Patent Grant
7272950
A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an enclosure for trapping dry ice, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a novelty enclosure for trapping dry ice in a drinking glass.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Dry ice—solidified CO2—is commonly available in block form and pellets in many grocery stores, as well as other locations. It is commonly used in shipping perishable items and for cooling beverages. Because dry ice changes state directly to a gas—instead of first to a liquid as does regular ice—when used to cool beverages it does not dilute.
Numerous innovations for drinking vessels have been provided in the prior art that will be described infra. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention in that they do not teach a novelty enclosure for trapping dry ice in a drinking glass.
(1) U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,375 to Fantacone.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,375 issued to Fantacone on Jul. 3, 1990 teaches an ice trap including a trapping device and beverage cup combination. The trapping device has a plurality of openings, a conical shaped side section, a rim, a compression gap, and compressing tabs for inserting, locking in, and removing the trapping device. The trapping device also has a bottom section with a downward pitch for ice containment near the inner cup wall when tilted, and, a center bottom opening in the bottom section for inserting a straw. The beverage cup has an internal annular lip formed from the inwardly sloping wall, and, an annular horizontal bottom surface included beneath the lip for locking the trapping device in place.
(2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,534 to Webb et al.
Another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,534 issued to Webb et al. on Jul. 7, 1998 teaches a beverage container in the form of an aluminum can having a top plate in which a dispensing aperture is formed by pulling a tab so as to inwardly displace a tongue portion. Filtering apparatus is resiliently mounted within the container so as to be deployed at a location traversing the dispensing aperture after the tongue portion has been inwardly displaced. The filtering apparatus may be a perforate plate and may have perforations defining a competition visual indication whereby the token becomes visible only after the container is opened.
(3) U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0035144 to Nielsen.
Still another example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0035144 published to Nielsen on Feb. 26, 2004 teaches a drinking vessel including an interior portion holding pellets or chips of dry ice that cool a beverage in the glass while the beverage is being consumed. The interior portion can be a part of the glass or it can be a detached piece usable in different vessels. Either way the interior portion includes holes that allow the beverage to freely flow around the dry ice, while the holes are small enough to prevent the dry ice from entering the portion of the vessel where it could be accidentally consumed.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for drinking vessels have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, a novelty enclosure for trapping dry ice in a drinking glass.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novelty enclosure for trapping dry ice in a drinking glass that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
Briefly stated, another object of the present invention is to provide a novelty enclosure for trapping dry ice in a drinking glass. The novelty enclosure includes a fixed portion, a replaceable portion, and apparatus. The fixed portion is positioned within—and is attached to—the bowl of the drinking glass, and traps the dry ice. The replaceable portion is replaceably attached to the fixed portion allowing the fixed portion to be filled with the dry ice. The apparatus allows the fixed portion and/or the replaceable portion to permit vapor from the dry ice to rise there through and up through and out of the drink giving an illusion of a witches brew.
The novel features that are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.
The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:
Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to
The novelty enclosure 20 comprises a fixed portion 36, a replaceable portion 38, and apparatus 40. The fixed portion 36 is for positioning within—and attaching to—the bowl 26 of the drinking glass 24, and for trapping the dry ice 22. The fixed portion 36 is for attaching to the bowl 26 of the drinking glass 24 by any known ways, such as, but not limited to, an adhesive, a groove, etc. The replaceable portion 38 is replaceably attached to the fixed portion 36, and is for allowing the fixed portion 36 to be filled with the dry ice 22. The replaceable portion 38 is replaceably attached to the fixed portion 36 by a press fit, screwing, etc. The apparatus 40 is for allowing at least one of the fixed portion 36 and the replaceable portion 38 to permit vapor 42 caused by sublimating the dry ice 22 to rise there through and up through and out of the drink 28 giving an illusion of a witches brew. A primary function of the sublimating of the dry ice 22 is to cool the drink, while a secondary function is to create the illusion of the witches brew.
It is to be understood that the dry ice 22 is the preferred solid because it cools the drink 28 and creates the illusion of the witches brew, but it is not limited to that, and can be for all intent and purposes any solid if so desired by a user for other purposes.
