Abstract:
A beverage container for immersing food including an open container, a holder defining an area adapted to hold food and a handle. The holder fits within the open container and has a first magnetic portion such that when the holder is in the container, the first magnetic portion is adjacent an interior part of the walls of the container. The handle has a second magnetic portion such that when the second magnetic portion of the handle is placed adjacent an exterior part of the walls of the container near the first magnetic portion of the holder, a magnetic bond formed between the first and second magnetic portions permits movement of the handle to control movement of the holder. The holder can take many forms such as a basket. Channels and/or tracks may be added to guide the holder and/or handle during movement. A retrofit kit is also claimed.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention relates to a novelty beverage container such as a mug or cup for immersing food into a liquid contained in the mug.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Children and adults alike have been dipping cookies into a glass of milk for decades. Some cultures like to dip bread into a hot beverage such as coffee and milk. Others like immersing a hard cookie such as a biscotti into wine or coffee. Inevitably, the person dunking the cookie or bread into the beverage reaches a point where the piece is too small to dip without also dipping the person&#39;s finger tips into the beverage container. Other times, pieces of the cookie, bread or other food breaks off into the beverage. One solution to dipping the remnant piece into the glass or removing the broken cookie from the mug is to use a utensil such as a fork or spoon. The present invention provides an alternative solution which is fun for all.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel beverage container which allows food to be immersed in the beverage and then removed for consumption.  
         [0004]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage container with a simple mechanical means of dipping food such as cookies into a beverage container such as a mug or cup and then remove the dipped food for consumption.  
         [0005]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel kit which can be retrofit onto an existing mug or cup which allows a person to place food within a food holder that slides down the inside of the mug, the movement of which is controlled by a handle that slides along the outside of the mug that is magnetically coupled through the wall of the mug to the holder.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention is a beverage container for immersing food which includes an open container having walls continuously connected to a substantially horizontal base. The upper portion of the walls defines an opening to the container. The container of the present invention also includes a food holder which fits within the open end of the container. In one embodiment, the holder includes a first magnetic portion such that when the holder is in the container, the first magnetic portion is adjacent an interior part of the walls of the container. The embodiment also includes a handle having a second magnetic portion such that when the second magnetic portion of the handle is placed adjacent an exterior part of the walls of the container near the first magnetic portion of the holder, a magnetic bond formed between the two magnetic portions permits movement of the handle such as to control movement of the holder. The holder may include a basket with drainage holes to allow the liquid beverage contained in the container and basket to drain out after being immersed in the container. The holder may also include a lift member attached to the holder such that the user may remove the holder from the container when it is at or near the rim or edge of the mug.  
         [0007]     Another embodiment of the present invention includes a channel and track running along the inside of the container walls such that the holder and handle glide or slide up and down in a predetermined manner. The channels and tracks may be configured in many ways, including, but not limited to, a U-shape, a slot shape, a C-shape and a T-shape. Also, more than one channel/track or slot/key may be incorporated.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment, the track and channel is located on the exterior of the mug or beverage container. In yet another embodiment, the beverage container includes tracks or channels on both the inside and outside of the container such that there can be no misalignment between the handle on the outside and the holder on the inside.  
         [0009]     Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a beverage container for immersing food in which the walls define interior and exterior channels terminating at an upper edge of the walls. The holder, which fits within the container, includes a horizontal member for holding said atop the holder. A grip member engages the exterior channel. The grip member is coupled to the holder via a flexible member running within the interior and exterior channels such that movement of the grip member relative to the container causes the holder to move substantially up and down within the container.  
         [0010]     Another embodiment includes a beverage container for immersing food having an open container and a container handle attached to an exterior part of the vertical walls near the brim of the container. The container handle includes an exterior axial channel permitting a flexible member to slide within the channel. A holder having a substantially horizontal member adapted to hold food is attached to the other end of the flexible member and fits within the container. A lever located atop the container handle allows the user to control the movement of the holder by sliding the lever along the length of the handle.  
