FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a lidded container for storing a potable liquid, such as coffee or tea, which container includes a buoyant lid that floats upon a surface of the liquid.

BACKGROUND

It is a known fact that the aroma and flavor of stored beverages, in particular hot beverages such as coffee and tea, may deteriorate upon exposure to the surrounding air due to, inter alia, the loss of aromatic volatiles from the beverage to the surrounding air and due to oxidation. To prevent such deterioration, several prior art references have suggested the use of containers that are provided with a movable, buoyant lid to closely track the surface level of a beverage stored therein, and to thus avoid direct exposure of the surface of the beverage to the atmosphere.

A problem common to many of these containers is that they may not allow the stored beverage to be poured out conveniently as the lid that resides loosely in the container may either tumble out as well, or obstruct the outflow opening of the container. This problem has been addressed by US 4,938,377 (Jarvis). Jarvis discloses a buoyant lid in combination with a lid retainer, which lid retainer is provided with pouring apertures, and which snaps on to the vessel for retention of the lid during pouring.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A drawback of the container suggested by Jarvis is that it cannot be used with, i.e. is incompatible with, automatic drip coffee makers, in which hot water drips through finely ground coffee in a paper filter, and then falls into a carafe or container. This is because the buoyant lid is purposefully closed, so as to shield the upper surface of the coffee on which the lid floats from interaction with the atmosphere. Accordingly, coffee can only be added to the container when the lid is removed. As a consequence, freshly brewed coffee is fully exposed to the air during the brewing process. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide for a lidded container for storing potable liquids that incorporates an alternative solution to the above-identified problem that a buoyant lid may be unintentionally poured from the container and/or obstruct the outflow of liquid from the container.

It is another object of the present disclosure to provide for a lidded container for storing potable liquids that is suitable for use with drip coffee makers.

To this end, a first aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a lidded container for storing potable liquids. The container may comprise a vessel including a bottom wall, a side wall that is connected to the bottom wall to define a liquid storage space, and a central axis that - within the liquid storage space - extends between a first level proximal to the bottom wall and a second level distal to the bottom wall. The container may further comprise a guide rail that extends between the first level and the second level. The container may also comprise a buoyant follower lid that is fittingly received inside the liquid storage space and movably engaged with the guide rail, such that it is slidably guidable along the guide rail between the first level and the second level.

To prevent the buoyant follower lid from being accidentally discharged from the liquid storage space, the lidded container may be provided with a guide rail. The follower lid may movably engage the guide rail in such a way that it is able to follow the variable surface level of the liquid within the container in an axial motion, while it is prevented from being discharged in a radial motion.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide rail may define an internal fluid channel. The fluid channel may extend between a first or inlet opening that is disposed proximal to the bottom wall and that is in fluid communication with the liquid storage space, and a second or outlet opening that is disposed distal to the bottom wall and that is configured to receive liquid to be supplied to the liquid storage space.

The interal fluid channel of the guide rail allows liquid to be supplied into the liquid storage space without the need for dedicated passages through or holes in the follower lid, which passages might disadvantageously affect the shielding or cover function of the follower lid. More specifically, liquid may be supplied to the inlet opening which may be disposed above the follower lid, and, under the action of gravity, flow towards the outlet opening which may be disposed below the follower lid. In a drip coffee maker, freshly brewed coffee may thus be guided from a filter above the follower lid to location within the liquid storage space underneath the follower lid. Accordingly, contact between the freshly brewed coffee and the atmospheric air may be minimized, which may help to prevent oxidation and to preserve the coffee's aroma and flavor.

