Portable drinking accessory and case and kit containing same

Abstract

A portable kit for utilizing a flavouring agent with a beverage contained in a beverage can may include a drinking accessory having a substantially annular body portion surrounding a central opening, an attachment portion configured to engage an upper rim of the beverage can and a flared drinking portion including a drinking sidewall extending axially away from the gripping portion in a first direction and terminating in a drinking rim configured to receive a flavouring agent. The kit can also include a portable, multi-chamber carrying case having a first container and a second container each configured to axially receive the drinking rim of the drinking accessory and a lid that is configured to releasably cover and seal the second upper end. The kit may be configurable in a transport configuration in which the containers are sealed and a use configuration in which the containers are accessible.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable kit for utilizing a flavouring agent with a beverage contained in a beverage can having an upper end with a top surface having a drinking opening and that is bounded by an upper rim, the kit comprising:
 a) a drinking accessory of unitary, one-piece construction for connecting to a beverage can having an upper end with a top surface that includes a drinking opening and is bounded by an upper rim, the drinking accessory comprising:
 i. a substantially annular body portion defining a body axis and having an inner surface surrounding a central opening and an opposing outer surface; 
 ii. an attachment portion extending laterally inwardly from the inner surface of the body portion and being configured to engage an upper rim of the beverage can in a detachable, snap-fit manner to form a substantially liquid-tight seal between the attachment portion and the upper rim to mount the drinking accessory to the upper the beverage can with the central opening registered above the top surface of a drinking can, the attachment portion being configured so that when the drinking accessory is mounted to the upper rim the drinking accessory is rotatable relative to the beverage can with the body while maintaining the liquid-tight seal and registration of the central opening with the top surface; 
 iii. a flared drinking portion including a drinking sidewall extending axially away from the gripping portion in a first direction and terminating in a drinking rim configured to receive a flavouring agent, the drinking rim having a first section and a second section spaced apart from the first section around the drinking rim, wherein when the drinking accessory is mounted to the upper rim with the first section rotationally registered above the drinking opening in the beverage can the drinking rim is rotatable with the attachment portion relative to the beverage can while attached to the upper rim to bring the second section into rotational registration with the drinking opening without detaching the drinking accessory from the beverage can; 
   b) a portable, multi-chamber carrying case for separately carrying a liquid and a flavouring agent, the carrying case comprising:
 i. a first container having a first lower end bounded by a first base wall and a first sidewall extending axially from the first base wall to an open first upper end that is configured to axially receive the drinking rim of the drinking accessory, the first container having a first fastening portion; 
 ii. a second container having a second lower end bounded by a second base wall and a second sidewall extending axially from the second base wall to an open, second upper end that is configured to axially receive the drinking rim of the drinking accessory, the second container comprising a second fastening portion that is releasably engageable with the first fastening portion; and 
 iii. a lid that is configured to releasably cover and seal the second upper end; 
   wherein the kit is configurable in
 a transport configuration in which the second fastening portion is engaged with the first fastening portion and the first upper end is covered and sealed by the second container and the second upper end is covered and sealed by the lid so that the first and second containers are sealed and fluidly isolated from each other; and 
 a use configuration in which the first upper end and the second upper end are each accessible to enable axial insertion and removal of the drinking rim of the drinking accessory. 
   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the drinking accessory further comprising a stabilizing portion including a flared stabilizing sidewall extending axially away from the gripping portion in an opposing second direction and terminating in a lower rim, the stabilizing sidewall being configured to at least partially laterally surround and closely compliment a shape of the upper end of the beverage can, whereby when the drinking accessory is mounted to the beverage can the stabilizing sidewall is closely spaced to the upper end of the beverage can and tilting of the drinking accessory relative to the drinking can is inhibited by interference between the stabilizing sidewall and the upper end of the drinking can. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein the annular body portion has a smaller diameter in a lateral direction that is orthogonal to the body axis than each of the drinking rim and the lower rim. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein the outer surface of the body portion is exposed to be engaged by a user while the drinking accessory is in use and extends parallel to the body axis and the drinking sidewall and lower sidewall are inclined relative to the body axis. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion comprises a laterally inwardly extending rib and a lip extending axially from the rib that cooperate to bound a mounting groove that is sized and configured to axially receive and retain the upper rim of the beverage can in a snap-fit manner. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein the groove has a lateral width that is between about 1 mm and about 5 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the rib and the lip are resiliently flexible and are configured to flex to accommodate axial insertion or removal of the upper rim from the groove and to bear and seal against the upper rim when the upper rim is received within the groove. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein the drinking accessory is formed from a single plastic material and the substantially liquid-tight seal is formed by direct engagement between the attachment portion and the upper rim of the beverage can in the absence of a sealing member formed from a different material. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein an exposed, laterally extending upper surface of the rib and an inclined, inner surface of the drinking sidewall intersect to define a shoulder portion that is configured to contact the beverage when the drinking accessory is in use. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first container and the second container is configured to retain a liquid and the other one of the first container and the second container is configured to retain a granular flavouring agent. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the one of the first container and the second container that is configured to retain the liquid further comprises centrally located protrusion that extends upwardly from the respective base wall thereby defining a generally annular liquid flow region that is configured to accommodate the drinking rim of the drinking accessory. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises an outer surface that is exposed when the carrying case is in the transport configuration and that includes an accessory mount that is configured to releasably retain the drinking accessory. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the accessory mount comprises at least two spaced apart clamping members extending from the outer surface and configured to releasably receive the drinking accessory in a press-fit manner. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first container and second container are independently accessible. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first container and second container are separable from each and independently movable when in the use configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion comprise complimentary threads that mesh with each other in a substantially liquid tight manner. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first container has a generally cylindrical configuration with a first diameter in a lateral direction and the second container has a generally cylindrical configuration with second diameter in the lateral direction that is substantially equal to the first diameter. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is connectable to the second upper end via a rotary, bayonet type fastening mechanism in which tabs on one of the lid and the second upper end can be rotatably received within corresponding slots on the other of the lid and the second upper end. 
     
