Patent Publication Number: US-2020297136-A1

Title: Drinking Container Convertible into a Whistling Device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application(s) 62/571,566 filed on Oct. 12, 2017, the specification(s) of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of drinking containers. More particularly, it relates to a drinking container convertible into a whistling device and to a corresponding method for converting the drinking container into the whistling device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a plurality of events, such as sporting events, concerts or the like, beverages are sold in drinking containers for users to consume while enjoying the event. With conventional drinking containers, the containers are usually discarded by the users once the beverage held in the container has been consumed. 
     At such events, users also often want to produce loud noises, for example and without being limitative, to support one of the playing teams, show their appreciation of the event, manifest their approval/disapproval, etc. In order to do so, users either need to bring a noise producing device such as, for example and without being limitative, a horn, a whistle, a rattle, etc., or use the available options such as clapping their hands, stomping their feet, using their mouth to shout or whistle, banging their seat, etc. 
     However as, mentioned above, common drinking containers are usually limited in their use to the consumption of the beverage held therein and cannot easily be converted to produce a whistling sound loud enough to be used as a whistling device for loud crowds, when a user blows in the closed container. 
     In view of the above, there is a need for an improved drinking container convertible into a whistling device and method for converting the drinking container into the whistling device which would be able to overcome, or at least minimize, some of the above-discussed prior art concerns. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a first general aspect, there is provided a drinking container configurable between a drinking configuration and a whistling configuration. The drinking container comprise a main portion defining a liquid receiving cavity and a whistling portion positioned below the main portion and operatively connected thereto. The whistling portion comprises a whistle and is translatable relative to the main portion to configure the drinking container between the drinking configuration and the whistling configuration. When the drinking container is configured in the drinking configuration, a section of the liquid receiving cavity is sealed and prevents fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity and the whistle while allowing the liquid receiving cavity to hold a liquid therein When the drinking container is configured in the whistling configuration, the section of the liquid receiving cavity is unsealed and allows fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity and the whistle. 
     In an embodiment, the drinking container includes a translation assembly configured to allow the translation of the whistling portion relative to the main portion, for transitioning the drinking container between the drinking configuration and the whistling configuration. 
     In an embodiment, the whistling portion is rotatably mounted to the main portion. The whistling portion is translatable to configure the drinking container between the drinking configuration and the whistling configuration by a rotation thereof relative to the main portion. 
     In an embodiment, one of the main portion and the whistling portion comprises at least one elongated guiding slot, and the other one of the main portion and the whistling portion comprises at least one projection engageable in a corresponding one of the at least one guiding slot to allow rotation between the main portion and the whistling portion. 
     In an embodiment, the main portion and the whistling portion include complementary threads to allow rotation between the main portion and the whistling portion. 
     In an embodiment, the drinking container further comprises a security tab selectively preventing translation of the whistling portion relative to the main portion and thereby selectively preventing the drinking container from being moved from the drinking configuration to the whistling configuration. 
     In an embodiment, the main portion comprises a peripheral wall section being open at a lower end thereof and the whistling portion comprises an upper wall and a sealing member. The sealing member is pressed against the peripheral wall section of the main portion to seal the section of the liquid receiving cavity using the upper wall of the whistling portion, when the drinking container is configured in the drinking configuration. 
     In an embodiment, the sealing member projects from the upper wall of the whistling portion, at a periphery thereof. 
     In an embodiment, the whistling portion is translatable away from the main portion to space the sealing member from the peripheral wall section of the main portion and unseal the liquid receiving cavity to configure the drinking container in the whistling configuration. 
     In an embodiment, the peripheral wall section of the main portion comprises an abutment shoulder and the sealing member of the whistling portion is pressed against the abutment shoulder of the peripheral wall section of the main portion, when the drinking container is configured in the drinking configuration. 
     In an embodiment, the whistling portion comprises an outer section having a side wall engageable to a section of the peripheral wall section of the main portion and an inner section including the upper wall of the whistling portion and a side wall having at least one through hole extending therethrough. 
     In an embodiment, the outer section of the whistling portion comprises a whistle receiving protrusion having an upper wall with a whistling aperture defined therein and extending therethrough. The whistle receiving protrusion defines a hollow inner space for receiving the whistle. When the drinking container is configured in the whistling configuration, the spacing of the sealing member apart from the peripheral wall section of the main portion allows fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity and the hollow inner space of the whistle receiving protrusion. 
     In an embodiment, the main portion comprises a unitary wall having an unperforated bottom wall section when the drinking container is configured in the drinking configuration and the whistling portion engages the unperforated wall section of the main portion to perforate the bottom wall section of the main portion when the drinking container is configured in the drinking configuration. 
     In an embodiment, the whistling portion comprises a perforation assembly and a whistle receiving protrusion having an upper wall with a whistling aperture defined therein and extending therethrough. The whistle receiving protrusion defines a hollow inner space for receiving the whistle. When the drinking container is configured in the whistling configuration, the perforation assembly perforates the unperforated wall section of the main portion and allows fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity and the hollow inner space of the whistle receiving protrusion. 
     In an embodiment, the perforation assembly comprises a cutting member extending from the upper wall of the whistle receiving protrusion. 
     In an embodiment, the perforation assembly comprises a spreading flange extending from the upper wall of the whistle receiving protrusion along a periphery of the whistling aperture. 
     In an embodiment, the whistling portion comprises an inner cavity and a sealing shoulder extending in the inner cavity of the whistling portion. The sealing shoulder is abuttable against a surface of the main portion when the drinking container is configured in the whistling configuration to seal a section of the inner cavity of the whistling portion. 
