Multi-chambered liquid storage vessel

Abstract

A liquid storage vessel including a body having a first chamber with a first chamber opening and a second chamber with a second chamber opening. The body further includes a first cap configured to selectively cover the first chamber opening, a second cap configured to selectively cover the second chamber opening, and a neck member positioned between the first and second chambers, the neck member having a neck opening providing fluid communication between the first and second chambers. The neck opening is sized to enable a vortex to be formed when liquid is positioned in an upper one of the first or second chambers and the body is moved in a swirling motion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid storage vessel comprising:
 a body including:
 a first chamber having a first chamber opening; and 
 a second chamber having a second chamber opening; 
   a first cap configured to selectively cover the first chamber opening;   a second cap configured to selectively cover the second chamber opening; and   a neck member positioned between the first and second chambers and having a neck opening providing fluid communication between the first and second chambers, wherein the neck opening is sized to enable a vortex to be formed when liquid is positioned in an upper one of the first or second chambers and the body is moved in a swirling motion.   
     
     
         2 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the neck opening has a surface area of between about 0.2 square inches and about 12.6 square inches. 
     
     
         3 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the neck opening has surface area that is between about 5 percent and about 20 percent of an average surface area of at least one of the first or second chambers. 
     
     
         4 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the neck opening has surface area that is between about 5 percent and about 20 percent of an average surface area of both the first and second chambers. 
     
     
         5 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the body includes a central axis, and wherein the neck is located at a midpoint of the axis. 
     
     
         6 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the body is a single, unitary component that is not separable. 
     
     
         7 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the first and second chambers are permanently coupled together. 
     
     
         8 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the neck member is a generally flat, annular component having a radially outer surface in contact with or integrally formed with a radially inner surface of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the body has a central axis, and wherein the first and second caps each include a generally planar axially outermost surface to enable the vessel to be stably stood on end such that the axis of the body is vertically oriented. 
     
     
         10 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the first and second chamber have generally the same size and shape, wherein the first chamber opening and the second chamber opening have generally the same size and shape, wherein the first cap is configured to be coupled to and cover the second chamber opening, and wherein the second cap is configured to be coupled to and selectively cover the first chamber opening. 
     
     
         11 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the body has a smooth and continuous, generally cylindrical shape on an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The vessel of  claim 11  wherein each cap has a generally cylindrical outer surface with an outer diameter that generally matches an outer diameter of an axial end of the body. 
     
     
         13 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the first chamber opening has a surface area approximately equal to a surface area of the first chamber adjacent to the first chamber opening, and wherein the second chamber opening has a surface area approximately equal to a surface area of the second chamber adjacent to the second chamber opening. 
     
     
         14 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the vessel includes a central axis, wherein the first and second chambers are spaced apart along the central axis, wherein the first chamber opening is positioned at a first axial end of the body and the second chamber opening is positioned at a second, opposite axial end of the body, wherein the first cap is removably threadably attachable to the first axial end, and wherein the second cap is removably threadably attachable to the second axial end. 
     
     
         15 . The vessel of  claim 1  further comprising a handle pivotally coupled to one of the first or second caps, wherein the handle is pivotable between a retracted position wherein the handle is generally flat against an outer, recessed surface of the one of the first or second caps, and an extended position wherein the handle is oriented generally perpendicular to the outer surface of the one of the first or second caps. 
     
     
         16 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the neck opening is sized to enable a vortex to be formed when liquid water at a temperature of 25° C. is positioned in an upper one of the first or second chambers and the body is moved in the swirling motion. 
     
     
         17 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the caps includes a spout or opening to provide fluid communication to the associated chamber via the spout or opening. 
     
     
         18 . The vessel of  claim 1  further comprising a plug configured to be removably positioned in, on or over the neck opening to block a flow of fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         19 . The vessel of  claim 18  wherein the plug includes an axially-extending handle coupled thereto. 
     
     
         20 . The vessel of  claim 18  wherein the plug is manually movable between an open and a closed position by an actuator positioned on an outer surface of the body. 
     
     
         21 . A liquid storage vessel comprising:
 a body including:
 a first chamber having a first chamber opening; and 
 a second chamber having a second chamber opening; 
   a first cap configured to selectively cover the first chamber opening;   a second cap configured to selectively cover the second chamber opening; and   a neck member positioned between the first and second chambers and having a neck opening providing fluid communication between the first and second chambers, and wherein the neck opening has surface area that is between about 5 percent and about 20 percent of an average surface area of at least one of the first or second chambers.   
     
     
         22 . The vessel of  claim 21  wherein the neck opening is sized to enable a vortex to be formed when liquid is positioned in an upper one of the first or second chambers and the body is moved in a swirling motion. 
     
     
         23 . The vessel of  claim 21  wherein at least one of the caps includes a spout or opening to provide fluid communication to the associated chamber via the spout or opening. 
     
     
         24 . A liquid storage vessel comprising:
 a body including:
 a first chamber having a first chamber opening; and 
 a second chamber having a second chamber opening; 
   a first cap configured to selectively cover the first chamber opening;   a second cap configured to selectively cover the second chamber opening; and   a neck member positioned between the first and second chambers and providing fluid isolation between the first and second chambers.   
     
     
         25 . The vessel of  claim 24  wherein the first and second chambers are axially spaced along the body, and wherein the neck member is a membrane and lacks any opening formed or formable therethrough. 
     
     
         26 . The vessel of  claim 24  wherein at least one of the caps includes a spout or opening to provide fluid communication to the associated chamber via the spout or opening. 
     
     
         27 . A liquid storage vessel comprising:
 a body including:
 a first chamber having a first chamber opening; and 
 a second chamber having a second chamber opening; 
   a first cap configured to selectively cover the first chamber opening;   a second cap configured to selectively cover the second chamber opening;   a neck member positioned between the first and second chambers and providing at least partial fluid isolation between the first and second chambers; and   a plug coupled or coupleable to the neck member and configured to provide selective fluid communication between the first and second chambers.   
     
     
         28 . The vessel of  claim 27  wherein the neck member includes a neck opening therein, and wherein the plug is manually insertable into and manually removable from the neck opening to provide the selective fluid communication. 
     
     
         29 . The vessel of  claim 27  further comprising a plug actuator positioned outside the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the plug actuator is manually actuable and operatively coupled to the plug to control the position of the plug. 
     
     
         30 . The vessel of  claim 27  wherein the neck opening is sized to enable a vortex to be formed when liquid is positioned in an upper one of the first or second chambers and the body is moved in a swirling motion. 
     
     
         31 . A liquid storage vessel comprising:
 a body including:
 a first chamber; and 
 a second chamber; 
   a liquid impervious member positioned between the first and second chambers and having an opening; and   a plug configured to selectively close or cover, or open, the opening to provide selective fluid communication between the first and second chambers.   
     
     
         32 . The vessel of  claim 31  wherein the plug includes an axially-extending handle coupled thereto. 
     
     
         33 . The vessel of  claim 31  wherein the plug is manually movable between an open and a closed position by an actuator positioned on an outer surface of the body. 
     
     
         34 . The vessel of  claim 31  wherein the plug is movable between an open position and a closed position in response to an axial force applied thereto. 
     
     
         35 . The vessel of  claim 31  wherein the opening is sized to enable a vortex to be formed when liquid is positioned in an upper one of the first or second chambers and the body is moved in a swirling motion.