Patent Application
20110233226
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates generally to removable closures for beverage-containing receptacles, or, to protective and decorative covers for drinking vessels and beverage containers. More particularly, the present invention encompasses an improved protective and decorative cover retained by friction that prevents the ingress of insects and other undesirable objects to drinking vessels and beverage containers while optionally incorporating semi-permeable barriers that allow the exchange of gasses or the filtering of liquids through the cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
The unwanted contamination of beverages with flying insects and other foreign objects is a problem for which consumers have demanded convenient, attractive solutions since at least the 19th century. Although numerous drink covers have been described in the prior art, their use is encumbered and restricted by the necessity of achieving either precise alignment around or careful draping over the rims of the vessels they protect, and they generally exhibit cheap, flimsy, or unsightly construction.
The predominant varieties of removable drink covers currently known in the art rely on attachment means such as grooves, annular lips, peripheral skirts, and other distinct members intended to fit over the rim of the target vessel, either making firm contact with the side walls of the vessel or extending loosely down around the side walls of the vessel. As a result, prior art drink covers are not widely versatile, but each is compatible only with the limited range of drinking vessels and beverage containers having rims with features, e.g., circumference, thickness, or material composition, that are compatible with the particular design and dimensions of the attachment means. In addition, these descending ledges, skirts, grooves, lips, and other attachment means introduce a spill hazard during use because they frequently “catch” on the rim of a glass during application or removal of the cover, causing the underlying vessel to topple. Continuous removal and replacement of such covers is tedious to the user and damaging to the covered vessels.
Lacking versatility, the removably attached covers in the prior art are unsuitable for consumers and business owners who desire freedom of choice in the glassware or other beverage containers they utilize. This constraint puts downward pressure on the prices that manufacturers may profitably charge for drink covers, which is primarily why they are typically constructed from inexpensive and disposable materials like paper or thin plastic. And, the complicated geometry of most drink covers further limits the materials from which they can be constructed because the grooves, skirts, and other attachment means they include must be formed from moldable, pliable, or flexible materials, which are again typically limited to paper or plastic. And, regardless of their material composition, removably attached drink covers remain undesirable for use on fine or delicate drinkware because their attachment means cause scuffing, scratching, or cracking when they repetitiously engage their target vessels and containers. For these and other reasons, reusable drink covers have not yet achieved great popularity as accessories for serving beverages, particularly in upscale or image-conscious milieus.
Nevertheless, falling leaves, insects, windblown debris, and a host of other unwanted objects remain a common and frustrating inconvenience when they enter the open mouth of a beverage container, after which the contents of the entire vessel are often discarded as wholly contaminated. Open beverage containers are also susceptible to being surreptitiously adulterated with narcotics, creating a risk to the person consuming the contents of an unattended beverage. However, some beverages such as wines, liquors, and carbonated drinks demand to be served in open, or at least breathable, glassware. Therefore, a need exists for an easily applied and removed, versatile cover for drinking vessels and beverage containers which serves as barrier to foreign objects, which can incorporate a screen or membrane that is permeable to gasses or liquids, which does not substantially contact the side walls of the covered vessel, which is durable and reusable, and which does not significantly inconvenience the user according to both functional and aesthetic considerations.
A further deficiency in the prior art is that drink covers have not been conceived with ready capacity to incorporate many available decorative, interactive, and technological features such as light emitting devices, positional and inventory tracking means, means to monitor physical properties of the beverage and behaviors of the consumer, and other dynamic indicia. The addition of intelligent functionality and dynamic ornamentation to drink covers would further enhance their commercial appeal, their ability to protect against tampering and adulteration, and their range of secondary functions such as product promotion and entertainment.
The following review of related art is intended to provide edifying examples of problems and pitfalls in the design and use of drink covers. The mention of these examples does not constitute an admission that any of the following devices constitute prior art applicable to the reusable cover of present invention.
Covers Having Skirts, Lips, Grooves and Other Extrinsic Means for Releasable Attachment to Beverage Containers:
U.S. Pat. No. 110,148 to Leach in 1870, entitled “Tea Cup Cover,” describes a concave perforated cover, constructed of metal, with a descending peripheral ledge or skirt that fits over and around the rim of a standard coffee or tea cup to attach to the cup. Fitting said ledge or skirt over the rim of a cup requires careful and dexterous placement of the cover, creates a risk of tipping the cup, and diminishes its ease of use. Recognizing this, the inventor provides an opening at one end of the cover which allows the user to optionally drink from the cup with the cover in place, but which, paradoxically, creates a passage for insects and debris to enter the cup. Also, removal of the cover must be performed carefully by lifting the cover directly upwards, because any tangential movement of the cover before its peripheral skirt has cleared the level of the rim will cause the skirt to angle inwards against the rim, which may result in the cup being accidentally lifted or tipped.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,298 to Norris in 1990, entitled “Flying Insect Container Guard,” is comparable to the Leach cover in that it is attached to the outer wall or surface of a beverage container via a cylindrical skirt with an inwardly directed overlying planar rim. But, instead of having a permanent opening to allow drinking while the cover is in place, the mesh is continuous and the user drinks through its perforations. Thus, the user is prevented from sipping his or her beverage directly from the vessel, which may detract from experiencing the full bouquet of flavors in wines, liquors, and other aromatic beverages. Instead, the user is expected to drink through the equivalent of a sieve, which is not only clumsy and uncomfortable, but which also causes beverage residue to accumulate in the perforation or perforations through which it passes, creating an unappealing sight and taste.
