IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0640085
(2009-12-17)
|
등록번호 |
US-8424713
(2013-04-23)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
41 인용 특허 :
71 |
초록
▼
A device (20) includes a holder (24) for encircling and holding two containers (76, 96). A tubular structure (22), directed through the holder (24), includes a first tubular portion (52) extending from an outer surface (44) of the holder (24) and a second tubular portion (54) extending from another
A device (20) includes a holder (24) for encircling and holding two containers (76, 96). A tubular structure (22), directed through the holder (24), includes a first tubular portion (52) extending from an outer surface (44) of the holder (24) and a second tubular portion (54) extending from another outer surface (46) of the holder (24). A method of utilization entails placing one container (76) in a sleeve (26) of the device (20) and placing the other container (96) in another sleeve (28) of the device (20). Application of a force (108) causes the tubular portion (52) to pierce the container (76) inside the sleeve (26), and also causes the tubular portion (54) to pierce the container (96) inside the sleeve (28), thereby coupling the containers (76, 96) and enabling transfer of fluid (110, 114) from one container (76) to the other container (96) via the tubular structure (22).
대표청구항
▼
1. A device for retaining a first container and a second container comprising: a holder adapted to at least partially encircle and hold said first and second containers, said holder including a first outer surface configured to face said first container and a second outer surface configured to face
1. A device for retaining a first container and a second container comprising: a holder adapted to at least partially encircle and hold said first and second containers, said holder including a first outer surface configured to face said first container and a second outer surface configured to face said second container, said holder including: a first sleeve member having a first open end and a first base end;a second sleeve member having a second open end and a second base end, each of said first and second sleeve members being formed of a flexible, insulating plastic foam; anda transverse support element interposed between said first and second sleeve members to join said first base end with said second base end, said transverse support element including said first outer surface and said second outer surface; anda tubular structure directed through said holder, said tubular structure including a first tubular portion extending from said first outer surface of said holder and a second tubular portion extending from said second outer surface of said holder, said first and second tubular portions being in fluid communication to enable transfer of a fluid through said tubular structure. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said first tubular portion includes a first tip adapted to penetrate said first container; andsaid second tubular portion includes a second tip adapted to penetrate said second container to enable transfer of said fluid from one of said first and second containers to another of said first and second containers. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubular structure further comprises a base structure interposed between said first and second tubular portions, said base structure including first and second base surfaces and a passage directed through said base structure from said first base surface to said second base surface, said first tubular portion being coupled to said first base surface, said second tubular portion being coupled to said second base surface, and said passage being in fluid communication with each of said first and second tubular portions to enable transfer of said fluid through said tubular structure. 4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said base structure exhibits a first diameter that is greater than respective diameters of said first and second tubular portions. 5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said base structure exhibits a first width that is greater than a second width of said holder such that at least one of said first and second base surfaces protrudes from at least one of said first and second outer surfaces. 6. A device for retaining a first container and a second container comprising: a holder adapted to at least partially encircle and hold said first and second containers, said holder including a first outer surface configured to face said first container and a second outer surface configured to face said second container, said holder including: a first sleeve member having a first open end and a first base end, wherein said first sleeve member includes a first peripheral wall extending between said first open end and said first base end, said first peripheral wall having a first height sufficient to encircle approximately an entire height of said first container;a second sleeve member having a second open end and a second base end, wherein said second sleeve member includes a second peripheral wall extending between said second open end and said second base end, said second peripheral wall having a second height sufficient to encircle approximately an entire height of said second container; anda transverse support element interposed between said first and second sleeve members to join said first base end with said second base end, said transverse support element including said first outer surface and said second outer surface; anda tubular structure directed through said holder, said tubular structure including a first tubular portion extending from said first outer surface of said holder and a second tubular portion extending from said second outer surface of said holder, said first and second tubular portions being in fluid communication to enable transfer of a fluid through said tubular structure. 7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second sleeve members exhibits a generally circular cross section. 8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second sleeve members exhibits a generally rectangular cross section. 9. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a handle coupled to at least one of said first and second sleeve members. 10. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first container is a first beverage container, said second container is a second beverage container, and said fluid is a beverage that is transferable through said tubular structure from said first beverage container to said second beverage container. 11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of said first and second beverage containers has an opening and a removable element closing said opening, and said device is adapted to expose said opening and said removable element of at least one of said first and second beverage containers for enabling access to said beverage in each of said first and second beverage containers. 12. A method for utilizing a dual container retaining device to access a beverage contained in first and second beverage containers, said second beverage container having an opening and a removable element closing said opening, said device including a holder and a tubular structure directed through said holder, said holder including a first sleeve member having a first open end and a second sleeve member having a second open end, said tubular structure including a first tubular portion extending from a first outer surface of said holder and a second tubular portion extending from a second outer surface of said holder, said first and second tubular portions being in fluid communication to enable transfer of a fluid through said tubular structure, said method comprising: placing said first beverage container on a surface;positioning said device over said first beverage container with said first tubular portion in abutment with a first end of said first beverage container, said positioning operation including placing said first beverage container into said first sleeve member via said first open end;arranging said second beverage container over said device with a second end of said second beverage container in abutment with said second tubular portion, said arranging operation including placing said second beverage container into said second sleeve member via said second open end with said opening and said removable element exposed;applying force to said first and second beverage containers sufficient to cause penetration of a first tip of said first tubular portion into said first end of said first beverage container and sufficient to cause penetration of a second tip of said second tubular portion into said second end of said second beverage container to enable transfer of said beverage from said first container to said second container, wherein said applying operation further causes said first and second beverage containers to be held in said holder; andremoving said removable element to enable access to said beverage in each of said first and second beverage containers via said opening. 13. A method as claimed in claim 12 further wherein said applying operation comprises: applying said force to said first beverage container following said positioning operation and prior to said arranging operation to initially cause penetration of said first tip of said first tubular portion into said first end of said first beverage container; andapplying said force to said second beverage container following said arranging operation to cause penetration of said second tip of said second tubular portion into said second end of said second beverage container.
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