Patent Application
20150305530
The present invention relates to the field of fluid vessels and, more specifically, to the field of accessories for fluid vessels, along with associated methods of use.
Individuals consume large amounts of fluids that are marketed and sold in vessels that conform to certain size and shape standards. As a non-limiting example, beer is marketed and sold in “longneck” bottles. Many longneck bottles are sold and consumed in social settings. In many of those social settings it would be advantageous for users to have an accessory to adorn their drinking vessel.
Similarly, many potable beverages are sold and consumed in quantities that are far less than the volume the vessel in which such beverages are packaged. As a further non-limiting example, liquor is often sold in 1-to-4-ounce quantities—e.g., mixed with other ingredients in a drink sold at a bar—but is typically packaged and stored in much larger vessels on the order of 1-to-2 liters. In some situations, these larger vessels are stored at great distances from the consuming public, usually so that a server can work in between the customer and the storage vessel, as in a bar or pub environment.
Depending on the distance between the customer and the vessel at the point of sale, it may be difficult for the customer to discern which beverage choices are available, especially in the case where a particular beverage comes in many flavors. Often times, such beverages are stored in vessels that are virtually identical, except for maybe a label that is difficult to read from a distance. An advantageous accessory would permit greater visibility of individual beverage choices in such situations.
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novelty item for adorning a vessel.
These and other objects, features and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a novelty vessel accessory. The novelty vessel accessory may comprise an external surface having an upper external portion and a lower external portion. The novelty vessel accessory may also comprise an upper opening situated at the top of the external surface, and a lower opening situated at the bottom of the external surface. The novelty vessel accessory may also comprise a conduit internal surface substantially concentric to the upper external portion and defining an annulus between the upper external portion and the conduit internal surface and an engaging internal surface substantially concentric to the lower external portion and defining an annulus between the lower external portion and the engaging internal surface. A novelty vessel accessory according to embodiments of the present invention may be advantageously configured such that its engaging internal surface engages the outer surface of a cylindrical vessel having an open mouth inserted into the lower opening of the accessory permitting fluid to exit the open mouth of the inserted cylindrical vessel through the accessory's upper opening. Novelty vessel accessories embodying the present invention may have an external surface that bears an advantageous shape or color, or may bear a brand name or logo corresponding to the source of a fluid contained in the vessel. Additionally, novelty vessel accessories according to embodiments of the present invention may further comprise a flow-control member connected to the top of the vessel accessory's engaging internal surface such that fluid exiting the mouth of a cylindrical vessel engaged with the vessel accessory's engaging internal surface pass through the flow-control member and the vessel accessory's upper opening.
The present invention will now be described fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
The present invention is now described herein in the context of a novelty vessel accessory, which is suitable for attaching to a longneck beer bottle. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following embodiments of the present invention are only illustrative and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure.
On the interior of a novel vessel accessory 100, as depicted in
A novel vessel accessory 100, according to embodiments of the present invention, may be fabricated from a semi-firm flexible material. By way of non-limiting example, novel vessel accessories may be fabricated from thermoplastic elastomer, silicone, plastic, silicone, rubber, polyurethane, polyurethane rubber, foamed polyurethane, flexible epoxy, or other similar materials. A person having skill in the relevant art will appreciate that such materials are well-suited for fabricating a novel vessel accessory 100 that may be stretched slightly when engaged upon a compatible vessel to create a water-tight seal between the novelty vessel accessory's engaging internal surface 202 and the exterior of the vessel. A novel vessel accessory 100 might have a rigid core member having a conical shaped, which may be made of, for example, but not limited to, engineering plastic or metal.
According to embodiments of the present invention, a novelty vessel accessory 100 may have an external surface 102 that has been fabricated to have an advantageous shape. By way of illustrative example only, and not provided as a limitation, a novelty vessel accessory 100 may have the shape of a human phallus. By way of further illustrative example, and not provided as a limitation, a novelty vessel accessory 400 may have the shape of a microphone, as depicted in
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a novel vessel accessory 100 may also include a vessel insertion lip 203, which is connected to the top of the novel vessel accessory's engaging internal surface 202 and which extends down substantially concentric to the engaging internal surface 202. A vessel insertion lip 203 and engaging internal surface 202, according to embodiments of the present invention, may sandwich the open mouth of a compatible vessel that is inserted into the lower opening 104.
As depicted in
The present invention is now described herein in the context of a novelty vessel accessory, which is suitable for attaching to a larger bottle, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a liquor or wine bottle. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following embodiments of the present invention are only illustrative and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure.
According to embodiments of the present invention, a novelty vessel accessory's external surface 102 may have an advantageous shape that corresponds to the flavor of a fluid stored in an engaged cylindrical vessel 601. In certain embodiments of the present invention, a novelty vessel accessory's external surface 102 may have an advantageous color, which may correspond to the flavor of a fluid stored in an engaged cylindrical vessel 601. Novelty vessel accessories, according to embodiments of the present invention, may have a visible brand name or logo on its external surface 102, which brand name or logo may correspond to the source of a fluid stored in an engaged cylindrical vessel 601. Those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize that lighting devices, such as light emitting diodes, may be embedded under a novelty vessel accessory's external surface 102 to improve the visibility of the novelty vessel accessory in low light environments.
Turning now to
As depicted in
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed.
