Beverage Flotation Device
The present disclosure provides a beverage flotation device that uses attached empty containers as a primary means of flotation. The beverage flotation device includes a hollow cylinder comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the hollow cylinder configured to securely accommodate a beverage container; and a container attachment point connected to the outer surface, the container attachment point comprising a plurality of threads configured to receive a mating screw-top container.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/075,036, filed Nov. 4, 2014 and entitled “Beverage Flotation Device.” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/075,036 is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe technical field generally relates to a beverage container holder and more specifically relates to a beverage container holder that floats upright in water.
BACKGROUNDIt is a favorite pastime to relax at a pool, lake, river, beach, or other body of water. Participants frequently enjoy a beverage, but often require a place to secure their beverage within reach while swimming or floating on the water. A beverage container holder that floats on the water may be used to address this problem.
There is also a movement, termed up-cycling, in which waste is reused or converted to create a new product. This is in contrast to traditional recycling in which waste is broken down into its raw material components and the raw material is reused to manufacture a new product. Up-cycling serves to both keep waste out of landfills and save the cost and energy associated with traditional recycling.
SUMMARYA beverage flotation device is disclosed that uses empty screw-top bottles as a means of flotation. The beverage flotation device includes a hollow cylinder. The hollow cylinder is comprised of an outer surface, an inner surface, and top lip. A bottom member is connected to the bottom-most portion of the hollow cylinder. A hollow interior is defined by the inner surface, bottom portion, and top lip. The hollow interior is configured to securely accommodate a beverage container. The outer surface of the hollow cylinder includes one or more bottle attachment points. Each bottle attachment point includes a plurality of threads configured to accommodate and connect to a screw top of an empty screw-top bottle. The empty screw-top bottles protruding from the beverage flotation device provide it with buoyancy and stability.
In one embodiment, a beverage flotation device additionally includes a means for attaching a tether, which allows the beverage flotation device to be anchored to a person or object. In another embodiment, a beverage flotation device additionally includes a raised ring attached to the bottom of the bottom member. A raised ring may be sized to securely interlock with a top lip of another beverage flotation device, so that the beverage flotation devices may be easily stacked.
The following detailed description is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, exemplary examples are shown in the drawings; however, the subject matter is not limited to the specific elements and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:
Described herein is a beverage flotation device that uses empty plastic or other types of bottles or containers as a primary source of buoyancy.
In describing embodiments of the present disclosure illustrated in the figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The disclosure, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
Beverage flotation device 100 includes a hollow cylinder 102. A hollow cylinder 102 is comprised of an outer surface 104 and an inner surface 110. A bottom member 116 (shown in
The inner surface 110, the top lip 120, and the bottom member 116 define a hollow interior 118. The hollow interior 118 is sized to securely accommodate a variety of beverage containers 600 (shown in
One or more bottle attachment points 106 are connected to the outer surface 104 of the hollow cylinder 102. The bottle attachment points 106 may be equidistantly arranged around a single circumference of the outer surface 104, as shown in
The bottle attachment points 106 may protrude from the outer surface 104, as shown in
A bottle attachment point 106 may be configured so that the longitudinal axis of an attached screw-top bottle 400 (shown in
A bottle attachment point 106 may include a plurality of threads 108 configured to accommodate and connect to a screw-top of a screw-top bottle 400. The plurality of threads 108 may accommodate a cooperating screw-top composed of a variety of materials, such as plastic, glass, aluminum or any other type of suitable material. In one example, the plurality of threads 108 are configured to accommodate a screw-top with a 28 mm PCO 1810 or 28 mm PCO 1881 finish, which are commonly found on plastic soft-drink bottles. In the exemplary embodiment shown in
A means for attaching 114 a tether may be connected to the outer surface 104. The means for attaching 114 a tether may comprise a circular ring attached to the outer surface 104, as shown in
A raised ring 112 may be attached to the bottom of the bottom member 116. The raised ring 112 may be configured to interlock with the top lip 120 to facilitate a secure stacking of one beverage flotation device 100 on top of a second beverage flotation device 100. In the embodiment shown in
A secondary use of the beverage flotation device 100 may be as an elevated drink coaster or holder for use outside of water. For example, a pool-goer might use the beverage flotation device 100 while playing in a pool, but then decide to rest on a nearby lawn. The pool-goer may turn the beverage flotation device 100 upside-down, such that the raised ring 112 is facing upward, and place his or her beverage container 600 on the bottom member 116 of the beverage flotation device 100. The attached screw-top bottles 400 may be removed or left attached for this usage. This configuration will function to raise the beverage container 600 off the ground, preventing the beverage container 600 from being soiled and dust, dirt, or debris from contaminating the beverage. The raised ring 112 in this configuration serves the additional purpose of preventing the beverage container 600 from sliding off the bottom member 116.
A bottom member 116 may be connected to the bottom of the hollow cylinder 102 and may help define the bottom-most portion of the hollow interior 118. The bottom member 116 may serve the function of vertically supporting a beverage container 600 within the hollow interior 118. The bottom member 116 may be positioned at the base of the hollow cylinder 102 or may be positioned within the hollow cylinder 102. Additionally the bottom member 116 may be suspended from the base of the hollow cylinder 102 to permit some of the beverage container 600 to protrude into the water. There may also be no bottom member 116 wherein the beverage container 600 is secured in the hollow interior 118 through friction or some other method. The bottom member 116 may also define a bottom hole 122. The bottom member 116 may define a single circular bottom hole 122 in the center of the bottom member 116, as depicted in
The screw-top bottles 400 shown in
A screw-top bottle 400 operates to provide the primary means of flotation for a beverage flotation device 100. Since a screw-top bottle 400 is typically empty of liquid and filled with air, the density of the screw-top bottle 400 is significantly less than the surrounding water and, thus, the resulting buoyant forces maintain the screw-top bottles 400 and the beverage flotation device 100 with a beverage container 600 at or above the water level. A user may wish to adjust the size of the screw-top bottle 400 according to the weight of a particular beverage and beverage container 600. For example, if a beverage flotation device 100 contains a full, large, twenty-four ounce aluminum can, the user may attach empty one liter bottles to provide additional buoyancy.
A plurality of screw-top bottles 400 also prevents the beverage flotation device 100 from tipping. Since the screw-top bottles 400 typically protrude a distance away from the beverage flotation device 100 and are vertically supported by their buoyancy, they provide a source of leverage against horizontal forces and/or rotational forces about a horizontal axis. A user may adjust the stability of a beverage flotation device 100 according to present uses or conditions by configuring the beverage flotation device 100 with screw-top bottles 400 of a certain size and/or shape. For example, if a beverage flotation device 100 is to be used in a choppy ocean, a user may configure it with screw-top bottles 400 that are both larger-sized to provide additional buoyant forces and longer to provide additional leverage.
While the disclosure has been described in connection with the various embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments can be used or modifications and additions can be made to the described embodiments. Therefore, the beverage flotation device as described herein should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.
Claims
1. A beverage flotation device, comprising:
- a hollow cylinder comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; the hollow cylinder configured to securely accommodate a beverage container; and
- a container attachment point connected to the outer surface, the container attachment point comprising a plurality of threads configured to receive a cooperating screw-top container.
2. The beverage flotation device of claim 1, further comprising at least three container attachment points connected to the outer surface, each of the at least three container attachment points comprising a plurality of threads configured to receive a cooperating screw-top container.
3. The beverage flotation device of claim 2, wherein the at least three container attachment points are spaced equidistantly around a circumference of the outer surface.
4. The beverage flotation device of claim 1, wherein the container attachment point is configured to receive a cooperating screw-top container substantially perpendicularly oriented to a longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder.
5. The beverage flotation device of claim 1, wherein the container attachment point is configured to receive a cooperating screw-top container oriented in a substantially downward direction.
6. The beverage flotation device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of threads are configured to receive a screw-top conforming to at least one of a 28 mm PCO 1810 standard and a 28 mm PCO 1881 standard.
7. The beverage flotation device of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching a tether.
8. The beverage flotation device of claim 1, further comprising a raised ring connected to and protruding downward from a bottom portion of the hollow cylinder.
9. The beverage flotation device of claim 8, further comprising a top lip connected to a top portion of the hollow cylinder, wherein the raised ring is configured to securely interconnect with a top lip of a second beverage flotation device.
10. The beverage flotation device of claim 1, wherein the hollow cylinder further comprises a bottom member.
11. The beverage flotation device of claim 10, wherein the bottom member defines a hole.
12. The beverage flotation device of claim 10, wherein the bottom member defines a plurality of holes configured to form a mesh pattern.
13. The beverage flotation device of claim 1, wherein the inner surface comprises an insert configured to securely accommodate the beverage container.
14. The beverage flotation device of claim 13, wherein the insert is inflatable.
15. The beverage flotation device of claim 1, wherein the beverage flotation device is substantially plastic.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 31, 2015
Publication Date: May 5, 2016
Inventors: Peter L. Ballard (Atlanta, GA), David C. Ballard (Atlanta, GA)
Application Number: 14/675,152