Patent Application
20180237186
An individual bottle accessory is taught, namely, a mechanism to secure a cup to the bottle such that an otherwise ordinary cup adapts and screws onto existing beverage containers that can be used to share the beverage or just be able to drink from a cup rather than directly from the bottle wherein, existing bottles can be utilized with very little, if any, extra footprint and minimal retooling.
There are a variety of circumstances where a need arises to be able to share a beverage from an individual beverage container in a sanitary manner. Firstly, so-called individual beverages are sold in containers that are twelve ounces, sixteen ounces, twenty ounces or more or some other volume that is more than one individual may want or need as an immediate serving. Moreover, there are often situations where the beverage will be consumed in situations where there are others present who may want or need some of the beverage. Drinking directly from the beverage container is not sanitary—even in the situation where you are the only one drinking from it. Studies show that drinking directly from a beverage container introduces bacteria and pathogens from the mouth of the person drinking back into the beverage container. Additionally, placing one's mouth directly against the container contaminates the mouth of the container itself. Thus, it would be advantageous to have access to a sanitary cup for use in consuming a beverage from an individual beverage container, whether the purchaser alone will be consuming the beverage or in the case of sharing it. However, in typical situations, when a consumer buys an individual beverage, they do not have access to a sanitary cup. Purchasing cups separate from the beverage is an inconvenience and generally would provide more than just the one needed cup.
There have been attempts to solve some of the sharing and sanitary issues described. Some containers come with attached straws. While the use of a straw may partially solve the issue of direct contamination of the mouth in contact with the mouth of the container, it does not solve the issue of introducing bacteria and pathogens into the beverage as studies have shown that using straws still allows a ‘backwash’ back into the beverage. Moreover, unless there was more than one straw, the issue of sharing is not solved.
There also have been attempts to include a cup with an individual bottle. As we can see from the below examples, these attempts have not provided a cup that is convenient, does not alter the space occupied by the bottle, and is sanitary. Some of the attempts have solved one of the issues, but have not encompassed all.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,273 titled DISPOSABLE INSULATED CONTAINER, discloses, “a disposable insulated container and drinking cup combination wherein the insulated container is manufactured from plastic foam material and has a lid applied thereto. At least one inverted drinking cup mounted upon the top of the container with the cup, container, and lid sealingly secured in a package by a frangible ring encircling the lower edge of the inverted drinking cup and the periphery of the container.” Here, the cup is disposable and attached to the container in a sanitary manner. However, it increases the height of the container excessively.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,723 titled ASSEMBLY OF BEVERAGE BOTTLE/CAN AND CUP, discloses, “an assembly of beverage bottle/can and cup consisting of a beverage bottle or can for containing the beverage and a cup for encasing the lower part of said bottle or can to be integrated as one body, wherein a plurality of parallel linear projections are provided to the inner wall at the upper part of cup whereon a plurality of vent grooves are spaced in a suitable distance in the direction perpendicular to the said projections, and a clip is provided to the outer upper edge of cup; the said assembly provides the consumers with the convenience of pouring the beverage for drinking as they like by taking the advantage of the cup, fixing the bottle or can onto their knapsack bag or girdle optionally by means of the clip, and bringing the beverage bottle or can with them if the beverage therein has not been drunk up.” Here, the cup slides over the bottom of the container, not significantly increasing the footprint of the container, but it is designed to fit so tight, i.e., it grips the container as its manner of securing to the container that it requires vent grooves to allow it to slip on fully, thus destroying any potential for sanitary condition.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,737 titled CUP ASSEMBLY FOR BOTTLE WITH ATTACHMENT MECHANISM, discloses, a “cup assembly for a bottle includes a body having a closed end with an aperture extending therethrough and an open end and a wall tapering from the closed end to the open end. The cup assembly also includes an attachment mechanism to attach the body to an open end of the bottle to allow a user to drink from the open end of the body while attached to the bottle.” Here, the only object is to provide the convenience of drinking from a cup, but actually turns the bottle operatively into a cup and thus, solves none of the sanitary issues described.
In another example, U.S. Patent Application Serial No. US 2004/0262252 titled MUG FIXED TO THE TOP OR THE BOTTOM OF A BEVERAGE BOTTLE BEVERAGE BOTTLE DESIGNED FOR RECEIVING SAME, AND RELATED COMBINATION discloses, “a beverage bottle provided with a mug acting as a closure, a bottle whereon fixing an upturned mug is realized with little effort. Consequently, the invention concerns a combination of a beverage bottle and a mug capable of being pressed on at least one end of the bottle and thereby be fixed to said end. The mug and/or the beverage bottle comprise, in the fixing zone, a profiled shape enabling, when the mug is upturned and pressed, a gas exchange between the inside of the mug and outside environment.” Again, here, there is a gas exchange need destroying any sanitary possibility. Moreover, the mug acts as the cap to the bottle. Thus, there is no possibility of recapping the bottle once the mug has been used and maintaining a sanitary condition.
