Abstract:
A container including an outer shell, a flexible bag within the outer shell, a mouth and a handle. The outer shell has a top, a bottom and sidewalls. The outer shell also defines an opening. The flexible bag within the outer shell defines an aperture. The mouth is secured to said flexible bag surrounding said aperture and defines a fluid passageway. The mouth is sized and shaped such that fluid can be poured through the mouth from a source having an outlet spaced above the mouth. The handle extends outward from said top of said outer shell and has sufficient strength to provide essentially all support for said container when the bag is filled with liquid in either of two positions, with the first position being where the opening is facing upwards and the second position being where opening is facing sidewards. Desirably, the mouth and opening are sized and shaped such that when the opening is facing upwards the human eye can detect when a level of fluid in the container is approaching the mouth.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to an improved beverage container. More specifically, this invention is directed to an improved container for storing and transporting several cups of fluid, such as coffee.  
         BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Gourmet coffee shops typically sell individual cups of coffee for consumption on or off the premises. Typically, these shops are very small and utilize high-quality coffee beans and coffee-making equipment to provide consumers with a higher quality cup of coffee than would be available in other establishments. In this regard, many gourmet coffee shops have developed internal procedures particularly adapted to ensure a uniformly high-quality cup of coffee. Particularly at peak periods, these shops must dispense coffee to a relatively large group of consumers in a short amount of time. Typically, the worker holds the coffee cup below the spout and utilizes the other hand to actuate the spout until the worker sees that the coffee cup is nearly full.  
           [0003]    Consumers accustomed to the high-quality of coffee available from such gourmet coffee shops have come to desire this high level of quality at other locations, such as offices or meeting places. Gourmet coffee shops have met this need by providing thermos canisters which are loaned out and then returned by the consumer. These canisters are often elongate, cylindrical thermoses having a pump button in the top, which dispenses coffee from a nozzle. Unfortunately, the inconvenience of needing to return the canister and the typical requirement that a deposit be left deters consumers from purchasing larger quantities of coffee. These canisters also have several drawbacks for the coffee shop. Specifically, they are relatively large and difficult to store, are breakable and require careful cleaning after use.  
           [0004]    Applicant&#39;s invention is an improved liquid container particularly adapted to store and insulate multiple cups of fluid. The invention includes numerous aspects. Advantageously, the preferred container is particularly adapted to be stored in a flattened state, while at the same time being quickly and easily deployable. Importantly, the container can desirably be filled with existing equipment utilizing the existing procedures utilized in most coffee shops. The container is also desirably particularly adapted to be easily carried and poured. Advantageously, the structure of the container reduces the likelihood that the container will tip over during transport and incorporates safety features which reduce the risk of injury to the user from hot coffee. Importantly, the container is also structured to reduce the risk of damage to furniture resulting from the temperature of the fluid in the container. Because the container is particularly adapted to be made of very inexpensive materials, the container need not be returned nor cleaned.  
           [0005]    One aspect of the invention is a container including an outer shell, a flexible bag within the outer shell, a mouth and a handle. The outer shell has a top, a bottom and sidewalls. The outer shell also defines an opening. The flexible bag within the outer shell defines an aperture. The mouth is secured to the flexible bag surrounding the aperture and defines a fluid passageway. The mouth is sized and shaped such that fluid can be poured through the mouth from a source having an outlet spaced above the mouth. The handle extends outward from the top of the outer shell and has sufficient strength to provide essentially all support for the container when the bag is filled with liquid in either of two positions, with the first position being where the opening is facing upwards and the second position being where opening is facing sidewards.  
           [0006]    Desirably, the mouth and opening are sized and shaped such that when the opening is facing upwards the human eye can detect when a level of fluid in the container is approaching the mouth. Advantageously, the mouth defines an aperture having a span of at least one inch.  
           [0007]    In another aspect, the outer shell has a lower panel upon which the bag rests when it is filled with liquid which is spaced at least one- quarter and, preferably, one-half inch above bottom of the outer shell.  
           [0008]    In another aspect, the bag and the outer shell are sized and shaped such that when the bag is substantially full of liquid, the center of gravity of the container is located at least one-half inch and, preferably, at least one inch, below the vertical center of the container.  
