Beverage container with integral storage space for drinking cups

Abstract

A container is disclosed that can hold and dispense a beverage while at the same time storing and dispensing drinking cups for consuming the beverage, thereby enhancing the availability of drinking cups, by making them readily available for use with the container. The container includes a cup storage and dispensing portion formed into the bottom, the side, or some other surface of the container, with a cup retaining element capable of resisting removal of a cup from the portion. The cup storage and dispensing portion can be sealed by a removable cover, and can be shaped to accommodate a plurality of cups while maximizing the beverage volume of the container. In another aspect of the invention, the container includes a storage portion that can be used to store other items, such as beverage additives or promotional items, in addition to, or instead of, cups.

1 . A container for dispensing a beverage and storing and dispensing at least one cup, comprising:
 a beverage container that is able to contain and dispense a beverage; and   an externally accessible cup storage and dispensing portion, incorporated into the structure of the container, that is able to store and dispense at least one cup.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the cup storage and dispensing portion is incorporated into an enclosing surface of the container. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the container has a bottom, and wherein the cup storage and dispensing portion is incorporated into the bottom of the container. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the cup storage and dispensing portion is incorporated into a side wall of the container. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the cup storage and dispensing portion includes a retaining ridge capable of resisting removal of cups stored in the storage and dispensing portion. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the retaining ridge capable of resisting removal of cups stored in the cup storage and dispensing portion includes a plurality of resistance regions. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the resistance regions are circumferentially disposed. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the retaining ridge capable of resisting removal of cups stored in the cup storage and dispensing portion is formed from a wall of the cup storage and dispensing portion. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the cup storage and dispensing portion is shaped substantially like the inner surface of a drinking cup, so as to minimize the volume of beverage displaced from the beverage container by the cup storage and dispensing portion. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the cup storage and dispensing portion is cooperative with a sealing cap. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the cup storage and dispensing portion is able to store and dispense a plurality of drinking cups. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cup contained in the cup storage and dispensing portion. 
   
   
       13 . A container for dispensing a beverage and for storing objects, comprising:
 a beverage container that is able to contain and dispense a beverage; and   an externally accessible storage portion, incorporated into the structure of the container, that is able to store objects.   
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the storage portion is shaped so as to accommodate storage of a closed cylindrical container. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the storage portion is incorporated into an enclosing surface of the container. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the container has a bottom, and wherein the storage portion is formed into the bottom of the container. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the storage portion is formed into a side wall of the container. 
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the storage portion is cooperative with a sealing cap. 
   
   
       19 . A method for conveniently storing a beverage and at least one cup, and for dispensing the beverage into the cup, comprising:
 providing a beverage container that contains and is able to dispense a beverage, and that includes an externally accessible cup storage and dispensing portion, incorporated into the structure of the container, that contains and is able to dispense at least one cup;   removing at least one cup from the cup storage and dispensing portion; and   dispensing beverage from the beverage container into the at least one cup.   
   
   
       20 . A method for providing promotional items with beverage containers, the method comprising:
 providing a beverage container that is able to contain and dispense a beverage and that includes an externally accessible storage portion, incorporated into the structure of the container, that is able to store objects;   placing one or more promotional items within the externally accessible storage portion; and   sealing the promotional items within the externally accessible storage portion with a removable cover.