Patent Publication Number: US-6341712-B1

Title: Multi-layer container

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a multi-layer container, which is formed of multiple layers of different colors that isolate transmission of heat. 
     A regular container, as shown in FIG. 1 has a solid container wall  100 . When holding a hot liquid, heat quickly directly transmitted through the container wall  100  to the user&#39;s hand, causing the user&#39;s hand to be scalded. Further, the structure of container cannot keep a hot liquid warm for long. FIG. 2 shows another structure of container according to the prior art. The container wall of this structure of container has two layers, namely, the inner layer  200  and the outer layer  201 . The outer layer  201  is directly bonded to the inner layer  200 . The fabrication process of this double-layer container is complicated, and its cost is high. When bearing an impact, the connection between the inner layer  200  and the outer layer  201  may be destroyed, causing a separation of the outer layer  201  from the inner layer  200 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished to provide a multi-layer container, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. According to one aspect of the present invention, the multi-layer container comprises an outer container shell, an inner container shell mounted within the outer container shell, and a transparent intermediate bonding layer filled up the space defined between the outer container shell and the inner container shell and peripheral through holes on the inner container shell and a bottom through hole and peripheral through holes on the outer container shell. According to another aspect of the present invention, the outer container shell and the inner container shell have different colors, showing a contrast. According to another aspect of the present invention, the transparent intermediate bonding layer prevents quick dissipation of heat from the inner container shell to the outer container shell. Because molding makes the multi-layer container, the manufacturing cost of the multi-layer container can be greatly reduced through a mass production. Further, because the transparent intermediate bonding layer has a part engaged into the peripheral through holes on the inner container shell and the peripheral through holes and bottom through hole on the outer container shell, the outer container shell and the inner container shell are fixedly secured together against impact. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a single layer container according to the prior art. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a double-layer container according to the prior art. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the present invention, showing the cup-like inner container shell inserted into he cup-like outer container shell. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the present invention, showing he transparent intermediate bonding layer filled up the space between the outer container shell and the inner container shell and peripheral through holes on the inner container shell and a bottom through hole and peripheral through holes on the outer container shell. 
     FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an alternate form of the multi-layer container according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. from  1  through  6 , a multi-layer container in accordance with the present invention comprises a cup-like outer container shell  1 , a cup-like inner container shell  2 , and a transparent intermediate bonding layer  3 . The diameter of the cup-like inner container shell  2  is smaller than the cup-like outer container shell  1 . The cup-like outer container shell  1  has a bottom through hole  11 , and a plurality of peripheral through holes  12 . The cup-like inner container shell  2  has a plurality of peripheral through holes  21  respectively aimed at the peripheral through holes  12  on the cup-like outer container shell  1 . The peripheral through holes  21  on the cup-like inner container shell  2  have a diameter relatively smaller than the peripheral through holes  12  on the cup-like outer container shell  1 . The cup-like inner container shell  2  is taller than the cup-like outer container shell  1 , and inserted into the cup-like outer container shell  1 . After insertion of the cup-like inner container shell  2  into the cup-like outer container shell  1 , a space A is defined between the inside wall of the cup-like outer container shell  1  and the outside wall of the cup-like inner container shell  2 , and an elevation difference B is defined between the topmost edge of the cup-like outer container shell  1  and the topmost edge of the cup-like inner container shell  2  (see FIGS.  3  and  4 ), and then a transparent molten plastic material is filled into the space A to filled up the peripheral through holes  21  on the cup-like inner container shell  2  and the peripheral through holes  12  and bottom through hole  11  on the cup-like outer container shell  1  and to form the transparent intermediate bonding layer  3  (see FIG.  5 ), and a multi-layer container is thus obtained (see FIG.  6 ). 
     The cup-like inner container shell  2  and the cup-like outer container shell  1  have different colors that show a contrast. Because the transparent intermediate layer has a part engaged into the peripheral through holes  21  on the cup-like inner container shell  2  and the peripheral through holes  12  and bottom through hole  11  on the cup-like outer container shell  1 , the cup-like inner container shell  2  and the cup-like outer container shell  1  are fixedly secured together against impact. Further, when the multi-layer container holds a hot liquid, the transparent intermediate bonding layer  3  prevents quick transmission of heat from the cup-like inner container shell  2  to the cup-like outer container shell  1 . 
     FIG. 7 shows an alternate form of the present invention. According to this alternate form, the cup-like inner container shell  2  and the cup-like outer container shell  1  have same height. 
     It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended for use as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed. For example, the multi-layer container can be a bathtub, garbage-can, etc.