           [0009]    Yet another aspect of the invention is a foldable liquid container, including an outer shell and a bag within the outer shell which defines an aperture. The outer shell comprises a first pair of sidewalls aligned generally in the same plane as one another and a second pair of sidewalls aligned generally in the same plane as one another. The outer shell further includes a plurality of upper end flaps secured to the first pair of sidewalls and the second pair of sidewalls. Desirably, at least one of the upper end flaps forms at least a portion of a handle when the container is folded and a plurality of lower end flaps secured to the first pair of sidewalls and the second pair of sidewalls. The outer shell also defines an opening in one of the pairs of sidewalls. The mouth is secured to the flexible bag surrounding the aperture and defines a fluid passageway. The mouth is sized and shaped such that fluid can be poured through the mouth from a source having an outlet spaced above the mouth.  
           [0010]    Another aspect of the invention is a liquid container including an outer shell having a top and a bottom, the outer shell having an opening on a side of the container, a flexible bag within the outer shell, a mouth secured to the flexible bag surrounding the aperture and defining a fluid passageway and a handle extending from the top of the outer shell, the bag sized and shaped such that when the bag is filled with a fluid to a first level proximate the mouth when the mouth is facing upwards and the container is rotated to rest on the bottom, the fluid assumes a second level below the mouth. Desirably, the bag and the outer shell are sized and shaped such that when the bag is substantially full of liquid, the center of gravity of the container is located at least one inch below the center of the container.  
           [0011]    Desirably, the bag is sized smaller than the outer shell so that when the container is rotated after filling to have the handle facing upwards and the spout facing the side, the bag sags downward within the outer shell, setting the level of fluid in the bag below the bottom of the spout. By ensuring that the level of fluid is below the spout, the present invention prevents accidental spillage of hot fluid during transport or handling of the container. Advantageously, the top side of the container ramps upward in an incline from the back side panel to the front side panel with the opening for the spout. Such a design facilitates dispensing fluid from the container when a user grips the handle and rotates the container forward to raise the level of the fluid to the spout. Other aspects of the invention include an improved liquid container for chilling fluid and an improved liquid container for storing and mixing dried flavor crystals with liquid.  
           [0012]    An advantage of the present invention is that it can be stored flat and stacked in piles, thereby conserving large amounts of space in stores that sell coffee to go. Further, the container can be quickly folded together by using the fold-over flaps to assemble the top and bottom sides of the cardboard container.  
           [0013]    Another aspect of the invention is a method of using a collapsed liquid container including (1) folding the container so that the container defines a top from which a handle extends, a bottom and a mouth defining a fluid flow path communicating with an interior of the container through a sidewall; (2) placing the container in a first position with the sidewall facing upward; (3) pouring fluid through the mouth into the container to at least partially fill the container with fluid; (4) sealing the mouth after the pouring of fluid into the container; and (5) manually grasping the handle to move the container after the sealing.  
           [0014]    In its preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes a variety of key problems in the prior art since it provides an easily deployable, inexpensive yet safe means for carrying, insulating, storing and dispensing hot fluids which conserves storage space and can be disposed of after use.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    The preferred embodiments of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be discussed in detail. The drawings depict a preferred beverage container for illustrative purposes only. These drawings include the following figures, with like numerals indicating like parts:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the beverage container of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a blank from which the outer shell of the present invention is manufactured.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 3 a - d  are perspective views illustrating the formation of the bottom of the beverage container of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 4 a - f  are perspective views illustrating the formation of the top of the beverage container of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 5 a - b  are cross-sectional front views illustrating the filling of the bag of the beverage container of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 c  is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the container of the present invention rotated 90° with respect to the FIGS. 5 a - b.    
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of several beverage containers of the present invention stacked in collapsed form.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bag and mouth of the container of FIG. 1.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred beverage container  10  in its assembled form. Referring to FIGS.  1 - 6 , the container  10  includes an outer container or shell  3 , an inner bag  5 , a mouth  7  and a spout  9 . The bag  5  is positioned within the outer shell  3  and communicates with the exterior of the container  10  by means of the mouth  7  and spout  9 . The container  10  has a front  13 , a back  15 , a left side  17 , a right side  19 , a top  21  and a bottom  23 . In addition, the container advantageously defines a handle  25 .  
