Beverage container for storage and consumption of a beverage

Abstract

Disclosed is a beverage container which includes a container body, which includes a container sidewall, a bottom section, and a top section. The container sidewall defines a first opening into the internal volume of the container body. The top section defines a second opening into the internal volume of the container body. The beverage container includes a plug, which includes a central body portion and a flange extending radially from a first end of the central body portion. The plug is configured to seal the first opening with the central body portion positioned within the first opening and the flange positioned within the internal volume against an internal surface of the container sidewall around the first opening. The beverage container includes a sealing device coupled with the top section of the container body and configured to seal the second opening to enclose the internal volume of the container body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage container, comprising:
 a container body comprising:
 a container sidewall defining a tubular section extending between a container sidewall top edge and a container sidewall bottom edge, wherein the container sidewall defines a first opening into an internal volume of the container body; 
 a bottom section extending across the container sidewall bottom edge and providing a seal to the internal volume of the container body; and 
 a top section extending across the container sidewall top edge and providing a seal to the internal volume of the container body, wherein the top section defines a second opening into the internal volume of the container body; 
   a plug comprising a central body portion and a flange extending radially from a first end of the central body portion, wherein the flange is larger than the first opening, and wherein the plug is configured to seal the first opening with a sealed configuration with the central body portion positioned within the first opening and the flange positioned within the internal volume against an internal surface of the container sidewall around the first opening; and   a sealing device coupled with the top section of the container body and configured to seal the second opening to enclose the internal volume of the container body, wherein the sealing device is movable between an unsealed position and a sealed position to access and reseal the second opening of the container body.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening is configured to prevent turbulence of a fluid flowing outwardly through the first opening from the internal volume of the container body. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage container of  claim 2 , wherein the first opening is made using a laser cutting process in order to prevent turbulence of the fluid flowing outwardly through the first opening. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the container body is substantially cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing device comprises a closure element and a user element operably coupled with the closure element, the closure element being moveable between a closed position to seal the second opening and an opened position to uncover the second opening, the user element being movable from a first position to a second position, wherein transitioning the user element from the second position to the first position causes the closure element to transition from the opened position to the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the central body portion of the plug defines a width corresponding with a width of the first opening, such that the central body portion engages the first opening to allow the plug to be removably secured in the first opening. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage container of  claim 6 , wherein the central body portion of the plug further comprises a hollow cavity extending from the first end of the central body portion toward a second end of the central body portion, opposite the first end,
 wherein the plug is configured to allow liquid within the internal volume of the container body to occupy the hollow cavity when the plug is in the sealed configuration.   
     
     
         8 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is comprised of a flexible material such that the plug is resiliently deformable in order to allow the flange to be inserted into the internal volume of the container body through the first opening. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is comprised of a flexible material such that the plug is resiliently deformable in order to allow the flange to be removed from the internal volume of the container body through the first opening. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is comprised of one or more of silicone or rubber. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening is circular and positioned proximate to the container sidewall bottom edge. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is configured to be positioned such that the beverage container is in a storage configuration, with the flange positioned against an exterior surface of the container sidewall outside the internal volume and a second end of the central body portion opposite the first end extends inwardly into the internal volume of the container body. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage container of  claim 12 , wherein with the beverage container in a storage configuration, the beverage container is configured to be stored proximate to a second beverage container, wherein in the storage configuration the flange of the plug is substantially planar with the exterior surface of the container sidewall such that the second beverage container positioned facing the flange of the plug contacts the exterior surface of the container sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using the beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is positioned in the sealed configuration, wherein liquid is within the internal volume of the container body, and wherein the sealing device is in the sealed position such that liquid and gas cannot pass through the second opening, the method comprising:
 removing the plug outwardly through the first opening;   positioning the container body in a use position, such that the first opening is facing upwardly and aligned with the mouth of a user, and in the use position the container body is upwardly oriented such that the second opening is positioned higher than the first opening; and   with the container body in the use position, unsealing the second opening by positioning the sealing device to the unsealed position such that liquid vacates the internal volume of the container body through the first opening and air passes through the second opening into the internal volume of the container body to replace the liquid to maintain atmospheric pressure within the container body.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising repeating the method after vacating the liquid from the internal volume of the container body through the first opening. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein removing the plug further comprises:
 deforming the central body portion of the plug to unseal the flange; and   after deforming the central body portion of the plug, pulling the central body portion outwardly such that the flange passes through the first opening and out of the internal volume of the container body.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, after vacating the liquid from the internal volume of the container body, inserting the plug into the first opening such that the beverage container is in a storage configuration, wherein a second end of the central body portion of the plug opposite the first end extends inwardly into the internal volume of the container body and wherein the flange is positioned against an exterior surface of the container sidewall outside the internal volume, the flange of the plug being substantially planar with the exterior surface of the container sidewall such that a second beverage container positioned facing the flange of the plug contacts the exterior surface of the container sidewall. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 filling the container body by pouring liquid through the first opening into the internal volume of the container body, with the sealing device in the sealed position such that the second opening is sealed; and   inserting the plug into the first opening, wherein the flange of the plug is positioned inside of the internal volume of the container body such that pressure of the liquid acts upon the plug in order to press the flange against an interior surface of the container sidewall and seal the first opening, preventing the liquid from escaping between an outside edge of the flange and the interior surface of the container sidewall.   
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing the beverage container of  claim 1 , comprising:
 forming the bottom section and the container sidewall by:
 punching a first blank of suitable size; 
 drawing the first blank to create the bottom section and the container sidewall; and 
 creating the first opening in the container sidewall; 
   forming the top section of the container body by:
 punching a second blank of suitable size; 
 stamping the second blank to form a top section outside edge; and 
 creating the second opening in the top section; and 
   crimping the top section outside edge to the container sidewall top edge to create the internal volume of the container body, wherein the internal volume is created without a beverage therein.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein creating the first opening comprises laser cutting a hole in the container sidewall, wherein laser cutting the hole prevents rough edges surrounding the first opening to prevent turbulence of a liquid flowing outwardly through the first opening from the internal volume of the container body.