All-Glass Travel Mug

Abstract

A beverage container for hot or cold beverages, where the lid and base are connected via a glass joint. The glass joint forms a seal between the lid and base and eliminates the need for a synthetic material to form such a seal. The base has a double wall construction forming a cavity between the two walls. One or more of the surfaces facing the cavity are coated with a thermally reflective coating, which along with the glass materials, reduces heat transfer to the external surroundings. The lid is formed by a glass shell with an internal cavity, where the internal surfaces defining the cavity are optionally coated with a thermally reflective coating to further insulate the beverage container. A vent hole may be formed in a bottom of a dual-walled beverage container to prevent the formation of a vacuum. The outer surface of an inner wall of a dual-walled beverage container may have an inductively couplable layer secured to the inner wall to permit heating of fluids.

1 . A beverage container or kettle comprising:
 a body having a closed bottom end, an open upper end, and constructed from glass, wherein the body is formed with a double wall having an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein a wall gap is defined by an inner surface of the outer wall and an outer surface of the inner wall, wherein the closed bottom end is formed with an inner bottom wall and an outer bottom wall to form a double bottom wall with the inner bottom wall continuous with the inner wall and the outer bottom wall continuous with the outer wall, wherein a bottom gap defined by an inner surface of the outer bottom wall and an outer surface of the inner bottom wall is continuous with the wall gap, wherein a vent hole is formed or created in the outer bottom wall in fluid communication with the wall gap, and wherein an inner face of the inner wall proximal the upper end is formed from ground glass to form a first half of a discontinuous or interrupted glass joint; and,   a lid constructed from glass having a top lid surface and a bottom lid surface spaced by a lid side face, wherein the lid has portions defining a drinking port or side channel that extends from the top lid surface down to the bottom lid surface and partially defined by portions of the lid side face that creates a discontinuity or interruption in the lid side face and other portions that define a vent port or vent channel that extends from the top lid surface down to the bottom lid surface partially defined by portions of the lid side face that creates a discontinuity or interruption in the lid side face, wherein the lid side face is formed from ground glass to form a second half of the discontinuous or interrupted glass joint, wherein the lid side face mates with, and registers against, the inner face of the at least one wall, except at the locations of the drinking port and the vent port, to form the discontinuous or interrupted glass joint when the lid is inserted into the upper open end of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 1  further comprising a body wall closure secured in the vent hole. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 1  wherein the lid has a cavity defined by the upper lid surface, the lower lid surface and the lid side wall. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 3  wherein the inner surface of the at least one wall proximal the upper open end is frustoconical in shape, and wherein the lid side wall is frustoconical in shape to mate with the inner surface of the at least one wall proximal the upper open end. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 3  wherein at least one surface of the walls defining the cavity is coated with infrared-reflecting coating. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 3  wherein the cavity is filled with an insulating gas, wherein the insulating gas is selected from the group consisting of air, low-oxygen gas, low-pressure gas, low-conductivity gas and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 1  wherein at least one surface of the inner surface of the outer wall and the outer surface of the inner wall is at least partially coated with an infrared-reflecting coating. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 7  wherein the infrared reflective coating is coated onto the at least one surface in an artistic pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 1  wherein the wall gap is filled with an insulating gas, wherein the insulating gas is selected from the group consisting of air, low-oxygen gas, low-pressure gas, low-conductivity gas and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 1  wherein the inner face of the at least one wall proximal the upper open end is frustoconical in shape, and wherein the lid side face is frustoconical in shape to mate with the inner face of the at least one wall proximal the upper open end. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage container or kettle of  1  wherein the lid is formed with a raised grip. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 11  wherein the upper open end of the body defines a body upper surface, wherein the lid, when inserted into the open upper end of the body, registers against the inner surface of the inner wall whereby the top surface of the lid is below the plane occupied by the body upper surface. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 1  further comprising a clip formed from a flexible material, wherein the clip registers against the lid and an outer surface of the body to secure the lid to the body. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is formed with a raised grip, and wherein the upper open end of the body defines a body upper surface, wherein the lid, when inserted into the open upper end of the body, registers against the inner surface of the inner wall whereby the top surface of the lid is level with or below the plane occupied by the body upper surface. 
     
