extra containers (often leakproof), bags, and general hand baggage. This is not convenient for the party-goer. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention generally comprises a beverage container that is designed to enable an individual to transport a beverage in a safe and sealed and stylish container. In addition, the invention provides a separate compartment and tray or drawer for storing and carrying condiment items such as citrus sections, maraschino cherries or olives, sugar cubes, chopped herbs, and the like. 
         [0010]    A salient aspect of the invention is the shape of the outer housing, which mimics the well-known gasoline can shape in a manner that is familiar to all vehicle drivers. The housing has the general form of a rectangular prism, and it designed with a base adapted to rest on a horizontal surface with the container extending upwardly therefrom. Opposed side walls are joined by opposed end walls and top and bottom walls in a rectangular layout, and the upper ends of the end walls taper and converge toward each other. A spout extends from one of the tapered surfaces for pouring the liquid stored in the container, and includes a cap to seal the spout opening A top handle is integrally formed in the top wall of the container. A rear handle assembly protrudes from one of the end walls and includes an interior handle space dimensioned to store 3-6 shot glasses in a vertically nested stack. 
         [0011]    Another significant feature of the invention is an access door hinged to one of the side walls of the container to enable access to the interior cavity of the container. The interior cavity houses a sealed cartridge that contains the liquid being transported and dispensed. The cartridge is also a rectanguloid prism that fits in complementary fashion within the cavity, and is intended to be disposable while the remainder of the assembly is reusable. The provision of cartridges filled with liquid enables a manufacturer to sell various types of liquor, each in a respective cartridge, so that the consumer may choose the beverage being transported by buying the respective filled cartridge and installing it in the reusable container. 
         [0012]    Another important aspect of the container is the provision of a condiments tray slidably disposed in a drawer space below the interior cavity. The condiments tray has several compartments for separately storing mixological condiments, and includes a push button activated latch that keeps the tray closed and secure in the drawer space until the user wishes to access the condiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0013]      FIG. 1A  is a front elevation of the beverage container of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1B  is a rear quarter perspective elevation of the beverage container of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front quarter perspective elevation of the beverage container of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an exploded assembly view from a front quarter perspective showing the beverage cartridge and the container, as well as the removable spout assembly. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a rear quarter perspective elevation of the beverage container, shown with the condiments tray in the open disposition. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an exploded assembly view from a rear quarter perspective showing in particular the beverage container and the shot glass holder handle assembly. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an exploded assembly view of the shot glass holder handle shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of the spout assembly in use filling a glass with a beverage from the cartridge in the container. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an exploded assembly view of the condiments drawer of the beverage container. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an exploded assembly view of the spout assembly of the beverage container of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged cross-sectional elevation showing the spout assembly depicted in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a magnified view of the replaceable label feature of the container of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    The present invention generally comprises a beverage container that is designed to enable an individual to transport a beverage in a safe and sealed and stylish container. A significant aspect of the container is that it is an assembly configured to mimic the well-known shape of a fuel (gasoline) can, in a manner that is familiar to all vehicle operators. The combination of the familiar shape that is juxtaposed with an unfamiliar use provides a visual dissonance that attracts the eye and the interest of the observer. 
         [0026]    With regard to the accompanying figures, and in particular  FIGS. 1-4 , the beverage container  20  is an assembly that includes a base  21  that rests on a horizontal support, and opposed side walls  22  and  23  and opposed ends  24  and  26  extending upwardly from the base  21  and joined to form a generally rectangular prism configuration. At the upper end of the container  20  the sidewalls include upper oblique portions  28  and  30  that converge as they extend upwardly in tapering fashion to a flattened crown strip  31 . The end  24  is termed the front in this description, and includes a front end wall  32  extending vertically, with an upper oblique portion  33  extending upwardly and tapering rearwardly to join the oblique portions  28  and  20  and form an upper handle portion  34 . An opening  36  extends laterally through the portions  28  and  30  to enable a user to extend fingers and thumb therethrough and grasp the top of the beverage container  20  with one hand. A pour spout assembly  37  extends upwardly from the oblique portion  33  of the front end wall  32  to enable a user to decant a liquid beverage from the container  20 . The back end  26  of the container is comprised of tapering surfaces that converge in a manner similar to the upper handle  34 , to form a rear handle assembly  38 . Thus, for example, the container  20  may be lifted by a user by engaging the upper handle  34  with one hand and using the other hand to grasp the rear handle assembly  38  to tip the container and pour the libation from the spout  37 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0027]    The features described in general above are formed by exterior surfaces that join at smoothly radiused intersections to provide a smooth, streamlined appearance with no sharp corners or vertices. 
         [0028]    A significant aspect of the invention is the provision of a cartridge  51  to contain the liquid that is carried and dispensed by the container  20 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cartridge  51  is a hollow rectangular prism that is configured and dimensioned to be received within the sidewalls and front and rear ends of the container  20 . The cartridge  51  includes an upper front end wall  52  that slopes upwardly and rearwardly in complimentary fashion to the outer wall portion  33 , and an access port  53  disposed in the upper front end wall  52 . A frangible seal  54  occludes the port  53  to enclose the liquid entirely within the cartridge in leakproof fashion. 
         [0029]    The cartridge  51  is received within an upper interior space  56  in the container  20 . The side  22  is provided with a door  57  hinged along vertical rear edge  58 , the door  57  having a plan outline that is complementary to the side elevation of the cartridge  51 . The hinge enables the door  57  to be rotated open as shown in  FIG. 3  so that the cartridge  51  may be slidably inserted into the space  56  or removed therefrom and replaced. The door  57  is held closed by an internal latch having a latch release button  61  adjacent to a front edge of the door  57 . The door may optionally be provided with a transparent window  59  to enable a user to visualize the cartridge  51  within the space  56  and to read the label on the cartridge and be apprised of the contents of the cartridge. 
         [0030]    The invention includes a plurality of cartridges  51  that may be sold to the user, each cartridge being filled with a particular type of beverage. Thus a variety of beverages may be sold in labeled cartridges which are selectively installed and used within the reusable container  20 . A significant aspect of the invention is the production and vending of the cartridges  51  in conjunction with the use of the container  20 . The cartridges may be produced to hold standard beverage-vending amounts, such as one liter, 750 ml, 500 ml, 3.78 L (one gallon), one quart, and the like. The cartridges may be disposable after use, or reusable, or recyclable, or may be repurposed for other uses subsequent to use in the container  20 . 
         [0031]    With regard to  FIGS. 3 ,  9 , and  10 , the spout assembly  37  includes an annular bushing  62  that is received in a complementarily-formed hole  63  in the wall portion  33  of the container  20 . The bushing is formed of resilient elastomer and is press-fit in hole  63  to form a leak-proof seal therewith. A spout assembly  66  includes a cylindrical portion  67  and a tubular core  68  extending coaxially therethrough. The inner end of the core  68  is formed as a sharpened conical lance  65 , and the exterior is provided with threads  69  to engage complementarily threaded bore  64  in the bushing  62 . The outer end of core  68  is joined to a funnel-like spout  71  for directing liquid poured therefrom into a compact stream. A cap  72  is joined to the spout assembly  37  by a strap  73  that is secured about the core  68 . 
         [0032]    When a cartridge  51  is installed in the interior space  56  of the container  20 , the upper oblique wall  52  abuts the inner end of the bushing  62 , with the opening  53  axially aligned with the bushing  62 . The spout assembly  66  may be installed with the end  69  of the core  68  threaded into bore  64 , causing the end  65  to pierce the seal  54 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . The spout installation thus enables the user to open the sealed cartridge  51  and gain access to the contents, which may then be poured from the spout  37  when desired. 
         [0033]    A further feature of the container  20  is the provision of a condiments tray assembly  81 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8 . The container includes a lower interior space  82  directly below upper interior space  56  and separated therefrom by an interior wall or strut  83 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The interior space  82  is open along sidewall  22 , and a tray  84  is dimensioned to be slidably received in interior space  82 . The exterior surfaces of tray  84  are configured to extend flush to the sidewall  22  and front and rear ends when the tray is fully installed in space  82 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 ,  3 , and  5 . The tray includes an upwardly opening coffer  86  which may house interchangeable containers such as the trio of small bins  87  or a single large bin  88 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . When the tray is loaded with condiments, as shown in  FIG. 4  (with the trio of bins  87 ), it may be slidably installed in the space  82 , and the condiments are thus transportable in safe, enclosed fashion in the same container as the beverage for which they are intended. A pushbutton latch  89  is mounted at the lower back end of the container to secure the tray  84  in the closed position and release the tray when desired to gain access to the condiments. Note that the tray  84  is entirely removable for easy loading and cleaning. 
         [0034]    With particular regard to  FIGS. 1B ,  4 ,  5  and  6 , a further feature of the container  20  is a shot glass holder  91  built into the rear handle assembly  38  described above. A rear bracket component  92  is comprised of opposed vertical surfaces  90  extending from a flush conjunction with sidewalls  22  and  23  and tapering rearwardly to a rounded vertically extending crown strip  93  that is contiguous with upper crown strip  31 . Recesses  94  are formed in the vertical surfaces  90  to comprise a hand grip. A semi-cylindrical tubular housing  96  is disposed vertically and medially of the opposed vertical surfaces  90 , and is closed at the lower end but open at the upper end. Pairs of upper and lower support arms  97  extend from the component  92  and are spaced apart vertically to span the vertical extend of the cartridge  51  within the interior space  56  of the container. The pairs of arms  97  are dimensioned to be slidably received through rear opening  95  within the interior space  56  as shown in  FIG. 5 , with the exterior surfaces  90  flush with sidewalls  22  and  23 . Note that the cartridge  51  cannot be removed nor replaced through opening  95 . A pushbutton latch  98  is disposed within a rear portion of upper handle  34  to secure the shot glass component  92  within the container and release it when desired by the user. The tubular housing  96  is formed of transparent plastic material and is dimensioned to store and display a nested stack of shot glasses  99 , from 3-6 depending on their size and configuration. 
         [0035]    With regard to  FIG. 11  in particular, the container  20  may be provided with a label holder  101  that is displayed prominently, such as shown at the conjunction of sidewall  22  and upper oblique wall portion  33  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The label  102  may be vended with the cartridge  51  and secured in holder  101  by self-adhesive, press fit, or the like. The label  102  is changed in accordance with the removal and replacement of cartridge  51  with a different liquid spirits. 
         [0036]    It may be appreciated that the container  20  described above provides a stylish and attractive decanter having the top handle, rear handle, pour spout, and planar vertical sides that are typical of an emergency fuel container, commonly known as a gas can. These elements are familiar to the general public, but the use of a drink container and dispenser having a gasoline can appearance creates a visual dissonance that is eye-catching and attractive. Furthermore, the container provides storage not only for the spirits contained in cartridge  51 , but also the condiments in condiment tray  84  for serving the spirits, and glasses  99  for sharing the spirits and condiments, all in one convenient container. Thus the container is ideal for individuals attending parties, gatherings and social events where it is expected to “bring your own” spirits and libations. 
         [0037]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the invention. The embodiment described is selected to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to the particular purpose contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.