Beverage container

• US 6,072,161 A
• Filed: 08/05/1997
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Todd Anthony Stein
• Original Assignee: Todd Anthony Stein
• Inventors: Stein, Todd Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): PELHAM, JOSEPH MOORE
• Application Number:
  US08/906,276
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 219/385, 219/386, 219/432, 219/435, 219/441, 219/521, 219/387, 222/146.5, 222/146.2, 224/926, 206/485.1, 206/487, 215/314, 439/135-137, 439/140, 429/96, 429/100
• US Class Current: 219/432
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2288 with means for keeping liquid cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2472 of the cordless type, i.e. whereby the cup can be plugged into an electrically-powered base element

Abstract

A beverage container is disclosed for keeping liquid evenly heated. The beverage container includes a cup, a heating element, and a removable battery power source. The cup has an inner sidewall surface, an outer sidewall surface, an inner bottom surface, and an outer bottom surface. The inner sidewall surface and inner bottom surface are shaped to hold liquid. The heating element is completely enclosed between the inner sidewall surface and the outer sidewall surface. The heating element heats the inner sidewall surface which then heats the liquid. An insulating layer is included between the heating element and the outer sidewall surface to keep the outer sidewall surface cool while the inner sidewall surface is heated. The battery power source is capable of being temporarily secured to the outer bottom surface of the cup and is utilized to keep the heating element energized to a predetermined level while the battery power source is secured to the cup. When the battery power source is removed, the cup is capable of being submerged in water without damaging the cup. When the battery power source is attached, the beverage container is portable.

Claims

1. A heated beverage container, comprising:

a cup having an inner sidewall surface, an outer sidewall surface, an inner bottom surface, an outer bottom surface, and a handle, wherein said inner sidewall surface and said inner bottom surface are shaped to hold liquid;

a heating element completely enclosed between said inner sidewall surface and said outer sidewall surface for heating said inner sidewall surface to evenly heat said liquid, wherein said heating element is secured within said cup so that said cup is watertight,

a top of a removable battery power source capable of being temporarily secured to said outer bottom surface for keeping said heating element energized while said battery power source is secured to said outer bottom surface, wherein said beverage container is portable when said power source is secured to said cup, and wherein said cup is capable of being submerged in water when said power source is removed without damaging said heated beverage container; and

a removable battery charger capable of being temporarily secured to said battery power source a bottom of said removable battery power source capable of being removably, electrically coupled to a top of said removable battery charger such that the cup, battery power source, and battery charger rest upright when secured together.

2. The container according to claim 1 wherein said battery power source further comprises:

a battery coupled to a first pair of electrical contacts;

a battery enclosure for holding said battery including a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, a bottom, and a stationary top, said first contacts being secured to a top of said stationary surface;

a moveable plate slidingly received by said stationary top utilizing a spring for urging said plate upward and away from said stationary top when said battery power source and said cup are unattached so that said first contacts are covered by said plate.

3. The container according to claim 2 further comprising said spring being compressed when said cup is temporarily secured to said battery power source, said plate being urged downward toward said stationary top by said cup and said first contacts thereby being exposed through a pair of holes in said plate when said plate is urged downward.

4. The container according to claim 3 further comprising:

a flange secured to said inner surface of said battery enclosure of said battery power source, said flange extending from said sidewall into an interior of said battery enclosure; and

a groove in said outer sidewall surface of said cup for temporarily receiving said flange when said cup is temporarily secured to said power source.

5. The container according to claim 4 further comprising:

electrical leads secured to said heating element;

a second pair of electrical contacts secured to said outer bottom surface and connected to said electrical leads; and

said second contacts coupled to said first contacts when said first contacts are exposed through said pair of holes in said plate, wherein said battery is electrically coupled to said heating element when said cup is temporarily secured to said battery power source.

6. The container according to claim 5 wherein said battery power source further comprises said battery being coupled to a third pair of electrical contacts secured to an outer surface of said bottom of said battery enclosure.

7. The container according to claim 6 wherein said battery charger further comprises:

a charging circuit enclosed within a base, said base having a top, and a sidewall having an inner sidewall surface and an outer sidewall surface;

a fourth pair of electrical contacts secured to said top of said base;

a moveable plate slidingly received by said top utilizing a spring for urging said plate upward and away from said top when said battery power source and said battery charger are unattached so that said fourth contacts are covered by said plate.

8. The container according to claim 7 further comprising said spring being compressed when said battery charger is temporarily secured to said battery power source, said plate being urged downward toward said top by said battery power source and said third contacts thereby being exposed through a pair of holes in said plate.

