Beverage container

Abstract

An improved beverage container (100) is provided. In one version, the beverage container (100) includes a chamber creating system (140) with a partitioning wall (145) that divides the beverage container interior (135) into a sipping chamber (160) and a beverage storage chamber (155). In one version, the beverage container (100) is in the form of a beverage tumber (4100). In one version, the beverage container (100) is part of a beverage container system (6100) that includes a straw (6110). The straw (6110) can be integrally associated with the beverage container (100) and / or manufactured as part thereof.

Description

PCT International Patent Application for:BEVERAGE CONTAINERInventor(s):1. Daniel GabbayArlington, VA2. Dieter HeidmannGeretsried, GermanyAssignee: InventorsEntity: SMALL EntityDocket No.: GAB.205. PCTCERTIFICATE OF EXPRESS MAILING OR ELECTRONIC FILING:Date of Deposit or Filing: December 4, 2025I hereby certify that this paper is being deposited with the United States Postal Service “Express Mail Post Office to Addressee” service under 37 CFR 1.10 on the date indicated above and is addressed to: Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 or is being electronically submitted via EFS on the date shown below.“Express Mail” mailing label number (if applicable) NA_ Guy V. Tucker _ _ / Guy V. Tucker / _Name of Person Mailing or Filing Paper Signature of Person Mailing Paper or Filing PaperBEVERAGE CONTAINERBACKGROUND

[0001] The drinking of beverages is not only a necessity for sustaining life, it can also be one of life’s great pleasures. The drinking of a beverage, particularly a warm beverage, can be one of life’s great pleasures.

[0002] However, life is busy and hectic, and individuals do not always have the time and opportunity to enjoy a beverage in their ideal environment and from a chosen cup. Accordingly, a person will often need to drink a beverage on the go, and this has given rise to a multi-billion-dollar travel beverage container industry. Beverage tumblers, also known as travel mugs or to-go drink containers, have been around for decades and have mostly been developed for the purpose of maintaining the temperature of a beverage so that it keeps hot drinks hot and / or cold drinks cold for as long as possible. Conventional beverage tumblers come in a variety of styles, with the primary focus of the design being temperature preservation. The tumblers have insulated walls that surround a beverage reservoir where a beverage to be consumed by a user is contained. Typically, a lid or top will be provided to help further maintain the desired temperature of the beverage in the beverage reservoir, with varying degrees of success.

[0003] In addition, sometimes a warm beverage can be too hot to drink. When so, a user must sit and wait for the beverage to cool to an enjoyable temperature as the ambient temperature slowly brings the beverage temperature down. Once the beverage reaches the desired temperature, the user then will typically want to drink rapidly before the beverage drops below the desired temperature, or the user will have to drink the beverage cooler than desired or will reheat the beverage and start the process all over. Instead of waiting, the user can go ahead and drink at the elevated temperature at the risk of burn or discomfort.

[0004] The problem is exacerbated when a person needs to drink a beverage on the go. To-go and / or disposable beverage containers, also known as travel mugs or to-go drink containers, have been around for decades and have mostly been developed forthe purpose of keeping a beverage as hot as possible for as long as possible. Conventional hot beverage containers come in a variety of styles and have insulated walls that surround a beverage reservoir where a beverage to be consumed by a user is contained. Typically, a lid or top will be provided to help further maintain the desired temperature of the beverage in the beverage reservoir, with varying degrees of success. However, some insulated containers are so effective in maintaining temperature that a hot beverage can stay too hot for a long period of time.

[0005] In order for a user of an insulated container to have an enjoyable sipping experience, the user will sometimes remove the lid to allow the beverage to cool to a desired temperature. However, this process has its own problems. The lidless tumbler loses stability and can also be a spilling hazard, especially if the beverage is being sipped while the user is moving or riding in a car. Once the beverage is at the desired temperature, a user must go through the arduous process of replacing the lid which can increase the risk of spillage, especially if the lid is one that is difficult to secure properly. A removed lid can also become easily misplaced.

[0006] Moreover, conventional lids for insulated beverage containers suffer from other problems. For example, existing lids tend to be very utilitarian and generally provide a less-than-ideal drinking experience, particularly when it comes to the enjoyment of a hot beverage, such as coffee or tea. Typically, a lid for an insulated beverage container has a small hole through which a beverage being contained can flow as it is being consumed by a user. The act of drinking through the hole can be unsatisfying for some users, though. The feel on the user’s lips is not the same as the feel on the lips when sipping out of a traditional mug or cup. In addition, the aromas of the beverage do not rise unimpeded to the nose of the user just before and during the sip. Furthermore, the flow of the beverage into the user’s mouth is dependent on the size and shape of the hole more than the opening of the user’s lips and tilt of the cup.

[0007] Sipping a beverage on the go in modem day society is commonplace, and a popular manner of sipping the beverage is through a straw. However, straws come with difficulties and disadvantages. For example, many individuals consider traditional plastic straws to be deleterious to the environment. Plastic straws, because of their material and single-use nature, can cause pollution and disposal challengesand can pose hazards to marine life and ecosystems. As a result, there has been widespread efforts to reduce, and perhaps one day eradicate, the use of single-use plastic straws.

[0008] One such effort to replace single-use plastic straws has been the production of reusable straws made of a non-disposable material, such as a metal or rigid plastic. While useful, reuseable straws suffer from their own disadvantages. For example, reuseable straws must be cleaned and / or sanitized between uses, which can be burdensome for a user and not always possible. Also, a reuseable straw must be carried by a person, which can be inconvenient. Often, a user will not have their reusable straw with them when they purchase a beverage, forcing the user to sip the beverage without a straw or to compromise their sensibilities and use a disposable straw.

[0009] Another effort to replace single-use plastic straws has been to make straws out of a more readily decomposable and / or compostable material. For example, straws made of paper or paper-based materials have been gaining popularity. However, paper-based straws can be difficult to efficiently manufacture, package, and / or distribute, leading manufacturers and beverage suppliers less than enthused to champion their use.

[0010] Therefore, there is a need for an improved beverage container, particularly a hot beverage container. There is a further need for a beverage container that provides an improved beverage temperature profile during the course of consumption. There is a further need for a hot beverage container that allows a hot beverage to be consumed sooner than conventional hot beverage containers. There is a further need for a hot beverage container that allows a portion of a hot beverage that is to be sipped to cool faster than another portion of the hot beverage that is to be stored or later sipping.

[0001] In addition, there is a need for an improved beverage tumbler. There is a further need for an improved beverage tumbler that creates a more enjoyable sipping experience for a user. There is a further need for a beverage tumbler that provides a rim-based sipping experience of a beverage while maintaining the temperature of the beverage in the tumbler. There is a further need for a beverage tumbler that helps maintain the temperature of a beverage without the need for a lid with a drinking hole.

[0002] In addition, there is a need for an improved straw for a beverage container. There is a further need for a straw that can be readily and / or efficiently manufactured.There is a further need for a straw that conveniently distributed for use with a beverage container. There is a further need for a straw that can be made as part of and / or that can cooperate with a beverage container in an advantageous manner.SUMMARY

[0011] The present invention satisfies one or more of these needs. In one aspect of the invention, an improved beverage container is provided.

[0012] In another aspect of the invention, an improved beverage system is provided.

[0013] In another aspect of the invention, an improved beverage tumbler is provided.

[0014] In another aspect of the invention, an improved hot beverage container is provided.

[0015] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container provides an improved beverage temperature profile during the course of consumption of a beverage.

[0016] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container is provided that allows a portion of a hot beverage to be consumed sooner than with a conventional container.

[0017] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container is provided that allows a portion of a hot beverage to be consumed sooner than with a conventional container without the need to remove a lid of the container.

[0018] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container that allows a portion of a hot beverage that is to be sipped to cool faster than another portion of the hot beverage that can be stored for later sipping.

[0019] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container provides a more enjoyable sipping experience of a hot beverage for a user.

[0020] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container provides a rim-based sipping experience of a hot beverage.

[0021] In another aspect of the invention, a hot beverage container provides a rimbased sipping experience of a portion of a hot beverage while maintaining the temperature of another portion of the hot beverage.

[0022] In another aspect of the invention, a method of sipping a beverage comprises providing a beverage container as described herein and using the beverage container as described herein.

[0023] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a chamber creating system within the tumbler body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

[0024] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a chamber creating system within the tumbler body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the beverage storage chamber is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of the sidewall, a portion of the bottom, and the top wall, wherein the sipping chamber is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of the sidewall, and a portion of the bottom, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

[0025] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a chamber creating system within the tumbler body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, and wherein the partitioning wall comprises a pair of longitudinally extending side edges that each sealingly engage the sidewall of the beverage container body.

[0026] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a chamber creating system within the tumbler body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, and wherein the sipping opening comprises a rim portion over which beverage from the sipping chamber can flow when being sipped and wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber passes through the sipping chamber before flowing over the rim portion.

[0027] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a chamber creating system within the tumbler body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sippingchamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, wherein the partitioning wall is a moveable partitioning wall that can be moved from a first position where there is no sipping chamber to a second position where a sipping chamber is created.

[0028] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container includes a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior and a chamber creating system positionable within the container body interior. The chamber creating system includes a partitioning wall that divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber. A sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber. A beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening.

[0029] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and an insert comprising a chamber creating system, the insert being insertable into the container body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the partitioning wall separates the beverage storage chamber and the sipping chamber, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; and wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening.

[0030] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and an insert comprising a chamber creating system, the insert being insertable into the container body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the partitioning wall separates the beverage storage chamber andthe sipping chamber, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; and wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening, and wherein the partitioning wall and the top wall are integrally connected at a fold, and wherein the partitioning wall is bendable relative to the top wall at the fold.

[0031] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and an insert comprising a chamber creating system, the insert being insertable into the container body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the partitioning wall separates the beverage storage chamber and the sipping chamber, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; and wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening, and wherein the partitioning wall and the top wall are separate parts, and wherein the top wall comprises a partitioning wall opening through which the partitioning wall can be inserted.

[0032] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a partitioning wall integrally connection to the sidewall, the partitioning wall being moveable between a non-partitioning configuration to a partitioning configuration, wherein when in the partitioning configuration, the partitioning wall divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; and wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening.

[0033] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container bodyinterior; and a partitioning wall extending vertically into the beverage container body, wherein the partitioning wall divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening; and wherein the partitioning wall comprises a vent opening near the top of the partitioning wall, the vent opening allowing air to pass into the beverage storage chamber when beverage is being sipped through the sipping opening.

[0034] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a partitioning wall extending vertically into the beverage container body, wherein the partitioning wall comprises a longitudinally extending outward curvature, wherein the partitioning wall divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the sipping chamber is at least partially annular and at least partially surrounds the beverage storage chamber, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening.

[0035] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container comprises a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a partitioning wall extending vertically into the beverage container body, wherein the partitioning wall comprises a longitudinally extending outward curvature, wherein the partitioning wall divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the sipping chamber is at least partially annular and at least partially surrounds the beverage storage chamber, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening, wherein the partitioning wall extends upwardly to a top ledge, and wherein the beverage container furthercomprises a beverage storage chamber lid adapted to engage the partitioning wall top ledge.

[0036] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage tumbler is provided that creates a more enjoyable sipping experience for a user.

[0037] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage tumbler provides a rim-based sipping experience of a beverage while maintaining the temperature of the beverage.

[0038] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage tumbler helps maintain the temperature of a beverage without the need for a lid with a drinking hole.

[0039] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage tumbler comprises a beverage storage chamber that is in flow communication with a sipping chamber, the beverage storage chamber being designed to contain a beverage in a manner where there is no direct contact between the beverage in the beverage storage chamber and an ambient temperature.

[0040] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage tumbler comprises a beverage storage chamber that is in flow communication with a sipping chamber, the beverage storage chamber being designed to contain a beverage in a manner where there is no direct contact between the beverage in the beverage storage chamber and an ambient temperature, and wherein a sipping chamber valve system allows a user to selectively fill the sipping chamber with beverage from the beverage storage chamber.

[0041] In another aspect of the invention, a method of sipping a beverage comprises providing a beverage tumbler as described herein and using the beverage tumbler as described herein.

[0042] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage tumbler comprises a tumbler body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a tumbler body interior; and a partitioning system within the tumbler body interior, the partitioning system comprising walls that divide the tumbler body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sippingchamber can be sipped by a user without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

[0043] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage tumbler comprises a tumbler body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a tumbler body interior; and a partitioning system within the tumbler body interior, the partitioning system comprising walls that divide the tumbler body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, wherein the sipping chamber comprises a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion comprises a rim portion over which beverage from the sipping chamber can flow when being sipped, and wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber passes through the lower portion of the sipping chamber before flowing into the upper portion of the sipping chamber.

[0044] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage tumbler comprises a tumbler body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a tumbler body interior; and a partitioning system within the tumbler body interior, the partitioning system comprising walls that divide the tumbler body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, wherein the sipping chamber comprises a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion comprises a rim portion over which beverage from the sipping chamber can flow when being sipped, wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber passes through the lower portion of the sipping chamber before flowing into the upper portion of the sipping chamber, and wherein the lower portion of the sipping chamber is surrounded horizontally by the beverage storage chamber when the beverage tumbler is in an upright orientation.

[0045] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage tumbler comprises a tumbler body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a tumbler body interior; and a partitioning system within the tumbler body interior, the partitioning system comprising walls that divide the tumbler body interior into a beverage storagechamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber flows into the sipping chamber through a communication channel at or near a bottom of the beverage storage chamber, and wherein a sipping chamber valve system controls the flow of beverage from the beverage storage chamber to the sipping chamber.

[0046] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage tumbler insert is adapted to be insertable into a tumbler body, the beverage tumbler insert comprising a partitioning system removably insertable into a tumbler body interior, the partitioning system comprising walls that divide the tumbler body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber when the beverage tumbler insert is positioned within the tumbler body, wherein when the insert is positioned within the tumbler body a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

[0047] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage tumbler insert is adapted to be insertable into a tumbler body, the beverage tumbler insert comprising a partitioning system removably insertable into a tumbler body interior, the partitioning system comprising walls that divide the tumbler body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber when the beverage tumbler insert is positioned within the tumbler body, wherein when the insert is positioned within the tumbler body a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature, wherein the sipping chamber comprises a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion comprises a rim portion over which beverage from the sipping chamber can flow when being sipped, and wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber passes through the lower portion of the sipping chamber before flowing into the upper portion of the sipping chamber.

[0048] In another aspect of the invention, a method of sipping a beverage from a beverage tumbler comprises providing a beverage tumbler comprising a tumbler body comprising a sidewall and bottom that define a tumbler body interior and a partitioning system within the tumbler body interior, the partitioning system comprising walls that divide the tumbler body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, manipulating a valve to allow beverage in the beverage storage chamber to flow into the sipping chamber, and sipping the beverage in the sipping chamber.

[0049] In another aspect of the invention, a straw for a beverage container can be manufactured in an improved manner.

[0050] In another aspect of the invention, a straw for a beverage container can be distributed and / or stored in an improved manner.

[0051] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container and a straw that is integrally associated with the beverage container.

[0052] In another aspect of the invention, a straw for a beverage container can be designed to cooperate with a beverage container in an advantageous manner.

[0053] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container body and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container body, wherein both the beverage container body and the straw are made from a paperbased material.

[0054] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container body and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container body, wherein both the beverage container body and the straw are made from a single sheet of paper-based material.

[0055] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container body and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container body, wherein the straw is integrally part of the beverage container during use.

[0056] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container body and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container body, wherein the straw is integrally connected to the beverage container prior to use and is disconnected from the beverage container during use.

[0057] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container body and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container body, wherein the beverage container further comprises a lid, and wherein the lid comprises a straw opening.

[0058] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container body and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container body, wherein the beverage container further comprises a lid, and wherein the lid comprises a portion of the straw.

[0059] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container body and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container body, wherein the straw is transformable from a collapsed configuration to an open configuration.

[0060] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container body and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container body, wherein the straw is moveable from a first position to a second position.

[0061] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container body and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container body, wherein the beverage container further comprises a chamber creation system comprising a partitioning wall that divides a reservoir in the beverage container body into a beverage storage chamber and a beverage sipping chamber.

[0062] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container body and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container body, wherein the beverage container further comprises a chamber creation system comprising a partitioning wall that divides a reservoir in the beverage container body into a beverage storage chamber and a beverage sipping chamber, and wherein thepartitioning wall and the straw are contained within an insert that is insertable into the beverage container body.

[0063] In another aspect of the invention, a straw comprises a plurality of separate tubular portions that are connectable together to form the straw.

[0064] In another aspect of the invention, a method of using a straw comprises providing a straw as described herein and using the straw as described herein.

[0065] In another aspect of the invention, a method a making a straw in an improved manner is provided.

[0066] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container comprising a beverage container body having a sidewall and a bottom that define an interior reservoir, and an open top, and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container, wherein the beverage container body comprises a paper-based material and wherein the straw comprises a paper-based material.

[0067] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container comprising a beverage container body having a sidewall and a bottom that define an interior reservoir, and an open top, and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container, wherein the straw is releasably attached to the beverage container body when in a pre-use configuration, and wherein the straw comprises a first straw tubular portion and a second straw tubular portion, and wherein the first straw tubular portion and the second straw tubular portion are connectable to one another to form the straw.

[0068] In another aspect of the invention, a beverage container system comprises a beverage container comprising a beverage container body having a sidewall and a bottom that define an interior reservoir, and an open top, a lid attachable to the beverage container body to at least partially cover the open top; and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container, wherein the straw comprises a two part straw body including a container straw portion and a lid straw portion, and wherein the container straw portion mates with the lid straw portion when the lid is attached to thebeverage container body to form a straw that can draw a beverage from the interior reservoir of the beverage container body through the straw.

[0069] In another aspect of the invention, a method of making a straw comprises providing a sheet of paper-based material, the sheet of paper-based material having a left panel and a right panel, the left panel and right panel being separated by a longitudinal perforation; folding the left side panel into a first straw portion having a taper; folding the right side panel into a second straw portion having a taper; separating the first straw portion from the second straw portion at the perforation; and connecting the first straw portion and the second straw portion to form a straw.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] These features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings which illustrate exemplary features of the invention. However, it is to be understood that each of the features can be used in the invention in general, not merely in the context of the particular drawings, and the invention includes any combination of these features, where:

[0071] Figure 1 A is a schematic perspective view of a version of a beverage container of the invention;

[0072] Figure IB is a schematic sectional side view through a longitudinal midline of the beverage container of Figure 1 A in the direction of 1B-1B;

[0073] Figure 2A is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage container of Figure 1 A and IB in a filled condition and an upright position;

[0074] Figure 2B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage container of Figure 1 A in a filled condition and a tilted position;

[0075] Figure 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of another version of a beverage container of the invention in a separated configuration;

[0076] Figure 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of another version of a beverage container of the invention in a separated configuration;

[0077] Figure 5A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

[0078] Figure 5B is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

[0079] Figure 5C is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

[0080] Figure 5D is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

[0081] Figure 6A is a schematic perspective view from the front and side of a version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

[0082] Figure 6B is a schematic perspective view from below of a version of the beverage container insert of Figure 6A;

[0083] Figure 7 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a beverage container including the beverage container insert of Figure 6A;

[0084] Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of the beverage container of Figure 7;

[0085] Figure 9A is a schematic perspective view from the side of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

[0086] Figure 9B is a schematic perspective view from the side of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

[0087] Figure 10A is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

[0088] Figure 10B is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

[0089] Figure 11 A is a schematic top view of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

[0090] Figure 1 IB is a schematic side view of the beverage container insert of Figure 11 A;

[0091] Figure 11C is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of the beverage container insert of Figure 11 A;

[0092] Figure 12A is a schematic top view of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

[0093] Figure 12B is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of the beverage container insert of Figure 12A;

[0094] Figure 13 A is a schematic perspective view from above of a version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

[0095] Figure 13B is a schematic perspective view from below of the beverage container insert of Figure 13 A;

[0096] Figure 14A is a schematic perspective view from above of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention in a first configuration;

[0097] Figure 14B is a schematic perspective view from above of the beverage container insert of Figure 14A in a second configuration;

[0098] Figure 15A is a schematic perspective view from above of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention in a first configuration;

[0099] Figure 15B is a schematic perspective view from above of the beverage container insert of Figure 15A in a second configuration;

[0100] Figure 16A is a schematic perspective view from above of a portion of a version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

[0101] Figure 16B is a schematic perspective view from above of another portion of the version of a beverage container insert of Figure 16A;

[0102] Figure 16C is a schematic perspective view from above of a beverage container of the invention with the beverage container insert of Figures 16A and 16B;

[0103] Figure 17A is a schematic perspective view from above of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

[0104] Figure 17B is a schematic perspective view from above of a beverage container of the invention with the beverage container insert of Figure 17 A;

[0105] Figure 18 is a schematic perspective view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

[0106] Figure 19A is a schematic perspective view from above of a portion of a version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention;

[0107] Figure 19B is a schematic perspective view from above of another portion of the version of a beverage container insert inserted into the portion of Figure 19A ;

[0108] Figure 20 is a schematic perspective view from above of another version of a beverage container insert for a beverage container of the invention in a first configuration;

[0109] Figure 21 is a schematic exploded view of the beverage container insert of Figure 20;

[0110] Figure 22 is a schematic perspective view of a beverage container with the beverage container insert of Figure 20 therein and with the beverage container insert in a second configuration;

[0111] Figure 23 A is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of another version of a beverage container of the invention in a non-partitioning configuration;

[0112] Figure 23B is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of the beverage container of Figure 23 A in a partitioning configuration;

[0113] Figure 23C is a schematic top view of the beverage container of Figure 23A in a partitioning configuration;

[0114] Figure 24A is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of another version of a beverage container of the invention in a non-partitioning configuration;

[0115] Figure 24B is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of the beverage container of Figure 24A in a partitioning configuration;

[0116] Figure 25 A is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of another version of a beverage container of the invention in a non-partitioning configuration; and

[0117] Figure 25B is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of the beverage container of Figure 25 A in a partitioning configuration;

[0118] Figure 26 is a schematic perspective view from above and to the side of the beverage container of Figure 23 A in a partitioning configuration and with a lid with a cover member;

[0119] Figure 27 is a schematic perspective view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

[0120] Figure 28 is a schematic perspective view from above of the beverage container of Figure 27;

[0121] Figure 29A is a schematic perspective view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

[0122] Figure 29B is a schematic perspective view of a lid portion of the beverage container of Figure 29A;

[0123] Figure 30 is a schematic perspective view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

[0124] Figure 31 is a schematic top view of the beverage container of Figure 30;

[0125] Figure 32A is a schematic perspective view of another version of a beverage container of the invention;

[0126] Figure 32B is a schematic side view of the beverage container of Figure 32A;

[0127] Figure 32C is a schematic perspective view of a lid portion of the beverage container of Figure 32A;

[0128] Figure 33A is a schematic perspective view of a version of a beverage tumbler of the invention;

[0129] Figure 33B is a schematic sectional side view through a longitudinal midline of the beverage tumbler of Figure 33A;

[0130] Figure 34A is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 33A and 33B in a filled condition and an upright position;

[0131] Figure 34B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 33 A in a filled condition and a tilted position;

[0132] Figure 35 A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention in a separated configuration;

[0133] Figure 35B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 35 A in an inserted configuration;

[0134] Figure 36A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention;

[0135] Figure 36B is a schematic top view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 36A;

[0136] Figure 37A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention;

[0137] Figure 37B is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention;

[0138] Figure 37C is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention;

[0139] Figure 37D is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention;

[0140] Figure 38A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention;

[0141] Figure 38B is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention;

[0142] Figure 38C is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention;

[0143] Figure 38D is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention;

[0144] Figure 39A is a schematic partially sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0145] Figure 39B is a schematic partially sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 39A in a beverage storage configuration and with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0146] Figure 40A is a schematic partially sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 39A filled with a beverage and with a valve system in an unactuated position;

[0147] Figure 40B is a schematic partially sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 39A filled with a beverage in a ready to sip configuration and with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0148] Figure 41 A is a schematic partially sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 39A following a sip and with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0149] Figure 41B is a schematic partially sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention in a ready to sip configuration and with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0150] Figure 42A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0151] Figure 42B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 42A with the valve system in an unactuated position;

[0152] Figure 43 A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0153] Figure 43B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 43 A with the valve system in an unactuated position;

[0154] Figure 44A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0155] Figure 44B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 44A with the valve system in an unactuated position;

[0156] Figure 45 A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0157] Figure 45B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 45A with the valve system in an unactuated position;

[0158] Figure 46 is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0159] Figure 47A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0160] Figure 47B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 47A with the valve system in an unactuated position;

[0161] Figure 48 A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0162] Figure 48B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage tumbler of Figure 48A with the valve system in an unactuated position;

[0163] Figure 49A is a perspective view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention with a valve system in an actuated position;

[0164] Figure 49B is a perspective view of a portion of the beverage tumbler of Figure 49 A;

[0165] Figure 50 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention;

[0166] Figure 51 is a schematic exploded perspective view of another version of a beverage tumbler of the invention;

[0167] Figure 52A is a schematic perspective view of a version of a beverage container system of the invention;

[0168] Figure 52B is a schematic sectional side view through a longitudinal midline of the beverage container system of Figure 52A;

[0169] Figure 53 is a schematic perspective view of another version of a beverage container system of the invention;

[0170] Figure 54A is a schematic perspective view of a version of a lid for use as part of a version of a beverage container system of the invention;

[0171] Figure 54B is a schematic top view of a version of a beverage container system of the invention with the lid of Figure 54A connected thereto;

[0172] Figure 55A is a schematic side view of a sheet of paperboard that can be formed into a portion of a beverage containing system of the invention;

[0173] Figure 55B is a schematic top view of the sheet of paperboard of Figure 55A in a first step of being formed into a beverage containing system;

[0174] Figure 55C is a schematic top view of the sheet of paperboard of Figure 55A in a second step of being formed into a beverage containing system;

[0175] Figure 56 is a schematic side view of another version of a sheet of paperboard that can be formed into a portion of a beverage containing system of the invention;

[0176] Figure 57A is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the sheet of paperboard of Figure 56 in a first step of being formed into a portion of a beverage containing system of the invention;

[0177] Figure 57B is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the sheet of paperboard of Figure 56 in a second step of being formed into a portion of a beverage containing system of the invention;

[0178] Figure 57C is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the sheet of paperboard of Figure 56 in a third step of being formed into a portion of a beverage containing system of the invention;

[0179] Figure 57D is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the sheet of paperboard of Figure 56 in a fourth step of being formed into a portion of a beverage containing system of the invention;

[0180] Figure 58A is a schematic side view of a version of a lid for use as part of a version of a beverage container system of the invention;

[0181] Figure 58B is a schematic sectional side view of a version of a beverage container system of the invention adapted to receive the lid of Figure 58A;

[0182] Figure 59A is a schematic perspective view of the lid of Figure 58A;

[0183] Figure 59B is a schematic perspective view of the beverage container system of Figure 58B with the lid of Figure 58A connected thereto;

[0184] Figure 60A is a schematic perspective view of another version of a lid for use as part of a version of a beverage container system of the invention;

[0185] Figure 60B is a schematic perspective view of another version of a beverage container system of the invention adapted to receive the lid of Figure 60A;

[0186] Figure 61 A is a schematic side view of another version of a sheet of paperboard that can be formed into a portion of a beverage containing system of the invention;

[0187] Figure 61B is a schematic top view of the sheet of paperboard of Figure 61A in a first step of being formed into a beverage containing system;

[0188] Figure 61C is a schematic top view of the sheet of paperboard of Figure 61A in a second step of being formed into a beverage containing system;

[0189] Figure 62 is a schematic perspective view of a beverage container system formed by the process of Figures 61A, 61B, and 61C;

[0190] Figure 63 A is a schematic perspective view of another version of a beverage container system of the invention in a first configuration;

[0191] Figure 63B is a schematic perspective view of the beverage container system of Figure 63 A in a second configuration;

[0192] Figure 64A is a schematic side view of another version of a sheet of paperboard that can be formed into a portion of a beverage containing system of the invention;

[0193] Figure 64B is a schematic perspective view of a beverage container system formed by the process of Figures 61A, 61B, and 61C;

[0194] Figure 64C is a schematic perspective view of a version of a lid that can be used with a version of the beverage container system of the invention;

[0195] Figure 65 A is a schematic perspective view of a version of a straw that can be used in a beverage container system of the invention;

[0196] Figure 65B is a schematic perspective view of a version of a beverage container system with the straw of Figure 65 A in a first configuration and a first position;

[0197] Figure 66A is a schematic perspective view of the version of a beverage container system of Figure 65B with the straw of Figure 65 A in a second configuration and a second position;

[0198] Figure 66B is a schematic perspective view of the beverage container system of Figure 66A with a version of a lid connected thereto;

[0199] Figure 67A is a schematic sectional side view of another version of a beverage container system of the invention in a pre-use configuration;

[0200] Figure 67B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage container system of Figure 67A in an in-use configuration;

[0201] Figure 68 A is a schematic side view of another version of a sheet of paperboard that can be formed into a portion of a beverage containing system of the invention;

[0202] Figure 68B is a schematic top view of the sheet of paperboard of Figure 68 A in a process of being formed into a beverage containing system;

[0203] Figure 69A is a schematic side view of a version of a beverage container system of the invention;

[0204] Figure 69B is a schematic side view of a straw constructed from straw segments of the version of Figure 69 A;

[0205] Figure 70 is a schematic side view of a blank sheet of paperboard that can be folded into a straw segment;

[0206] Figure 71 A is a schematic top view of the blank sheet of paperboard of Figure 70;

[0207] Figure 7 IB is a schematic top view of the blank sheet of paperboard of Figure 70 folded into a straw segment in an open configuration;

[0208] Figure 71C is a schematic top view of the blank sheet of paperboard of Figure 70 folding into a straw segment in a collapsed configuration;

[0209] Figure 72A is a schematic side view of another version of a blank sheet of paperboard that can be folded into a pair of straw segments;

[0210] Figure 72B is a schematic top view of the blank sheet of paperboard of Figure 72A being folded into a pair of straw segments;

[0211] Figure 72C is a schematic top view of the blank sheet of paperboard of Figure 72A continuing to be folded into a pair of straw segments;

[0212] Figure 73 is a schematic top view of steps of a process for folding a blank sheet of paperboard into a pair of straw segments in their collapsed configuration;

[0213] Figure 74 is a schematic top view of steps of another process for folding a blank sheet of paperboard into a pair of straw segments;

[0214] Figure 75A is a schematic perspective view of a version of a beverage container system of the invention;

[0215] Figure 75B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage container system of Figure 75 A;

[0216] Figure 76A is a sectional side view of the beverage container of Figure 75A in a filled condition and an upright position;

[0217] Figure 76B is a schematic sectional side view of the beverage container of Figure 75A in a filled condition and a tilted position;

[0218] Figure 77 is a schematic perspective view from above and front of an insert for a version of a beverage container system of the invention;

[0219] Figure 78 A is a schematic perspective view from above and rear of the insert of Figure 77;

[0220] Figure 78B is a schematic perspective view from above of lid of a version of a beverage container system using the insert of Figure 78 A;

[0221] Figure 78C is a schematic perspective view from above of a beverage container system using the insert of Figure 78 A and the lid of Figure 78B of the invention with the beverage container insert of Figures 67A and 67B;

[0222] Figure 79A is a schematic perspective view from above and front of another version of an insert for another version of a beverage container system of the invention;

[0223] Figure 79B is a schematic perspective view of the insert of Figure 79A in use with a version of a lid in a first position; and

[0224] Figure 79C is a schematic perspective view of the insert of Figure 79A in use with a version of a lid in a second position.DESCRIPTION

[0225] The present invention relates to a beverage container, a beverage container system, and / or accessories for use therewith. In particular, the invention relates to a reusable or disposable beverage container that helps control the temperature of a beverage, that is easily manufactured, that is associated with a straw, and / or other features disclosed herein. Although the invention is illustrated and described in the context of being useful for containing and allowing the consumption of a beverage, the present invention can be used in other ways, as would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the present invention should not be limited just to the examples and embodiments described herein.BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITH CHAMBER CREATING SYSTEM

[0226] Figures 1 A and IB show a version of a beverage container 100 according to the present invention. The beverage container 100 may be any type of beverage container, such as a cup, mug, stein, tumbler, glass, or the like that is intended to contain one or more servings of a beverage in a manner that allows the beverage to be sipped by a user of the beverage container 100. The user can be a single individual, a plurality of individuals, an individual that is providing a sip of the beverage to another individual, and / or a user that is receiving a sip of the beverage under the assistance of another individual. The beverage container 100 is typically, but not necessarily, made of one or more of stainless steel; plastic, such as polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and high density polyethylene; paper product, such as carboard and wood pulp; ceramic materials, such as glass, porcelain, clay; and the like. The beverage container 100 can be reusable or disposable. The beverage container 100 includes a beverage container body 105 made up of a sidewall 110, a bottom 115, and an open top 120. The sidewall 110 has a sidewall interior surface 125 and the bottom 115 has a bottom interior surface 130. Together the sidewall 110and the bottom 115 define a container body interior 135 that serves as a beverage containing reservoir lined by sidewall interior surface 125 and the bottom interior surface. The open top 120 provides access to the container body interior 135.

[0227] As can also be seen in the version of Figures 1 A and IB, the beverage container 100 of the present invention includes a chamber creating system 140 that is positioned or positionable within the container body interior 135 to divide the container body interior into a plurality of chambers. The chamber creating system 140 can be an integral part of the beverage container, or the chamber creating system 140 or a portion thereof can be a separate part, as will be discussed below. The chamber creating system 140 comprises a partitioning wall 145 and, optionally, a top wall 150. When provided, the top wall 150 may be an integral part of the beverage container body 105, may be a removable piece, may be in the form of or part of a lid or the like, may be a part of or separate from the partitioning wall 145, and / or may be otherwise provided, as will be discussed. The partitioning wall 145 extends downwardly from the top wall 150 in the region of the open top 120 into the container body interior 135 as best seen in Figure IB. In the version shown, the partitioning wall 145 extends in an at least partially vertical direction within the container body interior 135 when the beverage container 100 is in the upright position shown in Figures 1 A and IB. The partitioning wall 145 of the chamber creating system 140 cooperates with the sidewall 110 and / or bottom 115 of the container body 105 to divide the container body interior 135 into a plurality of separate chambers.

[0228] For example, in the version of Figures 1 A and IB, the partitioning wall 145 of the chamber creating system 140 separates the container body interior 135 into a first chamber, a beverage storage chamber 155, and a second chamber, a sipping chamber 160. The partitioning wall 145 has a first surface 165 on a storage chamber side of the partitioning wall 145 and a second surface 170 on a sipping chamber side of the partitioning wall 145. The beverage storage chamber 155 is thus defined by the first surface 165 of the partitioning wall 145, an interior surface 175 the top wall 150, and a portion of the sidewall interior surface 125 and / or a portion of the bottom interior surface 130. The sipping chamber 160 is defined by the second surface 170 of the partitioning wall 145 and a different portion of the sidewall interior surface 125 and / or a different portion of the bottom interior surface 130. The beverage storagechamber 155 is designed to serve as a beverage storage reservoir in which a beverage to be sipped can be contained and / or stored in a manner that preserves the temperature of the beverage within the beverage storage chamber 155.

[0229] The beverage storage chamber 155 communicates with the sipping chamber 160 through a communication channel 180 located at or near the bottom of the beverage container 100 and / or at or near the bottom of the container body interior 135. The communication channel 180 allows a beverage within the beverage storage chamber 155 to flow into the sipping chamber 160. The sipping chamber 160 is designed to contain a portion of the beverage that is to be sipped by a user. The partitioning wall 145 comprises a pair of longitudinally extended side edges 185 that are sized, shaped, and contoured to engaged the sidewall interior surface 125 in a sealing manner so that beverage from the beverage storage chamber 155 does not substantially seep through to the sipping chamber and so that the communication channel 180 is the predominant path of passage of beverage from the beverage storage chamber 155 to the sipping chamber 160. At or near the open top 120 of the container body 105, in the version of Figures 1 A and IB, is a sipping opening 190 of the beverage container 100 at the upper extent of the sipping chamber 160. Within the sipping opening 190 is a rim portion 195, as will be described in more detail.

[0230] Operation of the beverage container 100 of Figures 1A and IB is illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B. Figure 2A shows the beverage container 100 at least partially filled with a beverage 200 to be sipped by a user. As can be seen, the beverage 200 is contained both within container body interior 135 and is divided into a portion that is in the beverage storage chamber 155 and a portion that is in the sipping chamber 160. In the version shown, the communication channel 180 is a free-flowing passageway that allows the beverage 200 to flow freely between the beverage storage chamber 155 and the sipping chamber 160. Because a liquid will tend to flow to find a common level when not acted on by outside forces, the beverage storage chamber beverage height 205 is approximately the same as the sipping chamber beverage height 210 when the beverage container 100 is in an untilted, ready -to-sip, upright position as shown in Figure 2A. The beverage 200 can be prefilled, filled by pouring through the sipping chamber 160, or filled in manners that will be discussed hereinbelow.

[0231] To sip the beverage 200, a user tilts the beverage container 100 as shown in Figure 2B. Figure 2B shows a tilted position of the beverage container 100 just before the beverage 200 in the sipping chamber 160 will spill over the rim portion 195 and out of the sipping opening 190. As the beverage container 100 is tilted from the upright position of Figure 2A to a tilted position such as the one shown in Figure 2B, the top wall 150 serves to close the top of the beverage storage chamber 155 and prevents the beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155 from being poured out of the top of the beverage container 100. The only exit for beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155 is through communication channel 180 and then through the sipping chamber 160. With continued tilting beyond the tilt of Figure 2B, the beverage 200 in the sipping chamber 160 will begin to flow out of the sipping opening 190 as it flows towards and over the rim portion 195. A small vent hole or the like, such as a hole on the order of 1 mm diameter in the top wall 150 or other position, can be provided to allow air into the beverage storage chamber 155 to help facilitate the flow of beverage from the beverage storage chamber 155 into the sipping chamber 160 and / or in the opposite direction.

[0232] The beverage container 100 of Figures 1 A and IB and shown in operation in Figures 2A and 2B offers several unique advantages over existing beverage containers. For example, when the beverage is an extremely hot beverage, the sipping chamber 160 can act as a cooling chamber bringing the temperature of just the amount of beverage to be sipped down to a drinkable temperature while keeping the portion of the beverage in the beverage storage chamber 155 hot for a longer period of time. This not only allows the user to begin sipping the beverage 200 sooner than if there were no sipping chamber 160, it provides an improved temperature profile over the course of the consumption of the beverage 200. The maintenance of the temperature of the beverage in the beverage storage chamber 155 prolongs the sipping experience. The sipping experience provided by the sipping chamber 160 of the beverage container 100 is thus further enhanced by the beverage storage chamber 155 which serves to keep the beverage 200 at a desired temperature for a longer period of time. More specifically, with the beverage container 100 of the invention, the portion of the beverage 200 that is in the sipping chamber 160 is exposed to ambient temperature along its top surface. In contrast, the portion of the beverage 200 that is in the beverage storage chamber 155 is insulated from the ambient temperature in that noportion or surface of the beverage 200 that is within the beverage storage chamber 155 is directly exposed to ambient temperature. The beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155 is instead surrounded and / or enclosed by the sidewall 110 of the container body 105, the bottom 115 of the container body 105, the partitioning wall 145, the top wall 150, and the portion of the beverage 200 in the sipping chamber 160 that is near the communication channel 180. Each of these components that directly contact the beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155 can serve to insulate the beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155 from ambient temperature.

[0233] To increase the temperature maintaining ability, the beverage container 100 can include an insulating system. For example, the container body 105 can be in the form of a traditional mug or cup, or the container body 105 can be in the form of a travel beverage tumbler, and either of which can be designed to maintain the temperature of a beverage in the container body interior 135. In particular, a travel beverage tumbler can be designed to allow a user to drink a beverage on the go and also commonly referred to as an insulated tumbler, a travel mug, a portable mug, an insulated cup, a to-go cup, an on-the-go cup, a thermal mug or cup, a thermos mug or cup, and the like. The beverage container 100 in the form of a travel beverage tumbler can include an insulating system that is designed to reduce the transfer of heat through at least a portion of the sidewall 110 and / or the bottom 115. The insulting system can be provided, for example, by a sidewall 110, bottom 115, and / or other mechanisms that are designed to prevent or reduce heat transfer so that a beverage 200 contained within the container body interior 135 is maintained at a desired temperature for a period of time. Various designs of the insulating system are available, including for example, one or more of making the sidewall 110 and / or bottom 115 out of insulating material, such as a ceramic and / or a foam material, inserting insulating material within a sidewall 110 and / or bottom 115, using a double wall construction for the sidewall 110 and / or bottom 115, and the like, all of which are conventionally known in the art. In addition, the partitioning wall 145 and / or the top wall 150 of the chamber creating system 140 can be provided with insulating properties, such as those described above for the insulating system to further reduce the heat transfer associated with a beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155. The beverage container 100 may optionally include additional systems or items for maintaining the temperature of a beverage, such as active heating and / or coolingelements that are incorporated into the or positionable in proximity to the beverage container 100.

[0234] Also, the beverage container 100 of Figures 1A and IB offers additional advantages. For example, when a user places the user’s lips on the rim portion 195 to receive the beverage 200 from the sipping chamber 160 into the user’s mouth, a rimbased sipping experience is created for the user. The rim-based sipping experience involves the pressing of a user’s lips against the rim portion 195 and a cascading of the beverage 200 over the rim portion 195 in a way that is more like sipping from a traditional cup or mug than the sipping experience with a conventional beverage tumbler where beverage flows through a hole in a lid. With the beverage container 100 of the invention, a user can feel the beverage on the lips and can control the flow into the mouth by controlling the opening of the lips and / or the tilt of the beverage container 100. In addition, the user can better smell the beverage both before the beverage is sipped and during the sip because there is less of a barrier between the user’s nose and the beverage 200 that is in the sipping chamber 160 than when a lid with a small opening is used. When the beverage is a hot beverage, the user can feel the heat on the user’s face and / or through the user’s nose.

[0235] In the version of Figures 1A and IB, the parts of the beverage container 100 may be integrally connected. For example, the container body 105 and the chamber creating system 140 can be integrally or permanently connected to one another so as to form an interconnected device. The beverage container 100 in its integrally connected form can be a single-use device that is made from one or more materials intended to be disposed of or recycled, or the integrally connected form can be a multi-use device made of one or more materials that are cleanable.

[0236] In another version, such as shown in Figure 3, the beverage container 100 can have one or more separable components. For example, in the version shown, the chamber creating system 140 is in the form of an insert 300 that is selectively insertable into a container body 105. With the insert 300, a traditional container body 105 can be converted into a beverage container 100 of the invention that includes a beverage storage chamber 155 and a sipping chamber 160. The insert 300 can be inserted into the container body 105 during use as a dual chamber beverage container 100 and can be removed from the container body 105 for cleaning and / or to revert thecontainer body 105 to its traditional use. In this version, a coupling mechanism 305 can be provided that allows the insert 300 including at least a portion of the chamber creating system 140 to be selectively and separably coupled to the container body 105. In the version of Figure 3, the coupling mechanism 305 is a friction fit between the side edges 185 of the partitioning wall 145 and the sidewall interior surface 125 of the container body 105 and / or a friction fit between an outer edge 310 of the top wall 150 and the sidewall interior surface 125 of the container body 105. In one version, at least the side edges 185 of the partitioning wall 145 and / or the outer edge 310 of the top wall 150 can be made of slightly flexible material, such as silicone or rubber, that allows the side edges 185 and / or the outer edge 310 to mold or conform to the sidewall 110 in a manner that creates a seal that will prevent the flow of beverage between the edges and the sidewall 110. The coupling mechanism 305 selectively couples the insert 300 to the container body 105 in a way that allows the insert 300 and / or chamber creating system 140 to be removed from the container body 105 for cleaning or the like. Furthermore, the separation of the chamber creating system 140 allows the container body 105 to be used as a traditional cup if desired and / or to allow a beverage to be cooled to a desired temperature before reinsertion of the insert 300.

[0237] In one version, the insertion depth of the insert 300 into the container body interior 135 can be limited to create the communication channel 180. For example, the insertion depth can be at a position where a bottom 315 of the partitioning wall 145 is a predetermined height above the bottom 115 of the container body 105. By having the bottom 315 of the partitioning wall 145 terminate short of the bottom 115 of the container body 105, a gap is created, and the gap can become the communication channel 180. The insertion depth can be limited by a number of possible systems. For example by properly sizing and shaping the parts of the insert 300 the insertion depth of the insert 300 into the container body 105 can be limited when there is a taper to the shape of the sidewall 110, as is the case in Figure 3. Alternatively, one or more channels, slots, or the like can be provided on the sidewall interior surface 125 that receive a portion of the insert 300, such as the side edges 185 of the partitioning wall 145. Optionally, the channels can terminate to limit the insertion depth of the insert 300. In another version, the coupling mechanism 305 can be in the form of a snap fit or can include a rotational attachment system, such as thread or a bayonet connector, and the like, as will be discussed.

[0238] Figure 4 shows another version of the beverage container 100. The version of Figure 4 is similar to the version of Figure 3. However, in the version of Figure 4, the bottom 315 of the partitioning wall 145 extends all the way to the bottom 115 of the container body 105, and an opening 405 is provided near the bottom 315 of the partitioning wall 145 that serves as the communication channel 180 between the beverage storage chamber 155 and the sipping chamber 160 when the insert 300 is inserted into the container body 105.

[0239] The rim portion 195 of the of the beverage container 100 can be provided on the container body 105, as shown in the version of Figure 3, or can be provided as part of the insert 300 and / or the chamber creating system 140. Whether provided on the container body 105, on the chamber creating system 140, or elsewhere, the rim portion 195 can be sized and shaped to simulate a traditional mug or cup. The rim portion 195 can have a radius of curvature that is the same or different from the radius of the open top 120 of the container body 105. The transverse radius of curvature and / or the thickness of the rim portion 195 can be selected to mimic a traditional mug or cup. For example, in one version, the rim portion 195 can have a thickness of from about 1 mm to about 10 mm. In particular versions, the rim portion 195 can be designed to mimic a paper cup and can have a thickness of from about 1 mm to about 4 mm. In another version, the rim portion 195 can be designed to mimic a china cup and can have a thickness of from about 3 mm to about 5 mm. In another version, the rim portion 195 can be designed to mimic a stone mug and can have a thickness of from about 4 mm to about 6 mm.

[0240] Figures 5 A, 5B, 5C, and 5D show other versions of a beverage container 100 of the invention. Figures 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are similar to the version of Figures 1 A and IB but with differently shaped chamber creating system 140 configurations. For example, in the version of Figure 5A, the chamber creating system 140 includes an angled partitioning wall 505. Alternatively, the version of Figure 5 A can be considered to have a vertical partitioning wall 145 and an angled top wall 150. In the version of Figure 5B, the chamber creating system 140 includes a curved partitioning wall and top wall combination 510. In the version of Figure 5C, the partitioning wall 145 of the chamber creating system 140 has a curved shape 515 that can match the curvature of the container body 105. In the version of Figure 5D, the chambercreating system 140 comprises an inwardly extending partitioning wall 520. With the version of Figure 5D, a larger sipping chamber space 525 is created near the bottom of the sipping chamber 160. This version can provide a slower beverage cooling process, if desired.

[0241] Figures 6A and 6B show another version of a beverage container insert 300 of the invention. The version of Figures 6A and 6B is similar to the version of Figure 3 except as explained below. Figure 7 shows the version of Figures 6A and 6B being inserted into a container body interior 135, and Figure 8 shows the beverage container 100 with the insert 300 in place. With the version of Figures 6A and 6B, one or more outward extensions 605 are provided that extend outwardly from the top wall 150 of the chamber creating system 140. The one or more outward extensions 605 include a bottom surface 610 that engages the rim portion 195 or other portion of the container body 105 to prevent over insertion of the insert 300 into the container body interior 135 and to assure the bottom 315 of the partitioning wall 145 is at the proper height to create the communication channel 180. Also, in the version of Figures 6A and 6B, the partitioning wall 145 has a contour with a longitudinally extending inward curvature 615 creating a concave surface in the sipping chamber 160 and / or a convex surface in the beverage storage chamber 155. When the insert 300 of Figures 6A and 6B is inserted into the container body interior 135, the longitudinally extending inward curvature 615 of the partitioning wall 145 extends from the sipping opening 190 to the bottom 315 of the partitioning wall 145. The design of the partitioning wall 145 with the longitudinally extending inward curvature 615 provides the ability to increase the volume of the sipping chamber 160 relative to the sipping opening 190 and / or to more closely match the shape of the sipping opening 190.

[0242] Figures 9A and 9B show other versions of a beverage container insert 300 of the invention. The version of Figures 9A and 9B are similar to the version of Figure 3, but in the version of Figures 9A and 9B, the insert 300 is in the form of a top cap 905 that is connectable to the top of a container body 105 to form the coupling mechanism 305 to couple the insert 300 to the container body 105. In the versions shown, the top cap 905 includes threads 910 that engage with threads on the container body 105. Alternatively, the top cap 905 can connect to the container body 105 in another manner, such as by a press fit, snap fit, or a bayonet connector. In the versionof Figure 9A, the rim portion 195 that the user contacts with the user’s lips is on the container body 105, as in the version of Figure 3. In the version of Figure 9B, the rim portion 195 is part of the top cap 905 with the top cap 905 including an opening 915 that is the sipping opening 190.

[0243] The beverage container 100 of the invention in the versions described above not only has the advantage of providing an improved sipping experience, it also has the advantage of being able to maintain the temperature of a beverage 200 contained within the beverage storage chamber 155 even in the absence of a lid that covers the open top 120 of the container body 105 due to the top wall 150 that covers and insulates the beverage storage chamber 155. That being said, in another version, a cover member, such as a detachable cover member, can be optionally provided. Advantageously, if provided, the cover member for the beverage container 100 does not need to be provided with a hole for sipping. The cover member can provide an additional layer of temperature preservation for a beverage 200 in the beverage storage chamber 155 and / or can help prevent the loss of desired temperature of a beverage 200 in the sipping chamber 160. The lack of a hole contributes to the temperature preservation. Also, even if the cover member is misplaced, the beverage container 100 continues to maintain the temperature of the beverage 200 in its absence.

[0244] Figure 10A shows a version of a beverage container 100 of the invention in which the beverage container 100 is in the form of a disposable beverage container 1000. By disposable it is meant that the beverage container is designed for single use or very few uses. Disposable beverage containers 1000 are made of inexpensive materials that can be readily discarded, preferably with minimal impacts to the environment and landfill usage. For example, the components of the disposable beverage container 1000 can be made of one or more of a paper product, such as cardboard or wood pulp, and a plastic product, such as polystyrene, polypropylene, and the like. Figure 10A shows a version of a beverage container 100 similar to the version of Figure 3. In the version of Figure 10A, the container body 105 is a disposable cup 1005, and the insert 300 is inserted into the disposable cup 1005 to create a disposable beverage container 1000 having a beverage storage chamber 155 and a sipping chamber 160 as discussed above. In the version of Figure 10A, theouter edge of the top wall 150 of the chamber creating system 140 is positioned at or near or contacts the top of the rim portion 195 of the container body 105. Optionally, as shown in Figure 10B, a hoop 1010 can be provided that is securable to the top of the container body 105 in a manner that secures the top wall 150 in place. In the particular version of Figure 10B, the hoop 1010 can contain the rim portion 195 that contacts the user’s lips during sipping of a beverage.

[0245] Figures 11 A, 1 IB, and 11C show a version of an insert 300 in the form of a one-piece insert 1100 for insertion into a container body 105, such as a disposable cup 1005 as shown in Figure 10A. The one-piece insert 1100 of Figures 11 A, 1 IB, and 11C includes a chamber creating system 140 that comprises an integrated partitioning wall 145 and top wall 150. In the version shown, the top wall 150 serves as a lid and includes a cup-latching member 1105, such as a molded portion that contours to the top of a disposable cup 1005, at the top wall outer edge 310. The cup-latching member 1105 is sized and shaped to engage and / or secure the one-piece insert 1100 to the top of the disposable cup 1005 and to serve as the coupling mechanism 305 with a container body 105. The partitioning wall 145 and top wall 150 are integrally formed in a manner that allows the partitioning wall 145 to be bendable relative to the top wall 150. In particular, the partitioning wall 145 is connected to the top wall 150 at a fold 1110 that allows the partitioning wall 145 to be bent or folded or otherwise have the angle changed relative to the top wall 150. Thus, by fold it is meant any mechanism or structure that allows for the adjustment of the relative angular positioning of the partitioning wall 145 and the top wall 150. The fold 1110 can be formed in a manner that encourages the folding of the parts or can merely be sufficiently thin to be manually folded. Alternatively, the fold can comprise a mechanism hinge or the like. To use the one-piece insert 1100, the partitioning wall 145 is bent or folded about the fold 1110 as shown in Figure 1 IB from the configuration of Figure 11 A to the configuration of Figure 11C. In the configuration of Figure 11C, the one-piece insert 1100 can be inserted into the container body 105. In another version, the cup-latching member 1105 can be removed and the one-piece insert 1100 can be inserted into a container body 105 and otherwise held in place, such as by a coupling mechanism 305 with a friction fit and / or with coupling mechanism that includes outward extensions 605.

[0246] Figures 12A and 12B show a version of a one-piece insert 1100 similar to the version of Figures 11 A, 1 IB, and 11C. While the version of Figures 11 A, 1 IB, and 11C is particularly useful with a generally cylindrically shaped disposable cup 1005, Figures 12A and 12B show a version with a partitioning wall 145 having a tapered shaped 1205 to correspond to a disposable cup 1005 that has a more tapered interior shape.

[0247] Figures 13A and 13B show another version of a chamber creating system 140 for a beverage container 100 of the invention. In the version of Figures 13 A and 13B, the chamber creating system 140 comprises a partitioning wall 145 having a vent opening 1305 in and through the partitioning wall 145. The vent opening 1305 allows air to pass into the beverage storage chamberl55 when beverage is being sipped through the sipping opening 190. The vent opening 1305 is positioned sufficiently high on the partitioning wall 145 that it is above the height of a beverage in a container body 105 of a beverage container 100. This allows the vent opening 1305 to be provided on the partitioning wall 145 instead of or in addition to being on the top wall 150 or lid. Among the advantages of having a vent opening 1305 on the partitioning wall 145 instead of in the top wall 150 is that it helps to reduce leaks.When beverage leaks through a vent in the top wall 150 it drips or rest on the top wall 150. In contrast, when beverage leaks through the vent opening 1305 in the partitioning wall 145, the leaked beverage falls back into the sipping chamber 160. The vent opening 1305 of Figures 13A and 13B can be applied to any of the partitioning wall 145 versions described herein.

[0248] Figures 14A and 14B show another version of a one-piece insert 1100 similar to the one-piece insert versions discussed above in connection with Figures 11 A, 1 IB, and 11C, and Figures 12A and 12B. However, the one-piece insert 1100 of Figures 14A and 14B is designed to create a partitioning wall 145 with a longitudinally extending inward curvature 615. This is accomplished by the fold 1110 of the one- piece insert 1100 of this version including a first fold 1405 and a second fold 1410 that are separated by an unconnected section 1415 of the partitioning wall. The unconnected section 1415 of the partitioning wall 145 can have any desired shape, and in the version of Figures 14A and 14B has an inward curvature so that when the partitioning wall 145 is folded about the fold 1100 from the configuration of Figure14A to the configuration of Figure 14B, the partitioning wall 145 forms a longitudinally extending inward curvature 615. When folded, the unconnected section 1415 can contact, at least partially contact, or nearly contact the top wall 150. Optionally, as shown in Figures 14A and 14B, the unconnected section 1415 can include the partitioning wall vent opening 1305 so that when folded a vent opening 1305 in the partitioning wall 145 is created. Alternatively, a conventional vent opening can be provided in the top wall 150 or elsewhere.

[0249] Figures 15A and 15B show a version of an insert 300 for a beverage container 100. In the version of Figure 15A and 15B, the insert 300 includes a sipping opening cover system 1500 which is designed to allow for selective covering of a sipping opening 190 created when the insert 300 is positioned within a container body 105 of a beverage container 100. The sipping opening cover system 1500 includes a cover member 1505 and is shaped and sized to cover a sipping opening 190. In the version of Figures 15A and 15B, the sipping opening cover system 1500 is shown in use with a one-piece insert 1000, such as the one-piece insert 1100 of Figure 11. When the one-piece insert 1100 is folded from the configuration of Figure 15A to the configuration of Figure 15B and then inserted into a container body 105, the area between the fold 1110 and the sidewall 110 of the container body 105 forms a sipping opening 190. The cover member 1505 of the sipping opening cover system 1500 is positionable over the sipping opening 190 to help prevent spilling and / or to maintain the temperature of a beverage in the sipping chamber 160. When a user wants to take a sip, the user can move the cover member 1505 so that is no longer covers the sipping opening 190. In the version of Figured 15A and 15B, the sipping opening cover system 1500 also includes a tether 1510 that connects the cover member 1505 to the top wall 150 or other portion of the insert 300 or beverage container 100. The sipping opening cover system 1500 can also include a protrusion 1515 connected to the cover member 1510 that helps facilitate manipulation of the cover member 1505. In the particular version of Figures 15A and 15B, the cover member 1505 includes an arcuate forward end 1520 that has a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of the outer edge 310 of the top wall 150 and / or the curvature of the rim portion 195 of the container body 105 to match the shape of the sipping opening 190.

[0250] Figures 16A, 16B, and 16C show a version of an insert 300 in the form of a two-piece insert 1600 for insertion into a container body 105, such as a disposable cup 1005 as shown in Figure 10A. Figure 16A shows a version of a partitioning wall 145 that is a separate member from the top wall 150 shown in Figure 16B, which in this version is in the form of a lid. Figure 16C shows both the top wall 150 attached to a disposable cup 1005 and the partitioning wall 145 being inserted into a partitioning wall opening 1605 in the top wall 150. A ledge 1610 can be provided at the top of the partitioning wall 145 to contact the top wall 150 and limit the insertion depth of the partitioning wall 145. During use, a user can opt to remove the partitioning wall 145 at any time, such as when the beverage is at a desired temperature and / or when the fill gets to a low level.

[0251] Figures 17A and 17B show a version of an insert 300 in the form of a two- piece insert 1600 for insertion into a container body 105, such as the two-piece insert 1600 of Figures 16A, 16B, and 16C, equipped with a sipping opening cover system 1500. In this version, the sipping opening cover system 1500 includes a cover member 1505 having a downwardly extending plug 1705 that is insertable into the sipping opening 190 to better cover the sipping opening 190 and prevent spillage. Also in the version shown, the tether 1510 comprises a foldable connector 1710 that is at least partially connected to the top wall 150 and that allows the cover member 1505 to pivot between an uncovered or unplugging configuration, as shown in Figure 17 A, to a covered or plugging configuration, as shown in Figure 17B. Though shown in connection with the insert of Figures 16 A, 16B, and 16C, the sipping opening cover system 1500 of this version can be used to cover any sipping opening described herein.

[0252] Figure 18 shows another of an insert 300 in the form of a two-piece insert 1600 for insertion into a container body 105, similar to the two-piece insert 1600 of Figures 16A, 16B, and 16C, and equipped with a sipping opening cover system 1500 similar to the version of Figures 17A and 17B. However, in the version of Figure 18, the sipping chamber cover system 1500 is connected to the partitioning wall 145 instead of to the top wall 150. In the particular version shown, the sipping chamber cover system 1500 also serves as the ledge 1610 that contacts the top wall 150 to prevent over insertion of the partitioning wall 145. In this version, the foldableconnector 1710 is not connected to the top wall 150 but instead includes a wing 1805 portion that is connected to the partitioning wall 145 and that serves as the ledge 1610. Figure 18 shows the partitioning wall 145 in the process of being inserted into the container body 105. Once fully inserted, the sipping opening 190 will be created.

[0253] Figures 19A and 19B show another of an insert 300 in the form of a two-piece insert 1600 for insertion into a container body 105, similar to the two-piece insert 1600 of Figures 16A, 16B, and 16C. However, in the version of Figures 19A and 19B, the top wall 150 is part of an elevating lid 1900 that includes an elevating portion 1905 that elevates the sipping opening 190 above the rim portion 195 of the container body 105. The elevating portion 1905 includes a flattened, planar portion 1910 in the region around the partitioning wall opening 1610. The elevating portion 1905 is thus bowed outward in a manner that allows the partitioning wall 145 to be inserted and to contact the elevating lid 1900 and the inner wall 125 of the container body 105. Also, the design helps create a splash proof effect. The beverage within the container body 105 does not swish about as in a conventional cup because it is separated chambers and is further discouraged from splashing by the elevated opening.

[0254] Figures 20, 21, and 22 show another version of an insert 300 for a beverage container 100 in which the insert 300 includes a sipping opening cover system 1500. The sipping opening cover system of the version of Figures 20, 21, and 22 is similar to the sipping opening cover system of Figures 15A except that the tether 1510 is a swivel system 2005 whereby the cover member 1505 is connected to the top wall 150 in a manner that allows the cover member 1505 to swivel or pivot from a covering position, as shown in Figure 20 to an uncovering position, as shown in Figure 22. In the particular version shown, the swiveling sipping opening cover system 1500 is used with a two-piece insert 1600, such as the one shown in Figures 16A, 16B, and 16C, as can be seen in the exploded view of Figure 21. In the version shown, the swivel system 2005 is provided by inserting a circular protrusion 2105 on the cover member 1505 into an opening 2110 in the top wall 150 with the circular protrusion 2105 being able to rotate within the opening 2110 while being retained therein. As also shown in this version, the top wall 150 can optionally include a recessed portion2115 sized and shaped to receive and accommodate the ledge 1610 of the partitioning wall 145.

[0255] Figures 23 A, 23B, and 23C show another version of a beverage container 100 of the invention. The version of Figures 23 A, 23B, and 23C is a transformable beverage container 2300 that includes a moveable partitioning wall 2305. The moveable partitioning wall 2305 is moveable from a first position, as shown in Figure 23 A, where the transformable beverage container 2300 is in a non-partitioning configuration 2310 to a second position, as shown in Figures 23B and 23C, where the transformable beverage container 2300 is in a partitioning configuration 2315. In the particular version of Figures 23 A, 23B, and 23C, the moveable partitioning wall 2305 is in the form of a bistable arcuate member. In the first position, as shown in Figure 23 A, the moveable partitioning wall 2305 is in an outwardly arced condition where the moveable partitioning wall 2305 is contoured to and contacts or is in close proximity to the sidewall interior surface 125 of the container body 105. In this position, there is no sipping chamber 160 created within the container body interior 135. In the second, position, as shown in Figures 23B and 23C, the moveable partitioning wall 2305 is inwardly arced in a manner that creates a sipping chamber 160. A lid can be provided which is not shown in Figures 23 A, 23B, and 23C. The lid has a sipping opening 190 that is alignable with the sipping chamber 160 so that the opening of the sipping opening 190 can help to cool the beverage in the sipping chamber 160, as discussed above. A user can change the configuration of the transformable beverage container 2300 by applying a force to the moveable partitioning wall 2305 to move it from its first position to its second position or to move it from its second position to its first position. Accordingly, a user can, for example, use the transformable beverage container 2300 in the partitioning configuration 2315 when the beverage is too hot or when the user wants to keep the beverage in the beverage storage chamber 155 warm, and the user can move the transformable beverage container 2300 to the non-partitioning configuration 2310 when the user wants to use the beverage container 100 as a conventional beverage container. In the version shown in Figures 23 A, 23B, and 23C, the longitudinally extending side edges 185 of the partitioning wall 145 are affixed to the sidewall 110 of the container body 105. Alternatively, the moveable partitioning wall 2305 can be on an insert 300, such as any of the insert versions described above, with themoveable partitioning wall 1605 being separate from the container body 105. The version of Figures 23 A, 23B, and 23C is particularly useful as a disposable beverage container 1000.

[0256] Figures 24A and 24B show another version of a beverage container 100 of the invention in the form of a transformable beverage container 2300 that includes a moveable partitioning wall 2305. The version of Figures 24A and 24B is similar to the version of Figures 23 A, 23B, and 23C, except that in the version of Figures 24A and 24B, the moveable partitioning wall 145 includes an accordion shape 2400 with the partitioning wall 145 including multiple sections 2405 that fold over one another when in the non-partitioning configuration 2310, as shown in Figure 24 A and then expand to form the sipping chamber 160 in the partitioning configuration 2315, as shown in Figure 24B.

[0257] Figures 25 A and 25B show another version of a beverage container 100 of the invention in the form of a transformable beverage container 2300 that includes a moveable partitioning wall 2305. The version of Figures 25A and 25B is similar to the version of Figures 23 A, 23B, and 23C, but in the version of Figures 25A and 25B, the moveable partitioning wall 2305 is formed from an extended portion 2505 of the sidewall of the container body 105, particularly when the container body 105 is a disposable cup 1005. Conventional paperboard disposable cups are manufactured by taking a sheet of paperboard, wrapping it around a mandrel and heat-sealing the ends to one another to form a cup. With the beverage container 100 of Figures 25 A and 25B, the paperboard sheet includes the extended portion 2505 and the sheet is wrapped around a mandrel with the extended portion 2505 creating an overlapping portion so that a first end 2510 of the paperboard sheet is attached to the paperboard sheet at a first heat seal 2515 and so that a second end 2520 of the paperboard sheet is attached to the paperboard sheet at a second heat seal 2525. The extended portion 2505 then becomes the partitioning wall 145, and in use a user can separate the extended portion 2505 from the sidewall 110 to great the sipping chamber 160. The communication channel 180 can be created by cutting the extended portion 2505 to be shorter than the portion of the paperboard that forms the sidewall 110, by providing one or more openings in the bottom of the extended portion 2505, and / or the like.

[0258] Figure 26 shows a beverage container 100 of the invention in the form of a transformable beverage container 2300 that includes a moveable partitioning wall 2305, such as the version of Figure 23 A, 23B, and 23C, with a top wall 150 attachable to the container body 105 as a lid. The top wall 150 includes an opening that is alignable with the sipping chamber 160. In the version shown, the top wall 150 also includes a sipping opening cover system 1500 with a swivel system 2005.

[0259] Figures 27 and 28 show another version of a beverage container 100 of the invention. In the version of Figure 27, the chamber creating system 140 comprises a partitioning wall 145 having a contour with a longitudinally extending outward curvature 2705 creating a convex surface in the sipping chamber 160 and / or a concave surface in the beverage storage chamber 155. In the version of Figures 27 and 28, the partitioning wall 145 with the outward curvature 2705 extends at least 90 degrees, at least 180 degrees, or at least 270 degrees around the circumference of the sidewall 110 of the container body 105 of the beverage container 100 to create an at least partially annular shaped sipping chamber 2710 that at least partially surrounds the beverage storage chamber 155. In the particular version shown, the partitioning wall 145 extends 360 degrees around the circumference of the sidewall 110 to create a completely annular sipping chamber 2710 that completely surrounds the beverage storage chamber 155.

[0260] As can be seen in Figure 28, a communication channel 180 between the beverage storage chamber 155 and the sipping chamber 160 can be provided near the bottom 115 of the container body 110. In the version shown, the communication channel 180 can be provided by one or more openings 405 in the partitioning wall 145. In the version shown, the one or more openings 405 include an opening positioned about 90 degrees and / or an opening positioned about 270 degrees from the position of a handle 2715. Alternatively, the communication channel 180 can be provided by the partitioning wall 145 not extending all the way to the bottom 115, as discussed in association with various embodiments above. Optionally, as shown in Figures 27 and 28, a top ledge 2720 of the partitioning wall 145 can extend to a height that is less than the height of the rim portion 195 of the sidewall 110 of the container body 105 to reduce interfering with the lips of a user who is sipping from the sipping chamber 160.

[0261] In the version of Figures 27 and 28 as shown, the beverage container 100 comprises an integrally formed container body 105 and chamber creating system 140. For example, the container body 105 and the chamber creating system 140 or a portion of the chamber creating system 140 can be made of a single piece or material or can be separate pieces of material that are permanently connected or adjoined. For example, in one version, the container body 105 and the partitioning wall 145 can be made of the same or similar ceramic material. In another version, the container body 105 and the partitioning wall 145 can be made of steel or other material. Alternatively, the chamber creating system 140 of Figures 27 and 28 can be incorporated into a disposable beverage container 1000 and / or the chamber creating system 140 or a portion of the chamber creating system 140 can be in the form of an insert 300, as discussed herein.

[0262] Figure 29A shows another version of a beverage container 100 of the invention. The version of Figures 29A is similar to the version of Figures 27 and 28, but in the version of Figures 29A, the chamber creating system 140 includes a top wall 150 that covers the beverage storage chamber 155. In the version shown, the top wall 150 can be in the form of a removable beverage storage chamber lid 2905. Figure 29B shows the beverage storage chamber lid 2905 removed from the container body 110. The beverage storage chamber lid 2905 can include a lid handle 2910 or knob to facilitate grasping for installing and / or removing the beverage storage chamber lid 2905. The beverage storage chamber lid 2905 includes a bottom design that matingly engages the top ledge 2720 of the partitioning wall 145. In the version shown the beverage storage chamber lid 2905 is designed to cover the beverage storage chamber 155 and not cover the sipping chamber 160. In another version, the beverage storage chamber lid 2905 can also cover at least a portion of the sipping chamber 160, such as a portion that is not at a desired sipping location on the rim portion 195.

[0263] Figures 30 and 31 show another version of a beverage container 100 of the invention. In the version of Figures 30 and 31, the chamber creating system 140 comprises a partitioning wall 145 having a contour with a longitudinally extending inward curvature 615 creating a concave surface in the sipping chamber 160 and / or a convex surface in the beverage storage chamber 155. The version of Figures 30 and31 is this similar to the version of Figure 6 but optionally without a top wall 150. Also, in the version shown, the beverage container 100 of Figures 30 and 31 comprises an integrally formed container body 105 and chamber creating system 140. For example, the container body 105 and the chamber creating system 140 or a portion of the chamber creating system 140 can be made of a single piece or material or can be separate pieces of material that are permanently connected or adjoined. For example, in one version, the container body 105 and the partitioning wall 145 can be made of the same or similar ceramic material. In another version, the container body 105 and the partitioning wall 145 can be made of steel or other material.Alternatively, the chamber creating system 140 of Figures 30 and 31 can be incorporated into a disposable beverage container 1000 and / or the chamber creating system 140 or a portion of the chamber creating system 140 can be in the form of an insert 300, as discussed herein.

[0264] Figures 32A, 32B, and 32C show another version of a beverage container 100 of the invention. The version of Figures 32A, 32B, and 32C is similar to the version of Figures 30 and 31, but in the version of Figures 32A, 32B, and 32C, the chamber creating system 140 includes a top wall 150 that covers the beverage storage chamber 155. In the version shown, the top wall 150 can be in the form of a removable beverage storage chamber lid 2905. Figure 32A shows the beverage storage chamber lid 2905 removed from the container body 110. The beverage storage chamber lid 2905 in this version can a bottom design that matingly engages the partitioning wall 145 so that an opening 3205 in the beverage storage chamber lid 2905 is alignable with the sipping chamber 160 so the sipping opening 190 is not covered by the beverage storage chamber lid 2905.

[0265] In the versions of the beverage container 100 shown and described, the sipping opening 190 is shown to extend a portion of the circumference around the top of the beverage container 100. For example, the sipping opening 190 can extend along a circumferential arc of the beverage container 100 a circumferential distance of at least about 0.25 inches, or at least about 0.5 inches, or at least about 1 inch. In one version, the sipping portion extends circumferentially from about 5 degrees to about 180 degrees, or from about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees, or from about 15 degrees to about 60 degrees, around the top of the beverage container 100.

[0266] The components of the beverage container 100 can be sized and shaped in any suitable manner. For example, the relative sizes and / or volumes of the temperature beverage storage chamber 155 and the sipping chamber 160 can be selected to provide a desired drinking experience and can be tailored to best suit a particular shape and / or to best contain and distribute a particular beverage. In one version, the volume of the beverage storage chamber 155 can range from about 5 ounces to about 30 ounces or from about 8 ounces to about 24 ounces. The volume of the sipping chamber 160 can be from about 0.5 ounces to about 3 ounces, or from about 0.75 ounces to about 2 ounces, or about 1 ounce. In one version the ratio of the volume of the beverage storage chamber 155 to the volume of the sipping chamber 160 can be from about 2: 1 to about 30:1, or about 5: 1 to about 30:1 or from about 12: 1 to about 20: 1.BEVERAGE CONTAINER IN THE FORM OF A TUMBLER

[0267] Figures 33 A and 33B show a version of a beverage container in the form of a beverage tumbler 4100 according to the present invention. By tumbler it is meant any beverage container, such as a cup, mug, stein, or glass, that is intended to contain a beverage in a manner that allows the beverage to be sipped by a user of the tumbler. The user can be a single individual, a plurality of individuals, an individual that is providing a sip of the beverage to another individual, and / or a user that is receiving a sip of the beverage under the assistance of another individual. Tumblers are often, but not necessarily, characterized by having a stemless flat bottom, and are typically, but not necessarily, made of one or more of stainless steel; plastic, such as polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and high density polyethylene; paper product, such as carboard and wood pulp; ceramic materials, such as glass, porcelain, clay; and the like. The beverage tumbler 4100 can be reusable or disposable. The beverage tumbler 4100 includes a tumbler body 4105 made up of a sidewall 4110, a bottom 4115, and an open top 4120. Together the sidewall 4110 and the bottom 4115 define a tumbler body interior 4125. The open top 4120 provides access to the tumbler body interior 4125. In the version of Figures 33A and 33B, the beverage tumbler 4100 is a travel beverage tumbler 4130 designed for allowing a user to drink a beverage on the go and also commonly referred to as an insulated tumbler, a travel mug, a portable mug, an insulated cup, a to-go cup, an on-the-go cup, a thermal mug or cup, a thermosmug or cup, and the like. The beverage tumbler 4100 in the form of a travel beverage tumbler 4130 can include an insulating system 4135 that is designed to reduce the transfer of heat through at least a portion of the sidewall 4110 and / or the bottom 4115 when compared to a beverage tumbler 4100 without the insulating system 4135. The insulting system 4135 can be provided, for example, by a sidewall 4110, bottom 4115, and / or other mechanisms that are designed to prevent or reduce heat transfer so that a beverage contained within the tumbler body interior 4125 is maintained at a desired temperature for a period of time. Various designs of the insulating system 4135 are available, including for example, one or more of making the sidewall 4110 and / or bottom 4115 out of insulating material, such as a ceramic and / or a foam material, inserting insulating material within a sidewall 4110 and / or bottom 4115, using a double wall construction for the sidewall 4110 and / or bottom 4115, and the like, all of which are conventionally known in the art. The travel beverage tumbler 4130 may optionally include additional systems or items for maintaining the temperature of a beverage, such as active heating and / or cooling elements that are incorporated into the or positionable in proximity to the beverage tumbler 4100.

[0268] As can also be seen in the version of Figures 33A and 33B, within the tumbler body interior 4125 of the beverage tumbler 4100 is a partitioning system 4140. The partitioning system 4140 can be an integral part of the beverage tumbler 4100, or the partitioning system 4140 or a portion thereof can be a separate part, as will be discussed below. The partitioning system 4140 is provided to separate the tumbler body interior 4125 into a plurality of separated chambers. For example, in the version of Figures 33A and 33B, the partitioning system 4140 separates the tumbler body interior 4125 into a first chamber, a beverage storage chamber 4145, and a second chamber, a sipping chamber 4150. The beverage storage chamber 4145 includes an interior reservoir 4155 defined by the partitioning system 4140 and / or the tumbler body 4105 that is designed to serve as a beverage reservoir in which a beverage to be sipped can be contained and / or stored in a manner that preserves the temperature of the beverage within the beverage storage chamber 4145. The beverage storage chamber 4145 feeds a beverage within the beverage storage chamber 4145 to the sipping chamber 4150 either naturally or under the control of the user in one or more manners, as will be explained. The sipping chamber 4150 is designed to contain a portion of the beverage that is to be sipped by a user. In the version shown, thesipping chamber 4150 includes a lower portion 4160 that is positioned generally within beverage storage chamber 4145 and an upper portion 44165 that is positioned generally above the beverage storage chamber 4145.

[0269] The sipping chamber 4165 can be sized, shaped, and / or positioned to suit a particular design or desire. In the version of Figures 33 A and 33B, the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150 is a funnel-shaped and / or frustoconical portion with the lower portion 4160 having a smaller horizontal cross-sectional dimension than the upper portion 4165. The lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150 includes or is made up of a stem 44170 that is insertable at least partially into the beverage storage chamber 4145. In the version shown, the stem 4170 is an elongated member that is surrounded horizontally by, or at least mostly surrounded horizontally by, the beverage storage chamber 4145. The stem 4170 includes a stem sidewall 44175 that defines a hollow stem interior 4180 that is adapted to contain a portion of a beverage that is to be sipped. In the particular version shown, the stem 4170 is at least partially cylindrically shaped, but it can have any other shape. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the stem 4170 and / or stem sidewall 4175 can be round, circular, oval, ovate, ovoid, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and / or any combination thereof. The upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150 is positionable above the beverage storage chamber 4145 when the beverage tumbler 4100 is upright. The upper portion 4165 includes an upper portion interior 4185 defined by the partitioning system 4140 and / or the tumbler sidewall 4110. The upper portion interior 4185 is in flow communication with both the stem interior 4180 and the open top 4120 of the tumbler body 4105. At the open top 4120 of the tumbler body 4105 and forming the upper extent of the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150 is a rim portion 4190, as will be described in more detail. At or near the bottom of the lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150 and / or at or near the bottom of the stem 4170 is a communication channel 4195 that allows the beverage storage chamber interior reservoir 4155 and the stem interior 4180 to be in flow communication at a position below the upper portion 4165 and in the version shown at or near the bottom of the lower portion 4165. In the version shown, the stem 4170 and / or the lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150 is positioned generally in or near the horizontal center of the beverage tumbler 4100. Alternatively, the stem 4170 and / or the lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150 can bepositioned eccentrically. In one particular eccentric version, the stem 4170 and / or lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150 can contact or be at least partially formed by a tumbler body sidewall 4110. In one such version, the beverage storage chamber 4145 horizontally surrounds at least 50 percent, or at least 75 percent, or at least 90 percent of the lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150.

[0270] Operation of the beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 33A and 33B is illustrated in Figures 34A and 34B. Figure 34A shows the beverage container 100 at least partially filled with a beverage 4200 to be sipped by a user. As can be seen, the beverage 4200 is contained both within the interior reservoir 4155 of the beverage storage chamber 4145 and in the stem interior 4180 in the lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150. In the version shown, the communication channel 4195 is a free-flowing passageway 4205 that allows the beverage 4200 to flow freely between the beverage storage chamber 4145 and the sipping chamber 4150. Because a liquid will tend to flow to find a common level when not acted on by outside forces, in this version, the beverage storage chamber beverage height 4210 is approximately the same as the sipping chamber beverage height 44215 when the beverage tumbler 4100 is in an untilted, ready-to-sip, upright position as shown in Figure 34A. The beverage 4200 can be prefilled, filled by pouring through the sipping chamber 4150, or filled in manners that will be discussed hereinbelow. The walls 4220 of the partitioning system serve to create and / or separate the storage chamber 4145 and the sipping chamber 4150.

[0271] To sip the beverage 4200, a user tilts the beverage tumbler 4100 as shown in Figure 34B. Figure 34B shows a tilted position of the beverage tumbler 4100 just before the beverage 4200 in the lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150 will spill into the upper portion interior 4185 of the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150. As the beverage tumbler 4100 is tilted from the upright position of Figure 34A to a tilted position such as the one shown in Figure 34B, a bottom wall 4225 of the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150 serves to close the top of the storage chamber 4145 and prevents the beverage 4200 in the beverage storage chamber 4145 from being poured out of the top of the beverage tumbler 4100. In particular, in the version shown, the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150 forms a top barrier for the beverage storage chamber 4145. The only exit forbeverage 4200 in the beverage storage chamber 4145 is through the sipping chamber 4150. With continued tilting beyond the tilt of Figure 34B, the beverage 4200 in the lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150 will begin to flow into the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150 and will then flow towards the rim portion 4190. A small vent hole or the like, such as a hole on the order of 1 mm diameter in the bottom wall 44225 of the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150, can be provided into the storage chamber 4145 to help facilitate the flow of beverage from the storage chamber 4145 into the sipping chamber 4150.

[0272] The beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 33A and 33B and shown in operation in Figures 34A and 34B offers several unique advantages over existing tumblers. For example, when a place the user’s lips on the rim portion 4190 to receive the beverage 4200 from the sipping chamber 4150 into the user’s mouth, a rim-based sipping experience is created for the user. The rim-based sipping experience involves the pressing of a user’s lips against the rim portion 4190 and a cascading of the beverage 4200 over the rim portion 4190 in a way that is more like sipping from a traditional cup or mug than the sipping experience with a conventional beverage tumbler where beverage flows through a hole in a lid. With the beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention, a user can feel the beverage on the lips and can control the flow into the mouth by controlling the opening of the lips and / or the tilt of the beverage tumbler 4100. In addition, the user can better smell the beverage both before the beverage is sipped and during the sip because there is no barrier between the user’s nose and the beverage 4200 that is in the sipping chamber 4150. When the beverage is a hot beverage, the user can feel the heat on the user’s face and / or through the user’s nose. In addition, when the beverage is a extremely hot beverage, the sipping chamber 4145 can act as a cooling chamber bringing the temperature of just the amount to be sipped down to a drinkable temperature while keeping the portion of the beverage in the beverage storage chamber 4145 hot for a longer period of time.

[0273] The maintenance of the temperature of the beverage in the beverage storage chamber 4145 prolongs the sipping experience. The sipping experience provided by the sipping chamber 4150 of the beverage tumbler 4100 is thus further enhanced by the beverage storage chamber 4145 which serves to keep the beverage at a desired temperature. Unlike a traditional mug or a conventional travel tumbler with aremoved lid where the entire surface area of the beverage 4200 is exposed to ambient temperature, with the beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 33A and 33B, only the surface at the top of the beverage 4200 that is in the sipping chamber 4150 is directly exposed to ambient temperature. The beverage 4200 that is in the beverage storage chamber 4145 is insulated from the ambient temperature in that no portion or surface of the beverage 4200 that is within the beverage storage chamber 4145 is directly exposed to ambient temperature. The beverage 4200 in the beverage storage chamber 4145 is instead surrounded and / or enclosed by the sidewall 4110 of the tumbler body 4105, the bottom 4115 of the tumbler body 4105, a portion of the partitioning system 4140, and / or beverage 4200 that is near the bottom of the sipping chamber 4150. Each of these components that directly contact the beverage 4200 in the beverage storage chamber 4145 can serve to insulate the beverage 4200 in the beverage storage chamber 4145 from ambient temperature. To increase the temperature maintaining ability, the beverage tumbler 4100 can include an insulating system 4135, as discussed above. In addition, the one or more of the walls 44220 and / or surfaces of the partitioning system 4140 can be provided with insulating properties, such as those described above for the insulating system 4135 to further reduce the heat transfer associated with a beverage 4200 in the beverage storage chamber 4145.

[0274] In the version of Figures 33A and 33B, the parts of the beverage tumbler 4100 are integrally connected. For example, the tumbler body 4105 and the partitioning system 4140 are integrally or permanently connected to one another so as to form an interconnected device. The beverage tumbler 4100 in its integrally connected form can be a single-use device that is made from one or more materials intended to be disposed of or recycled, or the integrally connected form can be a multi-use device made of one or more materials that are cleanable.

[0275] In another version, such as shown in Figures 35A and 35B, the beverage tumbler 4100 can have one or more separable components. For example, in the version shown, the partitioning system 4140 is in the form of an insert 4300 that is selectively insertable into a tumbler body 4105. With the insert 4300, a traditional tumbler body 4105 can be converted into a beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention that includes a beverage storage chamber 4145 and a sipping chamber 4150. The insert 4300 can be inserted into the tumbler body 4105 during use as dual chamberbeverage tumbler 4100 and can be removed from the tumbler body 4105 for cleaning and / or to revert the tumbler body 4105 to its traditional use. In this version, a coupling mechanism 4305 can be provided that allows the insert 4300 including at least a portion of the partitioning system 4140 to be selectively and separably coupled to the tumbler body 4105. The coupling mechanism 4305 can be in the form of a friction fit, a snap fit, and / or can include a rotational attachment system, such as thread or a bayonet connector, and the like. The coupling mechanism 4305 selectively couples the insert 4300 to the tumbler body 4105 in a way that allows the insert 4300 and / or partitioning system 4140 to be removed from the tumbler body 4105 for cleaning or the like. Furthermore, the separation of the partitioning system 4140 allows the tumbler body 4105 to be used as a traditional cup if desired and / or to allow a beverage to be cooled to a desired temperature before reinsertion of the insert 4300.

[0276] The rim portion 4190 of the beverage tumbler 4100 can be provided on the tumbler body 4105, as shown in the version of Figures 33A and 33B, or can be provided as part of the insert 4300 and / or the partitioning system 4140, as shown in Figure 35A. In the version of Figure 35A, the portion of the partitioning system 4140 that forms the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150 can include an upwardly extending portion 4310 that extends upwardly to form or include the rim portion 4190 of the beverage tumbler 4100.

[0277] Whether provided on the tumbler body 4105, on the partitioning system 4140, or elsewhere, the rim portion 4190 can be sized and shaped to simulate a traditional mug or cup. The rim portion 4190 can have a radius of curvature that is the same or different from the radius of the open top 4120 of the tumbler body 4105. The transverse radius of curvature and / or the thickness of the rim portion 4190 can be selected to mimic a traditional mug or cup. For example, in one version, the rim portion 4190 can have a thickness of from about 1 mm to about 10 mm. In particular versions, the rim portion 4190 can be designed to mimic a paper cup and can have a thickness of from about 1 mm to about 4 mm. In another version, the rim portion 4190 can be designed to mimic a china cup and can have a thickness of from about 3 mm to about 5 mm. In another version, the rim portion 4190 can be designed to mimic a stone mug and can have a thickness of from about 4 mm to about 6 mm.

[0278] In the version of Figures 33A and 33B and in the version of Figures 35A and 35B, the rim portion 4190 is shown to extend 360 degrees around the top of the beverage tumbler 4100. In another version, such as shown in Figure 36A, the rim portion 4190 can extend circumferentially less than the entire circumferential extent around the top of the beverage tumbler 4100. For example, the version of Figure 36A shows a cover member 4405 that is provided as part of the insert 4300 and / or the partitioning system 4140, or as a separate part, to cover at least a portion of the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150. The cover member 4405 serves to further help to maintain temperature within the beverage tumbler 4100 and / or to help keep debris out of the sipping chamber 4150. As shown in Figure 36A and in the top view of Figure 36B, the rim portion 4190 is provided along a circumferential arc of the top of the beverage tumbler 4100. The arc is sufficiently long to provide the rim-based sipping experience, as discussed above. Accordingly, in one version, the circumferential arc of the rim portion 4190 extends a circumferential distance of at least about 0.5 inches, or at least about 1 inch, or at least about 1.5 inches. In one version, the rim portion 4190 extends circumferentially from about 15 degrees to about 360 degrees, or from about 30 degree to about 360 degrees, or from about 30 degrees to about 200 degrees, or from about 30 degrees to about 120 degrees around the top of the beverage tumbler 4100.

[0279] The beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention not only has the advantage of providing an improved sipping experience, it also has the advantage of being able to maintain the temperature of a beverage 4200 contained within the beverage storage chamber 4145 without the need for a lid that covers the open top 10 of the tumbler body 4105. As discussed above, the partitioning system 4140 and / or the sipping chamber 4150 serve the purpose of covering the beverage storage chamber 4145. By not requiring a lid, there are fewer parts to make, fewer parts to misplace, and less waste created. In addition, there is no longer a need to frustratingly sip the beverage 4200 through an inconvenient hole in the lid. That being said, in another version, a cover member, such as a detachable cover member, can be optionally provided. Advantageously, if provided, the cover member for the beverage tumbler 4100 does not need to be provided with a hole for sipping. The cover member can provide an additional layer of temperature preservation for a beverage 4200 in the beverage storage chamber 4145 and / or can help prevent the loss of desired temperature of abeverage 4200 in the sipping chamber 4150. The lack of a hole contributes to the temperature preservation. Also, even if the cover member is misplaced, the beverage tumbler 4100 continues to maintain the temperature of the beverage 4200 in its absence.

[0280] The components of the beverage tumbler 4100 can be sized and shaped in any suitable manner. For example, the relative sizes and / or volumes of the temperature beverage storage chamber 4145 and the sipping chamber 4150, in particular the lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150, can be selected to provide a desired drinking experience and can be tailored to best suit a particular shape and / or to best contain and distribute a particular beverage. In one version, the volume of the beverage storage chamber 4145 can range from about 5 ounces to about 30 ounces or from about 8 ounces to about 24 ounces. The volume of the sipping chamber 4150, and / or the lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150 can be from about 0.5 ounces to about 3 ounces, or from about 0.75 ounces to about 2 ounces, or about 1 ounce. In one version the ratio of the volume of the beverage storage chamber 4145 to the volume of the lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150 can be from about 2:1 to about 30: 1, or about 5:1 to about 30: 1 or from about 12: 1 to about 20: 1.

[0281] Figures 37A, 37B, 37C, and 37D show other versions of a beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention. Figures 37A, 37B, 37C, and 37D are similar to the version of Figures 33A and 33B but with differently shaped sipping chamber 4150 configurations. For example, whereas in the version of Figure 33B, the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150, the bottom surface 4505 of the upper portion 4165 which extends from the stem 4170 to the sidewall 4110 of the tumbler body 4105 is upwardly sloped, in the version of Figure 37A, the bottom surface 4505 is flat or horizontal when the beverage tumbler 4100 is in its upright position. In the version of Figure 37B, the bottom surface 4505 is downwardly sloped so as to be a an inverted frustoconical shape. In the version of Figure 37B, the downwardly sloped bottom surface 4505 creates a beverage cavity 410 within the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150. When the beverage cavity 410 is provided, a user has the option of prefilling the beverage cavity 410 with a portion of the beverage that was in the stem interior 4180. This can allow a hot beverage to cool before sipping, can provide a larger volume of beverage for aroma enjoyment, and / or can allow thebeverage to be sipped without as much necessary tilting of the beverage tumbler 4100. Figure 37C shows a version of the sipping chamber 4150 similar to the version of Figure 33B with an upwardly sloped bottom surface 4505 but with more smooth curves in the transition from the upper portion 4165 to the lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150, thereby forming a curved frustoconical shape. This design can result in smoother and / or less turbulent flow of beverage to be sipped. The version of Figure 37D shows a curved sipping chamber 4150 design in an inverted, curved frustoconical shape that includes a beverage cavity 410.

[0282] In the version of Figures 33A and 33B, the stem 4170 of the lower portion 4160 of the sipping chamber 4150 is generally cylindrical in shape. However, the stem 4170 can take on one or more other geometric shapes, such as one of or a combination of the shapes shown in the versions of Figures 38 A, 38B, 38C, and 38D. In these versions, the stem 4170 includes a stem sidewall having a flared lower portion 4605.

[0283] Figures 39A and 39B show another version of a beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention. In this version, the beverage tumbler 4100 includes a sipping chamber valve system 4700 that allows a user to selectively fill the sipping chamber 4150 with beverage from the beverage storage chamber 4145 as desired. The sipping chamber valve system 4700, as shown schematically and conceptually in Figure 39, includes a flow blocking mechanism 4705 that is capable of blocking the flow of beverage from the beverage storage chamber 4145 to the sipping chamber 4150 when actuated and capable of allowing flow when the flow blocking mechanism is unactuated. The sipping chamber valve system 4700 also includes an actuating mechanism 4710 that is manipulatable by a user to selectively control the sipping chamber valve system 500. Figure 39B illustrates the beverage tumbler 4100 of Figure 39A with a beverage 4200 contained within the beverage storage chamber 4145 and with the sipping chamber valve system 500 in a closed position 4715 where the flow blocking mechanism 4705 is actuated to block flow between the storage chamber 4145 and the sipping chamber 4150. As can be seen in Figure 39B, with the sipping chamber valve system 500 in the closed position 4715, no beverage 4200 is allowed to flow into the the sipping chamber 4150 from the storage chamber 4145. Figure 39B is a storage configuration where substantially the entirety of the beverage 4200 is contained within the beveragestorage chamber 4145 where its temperature is maintained for a period of time until it is ready to be sipped. The beverage 4200 is sealed and / or secure in the beverage storage chamber 4145 regardless of the position or tilt of the beverage tumbler 4100.

[0284] Figures 40A and 40B show the version of Figures 39A and 39B in operation being placed in a ready -to-sip configuration. First, a user manipulates the actuating mechanism 4710 to place or move the blocking mechanism to an unactuated position and thereby placing the sipping chamber valve system 4700 in an open position 4805 where the blocking mechanism 4705 is moved to a position where beverage 4200 from the beverage storage chamber 4145 is allowed to pass into the sipping chamber 4150, as shown in Figure 40A. If left in the open position 4805 for a sufficiently long period, the sipping chamber valve system 4700 will act like the free-flowing passageway 4205 of Figure 34A and allow the beverage 4200 to flow freely between the beverage storage chamber 4145 and the sipping chamber 4150. Because a liquid will tend to flow to find a common level when not acted on by outside forces, as with Figure 34A, the beverage storage chamber beverage height 4210 will be approximately the same as the sipping chamber beverage height 4215 when the beverage tumbler 4100 is in an untilted position. The user can then manipulate the actuating mechanism 4710 to cause the blocking mechanism to actuate and thus move the sipping chamber valve system 4700 to its closed position 4715, returning the blocking mechanism 4705 to its blocking position where there is no passing of beverage 4200 between the beverage storage chamber 4145 and the sipping chamber 4150, as shown in Figure 40B. Figure 40B thus shows the beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 39A and 39B in a ready-to-sip, upright position.

[0285] Figure 41 A then shows the beverage tumbler 4100 of Figure 40B after one or more sips have been taken by the user. From the position of Figure 40B, the user tilts the beverage tumbler 4100 as shown in Figure 34B to a tilt angle where some of the beverage 4200 that was in the sipping chamber 4150 is caused to cascade over the rim portion 4190. Following the sip and a return of the beverage tumbler 4100 to an upright position, as shown in Figure 41 A, the volume of beverage 4200 in the sipping chamber 4150 has been reduced by the amount of beverage that was sipped or that otherwise was removed from the beverage tumbler 4100. From the position of Figure 41 A, the user has the option of continuing to sip the beverage 4200 that remains in thesipping chamber 4150 or again opening the sipping chamber valve mechanism to refill the sipping chamber 4150 to a higher level.

[0286] Figure 4 IB shows an alternative process for a beverage tumbler 4100 that has a beverage cavity 4510 in the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150, such as the version of Figure 37B. In this process and with this version, from the position of Figure 40B, the beverage tumbler 4100 can be tilted to fill the beverage cavity 4510. The user can then sip the beverage 4200 from the beverage cavity 4510.

[0287] In another alternative sipping process, the sipping chamber valve system 4700 can be placed in an open position 4805 while the beverage in the sipping chamber 4150 is being sipped. In this regard, the beverage tumbler 4100 will operate in similar manner as the version of Figures 33A and 33B and as shown in use in Figures 34A and 34B. This manner of use allows the sipping chamber 4150 to be constantly refilled by beverage 4200 from the beverage storage chamber 4145 during the sip. This allows a larger volume of beverage 4200 to be consumed by the user in a shorter time period, which may be desirable, for example, when a user is quenching a thirst with a cold beverage.

[0288] As discussed above, Figure 41 A illustrates a condition where a portion of a beverage that had been in the sipping chamber 4150 has been sipped and a portion that was not yet sipped remains in the sipping chamber 4150. Figure 41 A also illustrates a situation where the sipping chamber 4150 is not completely filled with beverage from the beverage storage chamber 4145. In this version, Figure 41 A shows a condition when the sipping chamber filling process is stopped before the sipping chamber 4150 is completely filled. For example, in filling the sipping chamber 4150 from the condition of Figure 39B, the user can cause the sipping chamber valve system 500 to be in its open position 4805 for a shorter period of time than would be necessary to fill the sipping chamber 4150 to the level of Figure 40A. Once the fill level is to a desired height, such as the height shown in Figure 41 A, the user can cause the sipping chamber valve system 500 to move to its closed position 4715, thus preventing the passage of any more beverage 4200 from the beverage storage chamber 4145 to the sipping chamber 4150.

[0289] The beverage 4200 that is contained and that is to be sipped from the beverage tumbler 4100 can be any beverage desired by the user. In many instances, the beverage 4200 will be a hot beverage, such as coffee or tea. However, a cold beverage, such as water, soda, a fruit drink, iced coffee, iced tea, and / or the like, that is desired to be kept cold and sipped over time can also be contained in the beverage tumbler 4100. In the case of a cold beverage, a chilling medium can be provided optionally be provided within or in proximity to the beverage storage chamber 4145. For example, the beverage storage chamber 4145 may have a freezeable chilling medium, such as a freezeable gel within the beverage storage chamber 4145. With this version, a user may place the beverage tumbler 4100 in a freezer or other cold space prior to it being filled with a beverage 4200. In addition or alternatively, pieces of ice can be contained within the beverage storage chamber 4145 so the ice can contact the beverage 4200 within the beverage storage chamber 4145 to help keep it chilled. With this version, the beverage tumbler 4100 has the additional advantage of separating out at least a portion of the ice from the sipped beverage by preventing at least a portion of the ice from entering the sipping chamber 4150.

[0290] In another use, the beverage tumbler 4100 can be used to contain an alcohol - containing beverage, such as beer, wine, or a spirit. The beverage tumbler 4100 can be used to keep the beer, wine, or spirit chilled to a desired temperature and / or to prevent the beer, wine, or spirit from heating up above a desired temperature in a hot ambient temperature environment. Wine, in particular, has an olfactory component that many find necessary for its complete enjoyment. Accordingly, the beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention is particularly useful for sipping wine since the user can enjoy the aromas of wine in the sipping chamber 4150 within a lid or cover impeding the aromas. In addition, the storage of wine in the beverage storage chamber 4145 can help prevent large amounts of oxygen from contacting the wine and causing degradative oxidation. Also, when the wine to be sipped is a sparkling wine containing carbon dioxide, the beverage storage chamber 4145 can help contain the carbon dioxide in the wine and thus help to preserve the bubbles of the sparkling wine.

[0291] Figures 42A and 42B show another version of a beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention. The beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 42A and 42B is similar to thebeverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 39A and 39B. In the version of Figures 42A and 42B, the sipping chamber valve system 4700 is provided by having the sipping chamber 4150 be moveable relative to the beverage storage chamber 4145, such as by making the stem 4170 moveable relative to the tumbler body 4105. In the version shown, the stem 4170 is moveable by having the partitioning system 4140 be moveable. For example, the partitioning system 4140 can be provided as an insert 4300, and the insert can be moveable relative to the tumbler body 4105 to move the stem 4170 relative to the tumbler body 4105. Figure 42A shows the insert 4300 and / or partitioning system 4140 fully inserted into the interior 4125 of the tumbler body 4105 so that a bottom 5005 of the stem 4170 contacts a portion of the tumbler body 4105, such as the bottom 4115 of the tumbler body 4105, in a manner that blocks the flow of beverage 4200 from the beverage storage chamber 4145 into the sipping chamber 4150. This blockage of the bottom 5005 of the stem 4170 thus forms the blocking mechanism of the sipping chamber valve system 500, and Figure 42A shows the sipping chamber valve system 4700 in its closed position 44715. A seal, such as an o-ring or the like, may be provided to help block the flow. A user can then cause the sipping chamber valve system 4700 to be in its open position 4805 by causing the insert 4300 and / or partitioning system 4140 to move upward relative to the tumbler body 4105, as shown in Figure 42B. The upward movement of the insert 4300 and / or partitioning system 4140 causes the bottom 5005 of the stem 4170 to be moved away from the bottom 4115 of the tumbler body 4105 to create a flow passageway 5010 that allows beverage 4200 in the beverage storage chamber 4145 to flow into the sipping chamber 4150 a desired amount. The user can then move the insert 4300 and / or partitioning system 4140 back to the position shown in Figure 42A to move the sipping chamber valve system 500 back to its closed position 4715 and again block the flow. The movement of the insert 4300 and / or partitioning system 4140 relative to the tumbler body 4105 thus makes up the actuating mechanism 44710 of the sipping chamber valve system 4700 in this version of the beverage tumbler 4100.

[0292] Figures 43 A and 43B show another version of a beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention. The beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 43 A and 43B is similar to the beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 42 and 42B. In the version of Figures 43 A and 43B, the relative movement of the stem 4170 and the tumbler body 4105 is providedby way of a threaded engagement 5105 between the insert 4300 and / or partitioning system 4140 and the tumbler body 4105. In the version shown, the threaded engagement 5105 includes outer threads on the partitioning system 4140 that engage inner threads on the tumbler body 4105. As the partitioning system 4140 is screwed into the tumbler body 4105 the partitioning system 4140 moved longitudinally relative to the tumbler body 4105 and the bottom 5005 of the stem 4170 is moved relative to the tumbler body 4105 to open or close the sipping chamber valve system 4700, as discussed in connection with Figures 42A and 42B. The version of Figures 43A and 43B is advantageous for several reasons. For example, the partitioning system 4140 is securely but removably positioned within the tumbler body 4105. Also, due to the action of the threaded engagement 5105 small amounts of separation of the bottom 5005 of the stem 4170 from the bottom 4115 of the tumbler body 4105 can be achieved to make the flow of beverage through the flow passageway 5010 adjustable. In another version, the partitioning system 4140 can include an overlapping portion that overlaps the top of the tumbler body 4105 with the overlapping portion engaging outer threads on the sidewall 4110 of the tumbler body 4105. In alternative versions, the threaded engagement 5105 can be replaced by a friction fit, a bayonet connection, or the like.

[0293] Figures 44A and 44B show another version of a beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention. The beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 44A and 44B is similar to the beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 39A and 39B and the version of 42 A and 42B. In the version of Figures 44A and 44B, the sipping chamber valve system 4700 involves the contacting of the bottom 5005 of the stem 4170 with the bottom 4115 of the tumbler body 4105 or other part of the tumbler body 4105, as in the version of Figures 42A and 42B. However, in the version of Figures 44A and 44B, the length of the tumbler body 4105 is adjustable to thereby open or close the sipping chamber valve system 500. To that end, the tumbler body 4105 in the version of Figures 44A and 44B includes a removable bottom cap 5205 that is connectable to the sidewall 4110 of the tumbler body 4105. In the version of Figures 44A and 44B, the bottom cap 5205 includes the bottom 4115 of the tumbler body 4105 including whatever the bottom 5005 of the stem 4170 abuts against when the sipping chamber valve system 4700 is in its closed position 4715. The bottom cap 5205 is thus moveable longitudinally relative to the rest of the tumbler body 4105 and relative to the stem 4170. In theparticular version of Figures 44A and 44B, the bottom cap 5205 and the sidewall 4110 of the tumbler body 4105 have a bottom cap threaded engagement 5210 by which the bottom cap 5205 can be screwed onto and off of the sidewall 4110 of the tumbler body 4105. When the bottom cap 5205 is screwed on it creates a water-tight seal with the sidewall 4110 of the tumbler body 4105 and therewith forms the beverage storage chamber 4145. When the bottom cap 5205 is screwed off it can be separated from the sidewall 4110 of the tumbler body 4105 so the tumbler body 4105 can be turned upside down and easily filled with a beverage 4200. The threaded engagement 5210 also allows the sipping chamber valve system 500 to be actuated and unactuated by the rotation of the bottom cap 5205 and the subsequent longitudinal movement of the bottom cap 5005 and the bottom 5005 of the stem 4170.

[0294] Figures 45 A and 45B show another version of a beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention. The beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 45 A and 45B is similar to the beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 39A and 39B and the version of 44 A and 44B. In the version of Figures 45 A and 45B, the blocking mechanism 4705 of the sipping chamber valve system 4700 is portion of an arced bottom wall 5305 that makes up the bottom 4115 of the tumbler body 4105. In the version shown, the arced bottom wall 5305 is a bistable member that is stable and biased towards its arced configuration shown in Figure 45A. In the configuration of Figure 45A, the arced bottom wall 5305 contacts the bottom 5005 of the stem 4170 in a manner than blocks the flow of beverage from the beverage storage chamber 4145 to the sipping chamber 4150 thus effectuating an actuated position 515 of the sipping chamber valve system 4700. To move the sipping chamber valve system 4700 to its open position 4805, the bottom arced wall 5305 can be pulled downwardly by the user to the position shown in Figure 45B where the arced bottom wall 5305 becomes spaced from the bottom 5005 of the stem 4170 to create the flow passageway 5010. A loop 5310 or the like can be provided to assist in the movement of the arced bottom wall 5305. When the pulling force is released by the user, the arced bottom wall 5305 can return to its blocking position of Figure 45 A.

[0295] Figure 46 shows a particular version similar to the version of Figures 43 A and 43B. In the version of Figure 46, a seal member 5405 is provided to help prevent that passing of beverage from the storage chamber 4145 into the sipping chamber 4150when the sipping chamber valve system 4700 is in a closed position 4715, as shown. The sealing member 41450 can be a silicone or rubber seal, such as an o-ring, or the like, that the bottom 5005 of the stem 4170 presses against when in the closed position 4715. In the version shown, the sealing member 5405 can be positioned in a sealing member recess 5410 in the bottom 4115 of the tumbler body 4105.Optionally, an additional seal can be provided by an insert member 5415 to provide a seal between the insert 4300 and the tumbler body 4105. In the version of Figure 46 shown, the bottom surface 4505 of the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150 has a curved shape similar to the one shown in Figure 37C. Alternatively, the bottom surface 4505 can assume any shape, as discussed herein. The version of Figure 46 can also alternatively include a sipping chamber valve system 4700 as shown in Figures 44A and 44B or Figures 45A and 45B.

[0296] Figures 47A and 47B show another version of a beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention. The beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 47A and 47B is similar to the beverage tumbler 4100 of Figures 39A and 39B. In the version of Figures 47A and 47B, the sipping chamber valve system 4700 comprises an aperture 5505 in the stem sidewall 4175. A blocking member 5510 sealingly blocks the aperture 5505 when the sipping chamber valve system 4700 is in its closed position 4715 as shown in Figure 47A. An actuator rod 5515 is connected to the blocking member 5510 and can move the blocking member 5510 away from the aperture 5505 so that flow can occur through the aperture 5505 in an open position 4805 of the sipping chamber valve system 4700, as shown in Figure 47B. A button member 5520 can be provided on the end of the actuator rod 5515. The button member 5520 and a portion of the actuator rod 5515 extend out of the sidewall 4110 of the tumbler body 4105. A user can press the button member 5520 toward the sidewall 4110 of the tumbler body 4105 to open the aperture 5505 and thus the flow passageway 5010 and place the sipping chamber valve system 4700 in the open position 4805 as shown in Figure 47B.

[0297] Figures 48 A and 48B show another version of a beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention. The version of Figures 48 A and 48B is similar to the version of Figures 47A and 47B, but in the version of Figures 48 A and 48B a biasing mechanism 5605 is provided to bias the actuator rod 5515 outwards and towards the actuated position of Figure 48A. The biasing mechanism 5605 is provided in the particular version shownby a spring 5610 that contacts a bias surface 5615 portion of the actuator rod 5515 and biases the actuator rod 5515 outwardly. To move the sipping chamber valve system 4700 of the version of Figures 48 A and 48B to the open position 4805, a user can press against the button member 5520 with sufficient force to overcome the bias of the spring 5605 and cause the actuator rod 5515 to move the blocking member 5510 to the open position 4805 shown in Figure 48B. Upon the removal of the user’s force on the button member 5520, the spring 5610 returns the actuator rod 5515 and the blocking member 5510 to the closed position 4715 shown in Figure 48A.

[0298] Figures 49A and 49B show a version of a beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention similar to the version of Figures 48 A and 48B. In the version of Figures 49A and 49B, the sipping chamber valve system 4700 is provided on a removable bottom cap 5205. This allows the beverage tumbler 4100 to be filled by removing the bottom cap 5205 and filling the storage chamber 4145 with beverage.

[0299] Figure 50 shows another version of an insert 4300 that can be used to convert a tumbler body 4105 to a beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention. In this version, the insert 4300 includes one or more outward extension 5805 that are adapted to contact an upper edge of the tumbler body 4105 to prevent over insertion of the insert 4300. Also in the version of Figure 50, an insert seal member 5415 comprises a ring 5810 around the outer periphery of the upper portion 4165 of the sipping chamber 4150. The ring 5810 is designed to contact an inner surface of the tumbler body 4105 to sealingly engage the insert 4300 and the tumbler body 4105. This arrangement both helps to secure the insert 4300 in the tumbler body 4105 and helps to separate the storage chamber 4145 from the sipping chamber 4150. In one version, the ring 5810 is flexible and / or comprises insulating foam or the like.

[0300] Figure 51 shows another version of an insert 4300 that can be used to convert a tumbler body 4105 into a beverage tumbler 4100 of the invention. The version of Figure 51 is similar to the version of Figure 50 but with the one or more outward extensions 5805 replaced by a radial extent 5905 of the insert 4300 being adapted to contact a inner ledge 5910 of the tumbler body 4105.BEVERAGE CONTAINER SYSTEM INCLUDING A STRAW

[0301] Figures 52A and 52B show a version of a beverage container system 6100 according to the present invention. The beverage container system 6100 of this version comprises a beverage container 6105, which can be substantially the same as any beverage container 100 and / or tumbler 4100, and a straw 6110. The beverage container 6105 may be any type of beverage container, such as a cup, mug, stein, tumbler, glass, or the like that is intended to contain one or more servings of a beverage in a manner that allows the beverage to be consumed by a user of the beverage container system 6100. The user can be a single individual, a plurality of individuals, an individual that is providing a sip of the beverage to another individual, and / or a user that is receiving a share of the beverage under the assistance of another individual. The beverage container 105 can be made of one or more of stainless steel; plastic, such as polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and high density polyethylene; paper product, such as carboard and wood pulp; ceramic materials, such as glass, porcelain, clay; and the like, and the beverage container 6105 can be reusable or disposable. In the version of Figures 52A and 52B, the straw 6110 is integrally associated 6115 with the beverage container 6105. By integrally associated it is meant that at least a portion of the straw 6110 and at least a portion of the beverage container 6105 are structurally connected to one another for at least a period of time during use of the beverage container system 6100, during storage and / or transport of the beverage container system 6100, and / or during manufacture of the beverage container system 6100. For example, in various versions as exemplified herein, the straw 6110 or a portion of the straw 6110 can be an integral part of the beverage container 6105 during use, the straw 6110 or a portion of the straw 6110 can be a connected to the beverage container 6105 and moved into a use position before or during use, the straw 6110 or a portion of the straw 6110 or a portion of the straw 6110 can be separably connected to the beverage container 6105, directly or indirectly, prior to use, and the like, as will be explained.

[0302] The beverage container 6105 comprises a beverage container body 6120 and any additional components, such as a lid, insulation sleeve, and the like, that cooperate with the beverage container body 6120. The beverage container body 6120 is made up of a sidewall 6125, a bottom 6130, and an open top 6135. The sidewall6125 has a sidewall interior surface 6140 and the bottom 6130 has a bottom interior surface 6145. Together the sidewall 6125 and the bottom 6130 define a container body interior reservoir 6150 that serves as a beverage containing reservoir lined by sidewall interior surface 6140 and the bottom interior surface 6145. The open top 6135 provides access to the container body interior reservoir 6150. The straw 6110 includes a straw body 6155 having a straw wall 6160, which can have a tubular shape, that has straw wall interior surface 6165. The straw wall interior surface defines a straw interior 6170 through which beverage can flow. The straw body 6155 and / or straw wall 6160, which can have one or more of many various cross-sectional geometric shapes, such as round, circular, oval, and polygonal, as will be discussed, extends from a beverage contacting end 6175 to a mouth engaging end 6180. An intermediate portion 6185 extends from the beverage contacting end 6175 to the mouth engaging end 6180.

[0303] In the version of Figures 52A and 52B, the straw 6110 is integrally associated 6115 with the beverage container 6105 by the straw 6110 being an integral part of the beverage container body 6120 during use of the beverage container system 6100. In the particular version of Figures 52A and 52B, the straw body 6155 contacts or forms a portion of the sidewall 6125 of the beverage container body 6120, such as by having a portion of the straw wall 6160 be part of the sidewall 6125 of the beverage container body 6120. In addition, at least a portion of the straw body 6155 and straw wall 6160 extends into the interior reservoir 6150 of the beverage container body 6120 to form the straw interior 6170 that is separated from beverage in the interior reservoir 6150 of the beverage container body 6120. Alternatively, the straw body 6155 and straw wall 6160 can be spaced from the sidewall 6125 of the beverage container body 6120. To drink beverage, a user causes suction to be applied at the mouth engaging end 6180, such as by inhaling through a mouth opening 6190, which causes beverage within the straw interior 6170 to travel up the straw body 6155 and out the mouth opening 6190 in the mouth engaging end 6180 and into the user’s mouth. A beverage opening 6195 in the beverage contacting end 6175 of the straw body 6155 allows the straw interior 6170 and the interior reservoir 6150 of the beverage container body 6120 to communicate via a communication channel. The beverage opening 6195 is located at or near the bottom of the straw body 6155. The beverage opening 6195 allows a beverage within the interior reservoir 6150 to flow into the straw interior6170 until the interior reservoir is empty or nearly empty of beverage. The beverage opening 6195 in the straw body 6155 can be an opening at the bottom end of the straw body 6155, as shown in Figure 52B. Alternatively or additionally, the beverage opening 6195 can include one or more openings through the straw wall 6160.

[0304] Figure 53 shows another version of a beverage container system 6100 with a straw 6110 that is integrally associated 6115 with the beverage container 6105 by the straw 6110 being an integral part of the beverage container body 6120 during use of the beverage container system 6100. The version of Figure 53 is similar to the version of Figure 52. However, where the version of Figure 52 shows the straw 6110 with an straw body 6155 having a straw wall 6160 that forms a generally circular cross section for the outer shape of the straw body 6155 and / or the shape of the straw interior 6170, in the version of Figure 53, the shape of the straw body 6155 and / or straw interior 6170 is non-circular, elongated, and / or oval sectional shape 6200.

[0305] Figures 54A and 54B show another version of a beverage container system 6100. The version of Figure 54A and 54B is the version of Figure 53 with the beverage container comprising a lid 6305 that is securable to the beverage container body 6120 to close at least a portion of the open top 6135 of the beverage container body 6120. As can be seen in Figure 54A which shows the lid 6305 alone, the lid 6305 includes a top wall 6310 that covers at least a portion of the open top 6135 of the beverage container body 6120. A container body latching member 6315 extends around the periphery of the lid 6305 and is adapted to latch onto a top rim of a beverage container body 6120, in known manner. Alternatively, the lid 6305 can latch onto or be secured onto the beverage container body 6120 in any other manner. The lid 6305 of the version of Figures 54A and 54B includes a straw opening 6320 in the top wall 6310 and / or any other portion of the lid 6305 and is sized and shaped to correspond to the shape of the straw body 6155 so that the straw 6110 can extend through the straw opening 6320 in the lid 6305 so that the mouth engaging end 6180 of the straw body 6155 extends above the lid 6305, as shown in Figure 54B.Optionally, a vent hole 6325 can be provided in the top wall 6310 to allow air to enter the interior reservoir 6150 to replace a volume of beverage that is being consumed by a user through the straw 6110.

[0306] In one version, the beverage container system 6100 of the invention is particularly useful when one or more of the components of the system are disposable, degradable, and / or compostable. By disposable it is meant that one or more components, such as the beverage container body 6120, the straw 6110, and / or the lid 6305 are designed for single use or very few uses. By degradable or compostable, it is meant that the one or more components are made from a material, such as a paperbased material, that will easily degrade or compost, respectively. For example, the beverage container body 6120 and / or the straw 6110 can be made of one or more of a paper-based products, which can be any material that contains paper, wood, or the like, such as paperboard, cardboard, and / or any other material made from or containing paper, wood, or wood pulp. The paper-based material may be lined or coated with plastic or wax to help reduce leaking.

[0307] Figures 55A, 55B, and 55C illustrate a manner in which the beverage container system 6100 of the version of Figure 53 can be manufactured. This method of manufacture is particularly useful when the container body 6120 is a disposable cup made from a paper-based material, such as paperboard. In the version of Figures 55A, 55B, and 55C the straw body 6155 is formed from a sheet of paperboard 6400 that is also used to manufacture the beverage container body 6120. The sheet of paperboard 6400, or other material, has a central portion 6405 that will become the sidewall 6125 of the beverage container body 6120. Conventionally, paperboard disposable cups are manufactured by taking a sheet of paperboard, wrapping it around a mandrel and heat-sealing the ends to one another to form a sidewall of the cup. With the present version of the invention, the paperboard sheet 6400 includes an extended portion 6410 extending laterally from a right end 6415 of the central portion 6405 of the sheet of paperboard 6400. The extended portion 6410 also includes an upwardly extending portion 6420 that corresponds with an upwardly extending portion 6425 at the left end 6430 of the central portion 6405 of the sheet of paperboard 6400. The upwardly extending portion 6420 and the upwardly extending portion 6425 will mate to for mouth engaging end 6180 of the straw 6110, as will be explained. The paperboard sheet 6400 is wrapped around a mandrel so that the right end 6415 of the central portion 6405 of the sheet of paperboard 6400 meets the left end 6430, as shown in the top view of Figure 55B. The extended portion 6410 overlaps with the portion of the central portion 6405 near the left end 6430 to createan overlapping portion 6435, as can be seen in Figure 55B. The end of the extended portion is heat sealed 6440 along a vertical line to what is now the interior surface 6140 of the sidewall 6125, and the right end 6415 is heat sealed 6445 along a vertical line to the left end 6430. The extended portion 6410 can then be moved away from the sidewall 6125, as shown in Figure 55C to create the straw interior 6170. A bottom cut away portion 6450 of the extended portion 6410 is removed, as shown in Figure 55A, and the bottom cut away portion 6450 forms the beverage opening 6195 when the sidewall 6125 and straw 6110 are assembled. As can be understood, the extended portion 6410 and the portion of the central portion 6405 of the sheet of paperboard 6400 that the extended portion 6410 overlaps become the straw wall 6160 that defines the straw interior 6170. Additional seals can be provided as needed.

[0308] Figure 56 shows another version of a sheet of paperboard 6400 that can be made into the sidewall 6125 of the beverage container body 6120 and straw 6110. The version of Figure 56 is similar to the version of Figure 55A, but the version of Figure 56 has an opening tab 6505 on the upwardly extending portion 6425 or on the upwardly extending portion 6420, and the other upwardly extending portion has a slit 6510. The opening tab 6505 can be used to maintain the straw 6110 in an open configuration, as shown in Figures 57A through 57D. Figure 57A shows the sidewall 6125 and straw 6110 in a position similar to Figure 55C with the extended portion 6410 separated from the sidewall to form the straw interior 6170. The opening tab 6505 is folded along a fold 6605 to create an inwardly extending fold portion 6610, as shown in Figure 57B, and the opening tab 6505 is then rotated downwardly relative to the upwardly extending portion 6425 so that the fold portion 6610 extends into the straw interior 6170, as shown in Figure 57C. A portion of the fold portion 6610 can be received in the slit 6510, as shown in Figure 57D to secure the opening tab 505 so it can maintain the straw 6110 in an open configuration. Alternatively, a member or mechanism can be provided on a lid 6305 that engages the straw body 6155 in a manner that helps to maintain it in an open position. For example the lid 6305 can include a grabbing member that extends into or otherwise engages the straw body to maintain the straw 6110 in an open configuration.

[0309] Figures 58A, 58B, 59A and 59B show another version of a beverage container system 6100 of the invention. In this version, the straw 6110 is integrally associated6115 with the beverage container 6105 by a portion of the straw 6110 being an integral part of the beverage container body 6120 and another portion of the straw 6110 being an integral part of a beverage container lid 6305. As can be seen in Figures 58A and 58B, the straw 6110 has a straw body 6155 that comprises a two-part straw body 6705. The two-part straw body 6705 includes a beverage container straw portion 6710 that is integrally part of the container body 6120 and a lid straw portion 6715 that is integrally part of the lid 6305. The lid straw portion 6715 is made up of a hollow tube that extends both above the top wall 6310 of the lid 6305 and below the top wall 6310 of the lid 6305 and has a continuous lumen extending therethrough. The lid straw portion 6715 is sized, shaped, and designed to be alignable with the container straw portion 6710, and a straw connection mechanism 6720 connects the lid straw portion 6715 to the container straw portion 6710 to form a continuous straw that can draw beverage out of the interior reservoir 6150. The bottom of the lid straw portion 6715 that extends below the top wall 6310 of the lid 6305 includes a bottom end 6725 that matingly engages a top end 6730 of container straw portion 6710. For example, in the version shown, the bottom end 6725 can include a slight tapered portion that closely and / or sealingly fits within the top end 6730 of the container straw portion 6710 when the lid 6305 is latched onto the top rim 6735 of the beverage container body 6120. Once the lid 6305 is attached to the beverage container body 6120, the lid straw portion 6715 that extends above the top wall 6310 of the lid 6305 becomes the mouth engaging end 6180 of the straw 6110, and when the user applies suction to the mouth opening 6190, the suction is drawn through the entire two-part straw 6705 causing the beverage to be drawn through the mouth opening 6190 and into the user’s mouth. As can be seen, the straw connection mechanism 6720 also allows the bottom end 6725 of the lid straw portion 6715 to serve as a grabbing member that helps to maintain the container straw portion 6710 in an open configuration. Figure 59A shows a perspective view of the lid 6305 of the version of Figure 56, and Figure 59B shows the lid 6305 connected to the beverage container body with the straw 6110 being ready to use.

[0310] Figures 60A and 60B shows another version of a beverage container system 6100 of the invention. The version of Figures 60A and 60B is similar to the version of Figures 58A, 58B, 59A, and 59B except that the two-part straw body 6705 of the straw 6100 of the beverage container system 6100 has an elongated or oval cross-sectional shape 6200. The two-part straw body 6705 of the version of Figures 60A and 60B assumes a shape similar to the shape of the straw body 6155 in Figure 53.

[0311] Figures 61 A, 61B, and 61C illustrate a manner in which the beverage container system 6100 of the version of Figures 60A and 60B can be manufactured. This method is similar to the method described in connection with Figure 56 but with a differently shaped sheet of paperboard 6400 as the starting material. In the version of Figure 61A, the extended portion 6410 of the sheet of paperboard 6400 does not have the upwardly extending portion 6420, and the central portion 6405 does not have the upwardly extending portion 6425. Instead, the extended portion 6410 has a top cut away portion7005. The top cut away portion7005 reduces the height of the extended portion 6410 so that when the sidewall 6125 of the beverage container body 6120 is formed, the top cut away portion7005 will be slightly below the top rim 6735 of the beverage container body 6120 and will thus form the top end 6730 of the container straw portion 6710, as can be seen in Figures 6 IB and 61C. The beverage container system 6100 that results from the process described in Figures 61 A, 61B, and 61C, is shown in Figure 62. A lid 6305, such as the lid 6305 of Figure 60A can then be connected to the beverage container body 6120 to complete the straw 6110.

[0312] Figures 63 A and 63B show another version of a beverage container system6100 of the invention. The version of Figures 63 A and 63B is similar to the version of Figures 58A, 58B, 59A, and 59B with regard to the two-part straw body 6705. However, in the version of Figures 63 A and 63B, the beverage container straw portion 6710 is a transformable beverage container straw portion 7205 that includes a moveable straw wall 7210. The moveable straw wall 7210 is moveable from a first position, as shown in Figure 63 A, where the transformable straw wall 7210 is in a collapsed configuration 7215 to a second position, as shown in Figure 63B, where the transformable straw wall 7210 is in an open straw configuration 7220. In the open straw configuration 7220, the straw interior 6170 is created and / or expanded. Thus, in the open configuration 7220, the top end 6730 of the container straw portion 6710 can matingly receive a bottom end 6725 of a lid straw portion 6715, such as the lid 6305 of Figure 58A and 59A. A user can change the configuration of the transformable straw wall 7210 by applying a force to the transformable straw wall 7210 to move it from its first position to its second position or to move it from its second position toits first position. Accordingly, a user can, for example, use the transformable straw wall 7210 in the open straw configuration 7220 when the user wants to drink from the straw 6110, and the user can move the transformable straw wall 7210 to the collapsed configuration 7215 when the user wants to use the beverage container 6105 as a conventional beverage container. In the particular version of Figures 63 A and 63B, the transformable straw wall 7210 includes an accordion shape 7225 with the transformable straw wall 7210 including multiple sections 7230 that fold over one another when in the collapsed configuration 7215, as shown in Figure 63 A and then expand to the open straw configuration 7220, as shown in Figure 63B. Also, in the collapsed configuration 7220, the container straw portion 7205 can fit sufficiently close to the sidewall 6125 of the beverage container body 6120 to allow multiple beverage container bodies 6120 to be stacked on one another.

[0313] Figure 64A illustrates a manner in which the beverage container system 6100 of the version of Figures 63 A and 63B can be manufactured. This method is similar to the method described in connection with Figure 61 A, 61B, and 61C but with a differently shaped sheet of paperboard 6400 as the starting material. In the version of Figure 64A, the extended portion 6410 includes the accordion sections 7230 that can be folded to produce the accordion shaped straw 7225. The beverage container system 6100 that results from the process described in Figure 64A is shown in Figure 64B. A lid 6305, such as the lid 6305 of Figures 58 and 59A can then be connected to the beverage container body 6120 to complete the straw 6110. Figure 64C shows an alternative version of a lid 6305 that can be used with the beverage container system 6100 of Figure 64B or with any other version of a beverage container system 6100. In this version, the lid 6305 comprises a latching member 7305 that is capable of latching onto any portion of a straw body 6155 to help maintain the straw 6110 in an open position. The height of the latching member 7305 relative to the top surface 6310 can be adjusted depending on the straw body 6155 that is being latched onto. For example, when the latching member 7305 is to latch onto a container straw portion 6710 of a straw 6110, the latching member 7305 may be positioned below the top surface 6310, and when the latching member 7305 is to latch onto a straw 6110 that extends above the lid 6305, the latching member 7305 can correspondingly be above the top surface 6310.

[0314] Figures 65A, 65B, 66A, and 66B show another version of a beverage container system 6100 of the invention. This version include a straw 6110 that is both a transformable straw 7205 and that is a moveable straw 7405. My moveable straw 7405 it is meant that the straw 6110 can move positions within the beverage container body 6120. As shown in Figure 65A, the moveable straw 7405 is connected to a straw arm 7410. The straw arm 7410 is connectable to the sidewall interior surface 6140, or other part of the beverage container body 6120, such as by a heat seal 7415, as shown in Figure 65B. In Figure 65B, the transformable straw 7205 is in a collapsed configuration 7215 and is moved to a storage position where the straw 6110 and the straw arm 7410 abut or are near the sidewall 6125 of the beverage container body 6120. In this position and configuration, multiple beverage container bodies 6120 can be stacked within one another. In Figure 65C, the transformable straw 7205 is moved to its open configuration and is moved away from the sidewall 6125 to its use position by movement of the straw arm 7410. In the particular version shown, the use position is at or near the center of the beverage container body 6120. A lid 6305 with a straw opening 6320 at or near the center of the lid 6305 can then be positioned on the beverage container body 6120. In another version, the version of Figures 65A, 65B, 66A, and 66B can be made into a two-part straw body 6705 by reducing the height of the straw 6110 so that it becomes a container straw portion 6710 and by including a lid straw portion 6715 that corresponds to the container straw portion 6710 in the lid 6305 of Figure 66B. Also, the version of Figures 65A, 65B, 66A, and 66B can be formed from a sheet of paperboard 6400, such as described in connection with Figures 55, 61 A, and 64A by making the extended portion 6410 the shapes of the straw arm 7410 and straw 6110 of Figure 65 A.

[0315] Figures 67A and 67B show another version of a beverage containing system 6100 of the invention. In the version of Figure 67, the straw 6110 is integrally associated 6115 with the beverage container 6105 by the straw 6110 or a portion of the straw 6110 being connected to the beverage container body 6120, directly or indirectly, prior to use. Accordingly, in this version the beverage container system 6100 comprises a beverage container body and releasably attached straw combination 7600. In the version of Figure 67A, which shows the beverage container system 6100 in a pre-use configuration 7605, the beverage container system 6100 includes a straw6110 that is removably attached to the beverage container body 6120. In theparticular version of Figure 67A, the straw 6110 is removably attached to an outer surface 7610 of the sidewall 6125. Alternatively, the straw can be attached to a different portion of the beverage container body 6120, as will be discussed. An attachment mechanism 7615 is provided to attach the straw 6110 to the beverage container body 6120 in the pre-use configuration 7605 and to allow the straw 6110 to be removed from the attachment so that it can be used as a straw, as shown in the in- use configuration 7620 of Figure 67B. The attachment mechanism 7615 that releasably attaches the straw 6110 to the beverage container body 6120 can be any one of several types of attachment mechanisms. For example, the attachment mechanism 7615 can include one or more of an adhesive, a heat seal, a perforation, and the like.

[0316] Figures 68 A and 68B illustrate a manner in which a version of a beverage container system 6100 in accordance with Figure 67 can be made in which the attachment mechanism 7615 is a perforation. This method of manufacture is particularly useful when the container body 6120 is a disposable cup made from a paper-based material, such as paperboard. In the version of Figures 68 A and 68B, the beverage container body 6120 and the straw body 6155 are formed from a single sheet of paperboard 6400. The sheet of paperboard 6400, or other material, has a central portion 6405 that will become the sidewall 6125 of the beverage container body 6120. The beverage container body 6120 is formed by taking the sheet of paperboard 6400, wrapping it around a mandrel, and heat-sealing the ends to one another to form a sidewall 6125 of the beverage container body 6120. With the version of Figures 68A and 68B, the paperboard sheet 6400 includes an extended portion 7705 extending laterally from a right end 7710 of the central portion 6405 of the sheet of paperboard 6400. The right end 7710 at the connection between the central portion 6405 and the extended portion 7705 is provided with perforations 7715. The extended portion 7705 also includes a plurality of vertical segments 7720 that can be folded relative to one another along a vertical line. The paperboard sheet 6400 is wrapped around a mandrel so that the right end 7710 of the central portion 6405 of the sheet of paperboard 6400 meets a left end 7725, as shown in the top view of Figure 68B. The right end 7710 is heat sealed 7730 along a vertical line to the left end 7725 with the extended portion 7705 being positioned on the exterior of the heat seal 7730, as shown in Figure 68B. The vertical segments 7720 can then be folded with the endvertical segment 7720 coming back around to be sealed to the first vertical segment 7720 to form the straw body 6155 with the vertical segments 7720 forming the straw wall 6160. The formed straw 6110 is thus connected to the beverage container body 6120 by the perforated portion 7715, and the straw 6110 can be removed from the beverage container body 6120 by tearing the straw 6110 away at the perforations 7710.

[0317] Figures 69A and 69B show another version of a beverage container system 6100 with a straw 6110 releasably attached to a beverage container body 6120. In the version of Figures 69A and 69B, the straw 6110 comprises a plurality of separate tapered segments, such as a first straw tubular portion 7805 and a second straw tubular portion 7810 that are each releasably attached to the outer surface 7610 of a sidewall 6125 of a beverage container body 6120. Each tapered segment includes a tapered sidewall 7815 that extends from an open top 7820 to an open bottom 7825 with the open top being slightly larger than the open bottom 7825. To form the straw 6110, as shown in Figure 69B, a user removes the first straw tubular portion 7805 and the second straw tubular portion 7810 from the beverage container body 6120 and inserts the smaller open bottom 7825 of one of the tubular portions into the larger open top 7820 of the other tubular portion to form a straw 6110 that is longer than each of the tubular portions. This version allows a straw 6110 that is longer than the height of the beverage container body 6120 to be used without the straw 6110 extending above or below the beverage container body 6120 in the pre-use configuration 7605. While Figure 18A shows two segments attached to the outer surface 7610 of the sidewall 6125 of the beverage container body 6120, there can be more than two segments provided and / or the segments can be attached elsewhere on the beverage container body 6120, such as on an interior surface 6140, on the bottom 6130, and / or on a lid.

[0318] A method of making the first straw tubular portion 7805 and / or the second straw tubular portion 7810 is shown in Figures 70, 71A, 71B, and 71C. As can be seen in the side view of Figure 70, a blank sheet of paperboard 7900 or other material is provided. The blank sheet 7900 has a slight taper from top to bottom and is divided into five vertical segments including a first vertical segment 7905, a second vertical segment 7910, a third vertical segment 7915, a fourth vertical segment 7920, and afifth vertical segment 7925. The vertical lines shown in Figure 70 are shown to illustrate the segments and the location of folds, but the lines need not necessarily be seen on the blank sheet 7900. In one version, the vertical lines are creases that facilitate the folding of the blank sheet 7900. In another version, no creases are provided, and the folds are made by hand or machine. Figure 71 A shows a top view of the blank sheet 7900. The blank sheet 7900 is then folded and segment 7905 is sealed onto segment 7925 to create the tapered straw tubular portion 7805, shown in Figure 7 IB in its open configuration 7220. The tapered straw tubular portion 7805 can then be moved to a collapsed configuration 7215, as shown in Figure 71C so the straw tubular portion 7805 can be more easily stored and / or attached to a beverage container body 6120. The process is then repeated to make the second straw tubular portion 7810. To form the straw 6110, a user can remove the first straw tubular portion 7805 and the second straw tubular portion 7810 from the beverage container body 6120, move the first straw tubular portion 7805 and the second straw tubular portion 7810 to their open configurations 7220, and insert an open bottom 7825 of one of the segments into the open top of the other segment.

[0319] Figure 72A, 72B, and 72C show a method of forming both the first straw tubular portion 7805 and the second straw tubular portion 7810 from a single blank sheet 7900 at the same time in a manner that makes the first straw tubular portion 7805 and the second straw tubular portion 7810 releasably connected to one another. In this version, the blank sheet 7900 is divided into ten vertical segments including first straw first segment vertical segment 8105 A, first straw segment second vertical segment 8110A, first straw segment third vertical segment 8115A, first straw segment fourth vertical segment 8120A, first straw segment fifth vertical segment 8125 A, second straw first segment vertical segment 8105B, second straw segment second vertical segment 8110B, second straw segment third vertical segment 8115B, second straw segment fourth vertical segment 8120B, and second straw segment fifth vertical segment 8125B. The first straw segment fifth vertical segment 8125 A and the second straw segment fifth vertical segment 8125B are separated from one another by a perforated vertical line 8130 that extends longitudinally from the bottom to the top of the blank sheet 7900. The longitudinal perforated line 8130 thus divides the blank sheet 7900 into a left side panel 8135 and a right side panel 8140. The blank sheet 7900 is then folded by forward folds as shown initially in the top view of Figure 72Band then continuing the forward folds as shown in Figure 72C. Vertical segment 8105A is sealed onto vertical segment 8125A, and vertical segment 8105B is sealed onto vertical segment 8125B to create the first straw tubular portion 7805 from the left side panel 8135 and the second straw tubular portion 7810 from the right side panel 8140. The first straw tubular portion 7805 and second straw tubular portion 7810 are connected to one another by the perforated line 8130.

[0320] Figure 73 shows a version of a process for converting the blank sheet 7900 of Figure 72A into the first straw tubular portion 7805 and the second straw tubular portion 7810 with the first straw tubular portion 7805 and the second straw tubular portion 7810 in their collapsed configurations 7215. Step 1 is the starting point with a flat blank sheet 7900. Steps 2 through 5 shows progressing folding from the outside towards the center with the folding of the two sides occurring symmetrically and at the same time. At step 6, the two overlapping surfaces are sealed together such as by gluing. At step 7, the first straw tubular portion 7805 and the second straw tubular portion 7810 start to be moved from there open configurations 7220 towards a collapsed configuration 7215 as shown in step 10.

[0321] Figure 74 shows a process similar to the process of Figure 73 but with an assembly tool 8305 provided to help create more space for the process. Since the dimensions of the vertical segments can be very small, it can be difficult to handle the folding steps without creating extra room. With the process of Figure 74, the initial flat blank sheet 7900 is folded backwards by an initial rearward fold as shown in Step 2 by using the shape of the assembly tool 8305. The rest of the process continues in similar manner to the process of Figure 73.

[0322] Figures 75A and 75B show a version of a beverage container system 6100 of the invention in which the straw 6110 is included as part of beverage container 6105 that is designed for improved temperature management of a beverage within the interior reservoir 6150. Examples of temperature management beverage containers can be found in United States Patent Application 18 / 976,235 filed on December 10, 2024, United States Patent Application 18 / 976,250 filed on December 10, 2024, and United States Patent Application 19 / 324,025 filed on September 9, 2025, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0323] As can be seen in the version of Figures 75A and 75B, the beverage container system 6100 includes a chamber creating system 8400 that is positioned or positionable within the container body interior reservoir 6150 to divide the container body interior reservoir into a plurality of chambers. The chamber creating system 8400 can be an integral part of the beverage container body 6120, or the chamber creating system 8400 or a portion thereof can be a separate part, as will be discussed below. The chamber creating system 8400 comprises a partitioning wall 8405 and, optionally, a top wall 8410. When provided, the top wall 8410 may be an integral part of the beverage container body 6120, may be a removable piece, may be in the form of or part of a lid 6305 or the like, may be a part of or separate from the partitioning wall 8405, and / or may be otherwise provided. The partitioning wall 8405 extends downwardly from the top wall 8410 in the region of the open top 6135 into the container body interior reservoir 6150 as best seen in Figure 75B. In the version shown, the partitioning wall 8405 extends in an at least partially vertical direction within the container body interior reservoir 6150 when the beverage container body 6120 is in the upright position shown in Figures 75A and 75B. The partitioning wall 8405 of the chamber creating system 8400 cooperates with the sidewall 6125 and / or bottom 6130 of the container body 6120 to divide the container body interior reservoir 6150 into a plurality of separate chambers.

[0324] For example, in the version of Figures 75A and 75B, the partitioning wall 8405 of the chamber creating system 8400 separates the container body interior reservoir 6150 into a first chamber, a beverage storage chamber 8415, and a second chamber, a sipping chamber 8420. The beverage storage chamber 8415 is designed to serve as a beverage storage reservoir in which a beverage to be sipped can be contained and / or stored in a manner that preserves the temperature of the beverage within the beverage storage chamber 8415.

[0325] The beverage storage chamber 8415 communicates with the sipping chamber 8420 through a communication channel 8425 located at or near the bottom of the beverage container body 6120. The communication channel 8425 allows a beverage within the beverage storage chamber 8415 to flow into the sipping chamber 8420. The sipping chamber 8420 is designed to contain a portion of the beverage that is to be sipped by a user. The partitioning wall 8405 comprises a pair of longitudinallyextended side edges 8430 that are sized, shaped, and contoured to engaged the sidewall interior surface 6140 in a sealing manner so that beverage from the beverage storage chamber 8415 does not substantially seep through to the sipping chamber 8420 and so that the communication channel 8425 is the predominant path of passage of beverage from the beverage storage chamber 8415 to the sipping chamber 8420. At or near the open top of the container body 6120, in the version of Figures 75A and 75B, is a sipping opening 8435 of the beverage container body 6120 at the upper extent of the sipping chamber 8420. Within the sipping opening 8435 is a rim portion 8440.

[0326] Operation of the beverage container system 6100 of Figures 75A and 75B is illustrated in Figures 76A and 76B. Figure 76A shows the beverage container system 6100 at least partially filled with a beverage 8500 to be sipped by a user. As can be seen, the beverage 8500 is contained both within container body interior reservoir 6150 and is divided into a portion that is in the beverage storage chamber 8415 and a portion that is in the sipping chamber 8420. In the version shown, the communication channel 8425 is a free-flowing passageway that allows the beverage 8500 to flow freely between the beverage storage chamber 8415 and the sipping chamber 8420. Because a liquid will tend to flow to find a common level when not acted on by outside forces, the beverage storage chamber beverage height 8505 is approximately the same as the sipping chamber beverage height 8510 when the beverage container body 6120 is in an untilted, ready-to-sip, upright position as shown in Figure 76A. The beverage 8500 can be prefilled, filled by pouring through the sipping chamber 8420, or filled in other manners.

[0327] To sip the beverage 8500, a user tilts the beverage container body 6120 as shown in Figure 76B. Figure 76B shows a tilted position of the beverage container body 6120 just before the beverage 8500 in the sipping chamber 8420 will spill over the rim portion 8440 and out of the sipping opening 8435. As the beverage container body 6120 is tilted from the upright position of Figure 76A to a tilted position such as the one shown in Figure 76B, the top wall 8410 serves to close the top of the beverage storage chamber 8415 and prevents the beverage 8500 in the beverage storage chamber 8415 from being poured out of the top of the beverage container body 6120. The beverage 8500 in the beverage storage chamber 8415 will pass throughcommunication channel 8425 and then through the sipping chamber 8420. With continued tilting beyond the tilt of Figure 76B, the beverage 8500 in the sipping chamber 8420 will begin to flow out of the sipping opening 8435 as it flows towards and over the rim portion 8420. At any time during the beverage consuming process, the user can opt to use the straw 6110 to draw beverage 8500 out of the interior reservoir 6150.

[0328] The beverage container system 6100 of Figures 75A and 75B and shown in operation in Figures 76A and 76B offers several unique advantages over existing beverage containers. For example, when the beverage is an extremely hot beverage, the sipping chamber 8420 can act as a cooling chamber bringing the temperature of just the amount of beverage to be sipped down to a drinkable temperature while keeping the portion of the beverage in the beverage storage chamber 8415 hot for a longer period of time. This not only allows the user to begin sipping the beverage 8500 sooner than if there were no sipping chamber 8420, it also provides an improved temperature profile over the course of the consumption of the beverage 8500. The maintenance of the temperature of the beverage in the beverage storage chamber 8415 prolongs the sipping experience. The sipping experience provided by the sipping chamber 8420 of the beverage container system 6100 is thus further enhanced by the beverage storage chamber 8415 which serves to keep the beverage 8500 at a desired temperature for a longer period of time. More specifically, with the beverage container system 6100 of the invention, the portion of the beverage 8500 that is in the sipping chamber 8440 is exposed to ambient temperature along its top surface. In contrast, the portion of the beverage 8500 that is in the beverage storage chamber 8415 is insulated from the ambient temperature in that no portion or surface of the beverage 8500 that is within the beverage storage chamber 8415 is directly exposed to ambient temperature. The beverage 8500 in the beverage storage chamber 8415 is instead surrounded and / or enclosed by the sidewall 6125 of the container body 6120, the bottom 6130 of the container body 6120, the partitioning wall 8405, the top wall 8410, and the portion of the beverage 8500 in the sipping chamber 8420 that is near the communication channel 8425. Each of these components that directly contact the beverage 8500 in the beverage storage chamber 8415 can serve to insulate the beverage 8500 in the beverage storage chamber 8415 from ambient temperature. With the straw 6110 feature, the beverage can be drawn through the straw when it isat a desired temperature and / or the straw 6110 offers the ability to use the beverage container body 6120 in numerous ways. For example, hot beverages can be maintained hot for a longer period of time when desired, and cold beverages can be enjoyed through the straw 6110 when desired.

[0329] In the version of Figures 75 A and 75B, the parts of the beverage container system 6100 may be integrally connected. For example, the container body 6120, the chamber creating system 8400, and the straw 6110 can be integrally or permanently connected to one another so as to form an interconnected device. In the particular version shown, the straw 6110 passes through and / or forms a part of the partitioning wall 8405. The beverage container system 6100 in its integrally connected form can be a single-use device that is made from one or more materials intended to be disposed of or recycled, or the integrally connected form can be a multi-use device made of one or more materials that are cleanable.

[0330] In another version, such as shown in Figure 77, the beverage container system 6100 can have one or more separable components. For example, in the version shown in Figure 77, the chamber creating system 8400 is in the form of an insert 8600 that is selectively insertable into a container body 6120. In the version shown, the insert 8600 includes both the partitioning wall 8405 and the straw 6110. With the insert 8600, a traditional container body 6120 can be converted into a beverage container system 6100 of the invention that includes a beverage storage chamber 8415 and a sipping chamber 8420. The insert 8600 can be inserted into the container body 6120 during use as a dual chamber beverage container system 6100 and can be removed from the container body 6120 for cleaning and / or to revert the container body 6120 to its traditional use. In this version, a coupling mechanism 8605 can be provided that allows the insert 8600 including at least a portion of the chamber creating system 8400 to be selectively and separably coupled to the container body 6120. In the version of Figure 77, the coupling mechanism 8605 is a friction fit between the side edges 8430 of the partitioning wall 8405 and the sidewall interior surface 6140 of the container body 6120.

[0331] In one version, such as shown in Figures 78A, 78B, and 78C, a lid 6305 is provided with an insert opening 8705. The lid top wall 6310 engages the insert ledge 8610 to control the insertion depth of the insert 8600 to create the communicationchannel 8415. For example, the insertion depth can be at a position where a bottom of the insert 8600 is a predetermined height above the bottom surface 6145 of the container body 6120. By having the bottom of the insert 8600 terminate short of the bottom surface 6145 of the container body 6120, a gap is created, and the gap can become the communication channel 8425.

[0332] Figures 79A, 79B, and 79C show another version of a beverage container system 6100. The version of Figures 79A, 79B, and 79C is similar to the version of Figures 77, 78 A, 78B, and 78C, but in the version of Figures 79A, 79B, and 79C, the straw 6110 is a two-part straw body 6705 with a container straw portion 6710 and a lid straw portion 6715 that mates with the container straw portion 6710 to create the straw 6110 when the lid 6305 is attached, as discussed above. Optionally, a swivel member 8805 can be provided, the selectively cover the sipping opening 8435 with the straw parts aligned or to swivel to the side to provide access to the sipping opening 8435 when a user wants to sip from the sipping chamber 8420.

[0333] In one version, the partitioning wall 145 and / or a portion of the straw 6110 can be used in conjunction with a lid 6305, such as the lid 6305 shown in Figure 64C and discussed above, having a latching member 7305. The latching member 7305 can be used to latch onto the partitioning wall 145, the straw 6110, and / or any other portion of the chamber creation system 8400. This is particularly useful when the partitioning wall 145 and / or the straw 6110 is collapsible in that the latching member 7305 on the lid 6305 can be used to maintain the partitioning wall 8405 and / or the straw 6110 in an open configuration. Having such a latching member 7305 allows the partitioning wall 8405 and / or the straw 6110 to be collapsible so that the beverage container bodies 6120 can be stacked during storage and then can be used to during consumption of a beverage without concern for the partitioning wall 8405 and / or the straw 6110 returning to a collapsed configuration or otherwise reducing the flow of beverage.

[0334] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with regard to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible, and alterations, permutations and equivalents of the versions shown will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. For example, the cooperating components may be reversed or provided inadditional or fewer number, and all directional limitations, such as up and down and the like, can be switched, reversed, or changed as long as doing so is not prohibited by the language herein with regard to a particular version of the invention. Like numerals represent like parts from figure to figure. When the same reference number has been used in multiple figures, the discussion associated with that reference number in one figure is intended to be applicable to the additional figure(s) in which it is used, so long as doing so is not prohibited by explicit language with reference to one of the figures. Also, the various features of the versions herein can be combined in various ways to provide additional versions of the present invention. Furthermore, certain terminology has been used for the purposes of descriptive clarity, and not to limit the present invention. Throughout this specification and any claims appended hereto, unless the context makes it clear otherwise, the term “comprise” and its variations such as “comprises” and “comprising” should be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, limitation, or step but not the exclusion of any other elements, limitations, or steps. Throughout this specification and any claims appended hereto, unless the context makes it clear otherwise, the term “consisting of’ and “consisting essentially of’ should be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, limitation, or step and the exclusion of any other elements, limitations, or steps or the exclusion of any other essential elements, limitations, or steps, respectively. Throughout the specification, any discussion of a combination of elements, limitations, or steps should be understood to include (i) each element, limitation, or step of the combination alone, (ii) each element, limitation, or step of the combination with any one or more other element, limitation, or step of the combination, (iii) an inclusion of additional elements, limitations, or steps (i.e. the combination may comprise one or more additional elements, limitations, or steps), and / or (iv) an exclusion of additional elements, limitations, or steps or an exclusion of essential additional elements, limitations, or steps (i.e. the combination may consist of or consist essentially of the disclosed combination or parts of the combination). All numerical values, unless otherwise made clear in the disclosure or prosecution, include either the exact value or approximations in the vicinity of the stated numerical values, such as for example about + / - ten percent or as would be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art in the disclosed context. The same is true for the use of the terms such as about, substantially, and the like. Also, for any numericalranges given, unless otherwise made clear in the disclosure, during prosecution, or by being explicitly set forth in a claim, the ranges include either the exact range or approximations in the vicinity of the values at one or both of the ends of the range. When multiple ranges are provided, the disclosed ranges are intended to include any combinations of ends of the ranges with one another and including zero and infinity as possible ends of the ranges. Therefore, any appended or later filed claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein and should include all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage container comprising: a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a chamber creating system within the tumbler body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the beverage storage chamber is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of the sidewall, a portion of the bottom, and the top wall, wherein the sipping chamber is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of the sidewall, and a portion of the bottom, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

2. A beverage container according to claim 1 wherein the communication channel is provided at the bottom of the beverage container body interior.

3. A beverage container according to claim 1 wherein the partitioning wall comprises a pair of longitudinally extending side edges that each sealingly engage the sidewall of the beverage container body.

4. A beverage container according to claim 1 wherein the partitioning wall comprises a bottom that is spaced from the bottom of the beverage container body and wherein a gap between the bottom of the partitioning wall and the bottom of the beverage container body creates the communication channel.

5. A beverage container according to claim 1 wherein the top wall comprises an outer edge that sealingly engages the sidewall of the beverage container body.

6. A beverage container according to claim 1 wherein the sipping opening comprises a rim portion over which beverage from the sipping chamber can flow when being sipped and wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber passes through the sipping chamber before flowing over the rim portion.

7. A beverage container according to claim 1 wherein the beverage storage chamber is separated from ambient temperature by a wall or by beverage in the sipping chamber.

8. A beverage container according to claim 1 wherein the partitioning wall is a moveable partitioning wall that can be moved from a first position where there is no sipping chamber to a second position where a sipping chamber is created.

9. A beverage container insert adapted to be insertable into a beverage container body, the beverage container insert comprising: a chamber creating system removably insertable into a beverage container interior, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein when inserted into the beverage container body interior, the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the beverage storage is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of a sidewall of the beverage container body, a portion of a bottom of the beverage container body, and the top wall, wherein the sipping chamber is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of the sidewall of the beverage container body, and a portion of the bottom of the beverage container body, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

10. A beverage container insert according to claim 9 wherein the beverage container insert comprises a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the beverage containerinsert to the beverage container body at a desired position within the beverage container body.

11. A beverage container insert according to claim 10 wherein the coupling mechanism comprises the partitioning wall comprising a pair of longitudinally extending side edges that each are adapted to sealingly engage the sidewall of the beverage container body and to position the beverage container insert in the desired position.

12. A beverage container insert according to claim 10 wherein the coupling mechanism comprises one or more outward extensions on the top wall, wherein the one or more outward extensions are adapted to contact a top of the beverage container body to position the beverage container insert in the desired position.

13. A beverage container insert according to claim 10 wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a threaded member that is adapted to engage threads on the beverage container body to position the beverage container in the desired position.

14. A beverage container insert according to claim 10 wherein the partitioning wall comprises a bottom, and wherein the desired position is a position where the bottom of the partitioning wall is spaced from the bottom of the beverage container body, and wherein a gap between the bottom of the partitioning wall and the bottom of the beverage container body creates the communication channel.

15. A beverage container insert according to claim 9 wherein the sipping opening comprises a rim portion over which beverage from the sipping chamber can flow when being sipped and wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber passes through the sipping chamber before flowing over the rim portion.

16. A beverage container insert according to claim 9 wherein the rim portion is on the beverage container body.

17. A beverage container insert according to claim 9 wherein the rim portion is on the beverage container insert.

18. A beverage container insert according to claim 9 wherein the partitioning wall is a moveable partitioning wall that can be moved from a first position where there is no sipping chamber to a second position where a sipping chamber is created.

19. A disposable beverage container comprising: a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and bottom that define a container body interior, wherein the sidewall and bottom are made of disposable material; and a beverage container insert insertable into a beverage container body, the beverage container insert comprising a chamber creating system, the chamber creating system comprising a vertically extending partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein when the beverage container insert is inserted into the beverage container body interior, the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the beverage storage is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of a sidewall of the beverage container body, a portion of a bottom of the beverage container body, and the top wall, wherein the sipping chamber is at least partially defined by the partitioning wall, a portion of the sidewall of the beverage container body, and a portion of the bottom of the beverage container body, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

20. A disposable beverage container according to claim 19 wherein the communication channel is provided at the bottom of the beverage container body interior.

21. A disposable beverage container according to claim 19 wherein the partitioning wall comprises a pair of longitudinally extending side edges that each contact the sidewall of the beverage container body.

22. A disposable beverage container according to claim 19 wherein the partitioning wall comprises a bottom that is spaced from the bottom of the beverage container body and wherein a gap between the bottom of the partitioning wall and the bottom of the beverage container body creates the communication channel.

23. A disposable beverage container according to claim 19 wherein the top wall comprises an outer edge that contacts a top of the beverage container body.

24. A disposable beverage container according to claim 23 wherein the outer edge comprises a latching member adapted to latch on to the top of the beverage container body.

25. A disposable beverage container according to claim 19 wherein the sipping opening comprises a rim portion over which beverage from the sipping chamber can flow when being sipped and wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber passes through the sipping chamber before flowing over the rim portion.

26. A disposable beverage container according to claim 25 wherein the rim portion is on the beverage container body.

27. A disposable beverage container according to claim 25 wherein the rim portion is on the beverage container insert.

28. A disposable beverage container according to claim 25 wherein the beverage container insert is a one-piece insert and wherein the partitioning wall is bendable relative to the top member.

29. A disposable beverage container according to claim 25 wherein the partitioning wall and the top member are separable, wherein the top member includes a partitioning wall opening through which the partitioning wall can be inserted.

30. A disposable beverage container according to claim 25 wherein the beverage container insert comprises a plug adapted to selectively cover the sipping opening.

31. A beverage container according to claim 19 wherein the partitioning wall is a moveable partitioning wall that can be moved from a first position where there is no sipping chamber to a second position where a sipping chamber is created.

32. A beverage container comprising: a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and an insert comprising a chamber creating system, the insert being insertable into the container body interior, the chamber creating system comprising a partitioning wall and a top wall, wherein the chamber creating system divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the partitioning wall separates the beverage storage chamber the sipping chamber, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; and wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening.

33. A beverage container according to claim 32 wherein the partitioning wall and the top wall are integrally connected.

34. A beverage container according to claim 32 wherein the partitioning wall and the top wall are integrally connected at a fold, and wherein the partitioning wall is bendable relative to the top wall at the fold.

35. A beverage container according to claim 32 wherein the partitioning wall and the top wall are integrally connected at two folds separated by an unconnected section, and wherein the partitioning wall has a longitudinally extending inward curvature.

36. A beverage container according to claim 32 wherein the top wall includes a cup latching member adapted to engage a rim portion of beverage container body.

37. A beverage container according to claim 32 further comprises a sipping opening cover member connected to the top wall and adapted to selectively cover the sipping opening.

38. A beverage container according to claim 32 wherein the partitioning wall and the top wall are separate parts.

39. A beverage container according to claim 32 wherein the partitioning wall and the top wall are separate parts, and wherein the top wall comprises a partitioning wall opening through which the partitioning wall can be inserted.

40. A beverage container according to claim 32 wherein the partitioning wall and the top wall are separate parts, wherein the top wall comprises a partitioning wall opening through which the partitioning wall can be inserted, and wherein the partitioning wall comprises a ledge adapted to contact the top wall to limit an insertion depth of the partitioning wall into the beverage container body.

41. A beverage container according to claim 32 wherein the partitioning wall and the top wall are separate parts, wherein the top wall comprises a partitioning wall opening through which the partitioning wall can be inserted, and wherein the partitioning wall is connected to a sipping opening cover member.

42. A beverage container according to claim 32 wherein the partitioning wall and the top wall are separate parts, wherein the top wall comprises an elevating lid having a partitioning wall opening in an elevating portion of the elevating lid, and wherein the partitioning wall can be inserted through the partitioning wall opening.

43. A beverage container according to claim 32 wherein a cover member is connected to the top wall, and wherein the cover member can be swiveled from a position where the cover member covers the sipping opening to a position where the cover member does not cover the sipping opening.

44. A beverage container comprising: a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a partitioning wall integrally connection to the sidewall, the partitioning wall being moveable between a non-partitioning configuration to a partitioning configuration, wherein when in the partitioning configuration, the partitioning wall divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; and wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening.

45. A beverage container according to claim 44 wherein the partitioning wall comprises a plurality of folded sections, and wherein the plurality of sections unfold when the partitioning wall is moved from the non-partitioning configuration to the partitioning configuration.

46. A beverage container according to claim 44 wherein the partitioning wall is formed by an extended portion of a paperboard sheet that is heat sealed at two positions to the sidewall.

47. A beverage container according to claim 44 further comprising a removeable top wall connectable to the beverage container body, the removeable top wall comprising an opening that is alignable with the sipping chamber to create the sipping opening.

48. A beverage container according to claim 44 further comprising a removeable top wall connectable to the beverage container body, the removeable top wall comprising an opening that is alignable with the sipping chamber to create the sipping opening, and wherein the top wall incudes a cover member, wherein the cover member can be swiveled from a position where the cover member covers the sipping opening to a position where the cover member does not cover the sipping opening.

49. A beverage container comprising: a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a partitioning wall extending vertically into the beverage container body, wherein the partitioning wall divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening; and wherein the partitioning wall comprises a vent opening near the top of the partitioning wall, the vent opening allowing air to pass into the beverage storage chamber when beverage is being sipped through the sipping opening.

50. A beverage container comprising: a beverage container body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a container body interior; and a partitioning wall extending vertically into the beverage container body, wherein the partitioning wall comprises a longitudinally extending outward curvature, wherein the partitioning wall divides the beverage container body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein the sipping chamber is at least partially annular and at least partially surrounds the beverage storage chamber, and wherein a sipping opening is provided at a top end of the sipping chamber; wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow through a communication channel into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user through the sipping opening.

51. A beverage container according to claim 50 wherein the partitioning wall extends upwardly to a top ledge, and wherein the beverage container further comprises a beverage storage chamber lid adapted to engage the partitioning wall top ledge.

52. A beverage tumbler comprising: a tumbler body comprising a sidewall and a bottom that define a tumbler body interior; and a partitioning system within the tumbler body interior, the partitioning system comprising walls that divide the tumbler body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, wherein a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

53. A beverage tumbler according to claim 52 wherein the sipping chamber comprises a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion comprises a rim portion over which beverage from the sipping chamber can flow when being sipped, and wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber passes through the lower portion of the sipping chamber before flowing into the upper portion of the sipping chamber.

54. A beverage tumbler according to claim 53 wherein the lower portion of the sipping chamber is surrounded horizontally by the beverage storage chamber when the beverage tumbler is in an upright orientation.

55. A beverage tumbler according to claim 53 wherein the lower portion of the sipping chamber has a smaller horizontal cross-sectional dimension than the upper portion of the sipping chamber.

56. A beverage tumbler according to claim 53 wherein the sipping chamber has a cylindrical shape and the wherein the upper portion has a frustoconical shape.

57. A beverage tumbler according to claim 52 wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber flows into the sipping chamber through a communication channel at or near a bottom of the beverage storage chamber.

58. A beverage tumbler according to claim 57 wherein a sipping chamber valve system controls the flow of beverage from the beverage storage chamber to the sipping chamber.

59. A beverage tumbler according to claim 58 wherein the sipping chamber valve system comprises a user manipulatable actuating mechanism that moves the sipping chamber valve system from a closed position where the flow of beverage from the beverage storage chamber to the sipping chamber is blocked and an open position where beverage is permitted to flow from the beverage storage chamber to the sipping chamber.

60. A beverage tumbler according to claim 59 wherein the actuating mechanism comprises the longitudinal movement of a portion of the partitioning system relative to the tumbler body.

61. A beverage tumbler according to claim 59 wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a button that can be manipulated by a user to move the sipping chamber valve system from the closed position to the open position or from the open position to the closed position.

62. A beverage tumbler according to claim 52 wherein the tumbler body comprises a removable bottom cap which can be removed to provide access to the beverage storage chamber.

63. A beverage tumbler according to claim 52 beverage within the beverage storage chamber is separated from ambient temperature by an insulated wall or by beverage in the sipping chamber.

64. A beverage tumbler insert adapted to be insertable into a tumbler body, the beverage tumbler insert comprising: a partitioning system removably insertable into a tumbler body interior, the partitioning system comprising walls that divide the tumbler body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber when the beverage tumbler insert is positioned within the tumbler body,wherein when the insert is positioned within the tumbler body a beverage within the beverage storage chamber can flow into the sipping chamber, and wherein the beverage in the sipping chamber can be sipped by a user without directly exposing beverage in the beverage storage chamber to ambient temperature.

65. A beverage tumbler insert according to claim 64 wherein the sipping chamber comprises a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion comprises a rim portion over which beverage from the sipping chamber can flow when being sipped, and wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber passes through the lower portion of the sipping chamber before flowing into the upper portion of the sipping chamber.

66. A beverage tumbler insert according to claim 65 wherein the rim portion is on the insert.

67. A beverage tumbler insert according to claim 65 wherein the rim portion is on the tumbler body.

68. A beverage tumbler insert according to claim 65 wherein the lower portion of the sipping chamber has a smaller horizontal cross-sectional dimension than the upper portion of the sipping chamber.

69. A beverage tumbler insert according to claim 65 wherein beverage in the beverage storage chamber flows into the sipping chamber through a communication channel at or near a bottom of the beverage storage chamber and wherein a sipping chamber valve system controls the flow of beverage from the beverage storage chamber to the sipping chamber, wherein the sipping chamber valve system comprises a user manipulatable actuating mechanism that moves the sipping chamber valve system from a closed position where the flow of beverage from the beverage storage chamber to the sipping chamber is blocked and an open position where beverage is permitted to flow from the beverage storage chamber to the sipping chamber.

70. A beverage tumbler insert according to claim 69 wherein the actuating mechanism comprises the longitudinal movement of a portion of the partitioning system relative to the tumbler body.

71. A method of sipping a beverage from a beverage tumbler, the method comprising: providing a beverage tumbler comprising a tumbler body comprising a sidewall and bottom that define a tumbler body interior and a partitioning system within the tumbler body interior, the partitioning system comprising walls that divide the tumbler body interior into a beverage storage chamber and a sipping chamber, manipulating a valve to allow beverage in the beverage storage chamber to flow into the sipping chamber, and sipping the beverage in the sipping chamber.

72. A beverage container system comprising: a beverage container comprising a beverage container body having a sidewall and a bottom that define an interior reservoir, and an open top, and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container, wherein the beverage container body comprises a paper-based material and wherein the straw comprises a paper-based material.

73. A beverage container system according to claim 72 wherein the beverage container body and the straw are formed from a single sheet of paper-based material.

74. A beverage container system according to claim 72 wherein the beverage container body and the straw are formed from a single sheet of paper-based material, wherein the sheet of paper-based material comprises a central portion that extends from a left end to a right end, wherein the sheet of paper-based material comprises an extended portion that extends laterally beyond the right end, wherein the left end and the right end are joined to form the beverage container body, and wherein the extended portion is formed into the straw.

75. A beverage container system according to claim 74 wherein the right end comprises perforations.

76. A beverage container system according to claim 74 wherein the straw is external to the beverage container body.

77. A beverage container system according to claim 74 wherein the straw is within the interior reservoir of the beverage container body.

78. A beverage container system according to claim 72 wherein the straw comprises a transformable straw portion that is moveable between a collapsed configuration and an open configuration.

79. A beverage container system according to claim 72 wherein the straw is moveable from a first position in proximity to a sidewall of the beverage container body to a second position spaced from the beverage container body.

80. A beverage container system according to claim 72 wherein the beverage container comprises a lid attachable to the beverage container body, wherein the lid comprises a straw opening.

81. A beverage container system according to claim 72 wherein the beverage container comprises a lid, wherein the straw comprises a two part straw body including a container straw portion and a lid straw portion, and wherein a straw connection mechanism connects the container straw portion to the lid straw portion when the lid is attached to the beverage container body.

82. A beverage container system comprising: a beverage container comprising a beverage container body having a sidewall and a bottom that define an interior reservoir, and an open top, and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container, wherein the straw is releasably attached to the beverage container body when in a pre-use configuration, andwherein the straw comprises a first straw tubular portion and a second straw tubular portion, and wherein the first straw tubular portion and the second straw tubular portion are connectable to one another to form the straw.

83. A beverage container system according to claim 82 wherein the first straw tubular portion is tapered with an open top that is larger than an open bottom, wherein the second straw tubular portion is tapered with an open top that is larger than an open bottom, and wherein the first straw tubular portion is connectable to the second straw tubular portion by inserting the open bottom of the first straw tubular portion in the open top of the second straw tubular portion.

84. A beverage container system according to claim 82 wherein the first straw tubular portion and the second straw tubular portion are connected by a perforation when in the pre-use configuration.

85. A beverage container system according to claim 82 wherein the first straw tubular portion and the second straw tubular portion are formed from a single sheet of material.

86. A beverage container system according to claim 82 wherein the first straw tubular portion and the second straw tubular portion are formed from a single sheet of paperbased material.

87. A beverage container system comprising: a beverage container comprising a beverage container body having a sidewall and a bottom that define an interior reservoir, and an open top, a lid attachable to the beverage container body to at least partially cover the open top; and a straw integrally associated with the beverage container, wherein the straw comprises a two part straw body including a container straw portion and a lid straw portion, and wherein the container straw portion mates with the lid straw portion when the lid is attached to the beverage container body to form a straw that can draw a beverage from the interior reservoir of the beverage container body through the straw.

88. A beverage container system according to claim 87 wherein the beverage container body and the container straw portion are formed from a single sheet of paper-based material.

89. A method of making a straw, the method comprising: providing a sheet of paper-based material, the sheet of paper-based material having a left panel and a right panel, the left panel and right panel being separated by a longitudinal perforation; folding the left side panel into a first straw portion having a taper; folding the right side panel into a second straw portion having a taper; separating the first straw portion from the second straw portion at the perforation; and connecting the first straw portion and the second straw portion to form a straw.

90. A method according to claim 89 wherein the folding of the left side panel into a first straw portion and the folding of the right side panel into a second straw portion are performed by forward folds, and wherein prior to the folding of the left side panel into a first straw portion and the folding of the right side panel into a second straw portion, the sheet of paper-based material is folded in a rearward fold at the longitudinal perforation.

91. A method according to claim 89 further comprising collapsing the first straw portion and the second straw portion before separating the first straw portion and the second straw portion.

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