Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BEVERAGE GLASS AND BEVERAGE GLASS ASSEMBLY
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a beverage glass and beverage glass
assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Beverages are commonly sold to consumers in containers such as glass or
plastic
1 0 bottles, aluminum or steel cans, cardboard or plastic cartons; or
devices that include bladders
containing the beverage. The beverage contained therein can be transferred to
a suitable
drinking glass composed of a suitable material including but not limited to
glass, plastic, or
the like for consumption.
[0003] In certain situations, users prefer drinking beverages from individual
serving
containers such as cans, juice bottles and the like. However, many consumers
prefer drinking
certain types of beverages from glasses having wide mouths to enhance the
aroma and,
therefore, the flavor of the beverage.
[0004] It would be desirable to provide individual servings of various
beverages in sealed
wide-mouth containers to enhance the aroma and taste of the beverage during
consumption.
It is also desirable to provide individual serving containers that can be
positioned together
into multi-serving container packages for sale or distribution.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention is directed to a beverage container such as a
wine glass that can
be sealed with a seal or lid that can be removed prior to consumption. The
present invention
also relates to assemblies of multiple beverage containers in a direct
connected, attached
configuration.
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[0005a] According to one aspect of the present invention, an object is to
provide an assembly
comprising:
a first beverage container comprising:
a first vessel body, the first vessel body comprising:
a first base having a first perimeter;
a first side wall connected to the first base; and
a first rim defined on the first side wall distal to the first base,
the first side wall comprising a side wall median and a central section having
a maximum
circumference greater than a circumference of the first base, the maximum
circumference
located at a position on the first side wall between the side wall median and
the first base;
and
a first lid having a first seal region, the first seal region removably
attached to the first rim;
a first material that adheres to the first seal region and the first rim so
that the first seal region is removably attached to the first rim; and
a second beverage container comprising:
a second vessel body, the second vessel body comprising:
a second base having a second perimeter;
a second side wall connected to the second base; and
2 0 a second rim defined on the second side wall distal
to the
second base, wherein the second rim is releasably attached to the first base
of the first
beverage container such that a second lid of the second beverage container is
interposed
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between the rim of the second beverage container and the base
of the first beverage container; and
the second lid having a second seal region, the second seal region
removably attached to the second rim; and
a second material that adheres to the second seal region and the second
rim so that the second seal region is removably attached to the second rim.
[0005b] Other aspects, objects, embodiments, variants and/or resulting
advantages of the
present invention, all being preferred and/or optional, are briefly summarized
hereinbelow.
[0006] For example, one aspect of the present invention regards a beverage
container
assembly including a first beverage container having a first vessel body that
has a first base
having a first perimeter and a first side wall connected to the first base,
wherein the first side
wall includes a connecting member. The first beverage container including a
first rim defined
1 5 on
the first side wall distal to the first base. The assembly further including a
second
beverage container that includes a second vessel body that has a second base
having a second
perimeter and a second side wall connected to the second base. The second side
wall includes
an engagement member that engages with the connecting member so that the first
beverage
container is attached to the second beverage container.
[0006a] A second aspect of the present invention regards an assembly that
includes a first
beverage container that has a first vessel body that has a first base having a
first perimeter, a
first side wall connected to the first base; and a first rim defined on the
first side wall distal to
the first base. The first beverage container includes a first lid having a
first seal region, the
2 5
first seal region removably attached to the first rim. The assembly further
includes a second
beverage container that has a second vessel body having a second base having a
second
perimeter, a second side wall connected to the second base and a second rim
defined on the
2a
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second side wall distal to the second base. The second beverage container is
releasably
engaged by the first base of the first beverage container such that the lid of
said second
container is interposed between the rim of the second container and the base
of the first
container. The second beverage container further includes a second lid having
a second seal
region, the second seal region removably attached to the second rim.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The various features, advantages and other uses of the present
apparatus will become
more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing
in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the beverage
container as disclosed
herein;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the beverage container of
FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top view of the beverage container of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a detail view of an embodiment of a rim elevation of the
beverage container
of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the 5-5 line of FIG.