The invention proposed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/717,757, entitled, “Protective Cover for Beverage,” is composed of a semi-rigid frame with a central opening that accommodates a flexible synthetic panel, said panel being releasably attached to the rim of a drinking vessel, either by an adhesive means or by virtue of complementary circumferences which allow the inner edge of said frame to “snap” onto the outer edge of the rim of the vessel. This type of drink cover is explicitly intended to thwart human-introduced objects into the drinking vessel, such as narcotics, and it therefore emphasizes the formation of a continuous sealed contact with the beverage container and it possesses a wide frame which extends laterally beyond the rim of the covered vessel. These features increase the propensity of the covered vessel to tip over, because the overextending edges of the cover's frame act like a lever which magnifies the effect of any force inadvertently applied to it, translating small jostles into potentially catastrophic spills. Jostling which would normally not upset the beverage container will, when applied to a distal edge of the frame of the attached cover, cause the drinking vessel to tip over or flip open much more easily than when uncovered.
The placement of this and similar covers upon their target vessels is complicated by the presence of the laterally-extending frame which impedes visibility of the vessel opening beneath it, and by the need to create a continuous, sealed attachment to the rim and upper side-walls of the drinking vessel. When the creation of said seal is accomplished by an adhesive means, reusability is hampered. When it is accomplished by the snap-on method, the user must employ manual dexterity and careful alignment of the opening in the cover with the rim of the beverage container, and must also exert downward force which may crush the vessel or the cover if misapplied. Ultimately, this type of cover is inconvenient to use repeatedly while drinking a beverage, and its wide frame imparts an unacceptable tendency for the covered vessel to tip or be knocked over.
Other removably attached covers do not include such wide frames, but instead have one or a plurality of channels ensconced in their peripheral edges. The “Cup Cover” disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,544,817 to Davisson in 1923 comprises a disk of paraffined paper or other flexible material having a resilient, ring-shaped bead or jaw incorporated beneath its peripheral edge. This cover affords a moderate degree of versatility because the flexible jaw can fit over the rim of a smaller vessel to grasp the outer surface of the vessel, or it can press against the inner surface of a larger vessel to hold itself in place. Essentially though, the mechanism by which this cover attaches to its target vessels relies upon pressure, inherent in the flexibility of the jaw, applied against either or both side walls of the covered vessel.
Similarly, the cover described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/959,114, entitled, “Removable Breathable Covers for Beverage Containers,” comprises a breathable membrane surrounded by a semi-rigid frame having a series of underhanging ridges, said ridges being sized and shaped to receive the upper portion of a beverage container and be releasably attached thereto. The requirement that the ridges of the cover fit snugly over the rim of the target drinking vessel limits the versatility of this type of cover, because it necessitates prefabrication of the covers such that they correspond closely to the dimensions, e.g., circumference, rim thickness, of the target drinking vessels.
Similar drawbacks are inherent in all “releasably attached” drink covers having skirts, lips, ledges and other extrinsic attachment means that fit around the rim of a beverage container or that press against the side walls of said containers. They require dexterity to apply and must be of closely compatible dimensionality with their target containers or vessels. The means by which they envelop the rim and grip the upper edges of their target vessels increases the likelihood of tipping and spillage if the cover is hastily removed or replaced, as well as when they incorporate a laterally protruding frame. When used repeatedly, they abrade the upper sides of their target drinking vessels, depositing visible and palpable scratches in ceramic, glass, and other delicate drinkware as they are attached and removed. And, descending ledges or skirts are prone to angle inwards during removal if the user lifts the cover tangentially upwards and not precisely upwards, causing inadvertent reattachment to the cup in mid-removal and leading to disastrous spills. For these and other reasons, the releasably attached drink covers in the prior art are inadequate to fulfill the need for a versatile, facile, reusable, durable protective and decorative drink cover that is also suitable for delicate drinkware.
Some prior art drink covers accommodate the upper portion of their target vessels via a loose-fitting groove rather than a close-fitting grip. One such invention, applicable only to pop-top cans, is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/606,488, entitled “Method of Protecting the Open Top of a Beer Can and Soda Can Against Contamination by Insects, Dirt, and Debris.” This cover for cans comprises a disk with edges that rest in the annular lip at the periphery of a can's top panel. This quasi-tongue-in-groove configuration affords easier placement and removal of the cover because it involves no snapping or flexing of tightly-fitting components, but it lacks versatility since the cover must be manufactured to the precise dimensions of the particular types of cans to which it will be applied. For example, the can cover described in this paragraph features one side that attaches to beer cans, and an opposite side with a differently sized lip that attach to soda cans, because the two types of cans have top panels manufactured with slightly different geometries.
The “Sanitary Beverage Hat” employs a similar attachment means as the proposed beer can cover, but for use on cups. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/103,914 comprises a sealing ring with an upwardly concave, down facing surface that fits over the lip of a drink container. Again, the versatility of this invention is severely limited by the requirement that drinking vessels to be covered must possess a circumference at their open ends which matches the circumference of the sealing ring in the cover. A further drawback of this loose-fitting groove design is that the cover must be lifted directly upwards during removal, similar to a cover with a descending ledge or skirt, because any lateral or rotational movement of the cover before the rim of the cup has completely vacated its receiving groove will cause tipping or inadvertent re-attachment to the vessel if the groove “catches” on the rim. Inevitably, covers with downward facing grooves cause incidental contact with the upper portions of the side walls of their covered vessels during placement, removal, and jostling of the cover.
