Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BEVERAGE CONTAINER ACCESSORY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to a beverage container accessory for
cold
liquids. More particularly, this invention relates to a beverage container
accessory that in
a collapsed state can be used as a conventional napkin or coaster and in a non-
collapsed
state can be used to hold beverage containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Glass bottles and aluminum cans are commonly used as containers for
keeping
and serving cold beverages, e.g. beer, sodas, water. A common problem
experienced by
a consumer of cold beverages is that condensation forms on the outside of the
container,
which means that a consumer's hand gets wet and cold when the container is
gripped
during the consumption process. One common solution to this problem is to take
a
napkin and wrap the napkin around the container to absorb the condensation.
Generally
this is only a temporary solution since the condensation wicks from the
surface of the
napkin touching the container to the surface of the napkin touching the hand
of the
consumer, plus the napkin has a tendency to lose structural integrity under
these
conditions. If the cold beverage is in a can, one solution is to use a sturdy,
insulated
device to hold the beverage container, e.g. a koozie, coozie. These devices
are generally
made from closed or open cell foam materials and are designed to be sturdy and
to have
insulating properties. These devices generally have logos or promotional
information
displayed on the outside since both the manufactures of cold beverages and the
owners of
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establishments serving cold beverages use this medium to advertise their
respective
brands. Historically, beverage manufacturers have been producing for
promotional
distribution paper drink coasters and bar napkins with their advertising
logos/messages
on them. These are often distributed free of charge to restaurants and bars.
[0003] A number of beverage container accessories have been proposed for hot
and
cold beverages, e.g., sleeves for containers of hot beverages and insulated
jackets for cans
of cold beverages. Generally, the focus for the sleeves for containers of hot
beverages is
to keep the consumer's hand from being burnt, while the focus for the
insulated jackets
for cans of cold beverages is to keep the beverage cold.
[0004] Examples of these types of proposed solutions include the following.
Egger
U.S. Pat. No. 2,617,549 discloses a coaster type holder that is fitted about
and carried by
containers for liquids such as glasses, bottles, cans, etc. Reineke U.S. Pat.
No. Des.
159,525 discloses a jacket-type coaster. Harmony U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,567
discloses an
insulator for canned drinks made from an elongated sheet of cross-linked
polyethylene
foam having a strip of adhesive deposited on one side at one end of the sheet.
Kelly U.S.
Pat. No. 4,344,303 discloses a beverage container cooler having a flexible
foam
insulating layer with a cooling surface. Williamson U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,668
discloses an
individual beverage cooler having a flexible, multilayer thermal wrap with an
inner
coolant layer which conforms to a container's shape and leaves an opening at
the
container's top to expose the pouring end. Zills U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,245
discloses a
collapsible, insulative beverage container jacket with a pocket sewn on the
jacket. Curbs
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U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,995 discloses a knit cover for a beverage container formed
as a single
piece seamless rib knit sleeve. Taylor U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,280 discloses a
cover of
adjustable size for a bottle. Henderson U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,611 discloses a
fold-up
insulated beverage container accessory. Henderson U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,525
discloses a
fold-up insulated beverage container accessory with a stabilizing support
base. Hewlett
U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,588 discloses a cooling wrap method of manufacture. Guo
U.S. Pat.
No. 5,169,025 discloses a thermal isolating sheath for beverage containers
which is
integrally made by a kind of flexible and elastic thermal isolating material,
and is
comprised of main gasket and a base gasket. Shelby U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,315
discloses an
insulated beverage receptacle holder formed from a substantially rigid
paperboard sheet
having a rectangular body portion having opposite lateral side edges. Downes
U.S. Pat.
No. Des. 370,600 discloses a flexible insulation device for a beverage
container with a
handle. Rose U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,615 discloses a container holder having a
unique shape
that facilitates printing of advertising material at a predetermined location
on the holder.
Welch U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,902 discloses an insulated foldable receptacle for
containers.
Bell U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,091 discloses a hot or cold beverage container
accessory
manufactured from a sheet of recycled pressed paper pulp. Mahl U.S. Patent
6,412,686
discloses a thermal insulating sleeve for a container that is easily converted
from a
generally planar configuration during periods of nonuse and into an expanded
or open
configuration for receiving a container during periods of use.