3;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a detail view of an embodiment the rim portion of the
beverage container of
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the beverage container of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a detail view of the bottom region of the beverage
container of FIG. 1
[0016] FIG. 9 is detail view of the lip region of the beverage container
of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 10 schematically shows a second embodiment of a beverage
container that
engages another beverage container in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 11 schematically shows a third embodiment of a beverage
container that engages
another beverage container in accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 12 schematically shows a perspective view of a fourth
embodiment of a beverage
container that engages another beverage container in accordance with the
present invention;
[0020] FIG. 12a schematically shows a front, partial cross-sectional view
of the beverage
container engaging a second beverage container of FIG. 12;
[0021] FIG. 12b schematically shows a top cross-sectional view of the
beverage container
engaging a second beverage container of FIG. 12;
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[0022] FIG. 13 is a perspective view an embodiment of a beverage container
assembly as
disclosed herein and in accordance with the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 14 is a front view of the beverage container assembly of FIG.
13;
[0024] FIG. 15 is a detail view of the junction between two of the
beverage containers in the
beverage container assembly of FIG. 13;
[0025] FIG. 16 is a perspective view an embodiment of a beverage container
assembly
system, wherein the beverage container assembly of FIG. 13 includes a
removable cover in accordance
with the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 17 is a front view of the beverage container assembly system
of FIG. 16;
[0027] FIG. 18 is a top view of the beverage container assembly system of
FIG. 16;
[0028] FIG. 19 is a top view of the beverage container assembly system of
FIG. 16;
[0029] FIG. 20 is a side view of a beverage container as disclosed herein
as an assembly with
an embodiment of a removable beverage container accessory;
[0030] FIG. 21 is a detail view of the assembly of Fig 20;
[0031] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the containers of FIGS. 10-15
altered to have
connecting members and engagement members;
[0032] FIG. 23 is a top view of a first possible configuration of four
beverage containers of
FIGS. 1-15 using the connecting and engagement members of FIG. 22; and
[0033] FIG. 24 is a top view of a second possible configuration of four
beverage containers
of FIGS. 1-15 using the connecting and engagement members of FIG. 22.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] As shown in the exemplary drawing figures, and refen-ing
particularly for FIG.1, a
beverage container 10 includes a beverage vessel body 12 and a removable lid
14 sealingly affixed to
the beverage vessel body 12. The beverage vessel body 12 can be constructed of
any suitable material.
In various embodiments, the beverage vessel body 12 can be made of a suitable
moldable polymeric
material. Where desired or required, the material can be transparent. In
specific embodiments, the
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material employed can be any material that is suitable for use with food
stuffs. The material can be
one that is dimensionally stable, but can provide minor deformation in
specific applications. In
applications where the beverage container 10 contains wine, the beverage
vessel body 12 can be
composed of a suitable transparent polymeric material. The lid 14 can be made
of any suitable
material including, but not limited to, foil, plastic and the like. The
material employed in the lid 14
can be made of a material that is the same or different from the material of
the vessel body 12. In
some applications, it is contemplated that the material employed in the lid 14
will be more deformable
than that employed in the vessel body 12 and will be able to conform to
suitable dimensional contours
by crimping or the like.
[0035] The beverage vessel body 12 includes a base 16 that has a
circumference CB as
measured at the outer perimeter of a surface contacting region that has of a
first defined value (see
FIG. 7). The beverage vessel body 12 also has a side wall 20 that terminates
at a rim 22. The side
wall 20 and base 16 define an interior chamber of a specified volume. As such,
the side wall 20 will
have a suitable height H. The side wall 20 also has a side wall median M as
shown in FIG. 2.