         [0025]    As seen in FIG. 2, the outer shell  3  is advantageously configured to be constructed from a single one-piece cardboard blank. The shell has a front wall panel  16 , a back wall panel  18 , a right side wall panel  20 , a left side wall panel  22  and a side attachment tab  66 . The front wall panel  16  defines a circular opening  48  and tapered slits  49 . The front wall panel  16  is hingedly attached along a right front fold line  68  to right side wall panel  20 . Opposite the right front fold line  68 , the right side panel  20  is hingedly attached to the back wall panel  18  along a right back right back fold line  70 . The right wall panel further defines a lower slot  57 . Opposite the right back fold line  70 , the back wall panel  18  is hingedly attached to the left wall panel  22  along a left back fold line  72 . Opposite the left back fold line  72 , the attachment tab is attached to the left wall panel  22  along a left front fold line  90 .  
         [0026]    The blank further incorporates a series of top flaps and a series of bottom flaps. The top flaps include a top front flap  40 , a top right handle flap  28 , a top back flap  42  and a top left handle flap  30 . The bottom flaps include a front bottom flap  54 , right bottom flap  56 , a back bottom flap  52  and a left bottom flap  50 . The front wall panel  16  is hingedly secured along a top front fold line  74  to the top front flap  40 , and also hingedly secured along a double bottom front fold line  82  to a bottom front flap  54 . The double fold line facilitates the folding of the blank against itself along the double fold line, as is well-known in the art. The opening  48  is defined within the front wall panel  16  in close proximity to the top front fold line  74 . The top front flap  40  defines an open-ended slot  44  extending to a distal edge of top front flap  40 . The front wall panel  16  and bottom front flap  54  cooperate to define a front air aperture  61  along the bottom front fold line  82 .  
         [0027]    The right side panel  20  is hingedly coupled along a top right fold line  76  to top right handle flap  28  and is also hingedly secured along a double bottom right fold line  84  to a bottom right flap  56 . The top right handle flap  28  includes a right handle portion  36  and a right tab portion  32 . The bottom right flap  56  defines a small, generally semi-circular slit  63  which forms a finger flap  63 . The bottom right flap  56  also defines a tab  60  extending from a distal edge of the bottom right flap  56 .  
         [0028]    The back side wall panel  18  is hingedly secured along a top back fold line  78  to the top back flap  42  and also hingedly secured along a double bottom back fold line  86  to the bottom back flap  52 . The back wall panel  18  and bottom back flap  55  cooperate to define a back air aperture  73  along the bottom back fold line  86 . The top back flap  42  includes a closed slot  46  and a generally U-shaped distal locking portion  43 . The left side wall panel is hingedly secured along a top left fold line  80  to the top left handle flap  30  and hingedly secured along a double bottom left fold line  88  to the bottom left flap  50 .  
         [0029]    The top left handle flap  30  includes a double left handle portion  38  and a pair of left tab portions  34  which are formed by cutouts to define an opening underneath the left handle portion  38 . Each of the bottom flaps  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  further defines a spacer fold line  64  approximately one-half inch from its respective wall panel  22 ,  18 ,  16  and  20 . Directly above the fold line  64  on the bottom left flap  50  is a slot  58  sized for receiving the tab  60  of bottom right flap  56  when the container  11  is assembled. The fold line  64  along bottom left flap  50  further defines a left spacer strip  65  of the bottom left flap  50  that is defined by the parallel fold lines  64  and  82 . The bottom left flap  50  defines a small, generally semi-circular slit  75  which forms a finger flap  77 . The bottom left flap  50  also defines a tab  79  extending from a distal edge of the bottom right flap  50 .  
