Beverage containers

Abstract

To realize a beverage container that can be operated stably using a handle like a container with a handle without impairing portability or beverage extractability.SOLUTION: A beverage container (1) includes: a container body (2) ; and a handle (4) attached to an outer peripheral surface of the container body (2). The handle (4) has a support surface (20) capable of displacement between a storage position close to the container body (2) and a developing position remote from the container body (2), provided on a lower surface of an upper end part extending radially outwardly of the container body (2) at the developing position, and for supporting the user's hand or fingers.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage container that allows a user to directly drink the beverage inside the container by putting the mouth on the beverage container.

Background Art

[0002] In portable beverage containers, there are known ones equipped with a hanging string attached to a shoulder member for portability and a belt attached to connect between the shoulder member and the bottom member (for example, Patent Document 1). Also known are beverage containers provided with a handle that can be detached from and attached to the container body (for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3). By making the handle detachable from the container body, while being a handle composed of a handle that is bulkier than a belt, when using the handle such as when carrying the beverage container or pouring liquid, the handle is pulled out (the handle is separated from the container body) to become a handle, and when the handle is not in use, the handle is folded (the handle is brought closer to the container body) so that the handle can be compactly stored. On the other hand, in recent years, there are also known types of beverage containers that allow a user to directly drink the beverage inside the container by putting the mouth on the beverage container (for example, Patent Document 4).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When using a belt-type handle, if you put your hand through the belt and grip the beverage container to drink directly from the container, the handle is unstable due to its low rigidity, and you cannot get the same sense of stability as with a container that has a handle (such as a cup).

[0005] Furthermore, the handle provides a secure grip when carrying the container or pouring beverages from it. However, it is designed solely for ease of carrying and beverage dispensing, and is not intended for drinking directly from the container. Therefore, it is not suitable for use in the same way as a container with a handle, where you would put your hand through the handle and grip the container to drink directly from it.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention aims to realize a beverage container that provides stability when used with a handle, similar to a container with a handle, without compromising portability or ease of beverage extraction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, a beverage container according to one aspect of the present invention is a beverage container that allows the user to directly drink the beverage inside by putting their mouth to the beverage container, and comprises a container body for containing the beverage and a handle attached to the outer circumferential surface of the container body, wherein the handle is displaceable between a retracted position close to the container body and an extended position far from the container body, and in the extended position, has a support surface provided on the lower surface of the upper end extending radially outward from the container body to support the user's hand or fingers.

[0008] With the above configuration, by providing a handle that can be changed between a stored position and an extended position, it is possible to have a rigid handle while keeping the beverage container itself compact. In addition, by providing a support surface, when you put your hand through the extended handle and grip the container body (beverage container) to drink the beverage directly from the container, you can get the same sense of stability as a container with a handle.

[0009] In a beverage container according to one aspect of the present invention, the support surface may be formed as a concave curved surface that is recessed upward when viewed from the circumferential direction of the container body.

[0010] With the above configuration, by making the support surface a concave curved surface, when the user puts their hand through the unfolded handle, grips the beverage container, and drinks directly from the beverage container, the shape of the hand and the shape of the support surface match, resulting in even greater stability.

[0011] In a beverage container according to one aspect of the present invention, the handle may have a link mechanism, and the rotation of at least one of the joint parts included in the link mechanism may be restricted to maintain the handle in the extended position.

[0012] With the above configuration, the handle can be displaced between the stored position and the deployed position without using a flexible material for the handle itself. Furthermore, since the entire handle can be formed from a rigid material, the overall rigidity of the handle can be increased compared to a handle that partially uses a flexible material, resulting in even greater stability.

[0013] In a beverage container according to one aspect of the present invention, the handle comprises: a first portion having a support surface, one end of which is rotatably connected to the outer circumferential surface of the container body around a lateral axis; a second portion having one end of which is rotatably connected to the other end of the first portion around a lateral axis; and a third portion having one end of which is rotatably connected to the outer circumferential surface of the container body at a position lower than the position to which the first portion is connected, and the other end of the second portion having been rotatably connected to the other end of the second portion around a lateral axis. The outer circumferential surface of the container body may be provided with a restricting portion that restricts the upward rotation of the one end of the first portion and / or the third portion, thereby maintaining the handle in the extended position.

[0014] With the above configuration, the handle can be displaced between the stored position and the deployed position without using a flexible material for the handle itself. Furthermore, since the entire handle can be formed from a rigid material, the overall rigidity of the handle can be increased compared to a handle that partially uses a flexible material, resulting in even greater stability.

[0015] Furthermore, in this case, the restricting part may have a holding mechanism that maintains the restricted state. With such a configuration, the handle can be kept in the extended state.

[0016] In a beverage container according to one aspect of the present invention, the other end of the second portion may be curved in a direction toward the container body and connected to the other end of the third portion at the curved portion.

[0017] With the above configuration, interference between the third and second parts is avoided when the handle is stored, and the second rotating support part, which is the connection point between the second and third parts, can be brought closer to the container body. This makes it possible to store the handle more compactly, and consequently, to make the beverage container more compact.

[0018] In one aspect of the present invention, a beverage container may be configured such that, when in the storage position, a hook portion for the user's fingertips is provided between the handle and the outer surface of the container body.

[0019] With the above configuration, the handle can be easily extended and deployed by hooking your fingertips onto the hook and pulling it out. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to one aspect of the present invention, a beverage container can be realized that provides stability when using a handle, similar to a container with a handle, without compromising portability or ease of beverage extraction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0021] [Figure 1] Perspective view of the handle in the beverage container of Embodiment 1 in the stored state. [Figure 2] Partial cross-sectional view of the handle in the beverage container of Embodiment 1 in the stored state. [Figure 3] Partial cross-sectional view of the handle in the beverage container of Embodiment 1 in the deployed state. [Figure 4] Perspective view showing the operation using the beverage container of Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] Partial cross-sectional view of the handle in the beverage container of Embodiment 2 in the stored state. [Figure 6] Partial cross-sectional view of the handle in the beverage container of Embodiment 2 in the deployed state. [Figure 7] Partial cross-sectional view showing a modification of the beverage container of Embodiment 1.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] 〔Embodiment 1〕 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail

[0023] (Outline of the beverage container) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the handle 4 in the beverage container 1 of the embodiment in the stored state. As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage container 1 is a beverage container that can be directly drunk by attaching a mouth to the beverage container and drinking the beverage inside the beverage container, and is a portable beverage container with a lid. Hereinafter, the beverage container 1 will be described with the direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane as the vertical direction in the state where the beverage container 1 is standing on the horizontal plane.

[0024] The beverage container 1 has a container body 2, a lid set 3, and a handle 4. The container body 2 stores the beverage and is constituted by, for example, a stainless steel vacuum flask or the like. The container body 2 has a pouring outlet (not shown) at the upper end, and the periphery of the pouring outlet is a shoulder 5.

[0025] The lid set 3 is attached to the shoulder portion 5. The lid set 3 includes an annular shoulder cover 6, a lid 7 that closes the spout, a drinking spout (not shown) for drinking beverages, and an opening / closing support part 8, etc. The lid 7 is supported by the shoulder cover 6 via the opening / closing support part 8 so that it can be opened and closed. The lid 7 is also held in a closed state by a locking mechanism (not shown), and the lock is released when the operating member 9 is operated.

[0026] The handle 4 is provided on the outer surface (circumferential surface) of the container body 2. The handle 4 is the grip of the beverage container 1 and is used when carrying the beverage container 1, pouring beverages from the beverage container 1, or drinking beverages directly from the beverage container 1. The handle 4 may be covered with a non-slip rubber material or the like to allow for a firm grip.

[0027] The container body 2 is provided with an outer casing 10 that covers the outer surface of the container body 2, extending from the lower end of the shoulder portion 5 to the center of the container body 2 in the vertical direction. The outer casing 10 is made of synthetic resin or the like. The handle 4 is attached to this outer casing 10. The handle 4 may also be attached to the container body 2.

[0028] (handle) Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the beverage container 1 of the embodiment with the handle 4 in the retracted state. Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the beverage container 1 of the embodiment with the handle 4 in the extended state. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the operation of the beverage container of Embodiment 1.

[0029] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the handle 4 is provided to be changeable between a stored position close to the container body 2 and an extended position far from the container body 2. In other words, the handle 4 is provided to be movable between the stored position and the extended position. The state in the stored position is the stored state, and the state in the extended position is the extended state. In the stored state, the handle 4 is folded. In the extended state, the handle 4 is pulled out. By providing the handle 4 to be changeable between the stored position and the extended position, it is possible to make the beverage container 1 itself compact while providing a rigid handle 4.

[0030] The handle 4, when extended, is provided on the lower surface of the upper end that extends radially outward from the container body 2 and has a support surface 20 that supports the user's hand or fingers. By providing the support surface 20, as shown by reference numeral 401 in Figure 4, when the user puts their hand through the extended handle 4 and grips the container body 2 (beverage container 1) to drink directly from the beverage container 1, they can obtain a sense of stability similar to that of a container with a handle.

[0031] As shown in Figure 3, the support surface 20 is formed as a concave curved surface that is recessed upward when viewed from the circumferential direction of the container body 2. By making the support surface 20 a concave curved surface, as shown by reference numeral 401 in Figure 4, when gripping the beverage container 1 while putting your hand through the unfolded handle 4 and drinking the beverage directly from the beverage container 1, the shape of the hand and the shape of the support surface 20 are matched, providing even greater stability.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, the handle 4 has a shape that widens in the circumferential direction of the container body 2. By making the handle 4 wide, the support surface 20 also widens in the circumferential direction of the container body 2. If the handle 4 is formed in a rod shape (axis shape) and the support surface is narrow in the circumferential direction, the hands and fingers in contact with the support surface may become painful, but this configuration avoids the above situation.

[0033] The support surface 20 may be a smooth surface without irregularities such as ribs. If the support surface 20 has irregularities, the hands or fingers in contact with the support surface 20 may become painful, but this configuration can avoid such a situation.

[0034] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the handle 4 specifically comprises a first part 11, a second part 12, a third part 13, a first rotation support part 14, and a second rotation support part 15. The first part 11 is located at the top of the handle 4, the second part 12 is located in the middle of the handle 4, and the third part 13 is located at the bottom of the handle 4. A support surface 20 is provided on the first part 11. The first part 11 to the third part 13 are all members that are generally straight when viewed from the circumferential direction of the container body 2.

[0035] One end 11a of the first part 11, which corresponds to one end of the handle 4, is rotatably connected to an upper rotation support part 16 provided on the outer casing 10 (located on the outer surface of the container body 2). The other end 11b of the first part 11 is rotatably connected to one end 12a of the second part 12 via a first rotation support part 14. One end 13a of the third part 13, which corresponds to the other end of the handle 4, is rotatably connected to a lower rotation support part 17 provided on the outer casing 10. The other end 12b of the second part 12 and the other end 13b of the third part 13 are rotatably connected via a second rotation support part 15. The first rotation support part 14, the second rotation support part 15, the upper rotation support part 16, and the lower rotation support part 17 all support the object to be supported so that it can rotate around a lateral axis. Here, the lateral direction is the linear direction along the circumferential direction of the container body 2.

[0036] In other words, the handle 4 of the embodiment constitutes a link mechanism. The first to third parts 11 to 13 correspond to three links in the link mechanism. The first rotation support part 14, the second rotation support part 15, the upper rotation support part 16, and the lower rotation support part 17 correspond to four joints (joint parts) in the link mechanism. In other words, the handle 4 has a link mechanism and restricts the rotation of at least one of the joint parts included in the link mechanism to maintain the handle 4 in the extended position.

[0037] Of the first to third parts 11 to 13, the first part 11 and the second part 12 are of similar length, while the second part 12 is longer than both the first part 11 and the third part 13. Furthermore, the second part 12 is approximately the same length as the distance between the upper rotation support part 16 and the lower rotation support part 17. In the illustrated example, the second part 12 is slightly longer than the distance between the upper rotation support part 16 and the lower rotation support part 17, and the third part 13 is also slightly longer than the first part 11.

[0038] The outer casing 10 is provided with a restricting portion 18 that restricts the upward rotation of one end 11a of the first portion 11, thereby maintaining the handle 4 in the deployed state. The restricting portion 18 is located above the upper rotation support portion 16 and contacts the upper surface of the first portion 11, thereby restricting the upward rotation of the first portion 11 with the upper rotation support portion 16 as the pivot point. The range of motion of the handle 4, which constitutes the link mechanism, is determined by this restricting portion 18. The state in which the first portion 11 is rotated to its maximum extent is the deployed state. The restricting portion 18 can be formed integrally with the outer casing 10.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3, in the unfolded state, the first part 11 and the second part 12 form an angle of approximately 90 degrees. In the illustrated example, the first part 11 and the second part 12 form an angle slightly larger than 90 degrees. In the unfolded state, a vertically elongated opening R1 is formed on the inside of the handle 4. As shown by reference numeral 401 in Figure 4, the opening R1 is large enough for an average adult male to insert his four fingers (excluding the thumb) together. Also, as shown by reference numeral 402 in Figure 4, the opening R1 is large enough to grip the handle 4 like the handle of a container with a handle. The distance between the upper rotation support part 16 and the lower rotation support part 17, and the lengths of the first part 11 to the third part 13 are set so that an opening R1 of this size can be formed.

[0040] In this embodiment, at least one of the first rotation support part 14, the second rotation support part 15, the upper rotation support part 16, and the lower rotation support part 17, which correspond to the joints of the link mechanism, is provided to maintain its rotational position unless force is applied to it. As a result, the handle 4 maintains its position even if the hand is released from the handle 4 when it is pulled out to the extended position or to an intermediate position in the extended position.

[0041] Alternatively, the restricting portion 18 may be provided with a holding mechanism to maintain the restricted state, thereby holding the handle 4 in the extended position. An example of a holding mechanism is a rib-shaped overhang provided on the restricting portion 18. The upper surface of one end 11a of the first portion 11 rotates to overcome the overhang and contact the restricting portion 18. As a result, the handle 4 can be held in the extended position.

[0042] The displacement from the deployed state to the stored state causes the first part 11 to rotate downward with the upper rotation support part 16 as the pivot point. In this configuration, if the restricting part 18 is provided with a climbing part as a holding mechanism, the upper surface of one end 11a of the first part 11 rotates so as to climb over the climbing part in the opposite direction to when it is deployed. Consequently, as shown in Figure 2, the third part 13 is positioned so as to follow the container body 2, with the second rotation support part 15 located below the lower rotation support part 17. The connection between the first part 11 and the second part 12 expands to nearly 180 degrees.

[0043] In this way, by constructing the handle 4 using a link mechanism, a configuration that allows displacement between the stored position and the deployed position can be achieved without using a flexible material for the handle 4. Since the entire handle can be formed from a rigid material, the overall rigidity of the handle can be increased compared to a handle that partially uses a flexible material, resulting in greater stability. Furthermore, because a link mechanism is used, the attachment of both ends of the handle 4 (one end 11a of the first part and the other end 13b of the third part) to the outer surface of the container body 2 requires only a simple mechanism such as an upper rotation support part 16 and a lower rotation support part 17. Therefore, the handle attachment mechanism can be simplified, and the product price can be reduced.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the other end 12b of the second part 12 may be curved in a direction that brings it closer to the container body 2, and the curved portion may be connected to the other end 13b of the third part 13. With this configuration, interference between the third part 13 and the second part 12 can be avoided when the handle 4 is stored, and the second rotation support part 15, which is the connection point between the second part 12 and the third part 13, can be brought closer to the container body 2. In the example shown in Figure 2, the second rotation support part 15 is located directly below the lower rotation support part 17. This makes it possible to store the handle 4 more compactly, and consequently, to make the beverage container 1 more compact.

[0045] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, when stored, a hook portion (gap) R2 may be provided between the handle 4 and the outer surface of the container body 2, into which the user's fingertips can be inserted. With this configuration, the handle 4 can be easily pulled out and extended by hooking the fingertips into the hook portion R2 and pulling it out.

[0046] [Embodiment 2] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For the sake of clarity, components having the same function as those described in the above embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0047] Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the beverage container 1A of the embodiment with the handle 4A in the retracted state. Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the beverage container 1A of the embodiment with the handle 4A in the extended state.

[0048] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, similar to handle 4, handle 4A is also provided so as to be able to change between a storage position close to the container body 2 and an extended position far from the container body 2. Similar to handle 4, when handle 4A is extended, the lower surface 4a of the upper end of handle 4A has a support surface 20 that extends radially outward from the container body 2.

[0049] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the handle 4A specifically comprises a fourth portion 21, a fifth portion 22, and a third rotation support portion 23. The fourth portion 21 is located in the upper to middle part of the handle 4A, and the fifth portion 22 is located in the lower part of the handle 4A. A support surface 20 is provided on the fourth portion 21.

[0050] The fourth part 21 is L-shaped when viewed from the circumferential direction of the container body 2. The shorter side of the L is located at the top of the handle 4A, and the longer side of the L is located in the middle of the handle 4A. The fifth part 22 is a component that is generally straight when viewed from the circumferential direction of the container body 2.

[0051] One end 21a of the fourth part 21, which corresponds to one end of the handle 4A, is rotatably connected to an upper rotation support part 16 provided on the outer casing 10 (located on the outer surface of the container body 2). One end 22a of the fifth part 22, which corresponds to the other end of the handle 4A, is rotatably connected to a lower rotation support part 17 provided on the outer casing 10. The other end 21b of the fourth part 21 and the other end 22b of the fifth part 22 are rotatably connected via a third rotation support part 23. The third rotation support part 23 supports the other end 21b of the fourth part 21 and the other end 22b of the fifth part 22, which are the objects of support, so that they can rotate around a lateral axis.

[0052] Similar to handle 4, handle 4A also constitutes a linkage mechanism. The fourth part 21 and the fifth part 22 correspond to two links in the linkage mechanism. The third rotation support part 23, the upper rotation support part 16, and the lower rotation support part 17 correspond to three joints in the linkage mechanism. Of these, the third rotation support part 23 is a sliding joint.

[0053] The other end 21b of the fourth portion 21 has a portion that curves toward the container body 2 and then extends vertically. A vertically elongated slot 23b is provided in this portion, and a shaft 23a formed on the other end 21b of the fifth portion 22 is configured to slide within the slot 23b.

[0054] As shown in Figure 6, in the deployed state of the handle 4A, the upper surface of the fourth portion 21 abuts against the restricting portion 18, thereby restricting the upward rotation of the fourth portion 21 with the upper rotation support portion 16 as the pivot point. In this state, the shaft 23a is located at the upper end of the elongated hole 23b. In the deployed state, the aforementioned vertically elongated opening R1 is formed on the inside of the handle 4A.

[0055] The displacement from the deployed state to the stored state is caused by rotating the fourth part 21 downward with the upper rotation support part 16 as the pivot point. Consequently, as shown in Figure 5, the shaft 23a moves from the upper end to the lower end of the elongated hole 23b, and the fifth part 22 is positioned so that the third rotation support part 23 is below the lower rotation support part 17, along the container body 2. In the stored state, a hook portion (gap) R2 is provided between the handle 4A and the outer surface of the container body 2, into which the user's fingertips can be inserted.

[0056] In the embodiments 1 and 2 described above, a case was described in which one restricting part 18 is provided to restrict the upward rotation of one end 11a of the first part 11 and to maintain the unfolded state of the handle 4, but the invention is not limited to this. Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the beverage container 1 of embodiment 1.

[0057] As shown in Figure 7, a second restricting portion 18a may be provided to restrict the upward rotation of one end 11a of the first portion 11, thereby maintaining the handle 4 in the deployed state. In the example shown in Figure 7, when the handle 4 is deployed, the lower surface of one end 11a of the first portion 11 abuts against the second restricting portion 18a, thereby maintaining the handle 4 in the deployed state.

[0058] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, a third restricting part 19 may be provided to restrict the upward rotation of one end 13a of the third part 13, thereby maintaining the handle 4 in the deployed state. If the above-described restricting part 18 is considered the first restricting part, then both the first restricting part 18 and the third restricting part 19 may be provided, or both the second restricting part 18a and the third restricting part 19 may be provided. Alternatively, any one of the first restricting part 18, the second restricting part 18a, or the third restricting part 19 may be provided. In short, there may be one or more configurations that have the function of maintaining the handle 4 in the deployed state.

[0059] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0060] 1, 1A beverage container 2. Container body 4, 4A handle 4a Bottom side 10 Exterior part 11 Part 1 11a One end of the first part 11b The other end of the first part 12 Part 2 12a One end of the second part 12b The other end of the second part 13 Part 3 13a One end of the third part 13b The other end of the third part 14. First Rotation Support Section 15. Second Rotating Support Section 16 Upper rotation support section 17 Lower rotation support section 18 Regulatory Department 20 Support surface R1 opening R2 hook part

Claims

1. A beverage container that allows you to put your mouth to the beverage container and drink the beverage inside directly, A container body for holding beverages, The container body comprises a handle attached to its outer surface, The aforementioned handle is It is displaceable between a storage position close to the container body and an unfolded position far from the container body. In the deployed position, the container body has a support surface provided on the lower surface of the upper end extending radially outward, which supports the user's hand or fingers. With the handle in the extended position, an opening is formed inside the handle that is large enough to allow the four fingers other than the thumb to be inserted together, and the container body can be grasped with the hand inserted into the opening. A beverage container in which the support surface is formed as a concave curved surface that is recessed upward when viewed from the circumferential direction of the container body.

2. The beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the handle is attached such that one end and the other end are positioned above and below the outer surface, and is extended by being pulled out radially outward from the container body.

3. The handle has a linkage mechanism, A beverage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotation of at least one joint portion included in the link mechanism is restricted to maintain the handle in the extended position.

4. The aforementioned handle is One end of the container body is connected to the outer circumferential surface of the container body so as to be rotatable around a lateral axis, and the first portion has the support surface, A second part is connected to the other end of the first part, with one end rotatably connected around a lateral axis, The container body comprises a third portion, one end of which is rotatably connected around a lateral axis at a position lower than the position on the outer surface of the container body to which the first portion is connected, and the other end of which is rotatably connected around a lateral axis to the other end of the second portion. The beverage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer circumferential surface of the container body is provided with a restricting portion that restricts the upward rotation of one end of the first portion and / or third portion, thereby maintaining the handle in the deployed position.

5. The beverage container according to claim 4, wherein the regulating part has a holding mechanism for maintaining the regulated state.

6. The beverage container according to claim 4, wherein the other end of the second portion is curved in a direction toward the container body and is connected to the other end of the third portion at the curved portion.

7. The beverage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when in the storage position, a hook portion for the user's fingertips is provided between the handle and the outer surface of the container body.

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