[0036] In the embodiments depicted in the drawing figures, the side wall
20 has a curvilinear
outer contour that creates at least one outwardly protecting bulbous region 24
that extends beyond the
perimeter created by the base 16. The side wall 20 has an inwardly tapering
region 26 immediately
above bulbous region 24 as shown in FIG. 2. Tapering region 26 terminates at
rim 22, the geometry of
which will be described in greater detail subsequently. In the embodiment
depicted, the side wall 20
has bulbous region 24 located below the side wall height median M. Bulbous
region 24 has a
circumference Cw greater than the circumference CB of base 16 as shown in FIG.
7. The side wall 20
curves upward from base 16 to the circumference maxima at Cw. The side wall 20
then enters a gentle
inward curve that proceeds contiguously into tapering region 26. Circumference
maxima at Cw can be
any percentage greater than that of the circumference CB of base 16. In
certain embodiments, it is
contemplated that the circumference maxima Cw can be between 10 and 50%
greater than the
circumference CB of base 16.
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[0037] The side wall 20 has an inwardly tapering region 26 between the
bulbous region 24
and the rim 22. In the embodiment depicted, the rim 22 has a circumference
maxima CR equal to or
less than the circumference CB of the base 16. In the embodiment depicted in
the drawing figures, the
outer circumference or circumference maxima CR of the rim 22 will be between 0
and 15% less than
the circumference CR of base 16. In certain embodiments, the maximum
circumference Cw of side
wall 20 will be between 5% and 50% greater than the circumference CB of base
16.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, side wall 20 can have a suitable inner face 28
opposed to a
curvilinear outer face 30. In certain various embodiments, the inner and outer
faces will be parallel.
In the case of parallel inner and outer faces, the internal chamber defined in
vessel body 12 will have
greater volume in the regions below the median M.
[0039] The internal volume of the vessel body 12 contained in the internal
chamber generally
will be suitable to contain a suitable beverage serving. The vessel body 12
will be proportioned in a
manner that provides the suitable volume. In certain embodiments, it is
contemplated that the base 16
will have a cross-sectional diameter between 2 and 4 inches. The outer
diameter of rim 22 will be
sufficient to permit releasable engagement between rim 22 of one container 10
and base 16 of a second
container. The inner diameter of the rim 22 will be sufficient to permit the
beverage to be consumed
from the vessel body 12. The maximum diameter of side wall 20 in the bulbous
region 24 can be
between 1/4 inch and 1 inch greater than the diameter of base 16. The total
height of the beverage
container will be one that approximates the height of a 6 oz. beverage glass
in certain applications.
[0040] Rim 22 is contiguously joined to the upper region of side wall 20.
As depicted in
FIGS. 5-6, rim 22 includes a body 32 with a lip 34 projecting axially outward
therefrom to a defined
distance. In the embodiment depicted in the drawing figures, the lip 34
extends to provide an outer
surface that can be received in a suitable orifice defined in the base 16 of a
corresponding beverage
vessel. In certain embodiments, the outer diameter of rim 22 is essentially
equal to an inner diameter
defined by base 16. The rim 22 also has an upwardly oriented surface that can
include at least one
upwardly oriented surface or bead 36 projecting therefrom.
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[0041] Rim 22 is configured to be placed in mating contact with the lid 14
in a manner that
facilitates establishment of a removed seal. Lid 14 can contact rim 22 in any
suitable manner. In
certain embodiments, the lid 14 is configured with a suitable edge region that
is affixed to the rim 22
to maintain the beverage inside that vessel body 12. The lid 14 can be
attached to the rim 22 in any
suitable manner including, but not limited to, crimping adhesives and the
like. Where an adhesive
material is employed, the suitable adhesive material will be one that is
suitable for use with food stuffs.
The adhesive material can be present as a layer, bead, or other structure that
is interposed between the
rim 22 and the interior facing side of lid 14. Where desired or required, the
interposed adhesive can be
positioned such that it contacts all or a portion of the upper surface of rim
22, such as bead 36.
