Beverage container

• US 4,190,173 A
• Filed: 08/04/1978
• Issued: 02/26/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flambeau (Shaw Acquisitions Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Flambeau Products Corp.
• Inventors: Furrer, Frederick J., Mason, LeRoy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Application Number:
  US05/930,919
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 222/397, 222/548, 222/513, 222/512, 222/516, 222/555, 222/557, 215/315, 220/90.2, 220/90.4, 220/298, 220/203, 220/303, 220/254
• US Class Current: 220/203.05
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 41/0027 the stopper incorporating a dispensing device, i.e. the fluid being dispensed through the stopper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/265 between planar parts B65D47/24 takes precedence

Abstract

A thermally insulating beverage container includes a dispensing assembly releasably secured to a beverage receptacle. The dispensing assembly includes one dispensing member rotatably mounted atop another dispensing member such that rotation thereof to a position in which two openings are in registry permits dispensing of the beverage from the beverage container.

Claims

1. An improved beverage container comprising, in combination:

a beverage receptacle having an open top and a rim about said open top; and

a dispensing assembly including,

a first dispensing member having a generally planar portion with a first opening defined therein and a first sleeve portion with a passageway defined therein interrupted by a radially, inwardly extending ledge,

a second dispensing member having a generally planar portion defining a second opening and a second sleeve portion defining a second passageway;

said first dispensing member and said rim cooperatively defining means for releasably securing said dispensing assembly atop said receptacle so that said dispensing assembly is sealed thereto against beverage leakage and so that said beverage may be placed in said beverage receptacle through said open top;

said first dispensing member and said second dispensing member cooperatively defining means for (1) rotatably pivotly mounting said second dispensing member atop said first dispensing member, said second dispensing member thereby rotatably pivotable to and from a pivotal position wherein said second opening is in registry with said first opening so that the beverage may be dispensed from said beverage receptacle through the openings, and (2) automatically venting said receptacle through the first and second openings when the pressure within said receptacle exceeds a pre-selected maximum pressure when said first and second openings are not in registry,

said mounting and venting means including,

a post member slidably mounted within said first passageway of said first sleeve portion and having an end;

spring means mounted on said post member compressible between said end and said ledge; and

a fastener member fastened to said post member through said second passageway of said second sleeve portion for compressing said spring means to a pre-selected biasing force,

whereby said second dispensing member is maintained in relation to said first dispensing member whenever said pre-selected biasing force is not less than the force of said pressure and is moved to permit said venting through said first opening whenever the force of said pressure acting on said second dispensing member exceeds said preselected biasing force.

2. The improved beverage container of claim 1 wherein said dispensing asembly includes an end cap sealed to said first sleeve portion to seal said spring means from said beverage.

3. The improved beverage container of claim 1 wherein said spring means includes a helical spring.

4. The improved beverage container of claim 1 wherein said first dispensing member includes an annular recess about said first opening and said dispensing assembly further includes an O-ring in said annular recess, said O-ring sealing said first dispensing member and said second dispensing member against leakage of beverage therebetween.

5. The improved beverage container of claim 1 wherein said first sleeve portion is centrally located in said generally planar portion of said first dispensing member, downwardly recessed therefrom and generally cylindrical.

6. The improved beverage container of claim 1 wherein said second sleeve portion is centrally located in said generally planar portion of said second dispensing member, downwardly extending therefrom and generally cylindrical.