Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention pertains generally to marketing beverage vessels or containers. More particularly, the invention pertains to a combination marketing beverage container that also includes a marketing display pull-out and a stowage compartment. Without limitation intended, the pull-out display may be used to communicate information, advertisement, marketing, or instructions for playing games included in the stowage compartment.
Over the years, re-usable drink containers have been utilized as a promotional or marketing tool as well as a useful product. By way of example, coffee mugs, drinking glasses, and beverage koozies have had pictures, logos, slogans, advertisements, or other indica imprinted, etched, embossed or otherwise applied to the outside sidewall of the vessel to convey the indicia to observers. Further, companies have used drink containers as a promotional tool for its employees or prospective customers. Although effective to communicate certain indicia, the size of the beverage container has limited the amount and type of information that may be included on the outside of the container. The present invention expands the possibilities for advertising, marketing, and otherwise conveying indicia to others with the utilization of a drink container.
Embodiments according to aspects of the invention are incorporated into a beverage container. The beverage container of the present invention may include advertising or other indicia that is conveyed to an observer from a visible exterior of the container, while also including a pull-out member that is suitable for conveying additional indicia to an observer when the pull-out member is extended. The pull-out member is extendable but may also retract into a hidden retracted or stowed position. A switch and sound chip may also be hidden within the container, wherein the switch activates the sound chip when the pull-out member is pulled out of the retracted position. Without limitation intended, the beverage container may be in the form of a beverage coozie or a drinking vessel. The beverage container of the present invention includes an outer shell, inner shell, extendable and retractable pull-out member and a cover or lid to retain the pull-out member between the inner and outer shell.
The outer shell has an open top and an at least partially enclosed bottom. Similarly, the inner shell has an open top and an at least partially enclosed bottom. Both shells may include a partially enclosed bottom to allow air to escape when a beverage container, such as a can or bottle, is inserted into the inner shell. Alternatively, the inner shell bottom may be enclosed to contain a beverage therein, or the inner sidewall may be sized to provide a slight gap between the inner sidewall of the inner shell and the beverage container to allow air to escape between the two. The inner shell is sized to fit within the outer shell. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention the inner shell may be manufactured from an insulative material to help keep the beverage container cool. The extendable and retractable pull-out member is positioned between the outer shell and inner shell. The outer shell includes a slot extending through a sidewall of the outer shell such that an insert of the pull-out member slides through the slot between an extended and retracted position. The cap is engaged to enjoin an open end of the outer shell and an open end of the inner shell, wherein the cap retains the pull-out between the inner shell and outer shell. The inner and outer shells may be fixed with respect to each other by known suitable mechanisms including, for example, a press fit, locking tabs, screws, or adhesive.
In certain embodiments the beverage container may further include a removable base or stowage container engaged to a portion of the bottom of the outer shell. The insert of the pull-out member may have one end fixed to a retention member such as an arm, cage or middle shell. When retracted the insert of the pull-out wraps between the inner and outer shell. When a middle shell or cage is utilized, the insert wraps around the cage or middle shell. Further, the pull-out member may include a coil mechanism to retract the insert and a lock button to engage the cage and retain the insert in an extended position. Also, the pull-out member may include a stop attached to a free end of the insert to restrict the pull-out member from completely retracting into the container, wherein the stop also provides a gripping surface for the user to grab or hold the pull-out member when extending from the container. The insert may include an advertising or marketing display and the outer shell may further include indicia displayed on an external side of the outer shell. In this manner the beverage container may be utilized to display, for example, a primary advertisement and secondary advertisement.
Without limitation intended the insert may be made of a known suitable flexible, durable material such as a thin polypropylene, waterproof paper, plastic sheet, or lenticular sheet. The pull-out member may further include an arm oriented between the inner and outer shell such that an end of the insert is attached to the arm, and wherein a base of arm is attached to a coil mechanism fixed to the lower ends of the inner and outer shells. In certain embodiments a plurality of arms is combined to form a cage. Also, the outer shell may be comprised of a separable bottom disc and an annular sidewall. The sidewall surface of the outer shell may be made from a translucent or transparent material or may be made from a lenticular sheet. Alternatively, the outer sidewall may be made from an opaque or colored material. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that when the outer shell is transparent the outer surface of the pull-out is visible to an observer.
In certain embodiments of the present invention the beverage container comprises an outer shell, an inner shell, an extendable and retractable pull-out member, a coil mechanism contained between the inner and outer shell, an arm fixed to the coil mechanism, a cap or annular ring surrounding the space between the open end of the inner and outer shells, and a removeable base. The inner and outer shells have an open top and an at least partially enclosed bottom. At least a portion of the inner shell is contained within an interior of the outer shell and an interior of the inner shell is suitable for containing a beverage vessel therein. The extendable and retractable pull-out member is positioned between the outer shell and inner shell. The outer shell includes a slot extending through a sidewall of the outer shell such that an insert of the pull-out member slides through the slot between an extended and retracted position. The coil mechanism facilitates movement of the pull-out member between a retracted and extended position. The arm is oriented between the inner and outer shells. An end of the insert is attached to the arm and a base of the arm is attached to the coil mechanism. When the insert is extended through the slot the coil mechanism winds and applies tension against the insert to draw the insert back into the container between the inner and outer shells. Also, the pull-out member may include a lock button that cooperates with the coil mechanism to engage the arm and retain the insert in an extended position when in a locked position. The cap further retains the pull-out between the inner shell and outer shell. The removable base is engaged to a portion of the at least partially enclosed bottom of the outer shell. The removable base may be used as a stowage compartment for game pieces or other desired objects.
In certain embodiments according to aspects of the invention the beverage container may further include a plurality of arms that are combined to form a cage. Further, in a retracted position the insert of the pull-out member may wrap around the plurality of arms. Also, the pull-out member may include a lock button that cooperates with the coil mechanism to engage the cage and retain the insert in an extended position when in a locked position. Additionally, the insert may include indicia displayed on at least one side of the insert and indicia may be further applied to an exterior of the outer shell. Alternatively, the outer shell may be transparent to allow a view to observe the indicia on the insert when the insert is in the retracted position. Without limitation intended the insert may be made of a suitable flexible material such as a thin plastic sheet or a lenticular sheet.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a portion of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to further explain the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred; however, it should be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In the various figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals throughout the figures identify substantially similar components.
The following description provides detail of various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each of these embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not intended to be a limitation of the invention. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. By way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, may be used in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention also cover such modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
The apparatus 10 of the present invention is well suited to convey a primary and secondary set of information or indicia to an observer while providing a beverage holder for a user. The beverage holder apparatus 10 may additionally serve as a game or object carrier. A pull-out member 100 is contained between inner and outer walls 22 and 52 of the beverage container. The pull-out member 100 includes an insert 102 that extends through a slot 70 formed in the outer wall 52 of the beverage container 10. When desired, a coil mechanism 200 reels or winds the insert 102 between and inner and outer wall of the container. The insert 102 includes secondary information on either one or both of the front and back of the insert. The primary and secondary information or indicia is particularly well suited for dual advertising or marketing. A first advertisement is seen by an observer when viewing the exterior of the beverage apparatus 10 and the secondary information (on one or both sides of the insert) is seen when the insert is pulled out of the beverage container. When the outer shell sidewall is made from a translucent or transparent material the first advertisement is on the outer side of the insert and the secondary information is on the inside surface of the insert. As an alternative the insert may include informative information, such as rules of play for game pieces contained within a removeable base 90. Reference to the figures will provide an even more detailed description of various embodiments of the invention.
With reference to
With reference to
Referring next to
Referring next to
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a self contained coil mechanism 200 of known suitable construction may replace the coil, lock assembly and retention member without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further the insert 102 may be constructed of various materials dependent upon the desired used of the beverage container 10. By way of example, and without limitation intended, the insert may be constructed of a waterproof plastic sheet. The sheet may include indicia on one or both sides or the sheet may be blank on one or both sides. Of course, a user may use a dry erase marker or permanent marker to apply its own desired indicia on the insert. The indicia on the insert may supplement the indicia on the outer shell or may include indicia independent of the outer shell.
In certain embodiments the sidewall of the outer shell may be separable from the bottom, allowing the user to interchange multiple sidewalls with varying messages or indicia as desired (see
These and various other aspects and features of the invention are described with the intent to be illustrative, and not restrictive. This invention has been described herein with detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. It is to be understood, however, that the invention can be carried out by specifically different constructions, and that various modifications, both as to the construction and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, in the appended claims, the transitional terms comprising and including are used in the open ended sense in that elements in addition to those enumerated may also be present. Other examples will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing this document.
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