Finally, in another example, U.S. Patent Application Serial No. US 2009/0080180 titled, BEVERAGE BOTTLE WITH ACCESSORIES, discloses, “a configurable beverage container comprises a container body defining a central axis and bounded by non-opaque sides, an openable top, and a bottom defining a cavity in which a liquid can be retained. The container body includes a connector, such as a set of female thread portions, located on a lower end of the container body adjacent the container body bottom. The configurable container further includes an accessory having an accessory connector (e.g. male thread) located on a top end thereof and another (e.g. female thread) on a bottom thereof, with the top end configured to be coupled to the container body connector along a long axis of the container body. Examples of accessories include a first-aid kit, a GPS, a powers source, and a flashlight.” Here, there are male and female threads to enable a screw coupling, however, the only contemplated placement is at the ends of the container and/or additional accessories which would elongate the container as additional accessories are added. Moreover, a cup is not one of the contemplated accessories and if it were, in the manner disclosed, it would as much as double the footprint of the bottle.
None of the foregoing references, alone or in combination, teach the salient and proprietary features or construction of the present disclosure, and as such, fail to be useful as a beverage container accessory that is convenient, sanitary and does not significantly alter the footprint of the existing container
The present disclosure teaches several embodiments that provide a very convenient, inexpensive, sanitary individual beverage accessory that can be used with existing individual beverage containers with only minor retrofitting to provide a shareable drinking cup without altering the current space footprint of the existing container in any appreciable manner. The present disclosure also teaches embodiments for identifying whose container and/or cup each is intended for use by. There are also embodiments utilizing the basic configuration to expand and include various other ingredients that are commonly used with liquids commonly sold in individual beverage containers.
The present disclosure teaches embodiments that utilize existing materials configured in such a way as to provide: (i) an individual beverage container accessory attachable to an individual beverage container in a sanitary manner; and (ii) a linking ring configured to be affixed to an individual beverage container at some predefined mid-section point and further configured to mate with said individual beverage container accessory; wherein, when said individual beverage container accessory is mated with said linking ring, a sanitary seal is formed and further wherein said individual beverage container accessory is sized such that it slips over an individual beverage container with minimal clearance so as not to increase the footprint of said individual beverage container in any significant manner while also slipping on easily and configured to allow the attachment mechanism to function as intended.
In one embodiment, the individual beverage container accessory is configured to be a cup used for drinking the contents of the individual beverage container. In one embodiment said accessory cup is configured to be just sufficiently larger than the individual beverage container such that it can slip over same without causing a pressure buildup of trapped air but also not increasing the footprint of the container in any significant or appreciable manner.
In other embodiments, the individual beverage container accessory could be configured to be a storage container of some type and would in this configuration, add a dimension of height to the individual beverage container, but no appreciable or significant width or circumference footprint.
In one embodiment, when the accessory is attached to the individual beverage container and a sanitary seal is initially formed, a tamper evident seal may be placed over the attached components.
In one embodiment, the individual beverage container accessory and linking ring may be configured in any number of diameters and heights to accommodate virtually any individual beverage container and/or purpose of use, whether as a cup or as a storage container.
In one embodiment, the individual beverage container accessory is configured to be and act like a sheath in the manner in which it fits over the individual beverage container. In one embodiment, this accessory is made from a clear or otherwise see-through material such that the graphics and/or branding on the surface of the underlying individual beverage container is not concealed or altered. In an alternative embodiment, this accessory can be constructed from a material that intentionally alters the graphics and/or branding on the surface of the underlying individual beverage container to produce certain desired special effects, such as but not limited to, magnification, 3-D effects, holographic effects, glittery effects, accents and the like.
In one embodiment, the individual beverage container accessory is made from a material that is of sufficient structure that it can stand on its own and function as a cup or storage container and sit on a level dry surface in a sturdy manner.
In one embodiment, the individual beverage container accessory is made from a material sufficiently rigid to hold a beverage over a range of temperatures, ice cubes, and other common beverage ingredients when filled.