Paper and Film Covers for Beverage Containers:
A distinct group of drink covers can be categorized as the paper or film type, generally consisting of sheets of flexible and/or disposable material such as paper or polymer plastic, e.g., polyethylene, designed to be laid upon or wrapped overtop of a beverage container. They typically rely on adhesives, static electricity, elastic bands, or folded edges for positional stability on their target drinking vessels. Such covers are easily knocked off, blown off, damaged by wetness, or deformed and torn during manipulation, and they are not amenable to washing or repeated use.
Those paper or film type covers which employ an adhesive means for attachment to drinking vessels involve time-consuming and often intricate application and removal steps, and they do not adhere with consistent efficacy to the diverse materials of which beverage containers may be constructed, such as glass, plastic, ceramic, paper, or styrofoam. In addition to such functional drawbacks, paper and film type covers inherently lack the desirable aesthetic attributes of durability, quality, and sophistication necessary to complement the serving and consumption of wines and other luxurious beverages.
For example, the “Flexible Cap for Various Drink Containers” disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,551 to Miller II in 2001 comprises a flexible web with an elastic band that can be stretched around the rim of a variety of containers. Fitting the elastic band around the opening of various vessels requires attentiveness and manual dexterity, and it tends to bring the fingers of the person applying the cover into excessive contact with the rim of the target vessel. The application process is not only unsanitary, but also unsightly. The process of fitting the elastic band around the rim of a narrow bottle or glass, combined with the slack formed in the web as the cover constricts to its final attached configuration, is uncomfortably reminiscent of the application of a condom to the male anatomy. These sanitary and aesthetic considerations can be strong deterrents to the use of such elastic-fitting drink caps.
Thin film covers which are held in place by an adhesive means are exemplified by the “Sip-Safe” beverage cover, described in International Application Publication No. WO2006017878 by Shirdon, published Feb. 23, 2006, and entitled “Sealed Cover for Beverage Container.” It comprises a clear plastic polymer or plastic-backed paper film with food/freezer grade adhesive on one side, and it is designed to show evidence of tampering based on its frangible properties which cause it to tear when removed. Adhesively attached thin film or paper covers are intended only for disposable or single uses.
Other thin paper or film covers use folded edges or tabs for attachment to the target drinking vessel or beverage container. A simple paper drink cover, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,243,033 to Beatty in 1917, entitled “Detachable Cover,” possesses a plaited flange descending from the periphery of a sheet of paper, said flange effecting an elastic attachment to the rim of a drinking vessel. This invention is easy to apply and remove, but is necessarily frangible and disposable. A similar invention, described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,890,460 to Gebhard in 1931, entitled, “Temporary Cap for Cups, Etc.,” employs folded tabs instead of a pleated flange for attachment to the drinking vessel. Other folding tab concepts have been proposed outside of the United States, as in U.K. Pat. No. GB2,409,964 to Hancock et al. in 2007, entitled, “A Cover for a Circular Rimmed Vessel,” and in U.K. Pat. App. No. 2,441,297 by Hughes, published Mar. 5, 2008, entitled, “Covers for Wineglasses or Like Containers.” Even if they are manufactured from more durable materials, the repeated application of such covers would eventually wear out the folding tabs or elastic skirts, thus limiting their reusability.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/023,671, entitled, “Caps for Drinking Vessels” includes a substantially rigid cover disk dimensioned to span across and substantially cover the open top of drinking vessels, and a flexible tubular membrane that extends from a bottom side of the cover disk adapted to be rolled down a side wall of the drinking vessel to achieve removable attachment. Because removal and replacement of the cover is laborious, requiring manipulation of a delicate tubular membrane, the user is expected to drink through a straw passing through a hole in the cover disk assembly rather than to remove the cover.
U.K. Pat. App. No. GB2,413,059 by Noel, published Feb. 2, 2007 and entitled “Beverage Cover” is a planar disc supplied with suction cups at the ends of flexible, adjustable tethers as means for attachment of the cover to the underlying drinking vessel. The step of sealing and unsealing suction cups in order to access the beverage provides security against adulteration by mal-intentioned persons, but is too complicated for continual use while sipping the beverage. Furthermore, suction cups may not adhere to the surfaces of many types of containers, limiting the versatility of this device. A separate invention comprising a drink cover removably attached via a suction cup-mounted arm, or alternatively by an elastic band, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,002 to Whitley in 1992, entitled, “Beverage Cup Lid.” These and the other means for attaching thin, simple covers to glasses are excessively complicated.
Other simple covers comprise a flat sheet of semi-rigid material that is simply laid over the top of the target vessel, with no distinct attachment means. Such covers have achieved a measure of popularity, partly because they are amenable to the printing of advertisements, artwork, or other labeling on their surface. For example, printable non-attaching drink covers are marketed internationally as Kuul Kuvers by the company of the same name. Also, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/577,457, entitled “Device and Method for Indicating Patron Usage of a Drink and/or Seat” essentially comprises a notecard resting on the rim of a drinking vessel.
Species of thin film or paper type covers which lack distinct means for attachment to drinking vessels are ill-suited for the protection of beverages because their light weight predisposes them to slide, blow, or fall from their target drinking vessel at the slightest disturbance. A clear need exists in the art for an elegant and facile yet effective and reliable means for attaching drink covers to their target vessels without introducing descending ledges or other tight-fitting attachment elements into the design.
