GB2389845A

GB2389845A - Vacuum flask with two cups and storage container

Info

Publication number: GB2389845A
Application number: GB0214494A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Paul Livesey; William Kevin Fitzgerald
Original assignee: HOMESPAN
Current assignee: HOMESPAN
Priority date: 2002-06-22
Filing date: 2002-06-22
Publication date: 2003-12-24
Also published as: WO2004000086A1; GB0214494D0

Abstract

A vacuum flask 10 comprising a body 11, a vacuum-surrounded liquid container 30 within the body 11, a closure 12 for the container at one end 13 of the body 11, a first cup 14 mounted on said one end 13 of the body 11 over the closure 12, and a second cup 15 mounted on the opposite end 16 of the body 11. Flask 10 may be provided with a storage container (fig 7, 40) having two compartments for storing sweetener and whitener. The cups 14, 15 may have a liner 22 of plastics material and a stainless steel skin 21, and the body 11 may be made from stainless steel and may have a sleeve 17 of a resilient and soft plastic.

Description

/ VACUUM FLASK 2389845

This invention relates to vacuum flasks intended primarily for domestic, leisure, and personal use. 1 he primary purpose of a vacuum flask is to keep a liquid either hot (or cold) between its preparation and consumption, whilst the flask is readily portable for carrying in a bag or car or picnic set. However, the consumption of the liquid requires further equipment than the flask itself, so that frequently a cup is provided mounted over a closure for the flask, and the liquid is consumed after being poured from the flask into the cup.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved vacuum flask with an integral cup.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a vacuum flask comprises a body, a vacuum-surrounded liquid container within the body, a closure for the container at one end of the body, a first cup mounted on said one end of the body over the closure. and a second cup mounted on the opposite end of the body.

Preferably the ends of the body have radially inwardly recessed mountings for the cups.

Preferably also the outer surfaces of the cups provide a smooth extension of the parts of the body to which they are adjacent.

Preferably the outer surfaces of the cups are stainless steel.

Preferably the outer surface of the body which is exposed between the cups is stainless steel.

Preferably there is no separate handle for the body, the external surface of the body forming its own integral handle for carrying and to be held whilst either or both cups are removed from the body or replaced on it. Alternatively the body is provided with a handle between the mountings for the cups.

Each cup preferably comprises a liner and an outer skin, the liner providing rigidity for the cup and thermal insulation to protect the consumer's hand from the heat of the liquid in the cup.

Preferably neither cup has any handle.

Preferably the skin of each cup is stainless steel.

The liner may extend beyond the outer skin adjacent the mouth of each cup to provide a decorative rim portion.

The body may be provided with a plastic sleeve around its central portion between the cups for decorative and/or protective purposes.

Preferably the decorative rim portion of each cup is of the same appearance as the plastic sleeve.

Preferably the decorative rim portion of each cup is a smooth extension of the plastic sleeve forming a sophisticated design feature.

eferably the sleeve is resilient and soft to the touch to be readily gripped by the user.

Preferably the vacuum-surrounded liquid container comprises a metal inner skin and a metal outer skin between which the vacunrn is to be maintained, the skins being fixed together around the opening in the container to its interior.

Preferably the inner and outer skins are stainless steel.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, preferably the vacuum flask also comprises a storage container for sweetener and whitener which can be added to liquid to be drunk from either or both of the cups.

The storage container may have two separate compartments, one for sugar or other sweetener and the other for whitener.

Each separate compartment may have a closable dispensing opening.

The storage container may be receivable in a recess in the base of one of the two cups.

Alternatively the storage container is receivable in a recess in said opposite end of the body to be covered by the second cup.

The storage container is preferably circular and the recess is circular and coaxial with the cup.

Preferably the storage container protrudes from the recess to be accessible for removal from the recess.

her preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

The invention will now be further described, merely by way of example, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a front elevation of a vacuum flask according to a preferred example of the invention, Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1, but with both cups removed, Figure 3 is a front elevation of the lower cup, Figure 4 is a plan view of the closure of the vacuum flask of Figure I, Figure 5 is a sectional view of the vacuum flask of Figure I, Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the part of Figure 5 in circle 6, Figure 7 is a perspective view in its open arrangement of one version of the storage container of the vacuum flask of Figure I, Figure 8 is a perspective view in its open arrangement of a second version of the storage container of the vacuum flask of Figure I, Figure 9 is a plan view of the storage container of Figure 87

! Figure 10 is a side view of the storage container of Figure 8, Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 9, Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of Figure 9, and Figure 13 is a detailed view of the underside of the liquid container.

Referring initially to Figure 1, in a preferred example of the invention, a vacuum flask 10 comprises a cylindrical body 11, a closure 12 at one end 13 of the body 11 a first cup 14 mounted on said one end 13 of the body I I over the closure 12, and a second cup 15 mounted on the opposite end 16 of the body 11.

I'he body 11 (see Figure 2) is basically made of stainless steel for strength, robustness and style, but has a central section which is a moulding or wrap-around sleeve 17 of a resilient and soft plastic such as a soft-feel thermoplastic rubber for decoration and/or protection purposes. Just above and below the sleeve 17, the body is recessed radially inwardly at 18 and provided with coarse screw threads 19 to provide recessed mountings 20 for the cups 14 and 15. In this example the body has no handle, but one may be provided attached to the body 11 between the recessed mountings 20.

The cups 14 and IS (see Figure 3) each have an outer skin 21 of stainless steel and a liner 22 of plastic material providing rigidity for the cup and thermal insulation to protect the consumer's hand from the heat of the liquid in the cup. The liner 22 extends at 23 beyond the outer skin 21 adjacent the mouth 24 of each cup to provide a decorative rim portion 25 of the same appearance as the sleeve 17. The junction 26 between the rim portion 25 and the outer skin 21 is a wavy line

!' tending around each cup 14, 15. When the cups 14,15 are screwed on to the threads 19, as shown in Figure 1, the decorative rim portions 25 are a smooth extension of the sleeve 17 firming a sophisticated design feature.

The closure 12 (see Figure 4) is a conventional bung for keeping liquid in the flask 10 until it is to be dispensed into one or both of the cups 14,15.

Referring now to Figure 5, which shows a sectional view of the body 11 with the first and second cups 14,15 screwed on their mountings 20, there is clearly shown a vacuum-surrounded liquid container 30 within the body 11 which comprises a metal inner skin 31 and a metal outer skin 32 between which the vacuum is to be maintained, the skins 31,32 being welded together only around an opening 33 in the container 30 to its interior 34. The opening 33 is closable by the closure 12. The metal outer skin 32 is fabricated as upper and lower sections 34 welded together in a lap joint 35 halfway along the length of the container, as can be seen in the enlarged detail drawing of Figure 6.

The vacuum flask 10 also comprises an integral storage container 40 for sweetener, such as sugar or a synthetic sweetener, and whitener, which can be added to liquids poured from the receptacle into one or both cups. The storage container 40 is shown in Figure 7 in its open arrangement, and comprises a cylindrical body 41 having recesses 42 in its otherwise flat planar surfaces 43 and upper 44 and lower 45 lids, which are rotatably mounted on axial spindles 46 and 47. Holes 48 through the lids 44,45 are closed when the lid concerned is turned for its hole to be in register with the adjacent planar surface 43. When the hole 48 is out of register with the planar surface, the contents of the recess 42 concerned can be shaken out of the storage container 40 into a cup.

The lids 44,45 can be lifted clear of the cylindrical body 41 to clean or refill the recess, as shown in Figure 7. The upper lid 44 has a raised centre 49 to help in opening it.

The storage container 40 is stored integrally in the bottom of the lower cup 15 from the outside in a suitable recess 50 which is shown in Figure 5, or which is provided in the base ol the liquid container 30. I he storage container 40 protrudes at 52 slightly from the recess 50 so that it can easily be removed from the base of the lower cup for use, and this protrusion 52 can be seen in Figures I and 3. Figure 2 shows the protrusion 52 when the recess 50 is in the base of the liquid container 30.

An alternative storage container 60, to be stored in the same way as the one just described in relation to Figure 7, is shown in Figures 8-12. A cylindrical holder 61 with a flat base 62 and a narrow rim 69 has two semi-circular open-topped sections 63, 64 separated by a diametrical double-walled divider 65. A circular top 66 fits over the sections 63,64 and has a single diametrical wall 67 receivable within the divider 65. Lifting the top 66 opens the sections 63 for storage or dispensing sweetener from one and whitener from the other section 63,64.

Figure 13 is a detailed view of the underside of the liquid container showing the storage container 60 tucked in its recess 50. Three lead-ins 70 spaced around the edge of the recess 50 allow the container to be pulled out of the recess by its rim 69.

It will be appreciated that the vacunrn flask of this invention provides integral and stylish storage of the two cups and sweetener/whitener integrally in its design for ready and repeated carrying and use by the consumer.

