Modular, knock-down drinking vessel

Abstract

A modular drinking vessel having a bottom-most base module, a removable intermediate module, and a removably attachable cap module including a mouthpiece and a tethered cap. At least one of the modules has at least one extensible and collapsible handle anchored at both ends to a slide track on the module. Two such handles may be provided on opposed sides of the modular drinking vessel. Alternatively, the drinking vessel may comprise a monolithic cup with at least one such handle, in the absence of intermediate and cap modules.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A modular drinking vessel comprising:
 a base module including a floor, a lateral wall projecting from the floor, and a first connector on the lateral wall;   at least one intermediate module including a lateral wall, a second connector at one edge of the lateral wall, the second connector matingly compatible with the first connector of the base module, and a third connector at an opposed edge of the lateral wall; and   a cap module comprising a lateral wall shorter than the lateral wall of the at least one intermediate module, a fourth connector at one end of the lateral wall, the fourth connector matingly compatible with the third connector of the at least one intermediate module, a cover panel at an opposed end of the lateral wall, the cover panel having a periphery and a mouthpiece including a drinking orifice, the cover panel closing the cap module except at the drinking orifice, a cap attachable to the cap module and configured to entirely seal the cover panel and mouthpiece from the external atmosphere, and a flexible tether tethering the cap to the cap module,   the modular drinking vessel having a longitudinal axis extending centrally along the length of the base module, the at least one intermediate module, and the lateral wall of the cap module when the modular drinking vessel is assembled.   
     
     
         2 . The modular drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector of the base module and the second connector of the at least one intermediate module comprise matingly compatible screw threads. 
     
     
         3 . The modular drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the cap module has a fifth connector opposite the fourth connector, the cap has a sixth connector matingly complementing the fourth connector, and the fifth and sixth connectors collectively comprise a finite travel mechanical interlock. 
     
     
         4 . The modular drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece is centrally located on the cover panel and is annular in a cross section taken along the longitudinal axis of the modular drinking vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The modular drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece is located on the cover panel proximate the periphery of the cover panel, and has an oblong opening having length generally parallel to the periphery of the cover panel. 
     
     
         6 . The modular drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the cap fits in close cooperation with the mouthpiece and the cover panel. 
     
     
         7 . The modular drinking vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising a collapsible handle. 
     
     
         8 . The modular drinking vessel of  claim 7 , wherein
 at least one of the base module and the intermediate module has at least one slide track extending along the exterior of the respective lateral wall thereof, and   the handle comprises a flexible strap, a first anchor slidably engageable with the slide track at one end of the flexible strap, and a second anchor slidably engageable with the slide track at the other end of the flexible strap, whereby the first and second anchors can be spread apart to draw the flexible strap towards the longitudinal axis, and drawn towards one another to cause the flexible strap to bulge outwardly and expose a handhold for engaging the fingers of a user.   
     
     
         9 . The modular drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one of the base module and the intermediate module has two slide tracks extending along and on opposite sides of the exterior of the respective lateral wall thereof, and   two handles, each mountable to one of the two slide tracks and comprising a flexible strap, a first anchor slidably engageable with one of the slide tracks at one end of the flexible strap, and a second anchor slidably engageable with the one of the slide tracks at the other end of the flexible strap, whereby, for each one of the handles, the first and second anchors can be spread apart to draw the flexible strap towards the longitudinal axis, and drawn towards one another to cause the flexible strap to bulge outwardly and expose a handhold for engaging the fingers of a user.   
     
     
         10 . The modular drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the base module has a fluid capacity between eight and twelve fluid ounces, and each intermediate module has a fluid capacity between five and ten fluid ounces. 
     
     
         11 . The modular drinking vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible tether is sufficiently long to bulge outwardly from the modular drinking vessel when the modular drinking vessel is assembled and the cap is installed on the modular drinking vessel sufficiently to provide space for the hand of a user to grasp the flexible tether as a carrying handle. 
     
     
         12 . A drinking vessel including a floor, a lateral wall projecting from the floor, at least one slide track extending along the exterior of the lateral wall, and a handle comprising a flexible strap, a first anchor slidably engageable with the slide track at one end of the flexible strap, and a second anchor slidably engageable with the slide track at the other end of the flexible strap, whereby the first and second anchors can be spread apart to draw the flexible strap towards the longitudinal axis, and drawn towards one another to cause the flexible strap to bulge outwardly and expose a handhold for engaging the fingers of a user.