[0042] The lid 14 can have any suitable configuration to sealingly engage
the rim 14 and
span the opening defined in the vessel body 12. In various embodiments, the
lid 14 can be a thin
planar member that can conform to and cover the defined opening. For example,
the lid 14 can be
made of a foil-like material that has a tab that extends beyond the bead so
that a user can grasp the tab
and remove the lid 14. When in sealing engagement, the lid 14 can deflect
inward into the opening
defined in the vessel body 12. The lid 14 can have a suitable peripheral
region proximate to its outer
edge that can be configured to conform to at least a portion of the rim 22.
[0043] The desired beverage can be sealed in the vessel body 12 by lid 14.
The volume of
beverage will be such that the height of the beverage comes to a suitable fill
line F. When the vessel
body is composed of a suitable transparent polymeric material, the beverage
will be visible through the
vessel body 12. Note that besides liquids, the vessel body 12 can contain
other types of objects, such
as solid foods.
[0044] The rim 22 can have any configuration that will facilitate sealing
engagement between
the lid 14 and the vessel body 12. In one configuration, the rim 22 can
include a generally vertical
neck portion with a bead present at an end thereof. In another embodiment
shown in FIGS. 5-6, the
rim 22 can be configured with a plurality of steps 40, 42 positioned on
interiorly and exteriorly
oriented surfaces relative to bead 36. It is contemplated that adhesives or
other sealing material can be
interposed between the interiorly oriented steps 40, 42 and lid 14. As used
herein the term "adhere" is
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taken to include connection facilitated by direct rim-to-lid adhesion as well
as interposition of a
suitable adhesive layer between the rim 22 and the lid 14. Where a line of
adhesive is used, it is
contemplated that the adhesive line can be deployed so as to contact the bead
36 of rim 22 and, if
desired, the adhesive can be disposed such that the adhesive contacts multiple
planar surfaces defined
in the inwardly oriented surface of the rim 22.
[0045] It is also within the purview of this disclosure to configure lid
14 to conform to one or
more of the geometric ridges and/or shelves defined in the upper surface of
the rim 22. Conformance
can be accomplished during manufacture of lid 14 or during attachment of lid
14 to associated rim 22.
Conformance fitting may be augmented by adhesives where desired or required.
[0046] In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4-6, the rim 22 has at least one
shoulder 38
radially interior of the bead 36. The shoulder 38 is has a maximum height or
peak below bead 36.
Shelf 40 is located radially interior to shoulder 38 and is positioned
contiguous thereto. Shelf 40
terminates in a downwardly projecting upper portion of inner wall 28.
[0047] Where desired or required, the rim 22 can have suitable outer
geometric details. In
the embodiment depicted in Fig 4-6, the rim 22 has a shoulder 42 radially
outward of bead 36 and
positioned below the bead 36. A shelf 44 is positioned radially outward of and
below the shoulder 42
and is contiguously joined to it. The contours of the various shelves 40, 44
and shoulders 38, 42 will
be sufficient to permit contact with lid 14, but will be small enough to
permit an enjoyable drinking
experience.
[0048] While an adhesive attachment between the lid 14 and the associated
rim 22 has been
previously described, other types of attachment are possible. For example, an
outer edge of the lid 14
could be crimped like a beer bottle cap so as to engage an exterior side of
the rim 22. Another
possibility is to slightly melt the top layer of the rim 22 and/or the bottom
of the lid 14 prior to placing
the lid 14 thereon so that a seal is formed between the lid 14 and rim 22. ]
[0049] The outer edge 46 of shelf 44 defines a downwardly extending wall
region 48 that
terminates in an inwardly curved lower region 50. In the embodiment depicted
in FIGS. 5-6, the
inwardly curved lower region 50 terminates in a cylindrical band portion 52
that is interposed between
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the rim 22 and the uppermost portion of side wall 20. Side wall 20 and
cylindrical band portion 52 can
be contiguous to one another or can have a suitable intermediate region 54
interposed between them.