Claims

( CLAIMS

I. A vacuum flask comprising a body, a vacuum-surrounded liquid container within the body, a closure for the container at one end of the body, a first cup mounted on said one end of the body over the closure, and a second cup mounted on the opposite end of the body.
2. A vacuum flask according to Claim 1 wherein the ends of the body have radially inwardly

recessed mountings for the cups.
3. A vacuum flask according to Claim 2 wherein the outer surfaces of the cups provide a smooth extension of the parts of the body to which they are adjacent.
4. A vacuum flask according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the outer surfaces of the cups are stainless steel.
5. A vacuum flask according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the outer surface of the body which is exposed between the cups is stainless steel.
6. A vacuum flask according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there is no separate handle for the body, the external surface of the body forming its own integral handle for carrying and to be held whilst either or both cups are removed from the body or replaced on it.
7. A vacuum flask according to any one of claims I to 6 wherein the body is provided with a handle between the mountings for the cups.

i
8. A vacuum flask according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each cup comprises a liner and an outer skin, the liner providing rigidity for the cup and thermal insulation to protect the consumer's hand from the heat of the liquid in the cup.
9. A vacuum flask according to any one of the preceding claims I wherein neither cup has any handle.
10. A vacuum flask according to Claim 8 wherein the skin of each cup is stainless steel.
11. A vacuum flask according to Claim 8 or 10 wherein the liner extends beyond the outer skin adjacent the mouth of each cup to provide a decorative rim portion.
12. A vacuum flask according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the body is provided with a plastic sleeve around its central portion between the cups for decorative and/or protective purposes.
13. A vacuum flask according to Claim 12 wherein the decorative rim portion of each cup is of the same appearance as the plastic sleeve.
14. A vacuum flask according to Claim 13 wherein the decorative rim portion of each cup is a smooth extension of the plastic sleeve forming a sophisticated design feature.
15. A vacuum flask according to any one of Claims 12 to 14 wherein the sleeve is resilient and son to the touch to be readily gripped by the user.

/
16. A vacuum flask according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the vacuum-

surrounded liquid container comprises a metal inner skin and a metal outer skin between which the vacuum is to be maintained, the skins being fixed together around the opening in the container to its interior.
17. A vacuum flask according to Claim 16 wherein the inner and outer skins are stainless steel.
18. A vacuum flask according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the vacuum flask also comprises a storage container for sweetener and whitener which can be added to liquid to be drunk from either or both of the cups.
19. A vacuum flask according to Claim 18 wherein the storage container has two separate compartments, one for sugar or other sweetener and the other for whitener.
20. A vacuum flask according to Claim 19 wherein each separate compartment has a closable .. drspensmg opening.
21. A vacuum flask according to anyone of Claims 18 to 20 wherein the storage container is receivable in a recess in the base of one of the two cups.
22. A vacuum flask according to any one of Claims 18 to 20 wherein the storage container is receivable in a recess in said opposite end of the body to be covered by the second cup.
23. A vacuum flask according to Claim 21 wherein the storage container is circular and the recess is circular and coaxial with the cup.

1

(
24. A vacuum flask according to Claim 22 wherein the storage container protrudes from the recess to be accessible for removal from the recess.
25. A vacuum flask comprising a body, a vacuum-surrounded liquid container within the body, a closure for the container at one end of the body, a cup mounted on said one end of the body over the closure, and a storage container for sweetener and whitener which can be added to liquid to be drunk from the cup.
26. A vacuum flask according to Claim 25 wherein the storage container has two separate compartments, one for sugar or other sweetener and the other for whitener.
27. A vacuum flask according to Claim 26 wherein each separate compartment has a closable dispensing opening.
28. A vacuum flask according to anyone of Claims 25 to 27 wherein the storage container is receivable in a recess in the base of the cup.
29. A vacuum flask according to any one of Claims 25 to 27 wherein a second cup is mounted on the opposite end of the body and the storage container is receivable in a recess in said opposite end of the body to be covered by the second cup.
30 A vacuum flask according to Claim 29 wherein the storage container is circular and the recess is circular and coaxial with the second cup.
31. A vacuum flask according to Claim 30 wherein the storage container protrudes from the recess to be accessible for removal from the recess.
32. A vacuum flask substantially as described with reference to and as shown in Figures] to 7 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
33. A vacuum flask substantially as described with reference to and as shown in Figures 8 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.