     
         15 . A beverage container or kettle comprising:
 a body having a closed bottom end, an open upper end, and constructed from glass, wherein the body is formed with a double wall having an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein a wall gap is defined by an inner surface of the outer wall and an outer surface of the inner wall, wherein the closed bottom end is formed with an inner bottom wall and an outer bottom wall to form a double bottom wall with the inner bottom wall continuous with the inner wall and the outer bottom wall continuous with the outer wall, wherein a bottom gap defined by an inner surface of the outer bottom wall and an outer surface of the inner bottom wall is continuous with the wall gap, wherein a vent hole is formed or created in the outer bottom wall in fluid communication with the wall gap, and wherein an inner face of the inner wall proximal the upper end is formed from ground glass to form a first half of a discontinuous or interrupted glass joint; and,   a lid having a top lid surface and a bottom lid surface spaced by a lid side face, wherein the lid is formed with a raised grip having a depression formed in a central portion of the grip and two raised areas formed on outer portions of the grip, wherein the lid side face is formed from ground glass to form a second half of the glass joint, wherein the lid side face mates with, and registers against, the inner face of the inner wall to form the glass joint when the lid is inserted into the upper open end of the body, and wherein the upper open end of the body defines a body upper surface, wherein the lid, when inserted into the open upper end of the body to form the glass joint, the top surface of the lid and/or the raised grip is level with or below the plane occupied by the body upper surface.   
     
     
         16 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 15  wherein the inner surface of the inner wall proximal the upper open end is frustoconical in shape, and wherein the lid side wall is frustoconical in shape to mate with the inner wall proximal the upper open end. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 15  further comprising a clip formed from a flexible material, wherein the clip has an axially extended clip extension that registers against the top surface of the lid to maintain the lid in registration with the body when the clip is registered about an outer surface of the body. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 15  further comprising an inductively couplable layer is joined to, or secured to, the outer surface of the inner wall and/or to the outer surface of the inner bottom wall. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 18  further comprising at least one drinking port or channel formed in the lid that traverses the lid from the top lid surface to the bottom lid surface and at least one vent port or channel formed in the lid that traverses the lid from the top lid surface to the bottom lid surface. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 18  wherein the lid has portions defining a drinking port or side channel that extends from the top lid surface down to the bottom lid surface and partially defined by portions of the lid side face that creates a discontinuity or interruption in the lid side face and other portions that define a vent port or vent channel that extends from the top lid surface down to the bottom lid surface partially defined by portions of the lid side face that creates a discontinuity or interruption in the lid side face. 
     
     
         21 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 15  further comprising a body wall closure secured in the vent hole. 
     
     
         22 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 15  wherein the top lid surface, bottom lid surface and lid side wall define a cavity, wherein the cavity is filled with an insulating gas, wherein the insulating gas is selected from the group consisting of air, low-oxygen gas, low-pressure gas, low-conductivity gas and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 15  further comprising at least one drinking port or channel formed in the lid that traverses the lid from the top lid surface to the bottom lid surface and at least one vent port or channel formed in the lid that traverses the lid from the top lid surface to the bottom lid surface. 
     
     
         24 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 15  wherein the lid has portions defining a drinking port or side channel that extends from the top lid surface down to the bottom lid surface and partially defined by portions of the lid side face that creates a discontinuity or interruption in the lid side face and other portions that define a vent port or vent channel that extends from the top lid surface down to the bottom lid surface partially defined by portions of the lid side face that creates a discontinuity or interruption in the lid side face. 
     
     
         25 . A beverage container or kettle comprising:
 a body having a closed bottom end, an open upper end, and constructed from glass, wherein the body is formed with a double wall having an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein a wall gap is defined by an inner surface of the outer wall and an outer surface of the inner wall, wherein the closed bottom end is formed with an inner bottom wall and an outer bottom wall to form a double bottom wall with the inner bottom wall continuous with the inner wall and the outer bottom wall continuous with the outer wall, wherein a bottom gap defined by an inner surface of the outer bottom wall and an outer surface of the inner bottom wall is continuous with the wall gap, wherein an inductively couplable layer is joined to, or secured to, the outer surface of the inner wall and/or to the outer surface of the inner bottom wall, and wherein an inner face of the inner wall proximal the upper end is formed from ground glass to form a first half of a glass joint; and,   a lid having a top lid surface and a bottom lid surface spaced by a lid side face, wherein a surface of the lid side face is formed from ground glass to form a second half of the glass joint, wherein the lid side face registers against the inner face of the at least one wall to form the glass joint when the lid is inserted into the upper open end of the body.   
     
     
         26 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 25  wherein the inner surface of the inner wall proximal the upper open end is frustoconical in shape, and wherein the lid side wall is frustoconical in shape to mate with the inner wall proximal the upper open end. 
     
     
         27 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 25  wherein the inner surface of the inner wall proximal the upper open end is frustoconical in shape, and wherein the lid side wall is frustoconical in shape to mate with the inner wall proximal the upper open end. 
     
     
         28 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 25  further comprising a clip formed from a flexible material, wherein the clip has an axially extended clip extension that registers against the top surface of the lid to maintain the lid in registration with the body when the clip is registered about an outer surface of the body. 
     
