Patent Application
20200122888
This application claims benefit under 35 USC 119 to Canada National Application No. 3,021,375 filed on Oct. 18, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of receptacles of existing art and more specifically relates to a cup guppy and bottle buddy system.
Many people drink beverages from bottles and cups. Often bottles and cups may be slippery when held due to condensation which may render them being dropped when slipping from the hand of the drinker. Hot and cold beverages can cause individuals to drop the beverage container. Dropping glass causes waste of the beverage contained therein as well as a mess on the surface which it hits. Further, broken glass can damage surfaces or may cause bodily injury. A suitable solution to promote gripping and insulate from adverse temperature transference is desirable.
U.S. Pub. No. 2008/0078824 to Andrew Raymond Spriege et al., relates to a beverage cup sleeving system and method. The described beverage cup sleeving system and method includes a cup insulating system, comprising a layer of elastomer formed into a homogeneous seamless conical sleeve, the conical sleeve having an exterior surface, an interior surface an upper opening and a lower opening, wherein the upper opening is configured for receiving a beverage cup, and the inner surface of the conical sleeve is configured to contact an outer surface of the beverage cup.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known receptacles art, the present disclosure provides a novel cup guppy and bottle buddy system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a means to safely and securely hold beverage containers.
A gripper for beverage containers is disclosed herein, the gripper comprising; an elastomeric ring having; an outer surface; and an inner surface; wherein the outer surface and the inner surface are integral with one another separated by a thickness, the inner surface being configured to grippingly-receive and secure a hand-held beverage container such as a bottle or glass or cup for example.
A method of use for the gripper for beverage containers is also disclosed herein, the method comprising the steps of: providing an elastomeric ring having an outer surface; and an inner surface; wherein the outer surface and the inner surface are integral with one another separated by a thickness, the inner surface being configured to grippingly-receive and secure a hand-held beverage container; and slap-manipulating the elastomeric ring about the beverage container such that the elastomeric ring and the beverage container are temporarily grippingly-coupled. The method may further comprise the steps of: holding the beverage container via the elastomeric ring such that heat transfer (heat or cold) is reduced emanating from the beverage container.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a cup guppy and bottle buddy system (gripper for beverage containers), constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to receptacles and more particularly to a cup guppy and bottle buddy system as used to improve the handling of cups and bottles during use.
Generally, the present invention comprises a slap on silicone wrap for bottles and cups with shape allows it to vit a variety of cups & bottle like vessels with or without taper. The Cup Cuppy and Bottle Buddy (slightly differing shapes) are slap on sleeves that function much like silicone slap bracelets but for bottles, glasses and cups. The shape allows a grip and the material protects hands from heat and cold. In preferred embodiments the device wraps around in the range of ¾ to 1¼ times the circumference of the bottle/cup, just enough to go around the held item and stick in place. Different kid-friendly shapes may be used as an alternative to the fish shape shown in the figures; for examples, other animals, fruits, vegetables or shapes of animated and/or licensed characters may be used. The device features: 1. A shape that allows it to fit a variety of cups, bottles, and glasses. 2. Wraps easily and stays wrapped. 3. Made of silicone 4. Easy to use for the young and old.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
According to one embodiment, the gripper for beverage containers 100 may be arranged as a kit. In particular, the gripper for beverage containers 100 may further include a set of instructions. The instructions may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the gripper for beverage containers 100 such that the gripper for beverage containers 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner.
Referring now to
The beverage container 110 for use with the gripper for beverage containers 100 may comprise a bottle with a tapered body; a bottle with a non-tapered body; a cup and alternately a glass with a tapered body; a cup and alternately a glass with a non-tapered body. The present invention can be used with other drinking or beverage containing vessels.
The elastomeric ring 120 preferably has at least one texture present on the inner surface 124 to promote positive-gripping. Some embodiments may have no texture, others may have only one texture and yet others may have multiple textures to promote gripping. The elastomeric ring 120 preferably comprises silicone however, it should be appreciated that other suitably equivalent materials may be used. The elastomeric ring comprises a length from 8 to 12 inches and a width of 1 to 3½ inches in preferred embodiments however other sizes may be used, depending on the size and shape of the cup/bottle to be gripped. The preferred design is that of a fish but other designs (e.g. animals, fruits, vegetables, animated/licensed characters) may be used. In certain embodiments the elastomeric ring 120 comprises a flexible insulator to reduce relative movement of heat transfer.
The elastomeric ring 120 preferably comprises layered, flexible stainless steel bistable spring bands sealed within the silicone; wherein the flexible stainless steel bistable spring bands has two stable mechanical shapes, stabilized by different curvature axes. The elastomeric ring 120 is able to be manipulated between an unrolled tube structure condition and a rolled cylinder condition; wherein the rolled cylinder condition is enabled for use when gripping the beverage container 110. The rolled cylinder condition is enabled via slapping-manipulation. The unrolled tube structure condition is suitable for non-use periods such as in storage.
Referring now to
It should be noted that step 503 is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3021375 | Oct 2018 | CA | national |
