SCOREKEEPING DRINKWARE

Abstract

Provided is a drinking vessel with one or more circumferential grooves defined in the outer surface of the vessel. A band is disposed in each groove. Each band bears a sequence or series of numbers, letters, symbols or other characters that represent a score or other measurable metric pertinent to a game or sporting event. Each band can be rotated independently relative to the vessel so that the use can align a particular number, letter or character of the band with a reference point on the vessel to track a given participant's score and/or other metrics. The vessel can be insulated such as a double-walled vacuum insulated metal tumbler or other drinking vessel.

Description

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to drinkware, and more particularly to drinkware such as tumblers featuring one or more rotating rings for scorekeeping and/or data tracking.

BACKGROUND

There are many sporting activities and games in which persons engage that require the participants to keep score for each participant. Sometimes participants also wish to track additional metrics relating to their performance in a given contest. For example, a golfer needs to track their overall score for a round of golf. That golfer may also wish to track related performance metrics for that same round such as the number of fairways hit from the tee and/or the number of greens reached in regulation. Other sports and games have analogous scoring and tracking needs. Thus, there is a continuing need to provide for convenient means for participants in sporting and gaming activities to track their scores and play metrics.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides an item of drinkware such as a drinking vessel with one or more scoring and/or metric tracking features. In one example embodiment, a drinking cup such as a tumbler is provided. Circumferential grooves are defined in the outer surface of the cup. A band is disposed in each groove. Each band bears a sequence or series of numbers, letters, symbols or other characters that represent a score or other measurable metric pertinent to a game or sport. Each band can be rotated independently relative to the cup so that the use can align a particular number, letter or character of the band with a reference point on the cup to track a given participant's score and/or other metrics. The cup can be insulated such as a double-walled vacuum insulated metal tumbler or other drinking vessel.

In one example provided herein, a scorekeeping drinkware includes a drinking vessel with one or more scoring bands. The drinking vessel comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein one or more circumferential channels are defined into the outer wall. Each scoring band is disposed in a respective one of the one or more circumferential channels. Each scoring band has an outer face with a plurality of numbers, characters or symbols depicted thereon. The one or more scoring bands are rotatable relative to the drinking vessel in both a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction.

The drinking vessel can be a tumbler, mug, cup, bottle or any other suitable configuration of vessel for holding liquids that presents a circular outer surface. The drinking vessel can be a double-walled vacuum insulated vessel. A cap can be secured in an open top of the drinking vessel.

Each of the one or more scoring bands can comprise a slide guide and an outer ring. The plurality of numbers, characters or symbols are depicted on an outer face of the outer ring. The outer ring is rotationally secured to the slide guide so that both the slide guide and outer ring rotate together.

The slide guide can be formed of a plastic material and the outer ring can be formed of a rubber material. The plastic material has a lower coefficient of friction than the rubber material to facilitate ease of rotation of the band relative to the vessel.

The slide guide can comprise an elongated member including a pair of opposing parallel side walls and a base member spanning between the pair of opposing parallel side walls. The slide guide can further include a plurality of apertures defined through the base member. The plurality of apertures may be elliptical shapes and be longitudinally aligned in a single row along the base member. The outer ring can further comprise an inner face including a plurality of protrusions that are sized and shaped to mate with the plurality of apertures defined through the base member to rotationally lock the slide guide and outer ring together. The pair of opposing parallel side walls and a base member spanning between the pair of opposing parallel side walls together can define a groove for receiving the outer ring. The outer ring is disposed in the groove of the slide guide.

In an example, a first band of the one or more scoring bands defines a sequence of numerals in a 0-9 range counting by ones, and a second band of the one or more scoring bands defines a sequence of numerals in a 0-120 range counting by tens. Other numerical sequences and ranges can be provided in other embodiments. Characters and/or symbols can be provided in further embodiments instead of or in addition to numerals.

A reference line can be defined on an outer surface of the outer wall of the drinking vessel so that a user can rotationally align one of the plurality of numbers, characters or symbols of at least one of the one or more scoring bands with the reference line.

A separator groove can be defined on an outer surface of each of the one or more scoring bands between each of the plurality of numbers, characters or symbols depicted thereon.

In another example, a scorekeeping system is provided herein. The scorekeeping system includes a drinking vessel with a plurality of scoring bands. The drinking vessel comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein a plurality of circumferential channels are defined into the outer wall. Each scoring band is disposed in a respective one of the plurality of circumferential channels. Each scoring band comprises an outer face with a plurality of numbers, characters or symbols depicted thereon. The plurality of scoring bands are rotatable relative to the drinking vessel in both a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction.

The drinking vessel can be a double-walled vacuum insulated tumbler comprising a stainless steel material. The drinking vessel can be a tumbler, mug, cup, bottle or any other suitable configuration of vessel for holding liquids that presents a circular outer surface.

Each of the plurality of scoring bands can comprise a slide guide and an outer ring. The plurality of numbers, characters or symbols are depicted on an outer face of the outer ring. An inner face of the outer ring comprises a plurality of protrusions and the slide guide defines a plurality of apertures configured to mate with the plurality of protrusions. The outer ring is rotationally secured to the slide guide by the mating of the protrusions and apertures so that both the slide guide and outer ring rotate together.

The slide guide is formed of a material with a lower coefficient of friction than the outer ring.

Further provided herein is a method of scoring a game, match or sporting event. The method comprises rotating a scoring ring clockwise or counterclockwise about an outer surface of a drinking vessel to align a number, character or symbol depicted on the scoring ring with a reference indicator depicted on an outer surface of the drinking vessel.

The above summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, or describe each embodiment, aspect, implementation, feature or advantage of the invention. The detailed technology and preferred embodiments for the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention. It is understood that the features mentioned hereinbefore and those to be commented on hereinafter may be used not only in the specified combinations, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scorekeeping drinkware in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the drinkware shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the drinkware shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear side view of the drinkware shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the drinkware shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the drinkware shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the drinkware shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the drinkware shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a further perspective view of the drinkware shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the drinkware shown in FIG. 1 taken along line a-a in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D are perspective views of outer rings of bands for the drinkware in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D are side views of outer rings for bands for the drinkware in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D are additional side views of outer rings for the bands of respective FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D showing additional characters.

FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D are further side views of outer rings of the bands of respective FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D.

FIG. 15 is a top view of an outer ring of a band for the drinkware in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 16A, 16B, 16C and 16D are cross-sectional side views of the outer rings of the bands shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D taken along line b-b in FIG. 15.

FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C and 17D are cross-sectional perspective views of the outer rings of the bands shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D taken along line b-b in FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an inner slide guide of a band for scorekeeping drinkware in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 19 is a side view of an inner slide guide of a band for scorekeeping drinkware in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 20 is an end view of a band for scorekeeping drinkware in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a scorekeeping drinkware without the bands present in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 22 is a side view of a scorekeeping drinkware with a cap secured thereto in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 23 is a top view of a cap for a scorekeeping drinkware in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 24 is a side view of a cap of a scorekeeping drinkware in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular example embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following descriptions, the present invention will be explained with reference to various exemplary embodiments. Nevertheless, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to any specific example, environment, application, or particular implementation described herein. Therefore, descriptions of these example embodiments are only provided for purpose of illustration rather than to limit the present invention.

It should be recognized, however, that the dimensions, proportions, scale and configurations of components are merely example embodiments and can be varied unless specifically limited in a given claim. Thus, the dimensions, proportions, scale and configurations can be varied without departing from the scope of the invention except where explicitly limited by a given claim.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, the scorekeeping drinkware 100 is illustrated in various views. The drinkware generally comprises a drinking vessel (cup body) 102 and one or more bands 104 that rotate about the cup's longitudinal axis with respect to the cup 102. The cup can be in the form of a tumbler or other various configurations of drinkware. A tumbler is shown as the example drinkware throughout the drawings, but it should be recognized that other forms of drinkware can be provided in alternative embodiment, including cups, mugs and bottles.

The drinkware can be a double-walled vacuum insulated configuration in order to help keep the temperature of liquids inside of body 102 insulated from the temperature external to the body 102. The body 102 can be formed from a stainless steel or other suitable metal material. The vacuum cavity 106 is formed between the inner wall 108 and outer wall 110 of the body 102 as illustrated in FIG. 10 for example.

The body 102 also can be formed with a solid singular outer wall in alternatives. In addition, rigid plastics and composite materials can be used instead of metal.

An exterior coating, such as paint or powder coating can be applied to the body 102 to enhance grip by the user and to provide an attractive appearance in a variety of colors.

Referring additionally to FIG. 21, a series of grooves or channels 112 are formed inward into the outer wall 110 to define a channel in which each band 104 can rotate. Each channel 112 corresponds to one band 104. The surface defining the channel(s) 112 is smooth so that the bands 104 can rotate freely therein. The channels 112 can be generally U-shaped, V-shaped, square-shaped or other shape. The depth of the channel is similar to or slightly less than the (horizontal cross-sectional) thickness of the band. The width of the channel is slightly greater than the width (vertical height) of the bands. That way, the user can easily use their fingers to contact the outer surface of the bands 104 to rotate the bands as desired.