In one embodiment, the individual beverage container accessory is configured with female screw threads at its top inner surface such that it is capable of mating with suitable counterpart male screw threads on a linking ring fitted onto an individual beverage container. In another embodiment, the configuration of the threads is reversed. In another embodiment, the linking mechanism could be any known secure linking mechanism that works in the chosen medium such as a snap-on fit with plastics wherein each of the two components, the container and the accessory each contain one of the mating components.
In one embodiment, the linking mechanism may include a child-proof twisting mechanism common in medicine bottle screw tops.
In one embodiment, the linking mechanism will secure the individual beverage container accessory to the individual beverage container in a secure and sanitary fashion.
In one embodiment, the individual beverage container accessory will be made from a material that is identical to or similar to the material of the individual beverage container. Examples of materials include food grade plastics, metals, glass and coated paper, capable of handling beverages at consumable cold and hot temperatures. In an alternative embodiment, the individual beverage container accessory will be made from a material that is different from the material of the individual beverage container in that the container may already exist and, for example, be made of glass or aluminum, and it is desirable to manufacture the accessory out of plastic and in addition to the other functions of the accessory as described herein, it may also add an additional function of protection.
In one embodiment, the linking ring is configured to snugly fit over an existing individual beverage container at some predefined point between the top and the bottom of the container, and have a smooth inner surface that fully affixes and forms a tight seal against the outer surface of the container at its attachment point.
In one embodiment, the linking ring has an upper flat outer portion and then counterpart male or female screw threads concentrically downward from the flat portion. In this embodiment, the inner surface of the linking ring is flat and fits in full contact with the outer surface of the individual beverage container and is capable of being secured in place with glue, bonding or some manner known in the art for securing plastic to plastic or metal to metal or plastic to metal or whatever material is chosen to manufacture the linking ring out of and the material of the container and form a tight, sanitary seal.
In one embodiment, the material from which the individual beverage container accessory is manufactured is recyclable.
In one embodiment, the individual beverage container accessory is configured with markings so as to indicate volume when filled with liquids.
In one embodiment, the individual beverage container accessory contains an area where the material from which it is manufactured is prepared in a manner designed to allow writing with an ordinary pen or pencil or marker to easily adhere. In one embodiment, such preparation may be in the form of brushing, or etching or placing a second material over the first material.
In one embodiment, the individual beverage container accessory contains an area where it is configured to contain writing or other form of advertising.
In one embodiment, the individual beverage container contains an area below where the linking ring is affixed where the material from which it is manufactured is prepared in a manner designed to allow writing with an ordinary pen or pencil or marker to easily adhere such as described above in the case of preparing the accessory.
In one embodiment, the individual beverage container contains an area below where the linking ring is affixed where it is configured to contain writing or other form of advertising.
In one embodiment, when the individual beverage container accessory is affixed to the individual beverage container via the linking ring, the unit as a whole is configured so as to be capable of bulk packaging into boxes and cases just as the individual beverage container was prior to the addition of the accessory and linking ring and adds insignificant weight, height or other footprint to the overall unit.
In one embodiment where the individual beverage container accessory is a cup, it is designed with softened and/or beveled edges so as not to be sharp.
In one embodiment, based on where the linking ring is designed to be placed on the individual beverage container, the relative height of the individual beverage container accessory is varied accordingly and thus, the overall volume capacity of the accessory can be manipulated.
In one embodiment, the linking ring can be manufactured in any diameter and from a variety of materials so as to be adjustable for use with any size and any material individual beverage container.
In one embodiment, a second added individual beverage container accessory configured as a storage component may be added at the neck of the individual beverage container so as to contain an additive desired to be mixed with the contained beverage at the time of consumption. In this embodiment, a simple twist of the neck area will puncture a temporary seal between the storage component and the beverage contained within the individual beverage container allowing the additive to drop into and mix with the beverage prior to taking off the cap of the individual beverage container. In this embodiment, there may be two additional embodiments, one where the added neck storage accessory remains in place and to reseal the individual beverage container, simply refit the cap; and a second embodiment where the added neck storage container breaks off completely after twisting and the cap is fitted to reseal at a position below the added neck storage accessory.
In an alternative embodiment, principles of design as described elsewhere herein may be utilized to construct an individual beverage container that has additional components and areas of storage to implement common pairings of liquid and dry goods. For example, referring to
For clarity of disclosure, and not by way of limitation, the detailed description of the invention is divided into the following subsections that describe or illustrate certain features, embodiments or applications of the present invention.