Drink Covers that Rely on Gravity for Attachment to Beverage Containers:
Inventions within the genus of beverage covers known as “doilies” or “crochet glass covers” do not employ direct means for attachment to the rim of a beverage container, and instead rely on gravity for attachment. These inventions are composed of natural or synthetic fabrics, often woven into meshes, and they rest over the open mouth of a beverage container, held in place by gravity acting upon weights sewn or otherwise affixed to the periphery of the fabric.
The “Lay Me,” described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/217,290, comprises a flexible mesh that is draped over a drinking vessel and weighted at the edges by a plurality of decorative emblems or gems hanging several inches below the rim of the vessel. A similar invention is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/023,739, entitled “Protective Glassware Covering,” which comprises a drapeable material to selectively drape over the opening of a container and having a perimeter with at least one weight extending from said perimeter. Another fabric drink cover with dangling weights is currently marketed as the Wine Cozee.
Despite their lack of tight-fitting or rigid attachment means, the flexible construction of these weighted fabric drink covers nevertheless gives rise to unique aesthetic and functional disadvantages. For example, removal of the fabric cover poses certain problems. The act of pulling the overdraped fabric off of a drinking vessel, with its weighted edges dragging upwards along the sides thereof, sometimes generates an irksome clanking noise as the weights contact the vessel. This act also creates a spill hazard, particularly when performed on tall thin glasses such as champagne flutes. In order to safely remove the fabric cover, the user must lift it straight upwards for a considerable distance, making sure that every dangling weight has cleared the rim of the vessel, before moving the hand laterally to set the cover aside, lest the weights catch on the rim of the glass and cause it to tip.
Application of these devices upon their target drinking vessels or beverage containers also poses challenges to the user. During application, two hands must be used to spread the fabric over the vessel as it is draped and lowered into position, since the weights tend to bunch together when the fabric is held from a single point, collapsing the perimeter of the fabric upon itself. Moreover, during this delicate application process, the weights or an edge of the fabric may enter the glass and contact the liquid contents. A user may become frustrated by having to make repeated attempts to successfully drape the open end of the mesh completely about the rim of the target beverage container. Handles, strong curves, or other protrusions which may be present on the body of the drinking vessel become obstacles which further complicate the process of applying and removing fabric or drapeable drink covers, thus reducing their usefulness and appeal.
Another cover, currently marketed as the “Wine-Tapa,” relies partly on gravity, and partly on a temporary groove formed in a cushion-like gasket, to removably attach to the rim of a wine glass. The Wine-Tapa comprises a wide circular frame with a compartment on its underside defined by ledges that descend from the frame. At the center of the circular frame, a small hole covered by a screen permits gas exchange across the cover. Said compartment houses a cushion-like gasket affixed to the underside of the cover which contacts the rim of a wine glass when the cover is set upon it. Gravity acting upon the cover compresses the cushion-like gasket downwards upon the upper edge of the wine glass to create a temporary depression in the gasket. Said temporary depression constitutes an attachment means, analogous to the downward facing groove of the “beverage hat” discussed above, after the wine glass rim settles into this temporary depression.
The Wine-Tapa is noteworthy for its achievement of the objective of versatility, which is apparent from its shape. The large diameter of the cover allows it to accommodate wine glasses with a wide range of circumferences. Nevertheless, the Wine-Tapa possesses several features which pose distinct disadvantages.
Firstly, its wide frame extends laterally beyond the rim of the glass it covers. This lateral extension will act like a lever when it is inadvertently jostled, much like the effect described above in relation to the “Protective Cover for Beverage” disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/717,757, amplifying the force of the lateral movement and transferring it to the wine glass, causing the glass to tip much more easily than when uncovered. Secondly, the Wine-Tapa features two descending ledges that define the housing for the gasket, each ledge descending nearly a half inch below the surface of the cover and circumscribing both the inner and the outer boundaries of said housing. These downward extending ledges generate a hazard for tipping and toppling a drinking vessel, as described above in relation to many other covers, because they will “catch” on the wineglass rim during imprecise placement or removal of the cover. Thirdly, the Wine-Tapa's wide and flat upper surface combined with its descending ledges make this cover susceptible to being blown out of place by strong wind.
Air driven by wind will flow quickly over the upper surface of the cover and around the smooth, beveled peripheral edges of the cover, creating lift, while said air will not flow smoothly along the bottom surface of the cover. Instead, wind will push laterally and upwards against the continuous ledge or skirt descending from the bottom surface of the peripheral edge. These combined forces tend to cause the cover to capsize, often capsizing the covered wineglass as well. In sufficiently strong wind, the Wine-Tapa will not remain stationary and will not remain stably attached to a wine glass.
Finally, covers like the Wine-Tapa are difficult to grasp from above, and are especially difficult to grasp from above using one hand, which is the most convenient method for placing and removing a drink cover. Having a large diameter and having a smooth upper surface with a descending peripheral ledge connected thereto by a beveled edge, the Wine-Tapa lacks convenient fingerholds, other than at the underside of the ledge, particularly for users with small hands. In order to grasp the Wine-Tapa with one hand, the hand would need to be large enough to span the diameter of the cover, then extend over the beveled outer edges of the cover, proceeding to extend downwards over the surface of the descending ledge, then further proceeding to curl under the bottom edge of this ledge in order to find a secure hold. Otherwise, if the fingers merely contact the smooth continuous surfaces of the cover and its beveled outer edges, the Wine-Tapa is likely to slip from their grasp. The presence of moisture on the fingers or on the cover, which is virtually assured in a beverage-serving milieu, will increase the likelihood of the fingers slipping from the surface of the cover, and the entire cover is likely to be dropped, potentially while held above the wine glass, tipping or crushing the vessel.