         [0030]    Advantageously, prior to connecting the side tab  66 , extending from the left side panel  22  to the front side wall  16 , the bag  5  is connected to the outer shell  3 . In the preferred embodiment, the bag  5  comprises several layers, having an inside taste-neutral layer that imparts no flavor, a middle layer that insulates the heat of the liquid, and an outer layer for providing strength and flexibility. Such bags are available from Scholle Corporation, having a manufacturing facility in Rancho Dominguez, Calif. Desirably, the bag can be constructed from flat sheets, which are heat sealed and cut to form the desired shape. Referring to FIG. 7, in the preferred embodiment, the bag  5  is generally 13½ inches by 13½ inches, sealed along its entire perimeter and has vertically oriented dart seals  90  (as shown in FIG. 7) which form isoceles triangle shaped cutouts having equal sides of 4 inches along the perimeter of the bag  5  at the corners on either side of the mouth  7 . The mouth  7  has a generally cylindrical body  92  with an annular outer rim  94  at one end which is bonded to the bag  5  by an appropriate adhesive or other means known in the art, and external threads  96  at the other end. The body  92  is desirably provided with a of raised annular ring spaced slightly from the outer rim  94  which forms an annular groove. The body  92  of the mouth  7  further defines a generally cylindrical internal channel  100 . The mouth  7  is advantageously sized and shaped for the external threads  96  and raised annular ring to be slightly larger than the opening  48  in the front wall panel  16  of the outer shell  3 . The slits  49  in the front wall panel  16  racilitate the their insertion through the opening  48 . Thus positioned, the mouth is secured within the outer shell  3  by the outer rim  94 . The bag  5  may also be more securely retained in position within the outer shell  3  by means of adhesive between the rim  94  and the interior of the front wall panel  16  surrounding the opening  48 . The bag  5  is desirably inserted into the outer shell  3  with its cutout corners and the corner opposite the mouth folded up and inward toward the center of the bag.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the spout  9  of the container will now be described. The spout is desirably conical in shape and is internally threaded to mate with the mouth  7 . For convenience, the mouth may include a tear-off portion for sealing the container, until the destination is reached.  
         [0032]    The tab  66  of the left side wall panel  22  is fastened to the front side wall panel  16  along an edge  17  of the front side wall  16  opposite of the right front fold line  68 . The fastening may be accomplished by double sided adhesive, glue or other fastening means known to those of skill in the art. Upon fastening, the outer shell  3  may then be laid and stored flattened with two adjacent side wall panels, panels  16  and  20  for example, facing upwards, and the other two side wall panels, panels  18  and  22 , facing downwards. The outer shell is thus ready for quick assembly and may be stored efficiently in stacks as illustrated in FIG. 6. Advantageously, the spout  9  is threaded onto the mouth after the container has been filled.  
         [0033]    The assembly of the container  10  will now be described. FIGS. 3 a - d  illustrates the assembly of the bottom of the outer shell  3 . FIG. 3 a  shows the container  10  turned over so that the bottom flaps  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56  are facing upwards and the side wall panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 , folded to form a substantially rectangular opening  55 . In this position, the front side wall panel  16  is folded along left front fold line  90  so that the front side wall panel is perpendicular to the left side wall panel  22 . The front wall panel  16  is also oriented perpendicularly with respect to right side wall panel  20  along right front fold line  68 , so that left side wall panel  22  and right side wall panel  20  are parallel to each other. The back wall panel  18  is folded along the left back fold line  72  to be perpendicular to the left side wall panel  22 , and is also folded along the right back fold line  70  to be perpendicular to the right side wall panel  20 . The back wall panel  18  is thus parallel to the front wall panel  16 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 a  indicates that the bottom left flap  50 , which is secured to the left side wall panel along bottom left fold line  88 , is the first flap that is folded over and is folded along the bottom front fold line  88  into the opening  55 . When the bottom left flap  50  is turned over, the left spacer strip  65  is folded down against the interior of left side wall panel  22 , the tab  79  extends through slot  57  in the right side panel  20  and the distal edge of the bottom left flap  50  contacts the interior of right side wall panel  20  as shown in FIG. 3 b . The bottom left flap  50 , with the exception of the spacer strip  65  is thus oriented perpendicularly to the wall panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 , and is recessed below the bottom left fold line  88 .  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 3 b  and  3   c  indicate that the bottom back flap  52  and bottom front flap  54 , which are secured to the back wall panel  18  and the front wall panel  16 , respectively, are then folded over on top of the bottom left flap  50  about their respective bottom fold lines  86  and  82 . As with the bottom left flap  50 , the back spacer strip  67  of the bottom back flap  52  and the front spacer strip  69  of the bottom front flap  54  are folded down along the fold line  64  against the interior of the back wall panel  18  and the interior of the front wall panel  16 , respectively. When the bottom flaps  52  and  54  are folded over onto bottom left flap  50 , the edge  51  of the bottom back flap  52  meets with the edge  53  of the bottom front flap  54  to create a second layer of cardboard on top of the first layer, the bottom left flap  50 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 3 c  and  3   d  illustrate that the bottom right flap  56  is the last bottom flap to be folded over to create the bottom of the outer shell  3 . When the bottom right flap  56  is folded over, the right spacer strip  71  of the bottom right flap  56  is folded down along the fold line  64  against the interior of the right side wall  20 . The bottom flap  60  is then folded over onto the bottom flaps  52  and  54 , thereby creating a third recessed cardboard layer. The tab  60  of the bottom right flap  56  is inserted onto the slot  58  of the bottom left flap  50  to secure the bottom flaps  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56  in place. Thus assembled, the front air aperture  61  and the back air aperture  73  form air vents to permit the circulation of air under the bottom right flap  56 . To remove the bottom flaps from the secured position shown in FIG. 3 d , a user may pull the bottom flap out of its secured position by using the finger flap  63  of the bottom flap  60  or the opening formed by pushing the finger flap  63  inward.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 4 a - 4   f  illustrate the formation of the top and handle  25  of the outer shell  3  of the present invention. FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  indicate that the top right handle flap  28 , which is secured to right side wall panel  20  along top right fold line  76 , is folded over into opening  41  in the top so that the top right handle flap  28  is in alignment with the top right fold line  76 . FIG. 4 b  illustrates that right handle portion  36  is then folded upward from the top right handle flap  28  so that the right handle portion  36  is perpendicular to the top right handle flap  28 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 4 c  shows that the top left handle flap  30  is then folded down and the left handle portion  38 , which is also folded upright like the right handle portion  36 , cooperates with right handle portion  36 . The tab  34 , which is cutout from underneath the left handle portion  38  is placed through the opening underneath the right handle portion  36  and over the right tab  32 . As shown in FIG. 4 d , the left handle portion  38  is then folded over the right handle portion  36  and the distal tab  34  of the left handle portion  38  is slid under the proximal tab  34  of the left handle portion to form the handle  26  of the outer shell  3 . FIG. 4 e  shows top front flap  40  folded over along top front fold line  74  onto the top right handle flap  28  and the top left handle flap  30 . The handle  26  is inserted through the open-ended slot  44 , thereby allowing the top front flap  40  to rest flat against the right and left handle flaps  28  and  30 . As shown in FIG. 4 f , the top back flap  42  is folded over along top back fold line  78  onto the top front flap  40  and the top right and left handle flaps  28  and  30 . The handle  26  is inserted through the slot  44  of the top back flap  42 , allowing the top back flap  42  to rest flat against the top front flap  40  and the top right and left handle flaps  28  and  30 . The distal locking portion  43  of the top back flap  42  is inserted into the groove formed by the body  92  of the mouth so that the locking portion prevents the mouth from being pulled back into the outer shell  3  by the weight of the liquid when filled. The top front flap  40  and the top back flap  42  lock the handle flaps  28  and  30  in place. Thus assembled, the handle  25  defines a first end proximate the front wall panel  16  and a second end spaced further from the front wall panel than the first end, and the handle defines an opening between first end and the second end sized and shaped to receive the fingers of a hand.  
         [0039]    Desirably, the front  13  of the outer shell  3  has a vertical height of roughly 8½ inches and a width of roughly 6⅛ inches. The bottom  23  has a width of roughly 6⅛ inches and a length of roughly 8½ inches. The back  15  of the outer shell has a height of roughly 6 inches and a width of roughly 6¼ inches.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  illustrate the filling of the container  10  of the present invention. FIG. 5 a  is a schematic view illlustrating the compressed, flexible bag  5  located within the outer shell  3  and the container in the “fill” position—namely, held in the right hand of the user with the container  10  resting on its back side wall panel  18  with the front side wall panel  16  facing upwards. The left hand of the user actuates the spigot from the pot. FIG. 5 b  illustrates coffee being poured into the bag  5  through the mouth  7  from a spigot spaced over the mouth  7 , thereby forcing the bag to expand. To maximize the volume of liquid that the beverage container  10  may hold, the bag  5  is sized and shaped so that it may expand into the corners of the outer shell  3 . Advantageously, the container has a capacity of at least 48 ounces of fluid, desirably, between 70 and 200 ounces of fluid and, most desirably, roughly 96 ounces of fluid.  
