Beverage container with heating or cooling insert and method of making same

Abstract

A container assembly for maintaining a temperature of a liquid includes an outer wall defining an interior cavity for storing the liquid. The container assembly also includes an inner wall indirectly connected to the outer wall. The inner wall defines an external cavity configured to receive a thermal cartridge for maintaining the temperature of the material within the inner cavity. The thermal cartridge includes a base portion configured to couple the thermal cartridge to the container assembly. The thermal cartridge also includes an insert portion configured to be received by the external cavity. The base portion and the insert portion unitarily form the thermal cartridge.

1 . A container assembly for maintaining a temperature of a liquid, the container assembly comprising:
 an outer wall defining an interior cavity for storing the liquid; and   an inner wall indirectly connected to said outer wall and defining an external cavity configured to receive a thermal cartridge for maintaining the temperature of the liquid within said inner cavity, said thermal cartridge comprising:
 a base portion configured to couple said thermal cartridge to said container assembly; and 
 an insert portion configured to be received by said external cavity, said base portion and said insert portion unitarily form said thermal cartridge. 
   
     
     
         2 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said inner wall is configured to separate said thermal cartridge from said interior cavity. 
     
     
         3 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said inner wall extends between a range of approximately 40% and 60% of a longitudinal length of said interior cavity. 
     
     
         4 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said thermal cartridge further comprises a thermal material for maintaining a predetermined temperature within said interior cavity. 
     
     
         5 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said external cavity defined by said inner wall is communicatively coupled to a second external cavity defined at least partially by said outer wall, said second external cavity configured to receive said base portion, said first external cavity configured to receive said insert portion. 
     
     
         6 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said base portion comprises at least one threaded portion configured to engage at least one threaded portion positioned within said second external cavity. 
     
     
         7 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said insert portion is thermally coupled to said inner wall via a friction fit. 
     
     
         8 . A container assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said base portion is configured to facilitate positioning the container in a vertical upright position. 
     
     
         9 . A beverage container comprising:
 an outer wall partially defining an interior containment volume and a centerline axis extending longitudinally therethrough;   an inner wall positioned within said interior containment volume, said inner wall substantially concentrically aligned with said outer wall and said longitudinal centerline axis, said inner wall at least partially defines a first external cavity; and   a thermal cartridge comprising:
 a base portion configured to couple said thermal cartridge to said outer wall; and 
 an insert portion configured to be received by said first external cavity, said base portion and said insert portion unitarily form said thermal cartridge, 
   
       wherein said inner wall is configured to separate said thermal cartridge from said interior containment volume. 
     
     
         10 . A beverage container in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said outer wall is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         11 . A beverage container in accordance with  claim 9  further comprising:
 a nozzle assembly coupled to said outer wall; and 
 a top cover coupled to said outer wall, wherein said top cover is configured to extend about and enclose said nozzle assembly. 
 
     
     
         12 . A beverage container in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said nozzle assembly comprises:
 a mouth portion;   a coupling portion; and   a flexing portion,   
       wherein said mouth portion, said coupling portion, and said flexing portion are unitarily formed. 
     
     
         13 . A beverage container in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said coupling portion comprises at least one threaded portion configured to engage at least one upper threaded portion of said outer wall. 
     
     
         14 . A beverage container in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said top cover comprises at least one threaded portion configured to engage said at least one upper threaded portion of said outer wall. 
     
     
         15 . A beverage container in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said thermal cartridge further comprises a thermal material for maintaining a predetermined temperature within said beverage container 
     
     
         16 . A method of assembling a beverage container, said method comprising:
 providing a liquid containment assembly that includes:
 an outer wall partially defining an interior containment volume and a centerline axis extending longitudinally therethrough; and 
 an inner wall positioned within the interior containment volume, the inner wall substantially concentrically aligned with the outer wall and the longitudinal centerline axis, wherein the inner wall at least partially defines a first external cavity; 
   providing a thermal cartridge that includes a base portion and an insert portion that are unitarily formed together;   inserting the insert portion into the first external cavity such that the thermal cartridge is separated from the interior containment volume; and   coupling the base portion to the outer wall.   
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein providing a thermal cartridge comprises injecting a thermal material into at least one of the base portion and the insert portion. 
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein providing a liquid containment assembly comprises:
 at least partially defining a second external cavity on a bottom end of the outer wall, the second external cavity communicatively coupled to the first external cavity;   defining at least one threaded portion on the bottom end of the outer wall within the second external cavity; and   defining at least one threaded portion on a top end of the outer wall.   
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein coupling the base portion to the outer wall comprises:
 forming at least one threaded portion on the base portion; and   screwing at least one threaded portion of the base portion onto the at least one threaded portion on the bottom end of the outer wall within the second external cavity.   
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 18  further comprising:
 forming at least one threaded portion on a nozzle assembly; 
 coupling the nozzle assembly to the outer wall by screwing the at least one threaded portion of the nozzle assembly to the at least one threaded portion on the top end of the outer wall; 
 forming at least one threaded portion on a top cover; and 
 coupling the top cover to the outer wall by screwing the at least one threaded portion of the top cover to the at least one threaded portion on the top end of the outer wall, wherein the top cover extends about and encloses the nozzle assembly.