Patent Publication Number: US-9895013-B2

Title: Drinking containers with ice retaining features

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/105,485, filed Jan. 20, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A common problem associated with the consumption of a beverage containing ice cubes is that the ice cubes float on the surface of the beverage and therefore come in contact with the lips and/or mustache of the drinker. In addition to this problem, the ice cubes often substantially impede the flow of the beverage into the drinker&#39;s mouth, frustrating the drinker&#39;s desire simply to drink the beverage, rather than maneuver around the ice cubes with his or her lips. When one tilts the glass to enhance the flow of liquid, the ice may come rushing toward the drinker, spilling the contents of the container on the drinker, particularly when the drinker is attempting to consume the final sip or two of the beverage and tilts the container at a high angle relative to vertical. This may be especially frustrating and wasteful when the beverage is an expensive liquor, such as certain scotches or tequilas. Alternatively, a straw can be used but that is less desirable for some and potentially wasteful. Many straws are not environmentally friendly. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to some embodiments of the present invention, a drinking container includes a base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base. The base and the sidewall define a cavity. The drinking container includes an ice retaining structure in the cavity, with the ice retaining structure including a ring member held adjacent an inner surface of the sidewall. The ring member and the sidewall define at least one laterally extending gap therebetween. The ice retaining structure is positioned and configured to retain ice in the cavity and to permit liquid to pass through the at least one gap when the drinking container is tilted relative to vertical. 
     In some embodiments, the ring member is connected to and/or abuts the sidewall at a plurality of spaced apart locations about the sidewall, and the at least one gap is a plurality of gaps defined by the ring member and the sidewall, with one gap each between adjacent spaced apart locations. The sidewall may be polygonal and the ring member may be circular. The inner surface of the sidewall may be circular and an outer surface of the ring member may be polygonal. The sidewall may be circular and the ring member may be circular, and the ice retaining structure may include a plurality of bridge segments connecting the ring member to the sidewall at the plurality of spaced apart locations. 
     In some embodiments, the ring member defines a center opening that is sized and configured to receive ice cubes therethrough. The center opening may have a diameter and/or a width of 1 to 3 inches. The center opening may a diameter and/or a width of at least 2 inches (e.g., to allow ice of various sizes and shapes to enter the cavity). 
     In some embodiments, the sidewall extends upwardly from the base and terminates in a lip, and the ice retaining structure is positioned and configured to retain ice in the cavity and to permit liquid to pass through the at least one gap and over the lip when the drinking container is tilted relative to vertical. The ice retaining structure may be positioned closer to the lip than the base. 
     In some embodiments, the ring member is optically transparent or translucent. 
     According to some other embodiments of the present invention, a drinking container includes a base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base. The base and the sidewall define a cavity configured to hold ice and liquid. An ice retaining structure is in the cavity and includes a ring member held adjacent an inner surface of the sidewall. The ice retaining structure and the sidewall define at least one radially extending gap therebetween. The ice retaining structure is positioned and configured to retain the ice in the cavity and to permit the liquid to pass through the at least one gap when the drinking container is tilted relative to vertical. 
     In some embodiments, the sidewall and the ice retaining structure are integrally formed. 
     In some embodiments, the ice retaining structure is releasably attachable to the sidewall. The sidewall and/or the ice retaining structure may include at least one attachment feature for releasably attaching the ring member to the sidewall. The at least one attachment feature may include a fastener on one of the sidewall and the ring member and a fastening receiving feature on the other one of the sidewall and the ring member. The ice retaining structure may include at least one bridge or projection extending outwardly from an outer surface of the ring member, and the at least one attachment feature may include at least one ledge or recess in the inner surface of the sidewall that is configured to receive the at least one bridge or projection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a drinking container according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the drinking container of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the drinking container of  FIG. 1  held in a generally vertical orientation. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the drinking container of  FIG. 1  tilted relative to vertical, illustrating an ice retaining feature that retains ice in the container and allows flow of liquid beverage out of the container. 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a drinking container according to some other embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a drinking container according to some other embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the drinking container of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of a drinking container according to some other embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the drinking container of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic illustration of an ice retaining structure being inserted into a glass according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 11 and 12  are top views of ice retaining structures that can be releasably coupled to drinking container housings according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. In the drawings, the relative sizes of regions or features may be exaggerated for clarity. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another element, it can be directly coupled or connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     In addition, spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “includes,” “comprising,” and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     It is noted that any one or more aspects or features described with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated in a different embodiment although not specifically described relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination. Applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to be able to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. These and other objects and/or aspects of the present invention are explained in detail in the specification set forth below. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     The terms “glass” and “glasses” as used herein refer to drinking containers that, unless otherwise defined, are not required to be made of glass and may be made of other materials such as various ceramic or polymeric materials. 
     The term “ice cube” as used herein means a block shaped piece of ice but is not necessarily cube-shaped. 
     Generally speaking, embodiments of the present invention are directed to containers such as cups and glasses that retain ice while permitting flow of liquid beverage from the container. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to containers having an ice retaining feature that is configured to retain ice in the container while permitting liquid beverage to flow out of the container when the container is tilted relative to vertical. 
     A drinking container  10  according to some embodiments is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The container  10  includes a housing  11 . The housing  11  includes a base  12  and a sidewall  14  extending upwardly from the base  12  and terminating in a lip  16 . The base  12  and the sidewall  14  define a cavity C. The sidewall  14  can be one continuous member or can be formed by attached members. 
     An ice retaining structure  18  is in the cavity C. The ice retaining structure  18  includes a ring member  20  held adjacent an inner surface  15  of the sidewall  14 . More specifically, the ring member  20  can be connected to and/or abut the sidewall  14  at a plurality of spaced apart locations  22 . The ring member  20  and the sidewall  14  can define a plurality of gaps  24  between the locations  22 . One of the gaps  24  can be between adjacent spaced apart locations  22 . 
     The ring member  20  can be of constant thickness. A respective gap  24  may have an average length L 1  of between 0.5 and 2.5 inches or between 1 and 2 inches in various embodiments. A respective gap  24  may have an average width or thickness W 1  of between 0.1 and 0.5 inches or between 0.1 and 0.25 inches in various embodiments. 
     As will be described in more detail below, the ring member  20  is positioned and configured to retain ice in the cavity C and to permit liquid beverage to pass through at least one of the gaps  24  when the drinking container  10  is tilted. As will also be described in more detail below, the ring member  20  defines a center opening  26  through which ice cubes (or a single large ice cube or sphere) may be inserted downwardly into the cavity C. 
     The container  10  has a height H 1 . The height H 1  may between 3 inches and 5 inches, making the container  10  suitable for use as a cocktail glass, a rocks glass or a liquor glass. 
       FIG. 3  is a digital image illustrating the drinking container  10  held upright (e.g., in a vertical orientation). Ice cubes  28  and liquid beverage are held in the cavity C below the ring member  20 .  FIG. 4  is a digital image illustrating the drinking container  10  tilted relative to vertical. As shown, the ring member  20  is positioned and configured such that the ice cubes  28  are retained in the cavity C below the ring member  20  and liquid beverage  30  passes through one of the gaps  24  and over the sidewall lip  16  when the container  10  is adequately tilted relative to vertical. A drinker may tilt the container  10  up to about  90  degrees or more relative to vertical such that substantially all the liquid beverage  30  flows out of the container  10  while the ice cubes  28  are retained in the container  10  by the ring member  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the center opening  26  defined by the ring member  20  is sized and configured to receive ice cubes therethrough. The opening  26  has a diameter D 1  ( FIG. 2 ). In various embodiments, the diameter D 1  may be between 1 and 3 inches such as at least 1.5 inches, at least 2 inches and at least 2.5 inches. Thus, the opening  26  is sized to receive relatively large ice cubes. For example, the opening  26  may be sized to receive ice cubes lengthwise that are produced by many ice makers that have a length dimension L of about 1.5 inches. The opening  26  may be sized to receive oversized “cocktail” ice cubes that have a side dimension of 2 inches or more. 
     Another embodiment of a drinking container  10 ′ is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The drinking container  10 ′ is the same as the drinking container  10  except that the sidewalls  14  have a height H 2  that is greater than the height H 1  of the container  10 . The height H 2  may be between 5 inches and 7 inches, making the container  10 ′ suitable for use as a highball glass or a glass for ice tea, soda and the like. Like with the container  10 , the ring member  20  may be positioned closer to the sidewall lip  16  than the base  12 . In some embodiments, the ring member  20  is below but adjacent the lip  16 . 
     As illustrated, the containers  10  and  10 ′ can have octagon-shaped sidewalls  14  and circular ring members  20 . That is, the sidewalls  14  can have an octagonal cross section in a plane parallel to the base  12 . Drinking containers of different shapes are contemplated. For example, the sidewalls  14  may have a different polygon shape, such as a hexagon or a square, with the ring member being circular. 
     Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a drinking container  10 ″ includes a housing  11  including a circular base  12  and a circular sidewall  14  extending upwardly from the base  12  and terminating in a lip  16 . A ring member  20 ″ includes an outer perimeter surface  21  that defines a polygon. As illustrated, the outer surface  21  has a perimeter that is an octagon, although it will be appreciated that the outer surface may define some other type of polygon, such as a hexagon. 
     Like the ring member  20  of the container  10 , the ring member  20 ″ of the container  10 ″ can be connected to and/or abut the sidewall  14  at a plurality of spaced apart locations  22 . The ring member  20 ″ and the sidewall  14  define a plurality of gaps  24 ″ therebetween. One of the gaps  24 ″ is between adjacent ones of the spaced apart locations  22 . The ring member  20 ″ is positioned and configured to retain ice in the cavity C (defined by the housing  11  and, more specifically, by the base  12  and the sidewall  14 ) and to permit liquid beverage to pass through at least one of the gaps  24 ″ when the drinking container  10 ″ is tilted. The gaps  24 ″ may have the same dimensions as the gaps  24  of the container  10  described above. 
     An inner surface  23  of the ring member  20 ″ defines a circular center opening  26 . The opening has a diameter D 2 . The diameter D 2  may have the same dimensions as the diameter D 1  described above in reference to the container  10 , and therefore may advantageously allow relatively large pieces of ice to pass therethrough and into the cavity C. 
     The container  10 ″ has a height H 3 . The height  113  may have the same dimensions as the height H 1  described above in reference to the container  10  or the height H 2  described above in reference to the container  10 ′. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a drinking container  10 ″&#39; according to some other embodiments includes a housing  11  including a circular base  12  and a circular sidewall  14  extending upwardly from the base  12  and terminating in a lip  16 . The ice retaining structure  18  includes a circular ring member  20 ″′ and at least one bridge segment  28  that connects the ring member  20  to the sidewall  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a plurality of bridge segments  28  may be used to connect the ring member  20 ′″ to an inner surface  15  of the sidewall  14  at a plurality of spaced apart locations  22 . The sidewall inner surface  15 , the ring member  20 ″′ and the bridge segments  28  define a plurality of gaps  24 ″′ therebetween with gaps  24 ″′ and bridge segments  28  alternating about the perimeter of the interface between the ring member  20 ″′ and the sidewall inner surface  15 . One of the gaps  24 ″′ is between adjacent bridge segments  28 . 
     The bridge segments  28  can be generally equally spaced apart. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the bridge segments  28  are radially spaced apart by 90 degrees. In various other embodiments, the bridge segments can be radially spaced apart by 180, 135, 60, 45 or 30 degrees or less. The gaps  24 ″′ can have a uniform width or thickness W 2  of between 0.1 and 0.5 inches or between 0.1 and 0.25 inches in various embodiments. 
     The ice retaining structure  18  is positioned and configured to retain ice in the cavity C (defined by the housing  11  and, more specifically, by the base  12  and the sidewall  14 ) and to permit liquid beverage to pass through at least one of the gaps  24 ″′ and over the lip  16  when the drinking container  10 ″′ is tilted relative to vertical (e.g., when a drinker tilts the container  10 ″′ to his or her lips). 
     The ring member  20 ″′ defines a circular center opening  26 . The opening has a diameter D 3 . The diameter D 3  may have the same dimensions as the diameter D 1  described above in reference to the container  10 , and therefore may advantageously allow relatively large pieces of ice to pass therethrough and into the cavity C. 
     The container  10 ′″ has a height  114 . The height  114  may have the same dimensions as the height H 1  described above in reference to the container  10  or the height  112  described above in reference to the container  10 ′. 
     The drinking containers described herein may be formed of any suitable material for a drinking container. In some embodiments, the drinking container is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material that is suitable for a formal drinking container such as a cocktail glass. 
     In some embodiments, the drinking container is glass and may be formed by melting and forming (e.g., blowing or molding) as understood by those skilled in the art. In some other embodiments, the drinking container is plastic and may be formed by melting and molding (e.g., compression molding or injection molding) as understood by those skilled in the art. In some other embodiments, the drinking container is formed by additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing. In some other embodiments, the drinking container is metal. For example, the drinking container may be copper and resemble a “Moscow Mule” cup or mug. In some other embodiments, the drinking container is formed of more than one material. By way of example, the housing may be glass and the ice retaining structure may be plastic or vice versa. By way of further example, the housing may be glass and the ice retaining structure may be metal or vice versa. 
     The ice retaining structure or ring member may be integrally formed with the drinking container housing or may be separately formed. Using the drinking container  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  as an example, the housing  11  and the ring member  20  may be integrally formed, such as by using the processes described above. Alternatively, the ring member  20  may be formed separately and may then be adhered or otherwise attached or connected to the sidewall  14 . In some embodiments, the sidewall  14  may include connection features and the ring member  20  may be releasably connected to the sidewall  14  using the connection features or vice versa. In the embodiments of  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the bridge segments  28  may include a connection feature, and the ring member  20 ″′ may be releasably connected to the rest of the container  10 ″′ using the connection features. 
     If the ring member is separately formed, the ring member may also be received and held in the container cavity by an interference fit. For example, the container sidewalls may flare outwardly from the base to the lip (e.g., as with a common pint glass), and the ring member may be received and held in the container cavity by an interference fit at a desired height or level, as generally illustrated in  FIG. 10  with the ice retaining structure  18  including the ring member  20 ′″ and the bridge segments  28  being inserted into a glass G. 
     The ring member may have substantially the same appearance and/or color as the rest of the container, which may help obscure the ring member. The ring member and/or the container housing may be transparent or semi-transparent, also helping to obscure the ring member. Moreover, the ring member generally resides adjacent to the inner sidewall and defines a relatively large center opening, and therefore the ring member is relatively unobstructive and can be hidden from view by others. 
     The diameter or width of the center opening defined by the ring member may be large relative to the diameter or width of the container housing. For example, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the diameter D 1  of the center opening  12  may be at least 70% the (outer) width of the housing  11 . 
     As described above, the ice retaining structure  18  may be integrally formed with the housing sidewall  14  or may be releasably coupled to the housing sidewall  14 .  FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate two example two-piece arrangements that allow the ice retaining structure  18  to be releasably coupled to the housing sidewall  14 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the sidewall  14  of the housing  11  and the ice retaining structure  18  each include at least one attachment feature for attaching the ice retaining structure  18  to the housing sidewall  14 . As illustrated, the ice retaining structure  18  includes at least one fastener or projection  30  that extends outwardly away from the ring member  20  and the inner surface  15  of the housing sidewall  14  has at least one fastener or projection receiving feature  32  defined therein that is configured to receive the fastener or projection  30 . By way of example, the fastener  30  may be a screw or other threaded fastener and the fastener receiving feature  32  may be a threaded passageway configured to receive the screw to hold the ice retaining structure  18  in place. By way of further example, the projection receiving feature  32  could be a ledge, notch and/or recess that is configured to receive the projection  30  to hold the ice retaining structure  18  in place (e.g., the ice retaining structure  18  may be snapped into place using the projection  30  and the ledge, notch and/or recess  32 ). 
     It is contemplated that the ice retaining structure  18  may include a plurality of radially spaced apart fasteners or projections  30  and the inner surface  15  of the housing sidewall  14  may include a corresponding number of fastener or projection receiving features  32  configured to receive the fasteners or projections  30  to hold the ice retaining structure  18  in place. It is also contemplated that at least one fastener or projection  30  may extend inwardly from the housing sidewall  14  and that the ice retaining structure  18  may include at least one fastener or projection receiving feature  32  configured to receive the at least one fastener  30  to hold the ice retaining structure  18  in place. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the ring member  20  may have at least one passageway  34  extending at least partially therethrough and at least one through passageway  36  may be defined through the housing sidewall  14 . The passageways  34 ,  36  may be aligned and a fastener  38  may be received through the aligned passageways  34 ,  36  to hold the ice retaining structure  18  in place. According to some embodiments, the passageways  34 ,  36  are threaded and the fastener  38  is a threaded fastener (e.g., a screw) that is configured to threadingly engage the passageways  34 ,  36 . 
     It is contemplated that the ice retaining structure  18  may include a plurality of radially spaced apart passageways  34  and the housing sidewall  14  may include a corresponding number of passageways  36 . Corresponding ones of the passageways  34 ,  36  may be aligned and a fastener  38  may be received through each set of aligned passageways  34 ,  36  to hold the ice retaining structure  18  in place. It is also contemplated that the at least passageway  34  may extend from the inner surface  15  of the housing sidewall  14  at least partially through the housing  14  and that the at least one through passageway  36  may extend through the ring member  20 . The passageways  34 ,  36  may be aligned and receive fastener(s)  38  therethrough to hold the ice retaining structure  18  in place. 
     The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.