Housing assembly for a drinking tumbler and tripartite drinking vessel resulting therefrom

Abstract

Disclosed is a housing assembly for holding and enclosing a drinking tumbler and a vessel assembly formed thereby. The drinking tumbler comprises a hollow body having an inner surface with an open upper end. The housing assembly comprises an exterior vessel and a lid. The exterior vessel is hollow and has a side wall terminating in an open upper end and is configured to receive the drinking tumbler. The open upper end of the exterior vessel comprises a first component of a releasable securable connector assembly. The lid comprising a second component of the releasably securable connector assembly to releasably secured the lid to the exterior vessel by the engagement of the first and second component, whereupon a portion, e.g., at least one cylindrical wall, of the lid engages the drinking tumbler to seal the open upper end of the drinking tumbler.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A housing assembly for holding and enclosing a drinking tumbler, the drinking tumbler comprising a hollow body having a longitudinal axis, an exterior surface, an inner surface and an open upper end, said housing assembly comprising a hollow exterior vessel and a lid therefor, said exterior vessel comprising a side wall bounding a cavity having an inner surface, said side wall having an open upper end, said exterior vessel being configured to receive the drinking tumbler within said cavity with the exterior surface of the drinking tumbler located closely adjacent said interior surface of said exterior vessel and with the open upper end of the drinking tumbler located closely adjacent said open upper end of said exterior vessel, said open upper end of said exterior vessel additionally comprising a first component of a releasable securable connector assembly, said lid comprising a second component of said releasably securable connector assembly, said lid being configured to be releasably secured to said exterior vessel by the engagement of said first component of said releasably securable connector assembly to said second component of said releasably securable connector assembly, whereupon a portion of said lid engages said drinking tumbler adjacent the open upper end of the drinking tumbler to seal the open upper end of the drinking tumbler. 
     
     
         2 . The housing assembly of  claim 1  wherein said lid comprises at least one downwardly extending cylindrical wall, said at least one cylindrical wall being configured to tightly engage the interior surface of the drinking tumbler to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The housing assembly of  claim 2  wherein said at least one cylindrical wall comprises two concentric cylindrical walls, each of said cylindrical walls having a free end, with a portion each cylindrical wall adjacent its free end being configured to engage a corresponding portion of the inner surface of the drinking tumbler to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. 
     
     
         4 . The housing assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a bayonet member and wherein said second component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a complementary bayonet member, said bayonet members being configured to be releasably connected together. 
     
     
         5 . The housing assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a threaded member and wherein said second component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a complementary threaded member, said threaded members being configured to be screwed together. 
     
     
         6 . The housing  claim 2  wherein said first component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a bayonet member and wherein said second component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a complementary bayonet member, said bayonet members being configured to be releasably connected together. 
     
     
         7 . The housing assembly of  claim 2  wherein said first component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a threaded member and wherein said second component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a complementary threaded member, said threaded members being configured to be screwed together. 
     
     
         8 . The housing assembly of  claim 1  wherein the exterior surface of the drinking tumbler is a surface of revolution, and wherein said inner surface of said cavity is a surface of revolution of a general complementary shape to the exterior surface of the drinking tumbler. 
     
     
         9 . The housing assembly of  claim 2  wherein the exterior surface of the drinking tumbler is a surface of revolution, and wherein said inner surface of said cavity is a surface of revolution of a general complementary shape to the exterior surface of the drinking tumbler. 
     
     
         10 . A vessel assembly for holding a liquid, said assembly comprising a drinking tumbler, an exterior vessel, and a lid, said drinking tumbler comprising a hollow body having a longitudinal axis, an exterior surface, an inner surface and an open upper end, said exterior vessel comprising a side wall bounding a cavity having an inner surface, said side wall having an open upper end, said exterior vessel being configured to receive said drinking tumbler within said cavity with said exterior surface of said drinking tumbler located closely adjacent said interior surface of said exterior vessel and with said open upper end of said drinking tumbler located closely adjacent said open upper end of said exterior vessel, said open upper end of said exterior vessel additionally comprising a first component of a releasable securable connector assembly, said lid comprising a second component of said releasably securable connector assembly, said lid being configured to be releasably secured to said exterior vessel by the engagement of said first component of said releasably securable connector assembly to said second component of said releasably securable connector assembly, whereupon a portion of said lid engages said drinking tumbler adjacent the open upper end of said drinking tumbler to seal said open upper end of said drinking tumbler. 
     
     
         11 . The vessel assembly of  claim 10  wherein said lid comprises at least one downwardly extending cylindrical wall, said at least one cylindrical wall being configured to tightly engage said interior surface of said drinking tumbler to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The vessel assembly of  claim 11  wherein said at least one cylindrical wall comprises two concentric cylindrical walls, each of said cylindrical walls having a free end, with a portion each cylindrical wall adjacent its free end being configured to engage a corresponding portion of said inner surface of said drinking tumbler to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . The vessel assembly of  claim 10  wherein said first component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a bayonet member and wherein said second component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a complementary bayonet member, said bayonet members being configured to be releasably connected together. 
     
     
         14 . The vessel assembly of  claim 10  wherein said first component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a threaded member and wherein said second component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a complementary threaded member, said threaded members being configured to be screwed together. 
     
     
         15 . The vessel assembly  claim 11  wherein said first component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a bayonet member and wherein said second component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a complementary bayonet member, said bayonet members being configured to be releasably connected together. 
     
     
         16 . The vessel assembly of  claim 11  wherein said first component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a threaded member and wherein said second component of said releasably securable connector assembly comprises a complementary threaded member, said threaded members being configured to be screwed together. 
     
     
         17 . The housing assembly of  claim 10  wherein the exterior surface of said drinking tumbler is a surface of revolution, and wherein said inner surface of said cavity is a surface of revolution of a general complementary shape to said exterior surface of said drinking tumbler. 
     
     
         18 . The housing assembly of  claim 11  wherein the exterior surface of the drinking tumbler is a surface of revolution, and wherein said inner surface of said cavity is a surface of revolution of a general complementary shape to the exterior surface of the drinking tumbler.