         [0011]     The present invention includes a further embodiment adapted to be retrofit onto an existing cup or mug. The track/channel components are attached to a preexisting mug to allow the handle and holder configuration to be retrofit onto an existing container. In all the claimed inventions of the present invention, it is contemplated that the arrangement of the channels/slides or keys/slots can be reversed without affecting the operation of the invention, and accordingly, it is contemplated that the appended claims cover embodiments having such structures reversed.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  diagrammatically illustrates a side view of a beverage container for immersing food;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  diagrammatically illustrates a top view of the container of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3A  diagrammatically illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the food holder that fits within the beverage container;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of the food holder illustrated in  FIG. 3A ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4A  diagrammatically illustrates a side view of another embodiment of the beverage container of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4B  diagrammatically illustrates a cut-away view of the container from the perspective of section line  4 B′- 4 B″ in  FIG. 4A ;  
         [0019]      FIGS. 5A &amp; 5B  diagrammatically illustrate a retrofit kit allowing the present invention to be used on a standard mug or cup;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  diagrammatically illustrates a partial cut-away view of another embodiment of the beverage container for immersing food;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7A  diagrammatically illustrates a side view of another embodiment of the beverage container of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7B  diagrammatically illustrates a T-shaped channel and slide from the perspective of section line  7 B′- 7 B″ in  FIG. 7A ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7C  diagrammatically illustrates a U-shaped channel and slide from the perspective of section line  7 B′- 7 B″ in  FIG. 7A ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7D  diagrammatically illustrates a key and slot from the perspective of section line  7 B′- 7 B″ in  FIG. 7A ; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  diagrammatically illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     The present invention generally relates to a novel beverage container such as a mug or cup which includes a food container or holder for immersing food into a liquid contained in the mug. It is important to note that the embodiments of the invention described below are only examples of some of the uses of the teachings described herein. In general, statements made in the specification do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. Unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in the plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. Similar reference numerals and letters represent similar components and system features throughout the drawings and the written description.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment of the beverage container  10  of the present invention. The beverage container  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an open container  12  defined by substantially vertical walls  20 . The upper portion  22  of the walls  20  define the opening  30  to the container  12 . The lower portion  26  of the walls  20  is attached to the base  24 .  FIG. 2  diagrammatically illustrates a top view of the container of  FIG. 1 . The walls  20  of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  form a rounded, substantially circular shape. The lower portion  26  of the walls are continuously connected to a substantially horizontal base  24 , thereby defining a glass, cup or mug  12  as is ordinarily known to all. The container  12  also includes a container handle  34 .  
         [0028]     The present invention  10  includes a holder  40 . The holder  40  serves to hold the food article as it is lowered and raised in and out of the mug. In  FIG. 1 , holder  40  defines a concave area  42  which holds cookie  38 . The size and shape of holder  40  may vary, but must be able to fit within the interior of container  12 . The holder  40  defines an area adapted to hold food. Accordingly, the holder may take the form of a platform, basket, claw or other configuration capable of holding the food. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the concave holder  40  defines a scoop for holding the cookie against the side wall of the mug  12  (cookie not shown in  FIG. 2 ). The scoop  40  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  includes a hole  42  to allow any liquid accumulated within the scoop to drain when the holder  40  is raised out of the mug  12 . Holder  40  also includes a magnet  50  on the side nearest the interior part of the side wall  20  of container  12 , the purpose of which will be explained below. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , magnet  50  is embedded or encapsulated within holder  40 .  
         [0029]      FIGS. 3 and 4  diagrammatically illustrate a basket holder  40 . Holder  40  includes multiple drainage holes  44 . Similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , holder  40  includes magnet  50 . Basket holder  40  also includes lift member  46 . Member  46  provides finger grip areas  48  to allow the basket to be easily removed from the mug container  12 .  
         [0030]     The beverage container  10  of the present invention also includes a handle  60  to control the movement of holder  40 . In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , handle  60  includes another magnet  70  embedded or encapsulated within the handle. Of course, it is not necessary that the magnet  70  be embedded or encapsulated within the handle  60 .  
