Abstract:
A covered beverage container with an internal baffle which forces aroma laden vapor between the lid and the beverage in the container out openings in the lid when the container is tipped from the level position to the drinking position, thereby allowing the user to more fully enjoy the aroma of the beverage.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to covered beverage containers including single use paper and plastic cups and lids as well as reusable plastic, metal and/or ceramic covered beverage containers, and, more particularly, to a covered beverage container that directs beverage vapor in a predetermined direction. Such containers are typically used for coffee, tea and soft drinks. Such containers allow the aroma of the beverage to be enjoyed while drinking from a container while the cover or lid of the container remains on, thereby reducing the risk of spilling and, for hot beverages, retaining the heat of the beverage. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well known that the aroma of a beverage comprises a large part of the flavor of the beverage. While the taste buds sense only sweet, salt, sour and bitter, the nose can distinguish between approximately 10,000 distinct odors. 
     Typically, covered beverage containers sacrifice to a significant degree the aroma of the beverage when the beverage is drunk while the lid of the container remains in place. Other covered beverage containers allow for aroma laden air vapor to travel through drink openings or other small openings for venting air. 
     However, because the vast majority of the container must remain covered in order to achieve the benefits of a lid (such as reduced risk of spilling and retaining the heat of hot beverages), traditional lidded beverage containers have resulted in far less of the aroma laden air from the beverage reaching the nostrils of the drinker. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a vapor directing beverage container comprises a lidded beverage container with an internal baffle. The lid has a drink opening to allow beverage to pass through the lid while the lid remains attached to the container and at least one vent opening in addition to the drink opening to allow vapor within the container to pass through the lid. The baffle is sized and shaped so that when it is inserted into the container, the baffle seals against the container side walls and extends down into the container so that the bottom of the baffle is near to the bottom of the container. The space between the bottom of the baffle and the bottom of the container allows liquid in the container to flow freely from one side of the baffle to the other side of the baffle. The baffle sealably attaches to the lid of the container and is further positioned between the drink opening and the vent opening so as to divide the space within the container into two chambers. When the container is tipped to allow beverage to flow out the drink opening, vapor within one chamber is forced out openings in the lid while air from outside the container is simultaneously drawn into the container through openings on the other side of the baffle. The precise location and shape and number of the openings through which vapor is directed can vary depending upon the size and shape of the lid and container in order control the direction and speed of the vapor. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a covered beverage container is provided for pumping vapor from within the container to the vicinity of the user&#39;s nose when the container is tipped from the level position to the drinking position or from the drinking position back to the level position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the beverage container includes a lid through which beverage can be drunk with the lid still in place, thereby reducing the amount of spillage from the container and retaining the heat of a hot beverage while the container remains at rest. 
     An important feature of the present invention is a baffle that, when the container is tipped, allows the rising liquid level in one half of the container to force vapor out openings in the lid towards the user&#39;s nose. 
     An important advantage of the present invention is that it provides a new mechanism beyond volatilization by which the aroma of the beverage can be enjoyed by the user. 
     The foregoing and other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows the side view of a simple vapor directing beverage container with a vertical baffle formed in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows a schematic of the effect created by tipping a vapor directing beverage container. 
     FIG. 3 shows a disposable cup. 
     FIG. 4 shows a disposable baffle. 
     FIG. 5 shows a disposable lid. 
     FIG. 6 shows the baffle of FIG. 4 inserted into the cup of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 7 shows the lid of FIG. 5 attached to the cup/baffle assembly of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 shows a ceramic cup with handle. 
     FIG. 9 shows a vapor directing cup insert with a vertical baffle. 
     FIG. 10 shows a vapor directing cup insert with a vertical and horizontal baffle. 
     FIG. 11 shows the insert of FIG. 10 inserted into the cup of FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 12 shows a reusable beverage cup with grooves for a vertical baffle. 
     FIG. 13 shows a vertical baffle. 
     FIG. 14 shows a reusable lid. 
     FIG. 15 shows the baffle of FIG. 13 inserted into the cup of FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 16 shows the lid of FIG. 14 attached to the cup/baffle assembly of FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 17 shows a reusable beverage cup. 
     FIG. 18 shows a reusable lid and baffle chamber as separate pieces. 
     FIG. 19 shows the reusable lid and baffle chamber of FIG. 18 assembled together. 
     FIG. 20 shows the lid and baffle assembly of FIG. 19 attached to the cup of FIG.  17 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 exemplifies a simple representation of the invention. The vapor directing beverage container  30  includes a container  32  with a closure lid  34  sealed to the rim of the container  32 . A baffle  36  seals against the lid  34  and the side walls of the container  32 . A gap  38  between the bottom of the container  32  and the bottom edge of the baffle  36  allows liquid in the container  32  to flow freely from one side of the baffle  36  to the other side. The lid  34  has a drink opening  40  and vent openings  42 . 
     FIG. 2 shows a simplified two-dimensional schematic of the vapor directing beverage container  30 , which is shown in FIG. 1, where the container  46  with a lid  48  and a baffle  50  has been tipped to the drinking position so that the beverage may be drunk through the drink opening  60 . The liquid in container  46  is represented by the shaded areas  52  and  54 . In a level position the same volume of liquid in the container  46  would occupy the shaded areas  52  and  58 . As the container  46  is tipped from the level position to the drinking position, the air volume  56  decreases. The vapor in area  54  is forced out the drink opening  60  and vent opening  62 . When the container  46  is tipped back to the level position, the vapor in area  58  is forced out vent opening  64 . 
     FIG.  3 -FIG. 7 depict one of the alternative embodiments of the present invention. The container  66  is of any conventional configuration and construction including disposable cups of the type commonly used as carry out containers for beverages such as coffee and tea. Typically, the container  66  has downwardly converging side walls  68  and a bottom  70  so that the container  66  is an inverted frusto-conical shape. The container  66  may be fabricated from any number of materials including wax or resin impregnated paper, Styrofoam, plastic sheet or paperboard. The container typically has a bead formed on the rim  72  to facilitate attachment of a lid. 
     The baffle  74  depicted in FIG. 4 is sized and shaped to slidably fit into the container  66 , as depicted in FIG.  6 . The baffle  74  may be fabricated from any number of materials including wax or resin impregnated paper, Styrofoam, plastic sheet or paperboard. The baffle  74  is topped with a bead  76  so that when the baffle  74  is inserted into the container  66 , the rim  72  of the container  66  and the bead  76  of the baffle  74  form a continuous edge  108  to which the lid  80 , depicted in FIG. 5, can be sealably attached. When the baffle  74  is inserted into the container  66 , the baffle  74  frictionally seals against the side wall  68  of the container  66  so that neither air nor liquid will leak through the joint  110 . The baffle side  78  is shorter than the container side wall  68  so that a gap  112  is created between the bottom of the baffle  74  and the bottom of the container  66  when the baffle  74  is fully inserted into the container  66 . 
     FIG. 5 depicts a lid  80 , which covers the container  66 . The lid  80  includes a recessed rim  82 , which releasably attaches to the rim  72  of the container  66 . The lid  80  also includes a grove  84 , which engages the bead  76  of the baffle  74 . When the baffle  74  is inserted into the container  66 , as depicted in FIG. 6, and the lid  80  is attached to the baffle/container assembly  106 , as depicted in FIG. 7, an air and water tight seal ( 116  and  118 ) is created between the container  66  and lid  80  and the baffle  74  and lid  80 . 
     The lid  80  includes a tapering annular side wall  90  that extends upwardly from the recessed rim  82 , and a large top wall  98  having a generally circular periphery adjoining the side wall  90  and sloping down to the groove  84 . The top wall  98  has an opening  104  adjacent to the periphery of the top wall  98 , which allows vapor to pass through the lid  80 . The lid  80  also includes an annular side wall  86  that extends upward from the recessed rim  82 , and a groove side wall  88  that extends upward from the grove  84 . A small top wall  96  adjoins the groove side wall  88  and has vent openings  102  near the edge where the small top wall  96  joins the groove side wall  88 . A drink opening top wall  92  adjoins the side wall  86  and has a drink opening  100 . The tapering annular side wall  94  depends downward from the drink opening top wall  92  and adjoins the small top wall  96 . The side wall  86 , drink opening top wall  92 , and tapered annular side wall  94  are configured to allow the lips of the user to comfortably fit around the area of the drink opening  100 . 
     The lid is frusto-conical in shape (i.e., all angles are less than 90 degrees), which allows it to be constructed of a single piece of vacuum formed plastic and also allows multiple lids to be stacked for storage and shipment. 
     FIG.  8 -FIG. 11 depict other alternative embodiments of the present invention. The cup  120  can be any conventional configuration including the common ceramic mug with a handle which is often used for drinking coffee and tea. FIG. 9 depicts a cup insert  122 , which may be constructed from a single piece of injection molded plastic or from other relatively inexpensive materials such as ceramic, metal, wood, or paper. The cup insert  122  comprises a slopped circular top wall and a vertical baffle member  126  that adjoins the top wall  124  at or near the top wall  124  diameter and extends perpendicularly downward. The outer circular rim  138  and the edges  140  of the baffle  126  frictionally engage the inner side wall of the cup  40  when the cup insert  122  is inserted into the cup  40  to create the cup/insert assembly  136 , as depicted in FIG.  11 . The outer rim  138  of the top wall  124  and edges  140  of the baffle  126  include a gasket or flap which is preferably but not necessarily made out of the same material as the rest of the cup insert  122  but is thinner so as to be more flexible in order to assist in obtaining a air and water tight seal and to allow a single sized cup insert  122  to fit slightly different diameter cups. The slopping circular top wall  124  has a drink notch  130  at the lowest point when the cup insert  122  is inserted into the cup  120 . The top wall  124  also includes vent openings  132  on the same side of the baffle member  126  as the drink notch  130  that are near to where the baffle member  126  joins the top wall  124 . The top wall also includes a vent opening  134  that is on the opposite side of the baffle member  126  from the drink notch  130 . The precise size, shape, location and number of the vent openings  132  and  134  may vary depending upon the size and shape of the cup  120 . However, there must always be at least one vent opening  134 , which allows the air pressure within the cup  120  to equalize when the cup  120  is tipped to the drinking position and back to the level position. Vent openings should also be located so that the beverage will not spill out of the vent openings when the cup is tipped to the drinking position. The cup insert  122  also includes a tapered side wall  128  which extends upward from the top wall  124  from that portion of the top wall rim that is on the opposite side of the baffle  126  from the drink notch  130 . The rim  142  of the side wall  128  contains a bead or lip which prevents the cup insert  122  from being pushed too far into the cup  120 . As depicted in FIG. 11, the rim  142  allows the insert to easily be inserted into and removed from the cup  120  and insures that the cup insert  122  is properly positioned in the cup  120  when the insert  122  is pushed into the cup  120  until the rim  142  rests against the lip of the cup, as shown in FIG.  11 . 
     The cup insert embodiment  144  depicted in FIG. 10 is identical to the embodiment  122  depicted in FIG. 9 except that the vertical portion  146  of the baffle is shorter and the baffle has a horizontal portion  148  extending in a half circle from the bottom of the vertical portion  146 . The edge  150  of the horizontal portion  148  of the baffle frictionally engages the inner side wall of the cup  120  in the same manner as the edges of the vertical portion  146  of the baffle frictionally engage the side wall of the cup  120 . The horizontal portion  148  of the baffle has a notch  152 , which allows air and liquid to pass between the horizontal portion  148  of the baffle and the side wall of the cup  120 . 
     FIG.  12  through FIG. 16 depict another alternative embodiment of the present invention. The container  156 , depicted in FIG. 12, is a reusable beverage cup, typically constructed of plastic or aluminum. The container  156  has a neck  162  which has threading or similar features which allow the lid  172 , depicted in FIG. 14, to removably attach to the container  156 , as depicted in FIG.  16 . The container  156  includes grooves  166  on opposite sides of the side walls on the inside of the container  156  such that the baffle  168 , depicted in FIG. 13, may be inserted into the container  156 , to create a container/baffle assembly  186 , as depicted in FIG.  15 . The baffle  168  is sized and shaped so that, when the baffle  168  is inserted into the container  156 , an air and water tight seal  190  is created between the side edges  170  of the baffle  168  and the side walls of the cup  156 . However, a gap  190  remains between the bottom edge of the baffle  168  and the base of the cup  156  such that liquid may flow freely beneath the baffle  168 . The container  156  also includes a tube  160  attached to the inner side wall of the container  156 , tube  160  extending vertically down the side wall of the container  156 . The bottom of tube  160  opens near the base of the container  156  and the top of tube  160  opens at the rim of the container  156 . 
     FIG. 14 depicts a lid  170  that includes a circular top wall  172  and an annular side wall  174  that depends downward from the top wall  172  and also extends upward from the top wall  172  to create a drinking lip  176 . The top wall  172  contains a drink opening  178  near the periphery of the top wall  172 . The top wall  172  also includes vent openings  180  that are located near the periphery of the top wall  172  approximately 90 degrees from the drink opening  178  and adjacent to where the baffle  68  seals against the bottom of the top wall  172 , when the lid  170  is attached to the baffle/container assembly  186 . The vent openings  180  are on the same side of the baffle  168  as the drink opening  180 . The lid  172  also includes a vent opening  187  which is near the periphery of the top wall  172  approximately 180 degrees from the drink opening  178 . By locating the vent openings  180  and  182  as described above, beverage within the cup  156  will not spill out the vent openings when the cup  156  is tipped to the drinking position. A curved pipe  184  is attached to the vent opening  182  and extends horizontally on top of the top wall  172  toward the drinking opening  178 . This allows vapor being force out the vent opening  182  when the container is tipped from the drinking position back to the level position to be directed toward the users nose. The vent openings  180  may also be ducted (not shown) to direct vapor as desired. 
     When the lid  170  is attached to the baffle/container assembly  186 , as depicted in FIG. 16, the drink opening  178  aligns with the top of the tube  160  and the top wall  172  seals against the top of the tube  160  such that, when the vapor directing beverage container  192  contains liquid and is tipped to the drinking position, only the vapor within the tube  160  is forced out the drink opening  178 , thus allowing more vapor to be directed out the vent openings  180 . 
     FIG.  17  through FIG. 20 depict another alternative embodiment of the present invention. The container  198  depicted in FIG. 17 is the same as the container  156  depicted in FIG. 12, except that container  198  does not have grooves  166  and does not have a tube  160 . The lid  200  is the same as the lid  170  (ducting of the vent openings is not shown). However, in this alternative embodiment, the vertical baffle  168  is replaced with a baffle chamber  202 , as depicted in FIG.  18 . The baffle chamber  202  includes a curved side wall  204  and a rectangular side wall  206 , both side walls extending upward from a baffle base  208 . The baffle base  208  has an opening  210  which is directly beneath the drink opening  214  when the baffle chamber  202  is sealably attached  216  to the lid  200 , as depicted in FIG.  19 . FIG. 20 depicts the lid/baffle chamber assembly  212  removably attached to the container  198 . When the vapor directing beverage container  218  contains liquid and is tipped to the drinking position, vapor within the baffle chamber  202  is forced out the vent openings and drink opening as liquid flows into the baffle chamber  202  through the baffle base opening  208 .