Flask

• US 8,777,040 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacific Market International LLC (The HAVI Group LP)
• Original Assignee: Pacific Market International LLC (The HAVI Group LP)
• Inventors: Wahl, Andrew C. F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKER, NED ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US13/565,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20140034644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 215/235, 215/237, 215/243, 215/273, 215/274, 215/306, 220/254.1, 220/254.3, 220/254.6, 220/254.8, 220/254.9, 220/256.1, 220/259.1, 2202593-2595, 220/715, D75/10, D24/224
• US Class Current: 220/254.6
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2266 Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/16 hinged for upward or downward movement cigar or cigarette receptacles A24F15/00; suitcases, ètuis A45C; casings for cosmetic substances with hinged covers A45D40/22; toolboxes B25H3/02; hinges of door or similar type E05D ; boxes for switchboards with hinged covers H02B1/066

Abstract

A beverage container or flask that includes a lower body portion and a selectively openable upper body portion. The upper body portion is configured to include a fastener that allows a user to selectively lock the panel in place by pivoting the upper body portion relative to the remainder of the flask. When the openable upper body portion is locked in place on the remainder of the flask, the upper body portion provides a leak proof seal such that a liquid may be contained in the flask without escaping. When the openable upper body portion is opened, access to an interior volume or compartment of the flask is provided, which facilitates simplified and more effective cleaning of the flask.

Claims

1. A beverage container, comprising:

a lower body portion comprising;

one or more panels that form a lower body portion interior volume configured for receiving a liquid within the lower body portion interior volume, including a first side panel having a first hinge located at an upper end portion of the first side panel, and a second side panel having an outwardly projecting latch member; and

an upward facing perimeter portion defining a lower body portion opening configured for allowing access to the lower body portion interior volume; and

an upper body portion hingedly coupled to the lower body portion at the first hinge, the upper body portion comprising;

a top wall comprising;

first end portion;

a second end portion opposite the first end portion; and

a second hinge disposed at the second end portion;

a downward facing perimeter portion extending downwardly from the top wall and defining an upper body portion opening, the top wall and downward facing perimeter portion of the upper body portion forming an upper body portion interior volume, the upper body portion being selectively pivotable between;

a closed position wherein the downward facing perimeter portion of the upper body portion is adjacent to the upward facing perimeter portion of the lower body portion and covers the lower body portion opening, and

an open position wherein the downward facing perimeter portion of the upper body portion is spaced apart from the upward facing perimeter portion of the lower body portion to provide access to the upper body portion interior volume and the lower body portion interior volume;

a neck extending upwardly from the top wall and defining a drinking opening having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the lower body portion opening;

a cap removably covering the drinking opening;

a locking portion hingedly coupled to the second hinge, the locking portion configured to engage the latch member of the lower body portion to selectively secure the upper body portion in the closed position; and

a cap attachment strap comprising;

a first end portion coupled to the cap; and

a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the second end portion pivotally coupled to the second hinge.

2. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the locking portion comprises an inwardly projecting latch member, the outwardly projecting latch member of the second side panel of the lower body portion and the inwardly projecting latch member enabling a snap fit connection.

3. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the downward facing perimeter portion of the upper body portion comprises a downward facing seal engagement portion coupled to a seal, wherein the seal is disposed between the downward facing perimeter portion of the upper body portion and the upward facing perimeter portion of the lower body portion when the upper body portion is in the closed position.

4. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a groove, and the first end portion of the cap attachment strap comprises a loop portion configured to loosely fit within the groove of the cap to permit the cap to be rotated by a user.

5. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a neck engagement portion and the neck comprises a cap engagement portion configured for selective coupling with the neck engagement portion of the cap.

6. The beverage container of claim 5, wherein the neck engagement portion of the cap comprises internal threads and the cap engagement portion of the neck comprises external threads.

7. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the one or more panels of the lower body portion further includes a front panel and a rear panel, the first side panel and the second side panel having a first width and the front panel and the rear panel having a second width, wherein the second width is substantially greater than the first width.

8. The beverage container of claim 1, further comprising an upper recess in the second side panel of the lower body portion having the latch member of the lower body portion located within the upper recess.

9. A beverage container assembly, comprising:

a body comprising;

a bottom panel;

an upper rim defining a top opening;

a front panel extending between the bottom panel and the upper rim;

a back panel opposite the front panel and extending between the bottom panel and the upper rim;

a left side panel extending between the bottom panel and the upper rim, the left side panel having a first closure hinge portion adjacent the upper rim; and

a right side panel extending between the bottom panel and the upper rim, the right side panel having a first latch member adjacent the upper rim; and

a pivotal closure comprising;

a top wall having a recess;

a drinking spout extending upwardly from the top wall;

a skirt extending downwardly from the top wall and configured to engage the upper rim of the body, the skirt comprising;

a first end portion having a second closure hinge portion coupled to the first closure hinge portion to form a primary hinge for pivoting the pivotal closure between a primary open position and a primary closed position; and

a second end portion having a multipurpose hinge portion;

a tethered cap comprising;

a closed top;

an exterior wall extending downwardly from the closed top;

a threaded interior stopper for coupling with the drinking spout; and

a pivotal strap having a first end portion coupled to the exterior wall and a second end portion having a tether hinge portion coupled to the multipurpose hinge portion of the skirt to form a secondary hinge for pivoting the tethered cap between a secondary open position and a secondary closed position; and

a locking tab comprising;

a first end portion having a second latch member configured for engagement with the first latch member of the body to secure the pivotal closure in the primary closed position; and

a second end portion having a locking tab hinge portion coupled to the multipurpose hinge portion of the skirt.

10. The beverage container assembly of claim 9, further comprising an annular seal disposed between the skirt of the pivotal closure and the upper rim of the body, the annular seal sealing the pivotal closure to the body when the pivotal closure is in the primary closed position.

11. The beverage container assembly of claim 9, the exterior wall of the tethered cap further comprising a groove and the pivotal strap further comprising a loop portion at the first end portion of the pivotal strap, the loop portion configured to loosely fit within the groove to permit rotation of the tethered cap.

12. The beverage container assembly of claim 9, wherein the drinking spout is proximal to the primary hinge and distal to the secondary hinge.

13. The beverage container assembly of claim 9, wherein the pivotal strap is seated in the recess of the top wall of the pivotal closure.

14. The beverage container assembly of claim 9, the drinking spout further comprising a threaded exterior wall configured to engage the threaded interior stopper of the tethered cap when the tethered cap is in the secondary closed position.

15. The beverage container assembly of claim 9, the right side panel of the body further comprising a recess adjacent the upper rim, wherein the first latch member projects outwardly from a top portion of the recess of the body.