Patent Publication Number: US-11639247-B2

Title: Dual chambered canteen with interchangeable spouts

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention to an improved liquid, puree and solid container. More specifically, it is a dual-chambered sleek canteen shaped beverage designed container (while others or most are round) that can be manufactured with but not limited to using materials such as plastic, stainless steel, glass, foam etc. for dispensing fluid and semi-fluid products from associated chambers while maintaining a secured tight seal over the mouth of both chambers with two separated non-removable inner wall compartments designed underneath the lid for easy lid positioning onto the canteen container, two release hole vents are constructed in the top of the lid and over each chamber for atmosphere release when products are dispersed, no gasket is needed because of the inner wall compartments and O-rings over the opening of the lid base that secure a tight seal of the container bottom and lid. There are two flip-up spout designs, a Y-spout and a Split Y-spout. The Y-spout has two elongated tubes that come together to form one elongated tube for extracting two products from the dual container chambers and will mix together when contents reach the single end opening to the mouth. The Split Y-spout is separated through the middle, resulting in two individual elongated tubes for separate and individual product extraction. When either Y-design spout is flipped up the aperture at the base of the pivotal ball align with the opening in the non-removable lid base for products to disperse. The pivotal balls have axles attached to each side and are used to secure the Y-spouts securely to the lid. Two release holes plugs are constructed underneath the spout designs to seal off the atmosphere vents and provide an airtight seal when the spouts are in the closed position and over the opening of each chamber. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Beverage containers with the separate and distinct compartments are unusual, but not unheard of in the marketplace. It has been proposed in the art to provide similar or dissimilar liquid products within the same chambers of a single container. The compartments are typically divided by a vertical partition that will extend from the bottom of container to the mouth opening of each compartment to ensure the products does not comingle. Most dual-chambered liquid containers on the market today has provided a means for sealing off each compartment to prevent spillage by either a separate cap or lid that fit over each mouth opening or a single cap to cover or seal all mouth with either a snap or the traditional screw on method. The problem that exists is the failure to create a reliable secure tight seal to prevent spillage, or the mouth opening may be inadvertently aligned over the partitions or between the compartments. Finally, two separate manufactured molded non-removable inner wall compartments that fits inside each chamber has afforded this design the secured fit necessary for airtightness needed. Therefore, there is a need for a dual—chambered liquid, puree or solid food container that includes features that would allow an easy to use lid with its specially designed components that would reliably secure and provide an airtight seal to each container compartment openings without having to use gaskets when the lid is closed. Furthermore, the idea for the invention development is to provide a method of manufacturing a dual-chambered lid of the type described with the option of using different materials for production purposes and a method of dispensing two products from two separate compartments and these two products mixing together or individually when extraction takes place. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The dual-chambered canteen of the present invention includes a dual-chambered container with a non removable vertical partition wall separating each chamber, a lid with two separate non-removable inner wall compartments that fits inside each chamber of the canteen container and securely separate the liquids while ensuring proper positioning and an airtight seal of the lid over each compartment without having to use gaskets. The lid has release holes for venting the container chambers to atmosphere for continuous liquid flow from the canteen container. The lid is constructed and or designed with two openings in the non-removal base that aligned over the chambers and has two O-rings one around each opening for a secure fit for both the Flip-up Y-spout and Flip-up Split Y-spout and to ensure an airtight seal. The interchangeable flip-up spouts has an aperture designed in the pivotal balls construction base of each spout and the balls is secured in place to the lid base by snap fit axles attached to the outer sides of each ball. Two vent hole plugs are constructed underneath the flip-up spouts and the plugs are design to provide a seal for the vent hole located in the top of the lids when the spout is in the closed position. The inside of the spouts elongated tubes has aperture holes for even flow when liquids are extracted. There are constructed insert outlets underneath the lid and base that will provide (optional) straws insertion for sipping purposes. Otherwise, products can be extracted when container is in an upward position. The two interchangeable innovative flip-up spouts, will provide the extraction of products from both chambers of the canteen container through the Y end of the spout and mix together using the Y-design spout or individual consumption using the split Y-design spout through the single end of the spout before reaching the mouth. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention with features, advantages and additional parts will apparent and best understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a cross section view of the dual chambered canteen container constructed in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a cross section view of the flip-up spout constructed in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a top, side and front view of the sleek contour design dual chambered canteen container. 
         FIG.  4    is the bottom view of the canteen container 
         FIG.  5    is a bottom view of the lid and shows the peripheral inverted j edge for latching, the inner wall compartments and short elongated tubes outlets for adding straws which is optional. The straws would work in co-conjunction with the spouts for product extraction. 
         FIG.  6    is a top view of the lid and the O-ring placement and the release holes. 