In light of the above, there is a need for improvement in the field of reusable, removably attached beverage covers with regard to their attachment means, versatility, durability, manipulability, balance, stability in strong wind, and visual appeal.
This invention satisfies the above needs. The present invention is an improved reusable, durable cover retained by friction that is applicable to a wide range of open-ended beverage containers and drinking vessels which prevents the ingress of insects and other undesirable objects while optionally incorporating semi-permeable barriers that allow the exchange of gasses or the filtering of liquids through the cover, while permitting exceptionally quick, facile, and well-balanced attachment to myriad drinking vessels and beverage containers regardless of their material composition, while being washable, durable, and reusable, while permitting the convenient incorporation of decorative objects and functional devices within the cover, and while utilizing an improved attachment means that does not scratch, abrade, deform, or otherwise contact the side walls of the covered vessel or container.
The present invention resides not merely in any one of the features set forth in this specification, but also in the particular combination of all of the features and improvements claimed.
The attachment means of the present invention relies upon gravity and friction intrinsic to the mass and shape of a peripheral collar to reversibly attach to the apical edge of the rim of any type of open-ended drinking vessel or beverage container. Many of the advantages and improvements afforded by the present invention arise from the distinct arrangement and functionality of said collar. In addition to providing an improved a attachment means, the collar permits the cover to achieve superior balance atop a wide range of vessels, superior manipulability by a user employing only one hand to attach or remove the cover, superior resistance to being dislodged by strong wind and jostling forces, superior durability and reusability, convenient opportunity to incorporate decorative objects, identifying indicia, or functional devices, compatibility with vessels and containers having rims that imprecisely match the dimensions of said collar, and stable attachment to vessels having any material composition.
The cover of the present invention specifically does not rely upon extrinsic attachment elements which descend, protrude, or extend below its bottom surface, which undergo deformation while marrying to a vessel, or which cause contact with the side walls of a covered vessel. One distinct advantage achieved thereby is that the reusable cover of the present invention makes a stable seal with the rim of a vessel without grasping or applying pressure upon the side walls of the vessel. In contrast, prior art drink covers employ a panoply of adhesive materials, elastic bands, grooves, skirts, hinges, peripheral descending ledges and other distinct attachment elements which make direct contact with the inner and/or outer side walls of the covered vessel or container, leading to cracks, wear, scuffs, and other damage.
Nevertheless, the collar element of the present invention does comprise an actual attachment means because, on the one hand, it is purposefully composed of a dense solid material that contributes to a suitable coefficient of friction at the junction between the cover and the rim of a vessel to achieve stable attachment, and on the other hand, it is intentionally designed to constitute a substantial proportion of the cover's mass and to position said mass both above and in substantial alignment with said rim.
Friction can be defined as the force resisting the relative lateral or tangential motion of solid surfaces in contact. The force of friction is typically independent of the amount of the surface area of contact between two surfaces, but it is directly proportional to the mass of an object contacting an underlying surface. Consequently, the cover of the present invention achieves a seal with the apical surface of the rim of a covered vessel, despite having a minimal surface area of contact. And, the collar, by constituting a substantial proportion of the weight of the cover and by distributing said weight in substantial alignment above the rim of a covered vessel or container is particularly designed to generate and harness this frictional interaction.
The dimensions and arrangement of the collar element permit it to attach to an expanded range of vessels and containers with equal efficacy, so that a single cover consistent with the present invention may accommodate a spectrum of differently-sized or differently-composed vessels. For example, a cover of the present invention may attach to a rim of a wine glass such that the rim is precisely aligned with the midline of the collar, or, the same cover may attach to a smaller wine glass with a narrower opening where the rim of said smaller wine glass is more closely aligned with the inner edge of the collar, or, the same cover may attach to a larger wine glass with a broader opening where the rim of said larger wine glass is more closely aligned with the outer edge of the collar. In all three instances, the attachment is achieved via the same means and with the same stability. The thickness of the rims may also vary without affecting attachment because the collar does not envelop, grip, receive or otherwise descend around the edges of the rim.
The configuration of the present invention permits the cover to possess substantial weight without significantly unbalancing the vessels it covers. For example, the present invention does not make a covered vessel more likely to tip over, because the weight of the collar, residing above and in substantial alignment with the rim, is directed by gravity downwards upon the apical edge the rim, and then channeled further downwards through the bowl of the vessel, and finally transferred to the base of the vessel. Other covers extend laterally beyond the edge of a covered vessel, distributing their weight other than substantially aligned above the apex of the rim of the vessel, thereby increasing the effective width and weight of the top of the vessel without a compensatory increase in the width and weight at the base of the vessel, and thus unacceptably altering the balance of said vessel. The attached configuration achieved via the present invention, in fact, makes many vessels less likely to tip over due to jostling, wind, or other inadvertently applied forces, because attaching the cover to a vessel as described above is virtually equivalent to making the entire vessel heavier, giving it greater inertia.
A further advantage in the design of the present invention is that the cover will attach with comparable effectiveness to the rims of disparate vessels no matter what material constitutes them, be it glass, Styrofoam, porcelain, ceramic, plastic, metal, wood, paper, or other matter. Prior art covers employ attachment means such as adhesives, flexible connecting elements, descending skirts, suction cups, and the like, which inevitably have unfavorable interactions with some materials. For example, any adhesive will fail to bond to some of the above listed materials.
Furthermore, the attachment elements in prior art covers may often possess a degree of hardness that is greater than the hardness of some vessels, and, consequently, these vessels will chip, deform, crack, or wear when they are of the weaker hardness and a prior art cover is applied against them. Hardness is a term that refers to various properties of matter in the solid phase that give it high resistance to various kinds of shape change when force is applied. Because the collar of the present invention does not contact the side walls of a vessel, and therefore it applies no deformation stress to the surface of said side walls, the cover can be safely used on even the most delicate glassware without causing scratches, deformations, cracks or other damage therein.
And because any two solids will inherently have a moderate to strong coefficient of friction between them, either the collar of the present invention or the vessel it covers may be comprised of any material and still achieve a stable attachment, so long as the collar weighs more than approximately 15 grams. This weight threshold has been empirically determined to be the approximate lower limit at which covers of the present invention achieve suitably stable attachment to the rims of drinking vessels and beverage containers via frictional force.
The present invention is distinguished from other durable, reusable covers by having a smooth lower surface on its attachment means and by lacking grooves, lips, tabs, and other extrinsic attachment elements that must fit down around the rim and side-walls. This aspect of the present invention further reduces the risk of a covered vessel being tipped over inadvertently. Descending or protruding attachment means found in prior art devices are prone to catch on the rim of a vessel during attachment, removal, or jostling, and they are prone to absorb the force of air driven by gusting wind.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the collar is easy to grasp between the thumb and fingers of a single hand, because the outer peripheral surface of the collar is graspable at its edges and does not extend horizontally beyond the periphery of the cover to a substantial degree. Furthermore, the cover of the present invention is exceptionally easy to use because it does not require precise alignment with the rim of the vessel or container, removal of the device does not require the breaking of an adhesive bond or the disconnection of interconnected elements or the “unsnapping” of tightly fitting components, and the procedure for placing and removing this cover atop any vessel or container is both simple and intuitive.
In order to attach the cover of the present invention to a target vessel or container, the user may hold the cover by the outer peripheral surface of the collar between the thumb and fingers of one hand, and then the user simply sets the cover down approximately upon the apex of the rim of said vessel or container so that the bottom surface of the collar is roughly aligned with said rim. Some embodiments of the present invention include a gripping means that further aids the fingers in finding a secure hold around the peripheral surface of the collar.
In order to remove the cover, the user again grasps the outer peripheral surface of the collar, or of the gripping means, if present, between the thumb and fingers of one hand, and then the user lifts the cover either directly, tangentially, or rotationally upwards. This method of use is superior to other covers which require the disconnection of snug-fitting attachment means from the rim of the vessel or which require that the cover be lifted only directly, but never tangentially or rotationally, upwards in order to avoid catching the rim of the vessel upon the descending skirts, ledges, grooves, or other extrinsic attachment elements of prior art covers.
A further advantage of the present invention is that the internal barrier element is modularly distinct from the collar element, so that the cover can be manufactured with any combination of collar and barrier types, e.g., screen, membrane, or solid barriers. Still another advantage achieved by the design of the present invention is that it can incorporate a variety of decorative features and other functional devices without compromising the advantages of its attachment means. And finally, the cover as a whole is comprised of durable, waterproof materials which allow it to be washed, re-used, and kept as a permanent accessory in the home, in bars and restaurants, on boats and airplanes, and in divers other environments.
The ready capacity of the present invention to include decorative and functional objects, particularly within the collar element, represents more than simply an aesthetic improvement over the prior art. These objects allow the covers to have greater complexity and diversity in their identifying features, permitting a large number of people to simultaneously use uniquely identifiable covers. And, they permit a novel means for protecting beverages from tampering and adulteration, particularly when one of the functional objects is a motion detector and another object is a light or other signaling device. For example, the motion detector can trigger the signaling device to emit a warning or other signal when the cover has been moved or lifted from a vessel unbeknownst to the drinker. The more complex and interactive the arrangement of these functional devices within, among, and between covers of the present invention becomes, the greater the variety of entertainment, promotional, inventory tracking, and other ancillary purposes they may serve.
The overall design and material composition of the present invention cooperate to enhance its superiority over the prior art with regard to the three interrelated attributes of washability, durability, and reusability. Being composed entirely of durable materials, such as metals, rubbers, or other rugged substantially rigid substances, this cover is not only exceptionally resistant to wear and corrosion, but also machine washable and resistant to the heat and detergents employed in most dishwashers, enhancing its suitability for use in outdoor environments as well as in commercial environments such as bars and restaurants where regulations typically require the use of high heat when cleansing drinkware and associated accessories.
Environmentally-conscious consumers will appreciate that the durability, reusability, and versatility of these covers cooperate to minimize the amount of waste associated with their use. This stands in stark contrast to Kuul Kuvers and other prior art covers which are either intended to be disposable or which must be discarded due to obsolescence whenever a consumer switches to incompatibly sized drinkware.
The forgoing summary has outlined some features consistent with the present invention in order that the following detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. The present invention is not limited in its application, details, or components merely to those set forth in the following description and illustrations. Devices consistent with the present invention are capable of other embodiments. Also, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting unless explicitly stated as such.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the devices consistent with the present invention.
Throughout all the Figures, same or corresponding elements are indicated by the same reference numerals.
