Travel Mug Apparatus

Abstract

A travel mug apparatus having a mug body, an insert straw component and a lid. The mug body includes a base and an upstanding wall. A body straw component is associated with the mug body. Together with the body straw component, the insert straw component defines a straw with an elongated channel for drawing fluid from the storage volume defined by the mug body. The lid extends over and sealingly engages the upstanding wall. Advantageously, the upstanding wall is configured to facilitate the use of the mug without affecting the field of vision of a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A travel mug apparatus comprising:
 a mug body having a base with a bottom surface and a top surface and an upstanding wall, the upstanding wall extending from the top surface of the base and including an inner surface and an upper edge, the base and the upstanding wall defining a storage volume;   a body straw component having an elongated surface that extends along the inner surface of the upstanding wall between the base and the upper edge, the body straw component including a first side edge and a second side edge with a first side joining member positioned at the first side edge and a second side joining member positioned at the second side edge; and   an insert straw component having an elongated body with a first side edge and a second side edge, a first side joining member positioned at the first side edge and a second side joining member positioned at the second side edge;   wherein the body straw component and the insert straw component are slidably engageable in substantially sealed engagement, with the first side joining member of the body straw component interfacing with the first side joining member of the insert straw component along the length thereof and the second side joining member of the body straw component interfacing with the second side joining member of the insert straw component along the length thereof to define a cavity extending between the top surface of the base and the upper edge of the upstanding wall to define an elongated channel with an opening proximate the top surface of the base and proximate the upper edge of the upstanding wall.   
     
     
         2 . The travel mug apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the upper edge of the upstanding wall is angled relative to the base of the mug body, with the body straw component positioned on the upstanding wall opposite a location of minimum height of the upstanding wall, to, in turn, preclude interference of the upstanding wall with a field of vision of a user when tilted. 
     
     
         3 . The travel mug apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body straw component is integrally formed with the upstanding wall. 
     
     
         4 . The travel mug apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the upstanding wall comprises a frusto-conical configuration with a substantially circular cross section. 
     
     
         5 . The travel mug apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the body straw component defines an outward bulge from the outer surface of the upstanding wall, to define a cross-section which is other than circular. 
     
     
         6 . The travel mug apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first side joining member of the body straw component and the second side joining member of the body straw component each comprise a flange that extends along the length thereof, the flange being spaced apart from the elongated surface of the body straw member, and, the first joining member of the insert straw component and the second joining member of the insert straw component each comprising a slot which is configured for mating engagement with the respective one of the flanges of the first and second joining members of the body straw component. 
     
     
         7 . The travel mug of  claim 1  wherein the insert straw component further includes a bottom transverse channel extending through the elongated body proximate the bottom thereof, so as to facilitate the ingress of flowable material from within the storage volume. 
     
     
         8 . The travel mug of  claim 1  wherein the insert straw component further includes a transverse channel extending through the elongated body at a top end thereof, to selectively allow for the ingress of air simultaneously with the ingress of flowable material from within the storage volume, to define a slurping sensation. 
     
     
         9 . The travel mug of  claim 1  wherein the channel defined by the cooperation of the body straw component and the insert straw component comprises an oblong cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The travel mug of  claim 1  wherein a head is positioned at the top of the insert straw component, the head having a handle tab with a transverse channel extending therethrough, the head configured to correspond to an opening of a mouth of a user. 
     
     
         11 . The travel mug of  claim 1  further comprising a lid which includes a base and an upstanding wall extending from an outer perimeter of the base, the upstanding wall of the lid corresponding with the inner surface of the upstanding wall of the mug body to sealingly engage the same, and having a straw accommodating slot configured to correspond to the insert straw component and the body straw component. 
     
     
         12 . The travel mug of  claim 11  wherein the upstanding wall further includes an inner flange spaced apart from the base and spaced apart from the upper edge of the upstanding wall, the base of the lid configured to engage the inner flange, to, in turn, provide a stop which precludes further movement of the lid toward the base upon operable engagement therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . The travel mug of  claim 12  wherein the flange is substantially parallel to the base and oblique to the upper edge of the upstanding wall. 
     
     
         14 . The travel mug of  claim 1  further including a mug sleeve extending at least partially around at least a portion of the outer surface of the upstanding wall, the mug sleeve further including a body with an inner surface, and a plurality of ribs extending from the inner surface of the body of the mug toward and into contact with the outer surface of the upstanding wall, so as to maintain a spaced apart orientation of the outer surface of the upstanding wall and the inner surface of the mug sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . A travel mug comprising:
 a mug body having a base with a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface configured to interface with an outside surface;   an upstanding wall extending from the base and including an inner surface terminating at an upper edge, together with the mug body defining a storage volume;   the upper edge disposed obliquely to the bottom surface of the base of the mug body; and   a straw component positioned on the inner surface of the upstanding wall opposite a location of minimum height of the upstanding wall, to, in turn, preclude interference of the upstanding wall with a field of vision of a user when tilted.   
     
     
         16 . The travel mug of  claim 15  wherein the straw component further comprises a body straw component associated with the inner surface of the upstanding wall, and an insert straw component is releasably attachable to the body straw component, to, in turn, define an elongated channel for the egress of flowable material from within the storage volume. 
     
     
         17 . The travel mug of  claim 15  wherein the body straw component is integrally formed with the upstanding wall. 
     
     
         18 . The travel mug of  claim 15  further comprising a lid positionable over the storage volume, positionable in sealing engagement with the upstanding wall. 
     
     
         19 . The travel mug of  claim 18  wherein the lid is positionable between the base and the upper edge of the upstanding wall, and further includes a straw accommodating slot configured to receive the insert straw component therethrough.