Cup assembly having a thermal-core

Abstract

A cup assembly includes a container having an open end, a closed end, a base portion, and an upper portion together defining a liquid chamber within the container. The upper portion has a rim defining the open end of the container. A thermal-core is sized and shaped to fit within the liquid chamber of the container. The thermal-core includes an open end, a closed end, a base portion, and a neck together defining a thermal chamber within the thermal-core. The neck has a rim defining the open end of the thermal-core and a lid assembly generally defining a closure for both the container and the thermal-core. The lid assembly having a pour spout defining an opening and a pivotable cap for selectively opening and closing the opening.

1 . A cup assembly comprising:
 a container forming a liquid chamber for a liquid, the container including:
 a closed end, 
 a base portion, and 
 an upper portion comprising:
 an annular rim defining an open end of the container, and 
 a container threaded portion; 
 
   a thermal-core defining a thermal chamber and positionable within the liquid chamber of the container, the thermal-core comprising:
 a thermal-core closed end, 
 a thermal-core base portion, and 
 a thermal-core neck comprising:
 a thermal-core rim defining an open end of the thermal-core, and 
 a thermal-core threaded portion; and 
 
   a lid assembly removably attachable to each of the container and the thermal-core, the lid assembly comprising:
 a collar comprising:
 first internal threads for engaging the container threaded portion, 
 second internal threads for engaging the thermal-core threaded portion, 
 
 a pour spout formed on the collar defining an opening, and 
 a cap mounted to the collar by a pivot, the cap positionable between an open positioned exposing an opening to the liquid chamber through the collar and a closed position sealing the opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cup assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an outer seal positioned to contact the annular rim when the collar is threaded onto the container and an inner seal positioned to contact the thermal-core rim when the collar is threaded onto the thermal-core. 
     
     
         3 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises an interior wall and an exterior wall joined at the annular rim and defining an evacuated space providing thermal insulation between the liquid chamber and an exterior portion of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal-core cap removably attachable to the thermal-core rim by press fit. 
     
     
         5 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pour spout comprises:
 a funnel-shaped upper portion; and   a curved-oblong lower portion connected to the funnel-shaped upper portion that directs the liquid towards the thermal-core when the liquid is poured through the opening.   
     
     
         6 . The cup assembly of  claim 1  further comprising: a retaining latch between the container and the lid assembly, wherein the retaining latch comprises:
 a pivotable latch arm affixed to the container, and
 a groove formed on the cap, 
 
 wherein the retaining latch is positionable between:
 a locked position where the pivotable latch arm is seated in the groove to secure the cap to the collar, and 
 an unlocked position in which the cap is moveable. 
 
 
     
     
         7 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal-core is formed from a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         8 . The cup assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the collar further comprises a handle. 
     
     
         9 . A cup assembly comprising:
 a lid assembly including:
 a collar having a first internal threaded portion, and 
 a second internal threaded portion; 
   a container forming a liquid chamber for a liquid, the container comprising a container threaded portion; and   a thermal-core forming a thermal chamber for holding a thermal mass, the thermal-core comprising a thermal-core threaded portion,   wherein the lid assembly, the container, and the thermal-core define:
 a first configuration wherein the lid assembly is secured to the container by engaging the first internal threaded portion and the container threaded portion without the thermal-core, and 
 a second configuration wherein the lid assembly is secured to the container by engaging the first internal threaded portion and the container threaded portion and engaging the second internal threaded portion and the thermal-core threaded portion. 
   
     
     
         10 . The cup assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the container further comprises an interior wall and an exterior wall joined at the annular rim and defining an evacuated space providing thermal insulation between the liquid chamber and an exterior portion of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The cup assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a thermal-core cap removably attachable to thermal-core by press fit. 
     
     
         12 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the lid assembly comprises a pour spout formed on the collar and defining an opening, the pour spout comprising:
 a funnel-shaped upper portion; and   a curved-oblong lower portion connected to the funnel-shaped upper portion that directs the liquid towards the thermal-core when the liquid is poured through the opening.   
     
     
         13 . The cup assembly of  claim 9  wherein the collar further comprises:
 a cap mounted to the collar by a pivot, the cap positionable between an open positioned exposing an opening to the liquid chamber through the collar and a closed position sealing the opening; and 
 a retaining latch between the collar and the cap, wherein the retaining latch comprises:
 a pivotable latch arm affixed to the collar, and 
 a groove formed on the cap, 
 wherein the retaining latch is positionable between:
 a locked position where the pivotable latch arm is seated in the groove to secure the cap to the collar, and 
 an unlocked position in which the cap is positionable. 
 
 
 
     
     
         14 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the thermal-core is formed from a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         15 . The cup assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the collar further comprises a handle. 
     
     
         16 . A cup assembly comprising:
 a container forming a liquid chamber for a liquid, the container including:
 a closed end, 
 a base portion, 
 an upper portion comprising:
 a container rim defining an open end of the container, and 
 a container threaded portion, and 
 
 an interior wall and an exterior wall joined at the container rim and defining an evacuated space providing thermal insulation between the liquid chamber and an exterior portion of the container; 
   a thermal-core forming a thermal chamber and positionable within the liquid chamber, the thermal-core comprising:
 a thermal-core closed end, 
 a thermal-core base portion, and 
 a thermal-core neck comprising:
 a thermal-core rim defining an open end of the thermal-core, and 
 a thermal-core threaded portion; and 
 
   a lid assembly removably attachable to each of the container and the thermal-core, the lid assembly comprising:   a collar comprising:
 first internal threads corresponding to the container threaded portion, 
 second internal threads corresponding to the thermal-core threaded portion, 
 a pour spout formed on the collar defining an opening, the pour spout comprising:
 a funnel-shaped upper portion, and 
 a curved-oblong lower portion connected to the funnel-shaped upper portion that directs the liquid towards the thermal-core when the liquid is poured through the opening, 
 
 an outer seal positioned to contact the container rim when the collar is threaded onto the container and an inner seal positioned to contact the thermal-core rim when the collar is threaded onto the thermal-core, and 
 a cap mounted to the collar by a pivot, the cap positionable between an open position exposing the opening to the liquid chamber through the opening and a closed position sealing the opening, wherein the cap comprises a third seal contacting the opening in the closed position to seal the opening,
 wherein the lid assembly defines a first closure for the container when the container is attached to the lid assembly, and 
 wherein the lid assembly defines a second closure for the thermal-core when the thermal-core is attached to the lid assembly. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The cup assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the container further comprises an insulating boot removably attachable to the base portion of the container. 
     
     
         18 . The cup assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a thermal-core cap removably attachable to thermal-core rim by press fit. 
     
     
         19 . The cup assembly of  claim 16  further comprising: a retaining latch between the container and the lid assembly, wherein the retaining latch comprises:
 a pivotable latch arm affixed to the collar, and 
 a groove formed on the cap, 
 wherein the retaining latch is positionable between:
 a locked position where the pivotable latch arm is seated in the groove to secure the cap to the collar, and 
 an unlocked position in which the cap is positionable. 
 
 
     
     
         20 . The cup assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the thermal-core is formed from a thermally conductive material.