In the embodiment depicted in the various drawing figures, an inwardly tapered
is interposed between
the intermediate region 54 inwardly curved lower region 50 and the cylindrical
band portion 52.
[0050] The vessel body 12 can also include a transitional region 55
interposed between band
portion 52 and the upper region of side wall 20.
[0051] The base 16 of vessel body 12 can be configured to releasably
engage with rim 22 of
a similarly configured beverage vessel 10. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS.
8-9, the base 16
includes at least one arm member 56 having an outwardly oriented side 58
contiguously connected to
the lower region of the side wall 20 at a location on vessel body 12 opposed
to the rim 22. The arm
member 56 defines an inwardly oriented detent 60 generally opposed to
outwardly oriented side 58
that terminates in bottom wall (shown in phantom in FIGS. 8 and 9). The size,
number and positioning
of arm member(s) 56 is sufficient to releasably engage the rim 22 of a
corresponding beverage
container 10. As depicted in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the device has one arm member
56 that extends
continuously around the circumference of the base 16 and defines a surface
contacting region 64.
[0052] The detent 60 can have any suitable internal wall configuration
sufficient to receive
and maintain at least a portion of rim 22 of an associated beverage device 10
in engaged relationship.
In the embodiment depicted, the internal wall of detent 60 has a concave
configuration that can
releasably engage the corresponding rim 22. In the embodiment depicted, the
inner wall of detent 60
contacts the shoulder 50 associated with rim 22.
[0053] The arm member 56 can be either of solid or hollow construction
depending on the
specific application. In the embodiment depicted in the drawing figures, arm
member 56 is a
continuous solid circular body contiguously positioned relative to side wall
20 and bottom surface 62.
Without being bound to any theory, it is believed that the solid continuous
arm member 56 provides
stability to the associated vessel body 12. It is further believed that solid
continuous arm member 56,
when employed with solid rim 22 as further associated with curve linear side
wall 20 provides a
structurally robust beverage container 10.
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[0054] The bottom surface 62 (shown in phantom in FIGS. 2, 8 and 9) can
have any suitable
geometric configuration. In the embodiment set forth in the drawing figures,
the bottom surface 62 has
an inwardly curved geometry having a lowest region proximate to arm member 56
and a maximum
inwardly oriented point proximate to the radial center of the device 10. The
arc defined by curved
bottom surface 62 is between 1 degree and 30 degrees from planar.
[0055] Engagement between rim 22 and the arm member 56 generally occurs at
a junction
point located at a lower portion of detent 60 and rounded shoulder region 50
of the respective
elements.
[0056] Note that other connections between a base 16 of one beverage
container 10 and a rim
22' of another beverage container 10' are possible. For example, an interior
side surface of the base 16
of one beverage container 10 of FIGS. 1-9 can be altered to have a threaded
pattern 80 that is
threadedly engaged by a threaded pattern 82 formed on an exterior surface of
the rim 22' of another
beverage container 10' as shown in FIG. 10. Thus, the beverage containers 10
and 10' are screwed
onto one another. Of course, the attachment scheme can be reversed where the
threaded pattern 80 is
formed on an exterior surface of the base 16 and the threaded pattern 82 is
formed on an interior
surface of the rim 22', the base 16 dimensioned so that the threaded patterns
can engage one another.
So, in summary, the bases and rims of each of the beverage containers 10, 10'
of FIGS. 1-9 can be
altered to include the threaded engagement disclosed above.
[0057] Another possible attachment scenario is shown in FIG. 11. In
particular, the base 16
of FIGS. 1-9 is altered so an interior surface 84 of a lower portion of the
side wall 20 defines a vertical
surface. A bottom surface 62 is formed above the bottom edge 86 of the
interior surface. As shown in
FIG. 11, a channel 88 is formed in the interior surface 84, wherein one end 90
of the channel 88 is
formed at the bottom edge 86 so that access to the channel 88 at the bottom
edge 86 is possible. The
channel 88 rises at an angle from the bottom edge 86 and then levels off at
another end 92. Before
leveling off, the channel 88 includes a protrusion 94. The channel 88 and
protrusion 94 are
dimensioned and structured so that when a nub 96 formed on the rim 22 of
another container moves
along the channel 88, the nub 96 is trapped in end 92 after the nub 96 passes
the protrusion 94.
