CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[1] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/926,901 filed 28 October 2019 and titled “Container, and Related Systems and Methods”. This application also incorporates by this reference the entirety of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/926,901. This application also claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/093,573 filed 19 October 2020 and titled “Lid, and Related Systems and Methods”. This application also incorporates by this reference the entirety of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/093,573.

BACKGROUND

[2] Containers like the ones identified by the Thermos ® trademark (Federally Registered in the U.S. to Thermos LLC) are often used to hold a hot or cold beverage, such as coffee, tea, or water. When placed in the Thermos, one can carry a beverage while traveling and/or have the beverage available to consume while at a location that otherwise would not have such a beverage available to consume, such as at work, out in the field, or at camp out in the woods. Often at such locations, a cup is not available for one to pour some of the contents out of the Thermos so that one can consume some of the contents held in the Thermos.

[3] To overcome this, many Thermoses include a cup that is often attached over the mouth or opening of the Thermos. Unfortunately, though, in many situations where one uses a Thermos to hold a beverage for later consumption, one is not alone. Often, one has one’s wife, husband, or significant other to share the beverage with. In such situations, one must remember to bring a second cup, or share the single cup with the other. [4] Thus, there is a need for a container that includes both a first cup and a second cup that are each releasably couplable with the body of the container.

SUMMARY

[5] In one aspect of the invention, a container for holding a liquid includes a body, a first cup, and a second cup. The body has a cavity that is operable to hold a liquid, and the cavity has a mouth through which liquid flows when the liquid flows into the cavity and out of the cavity. The first cup is releasably couplable with the body and has a cavity operable to hold the liquid when the liquid is poured from the body into the first cup. The second cup is also releasably couplable with the body and has a cavity operable to hold the liquid when the liquid is poured from the body into the second cup.

[6] With both the first cup and the second cup releasably couplable to the container’s body, one can easily be sure to have two cups, not just one, available for future consumption of the contents held inside the body’s cavity. This is nice if one intends to share the contents with another person, such as a wife, a husband, a significant other, a friend, or a recent acquaintance. The second cup could also be used to provide one’s pet contents from the body’s cavity and/or water or other food from some other source, such as a stream. In addition, the second cup provides a back-up cup in case the first cup is lost and/or damaged during use.

[7] In another aspect of the invention, a method for holding a liquid includes: a) pouring a liquid through a mouth of a cavity of a body of a container, and into the cavity, wherein the container includes a first end where the mouth is located and a second end distal the first end; b) coupling a first cup of the container to the body of the container such that the first cup covers the cavity’s mouth; and c) coupling a second cup of the container to the body of the container such that the second cup covers the second end of the container’s body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[8] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[9] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the container shown in FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the invention.

[10] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the container shown in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[11] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of one of the releasably couplable cups of the container shown in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[12] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a portion of the container shown in FIG. 1 with a releasably couplable cup omitted, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[13] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container 10, according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the container 10, according to an embodiment of the invention. The container 10 includes a body 12, a first cup 14, and a second cup 16. The body 12 has a cavity (shown and discussed in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 3) that can hold a liquid (here coffee). Liquid may also include other hot beverages, such as tea, and may also include cold beverages, such as water, juice or beer. Liquid may also include other types of food such as a stew and soup.

The first cup 14 is releasably couplable with the body 12 and has a cavity (shown and discussed in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 4) that can hold the liquid from the body 12 when the liquid is poured into the first cup 14. The second cup 16 is also releasably couplable with the body 12 and has a cavity operable to hold the liquid when the liquid is poured from the body into the second cup. [14] With both the first cup 14 and the second cup 16 releasably couplable to the container’s body 12, one can be sure to have two cups, not just one, available for future consumption of the contents held inside the body’s cavity 12. This is nice if one intends to share the contents with another person, such as a wife, a husband, a significant other, a friend, or a recent acquaintance. The second cup 16 may also be used to provide one’s pet some of the contents held in the body’s cavity and/or water or other food from some other source, such as a stream. In addition, the second cup 16 provides a back-up cup in case the first cup 14 is lost and/or damaged during use.

[15] The container 10 also includes a valve 18 to control the flow of liquid into and out of the container’s body 12. The valve 18 may be configured as desired and made of any desired material. For example, in this and other embodiments, the valve 18 is identical in structure and function to the valve disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/093,573 filed 19 October 2020 and titled “Lid, and Related Systems and Methods”. As previously stated, this provisional patent application is incorporated into this patent application by reference. More specifically, the valve 18 includes external threads 20 that engage internal threads 22 of the body’s mouth 24 to releasably couple the valve 18 with the body 12, and includes two states - open and closed. When closed the valve 18 prevents liquid from flowing through valve 18, out around the disk 26. When open the valve 18 allows liquid to flow through the valve 18, out around the disk 26. To open and close the valve 18, the valve 18 includes a mechanism that when the disk 26 is pushed toward the mouth 24 of the body 12 either opens the valve 18 if the valve 18 is closed, or closes the valve 18 if the valve 18 is open.

