CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This PCT application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of United States Patent Application Serial No. 14/974,304 filed on December 18, 2015, entitled HOUSING ASSEMBLY FOR A DRINKING TUMBLER AND TRIPARTITE DRINKING VESSEL RESULTING THEREFROM and also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of United States Patent Application Serial No. 62/096,029, filed on December 23, 2014 entitled HOUSING ASSEMBLY FOR A DRINKING TUMBLER AND TRIPARTITE DRINKING VESSEL RESULTING THEREFROM, the disclosures of which arejncorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR

DEVELOPMENT

"Not Applicable"

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL

SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK

"Not Applicable"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to containers and particularly to housing assemblies including a vessel and a lid for accommodating a drinking tumbler therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Insulated drinking vessels, such as tumblers, commonly include an outer member or vessel in which an inner member or vessel is located, with the space between those vessels forming an insulating region surrounding the inner vessel. Those vessels are typically molded of plastic materials. Tumblers available from Tervis Tumbler Company (hereinafter "Tervis"), the assignee of the present invention, have gained wide customer acceptance due to their functionality, durability and aesthetics. With respect to aesthetics, many tumblers available from Tervis include wraps, decals, embroidered patches and other decorative materials located in the insulating space between the inner and outer vessels and visible through the transparent outer vessel. While such tumblers are eminently suitable for their intended use a need exists for a housing assembly to provide additional insulation for the tumbler, to render the tumbler spill and leak proof, which also protecting the tumbler from physical damage caused by scratching, impact, exposure to the sun and/or chemicals. The subject invention addresses those needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of this invention a housing assembly for holding and enclosing a drinking tumbler is provided. The drinking tumbler comprises a hollow body having a longitudinal axis, an exterior surface, an inner surface and an open upper end. The housing assembly comprises a hollow exterior vessel and a lid for the exterior vessel. The exterior vessel comprises a side wall bounding a cavity having an inner surface. The side wall has an open upper end. The exterior vessel is configured to receive the drinking tumbler within the cavity with the exterior surface of the drinking tumbler located closely adjacent the interior surface of the exterior vessel and with the open upper end of the drinking tumbler located closely adjacent the open upper end of the exterior

vessel. The open upper end of the exterior vessel additionally comprises a first component of a releasable securable connector assembly, e.g., a bayonet connector assembly, a threaded connector assembly, a snap -connector assembly, etc. The lid comprises a second component of the releasably securable connector assembly. The lid is configured to be releasably secured to the exterior vessel by the engagement of the first component of the releasably securable connector assembly to the second component of the releasably securable connector assembly, whereupon a portion of the lid engages the drinking tumbler adjacent the open upper end of the drinking tumbler to seal the open the upper end of the drinking tumbler.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention the lid comprises at least one downwardly extending annular wall, e.g., two concentric annular walls. The at least one annular wall is configured to tightly engage the interior surface of the drinking tumbler to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

In accordance with one exemplary preferred embodiment of this invention the first component of the releasably securable connector assembly comprises a bayonet member and the second component of the releasably securable connector assembly comprises a complementary bayonet member. The bayonet members are configured to be releasably connected together. In accordance with another exemplary preferred embodiment of this invention the first component of the releasably securable connector assembly comprises a threaded member and the second component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a complementary threaded member. The threaded members are configured to be screwed together.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention the exterior surface of the drinking tumbler is a surface of revolution, and the inner surface of the cavity is a surface of revolution of a general complementary shape to the exterior surface of the drinking tumbler.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention a tripartite vessel assembly for holding a liquid is provided.

. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of one exemplary preferred embodiment of a housing assembly, including an exterior hollow vessel and a lid therefor constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the housing assembly shown in Fig. 1, shown with a conventional double walled drinking tumbler which is arranged to be held and enclosed in the housing assembly and with the lid and exterior vessel being configured for releasable securement together by a bayonet type connector assembly;

Fig. 3 is an exploded isometric view like that of Fig. 2, but partially in section to show the features of the housing assembly and the conventional doubled walled drinking tumbler;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the exterior hollow vessel shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the lid shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the lid shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7 - 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an exploded isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the housing assembly of this invention, which embodiment makes use of a threaded connector assembly for releasably securing the lid to the exterior vessel;

Fig. 9 is an isometric view of another exemplary preferred embodiment of a housing assembly constructed in accordance with this invention, that assembly including an exterior hollow vessel having a handle; and Fig. 10 is an isometric view of still another exemplary preferred embodiment of a housing assembly constructed in accordance with this invention, that assembly including an exterior hollow vessel having a hanger or loop tab.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown at 20 in Fig. 1 one exemplary embodiment of a housing assembly constructed in accordance with this invention for holding and enclosing a drinking vessel, e.g., a drinking tumbler 2. That assembly constitutes one aspect of this invention. Another aspect of this invention is the vessel assembly resulting from the combination of the housing assembly and the drinking tumbler.

The housing assembly basically comprises an exterior vessel 22 and a lid 24. The exterior vessel 22 is arranged to receive the drinking tumbler 2 within it and the lid 24 is arranged to be releasably secured to the exterior vessel.

As mentioned above the housing assembly is configured to provide additional insulation for the drinking tumbler, while also protecting it from physical damage caused by scratching, impact, exposure to the sun and/or chemicals, etc. Moreover, the housing assembly renders the drink tumbler spill and leak proof when disposed within it. In this regard, as will be seen from the discussion to follow, the configuration of the lid and the manner that it releasably secures to the exterior vessel and the manner that it seals the interior of the drinking tumbler prevents the egress of liquid from the interior of the enclosed drinking vessel. Such action could occur in the event of increased internal pressure resulting from a hot or carbonated beverage within the drinking tumbler.

Before describing the details of the housing assembly a brief description of the drinking tumbler 2 is in order. The tumbler 2 can be of any suitable construction, although it is preferred to be a double walled, insulated tumbler. One exemplary one is that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and is constructed similarly to those 16 oz. decorated tumblers currently available from Tervis. Thus, the exemplary drinking tumbler 2 basically comprises a plastic outer vessel 4, a plastic inner vessel 6, and an insulating air space 8 (Fig. 3) located therebetween. A decorative wrap (not shown) is located in the air space 8 to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the drinking tumbler. The outer vessel 4 of the drinking tumbler comprises a side wall 4A whose outer surface is a very slightly curved surface of revolution about the longitudinal central axis LCA of the vessel 4 and terminates in a planar top surface 4B (Fig. 3) defining an open upper end of the vessel. The side wall 4A of the vessel 4 terminates at a bottom wall 4D located opposite the open upper end of the vessel. The side wall 4A and the bottom wall 4D together define hollow cavity of the vessel 4. It is in this hollow cavity that the inner vessel 6 is located.

The inner vessel 6 comprises a side wall 6A whose outer surface is a very slightly curved surface of revolution about the longitudinal central axis LCA and terminates in an open end 6B having an outwardly extending peripheral flange 6C. The side wall 6A of the vessel 6 terminates at a bottom wall 6D located opposite the open upper end of the vessel 6. The side wall 6A and the bottom wall 6D together define hollow cavity 12. The undersurface of the flange 6C of the inner vessel 6 is disposed on top of the planar top surface 4B of the outer vessel 4 and those confronting surfaces are secured, e.g., ultrasonically welded, together thereat, thereby securing the two vessels 4 and 6 into an integral unit, with the annular air space 8 between the inner and outer vessels. The outer diameter of the flange 6c is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the exterior surface of the vessel 4, so that the flange extends slightly there-beyond.

The drinking tumbler 2 is arranged to hold a liquid, e.g., a beverage, in its cavity 12. Since the upper end of the inner vessel 6 is open, it serves as the mouth of the tumbler. That open mouth is arranged to accept (e.g., receive) a tubular portion of the lid 24 (to be described later) so that when the lid 24 is releasably secured to the exterior vessel 22, with the drinking tumbler 2 located in the hollow enclosure formed between the interior surface of the vessel 22 and the lid 24, the lid seals the interior cavity 12 of the tumbler to prevent any liquid leakage therefrom.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the outer and inner vessels making up the tumbler are each formed of a transparent plastic. As mentioned earlier, a decorative insert, such as a wrap or sleeve (not shown), bearing some aesthetically pleasing design, e.g., a team logo, a flag, a cartoon character, etc., is located within the air space 8 so that it is visible through the wall 4A of the tumbler.

The exterior vessel 22 is best seen in Figs. 2 and 3 and basically comprises a thin side wall 26 whose upper end is open and forms the mouth 28 of the vessel 22. The lower end of the side wall 26 terminates at a bottom wall 30 located opposite the mouth 28. The side wall 26 and the bottom wall 30 together define hollow cavity 32 arranged for receipt of the drinking tumbler 2 therein. In particular, the inner surface 26A of the vessel 22 is a very slightly curved surface of revolution about the longitudinal central axis of the vessel 22 and is of a complementary shape to the exterior surface of the tumbler 2 so that when the tumbler 2 is located in the cavity 32, there is very little clearance between the outer surface of the wall 4 A of the tumbler 2 and the inner surface of the side wall 26 of the exterior vessel 22 to enable the drinking tumbler to be readily inserted and removed from the exterior vessel. It should be noted that if desired, the exterior vessel and the lid could be sized to provide more than the exemplary minimal clearance between the drinking tumbler and the exterior vessel and thus provide another thermally insulating airspace therebetween. This air space provides additional thermal insulation for the tumbler 2 when it is disposed within the vessel 22, other than the natural insulation provided by the material making up the exterior vessel.

In accordance with one exemplary preferred aspect of this invention the wall thickness of the exterior vessel is kept to a minimum so that it can fit within conventional cup holders, such as found in automobiles, arm-rests, furniture, etc. By doing so it does not materially change the aesthetics of the drinking tumbler's shape.

As pointed out above one of the functions of the housing assembly is to serve to protect the drinking tumbler from damage. That function can nevertheless be achieved with an exterior vessel whose side wall thickness is quite thin and which can be formed in a very low cost manner. For example, if the exterior vessel is formed of a plastic it can be in the range of 0.010-0.050 inch and can be blow molded. If the exterior vessel is formed of aluminum it can be in the range of 0.003- 0.020 inch and can be formed using a technique like that used to form the body of a soft drink can. If the exterior vessel is formed of stainless steel it can be in the range of 0.010-0.045 inch and can be formed using any suitable forming technique.

As mentioned above, the lid 24 is arranged to be releasably secured to the exterior vessel 22 to close off its mouth 28, and thus enclose the tumbler 2 within the cavity 32. To that end, the lid 24 includes one connector component 34 A of a two component releasably securable connector assembly 34. The upper end of the exterior vessel 22 adjacent its mouth 28 includes a cooperating connector component 34B of the releasably securable connector assembly 34. The connector component 34A is arranged to be releasably secured to the connector component 34B to thereby releasably secure the lid 24 to the exterior vessel 22. Before describing in detail the structure of the releasably securable connector assembly 34, a brief description of the lid 24 is in order. To that end, as best seen in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 7, the lid is somewhat similar in construction to the travel lids sold by Tervis, except for the releasably securable connector assembly used. To that end, the lid basically comprises a body of circular profile having a central portion 36 and a downwardly projecting cylindrical side wall 38. The central portion 36 is concave, e.g., has downwardly tapering wall sections 36A terminating in a generally planar, albeit angled bottom wall section 36B. An edge portion of the side wall 38 at the front of the lid projects upward and merges with the downwardly tapering front wall section 36 A thereat to form a lip 40 to facilitate drinking of a beverage through the lid. The lid includes an opening 42 in the planar section 36B adjacent the lip 40. That opening enables the beverage within the drinking tumbler to flow therethrough when the user wishes to drink the beverage. To facilitate that action the tapering wall section 36 A at the lip 40 includes a channel 44 to direct the beverage to the lip and hence to the mouth of the user.

A slidable cover 46 is provided to selectively close the opening 42 and to selectively expose the opening when desired. The cover is located in the central section 36B and is arranged to be slid from a closed position to an open position, and vice versa. To that end the underside of the cover includes a pair of rails 48 which extend through respective slots 50 in the central section 36B to enable the cover to slide either toward or away from the lip 40. When the cover 46 is in the open position furthest from the lip 40, like shown in Figs. 2 and 5 - 7, it exposes the opening 42 in the lid. Conversely, when the cover is in the closed position, not shown, closest to the lip it covers and seals the opening 42 in the lid. The cover includes a vent hole 52 in it. The central section 36B also includes a vent hole 54. The vent hole 52 in combination with the vent hole 54 enables ambient steam or carbon dioxide (as the case may be) to vent out of the drinking tumbler to the ambient atmosphere when a hot or carbonated beverage is located in the tumbler, thereby preventing an overpressure situation which could tend to cause a leak through the interface between the lid and the drinking tumbler. The vent hole 52 in combination with the vent hole 54 also enables ambient air to gain ingress into the interior of the drinking tumbler when the user is drinking from drinking tumbler in the housing assembly to thereby facilitate the drinking process. As will be described in the discussion to follow, the lid 24 includes means forming a seal between it and the mouth of the drinking tumbler 2 to prevent the leakage of any liquid in the drinking tumbler through the interface at the seal. That means can take various forms, depending upon the shape of the drinking tumbler. The exemplary drinking tumbler 2 is shaped such that the inner surface of the inner vessel 6 at the open mouth 6B tapers downward slightly in a direction from its open mouth towards the bottom wall 6D. As such, the lid makes use of two cylindrical walls projecting downward from the underside of the lid to engage respective portions of the inner surface of the inner vessel of the drinking tumbler to form respective fluid-tight seals thereat. In particular, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 7, a first cylindrical wall 56 extends downward from the undersurface of the lid a short radial distance from the outer peripheral side wall 38. A second, and shorter height, cylindrical wall 48 extends downward from the undersurface of the lid between the outer peripheral side wall 38 and the cylindrical wall 56. Each of the cylindrical walls 56 and 58 include a free edge (i.e., the bottom thereof). Portions of each of the cylindrical walls 56 and 58 adjacent their respective free ends are arranged to engage respective peripheral portions of the inner surface of the drinking tumbler at its open mouth to form two peripheral liquid-proof seals thereat. One such seal is at the juncture of the lower edge portion of the cylindrical wall 56 and its corresponding peripheral portion of the inner surface of the drinking tumbler 2. The other such seal is at the juncture of the lower edge portion of the cylindrical wall 58 and its corresponding peripheral portion of the inner surface of the drinking tumbler 2.

It should be pointed out at this juncture that while the preferred embodiment of this invention makes use of two cylindrical walls to form two peripheral seals between the lid 24 and the drinking tumbler 2, it is contemplated that the lid may make use of only one cylindrical wall to form only a single seal, or may use more than two cylindrical walls to form more than two cylindrical seals depending upon the application for the housing assembly.

Turning now to Figs. 2 - 5 and 7, the details of the two component connector assembly 34 will now be described. That assembly can take various forms. For example, as shown in Figs. 2 - 5 and 7, it may be in the form of bayonet type connector assembly comprising two cooperating bayonet connector components 34A and 34B. The bayonet connector component 34B comprises plural, e.g., four, arcuate flanges 60 projecting outward from the outer surface of the exterior vessel 22 at the top end of its side wall 26. The flanges 60 are equidistantly spaced about the periphery of the side wall 26 and are coplanar, with each of the flanges being of the same thickness. The flanges 60 are arranged to cooperate with plural, e.g., four, similarly shaped arcuate flanges 62 of the lid 24. The flanges 62 of the lid are coplanar and all of the same thickness. Each projects inward from the inner surface of the peripheral side wall 38 of the lid and they are equidistantly spaced about the periphery of the side wall, with the spacing between each of the flanges 62 being of a sufficient length to receive respective ones of the flanges 60 of the vessel 22. Thus, the lid 24 can be disposed on the exterior vessel with the flanges 62 of the lid aligned with the spaces between the flanges 60 of the exterior vessel 22 and with the flanges 6 of the exterior vessel 22 aligned with the spaces between the flanges 62 of the lid, and then the lid pressed down so that the coplanar flanges 62 of the lid 24 are below the coplanar flanges 60 of the exterior vessel 22. At that point the lid can be rotated slightly about the central longitudinal axis LCA to bring the flanges 62 of the lid under the flanges 60 of the exterior vessel, thereby releasably securing the lid to the exterior vessel. To remove the lid all that is required is to rotate the lid with respect to the exterior vessel until the flanges 62 of the lid are aligned with the spaces between the flanges 60 of the exterior vessel and then lift the lid off of the exterior vessel in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis.

It should be noted at this juncture that the releasably securable connector assembly 34 can be in a form other than a bayonet type connector assembly. For example, it can be in the form of a threaded connector assembly. One exemplary threaded connector assembly is shown in Fig. 8. In that assembly the sidewall 38 of the lid 24 includes internal threads formed by plural flanges 62' which are configured to threadedly engage corresponding external threads formed by plural flanges 60' on the exterior vessel 22. The flanges 60' extend about the top end of the exterior vessel's side wall. As can be seen, the flanges 62' are similar in construction to the flanges 62 except that instead of lying in a common plane which is perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis LCA, they are arranged in a spiral configuration extending at an acute angle to that axis. Likewise the flanges 60' of the exterior vessel 22 are similar in construction to the flanges 60 except that instead of lying in a common plane which is perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis LCA, they are arranged in a spiral configuration extending at an acute angle to that axis. Thus, the flanges 60' and 62' can engage and slide with respect to each other to enable the lid 24 to be screwed onto the exterior vessel 22.

Other types of releasably securable connectors can be used, as well. For example, the side wall 38 of the lid could include an annular projection extending a short distance radially inward from the sidewall to engage, e.g., snap-fit to, the undersurface of the flange 6C which as discussed above projects slightly outwardly radially from the outer surface of the drinking tumbler adjacent it upper end. Another releasably securable connector assembly that can be use may be in the form of an over-center clamp. The foregoing are but a few examples of many types of releasably securable connector assemblies that can be used to releasably secure the lid to the exterior vessel, and to ensure that once secured it is resistant to accidental disconnection (such as could occur by the build-up of pressure within the drinking vessel holding a hot or carbonated beverage), but can be readily disconnected when desired.

The exterior vessel 22 can be formed of any suitable material, such as clear

PET, stainless steel, aluminum, etc., depending upon the desired performance. For example clear PET can be used to enable the drinking tumbler, to be visible through the wall of the outer vessel, particularly if the tumbler is itself decorated, such as the decorative tumblers sold by Tervis. Any other suitable plastic materials can be used in place of PET and the vessel can be formed by any suitable technique, e.g., blow molding, injection molding, etc. If visibility of the tumbler is not desired through the exterior vessel, it can be formed of stainless steel or aluminum or some other metal. The use of such metal materials provides a sense that the assembled housing a drinking tumbler can readily accommodate hot beverages. Another potential benefit of the use of metal (or any opaque material) is that the outer surface can be decorated, e.g., it can be decorated with an alternative design to that used to decorate the drinking tumbler.

It should be noted that the drinking tumbler can take various forms other than the exemplary embodiment shown. Thus, it could be a single walled structure. Moreover, it can be formed of any suitable material, be it plastic, metal, etc. In the exemplary embodiment it is formed of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester sold by Eastman Chemical Company. The lid 24 is preferably formed of a similar material to that making up the prior art Tervis travel lid, or any other suitable material. Moreover, the lid need not include the various features described above so long as it includes some releasably securement assembly for releasably securing the lid to the exterior vessel and some sealing means to form a water-tight seal between the lid and the drinking tumbler. By way of example, and not of limitation, the seal could be on the top of the drinking tumbler flange or on its outside diameter. With respect to the exterior vessel, it too can take different constructions than that shown in Figs. 1 - 7, so long as it includes a sidewall defining a cavity in which a drinking tumbler can be disposed and including some releasably securable connector assembly adjacent its mouth to which a lid constructed in accordance with this invention can be secured.

For example, Fig. 9 shows another exemplary embodiment of a housing assembly 20' constructed accordance with this invention making use of an alternative exterior vessel 22'. The alternative housing assembly 20' includes the same lid 24 as described above, and the same drinking tumbler 2 disposed therein (although it can't be seen in Fig. 9). Thus, in the interest of brevity the same reference numbers will be used to designate the common components between the housing assembly 20 and the housing assembly 20' and the details of the construction and operation of those components will not be reiterated. As can be seen in Fig. 9, the exterior vessel 22' includes a handle 100 projecting out from the exterior surface 26 of the exterior vessel. The handle serves to facilitate the lifting and orientation of the exterior vessel, and hence the drinking tumbler disposed therein.

Fig. 10 shows another exemplary embodiment of a housing assembly 20" constructed accordance with this invention making use of another alternative exterior vessel 22". The alternative housing assembly 20' includes the same lid 24 as described above, and the same drinking tumbler 2 disposed therein (although it can't be seen in Fig. 10). Thus, in the interest of brevity the same reference numbers will be used to designate the common components between the housing assembly 20 and the housing assembly 20" and the details of the construction and operation of those components will not be reiterated. As can be seen in Fig. 10, the exterior vessel 22' includes a tab 102 projecting outward and upward from the exterior surface 26 of the exterior vessel adjacent its upper end. The tab 102 includes a hole or aperture 104 therein to enable a hook or some other component (not shown) to be extended through the opening to suspend the housing assembly 20" with the drinking tumbler therein onto any support member, e.g., a belt, some other garment, etc. Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.