     In an embodiment, the main portion comprises a lower flange extending peripherally at the lower end thereof. The sealing shoulder is abuttable with a lower end of the lower flange when the drinking container is configured in the whistling configuration. 
     In an embodiment, at least one of the whistling portion and the main portion further comprises a resilient sealing member projecting from a corresponding one of the sealing shoulder and the lower flange. 
     In accordance with another general aspect, there is also provided a drinking container configurable between a drinking configuration and a whistling configuration. The drinking container comprises a main portion having a peripheral wall defining a liquid receiving cavity with the peripheral wall being open at a lower end thereof and a whistling portion positioned below the main portion and operatively connected thereto. The whistling portion comprises an upper wall operatively engaged to a section of the peripheral wall of the main portion to seal a lower section of the liquid receiving cavity and prevent fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity and the whistle, when the drinking container is configured in the drinking configuration. The upper wall is disengaged from the section of the peripheral wall of the main portion to unseal the lower section of the liquid receiving cavity and allow fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity and the whistle, when the drinking container is configured in the whistling configuration. 
     In an embodiment, the drinking container includes a translation assembly configured to allow the translation of the whistling portion relative to the main portion, for transitioning the drinking container between the drinking configuration and the whistling configuration. 
     In an embodiment, the whistling portion is rotatably mounted to the main portion. The whistling portion is translatable to configure the drinking container between the drinking configuration and the whistling configuration by a rotation thereof relative to the main portion. 
     In an embodiment, one of the main portion and the whistling portion comprises at least one elongated guiding slot, and the other one of the main portion and the whistling portion comprises at least one projection engageable in a corresponding one of the at least one guiding slot to allow rotation between the main portion and the whistling portion. 
     In an embodiment, the main portion and whistling portion include complementary threads to allow rotation between the main portion and the whistling portion. 
     In an embodiment, the whistling portion includes a sealing member projecting from the upper wall of the whistling portion, at a periphery thereof. The sealing member is pressed against the section of the peripheral wall of the main portion to operatively engage the upper wall of the whistling portion with the section of the peripheral wall of the main portion and seal the lower section of the liquid receiving cavity, when the drinking container is configured in the drinking configuration. 
     In an embodiment, the whistling portion is translatable away from the main portion to space the sealing member from the section of the peripheral wall of the main portion and unseal the lower section of the liquid receiving cavity to configure the drinking container in the whistling configuration. 
     In an embodiment, the section of the peripheral wall of the main portion comprises an abutment shoulder and the sealing member of the whistling portion is pressed against the abutment shoulder of the section of the peripheral wall of the main portion, when the drinking container is configured in the drinking configuration. 
     In an embodiment, the whistling portion comprises an outer section having a peripheral wall engageable to the peripheral wall of the main portion and an inner section including the upper wall of the whistling portion and a side wall having at least one through hole extending therethrough. 
     In an embodiment, the outer section of the whistling portion comprises a whistle receiving protrusion having an upper wall with a whistling aperture defined therein and extending therethrough, the whistle receiving protrusion defining a hollow inner space for receiving the whistle. When the drinking container is configured in the whistling configuration, the spacing of the sealing member apart from the section of the peripheral wall of the main portion allows fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity and the hollow inner space of the whistle receiving protrusion. 
     In accordance with another general aspect, there is also provided a method for configuring a drinking container between a drinking configuration and a whistling configuration. The drinking container has a main portion sized and shaped to define a liquid receiving cavity and a whistling portion including a whistle and operatively connected to the main portion. The method comprises: receiving the drinking container in the drinking configuration wherein a section of the liquid receiving cavity is sealed to prevent fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity and the whistle and to allow the liquid receiving cavity to hold a liquid; emptying the liquid from the liquid receiving cavity of the main portion of the drinking container; and translating the whistling portion relative to the main portion until the section of the liquid receiving cavity is unsealed and the main portion and the whistle of the whistling portion are in fluid communication. 
     In an embodiment, the step of translating the whistling portion relative to the main portion comprises rotating the whistling portion relative to the main portion. 
     In an embodiment, the whistling portion comprises an upper wall operatively engaged to a peripheral wall of the main portion to seal the section of the liquid receiving cavity when the drinking container is configured in the drinking configuration. The step of translating the whistling portion relative to the main portion until the liquid receiving cavity is unsealed further comprises disengaging the upper wall from the peripheral wall of the main portion to unseal the corresponding section of the liquid receiving cavity. 
     In an embodiment, the main portion comprises a unitary wall having an unperforated lower wall section and the whistling portion includes a perforation assembly and a whistle receiving protrusion having an upper wall with a whistling aperture defined therein and extending therethrough, the whistle receiving protrusion defining a hollow inner space for receiving the whistle. The step of translating the whistling portion relative to the main portion until the liquid receiving cavity is unsealed further comprises perforating the unperforated lower wall section of the main portion to allow fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity and the hollow inner space of the whistle receiving protrusion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects, advantages and features will become more apparent upon reading the following non-restrictive description of embodiments thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1A to 1C  are perspective views of a drinking container in accordance with an embodiment, wherein the container is shown in a drinking configuration, and respectively showing the drinking container with a security tab secured thereto (A), the security tab partially removed (B) and the security tab completely removed (C). 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of a lower portion of the drinking container of  FIG. 1A , in the drinking configuration, and taken along line  2 - 2  on  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the drinking container of  FIG. 1A , shown in the whistling configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of a lower portion of the drinking container of  FIG. 3 , in the whistling configuration, and taken along line  4 - 4  on  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the drinking container of  FIG. 3 , in the whistling configuration, shown with a cross-section of an upper portion of the main portion of the drinking container taken along line  5 - 5  removed. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the main portion of the drinking container of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are perspective views, respectively from above and from below, of the whistling portion of the drinking container of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of a drinking container in accordance with an alternative embodiment and shown in the drinking configuration. 