[0005] None of these devices are designed to convert from use as a napkin or
coaster to
use as a beverage container holder. Additionally, none of these devices are
designed to
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convert from use as a napkin or coaster to use as a beverage container holder
that is
disposed for advertising and promotion. Other problems exist that are not
addressed by
these devices..
[0006] Improvements are needed to facilitate addressing the condensation
problem on
the outside of cold beverage containers, while providing a single device that
can serve as
a napkin, a coaster and a beverage container holder. Therefore, it is an
object of the
present invention to provide a beverage container accessory device that
overcomes these
and other problems.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage
container accessory
that is operable for converting from a napkin or coaster to a beverage
container holder
that will hold most beverage containers, e.g. bottles and cans.
[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage
container
accessory that will partially absorb condensation when in contact with the
outside of a
beverage container containing a cold beverage.
[0009] Still another object of the present invention to provide a beverage
container
accessory that can accept printing and embossing.
[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage
container
accessory that can be easily expanded into an open configuration for
accommodating
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beverage containers of varying shapes and sizes, e.g., high ball glasses, low
ball glasses,
pmts.
[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage
container
accessory that is sturdy enough to withstand moderate handling, e.g.,
maintaining
reasonable structural integrity for the average length of time it takes to
consume the
beverage.
[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage
container
accessory that can be formed from a biodegradable and/or recyclable material.
[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage
container
accessory that is capable of being manufactured by existing machinery, with no
or
moderate modifications.
[0014] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage
container
accessory that can easily collapse into a substantially planar configuration
for ease of
storage, shipping and dispensing, and will fit into most current bar napkin
holders.
[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage
container
accessory that is easy to use.
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[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage
container
accessory that will provide a moderate thermal benefit by minimizing direct
contact of
the user's hand with the beverage container.
[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage
container
accessory that can be made inexpensively.
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage
container
accessory that is disposable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The aforementioned and other objects were achieved, and the above-
mentioned
disadvantages overcome, by the present invention, by providing a beverage
container
accessory device that can also be used as a napkin, a coaster or a beverage
container
holder.
[0020] The present invention is directed to an accessory for a container, such
as a
beverage container. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the beverage
container
accessory is comprised of a generally tubular body of material when in the un-
collapsed
state. The tubular body of material is further comprised of an open first end
and a second
end forming a central cavity therein. The central cavity is sized for
insertion of a
beverage container, e.g. a beer bottle or beer can. The second end prevents
the inserted
beverage container from falling through the cavity. The inside material of the
central
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cavity is enabled for absorption of a portion of the normal condensation
formed on the
outside of a cold beverage container. The outside material of the present
invention is
enabled for receiving advertising or promotional information, e.g. logos,
brand names
and the like.
[0021] The preferred storage of the present invention is in a collapsed state
wherein the
present invention is in a generally planar configuration suitable for vertical
stacking of
the present invention. The preferred dispensing of the present invention is
such that it
can be placed in a closed configuration under a beverage container as an
absorbent
coaster, or placed in a closed configuration to the side of a beverage
container as a napkin
replacement, or opened in an un-collapsed state and having a beverage
container placed
through the first open end, into the cavity until the beverage container comes
to rest at the
second end of the present invention.
[0022] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the beverage
container
accessory if formed from pliable material, e.g., paper, fabric, cotton, linen,
linen
composite, plastic, cardboard, foam composites of paper, fabric, plastic,
cardboard or
foam and laminates of paper, fabric, plastic, cardboard or foam.
[0023] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the beverage
container
accessory is comprised of an absorbent material and means for attaching the
material to
itself to form an open-ended tube, e.g. adhesive, thread, or compression.
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[0024] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in
part in the
description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description,
or may be
learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the
invention will be
obtained by means of instrumentalities in combinations particularly pointed
out in the
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The accompanying drawings illustrate a complete embodiment of the
invention
according to the best modes so far devised for the practical application of
the principles
thereof, and in which:
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a beverage container accessory in a non-
collapsed
state with a beverage bottle inserted according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory in a
collapsed
state according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory in a
collapsed
state according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory in a
collapsed
state according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
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[0030] FIG. 5 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory in a
collapsed
state according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 6 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory in a
collapsed
state for holding beverage cans according to an alternate embodiment of the
present
invention.
[0032] FIG. 7 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory in a
collapsed
state for holding beverage bottles according to an alternate embodiment of the
present
invention.