The configuration of the fixed portion 36 and a first embodiment of the apparatus 140 can best be seen in
The fixed portion 36 comprises a top part 44 and a side part 46. The top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 is for extending transversely across the side wall 32 of the bowl 26 of the drinking glass 24. The side part 46 of the fixed portion 36 depends from the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36, and is for extending laterally across the side wall 32 of the bowl 26 of the drinking glass 24 and downwardly to the bottom 34 of the bowl 26 of the drinking glass 24—and in doing so—together with the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36—traps the dry ice 22 to one side of the side part 46 of the fixed portion 36 without obstructing the bowl 26 of the drinking glass 24 to the other side of the side part 46 of the fixed portion 36 so as to provide an unobstructed portion 48 in the bowl 26 of the drinking glass 24—opposite to the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36—for placement of an item, for example, a straw 50, a toothpick/olive, etc. See
The top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 is more horizontal than vertical—and is preferably planar—but is not limited to that, while the side part 46 of the fixed portion 36 is more vertical than horizontal—and is preferably planar—but is not limited to that.
The top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 has a periphery 52. The periphery 52 of the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 has an outer portion 54 and an inner portion 56. The outer portion 54 of the periphery 52 of the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 is for contacting the side wall 32 of the bowl 26 of the drinking glass 24. The inner portion 56 of the periphery 52 of the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 has the side part 46 of the fixed portion 36 depending therefrom, and is for being spaced from the side wall 32 of the bowl 26 of the drinking glass 24 so as to provide the unobstructed portion 48 in the bowl 26 of the drinking glass 24.
The top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 has a through bore 58 there through. The through bore 58 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 has a periphery 60, is for allowing the fixed portion 36 to be filled with the dry ice 22, and is selectively closed by the replaceable portion 38.
The apparatus 140 comprises the periphery 60 of the through bore 58 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 being slightly larger than a portion of the replaceable portion 38 for allowing the vapor 42 from the dry ice 22 to rise there between and up through and out of the drink 28 giving an illusion of a witches brew, and cooling and mixing the drink 24.
The configuration of a second embodiment of the apparatus 240 can best be seen in
The apparatus 240 comprises the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 having a plurality of through bores 262. The plurality of through bores 262 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 extend around the periphery 60 of the through bore 58 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36, and are for allowing the vapor 42 from the dry ice 22 to rise there through and up through and out of the drink 28 giving an illusion of a witches brew, and cooling and mixing the drink 24.
The configuration of a third embodiment of the apparatus 340 can best be seen in
The apparatus 340 comprises the outer portion 54 of the periphery 52 of the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 having a recess 364 therein with a depending tab 366. The recess 364 in the outer portion 54 of the periphery 52 of the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 is for providing a space 368 between the outer portion 54 of the periphery 52 of the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 and the side wall 32 of the bowl 26 of the drinking glass 24 for allowing the vapor 42 from the dry ice 22 to rise there through and up through and out of the drink 28 giving an illusion of a witches brew, and for drainage of debris contained in the fixed portion 36.
The tab 366 of the outer portion 54 of the periphery 52 of the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 prevents the dry ice 22 from spilling out of the space 368 in the outer portion 54 of the periphery 52 of the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 when the drink 28 is drunk from that side of the drinking glass 24.
The recess 364 in the outer portion 54 of the periphery 52 of the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 is preferably diametrically opposed to the side part 46 of the fixed portion 36—but is not limited to that.
The configuration of a fourth embodiment of the apparatus 440 can best be seen in
The apparatus 440 comprises the periphery 60 of the through bore 58 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 having a recess 464 therein. The recess 464 in the periphery 60 of the through bore 58 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 provides a space 468 between the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 and the replaceable portion 38 for allowing the vapor 42 from the dry ice 22 to rise there through and up through and out of the drink 28 giving an illusion of a witches brew, and for prying out of removable portion 38.
The recess 464 in the periphery 60 of the through bore 58 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 is preferably adjacent the side part 46 of the fixed portion 36—but is not limited to that.