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[0058] With the above structure in mind, attachment of the rim 22 of one
container to the
base 16 of another container is accomplished by inserting the rim 22 of one
container within the
interior surface 84 of another container. Next, the two containers are rotated
relative to one another in
a first direction until a nub 96 on the rim 22 of one container is inserted
into the channel 88 f the other
container and passes the protrusion 94. The containers are effectively locked
to one another until
relative rotation between the two containers is performed in a direction
opposite to the first direction.
If sufficient torque is applied, the nub 96 will pass the protrusion 94 and be
fed to the bottom edge of
the container where the rim 22 can be released.
[0059] Another possible attachment scenario is shown in FIGS. 12a-b. In
particular, the base
16 of FIGS. 1-9 is altered so that lower portion at the bottom edge extends
approximately 180 so as to
be C-shaped. So, in practice, the lid 22' of one container is slid into the
detent 60 until the rim 22'
reaches the rear portion 98 of the base 16. The rim 22' and the base 16 are
locked to one another by
using a channel and nub system similar to that described with respect to FIG.
11. The structure of the
channel formed in the interior of the side wall where the detent 60 is present
is basically the same as
that described with respect to the channel 88 of FIG. 11. One difference is
that unlike protrusion 94 of
FIG. 11, the protrusion is formed in the side of the channel 88 and not the
bottom as shown in FIG. 11.
With the above described channel described, locking between the rim 22' and
the base 16 is
accomplished by sliding the rim 22' into the detent 60 and then twisting the
rim 22' and base 16
relative to one another until a nub formed in the rim 22' slides into the
channel and rises up the
channel until it moves over the protrusion into an end portion of the channel
where the rim 22' and
base 16 are locked. Twisting in the opposite direction with sufficient torque
will release the nub from
the channel in the manner similar to that described previously with respect to
FIG. 11.
[0060] The present disclosure contemplates an assembly of beverage
containers such
as those previously described the assembly including at least two beverage
containers each
having a vessel body 12 and a lid 14. An example of such an assembly when the
beverage
containers of FIGS. 1-9 are used is shown in FIGS. 13-15. Each beverage
container 10 has a
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serving of a given beverage located in a sealed chamber defined in the vessel
body 12. The
serving size can be a predetermined amount. In applications were the beverage
container 10
is configured to contain wine, the serving size can be between 2 oz. and 6 oz.
by way of
example. In the assembly 200, as depicted in FIGS. 14 and 15, the base 16 of
at least one first
beverage container 10 releasably engages the rim 22' of a second beverage
container 10' such
that a lid 14' of the second beverage container 10' is interposed between the
respective rim
22' and base 16. In addition, note that the beverage container at the top of
the stack may
include a plastic cap to cover the lid.
[0061] The assembly 200 can be composed of any number of beverage
containers 10,
10'. Certain assemblies can be composed of even multiples of beverage
containers with
assemblies of two and four being typical in certain applications. The assembly
200 of FIGS.
13-15 can further include an outer covering member. Non-limiting examples of
outer
covering include boxes and shrink wrap and the like.
[0062] An example of a possible outer covering is shown in FIGS. 16-19.
The outer
covering 300 is made of a flexible, plastic material, such as PET, that has an
opening at both
ends thereof The assembly 200 of FIGS. 13-15 is inserted bottom end first
through the
opening so that the covering 300 and assembly 200 define a covered assembly of
beverage
containers 302. In the case of using PET for covering 300, the covering 300
and assembly
combination are placed in a steam tunnel or the like, which results in the
covering shrinking
and taking on the shape of the assembly of beverage containers As shown in
FIGS. 16-17, the
material takes on the exterior shape of the assembly 200 along the sides. At
the top, an
annular ring may be formed around the outer edge of the plastic cap attached
to the lid 14 and
rim 22. At the bottom, an annular portion 306 is centered about the center of
the base 16.
