Secure beverage container with locking feature and related methods

A secure beverage container comprising:

• a body comprising a first end, a second end opposing said first end, a first longitudinal side extending between said first end and said second end, and a second longitudinal side opposing said first longitudinal side and extending between said first end and said second end, said first end being closed, said second end being open, said body defining a cavity therein to receive a beverage fluid;
• a lid to be received by said second end to seal the cavity in said body and comprising a sipping opening, and a first valve device coupled to said sipping opening and permitting only outward flow of the beverage fluid from the cavity to an ambient environment;
• a powered pressure locking device comprising
• an air pressure source fluidly coupled to the cavity and configured to exhaust air from the cavity, and
• a second valve device fluidly coupled to the cavity,
• said powered pressure locking device configured to operate in one of
• a locked state where said lid is secured to the second end of said body via said air pressure source creating negative pressure in the cavity, and
• an unlocked state when said lid can be removed from the second end of said body via said second valve device permitting airflow into the negative pressure in the cavity;
• an access control device coupled to said powered pressure locking device and configured to cause said powered pressure locking device to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state based upon a security token;
• a battery power source being coupled to said powered pressure locking device and said access control device;
• and
• a visual indicator coupled to said access control device and configured to generate a visual indication when said powered pressure locking device is in the unlocked state.

A method for making a secure beverage container, the method comprising:

• forming a body comprising a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a first longitudinal side extending between the first end and the second end, and a second longitudinal side opposing the first longitudinal side and extending between the first end and the second end, the first end being closed, the second end being open, the body defining a cavity therein to receive a beverage fluid;
• forming a lid to be received by the second end to seal the cavity in the body and comprising a sipping opening, and a first valve device coupled to the sipping opening and permitting only outward flow of the beverage fluid from the cavity to an ambient environment;
• coupling a powered pressure locking device comprising
• an air pressure source fluidly coupled to the cavity and configured to exhaust air from the cavity, and
• a second valve device fluidly coupled to the cavity,
• the powered pressure locking device configured to operate in one of
• a locked state where the lid is secured to the second end of the body via the air pressure source creating negative pressure in the cavity, and
• an unlocked state when the lid can be removed from the second end of the body via the second valve device permitting airflow into the negative pressure in the cavity;
• and
• coupling an access control device to the powered pressure locking device and configured to cause the powered pressure locking device to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state based upon a security token.