Protective cover for beverage

Abstract

A beverage cover for temporarily covering a beverage glass, and having, a flexible synthetic panel, and, a semi-rigid frame surrounding and bonded to the panel, with an opening in said frame.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a temporary cover for a beverage, typically a cold beverage contained in a glass.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A customer enjoying a beverage in a restaurant or club for example may often leave the beverage glass unattended standing on a table or bar while his attention taken up in a conversation. During this time another person may accidentally, or in some cases, maliciously, deposit something else in the glass. Not infrequently, such a person may deposit a noxious substance in the glass with the intention that it will be consumed by the customer when he once again picks up his glass. Frequently, such a substance simply cannot be detected at all and then the customer may unknowingly consume a beverage complete with the noxious substance. For these reasons, it is not unusual for customers to carry these glasses wherever they go, possibly covering the glass with their hand. This precaution, however, is not practical in may cases. For example, if the customer has to visit a washroom the glass must be left behind while dancing, playing darts or pool, the glass must be placed elsewhere. For all of these reasons it is desirable to provide for some form of a cover which can be temporarily applied to a glass. When the customer returns to collect the glass again, if the cover is moved the customer will know that someone has tampered with the beverage. The existence of the cover may be enough to deter malicious activities.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a beverage cover for covering a beverage, having a panel being made of flexible synthetic material and being releasably attachable to the rim of a glass and a semi-rigid frame around the panel adapted to extend beyond the rim of the glass.

Preferably the panel of synthetic material will be transparent.

Preferably the transparent panel of synthetic material will have adhesive means by which it may be temporarily bonded to the rim of the glass.

Preferably the adhesive means will be inherent in the manufacture of the panel itself, and will not require the addition of any further adhesive layers.

Preferably the semi-rigid frame will be formed of a single panel of card stock, having two openings formed in it, and folded double, on opposite sides of the synthetic panel, so that the two openings register with one another, and with the synthetic panel sandwiched between the two folded over portions of card stock.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with more particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a beverage glass, with a beverage cover illustrating the invention positioned on the rim of the glass;

FIG. 2 is a cut away perspective illustration of the beverage cover; and

FIG. 3 is a section along 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing an alternate embodiment in phantom.

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

The beverage cover (10) will be seen to comprise a flexible synthetic panel (12) and a border or frame (14). Preferably the flexible panel (12) is of transparent material. Preferably it will be of the type which is self adhesive when simply pressed onto the rim of the glass. Alternatively, some form of adhesive may be applied to it during manufacturing if desired.

The border or frame (14) is formed of semi rigid material. Typically it will be paper card stock of any suitable type. Preferably the paper card stock will be a single rectangular panel of card, folded double as at fold line (16) and defining generally rectangular upper and lower portions (16a) and (16b) formed with upper and lower openings (18).

Preferably the openings are somewhat oversized relative to the diameter of the rim of a typical beverage container or glass. The two portions (16a) and (16b) of the border (14) sandwich the synthetic material (12) between them. Any suitable bonding medium, or even heat sealing, will secure the panel (12) to the two portions (16a) and (16b), and in turn securing the two portions to one another, to form a multilayer frame.

In this way, the relatively soft flexible synthetic material can be easily handled. The entire beverage cover can be placed into position over the top of a beverage container or glass. Finger pressure will then be applied to the panel (12) around the rim of the glass causing a temporary bond. In this way the customer can place the glass down while attending to some other activity or function. Upon his return, he can simply remove the beverage cover and continue to the enjoy the beverage.

Possible modifications include the use of a panel (12) of modified material using the so called “peel and stick” principal. The panel (12) would have a suitable adhesive layer of a type well known and there would be a cover layer shown in phantom as (20), FIG. 3, applied to one side of the panel, covering the adhesive. When it is intended for use, the cover layer (20) would simply be peeled off and discarded and the panel could then be applied to the top of the beverage container.

It is not necessary that the border (14) shall be rectangular or square. Clearly it could be of other shapes and might, for example, have a finger tab on one side (not shown) by which it might easily be handled.

Any suitable printing, or directions, or warnings, or advertising (22) might be printed on the upper portion or layer (16a) if desired.

The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is given here by way of example only. The invention is not to be taken as limited to any of the specific features as described, but comprehends all such variations thereof as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A beverage cover for temporarily covering a beverage glass, and comprising;

a flexible synthetic panel;

a semi-rigid frame surrounding and bonded to the panel; and,

an opening defined by said frame.

2. A beverage cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible panel is of transparent material.

3. A beverage cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel is formed of self adhesive material whereby, when said panel is pressed onto the rim of the glass, it will adhere thereto.

4. A beverage cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel is formed with an adhesive.

5. A beverage cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a panel of paper card stock, and two spaced apart openings formed therein.

6. A beverage cover as claimed in claim 5 wherein the paper card stock panel is folded double and defines upper and under layers of generally rectangular shape with upper and lower openings registering with one another

7. A beverage cover as claimed in claim 6 wherein said openings are oversized relative to the diameter of the rim of a typical beverage container.

8. A beverage cover as claimed in claim 7 wherein said two layers of said frame sandwich the synthetic material panel between them.

9. A beverage cover as claimed in claim 5 including and adhesive on one side of said panel and a removable cover layer applied to said one side of said panel.

10. A beverage cover as claimed in claim 6 including printed material printed on said upper layer of said frame.