In case follower lid does not perfectly cover the upper surface and top layer of the liquid inside the liquid storage reservoir, the top layer may effectively be in contact with the atmosphere at some locations of the upper surface, in particular locations near the edges of the follower lid. Since the diffusion of oxygen across an air/liquid interface may be a relatively slow process, only the first top few millimeters of the liquid may be affected by the imperfect coverage and be oxidized. That is, as long as the liquid is not in motion. It may be expected, however, that a hot liquid such as coffee will dissipate heat and consequently cool at its upper surface. This may give rise to convective currents in the entire liquid, which may cause the undesirable mixing of the relatively oxygen-rich top layer of the liquid with the relatively oxygen-poor bulk of the liquid. Such convective circulation of the liquid may therefore preferably be prevented to ensure that only the top layer of the liquid may be affected by oxidation, and no oxidation of the bulk of the liquid can occur. Convective circulation may be prevented in several ways.

In one embodiment, the follower lid and/or the bottom wall and/or the side wall of the vessel may include at least one heating element. The at least one heating element may be configured to uniformly heat the liquid content of the liquid storage space, so as to prevent the creation of the thermal gradients that may drive the aforementioned currents.

In another embodiment, at least one of a lower surface of the follower lid and/or an inner or upper surface of the bottom wall may be provided with at least one circumferentially closed, e.g. cylindrical, ridge that protrudes into the liquid storage space. The at least one circumferentially closed ridge may act as a flow barrier that prevents or counteracts the formation of convective currents along the lower surface of the follower lid and the inner surface of the bottom wall, respectively.

These and other features and advantages of the disclosure will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the disclosure, taken together with the accompanying drawings, which are meant to illustrate and not to limit the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an automatic drip coffee maker, including a lidded container with a buoyant follower lid according to the present disclosure; Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of the lidded container of the drip coffee maker shown in Fig. 1 in cross-sectional side view, once in a level orientation (Fig. 2A) and once in a tilted orientation (Fig. 2B);

Figs. 3A-B schematically illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the lidded container of the drip coffee maker shown in Fig. 2 in cross-sectional side view, once in a level orientation (Fig. 3A), and once in a tilted orientation (Fig. 3B); and

Fig. 3C schematically illustrates in a transverse cross-sectional view how the buoyant follower lid of the second exemplary embodiment of the lidded container engages the guide rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an automatic, electric drip coffee maker 100, including a base 110 and a removable lidded container 200. The base 110 may in itself be of a conventional design, and include a water reservoir 112 and a water level indicator 114 that enables one to accurately assess the water level inside the water reservoir 112 from outside of the coffee maker 100. The water reservoir 112 may be filled by removing (part of) the top cover 120 and pouring water into it. Once the coffee maker 100 is switched on by means of the on/off- switch 116, a heating element inside the water reservoir may heat the water to its boiling point. Steam and hot water may then rise through an internal tube, and subsequently be distributed over ground coffee 134 by a shower head- like nozzle. The ground coffee 134 may be disposed in a paper filter 132 held by a filter basket 130 that is detachably connected to the top cover 120. As the water flows through the ground coffee 134, it is infused with coffee, until, eventually, it falls into the container 200. The container may be placed on a warming plate 118 of the base 110 in order to keep the brewed coffee at a desired

temperature.

The construction and use of the lidded container 200 of the coffee maker 100 will be described below with reference to Figs. 2 and 3, which illustrate two different embodiments of the container.

The lidded container 200 may comprise a vessel 210. The vessel 210 may include a bottom wall 214, and a side wall 216 that is connected to the bottom wall 214 and that extends upwardly there from to define a liquid storage space 212. The liquid storage space 212, which may have any suitable shape (e.g. cylindrical, prismatic, etc.), may be centered on a typically substantially vertical central axis L that, within the liquid storage space 212, extends between a first, lower level LI proximal to the bottom wall 214, and a second, upper level L2 distal to the bottom wall 214. The liquid storage space 212 may preferably be of substantially uniform transverse cross-section along the central axis L, at least between the first and second levels LI, L2, so as to enable a buoyant follower lid 250 (to be described below) to rise and fall unobstructedly with the level of the liquid 300 inside the liquid storage space 212, and without a having a variable gap between the follower lid's circumferential edge 254 and the inner surface of the side wall 216. The walls 214, 216 may be made of heat-proof glass, but other materials are contemplated as well.

The side wall 216 may define a spout 218 via which liquid is pourable from the liquid storage space 212 in a tilted condition of the vessel 210 (see Figs. 2B, 3B). In an embodiment of the lidded container 200 that is not to be tilted for extracting coffee from the liquid storage space 212, such as an urn-type dispensing appliance, the bottom 214 or a lower portion of the wall 216 of the vessel 210 may alternatively be provided with a tap or spigot (not shown).

The vessel 210 may (i.e. may or may not) further be provided with a cover 220, which may cooperate with an upper edge of the side wall 216 to generally close off the liquid storage space 212. In embodiments of the vessel 210 including a side wall 216 with a spout 218, the cover 220 may include a recess at a position of the spout, so as to leave the latter free. It may be noted, in particular in relation to the follower lid 250 to be described below, that the cover 220 may be a stationary or generally fixed cover whose position is independent of a surface level of a liquid contained in the liquid storage space 212.

In order to enable a user to pick up and manage the lidded container 200, the vessel 210 may also be provided with a handle 222. As in the depicted embodiment, the handle 222 may be integrally formed with the cover 220, for instance as a single injection- molded plastic piece.

The lidded container 200 may also include a buoyant/floating follower lid 250. As the follower lid 250 may be configured to float on a potable, and thus normally aqueous liquid, such as (hot) coffee or tea, stored in the liquid storage space 212, it may have an average density less than that of hot water, i.e. an average density less than approximately 960 kg/m ³ . In some embodiments, however, the follower lid 250 may have an average density that is greater than that of hot water, for instance when the follower lid 250 is configured to float on top of the liquid 300 by virtue of surface tension. The term 'buoyant follower lid' as used in this text may thus be construed to incorporate follower lids that float by virtue of surface tension. The follower lid 250 may preferably be substantially gastight, at least where no macroscopic openings/passages are provided, so as to prevent gas-exchanging contact with the surrounding atmosphere, and thermally insulative in order to prevent (evaporation) heat loss. Accordingly, the follower lid 250 may, for example, be at least partly made of a polystyrene foam body that is coated with a protective layer of, for instance, polypropylene.

The follower lid 250 may typically be substantially disc-shaped, and include a lower surface 252a, an upper surface 252b and an outer circumferential edge 254 that interconnects the lower and upper surfaces 252a, 252b. The lower and upper surfaces 252a, 252b may extend on opposite sides of a central plane P of the follower lid 250. As in the embodiments of Figs. 2 and 3, the lower and upper surfaces 252a, 252b may be substantially flat; in other embodiments, however, the lower and upper surfaces may be curved, in particular outwardly convexly curved. The follower lid 250 may be dimensioned to be fittingly and (up-and-down) translatably receivable inside the liquid storage space 212, at positions between the first and second levels LI, L2. In a fittingly received and centered condition of the follower lid 250 inside the liquid storage space 212, an (average)

circumferential gap between the outer circumferential edge 254 of the follower lid 250 and an inner surface of the side wall 216 of the vessel 210 may be in the range of 0.5-6 mm

(measured in a radial direction). An axial thickness or height of the follower lid 250, and in particular its circumferential edge 254, may preferably be in the range of 10±3 mm. It is understood that a smaller circumferential gap and a larger follower lid thickness may both generally contribute to a reduction of oxidation of the liduid 300 in the liquid storage space 212 by respectively narrowing and lengthening the cappillary channel between the circumferential edge 254 of the follower lid 250 and the inner surface of the side wall 216. Follower lid thicknesses greater than 10 mm, however, have been found not to inhibit oxidation any further. In one embodiment, the circumferential edge 254 of the follower lid 150 may be provided with a flexible gastight seal, e.g. a circumferential ring 255 of a soft, preferably thermally insulative material with small coefficients of static and dynamic friction relative to the inner surface of the side wall 216, which seal may close the circumferential gap. In a preferred embodiment a transverse cross-sectional area of the follower lid 250 may amount to at least 80%, and more preferably at least 90%, of a transverse cross-sectional area of the liquid storage space 212, such that the follower lid 250 may cover corresponding quantities of a surface area of a liquid contained inside the liquid storage space 212

(transverse cross-sections are taken perpendicular to the central axis L).

In one embodiment, such as the embodiment of Fig. 3, the outer circumferential edge 254 of the follower lid 250 may be outwardly convex, so as to facilitate tilting of the (central plane P) of the follower lid 250 relative to the central axis L when pouring liquid; see Fig. 3B. In embodiments wherein no such tilting of the follower lid 250 relative to the central axis L is desired, such as the embodiment of Fig. 2, the outer circumferential edge 254 may be straight and run parallel to the inner surface of the side wall 216. In particular in these latter embodiments, the circumferential edge 254 of the follower lid 250 may define a notch or recess that forms an outflow opening or outflow passage 258 that facilitates the outflow of liquid 300 from the liquid storage space 212 in a tilted condition of the container 200; see Fig. 2B. The follower lid 250 may then additionally include a oneway valve 256, e.g. a shutter pivotably connected to the upper surface 252b of the follower lid 250, to close the outflow opening and shield the liquid 300 in the liquid storage reservoir 212 just below the outflow opening from the atmosphere when the container 200 is in a level orientation.

To prevent an accidental, complete or partial discharge of the follower lid 250 from the lidded container 200 upon pouring liquid 300 therefrom, the lidded container may further include a guide rail 230.

The guide rail 230 may be configured for engagement with the follower lid 250, and vice versa. To this end, the guide rail 230 may typically include a first engagement provision comprising a profile (i.e. a feature having a cross-section that is projected or swept along a certain central axis of the feature) whose transverse cross-section defines one of a male key and a female key reception, which profile extends continuously along a length of the guide rail 230 between the first level LI and the second level L2, while the follower lid 250 may include a second engagement provision comprising a profile whose transverse cross-section defines the other of the male key and the female key reception. The first engagement provision may be configured for cooperation with the second engagement provision, such that the male key is receivable by the female key reception in a manner that enables the follower lid 250 to be slidably guided along the guide rail 230, at least between the first level LI and the second level L2.

The first and second engagement provision may take different forms in different embodiments.

In one embodiment, for instance, the guide rail 230 may include an elongate, preferably substantially straight, typically rod- or tube-like member of substantially uniform transverse cross-section, which member may extend in parallel with the central axis L of the liquid storage space 212. In such an embodiment, the guide rail 230 may extend within the liquid storage space 212, preferably clear off the side wall 216 of the vessel 210, and typically protrude upwardly from the bottom wall 214 and/or downwardly from the stationary cover 220, with either of which it may be integrally formed. As regards the guide rail's position within the liquid storage space 212, it may preferably be disposed

(i) on the central axis L (see the embodiment of Fig. 2), or

(ii) adjacent the side wall 216 of the vessel 210, and, in case the side wall defines a spout 218, preferably such that the spout 218 and the guide rail 230 are disposed a. in a same radial direction relative to the central axis L, or

b. in opposite radial directions R _sp , R _gr relative to the central axis L (see the embodiment of Fig. 3).

Embodiments under (ii) may generally allow the floating lid 250 and/or the guide rail 230 to be more easily removed than embodiments under (i) when cleaning of the lidded container 200 is desired.

To engage the guide rail 230, the follower lid 250 may include a second engagement provision 260 in the form of, for instance, an opening/passage (see the embodiment of Fig. 2) or a recess that is provided in the circumferential edge 254 of the follower lid and that subtends an angle > 180 degrees (see the embodiment of Fig. 3, in particular Fig. 3C). The second engagement provision 260 may be shaped to engage the circumference of the guide rail 230 in such a way that the follower lid 250 is essentially confined to axial movement along the guide rail 230, while radial movement away from the guide rail is impossible.

In another embodiment, the guide rail 230 may be integrated into, i.e.

integrally formed with, the side wall 216 of the vessel 210. In such an embodiment, the guide rail 230 may be formed as an axially extending ridge that protrudes radially inwardly from the side wall 216, or, alternatively, as an axially extending slot in the (inner surface of) side wall 216. In the former case, the ridge may define a male key, which may be received by a female key reception recess in the circumferential edge 254 of the follower lid 250 in much the same manner as depicted in Fig. 3C. In the latter case, the slot may define a female key reception, which may receive a male key which may be attached to the circumferential edge 254 of the follower lid 250. It will be clear that the latter case is essentially the reverse of the former.

In embodiments wherein the guide rail 230 is centered on the central axis L of the vessel 210 or otherwise disposed completely clear off the side wall 216, at least part of the follower lid 250 may typically be movably engaged with the guide rail 230 such that it (i.e the at least one part) is confined to a fixed orientation as it is slidably guided along the guide rail between the first level LI and the second level L2. In this fixed orientation the central axis L of the vessel 210 may extend substantially perpendicular to the central plane P of the at least one part of the follower lid 250. A drawback of such an embodiment is that the mutual slanting/tilting of the follower lid 250 and the guide rail 230 may inhibit the smooth sliding of the follower lid 250 along the guide rail 230. In embodiments wherein the guide rail 230 is disposed adjacent to and/or at least partially incorporated by the side wall 216 of the vessel 210, this problem may be overcome by a follower lid 250 that is movably engaged with the guide rail 230 such that its central plane P is (freely) tiltable relative to the central axis L of the vessel 210.

In another, hybrid embodiment the follower lid 250 may be articulated. That is, the follower lid 250 may include a plurality of sections, segments or parts that are movably, e.g. pivotably, connected to each other, for instance by means of hinges, such that these sections are mutually tiltable. A first one of the sections may movably engage the guide rail 230 such that it is confined to a fixed orientation as it is slidably guided along the guide rail 230 between the first level LI and the second level L2; the other sections may be directly on indirectly connected to the first section, and be tiltable relative thereto. When the guide rail 230 extends substantially vertically and the follower lid 250 rests on a horizontal top surface of the liquid 300, the plurality of sections may typically be co-planar. However, when the lidded container 200 is tilted to pour out the liquid 300, the sections of the lid may pivot relative to each other. The number of sections of an articulated follower lid 250 may preferably be relatively small, e.g. two, three or four; accordingly, each of the sections may preferably provide for at least 25% of the total lower surface area 252a of the follower lid 250. - In an exemplary embodiment, the follower lid 250 may, for instance, include two approximate halves: a first section / first half may be non-tiltably yet up-and-down slidably engaged with the guide rail 230, while a second section / second half may be tiltably connected to the first section. This way, the freely tiltable section may allow for convenient pouring of liquid 300, and prevent liquid 300 from ending up on and staining the top surface 252b of the follower lid 250, something which is bound to happen when pouring liquid from the lidded container 200 illustrated in Fig. 2.

As mentioned, the buoyant follower lid 250 may serve to shield an upper surface of the liquid 300 inside the liquid storage space 212 from interaction with the atmosphere. More particularly, the follower lid 250 may serve to gastightly shield and thermally insulate the upper surface, so as to prevent or reduce both oxidation and cooling of the upper layer(s) of the liquid 300. To overcome the need to remove the follower lid 250 from the vessel 210 when replenishing the liquid in the liquid storage space 212, and to thus render the lidded container 200 compatible with automatic drip coffee makers, the follower lid 250 may be provided with a passage or through hole. Unfortunately, such a passage, which may preferably resemble a funnel and have downward tapering diameter, would be at variance with the above-mentioned purposes of the follower lid. By way of alternative solution, the guide rail 230 may therefore preferably be provided with an internal fluid channel 232. The fluid channel 232 may extend between a first or outlet opening 232a and a second or inlet opening 232b. The first opening 232a may be disposed proximal to the bottom wall 214 of the vessel 210, e.g. within a distance of 5 cm of the bottom wall 214, and be in fluid communication with the liquid storage space 212. The second opening 232b may be disposed distal to the bottom wall, e.g. above level L2 and/or within stationary cover 220 of the lidded container 200, and be configured to receive fresh liquid 300 that is to be supplied to the liquid storage space 212.

To prevent the back flow of liquid 300 in the fluid channel 232, and thus the possibility of accidental spilling of the liquid via the second opening 232b while it is being poured out of the lidded container 200 via the spout 218, the fluid channel 232 may be provided with a one-way valve 234, as in the embodiment of the Fig. 2. The one-way valve 234 may be disposed in between the first and second openings 232a, 232b, and be configured to exclusively allow for the passage of liquid 300 in a downward direction, i.e. in a direction from the second opening 232b to the first opening 232a. The one-way valve 234 may be of any suitable type and for instance include a ball check valve. In one embodiment, the oneway valve 234 may be spring-biased towards a closed position, and be openable through mechanical contact with a drip coffee maker 100 in combination with which the lidded container 200 may be used, for example such that the one-way valve 234 is open only when the filter basket 130 of the drip coffee maker 100 is in contact with the guide rail 232 and/or valve 234 of the lidded container 200.

In some embodiments the configuration of the lidded container 200 may be such that the normally straight fluid channel 232 is not naturally aligned with and disposed vertically below a liquid outflow opening of a liquid dispensing apparatus, e.g. the outflow opening of a filter basket 130 of a drip coffee maker 100, in combination with which the lidded container 200 may be used. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, for instance, the droplets of liquid 300 shown in Fig. 3A may be assumed to fall from an outflow opening (not shown) that is disposed on the central axis L of the lidded container 200, while the (central axis of the) fluid channel 232 is radially offset from the central axis L. To ensure capture of the falling droplets, such embodiments of the lidded container 200 may include a liquid collector 236. The liquid collector 236, which may structurally and functionally resemble a funnel, may be connected to the upper end of the guide rail 230 and extend the fluid channel 232 defined thereby in an at least partially radial direction. In a typical embodiment, the liquid collector 236 may serve to position the second opening 232b of the fluid channel 232 at least partially on the central axis L of the vessel 210, but it is contemplated that the second opening 232b may be positioned off-axis as well, in particular in case the central axis L is not aligned with the outflow opening of the liquid dispensing apparatus.

In an embodiment wherein the guide rail 230 is disposed adjacent the side wall 216 of the vessel 210, at a position where the side wall 216 defines a spout 218, the fluid channel 232 may include a discharge opening that connects to the spout 218. At the discharge opening, the fluid channel 232 may thus define a three way crossing, such that the fluid channel 232 fluidly connects the liquid storage space 212 to both the (upstream end of the) spout 218 and the (downstream end of) liquid collector 236, and liquid 300 may be fed into and poured from the liquid storage space 212 in an approximate Last-In-First-Out principle.

In case follower lid 250 does not perfectly cover the upper surface and top layer of the liquid 300 inside the liquid storage reservoir 212, the top layer may effectively be in contact with the atmosphere at some locations of the upper surface, in particular locations near the edges of the follower lid, such as circumferential edge 254. Since the diffusion of oxygen across an air/liquid interface may be a relatively slow process, only the first top few millimeters of the liquid may be affected by the imperfect coverage and be oxidized. That is, as long as the liquid 300 is not in motion. It may be expected, however, that a hot liquid such as coffee will dissipate heat and consequently cool at its upper surface. This may give rise to convective currents in the entire liquid 300, which may cause the undesirable mixing of the relatively oxygen-rich top layer of the liquid with the relatively oxygen-poor bulk of the liquid. Such convective circulation of the liquid 300 may preferably be prevented to ensure that only the top layer of the liquid may be affected by oxidation, and no oxidation of the bulk of the liquid can occur. Convective circulation may be prevented in several ways.

In one embodiment, such as the embodiment of Fig. 2, the lidded container 200 may include structural anti-convection members, which may be at least partially disposed inside the liquid storage space 212. In one embodiment, for instance, the follower lid 250 may be provided with at least one cylindrical or otherwise circumferentially closed ridge 264 that protrudes, optionally perpendicularly, from its lower surface 252a. As in the embodiment of Fig. 2, the at least one cylindrical ridge 264 may include a plurality of concentric, radially spaced apart ridges, which may differ in axial height, wherein inner ridges may preferably have a greater axial height than outer ridges. In another embodiment, an inner/upper surface of the bottom wall 214 of the vessel 210 may similarly be provided with at least one cylindrical or otherwise circumferentially closed ridge. It is understood that the cylindrical ridges 264 may serve as flow barriers that prevent or counteract the formation of convective currents along the lower surface of the lid 252a and the inner surface of the bottom wall 214, respectively.

In another embodiment, such as the embodiment of Fig. 3, the lidded container 200 may be provided with at least one heating element 262. The at least one heating element 262 may be used to uniformly heat the liquid 300, and to thus prevent the creation of temperature gradients that could drive the aforementioned convective currents. The heating element 262 may be of any suitable type and for instance be configured to heat the liquid via infrared radiation, ultrasound, microwaves etc. In a preferred embodiment, the heating element 262 may include an electric resistive heater. In an embodiment, the heating element 262 may be incorporated into the follower lid 250; the heating element 262 may then, for example, include an optionally screen-printed heating coil that extends throughout substantially the entire follower lid 250 to substantially uniformly heat the lower surface 252a thereof. Alternatively, or in addition, the lidded container 200 may include heating elements disposed in the bottom wall 214 and/or side wall 216 of the vessel 210. If desired, different, individually controllable heating elements may be incorporated into the side wall 216 at different levels/height positions, so as to allow the at least heating element to accurately oppose the formation of measured, estimated and/or modelled temperature gradients. In case the at least one heating element 262 is electrically powered, it may be connected to a power source in any suitable way. In one embodiment, a power source may be included in the lidded container 200 in the form of a battery. In another embodiment, the heating element 262 may obtain its power directly via an electrical connection with the base 110 of the brewing apparatus 100 in combination with which it may be used, for instance in a manner similar to that in which the jug of an electric kettle is detachably connectable to its base.

It is understood that the application of the above-mentioned at least one circumferentially closed ridge and the at least one heating element are not limited to embodiments of a container for storing potable liquids including a buoyant follower lid that is guided by a guide rail. Indeed, these features may also be used in optionally lidded containers for storing potable liquids without a buoyant follower lid and/or without a guide rail for guiding such a lid. Accordingly, an independent claim to such an embodiment may read as fo Howes. A lidded container for storing optionally potable liquids, comprising: a vessel including a bottom wall, and a side wall that is connected to the bottom wall to define a liquid storage space; optionally, a lid that is fittingly received inside the liquid storage space; and anti-convention means, configured to prevent convection of a liquid inside the liquid storage space. The anti-convention means may, for instance, include the aforementioned structural anti-convection members, which may be at least partially disposed inside the liquid storage space, and/or the aforementioned at least one heating element, which may be configured to uniformly heat the liquid inside the liquid storage space, so as to prevent the creation of temperature gradients that could drive undesirable convective currents.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, in part with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, it is noted that particular features, structures, or characteristics of one or more embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner to form new, not explicitly described embodiments.