         FIG. 9A  is a cross sectional view of a lower portion of the drinking container of  FIG. 8 , in the drinking configuration. 
         FIG. 9B  is a cross sectional view of a lower portion of the drinking container of  FIG. 8 , in the whistling configuration. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an air permeable inner section of the whistling portion of the drinking container of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an outer section of the whistling portion of the drinking container of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures or described in the present description are embodiments only, given solely for exemplification purposes. 
     Moreover, although the embodiments of the drinking container convertible into a whistling device and corresponding parts thereof consist of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperation thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations, may be used for the drinking container convertible into a whistling device, as will be briefly explained herein and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art. Moreover, it will be appreciated that positional descriptions such as “above”, “below”, “left”, “right” and the like should, unless otherwise indicated, be taken in the context of the figures and should not be considered limiting. 
     As will be better understood in view of the detailed description below, the drinking container  10  described herein is a container designed to be configurable between a drinking configuration in which the drinking container  10  can hold a liquid (similarly to conventional drinking containers such as, without being limitative, sport drink bottles, juice bottles, water bottles, beer cans, soda cans or the like) and a whistling configuration in which the drinking container  10  can be used as a whistling device, to produce a loud whistling sound. 
     In the course of the present document, the term “whistle” is used to refer to any device used to produce a sound through the passage of air in a cavity thereof, against a thin edge thereof, or the like. 
     A first embodiment of the drinking container  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1A to 7B . An alternative embodiment of the drinking container  110 , wherein similar features are numbered using similar reference numerals to the first embodiment, but in the  100  series, is shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 . Each one of the embodiments shown in the Figures and described in detail below concerns a drinking container  10 ,  110 , which allows the above-mentioned transition between the drinking configuration in which the drinking container  10 ,  110  can hold a liquid therein (and allow easy consumption of the liquid by a user) and the whistling configuration in which the drinking container  10 ,  110  can be used as a whistling device. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A to 7B , the drinking container  10  in accordance with one embodiment is shown and will be described in detail below. The drinking container  10  includes a main portion  20  and a whistling portion  40  operatively connected (or mounted) to the main portion  20 . In the embodiment shown, the whistling portion  40  is positioned below the main portion  20  and is translatable (i.e. displaceable) relative to the main portion  20  to move the drinking container  10  between the drinking configuration (see  FIGS. 1A to 1C and 2 ) and the whistling configuration (see  FIGS. 3 to 5 ), as will be described in more details below. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A to 6 , in the embodiment shown, the main portion  20  defines a liquid receiving cavity  22 . The main portion  20  has a unitary wall  21  defining the liquid receiving cavity  22 , with a peripheral wall section  24 , a bottom wall section  26  and a closeable upper end  27 . In the drinking configuration, the bottom section of the liquid receiving cavity  22  is sealed by the unitary wall  21  to prevent fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity  22  and a whistle  50 , as will be described in more details below. Therefore, the main portion  20  can receive and temporarily hold a liquid, such as water, juice, soft drink, beer or the like, in the liquid receiving cavity  22  thereof, for consumption of the liquid by a user. In the embodiment shown, the closeable upper end  27  of the unitary wall  21  includes a bottleneck  28  with an upper opening  29  at an upper end thereof. In the embodiment shown, the bottleneck  28  has a threaded outer surface allowing a removable threaded screw cap (not shown) to be selectively screwed onto the drinking container  10  to close the liquid receiving cavity  22  and prevent the liquid contained therein to leak out of the liquid receiving cavity  22  through the upper opening  29 . One skilled in the art will understand that, in alternative embodiments, the bottleneck  28  could rather have a threaded inner surface allowing a removable threaded screw cap (not shown) to be selectively screwed onto the drinking container  10 . Moreover, in alternative embodiments. (not shown), the upper opening  29  of the bottleneck  28  can also be closed by a closing member different from a screw cap, such as, without being limitative, a flip-top cap, a sports cap, a friction fit cap, or any other member capable of temporarily closing the upper opening  29 . Furthermore, in other alternative embodiments (not shown), the closeable upper end  27  can also include an assembly different than the above described bottleneck and screw cap for temporarily closing the liquid receiving cavity  22 . For example and without being limitative, in an embodiment (not shown), the liquid receiving cavity  22  can be shaped similarly to beverage cans (such as cans commonly used for beer, soft drink or the like) with a pop-top upper opening. 
     As can be seen more clearly in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , in an embodiment, a lower section  24   a  of the peripheral wall section  24  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20  is recessed inwardly, thereby defining an abutment shoulder  32  at an upper end of the lower section  24   a . In an embodiment, the main portion  20  also includes a lower flange  34 , extending peripherally at the lower end thereof, with the bottom wall section  26  being inwardly recessed therefrom. In an embodiment, the main portion  20  further includes a sealing member  36  extending downwardly from the lower end of the lower flange  34 . In the embodiment shown, the sealing member  36  is a lip projecting downwardly from the lower end of the lower flange  34  and is made of the same material as the remaining of the main portion  20 . One skilled in the art will however understand that, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the sealing member  36  could be made of resilient material, such as rubber, silicon, or the like, in order to present high sealing properties when abutted against a rigid surface. One skilled in the art will also understand that, in alternative embodiments (not shown), the lower section  24   a  of the peripheral wall section  24  can be substantially evenly levelled with the remaining of the peripheral wall section  24 , such that no abutment shoulder is defined between the lower section  24   a  of the peripheral wall section  24  and the remaining of the peripheral wall section  24  and /or the main portion  20  can be free of lower peripheral flange  34  and/or sealing member  36 , with the bottom wall section  26  therefore not being inwardly recessed from the lower end of the main portion  20  of the drinking container  10 . 
