Patent Application
20160081436
Many beverages are sold in bottles sealed with bottle crowns. These bottle crowns may vary in texture and/or appearance according to the brand of beverage they were used to seal. Some people like to use bottle crowns as decorations.
A bottle crown engagement system includes a cap structure sized and shaped to releasably receive a bottle crown. The bottle crown engagement system also includes a magnetically attractable clamping member configured to magnetically interact with the cap structure to releasably affix the cap structure to an attachment surface between the cap structure and the magnetically attractable clamping member.
Bottle crowns, which may be used to seal beverage containers, can provide an inexpensive and easy way to embellish the appearance of various items, such as clothing and accessories.
Bottle crown engagement system 100 includes a cap structure 102 and a magnetically attractable clamping member 104. Cap structure 102 includes crown holder 106 and a magnet 108. The crown holder 106 in turn comprises an annular shoulder 110, a bottom support 112, and a magnet attachment recess 114. In the illustrated embodiment, annular shoulder 110 extends from bottom support 112, taking the form of an upraised ring, and defining the magnet attachment recess 114. In other words, magnet attachment recess 114 is defined as the space within the ring formed by annular shoulder 110. Bottom support 112 is below the annular shoulder 110 and defines the floor of magnet attachment recess 114. Bottom support 112 may extend completely across magnet attachment recess 114, or alternatively may form a rim around the perimeter of magnet attachment recess 114 while defining a window through the bottom of crown holder 106.
In the illustrated embodiment, annular shoulder 110 is sized and shaped to releasably receive a bottle crown 116. For example, bottle crown 116 may have previously been used to seal a beer bottle. Accordingly, the size and shape of the annular shoulder 110 may be substantially similar to the size and shape of a corresponding portion of a beer bottle. An attachment force may be applied to the bottle crown, thereby removably attaching it to annular shoulder 110. Crimped and/or uncrimped bottle crowns may be usable with engagement system 100.
It may in some cases be desirable to releasably affix the cap structure 102 to an attachment surface. This may be done in order to decorate, personalize, and/or otherwise embellish the attachment surface with bottle crown 116 removably attached to annular shoulder 110. For example, a cap structure 102, including bottle crown 116, may be releasably affixed to an article of clothing, such that the bottle crown is visible on the exterior of the article of clothing. Bottle crown engagement system 100 may be used to decorate and/or otherwise embellish virtually any suitable attachment surfaces including, for example, clothing, purses, backpacks, and windows, among others. Further, virtually any bottle crown of appropriate size and shape may be used. A user may select a bottle crown according to its aesthetic appearance, sentimental value, tactile feel, etc.
To this end, bottle crown engagement system 100 may be releasably affixed to an attachment surface in a variety of ways. In the illustrated embodiment, magnetic attraction is used to releasably affix the cap structure 102 to an attachment surface. As shown, magnet 108 may be inserted into magnet attachment recess 114. Magnet attachment recess 114 may be sized to hold the magnet. For example, magnet 108 may be a specific shape (e.g., a cylinder, a cube, a sphere, etc.) with specific dimensions, and magnet attachment recess 114 may take on a complementary shape with substantially similar dimensions. In other words, magnet attachment recess 114 may be substantially the same size and shape as magnet 108, such that when magnet 108 is inserted into magnet attachment recess 114, the bottom of magnet 108 is contacting/immediately adjacent to bottom support 112, and the sides of magnet 108 are contacting/immediately adjacent to the walls of magnet attachment recess 114.