         [0031]     The beverage container  10  functions as follows. The holder  40  is placed within container  12  with the magnetic portion against or adjacent an interior part of the walls  20  of the mug. The handle  60  is then placed adjacent the exterior part of the mug or cup  12  such that the magnetic portion of the handle is near the magnetic portion  50  of the holder  40 . When the handle is placed near the ideal location, the magnetic fields of the corresponding magnets  50 ,  70  should interact forming a magnetic bond between the two magnets  50 ,  70  and causing the handle  60  and the holder  40  to align. The container  12  is then filled with the beverage of choice, for example, milk. Using the handle  60 , a person grips the handle  60  and guides the handle generally in an upward direction as indicated by arrow  62  in  FIG. 1 . Because of the magnetic bond between handle  60  and holder  40 , holder  40  moves in an upward direction along the interior of container  12 . After reaching an upper portion of the exterior wall  20  of the container  12 , a cookie or other article of food  38  is placed atop or within holder  40 . Using the same technique, the person using the present invention then lowers the cookie  38  into the beverage by slowing lowering the handle  60  on the exterior of the container  12 . The cookie  38  and holder  40  follow the movement of the handle  60 . After immersing the cookie in the milk or other beverage, the user then uses the same technique to extract the cookie from the container  12 . As the cookie and holder  40  are raised, and as the liquid contained within mug  12  is consumed or is depleted, the holder  40  may begin to rise above the level of liquid in the mug  12 . If the holder  40  is held above the liquid line  64 , accumulated liquid within holder  40  will drain down through hole  42 . If the holder  40  includes a lift member  46  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the user may grip the cookie holder  40  and use the basket or holder  40  to retrieve and consume cookie  38 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 4A  diagrammatically illustrates a side view of another embodiment of the beverage container  10  of the present invention. This embodiment includes a channel  80  running along an exterior part of the side walls  20  of container  12 . The channel  80  may run the entire vertical length of the side wall  20 , or may only run a portion of the length. In  FIG. 4A , the channel runs at a slight angle relative to vertical, running from the lower portion  26  of the side wall up through the upper portion  22 . The main purpose of channel  80  is to provide a guide for the movement of handle  60 .  FIG. 4B  diagrammatically illustrates a cut-away view of the container in  FIG. 4A  from the perspective of  4 B′- 4 B″. From this perspective, it is readily observable that wall  20  defines exterior channel or slot  80 . Handle  60  includes a key or slide  68  protruding into channel  80 . The embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  operates substantially similar to that of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . It should be noted that the configuration of channel  80  and slide  68  may be reversed without affecting the operation of the present invention. That is, the exterior part of wall  20  can define a rail or track, and handle  60  define a channel or slot. Moreover, more than one channel and corresponding slide may be added as well.  
         [0033]      FIG. 5A  diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment having two tracks or rails  80 ,  82  on the exterior of container  12 . The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is a kit used to convert an existing mug or cup into a food immersing apparatus.  FIG. 5B  illustrates the component parts of the kit. Exterior panel  84  includes adhesive strips  86 . Panel  84  is affixed to the exterior of mug  12  such that rails  80 ,  82  are substantially vertical. Other means of affixing panel  84  to the exterior of mug  12  may also be employed as in known to those skilled in the art. As with the other embodiments described herein, panel  84  could also define one or more channels without affecting the operation of the device. Holder  40  includes two holes  44  and contains a magnetic element  50 . As with the other embodiments, holder  40  is disposed within preexisting mug  12 . Handle  60  includes respective slots or channels  72 ,  74  built into magnetic element  70  which correspond to and align with rails  80 ,  82 . Once the component parts are assembled onto the preexisting mug, cup or container  12 , the retrofit device operates as previously described in connection with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  diagrammatically illustrates a partial cut-a way view of yet another embodiment of the beverage container for immersing food  10  having a channel  90  defined on the interior of the mug wall  20 . The holder  40  of this embodiment thus includes a protruding slide or key corresponding to the channel  90 . Again, the operation of the embodiment having channels to help guide the component parts along the walls of the container work in the same manner as previously described. As would be readily understood by one skilled in the art, a beverage container having at least one channel or track on both the inside and outside of the walls  20  of the mug  12  is yet another possible embodiment. Having channels on both sides of the mug wall  20  ensure proper alignment between the interiorly disposed holder  40  and the exteriorly disposed handle.  
         [0035]      FIG. 7A  diagrammatically illustrates a side view of another embodiment of the beverage container of the present invention. The container  12  includes a handle  34 . Handle  34  is attached to an exterior part of the substantially vertical walls  20  of the container. The handle defines an outward facing or exterior channel  94  running axially along the handle  34  for at least a portion of the length of the handle. Finger grip or lever  92  protrudes into channel  94  and is coupled to a flexible member  96  which runs within channel  94  into the interior of container  12 . The protrusion of grip member  92  and flexible member  96  into channel  94  acts as a slide within channel  94 . The distal or far end  88  of flexible member  96  is coupled to holder  40 . The interior wall  20  of container  12  may also include a channel similar to channel  94  in handle  34  such that the flexible member is not exposed within container  12  (not shown in  FIG. 7A ).  FIGS. 7B, 7C  and  7 D diagrammatically illustrate some of the alternative configurations between the channel  94  of handle  34 , grip  92  and flexible member  96  from the perspective of section line  7 B′- 7 B″ in  FIG. 7A .  FIG. 7B  diagrammatically illustrates a T-shaped channel and slide from the perspective of section line  7 B′- 7 B″ in  FIG. 7A .  FIG. 7C  illustrates a U-shaped or C-Shaped channel and slide, and  FIG. 7D  illustrates a key and slot configuration. As with the embodiments having channels and tracks illustrated in  FIGS. 4A, 4B ,  5 A,  5 B and  6 , the channel  94  and track or slide  96  of the embodiment of  FIG. 7A  may also be reversed to accomplish the mechanical link between the lever  92  and holder  40 . That is, handle  34  may include a rail or track and the flexible member  96  and/or grip  92  define the corresponding, fitting channel.  
         [0036]     The beverage container embodiment  10  illustrated in  FIG. 7A  operates different from the other embodiments. The user simply grabs handle  34  and depresses lever  92  in the direction of arrow  98 . This can be accomplished by placing the thumb on finger grip or lever  92  and applying pressure in a downward direction  98 . The downward movement of lever  92  causes flexible member  96  to slide along channel  94 , which in turn causes holder  40  to move in a generally upward direction indicated by arrow  100 . By reversing this action, and sliding lever  92  toward the top of handle  34  and closer to the opening  30  of container  12 , the holder  40  drops deeper into the container. Hence, a cookie or piece of bread  38  can be lowered and raised within container  12 . One advantage of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7A  is the lack of magnets or need to have a magnetic force between the inside holder and outside handle.  
         [0037]     The embodiment of  FIGS. 7A through 7D  may be simplified by removing handle  34  altogether.  FIG. 8  diagrammatically illustrates such an embodiment wherein the grip member  92  is positioned along an exterior part of walls  20  of container  12 . The walls  20  define a channel  94  which runs to an upper part of the walls, terminating at an upper edge of the container  12 . Grip member  92  is coupled to flexible member  96 . Flexible member  96  runs along channel  94  to the top of container  12  and into the interior of the container  12 . The other end of flexible member  96  is coupled to holder  94 . Flexible member  96  may be a flexible piece of plastic, rubber, string or any other suitable material capable of flexing such that movement of the grip along the outer part of container  12  permits relative up and down movement of holder  40  within container  12 . The embodiment of  FIG. 8  operates substantially similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 7A .  
         [0038]     The several components making up the beverage container  10  of the present invention may be made of plastic, metal, porcelain (ceramic), or other suitable material, or a combination thereof, as is known to those skilled in the art. For example, the side walls  20 , base  24  and container handle  34  may be made of porcelain, and the other components of extruded plastic. The embodiments requiring magnets or magnetically attracted components requires that at least one of magnets  50  and  70  be an actual magnetic element and the other either a ferrous metal or another magnetic element. Thus, for example, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , magnet  50  may be a magnetic element and magnetic portion  70 , a piece of steel. Alternatively, magnet  70  may be another magnetic element.  
         [0039]     The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention.