Double-layer container   

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a double-layer container, and more particularly to a double-layer container with heat/cold insulation effect. The double-layer container can be easily made of less material to lower manufacturing cost.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various commercially available double-layer cups and infuser pots made of stainless steel or glass material.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional double-layer cup 3 having an inner wall 31 and an outer wall 32. A space 33 is defined between the inner and outer walls 31 and 32. The space 33 is vacuumized and free from any heat transfer medium. Therefore, the heat inside the double-layer cup cannot be conducted outside so that the double-layer cup has heat/cold insulation effect.

FIGS. 1a and 1b show two other conventional double-layer cups. In FIG. 1a, the bottom section 34 of the double-layer cup 3 is not sealed and the outer wall 32 extends to a position flush with the bottom section 34 of the double-layer cup 3. In FIG. 1b, the outer wall 32 extends to a position exceeding the bottom section 34 of the double-layer cup 3. According to such structure of the double-layer cup 3, the heat absorbed by the inner wall 31 will be conducted to the outer wall 32 so that the double-layer cup 3 can hardly achieve heat/cold insulation effect. Moreover, the outer wall 32 restricts the inner wall 31 from outward extending and the space 33 is defined between the inner and outer walls 31, 32. Therefore, with the same outer diameter, the capacity of the double-layer cup 3 is apparently much smaller than the capacity of a common cup.

In the case that the material of the conventional double-layer structure is stainless steel material, the conventional double-layer structure is made by means of metal expansion process. The metal expansion process is applicable to hollow seamless tubular material and cup-shaped material to manufacture double-layer cup or infuser.

In the case that the material of the conventional double-layer cup is glass, the conventional double-layer cup is made by means of blowing process. The bottom of the double-layer cup is then sealed. No matter whether the double-layer structure is made of stainless steel or glass material, the space between the inner and outer walls must be vacuumized to ensure that no heat transfer medium exists in the space so as to achieve heat/cold insulation effect. The vacuumization is a complicated process so that the manufacturing cost is greatly increased and the working time is greatly prolonged. In case the vacuumization is not truly completed, the double-layer cup will fail to achieve heat/cold insulation effect.

Besides, the conventional double-layer cup can fully insulate the heat inside the double-layer cup. Therefore, when a liquid is contained in the double-layer cup, a user can hardly visually know whether the liquid is cold or hot. To know the temperature of the liquid contained in the double-layer cup, the user must touch the liquid with his hand. This is quite dangerous and the user may get burnt when touching the liquid. Also, it is not hygienic to touch the liquid with the hand.

Furthermore, for making the double-layer structure, the capacity of the double-layer cup will be inevitably reduced. With the same outer diameter, the capacity of the double-layer cup will be smaller than the capacity of a common single-layer cup. According to the above, the conventional double-layer cup has the following defects:

1. The material cost is higher. 2. The working time is longer. 3. The capacity is smaller.

SUMMARY

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a double-layer container with heat insulation effect.

To achieve the above and other objects, the double-layer container of the present invention includes a main body having a first section and a second section. The first section has an opening and a bottom portion. An upper section of the main body is outward folded back to form the second section, whereby the second section extends from a top end of the first section. The second section has a free end extending to a position outside the first section above the bottom portion thereof. A first space is defined between the first section and second section. The first section is not totally enclosed in the second section so that the double-layer container can be more easily made of less material to lower manufacturing cost. By means of the double-layer design, when containing a cold/hot liquid, a user\'s hand can hold the double-layer container without touch the first section so that the user\'s hand is protected from being damped or burnt. Moreover, the first space is open to outer side to enhance convection between the first space and outer side and prevent the heat of the first section from being conducted to the second section. The double-layer container can be made of glass material, stainless steel material or ceramic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional double-layer cup;

FIG. 1a is a sectional view of another type of conventional double-layer cup;

FIG. 1b is a sectional view of still another type of conventional double-layer cup;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2b is a sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2c is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8a is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8b is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8c is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8d is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8e is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIGS. 2, 2a, 2b and 2c, in which FIG. 2 is a perspective view and FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c are sectional views of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the double-layer container 1 of the present invention is made of glass material, including a main body 11. The main body 11 has a first section 111, a second section 112 and a first space 113.

The first section 111 has a bottom portion 114 and an opening 115 in communication with the bottom portion 114 to define a receiving space 116 for containing liquid therein.

An upper section of the main body is outward folded back to form the second section 112, whereby the second section 112 extends from a top end of the first section 111. The second section 112 has a free end 1121 extending to a position outside the first section 111 above the bottom portion 114 thereof. Preferably, the free end 1121 of the second section can selectively extend to a position outside the first section 111 one-half the height of the first section 111 from the top end thereof (as shown in FIG. 2a) or two-third the height of the first section 111 from the top end thereof (as shown in FIG. 2b) or three-fourth the height of the first section 111 from the top end thereof (as shown in FIG. 2c).

The first space 113 is defined between the first section 111 and the second section 112. The first section 111 has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the second section 112.

Please refer to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, which are sectional views of other embodiments of the present invention. In these embodiments, at least one handle 2 is disposed on outer side of the second section 112 (as shown in FIG. 3). Alternatively, at least one handle 2 is disposed on the first section 111 (as shown in FIG. 4). Still alternatively, the double-layer container has a handle 2. One end of the handle 2 is connected to the first section 111, while the other end of the handle 2 is connected to the second section 112 (as shown in FIG. 5).

Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first section 111 has a wall face 1111 corresponding to a wall face 1122 of the second section 112. The wall face 1111 of the first section 111 is waved.

Alternatively, the wall face 1111 of the first section 111 is concaved (as shown in FIG. 2a) to enlarge the gap, that is, the first space 113, between the first section 111 and the second section 112. This can increase convection efficiency between the first space 113 and the outer side and enhance hot/cold insulation effect of the second section 112.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first space 113 of the double-layer container 1 is defined between the second section 112 and the first section 111. The first space 113 has an open side 1131 in communication with the outer side of the double-layer container 1. When a cold or hot liquid is contained in the receiving space 116 of the double-layer container 1, the wall face 1111 of the first section 111 spreads the temperature of the liquid. At this time, the first space 113 between the first and second sections 111, 112 will isolate the temperature (cold or hot) of the first section 111 and prevent the temperature of the first section 111 from being conducted to the second section 112. The cold or hot air in the first space 113 is exchanged with the external air through the open side 1131 of the first space 113. The present invention is also characterized in that a user can slightly touch the first section 111 to know how cold or how hot the liquid contained in the main body 11 is. This protects the user from getting burnt and ensures safety. Moreover, in the case that the double-layer container 1 contains a cold liquid and water droplets are condensed on the surface of the first section 111 of the main body 11, a user\'s hand can hold the second section 112 of the main body 11 without being damped. In this case, it is unnecessary for the user to hold the slippery first section 111. Therefore, the possibility of drop of the double-layer container 1 is minimized so as to avoid damage thereof.

According to the above arrangement, the first section 111 is not totally enclosed by the second section 112. Therefore, the first section 111 can have, but not limited to, various configurations (as shown in FIGS. 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d and 8e).

By means of varying the configuration of the first section 111, the capacity of the double-layer container can be increased.

In the conventional double-layer container, the inner layer is totally enclosed in the outer layer so that the inner layer must be contracted due to the limitation of the outer layer. In comparison with the conventional double-layer container, the first section 111 of the present invention is free from the limitation of the second section 112 and can be expanded to enlarge the capacity. Accordingly, with the same outer diameter, the present invention has larger capacity than the conventional double-layer container.

The double-layer container 1 of the present invention can be made of glass material, stainless steel material or ceramic material. Since the first section 111 is not totally enclosed in the second section 112, the double-layer container 1 of the present invention can be more easily made of less material. In use of the double-layer container 1 of the present invention, a user\'s hand is protected from being burnt or damped. Therefore, in comparison with the conventional double-layer container, the double-layer container 1 of the present invention has the following advantages:

1. It is easy to manufacture the double-layer container 1 of the present invention.

2. The manufacturing cost of the double-layer container 1 of the present invention is lowered.

3. The capacity of the double-layer container 1 of the present invention is larger.

The present invention has been described with some preferred embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention. For example, the configuration or pattern of the present invention can be varied to achieve equivalent effect. The scope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.