[0033] FIG. 8 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory with
an
alternate bottom arrangement in the non-engaged position according to an
alternate
embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 9 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory with
an
alternate bottom arrangement in the engaged position according to an alternate
embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 10 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory with
left
bottom and right bottom openings according to an alternate embodiment of the
present
invention.
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[0036] FIG. 11 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory
according to
an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 12 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory
according to
an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 13 shows a front perspective view of a beverage container
accessory
according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 14 shows a front perspective view of a beverage container
accessory
according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 15 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory
according to
an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 16 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory
according to
an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 17 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory
according to
an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 18 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory
according to
an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
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[0044] FIG. 19 shows a top plan view of an unassembled beverage container
accessory
according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 20 shows a front plan view of an assembled beverage container
accessory
according to the alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
19.
[0046] FIG. 21 shows a front perspective view of a beverage container
accessory
according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0047] The drawings show aspects of the invention. As the drawings are
described,
reference will be made to the present preferred embodiments of the invention.
The
terminology used herein to describe the present preferred embodiments is for
the purpose
of clarification. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the
specific
terminology used. Terminology used to describe each element should be
understood to
include all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to
accomplish similar
functions.
[0048] The present invention is described in relation to a beverage container
accessory
device. Nonetheless, the characteristics and parameters pertaining to various
embodiments the device and methods described herein may be applicable for
other uses.
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[0049] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention is shown as
device
10, with bottle 5 inserted through opening 20. Condensation 6 is shown on
bottle 5.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 2, device 10 is comprised of top side 10A, right side
10B, left
side 10C, bottom side 10D, front side 10E and back side lOF (not shown). Right
sealing
area 30, bottom sealing area 40 and left sealing area 50 are preferably sealed
with
adhesive, but can be sealed with other methods, e.g. thread, compression, heat
and the
like. The combination of right sealing area 30, bottom sealing area 40 and
left sealing
area 50 forms cavity lOH (not shown) into which a beverage container, such as
bottle 5,
can be inserted. In this embodiment two square sheets of equal size are used
to form
device 10.
[0051] Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment, also using two square
sheets
of equally sized material, is shown where right sealing area 30 and left
sealing area 50
form a tubular body of material, which allows a beverage container, such as
bottle 5, to
be inserted into opening 10I (not shown) either from the direction of top side
10A or
bottom side 10D.
[0052] Referring now to FIG. 4, a single sheet of material is used and folded
at crease
lOG and sealed at right sealing area 30 to form a tubular body of material.
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[0053] Referring now to FIG. 5, a single sheet of material is used and folded
at crease
lOG and sealed at right sealing area 30 and bottom sealing area 40 to form
cavity lOH
(not shown) for holding a beverage container.
[0054] Referring now to FIG. 6, a single sheet of material is used, folded and
sealed
using indentions 60 formed by compression. Indentions 60 are positioned such
that a
beverage can fits into opening 20 (not shown).
[0055] Referring now to FIG. 7, a single sheet of material is used, folded and
sealed
using indentions 60 formed by compression. Indentions 60 are positioned such
that a
beverage bottle fits into opening 20 (not shown). Indentions 60 can be
disposed in
varying arrays and in varying shapes, e.g. circles, squares, triangles,
irregular shapes.
Glue dots 61 (not shown) may also be used such that an inserted beverage
container will
"pop" open the beverage container accessory until it fits the size of the
beverage
container. Glue dots 61 may be used instead of indentions 60, or in
combination with
indentions 60.
[0056] Referring now to FIG. 8, device 10 is formed from a single sheet of
material,
folded such that edge 70 is affixed, preferably with adhesive to front side
10E. Bottom
80 is formed as part of back side lOF and is comprised of bottom extension
80A, bottom
support 80B and bottom tab 80C. Bottom tab 80C has means for permanently
affixing to
device 10, e.g. adhesive protected by a removable cover.
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[0057] Referring now to FIG. 9, bottom support 80B is folded such that bottom
tab 80C
adheres to device 10 and forms a bottom operable for holding a beverage
container.
[0058] Referring now to FIG. 10, an alternate embodiment of the present
invention is
shown. Right cut-out 120 and left cut-out 130 are formed by the sealing of
alternate right
sealing area 90 and alternate left sealing area 110. A beverage container is
inserted into
opening 20 (not shown) from the direction of top side 10A until the bottom of
the
beverage container comes to rest on the floor formed by bottom side 10D.
Portions of the
base of the inserted beverage container will then partially protrude through
the apertures
formed by right cut-out 120 and left cut-out 130.
[0059] Referring now to FIG. 11, an alternate embodiment of the present
invention is
shown. This embodiment shows that device 10 is formed by two circular pieces
of
material that are sealed together at semi-circular sealing area 140. Semi-
circular sealing
area 140 begins at left end-point 150 and finishes at right end-point 160,
staying roughly
equidistant from outer-edge 180, thus forming opening 20 (not shown), wherein
a
beverage container can be inserted from the direction of semi-circular top
side 170 into
cavity lOH (not shown). Left end-point 150 is preferably positioned roughly at
315° and
right end-point 160 is preferably positioned roughly at 45°.
[0060] Referring now to FIG. 12, an alternate embodiment of the present
invention is
shown where the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is cut to form alternate top 190.
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[0061] Referring now to FIG. 13, an alternate embodiment of the present
invention is
shown where device 10 is formed in a tubular shape with top opening 200 and
bottom
opening 205 forming a sleeve for a beverage container.
[0062] Referring now to FIG. 14, an alternate embodiment of the present
invention is
shown where device 10 is in a tubular shape with top opening 200, bottom seam
210 and
bottom 220 forming an holder for a beverage container..
[0063] Referring now to FIG. 15, an alternate embodiment of the present
invention is
shown with right sealing area 240, left sealing area 230, right diagonal
opening 250, left
diagonal opening 260, and bottom 270.
[0064] Referring now to FIG. 16, an alternate embodiment of the present
invention is
shown with right sealing area 280, left sealing area 290, right upper diagonal
opening
300, right lower diagonal opening 310, bottom 320, left lower diagonal opening
330 and
left upper diagonal opening 335.
[0065] Referring now to FIG. 17, an alternate embodiment of the present
invention is
shown with right sealing area 340, left sealing area 400, right upper opening
350, right
side opening 360, bottom 370, left side opening 380 and left upper opening
390.
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[0066] Referring now to FIG. 18, an alternate embodiment of the present
invention is
shown with upper right sealing area 410, right notch 420, lower right sealing
area 430,
bottom 450, lower left sealing area 460, left notch 470, upper left sealing
area 480..
[0067] Referring now to FIG. 19, an alternate embodiment of the present
invention is
shown in the unassembled state. First portion 490, second portion 510, and
bottom
portion 500 are shown.
[0068] Referring now to FIG. 20, an alternate embodiment of the present
invention is
shown where the unassembled embodiment shown in FIG. 19 is assembled by
applying
adhesive on right adhesive area 520 and left adhesive area 530, folding and
pressing to
form the shape shown in FIG. 20, with bottom 500.
[0069] Referring now to FIG. 21, an alternate embodiment of the present
invention is
shown with top opening 530, bottom extension 540A, bottom support 540B and
bottom
tab 540C. Bottom tab 540C has adhesive area 540D for permanently affixing to
device
10, e.g. adhesive protected by a removable cover.
[0070] The preferred process of making the present invention is as follows:
~ Obtaining a sheet of pliable, disposable material
~ Cutting the sheet to form a first section and a second section where both
the first
section and the second section are dimensioned to be roughly 5" x 5"
~ Affixing adhesive along the edges of three of the sides of the first section
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~ Placing the second section on top of the first section with the adhesive to
form a
5" x 5" beverage container accessory blank
~ Pressing firmly on the beverage container accessory blank to form a beverage
container accessory
~ Waiting until the adhesive has dried
~ Imprinting at least one side of the beverage container accessory
~ Stacking the beverage container accessory in a dispensing container
[0071] The preferred process of using the beverage container accessory is as
follows:
~ Obtaining a beverage container accessory
~ Positioning the beverage container accessory such that the open end is
facing up
~ Placing a thumb along the near edge of the beverage accessory container
~ Placing the remaining fingers along the far edge of the beverage accessory
container
~ Moving the thumb and fingers slightly towards each other in order to open
the
cavity of the beverage container accessory
~ Placing a suitably sized beverage container into the beverage container
accessory
cavity
~ Gripping the beverage container accessory such that the beverage container
is
firmly held within the beverage container cavity
[0072] Other embodiments, uses and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification
and practice of
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the invention disclosed herein. The specification and examples should be
considered
exemplary only.
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