“individual beverage container” as used herein means a container commonly used to contain beverages such as water, soda, juices, beer and the like and commonly sold as individual units for individual consumption and typically have a round mid-section and made from glass, plastic or metal.
“individual beverage container accessory” as used herein means an accessory unit configured to be affixable to an individual beverage container via a linking ring.
“linking ring” as used herein means a ring either separately attached to or directly molded in and configured to be secured to the outer surface of an individual beverage container in a fully sealed in either a temporary or permanently affixed manner wherein the inner surface of said linking ring is smooth to form an airtight seal with an individual beverage container and the outer surface of said linking ring contains a linking mechanism configured to mate with and affix to the individual beverage container an individual beverage container accessory. Said linking mechanism generally contains two parts, namely a linking component (3B) and a sealing component (3A).
“linking ring mate” as used herein means a device either separately attached to or directly molded in an individual beverage container accessory that has corresponding mating and sealing mechanisms to attach to a linking ring.
A typical installation as described herein is to affix a linking ring at a predetermined place along the mid-section of an individual beverage container placed according to the size and specifically the height of an individual beverage container accessory that is desired to be used. The linking ring that contains screw threads is permanently affixed in place such that a full seal is formed between the inner surface of the linking ring and the outer surface of the individual beverage container. In an alternative embodiment, the individual beverage container could be form molded to already contain the linking ring as one contiguous unit.
Once an individual beverage container exists with an affixed linking ring, an individual beverage container accessory, such as one configured to be a cup, is further configured to be a size that will easily but just fit over the outer surface of the prepared individual beverage container and is further configured to contain a linking ring mate on its inner upper surface such that when the accessory is slipped over the container, it can screw into place and be securely affixed and sealed.
In one embodiment, once securely affixed in place, the seal formed at the linking ring area between the individual beverage container and the individual beverage container accessory may be sanitarily sealed until use by placing a temper evident plastic sheath around the seal.
The present invention is further illustrated, but not limited by, the following examples.
A typical use of the prior description is that a consumer desires to purchase a container of some beverage such as water or juice. A typical individual container of such a beverage may be twenty ounces which may be more than the consumer desires at that given time. The container typically contains a resealable cap meaning they could drink half and reseal and save the other half for later. However, typically, the consumer drinks directly out of the container. This is not sanitary. Moreover, the consumer may not have access to a refrigerated unit to store the container until the other half is desired to be consumed.
Thus, when the consumer goes to consume the other half, it will be warm and contaminated.
Through the teachings of this disclosure, there is a better way. In one embodiment, that same beverage container purchased by that consumer is first outfitted with a linking ring and an individual beverage container accessory configured to be a cup and sealed in a sanitary manner at the manufacturing level. When the consumer purchases this now reconfigured beverage, he can break the seal and unscrew the cup accessory. He can now pour half of the contents of the container into the cup. If he has a friend who also only wanted approximately half of a twenty ounce container of beverage, he can share the beverage with that friend. Both will have their own drinking vessel and do not have to take swallows back and forth. Moreover, if the container and the accessory are further configured as previously described to have a brushed area on the container material to accept writing, they can each put their name so it is clear whose container is whose and no unsanitary mixups occur. Even in the event where there is still only one consumer, they can uncap the container and pour half its contents in the cup and immediately reseal keeping the unused portion uncontaminated and sanitary for later consumption.
There are alternative embodiments, as well. For example, the individual beverage container accessory could be configured as both a cup and a storage container. In this embodiment, the accessory could store a small sachet of flavoring or nutrient that, upon opening, could be introduced into the beverage, such as flavorings for water or nutrient boosters for body builders. Such sachets of flavors or nutrients are generally extremely small and compact and would require no additional configuration, or perhaps at most, a millimeter or two of extra height configured in the accessory cup.
In another example, the area of brushed material configured to accept writing could be configured with scratch off games for prize giveaways, advertising or other functions.
In another example, the individual beverage container accessory could be configured as both a cup and a storage container so that a breakfast could be made. For example, the accessory could store instant oatmeal. Add the beverage and microwave into an instant hot meal, i.e., in this embodiment the accessory is a bowl. In that same vein, the accessory could be a bowl and the beverage could be milk and it could work with cold cereal.
Publications cited throughout this document are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Although the various aspects of the invention have been illustrated above by reference to examples and preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is defined not by the foregoing description but by the following claims properly construed under principles of patent law.
Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually exclusive.
The present application claims the benefit of the prior filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/462,488, filed by the present applicant on Feb. 23, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62462488 | Feb 2017 | US |