     The lower section  24   a  of the peripheral wall section  24  is operatively connectable with the whistling portion  40 , as will be described in more details below. In the embodiment shown, the lower section  24   a  of the peripheral wall section  24  includes elongated guiding slots  30  defined on an outer surface thereof. As will be described in more details below, the elongated guiding slots  30  are a component of a translation assembly  90 , which allows the translation of the whistling portion  40  relative to the main portion  20 , for the drinking container  10  to be configured between the drinking configuration and the whistling configuration. Each one of the elongated guiding slots  30  includes a lower end  30   a  and an upper end  30   b  and extends along a length of the outer surface of the lower section  24   a  of the peripheral wall section  24 . Each one of the elongated guiding slots  30  is upwardly angled, to allow the translation of the whistling portion  40  relative to the main portion  20 , when the drinking container  10  is moved from the drinking configuration to the whistling configuration, as will be described in more details below. In the course of the present description, the term “upwardly angled” is understood to mean that the upper end  30   b  of the guiding slot  30  is located above the lower end  30   a  thereof on the unitary wall  21  when the drinking container is positioned in an upright orientation (see  FIG. 6 ) (or closer to the upper end  27  of the unitary wall  21  than the lower end  30   a ). 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 1A to 5, 7A and 7B , the whistling portion  40  of the drinking container  10  includes a side wall  42  and a bottom wall  44  together defining an inner cavity  46  of the whistling portion  40 . In an embodiment, the side wall  42  includes a lower section  42   b  inwardly recessed from an upper section  42   a  thereof. The inward recess of the lower section  42   b  of the side wall  42  defines a sealing shoulder  64 , extending between the lower section  42   b  and the upper section  42   a  of the side wall  42 . In the embodiment shown, the whistling portion  40  also includes an outer flange  66 , extending downwardly from the upper section  42   a  of the side wall  42 , substantially parallel and spaced apart from the lower section  42   b  of the side wall  42 . One skilled in the art will understand that, in an alternative embodiment, the whistling portion  40  can be free of outer flange  66  or that the outer flange  66  could be positioned, sized and/or shaped differently than the outer flange of the embodiment shown. One skilled in the art will also understand that, in alternative embodiments (not shown), other designs of the whistling portion  40  could provide the sealing shoulder  64 . For example and without being limitative, in an embodiment (not shown), the side wall  42  can be substantially straight, with an inner flange projecting inwardly from the bottom wall  44  (i.e. projecting into the inner cavity  46  of the whistling portion  40 ). 
     The whistling portion  40  also includes a hollow whistle receiving protrusion  48  extending inwardly from the bottom wall  44  (i.e. extending from the bottom wall and into the inner cavity  46 ). The hollow whistle receiving protrusion  48  is opened in the bottom wall  44  and has a hollow inner space  49  for receiving a whistle  50 . The hollow inner space  49  is defined by a peripheral wall  52  and an upper wall  54 , spaced apart from the bottom wall  44  of the whistling portion  40 . The upper wall  54  has a whistling aperture  56  defined therein and extending through the wall  54 . The whistling aperture  56  allows fluid communication between the inner cavity  46  of the whistling portion  40  of the drinking container  10  and the hollow inner space  49  of the whistle receiving protrusion  48  in which the whistle  50  is placed. In an embodiment, the whistle  50  can be integral to the whistling portion  40  (i.e. the whistling portion  40  can be manufactured with a whistle  50  integrated thereto and positioned in the hollow inner space  49  of the whistle receiving protrusion  48 ). One skilled in the art will understand that, in alternative embodiments, the whistle  50  can also be an independent component mounted (removably or permanently) to the whistling portion, in the hollow inner space  49  of the whistle receiving protrusion  48  thereof, for example by screwing, gluing, press fit or the like. In another alternative embodiment, the drinking container  10  could include a plurality of whistles removably mountable into the hollow inner space  49  of the whistle receiving protrusion  48  and each making a different sound when activated, the user therefore being able to mount the whistle  50  producing the desired sound to the whistling portion  40 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the whistling portion  40  also includes a perforation assembly  57  allowing perforation of the bottom wall section  26  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20 , to unseal the bottom section of the liquid receiving cavity  22 , when the drinking container  10  is configured in the whistling configuration, as will be described in more details below. In the embodiment shown, the perforation assembly  57  includes a cutting member  58  extending from the upper wall  54  of the whistle receiving protrusion  48 , into the inner cavity  46  and a spreading flange  60  also extending from the upper wall  54  of the whistle receiving protrusion  48 , along a periphery of the whistling aperture  56 . As will be described in more details below, the spreading flange  60  is configured to cooperate with the cutting member  58  to create an aperture in the bottom wall section  26  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20  when the drinking container  10  is moved into the whistling configuration and therefore unseal the bottom section of the liquid receiving cavity  22  to allow fluid communications between the liquid receiving cavity  22  and the whistle  50  mounted to the whistling portion  40  of the drinking container  10 . In the embodiment shown, the spreading flange  60  tapers towards the cutting member to ease the spreading of the bottom wall section  26  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20 , as the aperture therein is created when the drinking container  10  is configured from the drinking configuration to the whistling configuration. In an embodiment, the cutting member  58  is made of a hard material, such as hard plastic, metal, or the like and includes a cutting edge  58   a  sharp enough to cut through the material of the bottom wall section  26  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the whistling portion  40  also includes projections  62  projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the side wall  42  of the whistling portion  40 . Each one of the projections  40  is engageable into a corresponding one of the guiding slots  30  defined in the lower section  24   a  of the