Magnet 108 may be attached to crown holder 106 in any suitable way. In some embodiments, the magnet is removably insertable into the magnet attachment recess. For example, magnetic force between the magnet and the clamping member 104 may effectively attach the magnet to the crown holder 106. In alternative examples, the sides of magnet 108 may be threaded, and the sides of magnet attachment recess 114 may be correspondingly threaded, allowing the magnet to be threadingly fastened to the crown holder. Alternatively, magnet 108 may include one or more notches, grooves, hooks, latches, or other structures usable for removably attaching the magnet to the crown holder. Magnet 108 may include one or more grooves, recesses, notches, and/or other structures configured to receive one or more tools such as, for example, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc., for removably inserting the magnet into the magnet attachment recess. In other embodiments, magnet 108 may be non-removably attached to the crown holder. For example, magnet 108 may be glued to the crown holder in the magnet attachment recess, or embedded within crown holder 106. Other suitable mechanisms, fasteners, and/or structures may additionally be used to non-removably attach the magnet to the crown holder. Alternately, techniques for attaching the magnet to the crown holder may be utilized which do not include any fastening aids. Such techniques may include, for example, press fitting.
Bottle crown engagement system 100 additionally includes a magnetically attractable clamping member 104. In some embodiments, magnetically attractable clamping member 104 may be configured to magnetically interact with the magnet 108 to releasably affix the cap structure to an attachment surface. In particular, the magnetically attractable clamping member may include one or more ferromagnetic metals, which may be magnetically attracted to magnet 108. Additionally or alternatively, magnetically attractable clamping member 104 may include a magnet. This magnet may be aligned relative to magnet 108 such that an attractive force is generated. In some embodiments, cap structure 102 and magnetically attractable clamping member 104 may be positioned on opposite sides of an attachment surface, such that the attachment surface is interposed between cap structure 102 and magnetically attractable clamping member 104. As a result, once the cap structure and the clamping member are brought together with an appropriate proximity, magnetic attraction between the cap structure and the magnetically attractable clamping member may exert a compressive force on the attachment surface. This compressive force may serve to hold cap structure 102 in place at a position on the attachment surface, allowing for display of bottle crown 116 removably attached to annular shoulder 110. Manipulation of magnet 108, magnetically attractable clamping member 104, crown holder 106, and/or other components of bottle crown engagement system 100 may allow the cap structure 102 to be removed from the attachment surface and additionally allow the position of cap structure 102 relative to the attachment surface to be adjusted.
In contrast to engagement system 100, crown holder 202 does not include a magnet akin to magnet 108. Rather, crown holder 202 is made from one or more ferromagnetic materials. Further, magnetically attractable clamping member 208 may include a magnet, which magnetically attracts the ferromagnetic materials of crown holder 202. Magnetic attraction between the crown holder and the magnetically attractable clamping member exerts a compressive force on the attachment surface. This compressive force may serve to hold crown holder 202 in place at a position on the attachment surface, allowing for display of a bottle crown removably attached to annular shoulder 204. Manipulation of the magnetically attractable clamping member 208, crown holder 202, and/or other components of bottle crown engagement system 200 may allow the crown holder 202 to be removed from the attachment surface and additionally allow the position of crown holder 202 relative to the attachment surface to be adjusted.
The components of engagement systems 100 and 200 may be comprised of various suitable materials. For example, crown holder 106 may be comprised of one or more plastics, ceramics, non-ferromagnetic metals (e.g., aluminum, copper, zinc, etc.), alloys thereof, etc. Crown holder 202, magnet 108, and magnetically attractable clamping mechanisms 104 and 208 may be made from a variety of suitable ferromagnetic metals and/or alloys thereof, including, for example, iron, nickel, cobalt, steel, etc.
Aspects of bottle crown engagement systems 100 and 200 may be modified in virtually any way, while remaining suitable for decorating an attachment surface with a bottle crown. For example, modifications to the geometries and dimensions (e.g., diameters, lengths, shapes, etc.) of the components of engagement systems 100 and 200 may be made. Engagement systems 100 and 200 may be modified to utilize one or more bolts, screws, and/or other suitable fasteners, so as to provide a more secure attachment to an attachment surface. Moreover, engagement systems 100 and 200 may be modified to accommodate objects other than bottle crowns, such as other types of beverage container caps, pins, buttons, etc. Such objects may include non-circular geometries, in some examples.
It will be understood that the configurations and/or approaches described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments or examples are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible.
The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various processes, systems and configurations, and other features, functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/052,344, filed Sep. 18, 2014, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62052344 | Sep 2014 | US |