[16] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the valve 18 may include more than one open position to allow one to more easily control the rate at which the liquid held in the body’s cavity flows out of the cavity. For another example, the valve 18 may be a lid that is removed or separated from the container’s body 12 to open the body’s cavity and allow liquid to flow out of the cavity, and may be coupled with the body 12 to close the body’s cavity and prevent liquid from flowing out of the body’s cavity. [17] The container 10 may be configured as desired. For example, in this and other embodiments the container 10 is cylindrical in shape with the first cup 14 releasably coupled to one end 28 of the body 12 that includes the mouth 24, and the second cup 16 releasably coupled to other end 30 of the body 12 that is distal the end 28. Each of the cups 14 and 16 are releasably coupled to the body with a coupler 32 (as shown and discussed in greater detail in conjunction with FIGS. 3 - 5). The container 10 also includes a handle 34 that allows one to easily grasp and control the container 10 when carrying the container 10 and when pouring liquid out of the body 12.

[18] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the container 10 may be configured such that one of the cups 14 or 16 nests within the other cup 16 or 14, respectively, and is releasably couplable with one of the body’s ends 28 or 30. For another example, the container 10 may be configured to include three or four cups, with the first and second cups releasably attached to the body as previously discussed, and the third and/or the fourth cup nesting with a respective one of the first and second cups so that the first and/or second cup nests within the respective third and/or fourth cup.

For yet another example, the container 10 may not include a handle 34. In such embodiments one may simply grasp the body 12 of the container 10 to carry and/or hold the container 10.

[19] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the container 10 shown in FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the invention. In this view, the coupler 32 that releasably couples the first cup 14 to the container’s body 12, and the second cup 16 to the container’s body 12, is shown holding each of the cups 14 and 16 to the body 12.

[20] The coupler 32 may be configured as desired to accomplish this function. For example, in this and other embodiments the coupler 32 includes a boss 36 that extends from the inside surface of a respective one of the two cups 14 and 16 and into a respective cavity of each of the cups 14 and 16. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the boss 36 located inside the cup’s cavity. The coupler 32 also includes a ridge 38 that extends from the outside surface of a respective one of the two ends 28 and 30 and away from the cavity 40 of the body 12. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the ridge 38 located on the body 12. When the coupler 32 is engaged and holds the cup 14 or 16 to the body 12 (as shown in FIG. 3), the ridge 38 contacts the boss 36 and keeps the boss 36, and thus the cup 14 or 16, from sliding off the respective one of the ends 28 and 30, away from the handle 34. To engage the coupler 32, one can either slide the cup 14 or 16 along the end 28 or 30, toward the handle until the boss 36 contacts the ridge 38, and then forcibly continue to slide the cup 14 or 16 in the same direction until the boss 36 and ridge 38 deform enough to allow the boss 36 to slide over the ridge 38. In this final position, the coupler 32 is engaged and holds the cup 14 or 16 to the body 12. Alternatively, the coupler 32 may be engaged by sliding the cup 14 or 16 along the end 28 or 30, toward the handle until the boss 36 passes the ridge 38, and then rotating or clocking the cup 14 or 16 about the body 12 to slide the boss 36 along the ridge 38 to a position in which the ridge 38 contacts the boss 36 and prevents the boss 36, and thus the cup 14 or 16, from sliding along the end 28 or 30 away from the handle 34. In this final position, the coupler 32 is engaged and holds the cup 14 or 16 to the body 12.

[21] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the coupler 32 may not include a boss 36 and ridge 38, but rather an external thread located on the body 12, and an internal thread located on the inside surface of one or both of the two cups 14 and 16.

To releasably couple one or both of the cups 14 and 16 to the body 12, the external thread and internal thread are configured to correspond with and receive each other.

To couple a cup 14 or 16 with the body 12, one positions the cup over the body 12 such that the beginning of the cup’s internal thread is adjacent the beginning of the body’s external thread. Then, one rotates, for example clockwise, the cup 14 or 16 relative to the body 12 to cause the internal and external threads to receive and engage each other. When a substantial portion of each of the threads are engaged with the other thread, the cup 14 or 16 is sufficiently coupled with the body 12. Then, to release the cup 14 or 16 from the body 12 one rotates the cup 14 or 16 relative to the body 12 in the opposite direction, for example counter-clockwise.

[22] Still referring to FIG. 3, the body 12 may be configured as desired. For example, in this and other embodiments, the body 12 may be cylindrical in shape and made of stainless steel. More specifically, the body 12 includes an outer wall 42 and an inner wall 44 that defines a cavity 40, which is also cylindrical. The inner wall 44 is joined with the outer wall 42, suspended within a respective region that is defined by the outer wall 42, and sealed to the outer wall 42 such that the region between the inner and outer walls 44 and 42, respectively, is isolated from both the cavity 40 and the environment outside the body 12. In this manner, liquid and/or food held in the cavity 40 will remain hot or cold for a long time. To improve the insulating capabilities of the body 12, a vacuum may be generated in the region between the inner and outer walls 44 and 42, respectively, of the body 12.

[23] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the body 12 may include more than two portions that are combined together to form the whole body 12. For another example, the body 12 may have any other desired geometric shape, such as a rectangular cube, as well as and desired length and width. Also, the body 12 may not include a double-walled construction, but rather a single wall construction in which the single wall defines the cavity 40 inside the body 12 and has the ridge 38 extend from its outer surface. For another example, the body 12 may also include a material other than stainless steel, such as recyclable plastic.

[24] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of one of the releasably couplable cups 14 and 16 of the container 10 shown in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[25] Each of the cups 14 and 16 may be configured as desired. For example, in this and other embodiments, each of the cups 14 and 16 is made of stainless steel and includes an outer wall and an inner wall that defines a cavity 46. Like the body 12, the cup’s inner wall is joined with the cup’s outer wall, and sealed to the outer wall such that the region between the inner and outer walls is isolated from both the cavity 46 and the environment outside the cup 14 or 16. In this manner, liquid and/or food held in the cavity 46 will remain hot or cold for a longer period than such a cup without an inner wall and an outer wall, and one can more easily handle the cup 14 and 16 without suffering from heat radiating from liquid and/or food held in the cavity 46 of the cup 14 or 16. Additionally, when the cup 14 or 16 is coupled with the body 12, the cup 14 or 16 helps insulate the cavity 40 of the body 12 to keep liquid and/or food held in the body 12 hot or cold for a longer period. To improve the insulating capabilities of each of the cups 14 and 16 a vacuum may be generated in the region between the inner and outer walls of each of the cups 14 and 16.

[26] Still referring to FIG. 4, the boss 36 of each of the cups 14 and 16 may be configured as desired and located in the cavity 46 as desired. For example, in this and other embodiments the coupler 32 includes three bosses 36, each configured identical to the other and located about 120 degrees apart from each other. More specifically, each of the bosses 36 is conical in shape and includes material that does not substantially deform plastically. In this manner, the boss 36 is less likely to deform when it contacts the ridge 38 in the engaged position. This in turn makes the cup 14 and 16 more securely coupled with the body 12, and less likely to suffer substantial wear from repeated, prolonged engagement with the ridge 38 while the coupler 32 is engaged.

[27] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the coupler 32 may include fewer than 3 or more than 3 bosses 36. For another example, one or more of the bosses 36 may be a shoulder to provide more contact area that the ridge 38 contacts when the coupler 32 is engaged. For another example, one or more of the bosses 36 may not extend into the cavity 46 of the cup 14 or 16, but rather may be a groove that extends into the wall of the cup 14 and 16 and that is configured to receive all or a portion of the ridge 38 that extends away from the body 12.

[28] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a portion of the container 10 shown in FIG. 1 with a releasably couplable cup 16 omitted, according to an embodiment of the invention. More specifically, the portion of the container 10 is the end 30 of the container’s body 12, showing the coupler’s ridge 38. Although the discussion below references the ridge 38 and the end 30 of the container’s body 12, the discussion also applies to the ridge 38 and the other end 28 of the container’s body 12.

[29] The ridge 38 may be configured as desired and located on the end 30 as desired. For example, in this and other embodiments the coupler 32 includes three ridges 38, each configured identical to the other and located about 120 degrees apart from each other. More specifically, each of the ridges 38 extends across the surface of the end 30 in a circumferential direction, and away from the cavity 40 of the body 12. More specifically, the ridge 38 includes a depression or detent 48 halfway along the length of its circumferential extension that is configured to correspond with the size of a respective one of the bosses 36 in the second cup 16, such that when the coupler 32 is in the engaged position and holds the second cup 16 to the end 30 of the body 12, the boss 36 lies in the depression or detent 48. When the depression or detent 48 holds the boss 36, the boss 36, and thus the second cup 16, is more securely held to the end 30. In addition, the ridge 38 includes material that does not substantially deform plastically. In this manner, the ridge 38 is less likely to deform when it contacts the boss 36 in the engaged position. This in turn makes the cup 14 and 16 more securely coupled with the body 12, and less likely to suffer substantial wear from repeated, prolonged engagement with the ridge 36 while the coupler 32 is engaged.

[30] Other embodiments are possible. For example, the container may be configured such that one of the cups nests within the other cup and is releasably attached to one of the body’s ends. For another example, the container may be configured to include three or four cups, with the first and second cups releasably attached to the body as previously discussed, and the third and/or the fourth cup nesting with a respective one of the first and second cups so that the first and/or second cup nests within the respective third and/or fourth cup.

[31] The preceding discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications to the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.