Referring to FIGS. 22-24, the open top of the cup body 102 can be fitted with a cap 114. The cap functions to minimize the likelihood that liquid enclosed by the body 102 can spill out if the body 102 is shaken or tipped over. The cap 114 also provides a means for drinking the liquid inside of the body 102 without needing to remove the cap or lid 114 from the body 102.

The cap 114 in one example comprises a circular disc 116 with a lower smaller diameter portion 118 and an upper larger diameter portion 120. The upper diameter portion 120 has an outer diameter that is approximately the same as the outer surface 110 of the body 110. The upper diameter portion 120 defines a shoulder portion 122 that engages the upper edge of the body 102 so that the cap 114 rests securely atop the body 102. The lower portion 118 has a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter 108 of the body 102 adjacent to the open top.

A rubber gasket 124 is provided to the lower portion 122 so that the gasket seals against the inner wall 108 of the body 108 when the cap 114 is mated to the top of the body 102. A tab 126 extends horizontally from the cap 114 to aid the user in removing the cap 114 from the body 102. A liquid dispensing aperture 128 or orifice is provided through the cap 114 so that the user can drink the contained liquid. An aperture cover mechanism may also be provided to temporarily close the dispensing aperture 128 when not dispensing liquid in order to further guard against spills.

The cap 114 can be formed of a rigid plastic. It is preferred that the cap be clear so that the liquid contents can be observed. However, the cap 114 be can opaque or semitransparent as well. The cap 114 can be colored in alternative embodiments. Other configurations of caps can be provided to the body in further alternatives.

Referring to FIGS. 11A-20, the bands 104 will now be discussed. Each band 104 comprises a plastic inner slide guide 130 and an outer rubber ring or band 132. The slide guide 130 is relatively low friction to allow the band 104 to rotate with minimal resistance relative to the cup body 102. The slide guide 130 comprises an elongated member that is a squared-off U-shape in lateral cross-section or in end view. Thus, the slide guide 130 defines a groove 134 in which the outer rubber band or ring 132 is securely received. The groove 134 is defined by parallel opposing raised side walls 136 connected by base member 138 spanning between the opposing raised side walls 136. A plurality of longitudinally-aligned elliptical apertures 140 are defined through the base member 138. Circles, rectangles, polygonal shapes or apertures or other shapes than elliptical can be provided in other alternative embodiments.

The outer band 132 is a cylindrical band with an inner face 142 and an outer face 144. The inner face 142 comprises a plurality of raised elliptical protrusions 146 that have a shape and size corresponding to the elliptical apertures 140 that are defined through the base member 138. If the apertures 140 are different shapes than elliptical, then the protrusions 146 would have a correspondingly different shape as well. The protrusions 146 function to rotationally lock the outer band 132 to the inner slide guide 130. The protrusions 146 protrude approximately the same amount or slightly less than the thickness dimension of the base member 138. Thus, the relatively higher frictional coefficient material of the outer bands 132 does not contact the channel 112 surface defined in the cup body 102.

The outer face 144 of the outer band 132 comprises a plurality of characters 148 in a sequence of such characters. For example, the characters 148 may be the numerals 0-9 or 1-18, etc. The sequence may jump by more than one character as well, such as skipping by 10 in the sequence 0, 10, 20, 30 . . . 120. The characters 148 can be letters or symbols in alternative embodiments.

A separator groove 150 or protrusion can be provided between adjacent characters to create a more distinct visual separation between each character.

As shown in FIG. 22, a reference line 152 can be provided on the outside surface of the cup body 102 so that the user can align a selected one of the characters 148 with the reference line 152 to represent a current score or other value to be tracked.

Also as shown in FIG. 22, text 154 can be provided on the outside surface of the cup body 102 adjacent to each band to indicate the metric being scored or tracked for each band. In the depicted example, the scores/metrics being tracked correspond to golfing. However, other sports or games may be labeled accordingly and the characters 148 depicted on the bands can be selected to correspond to the particular game or sport. For example, a tennis match can be scored or tracked. Various games can also be scored, such as cornhole, pickleball, bocce ball, horseshoes, etc.

In use, the bands 104 are provided to the cup body 102 by first disposing a slide guide 130 in a channel 112 with the raised sidewalls 138 facing outwards. Then the outer rubber ring 132 is disposed in the groove 134 of the slide guide 130 such that the protrusions 146 mate with the respective apertures 140 of the slide guide 130. Thus, the user can then rotate the band(s) to the desired rotational position relative to the body 102 to indicate their score(s) and/or metric(s) being tracked for a particular game or event. The user could also track the scores and/or metrics of another player as well. The bands 104 can be rotated in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Two bands can combine together to track a range of scores. For example, one ring can count by tens, while another ring spans the range of 0-9. Thus, two rings can combine to track a score in a large range, such as 0-120 for example.

