Patent Publication Number: US-2023150738-A1

Title: Dual-Purpose Container Closure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application 17/196,625, filed Mar. 09, 2021, which is a divisional application of 16/797,665 filed Feb. 21, 2020, now issued as US10974881 on Apr. 13, 2021. All disclosure of the parent application is incorporated at least by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is in the technical area of apparatus and methods for smoking tobacco and other materials, and pertains more particularly to a container closure that enables a user to access a vapor pen enclosed in the container, or to ingest liquid from the container as well. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     There exist in the conventional art a considerable variety of beverage containers, such as water and coffee containers, adapted for users to fill and refill, and to ingest liquid from the container as desired. There exist in the art as well a considerable variety of vapor pens and the like for users to draw flavored vapor and the like as desired. What is needed is a closure for existing beverage containers, the enclosure having apparatus with alternative draw elements, that allows drawing liquid, such as coffee or water from the container by one draw element, and allows drawing from an enclosed vapor-producing apparatus through a separate draw element. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an embodiment of the invention a closure for a beverage container is provided, comprising a body having an attachment interface to engage to a top of a beverage container, a sealed, elongated enclosure attached to an underside of the body, and a single access element adapted to selectively open and close either a first opening passing through the body into the sealed, elongated enclosure or a second opening passing through the body directly to an inner volume of the beverage container. In one embodiment the attachment interface of the body is a male thread matching a female thread at the top of the beverage container. Also, in one embodiment the single access element is an elongated element having a cylindrical portion at a first end and an extended portion from the cylindrical portion with a passage through a length of the element, the cylindrical portion pivoted at a center point of the cylinder between opposite sides of an elongated well on an upper region of the body, in a manner that with the access element in a first position lying in the elongated well with the cylindrical portion engaging a cylindrically shaped depression the access element seals a vent into both the beverage container and the sealed enclosure, with the access element rotated to a second position aligns the passage through the length of the access element with an opening through the body into the sealed enclosure and with the access element rotated to a third position aligns the passage through the length with an opening through the body into an inner volume of the beverage container. 
     In one embodiment the first opening passing through the body into the sealed elongated enclosure ends at a first interface under the body with a first tube engaged reaching proximate the lower end of the sealed elongated enclosure, and the second opening passing through the body ends at a second interface with a second tube engaged reaching proximate a bottom of the beverage container. Also, in one embodiment the first opening passing through the body into the sealed elongated enclosure ends at a first interface under the body with a flexible connector engaged to the first interface and to a vapor-producing apparatus and the second opening passing through the body ends at a second interface with a tube engaged reaching proximate a bottom of the beverage container. 
     In one embodiment the attachment interface of the body is a female thread matching a male thread at the top of the beverage container. In one embodiment the attachment interface of the body is a male thread matching a female thread at the top of the beverage container. And in one embodiment the access element has three spherical depressions on one side on a radial ring and a spring-loaded ball on a surface of an inside wall of the rectangular well, such that the ball engages the depressions as the access element rotates and positions the access element accurately at the first, the second and the third position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is an elevation view of a container closure engaged to a container in an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates the container closure of  FIG.  1    removed from the container and showing an inner sealed enclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a partial section view through the closure of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is an elevation view, in section, of the inner sealed enclosure of  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  5    is a section through the container closure of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  6    is a partially sectioned view of an adapter shown in  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a closure for a container in an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  8    is a cross section of the closure of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of a container closure having a single access element for selectively accessing two inner regions of a beverage container. 
         FIG.  10    is an elevation cross section of the container closure of  FIG.  9    with the access element rotated to a closed position. 
         FIG.  11    is the section of  FIG.  10    with the access element rotated to access a sealed enclosure. 
         FIG.  12    is the section view of  FIG.  10    with the access element rotated to access an inner volume of the beverage container. 
         FIG.  13    is the section view of  FIG.  10    with the access element rotated closed and with a vapor producing apparatus in the sealed enclosure. 
