PUCK CUPS

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved container assembly where a container or vessel with nodules is inserted into a non-slip base, such as a hockey puck, with a recess having channels to create a locking system of a container into a hockey puck made from vulcanized rubber to create a non-slip reaction when placed on a hard surface. Further, the container assembly acts as a coaster to prevent staining and the inherent weight and width of the non-slip base creates optimal stability to said container or vessel.

Description

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to containers, more specifically, containers for holding liquids.

2. Description of Related Art

A container or vessel specifically designed to hold liquids is commonly used to drink certain beverages. Existing containers made for drinking liquids or drinkware are vessels made from various fluid impervious materials. A hockey puck, or a flat ball, is a disk, usually made from vulcanized rubber, typically used in ice hockey, and known for its high friction rubber surface.

Components of a typical standard container for holding liquids are: an outer wall; an inner wall; a base; wherein the walls and the base create a volume for the container to hold.

Existing containers or vessels for drinking purposes are commonly used for serving and drinking many varieties of liquids. Certain styles of vessels for drinking liquids include a pilsner glass or a pint glass. Certain styles enhance or affect a particular type of liquid's temperature, appearance, or aroma. Many containers are made from a glass or plastic material, usually to include some practicalities including non-breakage, washing, stacking, or storage. The base of most containers typically consists of the same material as the inner and outer walls, thus creating a uniform shape and uniform material. Consequently, these existing vessels are typically made out of one uniform material. Existing vessels are usually placed on a support surface, like, but not limited to a countertop or table. However, by placing a vessel on a surface, a slippery reaction may occur between the base of the container and the surface it was placed upon. This slippery, wet, or greasy reaction can be created by a variety of means, but usually is from the surface already having a substance on it causing the surface to be damp or wet or from the condensation created by the liquid inside of the vessel that drips down to the base. This slippery reaction can cause containers to fall off the surface they are placed upon or slide in an unwanted direction or manner.

Furthermore, the slippery reaction created underneath the base of an existing container can leave stains on the surface that the container is placed upon. For example, a glass container on a wooden surface can leave a container-shaped stain due to the condensation from the container flowing to the base of the glass or from the base or surface being wet or damp.

Additionally, existing containers can lack stability due to the common design of tapering the base of the glass. The lack of stability thus can cause the vessel to tip over and spill the contents of the container.

A hockey puck is usually made from vulcanized rubber and is typically black; to be used in ice hockey. A standard hockey puck is 1 inch thick, 3 inches in diameter, and weighs between 5.5 and 6 ounces. Pucks are typically made up of a mix of natural rubber, antioxidants, and bonding materials. The vulcanization process to create the vulcanized rubber used to make the puck is a chemical treatment process that involves the application of chemicals, mainly sulfur. The vulcanization process changes some of the physical properties of the rubber by forcing the rubber to retract. Thus, the rubber hardens and becomes less vulnerable to deformation.

Rubber resists sliding or slipping due to the creation of a high level of friction between the rubber and the surface that the rubber is placed upon. The rubber material is a common selection when grip and stability is wanted between an object and a surface because there is a high level of friction created. For example, rubber hockey pucks also possess this similar high level of friction between the bottom of the puck and a supporting surface.

Other slip resistant materials include polymers such as plastic, rubber, and neoprene.

In light of these challenges in the field, there is a need for an improved container specifically designed for holding liquids that will not fall off the surface they are placed upon or slide in an unwanted direction or manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes these and other deficiencies of the prior art by providing an improved container assembly with a non-slip base.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a container assembly comprises: an assembled combination of container and a non-slip base, wherein the container is designed to hold a liquid, such as water, juice, carbonated soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, teas, energy drinks, etc., and the puck creates a non-slip reaction to a surface.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a container assembly comprises an assembled combination of container and a non-slip base, wherein the non-slip base comprises a recess using a locking mechanism and channel to securely attach to a cup, glassware, vessel, or general container for holding liquids.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a container assembly comprises an assembled combination of container and non-slip base, wherein a container comprises a bump, nodule, node, or knob which locks in a channel inside of a recess of a puck to securely hold a container and act as a stable base.