peripheral wall section  24  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20 . Hence, in the embodiment shown, the combination of the guiding slots  30  and the projections  62  engageable therein together define the translation assembly  90 . One skilled in the art will however understand that, in alternative embodiments, the translation assembly  90  could differ from the embodiment shown. For example and without being limitative, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the guiding slots  30  could be defined in the inner surface of the side wall  42  of the whistling portion  40 , with the projections  62  projecting from the outer surface of the peripheral wall section  24  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20 . In other alternative embodiments (not shown), the translation assembly  90  could include components different than the above described combination of guiding slots  30  and corresponding projections  62  inserted therein, such as, for example and without being limitative, complementary threads defined in the main portion  20  and the whistling portion  40 . 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 1A to 5 , the whistling portion  40  is mounted to the main portion  20 . In the embodiment shown, the whistling portion  40  is mounted to the main portion  20  through insertion of a section of the main portion  20  in the inner cavity  46  of the whistling portion  40  and engagement of each one of the projections  62  projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the side wall  42  of the whistling portion  40  in the corresponding guiding slot  30  defined on the outer surface of the lower section  24   a  of the peripheral wall section  24  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20 . In an embodiment, the whistling portion  40  is sized and shaped to minimize friction between the outer surface of the lower section  24   a  of the peripheral wall section  24  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20  and the inner surface of the side wall  42  of the whistling portion  40  (i.e. the diameter of the inner cavity  46  of the whistling portion  40  is designed to substantially prevent friction therebetween). 
     In an embodiment, the whistling portion  40  is permanently mounted to the main portion (i.e. the whistling portion  40  cannot be dismounted from the main portion  20 ), thereby preventing exposure of the cutting member  58  and the associated injury risks to users. In other words, in an embodiment, excessive force (i.e. substantially more than the conventionally requested force to move the drinking container  10  between the drinking configuration and the whistling configuration and vice-versa), resulting in dismantling of the drinking container  10 , is required to detach the whistling portion  40  from the main portion  20 . 
       FIGS. 1A to 1C and 2  show the drinking container  10  in the drinking configuration. In the drinking configuration, the liquid receiving cavity  22  of the main portion  20  is unperforated (i.e. the bottom wall section  26  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20  is unperforated and the lower section of the liquid receiving cavity  22  is therefore sealed to prevent fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity  22  and the whistle  50 ) and the drinking container  10  can be used as a conventional container to hold the liquid, while the user drinks the liquid. In the embodiment shown, in the drinking configuration, the whistling portion  40  is positioned relative to the main portion  20 , such that the perforation assembly  57  is spaced apart from the unperforated bottom wall section  26  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20 . 
     In an embodiment, in order to prevent undesired user induced transition of the drinking container  10  from the drinking configuration to the whistling configuration, the drinking container  10  includes a security tab  70 . In the embodiment shown, the security tab  70  is removably mounted on an outer surface of the drinking container  10 , between an upper edge of the side wall  42  of the whistling portion  40  and the abutment shoulder  32  of the peripheral wall section  24  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20 . When secured to the drinking container  10 , the security tab  70  prevents upward movement of the whistling portion  40  towards the main portion  20  (i.e. prevents translation of the drinking container  10  between the drinking configuration and the whistling configuration). The security tab  70 , is removable to allow the translation of the drinking container  10  between the drinking configuration and the whistling configuration, once removed. One skilled in the art will understand that, in an alternative embodiment, the security tab  70  could differ from the security tab of the embodiment shown, while still preventing undesired user induced transition of the drinking container  10  from the drinking configuration to the whistling configuration. For example and without being limitative, the security tab  70  could be a pressable or pullable tab, selectively pushed or pulled to allow the transition of the drinking container  10  from the drinking configuration to the whistling configuration. Moreover, it will be understood that, in other alternative embodiments (not shown), other mechanisms different from a security tab could also be used to prevent undesired user induced transition of the drinking container  10  from the drinking configuration to the whistling configuration. 
     In view of the above, in an embodiment, once the user has emptied the liquid receiving cavity  22  of the main portion  20  of the drinking container  10  from its content, the drinking container  10  can be transitioned from the drinking configuration to the whistling configuration. In the embodiment shown, to allow the transition from the drinking configuration to the whistling configuration, the security tab  70  is removed (or peeled off) from the drinking container  10  (see  FIGS. 1B and 1C ), thereby creating a space between the upper edge of the side wall  42  of the whistling portion  40  and the abutment shoulder  32  of the peripheral wall section  24  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20 , to allow upward movement (or translation) of the whistling portion  40  relative to the main portion  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , once the security tab  70  has been removed, in an embodiment, the whistling portion  40  can be rotated relative to the main portion  20 , to move the whistling portion  40  upwardly and towards the main portion  20 . In the embodiment shown, when the whistling portion  40  is rotated relative to the main portion  20 , the projections  62  of the whistling portion  40  are displaced along the guiding slots  30  of the main portion  20  (i.e. between the lower end  30   a  thereof and the upper end  30   b  thereof), thereby driving the whistling portion  40  towards the main portion  20 , as a result of the upward angle of the guiding slots  30 . 