As depicted throughout
The collar 10 and the barrier 20 of all embodiments of the present invention are composed of waterproof materials. A waterproof material can be described as a material relatively unaffected by water or resisting water passage, or which is covered with a material that resists or does not allow water passage. The materials constituting the collar 10 and barrier 20 of all embodiments of the present invention are also corrosion-resistant, so that they do not oxidize rapidly when exposed to aqueous solutions. Iron would not be used in the present invention because it quickly rusts through. However, other metals and alloys which undergo only moderate surface oxidation such as copper, brass, and bronze are desirable for the decorative properties of their patinas and are within the scope of the present invention. In any embodiment of the present invention, the collar 10 is substantially composed of durable, substantially rigid, non-frangible materials such as metal, wood, plastics, rubbers, and the like. Within any one embodiment, the collar 10 may be composed of a different material than the barrier 20, and either element 10 or 20 may be composed of multiple materials.
The barrier 20 may be a mesh or screen, a permeable membrane, or it may be an impermeable solid. The barrier 20 may be transparent, translucent, or opaque. One example of a material suitable for the barrier 20 is a mesh, screen, or woven wire fabric made from stainless steel, particularly from stainless steel Type 316 which has excellent corrosion-resistant properties. The screen may be comprised of 80/100 mesh, where 80 refers to the number of openings per linear inch and where 80/100 is considered a relatively tight mesh. This option is intended to block the ingress of extremely small insects such as “no-see-ums” (midges in the family Ceratopogonidae), which are a particular nuisance to beverage drinkers in littoral habitats.
Screen- or mesh-type barriers are useful for permitting the contents of a drinking vessel or beverage container, covered by the present invention, to breathe via exchange of gasses through the barrier. Alternatively and additionally, screen- or mesh-type barriers may function as filters to remove sediment from a potable liquid as it is poured through the barrier into a container covered by the present invention. Impermeable barriers, by comparison, are preferred for preventing the illicit introduction of adulterants such as narcotics or airborne germs into the contents of a covered vessel or container. The modular design of the cover 100 permits the combination of any varieties of collar 10 and barrier 20 that are within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.
One method for manufacturing the cover as depicted in
Methods for manufacturing a cover 100 according the embodiment of the present invention as shown in
In both
The tendency to create a distinctive, attractive, decorative, and well-balanced composition consisting of a cover of the present invention and the covered vessel or container is considered to be a novel feature of the present invention. Stylistically functional shapes are appealing and useful features in beverage serving accessories, desirable to proprietors of commercial establishments as well as individual hosts of private gatherings. The cover of the present invention possesses a distinctive look with a low profile and a characteristic geometric relationship between the collar and the barrier with regard to both dimensionality and arrangement, further explained below. The covers are intended to be marketed and distributed widely, offered in an extensive array of models optionally incorporating different decorative ornaments, identifying objects, and compositional materials, while nevertheless conveying a discernable common origin of invention among all embodiments. This is intended to foster brand recognition among consumers and to develop value in the trademarks under which these covers are sold. At least one trademark, “Vinolids” has already been determined for stainless steel embodiments of the present invention.
The height 80 of the collar 10 is greater than the height 90 of the barrier 20. The height 80 of the collar 10 is determined by measuring in the vertical plane from the lowest point of the bottom surface 12 to the highest point of the top surface 11, while the height 90 of the barrier 20 is measured in the vertical plane from the lowest point of the bottom surface 22 to the highest point of the top surface 21. When either of the collar 10 or the barrier 20 has a non-uniform height, then the measurements associated with heights 80 and 90 are calculated as the minimum height of the collar 10 and the minimum height of the barrier 20, respectively. Thus, when either the collar 10 or the barrier 20 has a non-uniform height, the minimum height of the collar 10 is greater than the minimum height of the barrier 20.
In all embodiments of the present invention, the width 60 of the collar 10 is less than half the width 70 of the barrier 20, so that the center of mass of the collar 10 is localized closer to the periphery of the cover 100 than to the center point of the cover, and so that said center of mass of the collar 10 is roughly in alignment with the rim 201 of the glass 200. However, it is not necessary for this alignment to be precise. So long as the bottom surface 12 of the collar 10 makes a substantially continuous contact with the apical surface of the rim 201, and so long as the mass of the collar 10 is concentrated closer to the outer peripheral edge of the cover 100 than to the center point of the cover 100, the described frictional interaction will result and attachment will be achieved.
By having a collar element arranged as described in this disclosure, the present invention exhibits at least one unexpected and unforeseen property that enhances the stability of its attachment to the rims of vessels. For example, due to the limitation of the present invention which specifies that the minimum height of the collar 10 must be greater than the minimum height of the barrier 20, these covers disrupt the flow of air over their upper surfaces to provide particularly robust attachment in the presence of strong wind. This occurs because the raised inner peripheral edge 13 of the collar deflects air flowing across the surface of the cover in all directions, negating lift. But more importantly, some of that air is deflected downwards against the barrier 20, effectively adding to the downward force already exerted by gravity upon the cover and thereby increasing the force of friction generated at the interface of the cover and rim.
In contrast, a hypothetical cover with a completely smooth top surface would maximize the generation of lift when subjected to strong wind. Lift is generated whenever air flows faster over one surface of an object than over the opposite surface. Air does not flow smoothly against the underside of a cover when it is attached to a glass because a substantial area of the bottom surface is shielded by the side walls of the covered glass. When air flows smoothly and rapidly over the upper surface of a cover, generating lift, the effective force of gravity acting on the cover is diminished. But, in the covers of the present invention, the flow of air over the top surface is not only disrupted but also partially deflected downwards to add to the net force of gravity, which in turn amplifies the frictional force attaching the cover to the rim of a vessel via the attachment means of the collar element. This unexpected synergistic effect, inherent in the distinct design of the present invention, represents a major improvement to previous solutions in the art of drink covers to the problem of wind-induced detachment during outdoor use, the outdoors being one setting where drink covers are especially necessary to repel insects and airborne debris.
