Drinking bottle having a separate thermally regulating container

Abstract

A thermally-regulated bottle has a generally cylindrical body portion defining a first chamber for containing a drinking fluid and defining a central longitudinal axis. A passage is provided for accessing the drinking fluid. A secondary thermal-regulating container contains a thermal-regulating material, such as ice water, or heated water. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the bottle includes a recess which is positioned generally parallel to and remote from the central longitudinal axis, along the side of the bottle. The recess being sized and shaped to selectively receive the secondary thermal-regulating container so that the thermal-regulating material may thermally interact with the drinking fluid located within the chamber and either keep the drinking fluid heated or chilled with respect to the ambient temperature for a prolonged period of time. According to a second embodiment of the invention, the bottle includes a centrally located chamber which is sized and shaped to snugly receive the secondary container from an access opening located at the bottom of the bottle. Regardless of the arrangement, the heated or chilled material of the secondary container thermally reacts with the drinking fluid of the bottle and maintains either a chilled or heated temperature, as desired.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A thermally-regulated bottle, comprising: 
 a generally cylindrical body portion defining a first chamber for containing a drinking fluid and defining a central longitudinal axis;    a passage for accessing said drinking fluid;    a secondary thermal-regulating container adapted to contain a thermal-regulating material; and    a recess formed within said body, said recess being positioned generally parallel to and remote from said central longitudinal axis, along the side of said bottle, said recess being sized and shaped to selectively receive said secondary thermal-regulating container so that said thermal-regulating material may thermally interact with said drinking fluid within said chamber, said recess having a pair of side walls defining an access opening along the perimeter of said bottle, said access opening having a width dimension that is smaller than a greatest outer dimension in axial cross-section of said secondary thermal-regulating container.    
     
     
         2 . The thermally-regulated bottle according to  claim 1 , wherein said secondary thermal-regulating container is no larger than about {fraction (1/3)} the size of said body.  
     
     
         3 . The thermally-regulated bottle according to  claim 1 , wherein said access opening having a width that is smaller than an outer diameter of said secondary thermal-regulating container.  
     
     
         4 . The thermally-regulated bottle according to  claim 3 , further comprising a cupped base connected to said body at one end of said body.  
     
     
         5 . The thermally-regulated bottle according to  claim 4 , wherein said cupped base has a relatively flat bottom and a generally cylindrical side wall.  
     
     
         6 . The thermally-regulated bottle according to  claim 5 , wherein a portion of said side wall covers an end portion of said access opening of said recess.  
     
     
         7 . A bottle comprising: 
 a generally cylindrical body portion defining a first chamber for containing a drinking fluid and defining a central longitudinal axis;    a passage for accessing said drinking fluid;    a secondary container; and    a recess formed within said body, said recess being positioned generally parallel to and remote from said central longitudinal axis, along the side of said bottle, said recess being sized and shaped to selectively receive said secondary container, said recess having a pair of side walls defining an access opening along the perimeter of said bottle, said access opening having a width dimension that is smaller than a greatest outer dimension in axial cross-section of said secondary thermal-regulating container.    
     
     
         8 . The bottle according to  claim 7 , wherein said secondary container is no larger than about {fraction (1/3)} the size of said body.  
     
     
         9  The bottle according to  claim 7 , wherein said access opening having an outer diameter that is smaller than an outer diameter of said secondary container.  
     
     
         10  The bottle according to  claim 9 , further comprising a cupped base connected to said body at one end of said body.  
     
     
         11 . The bottle according to  claim 10 , wherein said cupped base has a relatively flat bottom and a generally cylindrical side wall.  
     
     
         12 . The bottle according to  claim 11 , wherein a portion of said side wall covers an end portion of said access opening of said recess.