     As the whistling portion  40  is driven towards the main portion  20 , the perforation assembly  57  engages the bottom wall section  26  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20  and perforates the bottom wall section  26 , thereby unsealing the bottom section of the liquid receiving cavity and allowing fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity  22  and the whistle  50  mounted in the hollow inner space  49  of the whistle receiving protrusion  48 , through the whistling aperture  56 . In more details, in the embodiment shown, when the whistling portion  40  is driven towards the main portion  20 , the cutting member  58  of the perforation assembly  57  begins engaging the bottom wall section  26  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20  and creates a small aperture therein. Subsequently, as the whistling portion  40  is further rotated, the cutting member  58  continuously cuts the bottom wall section  26  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20 , and the tapered end of the spreading flange  60  spreads the bottom wall section  26  open and maintains the sections of the bottom wall section  26  away from the whistling aperture  56 , as the spreading flange  60  is driven through the bottom wall section  26  of the unitary wall  21  of the main portion  20  and inside the liquid receiving cavity  22  (see  FIG. 5 ). Therefore, the whistling aperture  56  is opened in the liquid receiving cavity  22  and allows fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity  22  and the whistle  50  mounted in the hollow inner space  49  of the whistle receiving protrusion  48 . 
     In view of the above, once the content of the drinking container has been consumed and the drinking container  10  is configured in the whistling configuration, the drinking container  10  can be used as a whistling device. Indeed, to use the drinking container  10  as a whistling device, a user can simply blow in the liquid receiving cavity  22  of the main portion  20  (through the bottleneck  28 ) in order to activate the whistle  50  located in the hollow inner space  49  of the whistle receiving protrusion  48  of the whistling portion  40 . 
     In an embodiment, and as better seen in  FIG. 4 , the drinking container includes a sealing assembly preventing air blown into the liquid receiving cavity  22  of the main portion  20  (for example by a user blowing in the bottleneck  28 ) from leaking out of the drinking container  10  through a space between the main portion  20  and the whistling portion  40 , when the drinking container  10  is configured in the whistling configuration. In view of the above, in the embodiment shown, air blown into the liquid receiving cavity  22  of the main portion  20  is substantially entirely expelled through the hollow inner space  49  of the whistle receiving protrusion  48  of the whistling portion  40 , where it activates the whistle  50  located therein. 
     In the embodiment shown, the sealing assembly is provided by the lower flange  34  of the main portion  20  being abutted against the surface of the sealing shoulder  64  of the whistling portion  40  and the sealing member  36  of the lower flange  34  of the main portion  20  being pressed against the sealing shoulder  64  of the whistling portion  40 . One skilled in the art will however understand that, in alternative embodiments (not shown), other assemblies could be provided for sealing a portion of the inner cavity  46  of the whistling portion  40 . For example and without being limitative, in an embodiment (not shown) a sealing member (not shown) can extend from the sealing shoulder  64  rather than from the lower flange  34 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the main portion  20  also includes a stop member  31  extending into each one of the guiding slots  30 , proximate to the upper end  30   b  thereof. The stop member  31  includes a leading wall  31   a  and a stop wall  31   b . The leading wall  31   a  defines a small angle relative to the lower wall  30   c  of the guiding slot  30  to allow the projection  62  of the whistling portion  40  to move past the stop member  31  when the whistling portion  40  is rotated to configure the drinking container  10  in the whistling configuration. The stop wall  31   b  extends substantially perpendicular to the lower wall  30   c  of the guiding slot  30 , thereby creating a shoulder preventing backward movement of the projection  62  of the whistling portion  40  in the guiding slot  30 , once the projection  62  has moved past the stop member  31 . In view of the above, in the embodiment shown, the whistling portion  40  can only be rotated between the drinking configuration and the whistling configuration (for example in a clockwise direction) and cannot return to the drinking configuration once the whistling configuration has been reached. One skilled in the art will understand that, in alternative embodiments (not shown), other assemblies preventing the drinking container  10  from being brought back to the drinking configuration once the whistling configuration is reached could be provided. Moreover, in an alternative embodiment, the drinking container  10  could be free of assemblies preventing the drinking container  10  from being brought back to the drinking configuration once the whistling configuration is reached 
     In the embodiment shown, the main portion  20  and the whistling portion  40  are made of plastic, but one skilled in the art will understand that, in alternative embodiments, other materials offering sufficient rigidity can be used. For example and without being limitative, in an embodiment, the main portion  20  and/or the whistling portion  40  can be made of aluminum. One skilled in the art will understand that the main portion  20  and the whistling portion  40  and/or other sections thereof can be made of different materials (i.e. in an embodiment a plurality of different materials can be used for the main portion  20  and/or the whistling portion  40 ). 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 8 to 11 , as mentioned above, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the drinking container  110  wherein similar features are numbered using the same reference numerals in the 100 series. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 , once again the drinking container  110  includes a main portion  120  and a whistling portion  140  positioned below the main portion  120  and operatively connected therewith, with the whistling portion  140  being translatable relative to the main portion  120  to move the drinking container  110  between the drinking configuration (see  FIG. 9A ) and the whistling configuration (see  FIG. 9B ), as will be described in more details below. 
     The main portion  120  again defines a liquid receiving cavity  122  and has a peripheral wall section  124 , and a closeable upper end  127  having a bottleneck  128  with an upper opening  129  at an upper end thereof. Once again, in the embodiment shown, the bottleneck  128  has a threaded outer surface allowing a removable threaded screw cap (not shown) to be screwed onto the drinking container  110  to close the liquid receiving cavity  122  and prevent the liquid contained therein to leak out of the liquid receiving cavity  122  through the upper opening  129 . Similar to the first embodiment described above, once again it will be understood that the upper opening  129  of the bottleneck  128  could also be closed by a closing member different from a screw cap or the closeable upper end  127  could include an assembly different than the above described bottleneck and screw cap for temporarily closing the liquid receiving cavity  122 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 8 to 11 , the main portion  120  is open at the lower end  124   a  of the peripheral wall section  124 . As will be described in more details below, when the drinking container is configured in the drinking configuration (see  FIG. 9A ), an upper wall  145  of the whistling portion  140  is operatively engaged to the peripheral wall section  124 , to seal the bottom section of the liquid receiving cavity  122  and thereby prevent fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity  122  and the whistle  50 . To seal the bottom section of the liquid receiving cavity  122  using the upper wall  145  of the whistling portion  140 , in the embodiment shown, the lower section  124   a  of the peripheral wall section  124  of the main portion  120  expands outwardly to define an abutment shoulder  132  at an upper end of the lower section  124   a  and the open-ended lower section  124   a  of the peripheral wall section  124  is operatively engageable with the whistling portion  140  to seal the liquid receiving cavity by abutting a section of the whistling portion  140  onto the abutment shoulder  132  of the peripheral wall section  124 , as will be described in more details below. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 , the whistling portion  140  of the drinking container  110  includes an inner section  180  (see  FIG. 10 ) and an outer section  182  (see  FIG. 11 ) engageable to one another to define the whistling portion  140 . In an embodiment, the inner section  180  and the outer section  182  are engageable to one another in a press-fit configuration, but one skilled in the art will understand that, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the inner section  180  and the outer section  182  could be integral (or unitary). 
     The outer section  182  includes a side wall  142  (or whistling portion outer section side wall) and a bottom wall  144 , thereby defining an inner cavity  146 . The top section of the side wall  142  of the outer section  182  is substantially sealed against the lower section  124   a  of the peripheral wall section  124  of the main portion  120 , as the side wall  142  of the outer section  182  extends over and abuts against the lower section  124   a  of the peripheral wall section  124  of the main portion  120 . The outer section  182  of the whistling portion  140  also includes a hollow whistle receiving protrusion  148  extending inwardly from the bottom wall  144 , into the inner cavity  146 , for receiving a whistle  150 . The whistle receiving protrusion  148  has a whistling aperture  156  allowing fluid communication between the inner cavity  146  and a hollow inner space  149  of the whistle receiving protrusion  148  in which the whistle  150  is received. 
     The inner section  180  of the whistling portion  140  (shown in an inverted position in  FIG. 10  to better show the components thereof) includes a side wall  142 ′ (or whistling portion inner section side wall) and an upper wall  145 . The inner section  180  of the whistling portion  140  also includes a sealing member  136  projecting from a periphery of the upper wall  145 . Once again, in the embodiment shown, the sealing member  136  is a projection extending upwardly from the upper wall  145  of the inner section  180  of the whistling portion  140  and made of the same material as the remaining components of the whistling portion  140 . Once again, it will however be understood that, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the sealing member  136  could be made of resilient material, such as rubber, in order to offer high sealing properties when abutted against a rigid surface. The inner section  180  of the whistling portion  140  further includes through holes  181  extending through the side wall  142 ′ of the inner section. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 8 to 11 , the translation assembly  190  includes a combination of threads  137  on an inner surface of the lower section  124   a  of the peripheral wall section  124  and complementary threads  147  on the outer surface of the side wall  142 ′ of the inner section  180 . The threads  137 ,  147  are engageable to allow the translation of the whistling portion  140  relative to the main portion  120  when the drinking container  110  is moved from the drinking configuration to the whistling configuration, as will be described in more details below. One skilled in the art will understand that, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), a different translation assembly  190 , such as, for example and without being limitative, a combination of guiding slots and corresponding projections, as described in connection to the first embodiment, could be used rather than the above-described complementary threads  137 ,  147 . 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the whistling portion  140  is mounted to the main portion  120 . In the embodiment shown, the whistling portion  140  is mounted to the main portion  120  through the lower section  124   a  of the peripheral wall section  124  of the main portion  120  being inserted between the side wall  142 ′ of the inner section  180  and the side wall  142  of the outer section  182  of the whistling portion  140  and the threads  137  of the of the peripheral wall section  124  of the main portion  120  engaging the threads  147  of the inner section  180  of the whistling portion  140 . 
       FIG. 9A  shows the drinking container  110  in the drinking configuration. In the drinking configuration, the bottom section of the liquid receiving cavity  122  of the main portion  120  is sealed (or closed) by the combination of the upper wall  145  of the inner section  180  of the whistling portion  140  extending in the aperture defined at the lower end  124   a  of the peripheral wall section  124  and the sealing member  136  of the inner section  180  of the whistling portion  140  being pressed against the abutment shoulder  132  of the main portion  120  to seal the whistling portion  140  against the peripheral wall section  124  of the main section  120 . Therefore, in the drinking configuration, the drinking container  110  can be used as a conventional container to hold the liquid in the liquid receiving cavity  122 , while the user drinks the liquid. One skilled in the art will understand that, in alternative embodiments (not shown), the main portion  120  and the whistling portion  140  could be sized and shaped differently than in the embodiment shown, with the liquid receiving cavity  122  of the main portion  120  being closed at a bottom end by the upper wall  145  of the inner section  180  of the whistling portion  140  in engagement with a section of the main portion  120 , to seal the bottom section of the liquid receiving cavity  122  and therefore prevent fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity  122  and the whistle  150 . For example and without being limitative, in an embodiment (not shown), a projection could extend from the main portion  120  to abut against the whistling portion  140  and seal the liquid receiving cavity  122  when the drinking container  110  is configured in the drinking configuration. 
     In the embodiment shown, to transition the drinking container  110  from the drinking configuration to the whistling configuration, the whistling portion  140  can be rotated relative to the main portion  120 , to move the whistling portion  140  away from the main portion  120  (as they move along the complementary threads  137 ,  147 ), thereby creating a space between the sealing member  136  of the inner section  180  and the abutment shoulder  132  of the main portion  120  and unsealing the lower section of the liquid receiving cavity  122  (see  FIG. 9B  showing the drinking container  110  in the whistling configuration). As can be seen in  FIG. 9B , the space created between the sealing member  136  of the inner section  180  and the abutment shoulder  132  of the main portion  120  results in disengagement of the upper wall  145  if the whistling portion  145  from the peripheral wall section  124  and allows fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity  122  and the whistle  150  placed in the hollow inner space  149  of the whistle receiving protrusion  148 , as air can move between the peripheral wall  124  of the main portion  120  and the inner section  180  of the whistling portion, through the through holes  181  defined in the side wall  142 ′ of the inner section  180  of the whistling portion  140 , and finally through the whistling aperture  156 , to reach the whistle  150  placed in the hollow inner space  149  of the whistle receiving protrusion  148 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 9B , when the drinking container  110  is configured in the whistling configuration, the main portion  120  and the drinking portion  140  are configured to prevent air blown into the liquid receiving cavity  122  of the main portion  120  (for example by a user blowing in the bottleneck  128 ) from leaking out of the drinking container  110  through a space between the main portion  120  and the whistling portion  140 . In other words, the main portion  120  and the whistling portion  140  are sealed against one another, such that the air blown in the liquid receiving cavity  122  is substantially entirely expelled through the whistling aperture  156 , to reach the whistle  150  placed in the hollow inner space  149  of the whistle receiving protrusion  148 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 , no security tab is provided to prevent undesired user induced transition of the drinking container  110  from the drinking configuration to the whistling configuration. One skilled in the art will however understand that, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), a security tab could be provided. For example and without being limitative, the security tab could be a security tab removably mounted on an outer surface of the drinking container  110  (for example similarly to the security tab shown in  FIG. 1A ) or any other type of removable or movable component preventing accidental translation of the whistling portion  140  relative to the main portion  120 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 , the whistling portion  140  is moveable relative to the main portion  120 , to configure the drinking container  120  between the drinking configuration (see  FIG. 9A ) and the drinking configuration (see  FIG. 9B ) and vice-versa. In other words, the drinking container  120  can be repeatedly moved between the drinking configuration (where it can be used to hold a liquid in the liquid receiving cavity  122 ) and the drinking configuration (where it can be used to produce a whistling sound). Hence, the drinking container  110  can be repeatedly reused to hold a liquid, even after being moved to the whistling configuration, thereby providing an eco-friendly reusable drinking container  110 . 
     The drinking container  10 ,  110  convertible into a whistling device, in accordance with the first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A to 7B  and the second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 , having been described above, an embodiment of a method for configuring the drinking container  10 ,  110  between the drinking configuration and the whistling configuration will now be described in more details below. 
     In an embodiment, the drinking container is initially configured in the drinking configuration, with a section of the liquid receiving cavity of the main portion of the drinking container being sealed to prevent fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity and a whistle and allow the liquid receiving cavity to hold a liquid to be drunk by a user. As a first step, the drinking container is emptied of its content, for example by the user drinking the liquid contained in the liquid receiving cavity of the main portion of the drinking container. Once the drinking container is emptied of its content, the method includes translating the whistling portion of the drinking container relative to the main portion until the section of the liquid receiving cavity is unsealed and the liquid receiving cavity of the main portion and the whistle are in fluid communication. 
     In an embodiment (See  FIGS. 1A to 7B ), the whistle is located in a hollow inner space of a whistle receiving protrusion of the whistling portion and the whistling portion of the drinking container is translated towards the main portion until the liquid receiving cavity of the main portion and the hollow inner space of the whistle receiving protrusion of the whistling portion are in fluid communication. In such an embodiment, such fluid communication can be achieved by a cutting member of a perforation assembly of the whistling portion perforating a previously unpunctured bottom section wall of a unitary wall of the main portion of the fluid container, to allow fluid communication through a whistling aperture of the whistle receiving protrusion. 
     In an alternative embodiment (See  FIGS. 8 to 11 ), the whistle is again located in a hollow inner space of a whistle receiving protrusion of the whistling portion and the whistling portion of the drinking container is translated away from the main portion until the liquid receiving cavity of the main portion and the hollow inner space of the whistle receiving protrusion of the whistling portion are in fluid communication. In such an embodiment, such fluid communication is achieved by disengaging the upper wall of the whistling portion from the peripheral wall to unseal the corresponding section of the liquid receiving cavity (the upper wall of the whistling portion being initially operatively engaged to the peripheral wall of the main portion to seal the section of the liquid receiving cavity as the drinking container is configured in the drinking configuration). In more details, in an embodiment, the fluid communication between the liquid receiving cavity of the main portion and the hollow inner space of the whistle receiving protrusion of the whistling portion is achieved by a sealing member extending along a periphery of the upper wall of the whistling portion being spaced apart from an abutment shoulder of a peripheral wall of the main portion to unseal the liquid receiving cavity and to allow fluid communication via through holes defined in a peripheral wall of an inner section of the whistling portion and into an inner cavity thereof, the whistle receiving protrusion including a whistling aperture open in the inner cavity of the whistling portion. 
     In the embodiments shown, the translation of the whistling portion of the drinking container relative to the main portion is performed by rotating the whistling portion relative to the main portion, but one skilled in the art will understand that, in an alternative embodiment, the translation can be performed through a different translation movement. 
     Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. A person skilled in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person skilled in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.