Multifunctional beverage receptacle

Abstract

A beverage receptacle having a) a base; b) a side wall projecting from the base, wherein the side wall defines: (i) a chamber portion where the side wall circumscribes the perimeter of the base; (ii) an elliptical rim portion where the side wall terminates in a rim opposite the base (iii) an elliptical neck portion intermediate the rim portion and the chamber portion, wherein the neck portion has a smaller cross-sectional area than the rim portion at the rim; c) at least one lip interfaces integrated into the rim portion and part of the side wall, wherein the user lip interface includes: (i) a terminus of the rim; and (ii) a slope section extending away from the longitudinal axis; and wherein the rim portion, including the user lip interface, is adapted for a user to consume the liquid beverage while the user is in a reclined position.

1 . A beverage receptacle comprising:
 a base having a perimeter;   an annular side wall projecting from the base, wherein an interior surface of the side wall defines:
 a chamber portion where the side wall circumscribes the perimeter of the base and includes a hollow interior with a side wall interior surface adapted to receive a liquid beverage, and wherein the side wall interior surface adjacent to the base is substantially circular; 
 a rim portion where the side wall interior surface terminates in a rim opposite the base and defines an opening aligned with the hollow interior of the chamber portion, and wherein the side wall interior surface at the rim portion has a substantially elliptical cross-section, 
 a neck portion interior surface joining the rim portion and the chamber portion, wherein the neck portion interior surface has a smaller cross-sectional area than the rim portion at the rim; and 
 two user lip interfaces opposing and substantially symmetrical to one another integrated into the rim portion and part of the side wall, wherein each user lip interface includes: 
 a terminus of the rim; and 
 a slope extending away from a central longitudinal axis configured to guide a liquid beverage to the terminus upon tilting of the beverage receptacle; 
   wherein the surface geometry of a section of the sidewall interior surface from extending from each of the two user lip interfaces to the base is substantially sinusoidal; and   wherein the rim portion, including the two user lip interfaces, is adapted for a user to consume the liquid beverage while the user is in a reclined position.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber portion side wall interior surface transitions from the substantially circular cross-section at an enlarged belly region of the chamber to a substantially elliptical cross-section at a reduced cross-section area neck region interior surface located above the belly region. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially elliptical cross-section of the chamber portion interior surface and the rim portion have a length of a major axis about 1.2 times greater to about 3 times less than a length of a minor axis. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage receptacle includes one or more handles that project outwardly away from the side wall and are located between the two user lip interfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 4 , wherein the two user lip interfaces are adapted so that when the beverage receptacle is tilted relative to a vertical axis, the liquid beverage forms a liquid radius tangent with a radius at the terminus before flowing over the rim at the user lip interface; and
 wherein the liquid radius is about 3 mm to about 30 mm.   
     
     
         6 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 5 , wherein the chamber portion has a volume capacity to retaining the liquid beverage, and the liquid radius remains substantially constant during repeated tilting while about 30% or greater to about 70% or less of the volume capacity is consumed. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein a topography of the rim portion varies for defining one or more peaks and one or more valleys. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 7 , wherein a terminus of each user lip interface is at a peak. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 7 , wherein the rim portion includes two valleys opposing one another and located between the two user lip interfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage receptacle according to  claim 7 , wherein a height of the one or more valleys relative to the base defines a maximum fill of the beverage receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage receptacle according to  claim 7 , wherein the one or more valleys have a shape which is generally sinusoidally concave. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage receptacle of any of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber portion has a volume of about 200 mL to about 1000 mL. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 2 , wherein the chamber portion angles away from the base at an angle of about 5-70 degrees relative to a vertical axis; and
 wherein the chamber portion angles toward the longitudinal axis in a region between the belly and the neck region at an angle of about 5-30 degrees in right side elevational view.   
     
     
         14 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the wall adjacent each user lip interface angles away from the major axis at an angle of about 5-50 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . A method of drinking a beverage assuming a reclined position including tilting the receptacle of  claim 1  to cause the liquid beverage to pass from the chamber portion to the user by way of the user lip interface portion. 
     
     
         16 . A beverage receptacle comprising:
 a base having a perimeter extending about a central axis;   an annular side wall projecting from the base, wherein the annular side wall has a front surface generally facing a user, an opposed rear surface and right and left side surfaces which collectively define:   a chamber portion where the side wall interior surface circumscribes the perimeter of the base and includes a hollow interior adapted to receive a liquid beverage, and wherein the side wall interior surface adjacent to the base is substantially circular;   a rim portion located where the annular side wall terminates in a rim opposite the base, defining an opening aligned with the central axis, and wherein a front rim portion forms an end section of an ellipse in plan view, with the rim ellipse having a center aligned with the central axis and a major axis extending front to rear normal to the central axis,   an enlarged cross-section belly portion interior surface located above the base   a reduced cross-section elliptical neck portion interior surface between the belly portion and the rim portion, wherein the neck portion interior surface has a smaller cross-sectional area than the rim portion interior surface ellipse; and   at least one user lip interface formed by the front rim portion, wherein the at least one user lip interface includes:   a terminus of the rim; and   a sloped wall section extending away from the terminus of the rim and inclined relative to the major axis to guide a liquid beverage to the terminus of the rim upon tilting of the beverage receptacle;   wherein the surface geometry of a front side wall portion interior surface, from the terminus to the base, is substantially sinusoidal in side view.   
     
     
         17 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 16 , wherein the enlarged cross-section belly portion is generally circular. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 16 , wherein cross-sections of the chamber portion interior surface, forms ellipses having a major axis length which progressively increases at least 20% from the elliptical neck portion to the rim. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 18 , wherein the cross-section of the chamber portion interior surface at the elliptical neck portion has a major axis to minor axis ratio that is less than 80% of the major axis to minor axis ratio of the rim ellipse. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage receptacle of  claim 19 , wherein a rim portion defines a rear rim portion which forms an end section of the rim ellipse spaced from the front ellipse section by a valley formed in the rim which is sinusoidal in shape in right side view.