The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a container assembly constructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of the invention;

FIG. 1A illustrates a cross-sectional side perspective of a container with a plurality of nodules in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective of a container with a recess and channel with a plurality of nodules in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A illustrates a cross-sectional side perspective of a container with a plurality of nodules in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a isometric top perspective of a non-slip base with a recess and channel with a locking mechanism in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A illustrates a side perspective of a non-slip base in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional side perspective of a non-slip base with a recess and channel with a locking mechanism in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3C illustrates a cross-sectional bottom perspective of a non-slip base with a recess and channel with a locking mechanism in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3D is a bottom perspective of a non-slip base in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to FIGS. 1-3, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. Although the invention is described in the context of a container or vessel, the present invention is applicable to any type of container to hold liquids or like device.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A in relevant part, a container assembly 100 includes a container 100 with a continuous sidewall 102 having an outer surface 102a, an inner surface 102b, an upper edge 102c, and a lower edge 102d, and a non-slip base 107 with a plurality of channels 108. A horizontal bottom 103 is affixed to the lower edge 102d. A horizontal bottom 103 cooperates with the inner surface 102b of the continuous sidewall 102 to hold a volume 106. An upper edge 102c encircles an opening 104 to hold the volume 106. The volume 106 is for receiving contents, a chosen liquid, placed therein through the opening 104. The plurality of channels 108 cooperates with a plurality of nodules 205 located on the outer surface 102a. The container 101 is inserted into the centrally located recess 109 located in the non-slip base 107 where the plurality of nodules 105 fit into the corresponding plurality of channels 108 to lock the container 101 and the non-slip base 107 together.

Container 101 is formed from a fluid impervious material or combination of materials to hold liquids. Accordingly, in an embodiment, a container 101 is formed of glass, an inherently fluid impervious material, and can be formed of other inherently fluid impervious materials or combination of materials in alternate embodiments, such as plastic, metal, wood, or other chosen fluid impervious materials or combination of fluid impervious materials whether transparent or opaque.

In an embodiment of container 101 chosen for the purposes of illustration and reference, continuous sidewall 102 is cylindrically tapered from an upper edge 102c to a lower edge 102d, in which container assembly 100 is conical in shape, being shaped as an inverted truncated cone that tapers in diameter over its height from the upper edge 102c to a horizontal bottom 103. Container 101 can be approximately 5.75 inches tall, tapers by approximately one inch in outer diameter over its height from its maximum outer diameter of approximately 3.5 inches at an upper edge 102c to a horizontal bottom 103, weighs approximately 15.5 ounces, and volume 106 is sized to hold approximately sixteen ounces of a chosen liquid.

Container 101 is generally representative of a standard American pint glass sized to hold approximately sixteen ounces of a chosen beverage and is presented as an example of a container useful in container assembly. A person having ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that container 101 of container assembly 100 can vary in size, in shape, and in fluid-impervious materials without departing from the present invention.

Non-slip base 107 is formed of ridge material with slip resistant properties, such as vulcanized rubber or plastic. In an embodiment of non-slip base 107 chosen for the purpose of illustration and reference, non-slip base 107 is disk-shaped.

In FIGS. 2 and 2A, container 201 can be shown with a plurality of nodules 205 placed at specific positions corresponding to the plurality of channels 108 and protruding from the outer surface 202a near the horizontal bottom 203 of the container 201. The plurality of nodules 205 may be formed in the shape of a rounded protrusion such as a knob, bump, or jut can be made of the same fluid impervious material as the container, other fluid impervious material, or even any material to create a raised surface.

In FIG. 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D, non-slip base 307 can be a standard hockey puck used in the sport of ice hockey, comprising a centrally located recess 309201 . Accordingly, non-slip base 307 can be a polymer disk, such as hardened vulcanized rubber, including an outer sidewall 310 and an inner sidewall 311 extending between opposed parallel upper and lower surfaces 311 and 312, and an inner base surface 314. Further, the centrally located recess 309 comprises an inner sidewall 311, where the plurality of channels 308 are located on the inner sidewall 311 corresponding in location to the plurality of nodules 205 on the container 201. The plurality of channels 308 comprise a circular end 308a to create a locking system, where the polarity of nodules 205 slide in the plurality of channels 308 to create a locking system between the container 201 and the non-slip base 307. In an embodiment, there can be three or more plurality of channels 308 and plurality of nodules on the container assembly 100. The centrally located recess 314 does not extend the full length of the distance between the upper surface 312 and the lower surface 313. In the embodiment where the non-slip base is a standard hockey puck of hard vulcanized rubber, non-slip base 307 is typically black, but is not limited to only being of black color. Non-slip base 307 can be one inch thick from upper surface 312 to lower surface 313, and three inches in diameter along a straight line that passes through the center of the non-slip base 307, where endpoints lie on the inherent circle defined by the outer sidewall 310. As with a standard hockey puck, in and embodiment of the non-slip base 307, the non-slip base 307 is between 5.5 and 6 ounces in weight, although it can be customarily heavier or lighter than the standard weight to support a container 201 to improve stability.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A, container assembly 100 is useful for holding and consuming a liquid or beverage. In use, a chosen liquid or beverage is placed into a volume 106. To consume the beverage, container assembly 100 is taken up by hand, such as gripping outer surface 102a of container 101, lifted upright to the user's mouth, and tipped for enabling the chosen beverage to spill into the user's mouth. Alternatively, a straw can be used.

In FIG. 1, non-slip base 101 serves as a stabilizer to the container 101 positionable against a horizontal support surface such as a table for supporting a container 101 upright, such as for storage during periods of non-use and when a user simply sets container assembly 100 down between sips of a chosen beverage applied to volume 106 or after finishing the chosen beverage. It is particularly advantageous that container 101 is affixed to non-slip base 107 because of the inherent weight and size of the non-slip base, and the material from which puck 30 is constructed, which creates a non-slip reaction and eliminates potential stains from water, wetness, or condensation on the surface the container assembly 100 is placed.

The inherent weight and dimensions of the non-slip base 107 advantageously serves as an inherent stabilizing force for container assembly 100 when container assembly 100 is set down on a surface. In an embodiment, the inherent weight of the non-slip base 107, being approximately 30-40% of the inherent weight of the container 101, coupled with the non-slip base 107 inherent size, especially the diameter of the non-slip base 107 being approximately 85% of the maximum outer diameter of container 101 of approximately 3.5 inches at upper edge 102c, work in concert to advantageously stabilize container 101 when it is set down in direct contact on a surface and prevent container assembly 100 from inadvertently being easily tipped over.

Further, due to the high friction characteristic of the material from which non-slip base 107 is made from, the non-slip base 107 resists slipping across surfaces such as, but not limited to wood, metal, glass, plastic, and other surfaces commonly used support surfaces for countertops, tables, coffee tables, cabinets, and other fixtures where beverage containers are customarily set upon. Therefore, when container assembly 100 is set down in direct contact against a surface, the inherent non-slip material characteristics of non-slip base 107 enable lower surface 313, as shown in FIG. 3, of non-slip base 107 to resist slipping across surfaces of wood, metal, glass, plastic, and other surfaces commonly used support surfaces for countertops, tables, coffee tables, cabinets, and other fixtures where liquid containers are customarily set upon.

Furthermore, the non-slip base 107 integrated with container 101 in container assembly 100 acts as an integrated coaster under container101 to protect a table or other surface from moisture, which prevents staining. The integration of non-slip base 107 with container 101 in container assembly 100 defines a “coastered” container 101, in which non-slop base 107 integrated under container 101 eliminates the need for having to find or use a separate coaster and to eliminate the problem of staining a surface in accordance with the principle of the invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Moreover, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention.

The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments and claims.

Claims

1. A container assembly comprising: a continuous sidewall comprising: an outer surface;an inner surface;an upper edge; anda lower edge;a horizontal bottom affixed to the lower edge;an opening affixed to the upper edge;a plurality of nodules protruding from the outer surface of the continuous sidewall;a non-slip base comprising: an outer surface;an inner surface;an upper surface;a lower surface;an inner base surface; anda centrally located recess, wherein the centrally located recess accepts the horizontal bottom affixed to the lower edge of the continuous sidewall.

2. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the horizontal bottom cooperates with the inner surface of the continuous sidewall to hold a volume.

3. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein an upper edge encircles an opening to hold a volume.

4. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-slip base is formed from a polymer.

5. The container assembly of claim 4, wherein the polymer is vulcanized rubber.

6. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the centrally located recess comprises a plurality of channels.

7. The container assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of channels comprise a circular end.

8. The container assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of channels comprise an open end on the upper surface.

9. The container assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of channels are capable of receiving the plurality of nodules.

10. The container assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of nodules lock into the circular ends of the plurality of channels.

11. The container assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of nodules and the plurality of channels when locked together allow the user to move the container with the non-slip base affixed.

12. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the continuous side wall is formed from a fluid impervious material.

13. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-slip base catches liquid from the container.

14. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-slip base has a diameter equal to or longer than the diameter of the container.

15. A method for creating a non-slip vessel comprising: inserting a vessel comprising a plurality of nodules into a non-slip base;securing said vessel between the plurality of channels inside of the recess, wherein the plurality of channels comprise a circular end; andlocking the plurality of nodules into the circular ends of the plurality of channels.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the non-slip base is formed from a polymer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the polymer is a vulcanized rubber.

18. A method for creating a stain resistant vessel comprising: inserting a vessel comprising a plurality of nodules into a non-slip base;securing said vessel between the plurality of channels inside of the recess, wherein the plurality of channels comprise a circular end; andlocking the plurality of nodules into the circular ends of the plurality of channels.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the non-slip base is formed from vulcanized rubber.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the non-slip base catches liquid from the vessel.