         [0041]    Since the mouth  7  desirably defines a flow channel having a diameter of at least {fraction ( 3 / 4 )} inches, desirably at least one inch and most desirably 1¼ inches, the user is able to visually determine when the level of fluid in the bag is proximate the bottom of the mouth  7  and moves the spigot to cut off the flow of fluid into the container  10 . The bag  5  is desirably sized such that when the level of fluid in the container is proximate the bottom of the mouth  7  when the container is positioned with its back wall panel  18  faced downward and in a horizontal orientation, when the container  10  is rotated to rest on its bottom  23  with the handle  26  facing up, the level of fluid in the bag  5  is below any opening formed by the spout  9  and, desirably, below the internal flow channel  100  of the mouth  7 . This reduces the risk of spilling during transport and the risk of injury to the user from spillage of hot coffee when the spout is opened. Effectively, the bag  5  to “sags” within the outer shell  3  when the container is rotated from its fill position to its “carry” position so that the level of fluid is below the level of the mouth. The volume of fluid in the container when the container is in its fill position and the level of fluid in the container is proximate the bottom of the mouth  7 , is referred to as the “normal fill volume.”  
         [0042]    An important aspect of the invention is that the flaps  40  and  42  provide the advantage of minimizing the load on the handle  26  by transferring the a portion of the load from the weight of the container  10  and the contents from the handle  26  across the flaps  40  and  42 . With the handle  25  secured in place, the container  10  may be easily transported and carried like a briefcase. The carrier thus avoids having to hold the outer shell  3  which may be hot from the coffee or other liquid inside by the wall panels.  
         [0043]    Yet another important advantage of the invention is that when the container is filled to its normal fill volume and positioned with its bottom facing downward and in a horizontal orientation, the center of gravity CG of the filled container is located at least one-half inch below the vertical center of the container VC (i.e., half-way between the top and bottom of the outer shell) and, preferrably, at least one inches below the center of gravity of the container. This is important to reduce the risk that the container will tip over during transport. In addition, the cross-sectional area of the bottom of the outer shell  3  is desirably as large as any horizontal cross-section of the container to further reduce the risk that the container will tip over when transporting or manipulating the container.  
         [0044]    Advantageously, the top of the outer shell  3  ramps upward from the back side wall panel  18  to the front side wall panel  16 , which has the opening  48  for a spout. This preferred design facilitates dispensing fluids from the container when a user grips the handle  26  and rotates the container  10  forward to pour the fluid within the container out of the spout  9 . Specifically, the amount the user needs to pivot their hand relative the arm to pour is reduced, because the fluid in the container is already tipped toward the spout when the handle is horizontal from the rest position (with the bottom supported on a horizontal surface).  
         [0045]    Importantly, by having the bottom of the outer shell  3  configured as shown in FIG. 3 d  with a recessed bottom, only the thin edges formed by the bottom fold lines  82 ,  84 ,  86  and  88  contact a support surface when the outer shell  3  is set on in its bottom  23 . Because the bottom flaps  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56 , are recessed from the bottom  23  of the container, heat is not transfered directly from the bottom flaps to the support surface. The transfer of heat is further reduced by the air vents formed at the front and back of the container. Furthermore, the present invention provides multiple layers of cardboard in bottom flaps  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56 , thereby providing extra insulation from the heat. All of this is possible in a low cost container  10  particularly adapted to be constructed of such low cost materials that it can be disposable.  
         [0046]    The container  10  is also particularly adapted to be used to mix hot and cold flavored drinks, by means of storing the flavor crystals in the bags  5  of a flattened container until it is desired to add liquid thereto. In this case, the channel  100  of the mouth  7  is desirably sealed by the spout  9  or other means, such as a removable aluminum cover.  
         [0047]    Finally, the container  10  is also particularly adapted to be used to heat or cool liquids by placing a source of heat or a cold pack or ice in the outer shell  3  before closing either the top flaps or the bottom flaps of the outer shell. Alternatively, it is possible to insert ice through the mouth  7  into the bag  5 , to chill fluid therein.  
         [0048]    Those of skill in the art will recognize that there are numerous variations and modifications of this invention which are encompassed by its scope. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be considered illustrative of the invention and not deemed to limit its scope.