         FIG.  14    is the section view of  FIG.  13    with the access element rotated to access the vapor producing apparatus in the sealed enclosure. 
         FIG.  15    is the section view of  FIG.  13    with the access element rotated to access the inner volume of the beverage container. 
         FIG.  16 A  is an elevation view of the access element with depressions for positioning. 
         FIG.  16 B  illustrates a spring-loaded ball positioning the access element. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG.  1    is an elevation view of a container closure  101  engaged to a container  102  in an embodiment of the invention. The container may be any one of a variety of conventional beverage containers known in the art, such as, for example, an aluminum coffee container like many provided by coffee enterprises. Closure  101  in this embodiment of the invention comprises a body  103 , which in this example has an internal female thread to engage a male threaded top of container  102 . In alternative embodiment the closure may have a body with a male thread to engage a female threaded top of a container. In other embodiments the closure may have an interface to engage containers of other sorts, such as even paper cups and the like. 
     In the example shown in  FIG.  1    closure  101  has two access wells  104  and  105 . Access well  104  has a pivoted access element  106 , that tipped up opens a path from a draw tip down through the closure into a second sealed enclosure within the outer enclosure of container  102 . In this example a vapor-producing apparatus such as a vape pen is connected within the second sealed enclosure through access element  106 , enabling a user to tip up element  106 , and to draw vapor from the vapor-producing apparatus. 
     Access well  105  has a pivoted access element  107 , similar in design and function to access element  106 , that connects to a tubing under the closure, the tubing extending downward into any liquid, such as water or coffee, that may be carried in container  102 . A user may tip up access element  107  and draw liquid through the tube and the access element as one would using a straw. There is a vent hole not shown that serves to equalize pressure. Finally, a handle  108  is provided on the closure to carry the closure and any added container. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates closure  101  removed from container  102 , showing the second inner sealed enclosure  201 , that may enclose, for example, a vapor-producing apparatus, and also a tubing  202  that extends downward, and may extend into any liquid that may be carried in a container like container  102 . It should be noted that enclosure  201  is completely enclosed and sealed from liquid that may be in container  102 , while tube  202  is open to the liquid, and extends downward into the liquid, which may be water, coffee or any other beverage. Tube  202  may be fashioned of a suitable polymer material. 
       FIG.  3    is a partial section view through closure  101 , taken along a centerline of well  104  and access element  106 . It may be seen in this section that well  104  is a rectangular enclosure with an open top. Access element  106  is an elongated unit of a width to fit into the width of well  104 . There is a passage  303  through the length of element  106 , with an opening  304   a  on one end and an opening  304   b  on the other. The end of element  106  with opening  304   b  has a spherical shape and opening  304   b  opens through this spherical shape. Access element  106  is pivoted across well  104  along an axis at the center of the spherical shape, such that a user may use tip  301  to rotate the access element around the pivot access to a stop point where opening  304   b  aligns with a vertical passage  309  through closure  101 . 
     A seal element  305  locates in a passage  308  and has a concave spherical shape facing upward into well  104 , and the spherical shape  302  of access element  106  rests in and rotates against seal element  305 . At the rotation stop point that opening  304   b  aligns with vertical passage  309 , a user may place lips on the end of element106 with opening  304   b , and may draw on the volume into which vertical passage  308  opens below closure  101 . 
     In addition to access to passage  309  through the passage  303  through access element  106 , there is a small vent hole  311  vertically through seal element  305 , and this hole communicates with a passage  312  into the volume below closure  101 . A small tip  310  on the underside of access element  106  closes hole  311  when the access element is rotated to be fully within well  104 . Passage  309  leads to and through a cylindrical nib  315 . 
     A male threaded portion  314  on a lower portion of closure  101  provides for engagement of an elongated enclosure  201  (see  FIG.  2   ) by a female thread on the top of enclosure  201 . There is also a gasket  307  against which enclosure  201  seats when fully engaged by threaded portion  314 . Internal female threads  313  are to engage with external male threads at the top of beverage container  102 , and a gasket  306  engages a top rim of the beverage container to provide a seal. 
       FIG.  4    is an elevation view, in section, of inner sealed enclosure  201  engaged by internal threads to threads  314  of closure  101 . Sealed enclosure  201  fully engaged by threads  314  urges against a gasket  307 , also seen in  FIG.  3   , by which the inner volume of enclosure  201  s isolated from the volume within beverage container  102 . In one embodiment of the invention an adapter  401 , molder of a flexible polymer, has a circular opening on one end to connect to nib  315 , and opening on the opposite end to connect to a vapor-producing apparatus  402 , which may be a conventional vape pen of one of several types. When access element  106  is fully rotated to a stop to align opening  304   b  with passage  309  a user may draw on opening  304   a  to ingest vapor from vapor-producing apparatus  402 . Passage  312  provides a vent to atmosphere for the volume in enclosure  201  outside the vapor-producing apparatus. 
       FIG.  5    is a section through closure  101  along a centerline of access element  107  in well  105 . Access element  107  differs from access element  106  by the placement of a tip  507  in a position to close a vent opening  508  through a bottom surface of well  105  into the inner volume of beverage container  102 . Vent opening  508  has a seal element  509  to secure a good seal when access element  107  is rotated down to close opening  508  by tip  507 . 
     A seal element  505  similar to seal element  307  of  FIG.  3    surrounds an opening to passage  506  in a bottom surface of well  105 . Access element  107  has a spherically-shaped end  502  the matches a spherical shape of seal element  505  such that access element  107  may be rotated by tip  501  to align opening  504   b  with passage  506 . Passage  506  terminates at a nib  510  to which tubing  202  connects, by virtue of tubing  202  being formed of a flexible polymer material. In an alternative embodiment tubing  202  may connect to nib  510  by a flexible tubing adapter piece. With access element  107  fully rotated to a stop and opening  504   b  aligned with passage  506  a user may draw on opening  504   a  to bring liquid up from beverage container  102 , through passage  506  and passage  503 , into the user’s mouth. 
     It will be apparent to the skilled person that the closure  101  as described above, in concert with inner enclosure  201 , adapter  401  and vapor apparatus  402 , and tubing  202  may selectively open and close the two separate access elements and access either vapor from vapor apparatus  402  or sips of beverage from beverage container  102 . 
       FIG.  6    is a partially sectioned view of adapter  401  of  FIG.  4   , adapted to connect nib  315  and vapor apparatus  402 . Region  402  is circular with circular internal passage  404 , which is pushed onto nib  315  to connect to passage  309 . A wider portion  408  has differently shaped internal regions  405 ,  406  and  407  to engage tip ends of different vapor-producing apparatus. In the example illustrated by  FIG.  4    the engagement is by region  407 , as the vapor-producing apparatus of  FIG.  4    has a wider and flat aspect. In one embodiment adapter  401  is molded to accommodate and connect to three of the more preferred conventional vapor-producing apparatus. 
     In the figures and description above closure  101  is illustrated and described as having internal threads to match external threads on an upper extremity of a beverage container. In an alternative embodiment the beverage container may have an internal threaded upper region, and closure may have an externally threaded region to engage the internal threads of the beverage container. In yet another embodiment the closure may be adapted to snap fit on the upper rim of a beverage container having a plain upper rim, like, for example a paper cup. 
       FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a closure  701  adapted to snap onto a thin-walled beverage container  707 , such as a paper cup, for example. In this example the closure has an upper body  702  that is molded of a polymer material and is substantially rigid. A lower body  703  has a relatively thin wall to allow the lower body some flexibility to engage an upper rim of the beverage container  707 . A substantially rectangular well  704  is formed in the upper body, and a pivoted cover  705  engages inner walls of the well. A second well  709  is formed in the upper body and an access element  706  engages inner walls of well  709 . Access element  706  is similar to access elements  106  and  107  of  FIG.  2   , and has an opening  708  to a channel through the length of the access element. 