     
         19 . A portable, multi-chamber carrying case for separately carrying a liquid and a flavouring agent, the carrying case comprising:
 a) a first container having a first lower end bounded by a first base wall and a first sidewall extending axially from the first base wall to an open first upper end that is configured to axially receive a drinking rim of a drinking accessory, the first container having a first fastening portion;   b) a second container having a second lower end bounded by a second base wall and a second sidewall extending axially from the second base wall to an open, second upper end that is configured to axially receive the drinking rim of the drinking accessory, the second container comprising a second fastening portion that is releasably engageable with the first fastening portion; and   c) a lid that is configured to releasably cover and seal the second upper end;   wherein the carrying case is configurable in
 a transport configuration in which the second fastening portion is engaged with the first fastening portion and the first upper end is covered and sealed by the second container and the second upper end is covered and sealed by the lid so that the first and second containers are sealed and fluidly isolated from each other; and 
 a use configuration in which the first upper end and the second upper end are each accessible to enable axial insertion and removal of the drinking rim of the drinking accessory. 
   
     
     
         20 . The carrying case of  claim 19 , wherein one of the first container and the second container is configured to retain a liquid and the other one of the first container and the second container is configured to retain a granular flavouring agent. 
     
     
         21 . The carrying case of  claim 20 , wherein the one of the first container and the second container that is configured to retain the liquid further comprises centrally located protrusion that extends upwardly from the respective base wall thereby defining a generally annular liquid flow region that is configured to accommodate the drinking rim of the drinking accessory. 
     
     
         22 . The carrying case of  claim 20 , wherein the lid further comprises an outer surface that is exposed when the carrying case is in the transport configuration and that includes an accessory mount that is configured to releasably retain the drinking accessory. 
     
     
         23 . The carrying case of  claim 22 , wherein the accessory mount comprises at least two spaced apart clamping members extending from the outer surface and configured to releasably receive the drinking accessory in a press-fit manner. 
     
     
         24 . The carrying case of  claim 19 , wherein the first container and second container are independently accessible. 
     
     
         25 . The carrying case of  claim 19 , wherein the first container and second container are separable from each and independently movable when in the use configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The carrying case of  claim 19 , wherein the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion comprise complimentary threads that mesh with each other in a substantially liquid tight manner. 
     