     
         29 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 25  wherein the upper open end of the body defines a body upper surface, wherein the lid is formed with a raised grip, and wherein the lid, when inserted into the open upper end of the body, registers against the inner surface of the inner wall whereby the top surface of the lid is level with or below the plane occupied by the body upper surface. 
     
     
         30 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 25  wherein the top lid surface defines a first half recess and a second half recess, wherein the first half recess is formed with at least one through-bore, wherein the second half recess is formed with at least one through-bore. 
     
     
         31 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 25  wherein the lid is formed with a raised grip, wherein the raised grip is ergonomically shaped with a depression formed toward a central portion of the raised grip and two raised areas formed near outer portions of the raised grip to allow for drinking with the glass joint engaged and for manipulation of the lid by hand to insert and extract the lid. 
     
     
         32 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 25  further comprising at least one drinking port or channel formed in the lid that traverses the lid from the top lid surface to the bottom lid surface and at least one vent port or channel formed in the lid that traverses the lid from the top lid surface to the bottom lid surface. 
     
     
         33 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 25  wherein the lid has portions defining a drinking port or side channel that extends from the top lid surface down to the bottom lid surface and partially defined by portions of the lid side face that creates a discontinuity or interruption in the lid side face and other portions that define a vent port or vent channel that extends from the top lid surface down to the bottom lid surface partially defined by portions of the lid side face that creates a discontinuity or interruption in the lid side face. 
     
     
         34 . A beverage container or kettle comprising:
 a body having a closed bottom end, an open upper end, and constructed from glass having a coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the body is formed with a double wall having an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein a wall gap is defined by an inner surface of the outer wall and an outer surface of the inner wall, wherein the closed bottom end is formed with an inner bottom wall and an outer bottom wall to form a double bottom wall with the inner bottom wall continuous with the inner wall and the outer bottom wall continuous with the outer wall, wherein a bottom gap defined by an inner surface of the outer bottom wall and an outer surface of the inner bottom wall is continuous with the wall gap, and wherein an inner face of the inner wall proximal the upper end is formed from ground glass to form a first half of a discontinuous or interrupted glass joint;   a lid having a top lid surface and a bottom lid surface spaced by a lid side face, wherein the lid is formed with a raised grip having a depression formed in a central portion of the grip and two raised areas formed on outer portions of the grip, wherein the lid side face is formed from ground glass to form a second half of the glass joint, wherein the lid side face mates with, and registers against, the inner face of the inner wall to form the glass joint when the lid is inserted into the upper open end of the body, and wherein the upper open end of the body defines a body upper surface, wherein the lid, when inserted into the open upper end of the body to form the glass joint, the top surface of the lid and/or the raised grip is level with or below the plane occupied by the body upper surface; and,   an inductive coupling layer joined to, or secured to, the outer surface of the inner wall, wherein the inductive coupling layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion matched to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass.   
     
     
         35 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 30  wherein the inductive coupling layer is ferro magnetic or ferrimagnetic. 
     
     
         36 . The beverage container or kettle of  claim 30  wherein the inductive coupling layer is formed from an Iron, Nickel, Cobalt ally. 
     
     
         37 . A beverage container or kettle comprising:
 a body having a closed bottom end, an open upper end, and constructed from glass, wherein the body is formed with at least one wall, and wherein an inner face of the at least one wall proximal the upper end is formed from ground glass to form a first half of a discontinuous or interrupted glass joint;   a lid constructed from glass having a top lid surface and a bottom lid surface spaced by a lid side face, wherein the lid has portions defining a drinking port or side channel that extends from the top lid surface down to the bottom lid surface and partially defined by portions of the lid side face that creates a discontinuity or interruption in the lid side face and other portions that define a vent port or vent channel that extends from the top lid surface down to the bottom lid surface partially defined by portions of the lid side face that creates a discontinuity or interruption in the lid side face, wherein the lid side face is formed from ground glass to form a second half of the discontinuous or interrupted glass joint, wherein the lid side face mates with, and registers against, the inner face of the at least one wall, except at the locations of the drinking port and the vent port, to form the discontinuous or interrupted glass joint when the lid is inserted into the upper open end of the body; and,   an inductively couplable layer joined to, or secured to, an outer surface of the at least one wall and/or to an outer surface of the bottom end.   
     
     
         38 . The beverage container of  claim 37  wherein the lid has a cavity defined by the upper lid surface, the lower lid surface and the lid side wall. 
     
     
         39 . The beverage container of  claim 38  wherein at least one surface of the walls defining the cavity is coated with infrared-reflecting coating. 
     
     
         40 . The beverage container of  claim 38  wherein the cavity is filled with an insulating gas, wherein the insulating gas is selected from the group consisting of air, low-oxygen gas, low-pressure gas, low-conductivity gas and mixtures thereof.