Patent Publication Number: US-2011067432-A1

Title: Temperature keeping container

Description:
(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a container, and more particularly to a container that is composed of an inner receptacle and an outer vessel that define therebetween an accommodation chamber that receives therein a low- or high-temperature medium or a substance that is frozen to form a freezing layer so as to allow a user to change the way of enjoying beverage as desired. 
     (b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Temperature keeping containers are known, such as Taiwan Patent Publication No. 369875, which discloses an improved structure of cold-keeping container. The cold-keeping container comprises an inner receptacle, a suction member, and an outer vessel. The inner receptacle is inserted in the outer vessel to form a space therebetween for receiving and containing a cold-keeping medium. The inner receptacle has a bottom to which the suction member is attached. The suction member extends through the space formed between the inner receptacle and the outer vessel to project outside the container. As such, when a user sucks beverage through the suction member, the beverage gets contact with the cold-keeping medium through the suction member so as to keep the beverage cool or to fast cool down the beverage. 
     However, the conventional cold-keeping container, although effective in keeping cold or fast cooling an object, the cold keeping medium used in the container is a liquid chemical freezing agent, which provides a single function of temperature isolation and cooling of beverage, and does not allow the beverage contained in the container to directly contact a frozen layer formed by freezing the cold keeping medium. Functionally, since the container is pre-loaded with the cold keeping medium, the container only serves for cold keeping or fast cooling of an object and does not offer other uses. Further, to prevent leaking of the liquid chemical agent of cold keeping medium, a selected material must be used, together with properly designed molds, for manufacturing of the container. Thus, the conventional cold-keeping container is uneconomic and impractical in view of the manufacturing costs and structure thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention aims to provide a temperature keeping container that has a simple structure and is easy to use, but allows a user to switch among different ways of enjoying beverage as desired. 
     According to the present invention, a temperature keeping container comprises an inner receptacle and an outer vessel. The inner receptacle is fit in the outer vessel in a tight manner to form an accommodation chamber between the inner receptacle and the outer vessel for receiving and containing a low- or high-temperature medium as desired, or a substance, preferably an edible substance, that is frozen to form a freezing layer, whereby beverage, when deposited in the inner receptacle of the container, can be kept cool to allow a user to enjoy cold beverage of the original flavor, or alternatively, beverage can be poured onto the freezing layer to mix with the substance forming the freezing layer to provide a mixed flavor of beverage. 
     The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. 
     Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a container according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the container according to the present invention in an exploded form. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the container according to the present invention in an assembled form. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the container according to the present invention with a cover detached. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the container according to the present invention with an inner receptacle removed from an outer vessel. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a container according to a second embodiment of the present invention in an assembled form. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the container according to the second embodiment of the present invention in an exploded form. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the container of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a container according to a third embodiment of the present invention in an assembled form. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the container according to the third embodiment of the present invention in an exploded form. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of a container according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in an assembled form. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the container according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention in an exploded form. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of a container according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention in an assembled form. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the container according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention in an exploded form. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of a container according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention in an assembled form. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the container according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention in an exploded form. 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of a container according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention in an assembled form. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of the container according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention in an exploded form. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the container of the seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of a container according to an eight embodiment of the present invention in an assembled form. 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the container of the eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the present invention provides a container comprises a cover  1 , an inner receptacle  2 , and an outer vessel  3 . The cover  1  is of a known structure and function. The inner receptacle  2  is of the form of a container having a slightly diverging top end having a circumference along which a lip like flange  21  is formed. The flange  21  has an inner edge integrally jointed to the diverging portion to form a fitting rim  22 . The outer vessel  3  has a top end having a circumference along which a circumferential flange  31  is formed and defining an inner bore having an inner circumferential edge that is of substantially the same size as the fitting rim  22  of the top end of the inner receptacle  2  to allow the fitting rim  22  to be fit into the inner circumferential edge of the bore of the outer vessel  3  for tightly and securely combining the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3  together with an accommodation chamber preserved between the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3 . The outer vessel  3  can be used to receive and hold a user&#39;s preferred substance, preferably edible, which serves as a low- or high-temperature medium  4 , such as fresh water, oolong tea, wine, juice, jelly fig, ice cube, or hot water. Afterwards, the inner receptacle  2  is tightly fit into the outer vessel  3 , and the assembly of the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3 , together with the medium  4  accommodated therebetween, is deposited in a cooling device, such as refrigerator or a freezer, to have the medium  4  frozen to form a freezing layer  4 ′ (see  FIG. 3 ). Then, the container is removed out of the cooling device, and the cover  1 , if set on the container, is opened to allow a beverage  5  to be poured into the inner receptacle  2  (see  FIG. 4 ). Due to the freezing layer  4 ′ that transmits heat from the beverage  5 , a user may enjoy the beverage  5  that is cool and of the original flavor. Alternatively, the inner receptacle  2  can be removed out of the outer vessel  3  and the beverage  5  is poured into the space inside the outer vessel  3  left by removing the inner receptacle  2 , whereby the beverage  5  is put into direct contact with the freezing layer  4 ′ (see  FIG. 5 ) to allow the user to enjoy a mixed flavor of beverage that is formed by mixing the beverage  5  with the substance of the freezing layer  4 ′. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in an embodiment of the present invention, the inner receptacle  2  selectively comprises an external side wall  211  that extends downward from the flange  21  and forms, in an inside surface thereof, thread that is engageable with a thread  32  formed in an outer surface of a top end section of the outer vessel  3  to securely and tightly couple the inner receptacle  2  to the outer vessel  3  in a threaded manner for subsequent operation of for example freezing that forms the freezing layer  4 ′ and thereby providing the same function as that of the previously discussed. Further, the embodiment of threading engagement can be modified by forming an external thread  23  in an outer surface of the top end section of the inner receptacle  2  and also forming an internal thread  38  in an inner surface of the top end section of the outer vessel  3  (see  FIG. 8 ), which threads engage each other to couple the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3  together with a stop flange  231  formed on the top end of the inner receptacle  2  and above the external thread  23  supported on the top end of the outer vessel  3 , or disengage from each other to separate the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3  from each other. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the outer vessel  3  selectively forms serration  33  in an inner surface thereof and also forms, in a top end thereof, a chamfered and inclined circumferential surface  34  on which the flange  21  of the inner receptacle  2  is positionable to tightly hold the inner receptacle  2  inside the outer vessel  3 . A beverage  5  can then be poured into the inner receptacle  2  (as shown in  FIG. 9 ). Or, the inner receptacle  2  can be removed and separated from the freezing layer  4 ′ formed between the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3  to allow the beverage  5  to be directly poured into the space formed in the freezing layer  4 ′ by removing the inner receptacle  2  (see  FIG. 10 ) to allow a user to enjoy a beverage that is mixed with the substance of the freezing layer  4 ′. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3  can be selectively made in the form of inverted truncated cone and the flange  21  of the inner receptacle  2  has an inner edge integrally jointed to an outer surface of the inner receptacle  2  to form a fitting rim  22 . The outer vessel  3  has an inner bore having an inner circumferential edge that corresponds to the fitting rim  22  so as to allow the inner receptacle  2  to be tightly fit in the outer vessel  3 , forming an accommodation chamber therebetween for receiving and holding therein a low- or high-temperature medium  4 , which may be selectively frozen to form a freezing layer  4 ′ to subsequent use in the same way as described above. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the inner receptacle  2  can be made in the form having an outer surface that is inclined and has a predetermined slope and the outer vessel  3  has an inner surface on which an inner retention flange  35  is formed, whereby the inner receptacle  2  can be deposited in the outer vessel  3  with the inclined outer surface of the inner receptacle  2  tightly positioned against the retention flange  35  and a ring like top end surface  311  of the outer vessel  3  for coupling the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3  together and freezing can be carried out after the coupling of the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3  to form a freezing layer  4 ′ (see  FIG. 13 ). A beverage  5  can be poured into the inner receptacle  2  for drinking, or alternatively, the inner receptacle  2  is removed (see  FIG. 14 ) and the beverage  5  is directly poured into the space formed in the freezing layer  4 ′ by removing the inner receptacle  2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the inner receptacle  2  selectively forms a side wall  212  extending downward from the flange  21  and having an inner surface forming an inward projecting rim  216  that is positionable and thus supported by a raised rim  36  formed on an outer surface of the outer vessel  3  to have the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3  coupled together and subsequent use of the container is the same as what described above. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the inner receptacle  2  is selectively made in the form of a kettle that has a kettle cover  29  formed atop the inner receptacle  2 . The inner receptacle  2  also forms a kettle mouth like mounting flange  24  and a projecting flange  241 , which are respectively positionable on a kettle mouth support flange  313  and a support rim  37  extending outwards from the outer vessel  3  so as to tightly couple the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3  together and freezing can be carried out after the coupling of the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3  to form a freezing layer  4 ′ (see  FIG. 17 ) to allow a user to enjoy cool beverage  5  of the original flavor. Alternatively, the kettle cover  29  can be removed (see  FIG. 18 ) and the beverage  5  can be directly poured into the freezing layer  4 ′ for drinking. Referring to  FIG. 19 , modification can be made in the embodiment by forming an external thread  23 ′ in the inner receptacle  2  and also forming an internal thread  38 ′ in the outer vessel  3 , which threads  23 ′,  38 ′ are engageable with each other to selectively couple the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3  together or to separate them. 
     Referring to  FIG. 20 , an inner receptacle  2 ′ and an outer vessel  3 ′ are integrally formed together to define an accommodation chamber therebetween. The outer vessel  3 ′ further forms a kettle cover  3   a  and a kettle mouth  3   b  thereon to serve as a kettle. The outer vessel  3 ′ has a bottom forming a cup receiving opening into which an inner cup  30  is received. A female thread  3 ′ 9  is formed inside the bottom of the opening of the inner cup to selectively engage a male thread  301  formed on an outside surface of the inner cup  30  to secure the inner cup inside the outer vessel  3 ′. The inner cup  30  may receive and contain therein ice cubes or warm or hot water for cooling or heating beverage  5  contained in the inner receptacle  2 ′. Further, the kettle cover  3   a  and the kettle mouth  3   b  that are formed atop the outer vessel  3 ′ can be omitted to form a beer mug (see  FIG. 21 ). 
     The present invention provides a container that comprises an inner receptacle  2  that is received inside an outer vessel  3  in a tight manner to define an accommodation chamber therebetween for receiving and holding therein a low- or high-temperature medium  4  or alternatively receiving a medium that is subjected to freezing to form a freezing layer  4 ′. A beverage  5  can be poured into the inner receptacle  2  to allow a user to enjoy a cool beverage  5  of the original flavor, or the inner receptacle  2  is removed and the beverage  5  is poured into the freezing layer  4 ′ to allow the user to enjoy the beverage  5  that is mixed with the substance of the freezing layer  4 ′. Further, the accommodation chamber can receive and contain warm or hot water to provide heating and/or heat preservation for the beverage  5  deposited in the inner receptacle  2 . Further, the shapes of the inner receptacle  2  and the outer vessel  3  can be varied according to the uses thereof, such as being made in the form of a kettle, a beer mug, or even a temperature keeping barrel, a dish, a bowl, a disk, or a cup. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.