Note that the covering 300 may contain various features. For example, the
covering 300 may
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include an opening 308 so that an observer can determine the contents within
the covering
300. The covering 300 may include an opening device 310 that includes an area
that extends
along the length of the assembly 302 and the area is so weakened that when a
user pulls on a
tab area 308 at the top and along the length of the opening device the area
breaks apart to
reveal the beverage containers therein. As shown in FIGS. 16-17, the area
includes two
parallel lines of holes, wherein each hole 312 is approximately 1 mm in
diameter and there are
about 7 holes per every centimeter along the length of the area. The lines of
holes are
separated from one another by approximately 8 mm. When the tab area 308 is
pulled
downward, the material along one of the lines of holes and between the holes
of that line is
broken apart. The same process occurs with the other line of holes so that a
slit ¨like opening
is formed between the lines of holes.
[0063] The beverage containers 10, 10' etc. can be dimensioned to
approximate the
height and maximum width dimensions of a standard wine bottle. Thus an
assembly 200 of
four beverage containers 10, 10', 10", 10'" positioned in stacked end-to-end
relationship will
have the approximate height of a standard wine bottle. The assembly can
contain four
servings of the same or different wines. Each container can be accessed by
removing the
respective lid. The contents can be consumed from the opened beverage
container which can
be used as a drinking glass.
[0064] While the present disclosure has presented engagement between two
beverage
containers 10, it is also considered within the purview of the present
disclosure to provide releasable
engagement between a beverage container 10 and a suitable accessory. One non-
limiting example of a
suitable accessory to be engaged by the beverage container 10 of FIGS. 1-9 is
wine glass support 100
depicted in FIGS. 20 and 21. Wine glass support 100 includes a suitable head
110, base 112 and stem
114 interposed between head 110 and base 112. Head 110 is configured to
releasably engage a
suitably configured base 16 of beverage container 10. In the embodiment
depicted, head 110 of wine
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CA 02836563 2015-06-02
glass support 100 includes a suitable rim 122 configured to matingly contact
arm member(s)
56. In the embodiment illustrated, rim 122 is matingly received in the orifice
defined by
continuous circular arm member 56 in the manner described previously. Other
accessories
are contemplated, including but not limited to Pilsner stems as well as plate
members and the
like.
[0065] When the beverage container 10 is employed with an accessory such as
wine glass
support 100, the support 100 can be attached when desired. Typically the
support 100 will be
attached to base 16 of beverage container 10 prior to removal of lid 14.
[0066] As previously described with respect to the beverage containers 10 and
system 200 of
FIGS. 1-15, attachment between the lids/rims of one container with the base of
another
container are possible. Further attachments are possible. As shown in FIG. 22,
it is
contemplated that the container 10 of FIGS. 1-15 are adapted to include one or
more
connecting members 402 on the side wall 20. Such connecting members 402 are
adapted to
engage with engagement members 404 of another container 10'. For example, it
is
contemplated that connecting member 402 would be a male member of a snap and
attachment member 404 would be a corresponding female member of the snap. Of
course
other engagement structures for members 402 and 404 are possible.
[0067] Note that the above described side engagement allows for a variety of
packaging
configurations, one of which is shown in FIG. 23. Another pattern would be to
connect each
container 10 side-to-side along a line using members 402 and 404 as shown in
FIG. 24. If one
of the unattached sides had a sufficient shape, such as a flat surface, the
entire line of
attached containers could be rotated so that the previously mentioned
unattached side was
placed on a surface so that the line of containers extended vertically from
that surface so as to
define a stack similar to those shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.
2 5 [0068] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments set forth
in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent
with the
description as a whole.
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