Abstract:
A modular drinking vessel having a bottom-most base module, a removable intermediate module, and a removably attachable cap module including a mouthpiece and a tethered cap. At least one of the modules has at least one extensible and collapsible handle anchored at both ends to a slide track on the module. Two such handles may be provided on opposed sides of the modular drinking vessel. Alternatively, the drinking vessel may comprise a monolithic cup with at least one such handle, in the absence of intermediate and cap modules.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/967,212 filed Mar. 12, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to drinking vessels, and more particularly, to modular, disassemblable or knock-down drinking vessels. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Drinking vessels are subject to many different demands. For most purposes, it is desirable that a drinking vessel be inexpensive, readily cleaned, have a closure, and optionally have an integral spout or mouthpiece facilitating preventing spillage while drinking. Even a vessel meeting the above functions may be unsatisfactory because it may provide too little capacity or alternatively, objectionable volume. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present disclosure addresses the above stated situation by providing a modular cup including a tethered cap and a mouthpiece. Modules may be added or removed to vary holding capacity. The cup has at least one expansible handle movable from a compact stowed configuration to an extended deployed configuration. The cup has a mouthpiece module having either one of two styles of mouthpiece. One type is centered over the cylindrical body of the cup, and generally circular in cross section. The other type is located near the periphery of the cup, and is oval or otherwise non-circular in cross section. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present disclosure will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a n exploded side view of a modular drinking vessel, according to at least one aspect of the disclosure; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top plan detail view of an uppermost module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a top plan detail view of a bottommost module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary bottom plan detail view of of the bottommost module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective detail view of a handle shown at the bottom of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a flattened or spread condition for stowage; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective detail view of the handle of  FIG. 5 , illustrating a compressed or bulging deployed condition; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side detail view of the lowermost module of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a side detail view of an alternative to the uppermost component of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary top perspective detail view of the alternative component of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , according to at least one aspect of the disclosure, there is shown a modular drinking vessel  100  comprising base module  102 , at least one intermediate module  104 , and cap module  106 . Base module  102  includes floor  108 , lateral wall  110  projecting from the floor  108 , and first connector  112  on the lateral wall  110 . Intermediate module  104  includes lateral wall  114 , second connector  116  at one edge  118  of lateral wall  114 , second connector  116  being matingly compatible with first connector  116  of base module  102 . In the example of  FIG. 1 , first and second connectors  112 ,  116  comprise matingly compatible screw threads. Intermediate module  104  includes third connector  120  at an opposed edge  122  of lateral wall  114 . Intermediate module  104  is open at both ends  124 ,  126 . Connecting intermediate module  104  to base module  102  increases fluid capacity of the latter. 
         [0016]    Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not either require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a “third” or higher-numbered item. 
         [0017]    Cap module  106  comprises lateral wall  128  which is shorter (as indicated by arrow  130 ) than lateral wall  114  of intermediate module  104 . Cap module  106  comprises fourth connector  132  at one end  134  of lateral wall  128 , fourth connector  132  being matingly compatible with third connector  120  of intermediate module  104 , and cover panel  136  at an opposed end  138  of the lateral wall  128 . Cover panel  136  has a periphery (seen as surface  140  in  FIG. 1 ) and a mouthpiece  142  including a drinking orifice  144 . Cover panel  136  closes cap module  106  except at drinking orifice  144 . Cover panel  136  includes cap  146 , the latter attachable to cap module  106  and configured to entirely seal cover panel  136  and mouthpiece  142  from the external atmosphere. Flexible tether  148  tethers cap  146  to cap module  106 , and may be fastened to cap module  106  and cap  146  by enlarged heads  180 , rivets (not shown), or still other fasteners (none shown). 
         [0018]    Flexible tether  148  is sufficiently long to bulge outwardly from modular drinking vessel  100  when modular drinking vessel  100  is assembled and cap  146  is installed thereon sufficiently to provide space for the hand or fingers (not shown) of a user to grasp flexible tether  148  as a carrying handle. Space for the hand or fingers is seen as arrows  150 ,  152 . 
         [0019]    Modular drinking vessel  100  has a longitudinal axis  154  extending centrally along the lengths of base module  102 , intermediate module  104 , and lateral wall  128  of cap module  106  when modular drinking vessel  100  is assembled. Assembly signifies that intermediate module  104  is tightly connected to base module  102 , and cap module  106  is tightly connected to intermediate module  104 . It is possible to include more than one intermediate module  104 , as second connector  116  is compatible with third connector  120 . Hence a series of intermediate modules  104  (only one is shown) could be connected together if desired. 
         [0020]    Cap  146  connects to lateral wall  128  of cap module  106  in the following way. Cap module  106  has a fifth connector  156  on that side of cap module  106  opposite fourth connector  132 . Cap  146  has a sixth connector  158  matingly complementing fifth connector  156 . Fifth and sixth connectors  156 ,  158  collectively comprise a finite travel mechanical interlock. In the example of  FIG. 1 , fifth connector  156  comprises at least one L-shaped groove  160  formed in surface  140 . Sixth connector  158  comprises at least one dog or interlock projection  162  which fits slidably in close cooperation with one L-shaped groove  160 . When cap  146  is connected to cap module  106  by inserting interlock projection  162  into L-shaped groove  160  as far as possible in the vertical direction (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), cap  146  is twisted so that interlock projection  162  passes towards distal end  164  of L-shaped groove  160 . At this point, the end of L-shaped groove stops further rotation of cap  146  by interference. Hence the travel of interlock projection  162  is limited or finite. This connection is typical of those called bayonet connections, and will be referred to as a finite travel interlock. A finite travel interlock could take forms other than the bayonet connection described herein. 
         [0021]    The number of L-shaped grooves  160 , although shown as two in  FIG. 1 , could be only one, or if desired, more than two. Two interlock projections  160  are illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The number of interlock projections  162  is at least one, and if desired, more than one. The number of interlock projections  162  may be less than the number of L-shaped grooves  160 , but cannot be greater. 
         [0022]    In the example of  FIG. 1 , and referring also to  FIG. 2 , mouthpiece  142  is centrally located on cover panel  136  (i.e., is coaxial with the longitudinal axis  154 ) and is annular in a cross section taken along longitudinal axis  154 . 
         [0023]    Referring to FIGS.  1  and  3 - 7 , modular drinking vessel  100  comprises at least one collapsible handle  166 . Base module  102  has at least one slide track  168  extending along the exterior of and recessed into lateral wall  110 . Handle  166  comprises flexible strap  170 , first head or anchor  172  slidably engageable within slide track  168  at one end of flexible strap  170 , and second head or anchor  174  slidably engageable with slide track  168  at the other end of flexible strap  170 . First and second anchors  172 ,  174  can be spread apart to draw flexible strap  170  towards longitudinal axis  154  from a bulging deployed condition depicted in  FIG. 6 . First and second anchors  172 ,  174  can be drawn towards one another (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) to cause flexible strap to bulge outwardly and expose a handhold for engaging the fingers (not shown) of a user.  FIG. 7  depicts the bulging deployed condition of handle  166  in solid lines, and a flattened, spread apart stowed condition of handle  166  in broken lines.  FIG. 5  shows handle  166  in the flattened, spread apart stowed condition, isolated from other components of base module  102 . 
         [0024]    Although only one handle  166  is shown in  FIGS. 1 , and  4 - 7 , base module  102  may have two slide tracks  170  and two handles  166  (see  FIG. 3 ). It should also be appreciated that slide track(s)  170  may be formed in intermediate module(s)  104  in place of or in addition to being formed in base module  102 . Therefore, at least one of base module  102  and intermediate module  104  may have either one slide track  170 , or alternatively, may have two slide tracks  170  extending along and on opposite sides of the exterior of the respective lateral wall(s)  110  or  114  thereof. Where two slide tracks  170  are provided for either base module  102  or intermediate module  104 , two handles  166 , each mountable to one of the two slide tracks  170  may be provided. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an option to mouthpiece  142  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is illustrated. In the option shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , mouthpiece  142  is located on cover panel  136  of cap module  106  proximate a periphery  176  of cover panel  136 . Mouthpiece  142  has an oblong opening  178  having length generally parallel to periphery  176  of cover panel  136 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 8  shows another feature of modular drinking vessel  100 . Cap  146  fits in close cooperation with mouthpiece  142  and cover panel  136 , having an interior surface  182  reflecting external configuration of mouthpiece  142  and cover panel  136 . The same cooperation may be provided with mouthpiece  142  and cover panel  136  of the example of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0027]    Modular drinking vessel  100  may be fabricated from a suitable polymeric material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and other substances. Base module  102  may be configured to contain a fluid capacity between eight and twelve fluid ounces, such as ten fluid ounces. Each intermediate module  104  has a fluid capacity between five and ten fluid ounces, such as seven ounces. 
         [0028]    The invention may be thought of as a drinking vessel, such as the modular drinking vessel  100 , in the absence of intermediate module(s)  104  and if desired, in the absence of cap module  106 . The drinking vessel may comprise floor  108 , lateral wall  110 , slide track(s)  168 , and handle(s)  166 . 
         [0029]    It should be understood that the various examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein may include any of the components, features, and functionalities of any of the other examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein in any feasible combination, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Many modifications of examples set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. 
         [0030]    Therefore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the specific examples presented and that modifications and other examples are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and the associated drawings describe examples of the present disclosure in the context of certain illustrative combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims.