Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an improved liquid beverage container. More particularly, it is a dual-chambered liquid beverage container (hereinafter, dual-chamber drink container) that employs a novel means of fastening and removing a liquid-tight seal over the mouth of both chambers, while maintaining the orientation of each chamber&#39;s respective lid opening. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Beverage containers with two separate and distinct compartments are unusual, but not unheard of in the marketplace. All known multi-chambered beverage containers are designed to contain two or more separate liquids, each in a separate compartment which comprises some portion of an overall container. The compartments are typically divided by a vertical partition that extends from the bottom of the container to the “mouth” of each compartment in order to keep the liquids in each compartment from comingling. This compartmental method of separating different liquids within the same container is not the subject of this disclosure, as it could be satisfactorily achieved by using one of several multi-chambered beverage container bodies already known in the public domain. 
         [0003]    Most multi-chambered beverage containers employ a means for sealing off the “mouth” of each compartment to prevent spillage, by means of either a separate cap or lid that fits over each “mouth”, or a “single cap” which seals all “mouths” simultaneously. In single cap embodiments the lid either snaps into place over the mouths of each compartment via a friction fit, or is screwed into place similar to a traditional beverage container cap. The problem with both of these methods is that they either fail to create a reliably liquid-tight seal between each compartment, or may have problems with orienting the openings for each compartment in the proper position. In prior art devices the user may be unable to create a reliable liquid-tight seal to prevent spillage, or the mouth openings may be inadvertently oriented over the partitions between the compartments. 
         [0004]    There is a need, then, for a dual-chamber drink container that includes features that allow an easy to use cap that can reliably seal each compartment in a liquid-tight fashion, while ensuring that the openings for each compartment are positioned properly when the cap is sealed and tightened. 
       SUMMARY OF TH E INVENTION 
       [0005]    The dual-chamber drink container of the present invention includes a dual-chambered container with a vertical partition separating each chamber, a lid with two openings which fits over both chambers in a manner which orients each opening over each chamber in a specific and immobile position, and a gasket to complete the liquid-tight seal between each chamber and the lid. The engagement of the lid with the container is enabled by a threaded locking ring which interfaces with both the lid and the body of the container to secure the lid, gasket and container in a liquid-tight configuration. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from a review of the Detailed Description in conjunction with the following Drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dual-chamber drink container constructed in accordance with the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the dual-chamber drink container showing the container and the locking ring in a use configuration. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the dual-chamber drink container in the use configuration. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the dual-chamber drink container showing the chamber partition, gasket member, lid member, and locking ring in a disassembled configuration. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a partially broken-away bottom view of the lid member and gasket member in an assembled configuration, enlarged for clarity. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the dual-chamber drink container taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3  showing the chamber partition, gasket member, lid member, and locking ring in the assembled configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-6 , where like numerals indicate like and corresponding elements, a dual-chamber drink container  1  includes a container  3 . Container  3  is generally cylindrical in shape, with two or more compartments  5 ,  7  ( FIG. 4 ) divided by a vertical partition  9 . Vertical partition  9  is irremovably coupled to the container and substantially the same height as the container, such that a circular upper container perimeter  11  is spanned by and in the same plane as a linear upper partition edge  13 . A threaded neck  15  is located on the outside of the container  3  proximate to the upper container perimeter  11 . 
         [0014]    A lid member  17  includes a downwardly-facing socket  19 , an upwardly-facing partition indicator  21 , a gasket member  23 , and two or more access openings  25 ,  27 . Lid member  17  is positioned vertically over the upper container perimeter  11  of the container  3 , and is generally circular with a diameter slightly larger than that of the container  3 . The first opening  25  and second opening  27  are positioned over the first and second compartments  5 ,  7 , respectively, of the container  3 . 
         [0015]    Socket  19  includes a center section  29  which engages the upper partition edge  13 , as best shown in  FIG. 6 , only when the lid member  17  is properly registered with container  3 . Partition indicator  31  is parallel to and vertically located above center section  29  when lid member  17  is properly registered. 
         [0016]    Gasket member  23  is shaped as a centrally-bisected circle, as best shown in  FIG. 4 , to closely interfit with socket  19  and center section  29  on an upper side and with upper container perimeter  11  and upper partition edge  13  on a lower side. The “sandwich” formed between the socket  19 , gasket member  23 , perimeter  11  and partition edge  13  enables a liquid-tight seal between the lid member  5  and container  3 . Close interfitting between socket  19 , perimeter  11  and partition  13 , in combination with high clamping forces imparted by a locking ring  33 , may enable gasket member  23  to be optional, with adequate sealing between the socket, container perimeter and partition edge enabled without it. 
         [0017]    The threaded locking ring  33  is adapted to removably secure lid member  17  to threaded neck  15  when partition indicator  21  is aligned with upper partition edge  13 , indicating that center section  29  has properly engaged upper partition edge  13 . In operation, when assembling the dual-chamber drink container  1  the user places the gasket member  23  and lid member  17  over the upper container perimeter  11  and upper partition edge  13 . In the current embodiment the lid member  17  includes a socket  19  to help facilitate a liquid-tight seal between the lid member  17 , upper partition edge  13  and upper container perimeter  11 . The threaded locking ring  31  is then placed over the lid  17  and threaded neck  15  and removably screwed into place in a use configuration as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  6 . The first opening  25  and second opening  27  are positioned over the first and second compartments  5 ,  7 , respectively. In the current embodiment each opening may facilitate an additional feature to aid in beverage consumption, such as a straw  35  as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , or alternatively a valve, spigot or cap for sealing each opening  25 ,  27 . The partition indicator  21  on an upper surface  37  of the lid member  17  aids the user in aligning the lid and gasket assembly in the proper position over the vertical partition  9 . In this embodiment the partition indicator  21  is a depression which bisects the upper surface  37  of the lid member  17 . 
         [0018]    Though it is intended to fully describe the invention as set forth here, it is reasonable to assume that one skilled in the art could adjust, modify, subtract or adapt certain aspects of this dual-chamber drink container  1  device without departing from its original scope. The implementation of individual or combined improvements disclosed here as part of another dual-chamber drink container device is possible. For example, adding additional compartments to the dual-chamber drink container  1  device would be well within the bounds of what has been revealed herein. Other possible configurations of the dual-chamber drink container  1  may include a vertical partition  9  containing an insulating material to lessen thermal conductivity between compartments, or a container  1  with more than two segregated chambers  5 ,  7 . The number of openings in the lid  17  and the configuration of the vertical partition  9  would need to be modified to accommodate additional compartments, as well as the shape of the gasket  3  to ensure a liquid-tight seal in the use configuration. 
         [0019]    Various known configurations could be used to partition two or more liquids within a single container, or other features could be added to the lid openings such as spigots, valves or extruded caps. Again, these mechanisms are not the subject matter of this disclosure. The gist of this improved dual-chamber drink container is that in addition to an easy to use liquid-tight lid, the configuration is such that the openings for each chamber will be consistently positioned in a fixed configuration that ensures accessibility to each compartment while maintaining a liquid-tight seal. 
         [0020]    The recommended materials will likely be, but are not limited to rigid plastic and synthetic rubbers. 
         [0021]    While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0022]    Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Technology Category: 7