Abstract:
A beverage container having at least two compartments within a liquid reservoir. Each of the compartments is selectively accessed, whereby liquid is only dispensed from the accessed compartment.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/512,643, filed on Jul. 28, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention generally relates to beverage containers. In particular, the invention relates to a beverage container with selectable compartments. In the restaurant industry speed and efficiency are essential to providing quality service. 
         [0003]    Beverage containers, such as coffee pots are conventionally known in the field and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are typically two types of coffee served in a restaurant, regular and decaffeinated (“decaf”) coffee. When refilling restaurant patrons&#39; coffee cups, it is not always known whether the patron is drinking regular or decaf. The server has to carry a pot of each in order to make sure the customer is properly served. This limits the server&#39;s ability to carry out any other tasks while topping off customer&#39;s coffee because both hands are being utilized. The two pot coffee distribution method also makes it difficult to open doors and maneuver around crowded or cramped restaurants. 
         [0004]    Additionally, many coffee pots do not close completely. A coffee pot that remains open while in transit not only allows the hot coffee to cool, but poses a spilling hazard, which could lead to spills and injuries through slipping or burning. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage container that allows for more efficient, versatile, and safe beverage distribution. This invention provides a beverage container that has multiple compartments and a lid that may open to any of them at one time or remain in a position in which the container is fully closed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation cross-sectional view of an embodiment along Line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  along Line  4 - 4 . 
           [0010]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are top elevation views of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a top elevation view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation cross-sectional view along line  7 - 7  of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a coffee pot according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the coffee pot of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the coffee pot of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view of the coffee pot of  FIG. 8 , depicting the top portion of the coffee pot. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12A  is an exploded perspective view of the top portion of the coffee pot of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 12B  demonstrates the lid in  FIG. 12A  being secured to the coffee pot. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 13A-13C  show overhead views of the coffee pot of  FIG. 8 , demonstrating the pouring spout being moved from one chamber within the coffee pot to another. 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  depicts a coffee pot of the present invention being filled simultaneously with two separate liquids, e.g. regular coffee and decaffeinated coffee. 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  demonstrates a person pouring one of the liquids contained in the coffee pot. 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  demonstrates a person switching from one liquid container to the second liquid container. 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  demonstrates a person pouring the second liquid contained in the coffee pot. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a general arrangement of one representative embodiment of a coffee pot  100  exemplifying the invention is shown. The coffee pot  100  comprises a vessel assembly  10 , a lid assembly  22 , and a collar  52 . The various parts of the coffee pot  100  may be metal, plastic, or any other material or combination of materials suitable for the intended use of the invention. 
         [0026]    Looking now to  FIG. 2 , an exploded view of the coffee pot  100  is depicted. The lid assembly  22  is comprised of a securing knob  24 , a tether  28 , roller bearings  30 , a pivoting plate  32 , and a stationary plate  40 . Furthermore, the vessel assembly  10  is comprised of a vessel body  12 , a partition  14 , a threaded securing stud  16 , and in this embodiment, a first compartment  18  and a second compartment  20 . 
         [0027]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the partition  14  and the stationary plate  40  prohibit liquid (not shown) from leaking out of the first compartment  18  and into the second compartment  20 , or vice versa, or into any other neighboring compartments (not shown). The stationary plate  40  sits atop the partition  14  with the stationary plate&#39;s peripheral surface  44  abutting the vessel body&#39;s opening lip  56 . The stationary plate  40  also has a hole  42  through which the securing stud  16  is placed. The stationary plate  40  may be comprised of a type of rubber, foam, or other material capable of preventing liquid leakage. 
         [0028]    Furthermore, as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the pivoting plate  32  sits atop the stationary plate  40  and the securing knob  24  secures both of the plates  32 ,  40  to the vessel body  12  and to the partition  14 . The pivoting plate  32  also has a hole  39  (see  FIG. 2 ) through which the securing stud  16  is placed. As shown in the figures, the securing knob  24  has a threaded internal cavity  26  that interfaces with the threaded securing stud  16 . A roller bearing  30 , e.g. a needle bearing, is positioned between the securing knob  24  and the pivoting plate  32  which allows the securing knob  24  to fully seal the stationary plate  40  to the vessel body  12  and the partition  14  while still allowing the pivoting plate  32  to rotate. In addition, when the securing knob  24  is removed when filling the compartments  18 ,  20 , the securing knob  24  may be attached to the pivoting plate  32  via a tether  28  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0029]    Moving on to  FIGS. 5A-5C , the pivoting plate  32  is shown in various positions. In  FIG. 5A  the pivoting plate  32  is in a closed position as its aperture  34  is not located over the stationary plate&#39;s first compartment aperture  46  nor the stationary plate&#39;s second compartment aperture  48 . 
         [0030]    Also shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C  are vents  50  located on the stationary plate  40  and vents  36  located on the pivoting plate  32 . When the pivoting plate  32  is rotated to an open position ( FIGS. 5B and 5C ), a stationary plate vent  50  will align with a pivoting plate vent  36  to allow air into the corresponding compartment to prevent a vacuum from occurring inside the compartment while pouring. 