       FIG.  8    is a cross section of closure  701  taken along a centerline that passes lengthwise through both pivoted cover  705  and access element  706 . The thin-wall lower body  703  is illustrated as snapping over an upper rim of paper cup  707 . In this embodiment there is a gasket seat  710  in a vertical opening through closure body  702  that presents an opening  711  that is closed by a shape of pivoted cover  705  with the pivoted cover in a downward horizontal closed position. When pivoted cover  705  is pivoted upward opening  711  is exposed, and provides an interface for a user to place the lips at the edge of the closure, tilt the beverage container and drink from the container just as a user would an open container. Opening the pivoted cover also opens a vent hole  713  that is closed by tip  712  with the pivoted cover in the closed position. 
     Access element  706  is pivoted within well  709  just as access elements  106  and  107  in wells  104  and  105 , and access element  706  has a spherically-shaped end  716  that mates with a spherical shape of a gasket seat  717 , such that access element  706  may be rotated to align opening  715  with opening  718 , such that channel  720  is open through opening  718 , opening  715 , channel  714  and opening  708  to the outside. 
     In this example male threads  719  are the same as threads  314  shown in  FIG.  3   , such that an inner enclosure  201  may be engaged by female threads to male threads  719  just as illustrated in  FIG.  4   , to bear on a gasket  724 . Adapter  401  of  FIG.  4    may be engaged to nib  721  and to a vapor-producing apparatus  402 , just as illustrated in  FIG.  4   . 
     Closure  701  is thus a dual-access container closure just as is closure  101 . A user may manipulate pivoted cover  705  to drink from the paper cup, and may manipulate access element  706  to draw vapor from a vapor-producing apparatus such as apparatus  402  and others, adapted to the closure by an adapter such as that illustrated in  FIG.  6   . 
     A skilled person will understand that the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS.  2  and  3    may be adapted to snap onto a paper cup, such as beverage container  707  of  FIGS.  7  and  8   , as shown in  FIG.  8   , and also that the embodiment shown in  FIG.  8    might also be adapted to have a male or a female thread to engage threads of a beverage container, as described above for the embodiment illustrated by  FIGS.  2  and  3   . 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention, referring again to  FIG.  2    and to  FIG.  4   , the adapter  401  and the vapor-producing apparatus may be removed from inside the sealed enclosure  201 , and a tubing similar to tubing  202  may by connected to nib  315  to extend down into the interior of the sealed enclosure. In this arrangement one beverage may be introduced into container  102  outside the sealed enclosure  201 , and a second, different beverage may be introduced into sealed enclosure  201 . In this arrangement the two beverages are completely separated, and do not mix, and a user may draw one beverage from the container outside the sealed enclosure, and a different beverage from inside the sealed enclosure within the beverage container. As a simple example, one may have water in one place and vodka in another and may manipulate the access elements to imbibe one or the other. 
     In the embodiments described above a container closure provides two separate enclosures in the beverage container and two access mechanisms, one for each of the separate enclosures. See  FIGS.  1  and  2    and descriptions in the specification above. In yet another embodiment of the invention a single access container closure is provided in a manner that a user may access the two separate enclosures with a single access mechanism in a single access well. 
       FIG.  9    illustrates a closure  901  with a threaded body  902  for closing a beverage container. There is a sealed enclosure  905  analogous to sealed enclosure  201  of  FIG.  2   . There is in addition a tube  906  that communicates directly with the internal volume of the beverage container. Body  902  has a single rectangular access well  903  with one tip-up access element  904 , which is pivoted on the sides of the well at point  907 . The access well and access element are devised such that a user may selectively access either the internal volume of sealed enclosure  905  or the internal volume of the beverage container. 
       FIG.  10    is a section view of container closure  901  taken on a vertical section plane that passes through the center of body  902 , access well  903  and element  904  lengthwise. Body  902  has a female thread  1001  to engage male thread on a beverage container. In this example there is a sealed enclosure  905  that has a female thread on an upper end that engages a male thread on an extension  1002  under body  902 . A gasket  1003  at the upper end of extension  1002  seals the inner volume of enclosure  905 , and in this example a tube  1015  engages an extension  1004  and opens into the volume of enclosure  905 . A tube  906  engages a bore in an extension  1006  and opens into the main volume of the beverage container outside of sealed enclosure  905 . 
     A tip-up access element  904  has a cylindrical end  1008 , an extension  1010  and a tab  1011  that is useful for tipping the access element. Cylindrical end  1008  is pivoted across sides of a rectangular well  903  and rests in a cylindrical seat in a bottom of the well, the seat lined by a seal  1009  such that the outside diameter surface of the cylindrical portion of the tip-up element remains sealed to body  902  as the access element is rotated. 
     Access element  904  has a lengthwise through channel  1012  that extends the full length of the access element. There is a tubular channel  1005  through body  902  and gasket  1009  that leads to tube  1015 , and another tubular channel  1007  through body  902  and gasket  1009  that leads to tube  906 . A bore  1013  leads from a bottom of access well  903  to the inner volume of the beverage container, with a seal  1014  at the upper end. Tip-up element  904  has a side tip  1016  ( FIG.  11   ) that closes bore  1013  when the tip-up access element  904  is closed in the well as shown in  FIG.  10   . A side passage of bore  1013  leads to the inner volume of enclosure  905 , but is not on the section plane so as to not intersect another bore or passage. 
       FIG.  11    illustrates the container closure of  FIG.  10    with tip-up element  904  rotated such that through channel  1012  aligns with tubular channel  1005  which communicates with tube  1015 . Note that tubular channel  1007  is closed with the access element thus rotated. In this position a user may imbibe a liquid in the internal volume of sealed enclosure  905 . 
       FIG.  12    illustrates the container closure of  FIG.  10    with tip-up element  904  rotated such that through channel  1012  aligns with tubular bore  1007  which communicates with the inner volume of the beverage container. In this position a user may imbibe a beverage in the inner volume of the beverage container. Given the description of  FIGS.  11  and  12    it will be apparent that in this example a user may have two different beverages and access each by choice. 
       FIG.  13    illustrates the closure of  FIG.  10    with tube  1015  removed and a vape pen  402  engaged with a flexible adapter  401  which in turn engages extension  1004  from the underside of the body, all within sealed enclosure  905 . Description of adapter  401  and vape pens is provided above as well. In the example of  FIG.  13    access element  904  is shown in the closed position in well  903  with channel  1013  sealed. 
       FIG.  14    illustrates the closure of  FIG.  13    with access element  904  rotated to a position to align channel  1012  with tubular channel  1005  enabling the user to draw on vape pen  402 . In this position channel  1013  is open venting the inner volume of sealed enclosure  905 . 
       FIG.  15    illustrates the closure of  FIG.  13    with the access element  904  rotated to position to align channel  1012  with tubular channel  1007  enabling the user to imbibe a liquid from the beverage container. Again, channel  1013  is open at this position providing vent to the beverage container. 
     In embodiments of the invention described here mechanisms are provided for aiding the user in positioning access element  904  rotationally.  FIG.  16 A  is a partial cutaway elevation view of access element  904  pivoted across sides of well  903  at a point P which is the center point of the spherical portion  1008  of the access element. In this example there are three small  1601 ,  1602  and  1603  spherical indentions on a radius from the pivot point on one side of the access element to position the access element rotationally at three different positions, as are indicated in  FIGS.  10 - 15   .  FIG.  16 B  illustrates a cutout section showing one indention  1605  in access element  904  engaging a ball  1604  urges by a spring  106  in a bore in one side of well  903 . Ball  1605  engages each of the three indentions  1601 ,  1602  and  1603  to accurately position the access element for alignment of channel  1202  with other channels. 
     A skilled person will understand that the embodiments and examples presented and described above are all exemplary, and not limiting to the invention. Embodiments of the invention may incorporate features described an several variations. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims.