An improved container for a substance

Abstract

The present invention describes a container which is capable of creating a sound through the displacement of air within a channel and sound ports in the container.

Description

[0001] AN IMPROVED CONTAINER FOR A SUBSTANCE

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention pertains to the field of containers and more specifically to a container for a substance which can produce a sound .

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Noise makers come in various forms and attempts have been made to incorporate such noise makers in various items. There is a need for a container which can produce a noise or sound which is incorporated within a container to provide a noise or sound on demand. Such attempts can be found under PCT / CA2023 / 050698 , US Patent Application No. 17 / 719,054 and Canadian Patent Application No. 3,155,099, however, improvements can be made from the embodiments described in said applications.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a container for a substance comprising a vessel to receive the substance and a shell interconnected to the vessel having a channel for passage of air within the channel . The container also has a port in fluid communication with the channel and a bladder positioned on the shell to produce a sound when air is displaced in the channel .

[0008] In an aspect , the present invention provides a container for a substance capable of producing a sound comprising : a shell for receiving the substance , the shell having a channel for passage of air ; a port in fluid communication with the channel ; and, a bladder positioned on the shell to produce the sound when air is displaced in the channel .

[0009] In another aspect , the present invention provides a container for a substance capable of producing a sound comprising : a unitary shell for receiving the substance ; a channel traveling along a length of the unitary shell for passage of air within the channel ; a port in fluid communication with the channel ; and, a bladder positioned on the unitary shell to produce the sound through a sound port .

[0010] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described by reference to the following figures , in which identical reference numerals in di f ferent figures indicate identical elements and in which :

[0012] FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container with a cover flap according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIGURE 2 is a top side perspective view of a container with a cover flap in a closed position over a liquid port opening according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIGURE 3 is a top side perspective view of a container with a cover flap in an open position according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIGURE 4 is a top side perspective view of a container with a cover flap in a closed position over a port according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIGURE 5 is a top side perspective view of a flap in an open position according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIGURE 6 is a top perspective view of the cover flap shown in Figure 5 in a closed position according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIGURE 7 is a disassembled view of a container without a cover having a vessel displaced from a shell according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 8 is a top perspective view of a shell used in a container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIGURE 9 is a bottom side perspective view of a shell as shown in Figure 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIGURE 10 is a bottom perspective view of a container having a bottom cap displaced from the shell with said bottom cap having a bladder positioned in the bottom cap according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a bladder within a bladder enclosure for use with a container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of a bladder within the bladder enclosure having a top portion o f the bladder enclosure removed according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view of a container with a bottom cap having the bladder secured to a vessel according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIGURE 14 is a side view of an improved container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIGURE 15 is a top perspective view of an improved container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIGURE 16 is a bottom perspective view of an improved container according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 17 is an exploded top view of an improved container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIGURE 18 is a top view of an improved container without a top cap according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of an improved container with the bottom cap removed from the container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIGURE 20 is a side perspective view of an improved container having a seal ring and bladder removed from the container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] FIGURE 21 is a side perspective view of an improved container having a securing ring which interconnects with the seal ring and bladder according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] FIGURE 22 is a side cut-way view of an improved container without a top cap according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] FIGURE 23 is a cross-view of the top portion of an improved container without a top cap according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIGURE 24 is a cross-view of the bottom portion of an improved container with a bottom cap according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] FIGURE 25 is a side view of a container according to another embodiment of the present invention having a sound port positioned on the side wall of said container ; FIGURE 26 is a cross-sectional view of a container according to another embodiment of the present invention having a sound conduit traversing through a side wall of said container ;

[0035] FIGURE 27 is a side view of a container according to another embodiment of the present invention having an accessory modi fying the noise made by said container .

[0036] The figures are not to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimi zed to show details of particular elements while related elements may have been eliminated to prevent obscuring novel aspects . Therefore , speci fic structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention .

[0037] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The terms " coupled" and " connected" , along with their derivatives , may be used herein . It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other . Rather, in particular embodiments , " connected" may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other . "Coupled" may be used to indicated that two or more elements are in either direct or indirect (with other intervening elements between them) physical or electrical contact with each other, or that the two or more elements co-operate or interact with each other ( e . g . as in a cause and ef fect relationship ) .

[0039] In an aspect , the present invention provides a container for a substance capable of producing a sound comprising : a shell for receiving the substance , the shell having a channel for passage of air ; a port in fluid communication with the channel ; and, a bladder positioned on the shell to produce the sound when air is displaced in the channel .

[0040] In another aspect , the present invention provides a container for a substance capable of producing a sound comprising : a unitary shell for receiving the substance ; a channel traveling along a length of the unitary shell for passage of air within the channel ; a port in fluid communication with the channel ; and, a bladder positioned on the unitary shell to produce the sound through a sound port .

[0041] With reference to Figure 1 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, a container 10 is shown having a shell 20 with a cover 30 having a cover flap 60 . Although a handle 40 is shown in Figure 1 , a container of the present invention could be provided without the handle 40 . Container 10 has bottom cap 50 allowing to secure a bladder (not shown) to the container .

[0042] With reference to Figures 2-4 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, a cover 30 is shown having a cover flap 60 . Cover flap 60 seals liquid port opening 70 by having a seal tab 62 when cover flap 60 is positioned over liquid port opening 70 . Cover flap 60 may also have a handle tab 64 allowing to easily move cover flap 60 in either an open or closed configuration . Cover flap 60 can also be positioned over cover port 80 not shown in Figure 4 .

[0043] With reference to Figures 5- 6 and according to another embodiment of the present invention, a cover 30 is shown with a cover flap 60 having a guiding rib 66 for positioning cover flap 60 when positioned over liquid port opening 70 . Rib 66 can plug vent aperture 72 within cover 30 to secure cover flap 60 over liquid port opening 70 and prevent leakage . When not plugged by rib 66 , vent aperture 72 allows for venting and better drinkability when a liquid is consumed by an individual using the container 10 of the present invention .

[0044] With reference to Figure 7 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, container 10 has a vessel 15 and a shell 20 with vessel 15 displaced from within shell 20 . The vessel 15 may be removed from shell 20 and a user may drink out of vessel 15 in isolation from the shell 20 . In this configuration, the vessel 15 may also be used on its own as a noise maker in a variety of circumstances , including when the vessel 15 is upright , tilted, filled or empty .

[0045] With reference to Figures 8 and 9 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, shell 20 is shown without a vessel positioned within shell 20 . Shell 20 has a central opening 22 allowing for the placement of a bladder (not shown) covering central opening 22 . A person of skill in the art will appreciate that the central opening 22 does not need to be positioned centrally at the bottom of shell 20 . For instance , central opening 22 can be of fset from the center of shell 20 . Shell 20 also has a channel 24 travel ing along the length of shell 20 and down towards the central region of shell 20 . Channel 24 communicates with cover port 80 as shown in Figure 2 which allows for air to travel within channel 24 and exit through exit port 26 , which air will contact the bladder (not shown) positioned over central opening 22 . According to another embodiment of the present invention, channel 24 does not need to travel along the length of shell 20 as shown in Figure 8 and may travel outside of shell 20 . For instance , the channel 24 may travel through handle 40 . Alternatively, the channel 24 may be removable and can take on a variety of forms , such as a straw .

[0046] With reference to Figure 10 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, bottom cap 50 is removed from shell 20 wherein bottom cap 50 has bladder 100 positioned within a bladder enclosure 120 . Bottom cap 50 can be secured to shell 20 through the presence of ribs within bottom cap 50 engaging with adj acent ribs on shell 20 . Other means to secure bottom cap 50 to shell 20 could be used such as snap fit or even pressure fit as would be known by a worker skilled in relevant art .

[0047] With reference to Figures 11 and 12 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, a bladder enclosure 120 is shown with bladder 100 positioned within said enclosure 120 . Bladder enclosure 120 consists of top and bottom portions 122 and 124 allowing to pinch bladder 100 in between portions 122 and 124 . Securing bladder 100 between top and bottom portion 122 and 124 provides constant pressure along the edges of bladder 100 , further providing for a more even bladder surface . The use of bladder enclosure 120 increases the longevity of the bladder 100 by spreading equally the pressure on the bladder 100 . A further advantage of bladder enclosure 120 as shown in Figures 11 and 12 is that it provides a consistent fit and tension on the bladder 100 . By providing this consistent fit , the bladder 100 will produce a more consistent sound when air hits said bladder 100 . Another advantage of bladder enclosure 120 is that it reduces the chance that the bladder 100 will rip or tear . When the bladder enclosure 120 is positioned between shell 20 and bottom cap 50 , the top portion 122 can be positioned on top of bottom portion 124 , as shown in Figure 11 . The bladder enclosure 120 may also be positioned between the shell 20 and bottom cap 50 upside down, such that the bottom portion 124 is positioned on top of the top portion 122 .

[0048] With reference to Figure 13 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the bladder enclosure (not shown) secures bladder 100 along the outer edges of a protruding wall 28 of central opening (not shown) of shell 20 . An even application of pressure on bladder 100 allows for a longer li fe of a container 10 of the present invention when bottom cap 50 is secured to shell 20 . An even application of pressure on bladder 100 also creates consistent pressure , allowing an even vibration of the bladder 100 , thereby creating a consistent sound . In another embodiment of the present invention, the bladder 100 may generate sound even i f the central opening (not shown) does not have a protruding wall 28 to contact the bladder 100 . A container of the present invention could be made from a number of di f ferent materials such as plastic, paper, glass , metal or any other material as would be known by a worker skilled in the relevant art .

[0049] The present disclosure also provides a further invention which includes an improved container for a substance made of a unitary shell allowing for the noise to be produced from the unitary shell all while a substance may or may not be present in the improved container .

[0050] With reference to Figures 14- 16 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, an improved container 1010 for a substance is shown having a unitary shell 1020 with a top cap 1030 and a bottom cap 1040 . Unitary shell 1020 has an air port 1050 allowing for the entry of air within unitary shell 1020 . Top cap 1030 also has a moveable lid 1060 which seals a fluid port (not shown) . Bottom cap 1040 also has a series of perforations allowing for air to travel within the bottom portion of unitary shell 1020 . The perforations allow for the movement or vibration of the bladder (not shown) to create a sound or noise . In another embodiment , port 1050 can be positioned on top cap 1030 allowing port 1050 to communicate with a channel positioned along the length of unitary shell 1020 . In other words , port 1050 is not limited to a position on unitary shell 1020 but can alternatively be positioned on top cap 1030 while still allowing fluid communication with a channel further described below .

[0051] With reference to Figure 17 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, top cap 1030 is shown without the moveable lid 1060 of Figures 14- 15 , thus exposing fluid port 1070 . Fluid port 1070 allows access to any substance within a substance cavity (not shown) of unitary shell 1020 . Unitary shell 1020 also has a sound conduit (not shown) having a sound port 1080 through which noise can escape . Speci fically, air passing through air port 1050 vibrates a bladder (not shown) that in turn generates noise . The noise generated by the bladder (not shown) can then escape the unitary shell 1020 by first traveling through a sound conduit (not shown) and then through sound port 1080 . A mesh or any other type of filter could also be positioned on top of sound port 1080 in order to prevent debris or any other matter to fall within sound port 1080 .

[0052] With reference to Figure 18 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, an improved container 1010 of the present invention is shown without a top cap . Unitary shell 1020 is shown having a substance cavity 1090 which surrounds sound conduit 1084 . The substance cavity 1090 is also isolated from air port 1050 allowing for air to travel within the unitary shell 1020 without any contact with the substance within substance cavity 1090 or an empty substance cavity 1090 . The presence of sound conduit 1084 also allows air to travel through said sound conduit 1084 without being in contact with any substance which may be in substance cavity 1090 . The present configuration allows the improved container 1010 to hold a substance and generate sound while being held in a variety of positions , including upside down .

[0053] With reference again to Figure 18 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, sound conduit 1084 travels along a length of unitary shell 1020 with one end of the sound conduit 1084 connected to the bottom end of unitary shell 1020 and the opposite end connected to a top cover (not shown) . According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the sound conduit 1084 may be integrally formed with the bottom end of unitary shell 1020 , or removably af fixed to at least one of the bottom end of the unitary shell 1020 and the top cover (not shown) . Sound conduit 1084 may be placed in a variety of positions within unitary shell 1020 . For instance , sound conduit 1084 may be centrally located within unitary shell 1020 . Alternatively, sound conduit 1084 may be of fset from the center of unitary shell 1020 .

[0054] With reference to Figure 19 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, an improved container 1010 is shown having bottom cap 1040 removed from unitary shell 1020 . Bottom cap 1040 can be secured to unitary shell 1020 through a threaded engagement for example . Cap 1040 could also be secured to unitary shell 1020 through a snap fit or even glue as well as any other known engagement mechanism as would be known by a worker skilled in the relevant art .

[0055] With reference to Figures 20 and 21 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, an improved container 1010 is shown without a bottom cap . A seal ring 2100 is shown removed from unitary shell 1020 with said seal ring 2100 allowing to secure a bladder 2110 to unitary shell 1020 . Seal ring 2100 can secure bladder 2110 onto unitary shell 1020 through a threaded engagement as well as any other securing mechanism allowing to secure bladder 2110 onto the bottom surface of unitary shell 1020 . Bladder 2110 is secured to the bottom of unitary shell 1020 while covering the bottom end 1082 of the sound conduit (not shown) . With speci fic reference to Figure 21 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, improved container 1010 has a further securing ring 2102 which interconnects with the seal ring 2100 of Figure 20 . Seal ring 2100 and securing ring 2102 enclose bladder 2110 , providing a solid outer perimeter surrounding bladder 2110 . The solid perimeter provided by securing each ring 2100 , 2102 to one another further facilitates the positioning of bladder 2110 within the unitary shell 1020 of container 1010 . Bladder 2110 having this solid perimeter created with the combination of both rings 2100 and 2102 is then secured to unitary shell 1020 once the bottom cap (not shown) is secured to unitary shell 1020 . In other embodiments , bladder 2110 could be secured to unitary shell 1020 through a snap fit which snap fit is possible with the formation of the solid perimeter when combining both rings 2100 and 2102 .

[0056] With further reference to Figures 20 and 21 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, bladder 2110 is secured to unitary shell 1020 through rings 2100 and 2102 which will assure bladder 2110 covers the bottom end 1082 of sound conduit (not shown) . It is essential that bladder 2110 is secured over the bottom end 1082 of sound port 1080 in order to allow for a sound or noise to be produced by container 1010 .

[0057] With reference to Figure 22 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, a unitary shell 1020 of the present invention is shown with a bottom cap 1040 . Sound port 1080 is shown travelling the length of unitary shell 1020 and contacting bladder 2110 secured to unitary shell 1020 through bottom cap 1040 . Substance cavity 1090 surrounds sound port 1080 while also having a floor 1092 further isolating substance cavity 1090 from bladder 2110 . With further reference to Figure 22 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, air port 1050 has a channel 1052 traveling the length of unitary shell 1020 . Channel 1052 is further enclosed from substance cavity 1090 allowing for air to travel along the length of channel 1052 for contact on bladder 2110 at the bottom of unitary shel l 1020 . In another embodiment of the present invention, channel 1052 could be a removable straw allowing for removal of channel 1052 from unitary shell 1020 . I f a straw is used to create channel 1052 then it is important said straw is connected to fluid port 1050 at one end and the opposite end of said straw connected to the bottom of unitary shell 1020 allowing fluid communication with bladder 2110 as shown in Figure 22 . In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the channel 1052 can be positioned at least partially outside the unitary shell 1020 . For example , the channel 1052 may be at least partially positioned within a handle (not shown) attached to the unitary shell 1020 . In another embodiment according to the present invention, a bladder may or may not be present on unitary shell 1020 . A reed can be positioned within at least one of the sound port 1080 and channel 1052 to supplement or replace the noise generated by the bladder . The reed may produce a variety of sounds , and in one embodiment , the sound may be similar to that which is generated by a duck calling adapter used by hunters . Such an embodiment would allow the container of said invention to produce a sound with a bladder, a sound with a reed, or a combined sound using both the bladder and the reed . A worker skilled in the relevant art would be very familiar as to the construction of a reed within the channel 1052 or sound port 1080 to produce a sound .

[0058] With reference to Figures 23 and 24 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, air port 1050 is shown in fluid communication with channel 1052 while also being isolated from substance cavity 1090 . The use of channel 1052 in the present invention allows for the improved container 1010 to be molded from a single mold compared to other models having an outer shell and inner container for example . The travel of air is shown by the arrows within channel 1052 . Air traveling within channel 1052 will contact bladder 2110 which contact will then create a sound which will be emitted through sound conduit 1084 and the series of perforations within bottom cap 1040 . With reference to Figures 25 and 26 , another embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein the sound conduit 1084 has one end extending away from the outside wall of unitary shell 1020 . Unitary shell 1020 can then have a top cap 1030 enclosing the top end of unitary shell 1020 while still allowing a noise escape through sound conduit 1084 and then out through sound port 1080 . With speci fic reference to Figure 26 , sound conduit 1084 has a first end 1083 connected to the bottom of unitary shell 1020 . The sound conduit 1084 traverses through a side wall of the unitary shell 1020 and comprises a sound port 1080 located at a second end opposite to the first end 1083 . Arrows in Figure 26 display the travel of air after air hits bladder 2110 which then exits sound port 1080 to emit a sound . In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the sound conduit 1084 does not protrude past the outside wall of unitary shell 1020 .

[0059] In another embodiment of the present invention and with reference to Figure 27 , an extension conduit 2200 may be adapted to sound port 1080 allowing to vary the sound or noise made by container 1010 . Speci fically, the length and width of adapter 2200 will modi fy the sound and provide further adaptability for any required noise or sound .

[0060] A person understanding this invention may now conceive of alternative structures and embodiments or variations of the above all of which are intended to fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims that follow .

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A container for a substance capable of producing a sound comprising : a shell for receiving the substance , the shel l having a channel for passage of air ; a port in fluid communication with the channel ; and, a bladder positioned on the shell to produce the sound when air is displaced in the channel .2 . A container for a substance capable of producing a sound comprising : a unitary shell for receiving the substance ; a channel traveling along a length of the unitary shell for passage of air within the channel ; a port in fluid communication with the channel ; and, a bladder positioned on the unitary shell to produce the sound through a sound port .

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