Technical Field

This invention relates to the field of packaging for consumables, and particularly although not exclusively relates to a container assembly comprising a beverage vessel and a food vessel which are connected together, but are separable by an end user. Background

In the market for convenience food and drink there is a large variety of drinks and snacks available off the shelf. Supermarkets, cafes and convenience stores offer personal packs of snacks and drinks. These items are currently available separately and can be carried as individual units, for example a bottle of water and a snack tray containing breadsticks and a dip. Increasingly, deals are marketed to the consumer offering discounts for the joint purchase of drinks and snacks. When purchased separately, the consumer can carry these items by placing one in each hand or by purchasing a bag to place them in which has an environmental impact when the bag is discarded at a later date.

Statements of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a container assembly comprising:

a first vessel; and

a second vessel;

wherein a recess is provided in the first vessel, the recess being shaped to receive at least a portion of the second vessel. At least one of the first and second vessels may be a beverage vessel.

At least one of the first and second vessels may be a food vessel.

At least one of the first and second vessels may be sealable independently of the other vessel. The recess may be shaped to at least partially enclose the second vessel.

The first vessel may be a bottle and the second vessel may be shaped to match the exterior profile of the bottle, when the first and second vessels are joined together.

The second vessel may be removably attached to the first vessel.

The vessels may be fastened by an interference fit. The vessels may be connected together by at least one cooperating formation. For example the first vessel may be provided with at least one first formation comprising an opening, such as a blind bore or depression, and the second vessel may be provided with at least one second formation comprising a protrusion, such as a stud or pin. The protrusion may be shaped so that it is held more firmly in the blind bore or depression. For example, the protrusion may be barbed.

The container assembly may be of a size and/or shape that it can be held in one hand by the intended end user.

The recess may be configured to receive at least a portion of more than one vessel.

The first vessel may be made from the same material as the second vessel, or from a different material from the second vessel. The vessels may be made from more than one type of material. For example, the first vessel and/or the second vessel may comprise at least one of plastic, metal, such as aluminium, glass, rubber, clay, metal, paper and cardboard.

At least a portion of one of the first and second vessels may be a carton which may be made from a material such as paper or cardboard.

The container assembly may be configured to contain hot and/or cold beverages and/or snacks.

At least one of the first and second vessels may be configured to have ridges, depressions and/or a textured exterior surface. The exterior profile of at least one of the first and second vessels may be configured to enable the user to maintain sufficient grip on the container assembly. At least one of the first and second vessels may be subdivided into at least two compartments.

The container assembly may be disposable or reusable.

The first and second vessels may be provided in a variety of alternative embodiments which may be coupled by complimentary means such that the first and/or second vessels may be individually substituted or interchanged by different configurations of each vessel. Thereby enabling consumers to mix and match drinks and snacks.

To avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and repetition of text in the specification, certain features are described in relation to only one or several aspects or

embodiments of the invention. However, it is to be understood that, where it is technically possible, features described in relation to any aspect or embodiment of the invention may also be used with any other aspect or embodiment of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present disclosure, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container assembly with first and second vessels separated.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container assembly of Figure 1 , with first and second vessels coupled.

Detailed Description

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the container assembly 2 comprises a first vessel 4 and a second vessel 6. The second vessel 6 is configured to be received into a recess 8 in the side of the first vessel 4 and is held in position by friction, or by separate releasable fastening means. The first vessel 4 comprises a filling/dispensing opening (not shown), a lid 10 and a chamber 12 suitable for storing and transporting a beverage. As depicted, the second vessel 6 comprises two chambers 14, 16, each chamber 14, 16 having a respective opening. Chambers 14,16 are configured to contain a snack such as breadsticks or a dip. The contents of the second vessel 6 are covered by a single seal 18 which spans across the openings of the two chambers 14, 16. In alternative embodiments, each vessel 4, 6 may comprise a single chamber with partitions and each vessel 4, 6 may have at least one opening and at least one means of covering the or each opening. Openings may be closed by a covering such as a lid, cap or removable seal. The covering may, for example, be a friction fit over the opening or may crew on to a threaded neck surrounding the opening.

As depicted in Figure 2, the second vessel 6 may be inserted into recess 8. The second vessel 6 may be shaped to match the exterior profile of the first vessel 4 so, for example, if the first vessel 4 is round in cross section, the second vessel 6 will have a convex radially outer wall, which matches the curvature of the radially outer wall of the first vessel 4. Furthermore, if optionally the first vessel 4 has surface formations on its radially outer surface such as ridges and/or recesses, the second vessel 6 may have corresponding surface formations on its radially outer surface, thereby giving the container assembly 2 a uniform appearance and improving the aesthetic qualities of the container assembly 2. In the present embodiment, coupling the first and second vessels 4,6 together forms an assembly shaped substantially like a conventional bottle, thereby enabling the packaging and transportation of the container assembly 2 by existing means for conventional bottles.

In order to permit the insertion of the second vessel 6 into the recess 8, the dimensions of the recess 8 may be just slightly greater than the dimensions of the second vessel 6 such that when inserted into the recess 8, the second vessel 6 sits flush against the walls of the recess 8. In one possible arrangement, the second vessel 6 is an interference fit in the recess 8. The outwardly facing wall of the second vessel 6 may align with the outer wall of the first vessel 4 in the region surrounding the recess 8, thereby completing the exterior profile of the first vessel 4.

In the present embodiment, the first and second vessels 4, 6 may be coupled together by cooperating formations such as cantilever snap fittings. The coupling of protrusions and depressions of the cantilever snap fittings prevents the separation of the first and second vessels 4,6 during transportation and use, unless the user performs the necessary actions to separate the vessels 4,6. For example, the vessels 4, 6 may be pulled apart by the end user.

Depressions 20a, 22a, and 24a, 26a are arranged in recess 8 to restrict the rotation and translation of the inserted second vessel 6 within the recess 8. The recess 8 comprises opposing longitudinal walls which are aligned in planes perpendicular to the plane of the opening of the recess 8. Arranged on the longitudinal walls are two pairs of depressions 20a, 22a, and 24a, 26a. The depressions 20a and 24a are disposed at one end of the recess 8 and depressions 22a and 26a are arranged at the other end of the recess 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the depressions 20a, 22a, 24a, 26a are located equidistant from the outer rim of the recess 8 and are aligned parallel to the longitudinal walls of the recess 8. But any arrangement of depressions and

corresponding protrusions is contemplated.

Complimentary protrusions 20b, 22b, 24b, 26b are arranged on second vessel 6 such that when second vessel 6 is inserted into recess 8, the protrusions 20b, 22b, 24b, 26b align with, and fit into depressions 20a, 22a, 24a, 26a respectively, thereby coupling the first and second vessels 4,6 in a snap fit connection. The protrusions and depressions are aligned with respect to the container assembly 2 such that the protrusions are at least partially enclosed by the depressions when inserted. This helps to centralise the second vessel 6 within the recess 8 and improves the appearance of the container assembly 2.

In some embodiments, there may be an additional protrusion 28 arranged at or towards the rim or the base of the recess 8. The protrusion 28 provides an additional means of retaining the second vessel 6 in the recess 8 and may be deformable such that the second vessel 6 may be removed from the recess 8 upon bending the protrusion 28 away from the recess 8.

In alternative arrangements, the second vessel 6 may be retained within the recess 8 without the need for protrusion 28. In another embodiment, the protrusion 28 may be configured to retain the second vessel 6 in the recess 8 without the need for other fittings, or with a reduced number of other fittings. In one possible arrangement, the upper edge of the recess 8 in the first vessel 4 is formed with a lip or projecting ridge (not shown). An upper end of the second vessel 6 is then pushed under this lip as the second vessel is fitted into the first vessel. Then as the second vessel 6 seats firmly in the first vessel 4, the protrusion 28 engages over a lower edge of the second vessel and retains it firmly in position.

In another arrangement, the protrusion 28 may be located at an upper edge of the recess and the lip may be formed on the lower edge, or the protrusion 28 may be formed on one side of the recess and the lip may be formed on the other side.

The quantity, location and configuration of protrusions and depressions may differ in alternative embodiments. For example, the protrusions may be located on the recess 8 and the depressions may be located on the second vessel 6.

The second vessel 6 may alternatively be retained by other means. In other embodiments, the means of coupling the first and second vessels 4,6 may comprise at least one latch and/or may form an air tight seal. The coupling means may alternatively be in the form of a simple interference fit or may comprise a snap fitting such as a full perimeter snap in fitting, snap on fitting, prolonged snap in fitting or ball or cylinder snap in fitting. The second vessel 6 may be configured to slide into the recess 8 and to lock into the recess 8 once it is in a fully coupled position.

The vessels 4,6 may be coupled by hand, from the separated arrangement depicted in Figure 1 to the coupled arrangement depicted in Figure 2. The user may align the second vessel 6 with the complimentary recess 8. The user may subsequently apply pressure to the container assembly 2 in the direction of the recess 8, forcing the first vessel 4 and/or the second vessel 6 to deform such that the projections in the second vessel 6 can be inserted into the depressions in the recess 8.

The vessels 4,6 may be separable by hand, from the coupled arrangement depicted in Figure 2 to the separated arrangement depicted in Figure 1. In one embodiment, a free space or depression is provided at the rim of the recess 8 or between the first and second vessels 4,6. The space or depression may be sufficiently large such that a user may insert a fingertip and apply a force to the container assembly 2 to separate the vessels 4,6. In the current embodiment, at least one of the first and second vessels 4,6 is flexible such that at least one region of the container assembly 2 may be deformed to allow easy separation of the vessels 4,6.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example, with reference to one or more exemplary examples, it is not limited to the disclosed examples and that alternative examples could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.