         FIG.  7    is a top view And bottom view of the Flip-up Y-design Spouts, showing the release plug, axle and elongated tube. 
         FIG.  8    is a top view, side view and bottom view of the Flip-up Split Y-design Spout, showing the release hole, pivotal ball and split individual elongated tubes. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTION 
     Initially referring to  FIG.  1 - 8    where like numerals indicate like and corresponding elements, a dual-chambered beverage canteen container. The canteen container  12  ( FIG.  1   ) is a sleek contour design that has a broad shoulder contour at the top with a slight narrowing contour toward the base and  14   xx  ( FIG.  4   ) is a circular slightly raised stand in the center underneath the container for assisting with the leveling of the container on flat surfaces with two chamber compartments  15 ,  16  ( FIG.  1   ) divided by a vertical partition  13  ( FIG.  1   ). The vertical partition  13  ( FIG.  1   ) is irremovably coupled to the container and the same height as the container&#39;s ledge rim  17  ( FIG.  1   ). The interchangeable lid will snap tightly and securely with an inverted J shaped peripheral section around the edge of the lid  18  ( FIG.  1   ) for latching and holding the lid in place. 
     A first lid member includes an interchangeable flip-up Y-spout design  20  ( FIG.  7   ) that attaches to a non-removable base  21  ( FIG.  6   ) by pivotal balls  23  and with axles  22  ( FIG.  7   ) on each side of the balls. The balls  23  ( FIG.  7   ) have an aperture  24  ( FIG.  2   ) located on the back of each pivotal ball  23  ( FIG.  7   ) and two aperture  25  ( FIG.  2   ) constructed on the inside of the elongated tube spout for liquid or puree foods extraction from the single end of the elongated tube spout  26  ( FIG.  7   ). The balls  23  ( FIG.  7   ) are positioned over the O-rings  27  ( FIG.  1   ) and the non-removable base openings  28  and  29  ( FIG.  6   ) of the canteen lid and first and second chamber  15  and  16  ( FIG.  1   ). Two non-removable inner wall compartments  10  and  11  ( FIG.  1   ) are located underneath the lid and fit inside each canteen container chamber  15 ,  16  ( FIG.  1   ) to ensure secure lid positioning and aid in product separation. Straw attachment outlets for optional straw insertion  8  and  9  ( FIG.  1   ) 
     A second lid member includes an interchangeable flip-up Split Y-design ( FIG.  35   ) which allows Individual spout usage  33 ,  34  ( FIG.  8   ) with pivotal balls  23  and axles  22  ( FIG.  8   ) on the sides of the ball that attaches to the non-removable base  21  ( FIG.  6   ). The balls have an aperture  25  ( FIG.  8   ) located on the back of each pivotal ball  23  ( FIG.  8   ) and have two separate aperture  25  ( FIG.  8   ) located inside of the elongated tube spouts  33 ,  34  ( FIG.  8   ) for liquid or puree foods extraction. The pivotal balls  23  ( FIG.  8   ) are positioned over the O-ring compartments  27  ( FIG.  6   ) and the first non-removable base opening  28  and the second opening  29  ( FIG.  6   ). Two non-removable inner wall compartments  10 ,  11  ( FIG.  1   ) are located underneath the lid and fit inside each container chamber  15 ,  16  ( FIG.  1   ) to ensure lid positioning and aid in product separation. Straw attachment outlets for optional straw insertion  8  and  9  ( FIG.  1   ) An atmosphere release vent holes  30  ( FIG.  1   ) and release hole plugs  31 ,  32  ( FIG.  7    &amp;  FIG.  8   ) are designed for liquid flow when flip-up spouts are in use and secure an airtight secure seal when in the closed position. Though it is intended to fully describe the invention as set forth, it is also reasonable to assume that one skilled in the art could modify, adjust or adapt certain parts of this dual-chambered canteen container without departing from its original scope. The implementation of an individual or even a combined improvement as part of another dual-chambered canteen container is possible. For example, adding more compartments would be well within the bounds of what has been presented here. Other configurations such as a vertical partition, insulated materials for thermal conductivity between compartments or the container. Various known configurations could be used to partition two or more liquids or puree foods with a single container or other features could be added to the lid opening. 
     The defining features of this improved dual-chambered canteen container is that in addition to easy positioning and proving a non-gasket seal to achieve a secured and airtight snap on lid, the configuration is such that the opening to flip-up spouts and each chamber will be consistently positioned in a fixed configuration whether in the open or closed position and when opened will provide a dual separation to single mixing or an individual separation mixing experience. 
     The recommended materials are but not limited to plastic, stainless steel, foam and glass. Other modifications will readily suggest themselves to others of ordinary skills in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. The invention is merely intended to embrace all such alternatives and modifications or configurations as fall within the broad scope of the appended claims.