Multi-Vessel Systems and Methods
Systems and methods for a multi-vessel device generally comprises a first vessel and a second vessel, wherein the first vessel may suitably couple to the second vessel and the first vessel may comprise a shot glass and the second vessel may comprise a bottle that contains a spirituous liquid. In an embodiment, an exterior bottom portion of the first vessel may suitably couple to a top portion of the second vessel via a friction fit, a stopper, or a screw. Alternatively, an interior bottom portion of the first vessel may suitably couple to a top portion of the second vessel via a friction fit, a stopper, and a screw. In some embodiments, the first vessel may couple to the second vessel so as to seal the second vessel. Among various representative embodiments, the present invention may comprise a method for manufacturing, packaging and/or selling the multi-vessel system or device.
Purveyors of alcoholic beverages are accustomed to purchasing such goods in a limited number of forms. For example, beer products are generally purchased by the bottle or can. Wine is almost exclusively sold by the bottle, save the small number of wine products sold by the box, and packaged liquor is always sold by the bottle and usually within a decorative one.
To enjoy the alcoholic beverage, a user, unless drinking straight from the bottle or can, must locate a drinking vessel to pour the beverage. As disclosed by the present invention it is convenient and/or novel to the user if a drinking vessel could accompany a packaged alcoholic bottle or can. Thus, to address the need for such convenience and/or novelty, a drinking vessel, such as a shot glass, a wine glass, a beer mug and the like may be manufactured, packaged, marketed and/or sold that may be suitably coupled to the alcoholic bottle or can. It should be appreciated, though, that while the above discusses alcoholic beverages, the discussion is equally relevant and applicable to non-alcoholic beverages, for example, soda cans and bottles, water bottles, energy drink containers, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAmong various representative embodiments, the present invention may comprise a multi-vessel drinking system comprising a first vessel and a second vessel, wherein the first vessel may suitably couple to the second vessel. The first vessel may comprise a shot glass and the second vessel may comprise a bottle that contains a spirituous liquid. In an embodiment, an exterior bottom portion of the first vessel may suitably couple to a top portion of the second vessel via a friction fit, a stopper, or a screw. Alternatively, an interior bottom portion of the first vessel may suitably couple to a top portion of the second vessel via a friction fit, a stopper, and a screw. In some embodiments, the first vessel may couple to the second vessel so as to seal the second vessel.
In yet another embodiment, an exterior bottom portion of the first vessel may comprise a retractable armature, wherein the retractable armature may comprises at least one of a clip and a loop mechanism configured to couple the first vessel to the second vessel. And in still yet other embodiments, at least a third vessel may suitably couple to at least one of the first vessel and the second vessel. Among various representative embodiments, the present invention may comprise a method for manufacturing, packaging and/or selling the multi-vessel system.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.
Elements and/or method steps in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular construction or sequence. For example, steps that may be performed concurrently or in different order are illustrated in the figures to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. Similarly, elements that disclose embodiments of various devices or systems may be assembled in various fashions are illustrated in the figures to similarly help improve the understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention may be described herein in terms of various functional elements and various method steps. Such functional elements may be realized by any number of hardware components configured to perform specified functions and achieve various results. For example, the present invention may employ various vessel configurations to contain a consumable beverage, e.g., bottles and cans, as well as alternate drinking vessels to consume the beverage, e.g. shot glasses, wine glasses, mugs, and the like, which vessels may carry out a variety of functions. In addition, the present invention may be practiced in conjunction with any number of alcoholic, non-alcoholic, water, soda, or alternate beverage environments, and the systems and devices described are merely exemplary applications for the invention. Further, the present invention may employ any number of conventional techniques for manufacturing, packaging, marketing, and selling the described systems and devices.
Various representative implementations of the present invention may be applied to any multi-vessel drinking system. Referring now to
In this exemplary embodiment, second vessel 120 may comprise a beer bottle, such as a typical 12 ounce beer bottle, but second vessel 120 may comprise other types of bottles. For example, second vessel 120 may comprise the beer bottle, a wine bottle, a liquor bottle, a champagne bottle, a soda bottle, a water bottle, and the like.
Turning now to
It should be appreciated that the suitable couplings illustrated by
Turning now to
As with
In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, the first vessel may suitably couple to the second vessel as previously described by either an exterior or interior bottom portion, but in other embodiments the first vessel may operate to actually secure the top portion of the second vessel to enclose the contents of the second vessel. For example and with reference to
In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, any exterior bottom portion of the first vessel, for example and with reference to
Turning now to
Turning now to
In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, and with continued reference to
In accordance with yet another exemplary embodiment and with reference to
Among the various exemplary embodiments described herein, particularly the embodiments illustrated by
In accordance with exemplary embodiments of multi-vessels devices and systems and their method for manufacture, and with reference to
Among the exemplary methods described herein, and although a particular order of actions is depicted in
The multi-vessel systems and methods described herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and the foregoing discussion of exemplary embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. For example, other exemplary embodiments may comprise some, all, or a combination of the embodiments disclosed. For example, alternate embodiments may comprise a combination of some or all of the embodiments depicted in
In the foregoing specification, the present invention has been described with reference to specific multi-vessel exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims. The specification and figures are illustrative, rather than restrictive, and any modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the examples described.
For example, the steps recited in any method claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the specific order presented in the claims. Additionally, the components and/or elements recited in any apparatus, device or system claims may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims.
Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular embodiments; however, any benefit, advantage, solution to problem or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage or solution to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required or essential features or components of any or all the claims.
As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “having”, “including”, “includes”, “is” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition, device, system or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, composition, device, system or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in the practice of the present invention, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, packaging elements, marketing efforts, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.
Claims
1. A device comprising:
- a first vessel and a second vessel, wherein the first vessel suitably couples to the second vessel.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first vessel comprises a shot glass.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the second vessel comprises a bottle.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the bottle contains a spirituous liquid.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein an exterior bottom portion of the first vessel suitably couples to a top portion of the second vessel.
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the exterior bottom portion of the first vessel suitably couples to the second vessel comprising at least one of a friction fit, a stopper, and a screw.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein an interior bottom portion of the first vessel suitably couples to a top portion of the second vessel.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the interior bottom portion of the first vessel suitably couples to the second vessel comprising at least one of a friction fit, a stopper, and a screw.
9. The device according to claim 1, wherein an exterior bottom portion of the first vessel comprises a retractable armature.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the retractable armature comprises at least one of a clip and a loop mechanism configured to couple the first vessel to a neck of the second vessel.
11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the neck of the second vessel comprises a circumference less than a circumference of a body portion of the second vessel.
12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least a third vessel suitably coupled to at least one of the first vessel and the second vessel.
13. An spirituous drinking system comprising:
- a shot glass; and
- a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage, wherein the shot glass suitably couples to the bottle to seal the alcoholic beverage within the bottle.
14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the shot glass seals the alcoholic beverage within the bottle by at least one of a friction fit, a screw and a stopper.
15. The system according to claim 14, wherein an exterior bottom portion of the shot glass seals the alcoholic beverage within the bottle.
16. The system according to claim 14, wherein an interior bottom portion of the shot glass seals the alcoholic beverage within the bottle.
17. A method for manufacturing a multi-vessel device comprising:
- providing a first vessel;
- providing a second vessel; and
- coupling the first vessel to the second vessel.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first vessel comprises a shot glass and the second vessel comprises a bottle containing a spirituous liquid.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the first vessel couples to the second vessel by at least one of a friction fit, a stopper, and a screw.
20. The method according to claim 17, wherein coupling the first vessel to the second vessel operates to seal contents of the second bottle.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 26, 2012
Publication Date: May 29, 2014
Inventor: Christopher M. Aidan (Austin, TX)
Application Number: 13/685,238
International Classification: B65D 23/12 (20060101); B65B 61/20 (20060101); A47G 19/22 (20060101);