Beverage container with rigid inner contaner

Abstract

A container includes an outer shell, a rigid inner container within the outer shell, a mouth and a handle. The outer shell has a top, a bottom and sidewalls. The outer shell also defines an opening. The inner container within the outer shell defines an aperture. The mouth is secured to the inner container surrounding the aperture and defines a fluid passageway. The mouth is sized and shaped such that fluid can be poured through the mouth from a source having an outlet spaced above the mouth. The handle extends outward from the top of the outer shell and has sufficient strength to provide all support for the container when the inner container is filled with liquid in either of two positions, with the first position being where the opening is facing upwards and the second position being where the opening is facing sidewards. Desirably, the mouth and opening are sized and shaped such that when the opening is facing upwards the human eye can detect when a level of fluid in the container is approaching the mouth.

1 . A container for liquids, comprising: 
 an outer shell having a top, a bottom and sidewalls, the outer shell having an opening in one of said sidewalls;    a rigid inner container within said outer shell defining an aperture;    a mouth secured to said inner container surrounding said aperture and defining a fluid passageway, said mouth sized and shaped such that fluid can be poured through said mouth from a source having an outlet spaced above said mouth; and    a handle extending outward from said top of said outer shell, said handle having sufficient strength to provide essentially all support for said container when said inner container is filled with liquid in a first position wherein said opening is facing upwards and in a second position wherein said opening is facing sidewards, one of said sidewalls facing downward in said first position and the bottom facing downward in said second position.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said handle defines a first end and a second end spaced further from said one of said sidewalls than said first end, said handle defining an opening between said first end and said second end sized and shaped to receive the fingers of a hand.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said mouth and said opening sized and shaped such that when said opening is facing upwards the human eye can detect when a level of fluid in the container is approaching the mouth.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein said mouth defines an aperture having a span of at least one inch.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , further comprising a spout removably coupled to said mouth, said spout in fluid communication with the inside of said inner container for pouring fluid from said container.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said inner container and said outer shell are sized and shaped such that when said inner container is substantially full of liquid, the center of gravity of said container is located at least one-half inch below said center of said container.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said inner container and said outer shell are sized and shaped such that when said inner container is substantially full of liquid, the center of gravity of said container is located at least one inch below said center of said container.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said handle defines an integral portion of said outer shell.  
     
     
         9 . A liquid container comprising: 
 an outer shell having a top and a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls extending between said top and said bottom, said outer shell having an opening in one of said sidewalls;    a rigid inner container within said outer shell;    a mouth secured to said inner container surrounding said opening and defining a fluid passageway; and    a handle extending from said top of said outer shell, said top sloped relative to said bottom.    
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein said handle defines a first end and a second end spaced further from said one of said sidewalls than said first end, said handle defining an opening between said first end and said second end sized and shaped to receive the fingers of a hand.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein said inner container and said outer shell are sized and shaped such that when said inner container is substantially full of liquid, the center of gravity of said container is located at least one-half inch below said center of said container.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein said inner container and said outer shell are sized and shaped such that when said inner container is substantially full of liquid, the center of gravity of said container located at least one-half inch below said center of said container.  
     
     
         13 . A liquid container comprising: 
 an outer shell having a top and a bottom opposite said top, said outer shell having an opening on a side of said container;    an inner container within said outer shell;    a mouth secured to said inner container surrounding said opening and defining a fluid passageway, said mouth sized and shaped such that fluid can be poured through said mouth from a source having an outlet spaced above said mouth;    a spout removably coupled to said mouth, said spout in fluid communication with the inside of said inner container for pouring fluid from said container; and    a handle extending from said top of said outer shell, said top sloped relative to said bottom, said inner container sized and shaped such that when said inner container is filled with a fluid to a first level proximate said mouth when said mouth is facing upwards and said container is rotated to rest on said bottom, said fluid assumes a second level below said spout.    
     
     
         14 . A liquid container comprising: 
 an outer shell having a top and a bottom, said outer shell having an aperture on a side of said container;    an inner container within said outer shell;    a mouth secured to said inner container surrounding said aperture and defining a fluid passageway, said mouth sized and shaped such that fluid can be poured through said mouth from a source having an outlet spaced above said mouth;    a spout removably coupled to said mouth, said spout in fluid communication with the inside of said inner container for pouring fluid from said container; and    a handle integrally extending from said top of said outer shell, said inner container sized and shaped such that when said inner container is filled with a fluid to a first level proximate said mouth when said mouth is facing upwards and said container is rotated to rest on said bottom, said fluid assumes a second level below said spout.