9. The container according to claim 8 further comprising:

a flange secured to said inner surface of said sidewall of said base, said flange extending from said sidewall into an interior of said base; and

a groove in said outer sidewall surface of said base for temporarily receiving said flange when said battery power source is temporarily secured to said battery charger.

10. The container according to claim 1 wherein said battery power source further comprises:

a battery coupled to a first pair of electrical contacts;

a battery enclosure for holding said battery including a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, a bottom, and a stationary top, said first contacts being secured to a top surface of said stationary top;

a moveable plate slidingly received by said stationary top utilizing a spring for urging said plate upward and away from said stationary top when said battery power source and said cup are unattached so that said first contacts are covered by said plate.

11. The container according to claim 10 further comprising said spring being compressed when said cup is temporarily secured to said battery power source, said plate being urged downward toward said stationary top by said cup and said first contacts thereby being exposed through a pair of holes in said plate, when said plate is urged downward.

12. The container according to claim 11 further comprising:

a flange secured to said inner surface of said battery enclosure of said battery power source, said flange extending from said sidewall into an interior of said battery enclosure; and

a groove in said outer sidewall surface of said cup for temporarily receiving said flange when said cup is temporarily secured to said battery source.

13. The container according to claim 12 further comprising:

electrical leads secured to said heating element;

a second pair of electrical contacts secured to said outer bottom surface and connected to said electrical leads; and

said second contacts coupled to said first contacts when said first contacts are exposed through said pair of holes in said plate, wherein said battery is electrically coupled to said heating element when said cup is temporarily secured to said battery power source.

14. A heated beverage container, comprising:

a cup having an inner sidewall surface, an outer sidewall surface, an inner bottom surface, an outer bottom surface, wherein said inner sidewall surface and said inner bottom surface are shaped to hold liquid;

a heating element completely enclosed between said inner sidewall surface and said outer sidewall surface for heating said inner sidewall surface to evenly heat said liquid, wherein said heating element is secured within said cup so that said cup is watertight;

a removable battery power source capable of being temporarily secured to said outer bottom surface for keeping said heating element energized while said battery power source is secured to said outer bottom surface, wherein said beverage container is portable when said power source is secured to said cup, and wherein said cup is capable of being submerged in water when said power source is removed without damaging said heated beverage container;

a removable battery charger capable of being temporarily secured to said battery power source;

said battery power source further comprising;

a battery coupled to a first pair of electrical contacts;

a battery enclosure for holding said battery including a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, a bottom, and a stationary top, said first contacts being secured to a top of said stationary surface;

a moveable plate slidingly received by said stationary top utilizing a spring for urging said plate upward and away from said stationary top when said battery power source and said cup are unattached so that said first contacts are covered by said plate;

said spring being compressed when said cup is temporarily secured to said battery power source, said plate being urged downward toward said stationary top by said cup and said first contacts thereby being exposed through a pair of holes in said plate when said plate is urged downward;

a flange secured to said inner surface of said battery enclosure of said battery power source, said flange extending from said sidewall into an interior of said battery enclosure;

a groove in said outer sidewall surface of said cup for temporarily receiving said flange when said cup is temporarily secured to said power source;

electrical leads secured to said heating element;

a second pair of electrical contacts secured to said outer bottom surface and connected to said electrical leads;

said second contacts coupled to said first contacts when said first contacts are exposed through said pair of holes in said plate, wherein said battery is electrically coupled to said heating element when said cup is temporarily secured to said battery power source;

said battery power source further comprises said battery being coupled to a third pair of electrical contacts secured to an outer surface of said bottom of said battery enclosure;

said battery charger further comprising;

a charging circuit enclosed within a base, said base having a top, and a sidewall having an inner sidewall surface and an outer sidewall surface;

a fourth pair of electrical contacts secured to said top of said base;

a moveable plate slidingly received by said top utilizing a spring for urging said plate upward and away from said top when said battery power source and said battery charger are unattached so that said fourth contacts are covered by said plate.

15. The container according to claim 14 further comprising said spring being compressed when said battery charger is temporarily secured to said battery power source, said plate being urged downward toward said top by said battery power source and said third contacts thereby being exposed through a pair of holes in said plate.

16. The container according to claim 15 further comprising:

a flange secured to said inner surface of said sidewall of said base, said flange extending from said sidewall into an interior of said base; and

a groove in said outer sidewall surface of said base for temporarily receiving said flange when said battery power source is temporarily secured to said battery charger.