     
         27 . The carrying case of  claim 19 , wherein the first container has a generally cylindrical configuration with a first diameter in a lateral direction and the second container has a generally cylindrical configuration with second diameter in the lateral direction that is substantially equal to the first diameter. 
     
     
         28 . The carrying case of  claim 19 , wherein the lid is connectable to the second upper end via a rotary, bayonet type fastening mechanism in which tabs on one of the lid and the second upper end can be rotatably received within corresponding slots on the other of the lid and the second upper end. 
     
     
         29 . A drinking accessory of unitary, one-piece construction for connecting to a beverage can having an upper end with a top surface that includes a drinking opening and is bounded by an upper rim, the drinking accessory comprising:
 a) a substantially annular body portion defining a body axis and having an inner surface surrounding a central opening and an opposing outer surface;   b) an attachment portion extending laterally inwardly from the inner surface of the body portion and being configured to engage an upper rim of the beverage can in a detachable, snap-fit manner to form a substantially liquid-tight seal between the attachment portion and the upper rim to mount the drinking accessory to the upper the beverage can with the central opening registered above the top surface of a drinking can, the attachment portion being configured so that when the drinking accessory is mounted to the upper rim the drinking accessory is rotatable relative to the beverage can with the body while maintaining the liquid-tight seal and registration of the central opening with the top surface;   c) a flared drinking portion including a drinking sidewall extending axially away from the gripping portion in a first direction and terminating in a drinking rim configured to receive a flavouring agent, the drinking rim having a first section and a second section spaced apart from the first section around the drinking rim, wherein when the drinking accessory is mounted to the upper rim with the first section rotationally registered above the drinking opening in the beverage can the drinking rim is rotatable with the attachment portion relative to the beverage can while attached to the upper rim to bring the second section into rotational registration with the drinking opening without detaching the drinking accessory from the beverage can.   
     
     
         30 . The drinking accessory of  claim 29 , further comprising a stabilizing portion including flared stabilizing sidewall extending axially away from the gripping portion in an opposing second direction and terminating in a lower rim, the stabilizing sidewall being configured to at least partially laterally surround and closely compliment a shape of the upper end of the beverage can, whereby when the drinking accessory is mounted to the beverage can the stabilizing sidewall is closely spaced to the upper end of the beverage can and tilting of the drinking accessory relative to the drinking can is inhibited by interference between the stabilizing sidewall and the upper end of the drinking can. 
     
     
         31 . The drinking accessory of  claim 30 , wherein the annular body portion has a smaller diameter in a lateral direction that is orthogonal to the body axis than each of the drinking rim and the lower rim. 
     
     
         32 . The drinking accessory of  claim 30 , wherein the outer surface of the body portion is exposed to be engaged by a user while the drinking accessory is in use and extends parallel to the body axis and the drinking sidewall and lower sidewall are inclined relative to the body axis. 
     
     
         33 . The drinking accessory of  claim 29 , wherein the attachment portion comprises a laterally inwardly extending rib and a lip extending axially from the rib that cooperate to bound a mounting groove that is sized and configured to axially receive and retain the upper rim of the beverage can in a snap-fit manner. 
     
     
         34 . The drinking accessory of  claim 33 , wherein the groove has a lateral width that is between about 1 mm and about 5 mm. 
     
     
         35 . The drinking accessory of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of the rib and the lip are resiliently flexible and are configured to flex to accommodate axial insertion or removal of the upper rim from the groove and to bear and seal against the upper rim when the upper rim is received within the groove. 
     
     
         36 . The drinking accessory of  claim 33 , wherein the drinking accessory is formed from a single plastic material and the substantially liquid-tight seal is formed by direct engagement between the attachment portion and the upper rim of the beverage can in the absence of a sealing member formed from a different material. 
     
     
         37 . The drinking accessory of  claim 33 , wherein an exposed, laterally extending upper surface of the rib and an inclined, inner surface of the drinking sidewall intersect to define a shoulder portion that is configured to contact the beverage when the drinking accessory is in use.