Vessel

Abstract

A system and method transporting fluids with a pitcher. The pitcher includes one or more pitcher walls disposed about a void having a floor at a base region and an open top at a rim. The pitcher has a handle mounted on the wall or one of the walls. The pitcher also has a hollow shoe set into the base region which includes a sole plate at a base. It further includes one or more spaced-apart shoe walls an open rim, the sole plate disposed at an angle to drain water it a shoe drain which is configured to extend through one of the shoe walls.

1 . A pitcher for transporting fluid, the pitcher including:
 one or more pitcher walls disposed about a void having a floor at a base region and an open top at a rim;   a handle mounted on the wall or one of the walls; and   a hollow shoe set into the base region, which includes a sole plate at a base, one or more spaced-apart shoe walls and an open rim, the sole plate disposed at an angle to drain water into a shoe drain which is configured to extend through one of the shoe walls.   
     
     
         2 . The pitcher of  claim 1 , wherein the sole plate is integral with the pitcher floor. 
     
     
         3 . The pitcher of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe walls are integral with, and form extensions of, the pitcher walls. 
     
     
         4 . The pitcher of  claim 1  wherein the shoe drain is an aperture extending from an inlet on one side of one of the shoe walls to an outlet at the other so that water drains out of the shoe when the pitcher is inverted. 
     
     
         5 . The pitcher of  claim 1  the shoe drain is a slot extending from the sole plate to the shoe rim. 
     
     
         6 . The pitcher of  claim 5  one embodiment the slot has edges that slant outwardly from one another toward the shoe rim so that the more water in the shoe, the faster the flow rate from the drain. 
     
     
         7 . The pitcher of  claim 1  wherein the arrangement is such that the shoe drain is disposed at a rear of the pitcher base. 
     
     
         8 . The pitcher of  claim 1  wherein or more of the pitcher and shoe walls are substantially flat so as to facilitate the retention and viewing of a brand message attached to or printed on the substantially flat wall. 
     
     
         9 . The pitcher of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the walls include a slight curve outward or a slight bow about one or more axes so as to reduce scratching of an outer face on which a decal or message may be attached or printed. 
     
     
         10 . The pitcher of  claim 1  wherein a rear wall includes a spine in the form of a rib or a ridge, or channel or groove, so that fluid from the shoe drain may be transported therealong, the spine extending to a handle drain. 
     
     
         11 . The pitcher of  claim 1  wherein a spout is disposed on the rim and the rim extends therearound, the spout rim being disposed in the rim plane to improve stability when inverted. 
     
     
         12 . The pitcher of  claim 11  wherein the spout includes an underside surface which is angled toward the rim so as to facilitate water runoff. 
     
     
         13 . The pitcher of  claim 1  wherein the front wall is angled more acutely than the other walls so as to facilitate pouring, the angle in the front wall forming a crease or channel or groove or curve so as to channel liquid to the spout. 
     
     
         14 . The pitcher of  claim 1  wherein the walls are narrower at their base than at the rim so as to facilitate stacking. 
     
     
         15 . The pitcher of  claim 1  wherein the handle is a hollow shell body to improve strength and reduce mass, the shell being a channel-shaped section, which includes a base wall and two spaced-apart side walls. 
     
     
         16 . The pitcher of  claim 1  wherein the handle includes a stem and a grip region extending therefrom, wherein the stem extends substantially away from a rear wall on which it is mounted, and a base wall of the stem is disposed in the pitcher rim plane and the grip base wall extends therefrom generally parallel with the rear pitcher wall. 
     
     
         17 . The pitcher of  claim 1  wherein the handle includes a handle drain which includes a drain aperture through a handle wall to transport water therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The pitcher of  claim 15  wherein the handle shell is configured to engage or cooperate with a handle shell from an adjacent pitcher when stacked therein, in an arrangement where the handles lock together to improve stability in a stack without scratching the walls of the pitcher. 
     
     
         19 . The pitcher of  claim 1  wherein the floor includes one or more lugs extending upwardly therefrom which are configured to cooperate with a base of another pitcher. 
     
     
         20 . The pitcher of  claim 19  wherein the one or more lugs are one or more bosses disposed at a junction of the floor and one wall.