The drinkware 100 or cup can be filled with a liquid that the user wishes to consume as they would with a conventional cup or other drinkware. The tumbler shape is particularly useful in that it holds a relatively large volume of liquid while fitting in standard cup holders of vehicles, such as a golf cart. This makes the present scorekeeping drinkware 100 convenient for the user to track scoring without the need for an additional scorekeeping device. The scorekeeping means and liquid container are combined into one convenient device.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and equivalent arrangements can be made thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, such scope to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products. Moreover, features or aspects of various example embodiments may be mixed and matched (even if such combination is not explicitly described herein) without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A scorekeeping drinkware, comprising: a drinking vessel, comprising an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein one or more circumferential channels are defined into the outer wall; andone or more scoring bands, each scoring band is disposed in a respective one of the one or more circumferential channels, and each scoring band having an outer face with a plurality of numbers, characters or symbols depicted thereon,wherein the one or more scoring bands are rotatable relative to the drinking vessel in both a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction.

2. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 1, wherein the drinking vessel is a tumbler.

3. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 1, wherein a vacuum is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall.

4. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 1, further comprising a cap configured to be secured in an open top of the drinking vessel.

5. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more scoring bands comprises: a slide guide; andan outer ring,wherein the plurality of numbers, characters or symbols are depicted on an outer face of the outer ring, andwherein the outer ring is rotationally secured to the slide guide so that both the slide guide and outer ring rotate together.

6. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 5, wherein the slide guide is formed of a plastic material and the outer ring is formed of a rubber material, wherein the plastic material has a lower coefficient of friction than the rubber material.

7. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 5, wherein the slide guide comprises an elongated member including a pair of opposing parallel side walls and a base member spanning between the pair of opposing parallel side walls.

8. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 7, wherein the slide guide further comprises a plurality of apertures defined through the base member.

9. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of apertures are elliptical shapes and are longitudinally aligned in a single row along the base member.

10. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 5, wherein the outer ring further comprises an inner face comprising a plurality of protrusions.

11. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 10, wherein the slide guide comprises an elongated member including a pair of opposing parallel side walls and a base member spanning between the pair of opposing parallel side walls, wherein the base member includes a plurality of apertures defined through the base member, and wherein the plurality of protrusions are each sized and arranged so that the plurality of protrusions mate with the plurality of apertures defined through the base member such that the slide guide and outer ring are rotationally locked to one another.

12. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 5, wherein the slide guide comprises an elongated member including a pair of opposing parallel side walls and a base member spanning between the pair of opposing parallel side walls which together define a groove for receiving the outer ring, the scorekeeping drinkware further comprising the outer ring disposed in the groove of the slide guide.

13. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 1, wherein a first band of the one or more scoring bands defines a sequence of numerals in a 0-9 range counting by ones, and a second band of the one or more scoring bands defines a sequence of numerals in a 0-120 range counting by tens.

14. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 1, wherein a reference line is defined on an outer surface of the outer wall of the drinking vessel so that a user can rotationally align one of the plurality of numbers, characters or symbols of at least one of the one or more scoring bands with the reference line.

15. The scorekeeping drinkware of claim 1, wherein a separator groove is defined on an outer surface of each of the one or more scoring bands between each of the plurality of numbers, characters or symbols depicted thereon.

16. A scorekeeping system, comprising: a drinking vessel, comprising an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein a plurality of circumferential channels are defined into the outer wall; anda plurality of more scoring bands, each scoring band is disposed in a respective one of the plurality of circumferential channels, and each scoring band having an outer face with a plurality of numbers, characters or symbols depicted thereon,wherein the plurality of scoring bands are rotatable relative to the drinking vessel in both a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction.

17. The scorekeeping system of claim 15, wherein the drinking vessel is a double-walled vacuum insulated tumbler comprising a stainless steel material.

18. The scorekeeping system of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of scoring bands comprises: a slide guide; andan outer ring,wherein the plurality of numbers, characters or symbols are depicted on an outer face of the outer ring,wherein an inner face of the outer ring comprises a plurality of protrusions,wherein the slide guide defines a plurality of apertures configured to mate with the plurality of protrusions, andwherein the outer ring is rotationally secured to the slide guide by the mating of the protrusions and apertures so that both the slide guide and outer ring rotate together.

19. The scorekeeping system of claim 18, wherein the slide guide is formed of a material with a lower coefficient of friction than the outer ring.

20. A method of scoring a game, match or sporting event, the method comprising: rotating a scoring ring clockwise or counterclockwise about an outer surface of a drinking vessel to align a number, character or symbol depicted on the scoring ring with a reference indicator depicted on an outer surface of the drinking vessel.