The configuration of a fifth embodiment of the apparatus 540 can best be seen in
The apparatus 540 comprises the outer portion 54 of the periphery 52 of the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 having a plurality of tabs 570 extending therefrom—preferably coplanarly. The plurality of tabs 570 of the outer portion 54 of the periphery 52 of the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 are for attaching to bowl 26 of drinking glass 24, and form a plurality of spaces 572 there between and between the outer portion 54 of the periphery 52 of the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 and the side wall 32 of the bowl 26 of the drinking glass 24 for allowing the vapor 42 from the dry ice 22 to rise there through and up through and out of the drink 28 giving an illusion of a witches brew.
The configuration of a sixth embodiment of the apparatus 640 can best be seen in
The apparatus 640 comprises the replaceable portion 38 having a plurality of through bores 662 there through. The plurality of through bores 662 in the replaceable portion 38 are for allowing the vapor 42 from the dry ice 22 to rise there through and up through and out of the drink 28 giving an illusion of a witches brew, and cooling and mixing the drink 24.
The configuration of a first embodiment of the replaceable portion 138 can best be seen in
The replaceable portion 138 is a cap 174. The cap 174 of the replaceable portion 138 selectively opens and closes the through bore 58 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36.
The cap 174 of the replaceable portion 138 comprises a body 176 and an upper flange 178. The body 176 of the cap 174 of the replaceable portion 138 is so shaped and sized so as to fit loosely in the through bore 58 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 for allowing the vapor 42 from the dry ice 22 to rise there between and up through and out of the drink 28 giving an illusion of a witches brew, and preventing the dry ice 22 from spilling out and being consumed.
The upper flange 178 of the cap 174 of the replaceable portion 138 extends circumferentially around the body 176 of the cap 174 of the replaceable portion 138, and rests on the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 so as to prevent the cap 174 of the replaceable portion 138 from falling through the through bore 58 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36.
The configuration of a second embodiment of the replaceable portion 238 can best be seen in FIG. 12—which is an enlarged diagrammatic side elevational view of a second embodiment of the replaceable portion of the novelty enclosure of the present invention, identified by ARROW 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2—and as such—will be discussed with reference thereto.
The replaceable portion 238 is a cap 274. The cap 274 of the replaceable portion 238 selectively opens and closes the through bore 58 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36.
The cap 274 of the replaceable portion 238 comprises a body 276, an upper flange 278, and a lower flange 280. The body 276 of the cap 274 of the replaceable portion 238 is shaped and sized to fit in the through bore 58 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36.
The upper flange 278 of the cap 274 of the replaceable portion 238 extends circumferentially around the body 276 of the cap 274 of the replaceable portion 238, and rests on the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 preventing the cap 274 of the replaceable portion 238 from falling through the through bore 58 in the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36.
The lower flange 280 of the cap 274 of the replaceable portion 238 extends circumferentially around the body 274 of the cap 274 of the replaceable portion 238, is positioned below the upper flange 278 of the cap 274 of the replaceable portion 238, and sandwiches the top part 44 of the fixed portion 36 between itself and the upper flange 278 of the cap 274 of the replaceable portion 238, thereby providing a snug fit for the cap 274 of the replaceable portion 238.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a novelty enclosure for trapping dry ice in a drinking glass, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the assembly illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4096707 | Taylor | Jun 1978 | A |
| 4405348 | Pasternack | Sep 1983 | A |
| 4938375 | Fantacone | Jul 1990 | A |
| 5727712 | Costello | Mar 1998 | A |
| 5775534 | Webb et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
| 5860558 | Fahy | Jan 1999 | A |
| 5913964 | Melton | Jun 1999 | A |
| 5971202 | Filbrun | Oct 1999 | A |
| 6101838 | Teague | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6227004 | Gerstein | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6269651 | Price | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6378325 | Yang | Apr 2002 | B1 |
| 6474096 | de la Guardia | Nov 2002 | B1 |
| 6557351 | Ghedini et al. | May 2003 | B1 |
| 6868694 | Nielsen | Mar 2005 | B2 |
| 20040035144 | Nielsen | Feb 2004 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2000-65453 | Mar 2000 | JP |