         [0031]    In the two-compartment embodiment presented in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , the pivoting plate is shown in the two open positions. In  FIG. 5B , the pivoting plate&#39;s aperture  34  is located over the first compartment aperture  46  and in  FIG. 5C  the pivoting plate&#39;s aperture  34  is located over the second compartment aperture  48 . The pivoting plate  32  has a fin  38  (also shown in  FIG. 3 ) that allows a user to switch between the two compartments  18 ,  20 . Applying a force to the fin  38  in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise radial direction causes the pivoting plate  32  to rotate. Stops  54  located on the collar  52  limit the travel of the pivoting plate  32  by abutting the fin  38  and also ensure proper alignment of the pivoting plate aperture  34  over one of the stationary plate apertures  46 ,  48 . 
         [0032]    Certain vessels may require alternatively shaped stationary plates to prevent leakage. In  FIGS. 6 and 7  an alternative stationary plate  232  with a lobe  236  is shown to fit the contour of the alternative vessel  210 . Therefore, it should be known that the lid assembly  22  may be configured to fit this and other vessel shapes to ensure a proper seal. 
         [0033]    Moreover, it should be known that the present invention may embody other shapes and therefore should not be perceived as being limited to only a bifurcated coffee pot. The scope of the invention also includes multi-compartment containers for carrying and distributing various types of liquids. That being said, provided that a container has at least two compartments and is capable of moving between the different compartments in a liquid tight manner as shown, such a design would fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  provides a second embodiment  300  of the coffee pot of the present invention. The coffee pot  300  is configured similarly to the coffee pot  100 , wherein the coffee pot  300  provides two separate components for carrying and distributing various types of liquids. The coffee pot  300  provides an alternate arrangement of a lid assembly  360  for sealing the coffee pot  300 . The coffee pot  300  generally comprises a vessel assembly  310 , a pouring spout  352 , and the lid assembly  360 . The vessel assembly  310  further includes a handle  302  that allows the coffee pot  300  to pour coffee or other liquids from the coffee pot  300 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , an exploded view of the coffee pot  300  is shown. The vessel assembly  310  generally comprises a vessel body  312  that receives a removable liquid holding reservoir  314 . The liquid holding reservoir  314  has a partition  316 , which provides for a first liquid compartment  318  and a second liquid compartment  320 . The holding reservoir has a rim  322  that includes a pair of notches  324 . The notches  324  correspond to indents  326  located on the vessel body  312 , which allows the holding reservoir  314  to be held securely in place within the vessel body  312 . The reservoir  314  also has a plurality of feet  328  are designed to rest on the bottom of the vessel body  312  without the entire reservoir needing to rest on the vessel body  312 . When situated within the vessel body  312 , there will be a space between the reservoir  314  and the vessel body  312 , thereby providing a barrier between the reservoir  314  and the vessel body  312  to minimize the transfer of heat from the liquid within the reservoir  314  to the exterior of the vessel body and to any person using the coffee pot  300 . 
         [0036]    Still referring to  FIG. 9 , the lid assembly  360  generally comprises a pivot plate  362 , a stationary plate  364 , a seal  367 , and a securing collar  366 . The seal  367  is designed with openings to align with apertures in the stationary plate  364 . The securing collar  366  includes a pair of securing slots  368  that will interact with a pair of opposing ramps  370  located on the vessel body  312 , thereby securing the lid assembly  260  the body assembly  310 . The securing collar  366  includes a threaded securing stud  371 , which intersects the pivot plate  362  and the stationary collar  366  through a pair of respective holes  372 ,  374 . The threaded securing stud  370  will then pass through a spring  376  and threaded within a channel  378  of a securing knob  380 . A cap  382  may be placed upon the securing knob  380  to cover the channel  378 . When the securing knob  380  is tightened downwardly onto the threaded securing stud  370 , the resultant arrangement provides a fluid tight arrangement for the lid assembly  360  which, as will be discussed further below, allows for the pivot plate  362  to pivot between the first and second liquid compartments  318  and  320 . 
         [0037]    Referring further to  FIG. 9 , the vessel body  312  has a pair of oppositely disposed ramps  330 , which will interact with a pair of oppositely disposed slots  368  located on the securing collar  366 . The arrangement provides a quick connect and removal of the lid assembly  360  from the vessel body  312 , while able to provide a fluid tight arrangement when in a locked position. 
         [0038]      FIG. 10  provides a cross-sectional view of the coffee pot  300 . As previously noted, the fluid reservoir  314  is spaced apart from the vessel body  312 . The lid assembly  360  securely sits upon the vessel body  312 , with a seal  386  located between the lid assembly  360  and the vessel body to prevent leakage. The threading of the stud  370  with securing knob  380  secured the lid assembly  360  together in a fashion that will not prohibit pivoting of the pivot plate  362 . Also shown is a securing ball  363 , which will be used to hold the pivot plate  362  in place when pouring beverage, as demonstrated below in  FIGS. 13A-13C . 
         [0039]      FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view of the coffee pot  300 , focusing on the lid assembly  360  and highlighting the ability for the lid assembly  360  to provide a fluid tight arrangement with the vessel assembly  310 , while allowing for the pivot plate  362  to pivot between the two fluid chambers  318 ,  320 . The lid assembly is secured together with the stud  370  and the securing knob  380 , as shown, with the stud intersecting the three working sections of the lid assembly, the securing collar  366 , the stationary plate  364 , and the pivot plate  362 , as well as the seal  367 . 
         [0040]    Referring further to  FIG. 11 , the fluid tight arrangement between the lid assembly  360  and the vessel assembly  310  is also depicted. The slots  368  of the lid assembly  360  are shown fitted together with the ramps  330  of the vessel assembly, in a manner that will allow the lid assembly  360  and the vessel assembly  310  to be easily and quickly attached and separated from one another, as demonstrated in  FIGS. 12A and 12B . 
         [0041]      FIG. 12A  depicts the lid assembly  360  separated from the vessel assembly  310  and positioned directly above the vessel assembly  310 . The slots  284  are lined up with the ramps  330 . Once properly aligned, the lid assembly  360  will be placed upon the vessel assembly  310 . The lid assembly  360  will then be rotated, as shown in  FIG. 12B , which will lock the lid assembly  360  securely on the vessel assembly  310  in a liquid tight fashion. To remove the lid assembly  360  from the vessel assembly  310 , the lid assembly will be rotated in the opposite direction. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 13A-13C  demonstrate the movement of the lid assembly  360  to pivot between one of the two liquid compartments  318  and  320 . The pivot plate has a pair of apertures  386  and  388  positioned to correspond with one of the liquid compartments  318 ,  320 . The stationary plate  364  has a bifurcated opening  390 . Located over the spout  352 . As shown in  FIG. 13A , the pivoting plate  362  is in a closed position as neither aperture  386 ,  388  is positioned over the opening  390 . 
         [0043]    Also shown in  FIGS. 13A-13C  are vents  392  located on the stationary plate  364  and vents  394  located on the pivoting plate  362 . When the pivoting plate  262  is rotated to an open position ( FIGS. 5B and 5C ), a stationary plate vent  392  will align with a pivoting plate vent  394  to allow air into the corresponding compartment to prevent a vacuum from occurring inside the compartment while pouring. The pivoting plate has a fin  396  which, when applied with pressure, will rotate in either a first or second direction, as shown in  FIGS. 13B and 13C . An alignment marker  298  is provided on the pivoting plate  362  and centrally aligned with the fin  396  to indicate a closed position. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 13B and 13C , the pivoting plate is shown in the two open positions. In  FIG. 13B , the pivoting plate&#39;s aperture  286  is located over the opening  390  and in  FIG. 13C  the pivoting plate&#39;s aperture  388  is located over the opening  390 . The fin  396  of pivoting plate  362  allows a user to switch between the two compartments  318 ,  320 . The pivot plate has a detent  365  that will nestle over the securing ball  363  when the pivot plate  362  is in the proper position. Applying a force to the fin  396  in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise radial direction causes the pivoting plate  362  to rotate. The pivoting plate  362  also has stops  398  to limit the travel of the pivoting plate  362  by abutting the fin  396  and also ensure proper alignment of the pivoting plate aperture  386  or  388  over the opening  390 . The arrangement allows for easy selection between one of the fluid compartments  318 ,  320 , without loosening of the lid assembly  360  with respect to the vessel assembly  310 . 
         [0045]    The coffee pots according to the present invention provide for an efficient method for serving more than one beverage from the same container. Together with the coffee pots of the present invention, a beverage dispensing system  400 , such as shown in  FIG. 14 , may assist in providing multiple beverages efficiently. For example, the beverage dispensing system  400  may be able to discharge two different beverages, e.g. regular coffee and decaffeinated coffee. The lid assembly  360  will be removed from the vessel assembly  310 , thereby allowing the two compartments  318  and  320  to be filled with a respective beverage. Once filled, the lid assembly  360  will be reconnected to the vessel assembly  310 , and coffee be dispensed as shown in  FIGS. 15-17 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 15  shows the pivot plate  362  with the fin  396  rotated clockwise, thereby allowing the first fluid compartment  318  to be accessed and allowing the user to pour a first beverage, e.g. regular coffee. When the second beverage is requested, e.g. decaffeinated coffee, the user will grab the coffee pot  300 , as shown in  FIG. 16 , and rotate the fin  396  counterclockwise, thereby allowing the second fluid compartment  320  to be accessed. The user can then pour the second beverage, e.g. decaffeinated coffee, as shown in  FIG. 17 . As necessary, the pivot plate  362  can be moved between the position in  FIGS. 15 and 17  as necessary. The result is a more efficient process for delivering more than one distinct beverage from a beverage container. 
         [0047]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention.