Stacking Container

Abstract

Embodiments are presented herein that provide a beverage container made of a beverage holder and a base, wherein the base can be detached from the beverage holder and reattached repeatedly without rendering the base incapable of reattachment. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of the beverage holder is retained in an aperture in the base by an interference fit. The removability of the base from the beverage holder allows a plurality of bases to be stacked together and a plurality of beverage holders to be stacked together, for ease in storage and transport.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage container comprising:
 a beverage holder, said beverage holder comprising
 a bottom, 
 at least one sidewall connected to said bottom, 
 an upper end of beverage holder, 
 a lower end of beverage holder, and 
 a lower extension at said lower end of beverage holder having a lower extension outer perimeter, said lower extension terminating in a lip of a slightly larger size than the lower extension outer perimeter, 
 wherein said at least one sidewall and said lower extension join to form a shoulder; and 
   a base, said base comprising
 a base inner perimeter surrounding an aperture, 
 a base outer perimeter defining an edge of the base, and 
 an upper end of base, 
 a lower end of base, 
 an upper extension of the base at said upper end of base, 
 wherein said base extends beyond the lower extension outer perimeter, 
 wherein said base connects to said beverage holder by engaging said lip of said lower extension of said beverage holder, and 
 wherein said base is detachable from said beverage holder without rendering the base incapable of reattachment to the beverage holder. 
   
     
     
         2 . The beverage container of  claim 1  wherein said beverage holder has a shape selected from a cylinder, a right circular cylinder, a frustum of a cone, and a non-circular cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of said sidewall decreases from top to bottom. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom of said beverage holder does not extend any further into the base than is necessary to allow said beverage holder to be retained within the base. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein said sidewall has a top ring. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said base helps said beverage holder maintain an upright position. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said base has a shape selected from the group consisting of a ring and a frustum of a cone. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said base has a shape selected from the group consisting of circular, oval, square, rectangular, and irregularly shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said base inner perimeter and said base outer perimeter both have a circular shape. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein said base inner perimeter and said base outer perimeter do not have the same general shape. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said beverage holder and said base are independently made from a material that is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, and glass. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the appearance of said beverage holder and said base is the same or different and is independently selected from the group consisting of transparent, translucent, and opaque, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said beverage holder and said base are made in the same way or in a different way and are independently made from a method selected from the group consisting of injection molding and blow molding. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said base is deformable to a sufficient extent to allow introduction of said bottom of the beverage holder into said aperture in said base such that said beverage holder contacts said base and is retained by an interference fit. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage container of  claim 1  further comprising at least one handle. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage container of  claim 1  further comprising wherein a design is incorporated on a surface of at least one of said beverage holder and said base. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said beverage holder is stackable with at least one other beverage holder when said base is separated from the beverage holder. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said base is stackable with at least one other base when not attached to the beverage holder. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the base outer perimeter is attached to the base inner perimeter by a frustoconical surface.