In embodiments of the present invention in which the collar 10 does not have a uniform width, then the measurement of the width 60 is taken as the maximum width of the collar 10. The maximum width of the collar can be determined along a radial line passing through the outermost point on the outer peripheral surface 13 of a collar by measuring the length of the section of said radial line between said point on the outer peripheral surface 13 and the nearest point of intersection with an edge of the inner peripheral surface 14. The scope of the present invention is limited such that the width 60 of the collar 10 must be less than approximately 1.51 inches.
The griping means 15 as shown in
The gripping means 15 has a thickness 16 which may be uniform or variable along its length, where thickness 16 is defined as the distance of a line extending orthogonally from the outer peripheral edge 13 of the collar 10 to the outer surface of the gripping means 15. But, in order to preserve the feature of the present invention that it does not extend significantly laterally beyond the rim of its covered vessel, the thickness 16 of the gripping means 15 should not exceed approximately 0.75 inches.
Each of the
Because the removable cover of the present invention achieves a sufficiently strong attachment to the rim of drinking vessels and beverage containers without contacting or applying pressure against the side surfaces of said vessels and containers, it does not abrade, scratch, deform, or crack the sides of said vessels and containers, even after repeated use. This feature further distinguishes the present invention from the prior art, represents a major improvement over the prior art, and allows the cover of the present invention to be used on vessels or containers made of fine or delicate matter such as crystal, china, glass, or other fragile compositions.
The versatility afforded by this attachment means is particularly useful for commercial establishments that experience a high rate of attrition of their glassware. It is not always possible to restock with the exact model of glasses previously used, and purveyors of drinking vessels do not always maintain sufficient precision in their manufacturing techniques to ensure that every glass has identical rim dimensions. Therefore, a proprietor of a beverage serving establishment or other consumer might face a situation where prior art covers that fit upon one set of glasses do not fit upon a subsequently procured set of the same model of glasses due to minute differences in the thickness or circumferences of their rims. The present invention forgives such inherent imprecision in drinkware manufacture by virtue of the versatility of the attachment means.
Any bauble, trinket, or adornment may serve as a decorative or identifying object in the present invention. For example, one type of decorative or identifying object could be one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) 17. Another type of decorative or identifying object could be a chamber or cavity 18, which may be hollow or filled with any substance, and which is present within the collar 10, and which may optionally contain adornments such as glitter or particles in suspension, fluorescent dye, trinkets, gems, or the like. Having such decorative and identifying means in the covers of the present invention allows, for example, people at a gathering to differentiate between covers when multiple covers are in use, individuals to identify or personalize a drinking vessel or beverage container, or merchants to display promotional and advertizing indicia.
Objects such as those represented by objects 17 and 18 in
For example, such functional objects could monitor and report information about a person's proximity to or possession of a beverage covered by the present invention. One embodiment of said covers may involve a patron of a night club being given an RFID badge or interrogator that activates a unique RFID tag within the particular cover of the present invention that covers his or her beverage. The RFID tag would emit a signal when the RFID interrogator is a certain distance from the cover, wherein said RFID tag will trigger one or more LEDs in said cover to illuminate, thereby assisting a person in locating and identifying his or her beverage or thereby providing entertainment. This function may also be adapted for security purposes, reinforcing the use of the cover of the present invention as an improved protective barrier against the adulteration of beverages by miscreants. For example, an object 17 or 18 may comprise a monitoring means or device that detects changes in the orientation or movement of the cover which signify that the cover is being removed from a vessel, and said object 17 or 18 may subsequently cause another object 17 or 18, or a separate device that is not part of the cover, to produce a signal that indicates said cover has been tampered with. This disclosure expressly considers that the functionality of any decorative, identifying, monitoring, tracking, or signaling object within a cover of the present invention may be coupled with, linked to, or in communication with additional such objects that may be in the same cover, in other covers, or separate from any covers.
In another application of such functional objects within the cover of the present invention, a third party such as a bartender or host could utilize one or more devices capable of remotely or selectively activating decorative, identifying, tracking, monitoring, or signaling devices within one or a group of covers to facilitate the playing of a game, the promotion of a product, the occurrence of an event such as “last call” or “happy hour,” the winning of a prize, the composition of a team or distinct group of individuals among a larger group at a gathering, or the conveyance of any other useful or entertaining information. Conversely, one or more covers which are attached to drinking vessels in use by patrons or guests could be adapted to collect, relay or report information to a bartender, server, patron or guest or any other party. Such information may comprise traits of the patron or guest such as age, birthday, name, marital status, financial status, or drink preferences or it may comprise traits of the covered beverage such as its ingredients, origin, name, flavor, alcohol content, brand, and price, or it may comprise any other useful or entertaining information. The functions of such objects in the covers of the present invention may be programmable by users or they may be predetermined by the manufacturer.
These and other decorative, identifying, monitoring, tracking and signaling objects are optionally included in the manufacture of the covers of the present invention. Some embodiments may contain no distinct decorative or functional objects. The covers of the present invention may be sold as a set in which every cover has identical features, or as a set wherein each cover contains different or distinct identifying, decorative, monitoring, tracking or signaling objects, features, and functions.
It should be emphasized that the above described embodiments of the present invention exemplify some, but not all, possible implementations of the present invention and have been set forth in order to provide a clear understanding of its qualities. Variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the cover of the present invention without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/340,998 filed on Mar. 25, 2010.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61340998 | Mar 2010 | US |
