Portable beverage container

Abstract

A portable beverage container comprises a base portion having a seat adapted to support the beverage container on a surface and / or in a holder, the base portion being fabricated from a first material such as plastics, rubbers, metals, and / or silicone. The portable beverage container further comprises a lip, which a user contacts when consuming a beverage, sealingly and rigidly attached to the base and fabricated from a second material, different from the first, the second material being adapted to enhance a drinking sensation of the user. The second material can for example comprise ceramic, bone china, stones, and / or glass. In other embodiments, the beverage container may include a bone china handle with a silicone over-mold.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 711,797 filed Aug. 26, 2005, where this provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention generally relates to beverage containers, and more particularly, to a portable beverage container. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Modern-day lifestyles are increasingly mobile, especially in urban communities. Individuals are often on the go regardless of financial status, marital status, sex, and parental status. Since such individuals are typically stretched for time, they tend to accomplish certain tasks while they are in route between activities, errands and avocations and / or while they are attending to their activities, errands and / or avocations. This trend has led to products designed to suit such lifestyles...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] According to one embodiment, a portable beverage container from which a user can consume a beverage, comprises a base having a seat adapted to support the beverage container, the base being fabricated from a first material comprising a metal, rubber, plastic, silicone, foam, and / or wood, to promote at least one of portability and durability of the portable beverage container, and a lip which the user contacts when consuming the beverage, the lip sealingly and rigidly coupled to the base and fabricated from a second material comprising ceramic, bone china, stone, and / or glass, to enhance a drinking sensation of the user.

[0010] According to an aspect of the foregoing embodiment, the portable beverage container may further comprise a coupling ring positioned between the base and the lip, the coupling ring rigidly attaching the body to the lip, and being adapted to prevent liquid from escaping therebetween.

Problems solved by technology

Portable beverage containers are typically made from material that is light and resilient to impact because portable beverage containers often face demanding conditions such as being placed on slippery surfaces, dropped, and / or aggressively manipulated, for example while the user is driving.

However, such material typically adversely affect a taste of the beverage and / or take away from a drinking sensation typically associated with non-portable beverage containers such as cups and mugs made from ceramic, bone china, stones, and / or glass.

Images