Illuminated Double Wall Lens Indicia Drinking Vessell
A double walled illuminated vessel for displaying indicia comprising an outer sleeve, an inner liner, a lens, a transparent or translucent connection ring, a base and an illumination module adapted to be inserted into the base whereby the base and connection ring are connected to each other creating a base illumination unit. Light from the illumination module passes through the hollow space between the outer sleeve and the inner liner such that the lens bearing indicia is illuminated thus prominently displaying any desired graphic, logo, design, trademark, symbol, letter, number or any other indicia. The connection ring transmits and diffuses light through the inner liner and upper rim as well as the sidewall of the connection ring. The base illumination unit is removable from the outer sleeve and can be used as an independent light source by a user. Additionally, the illumination module is rechargeable in one embodiment and can provide an adequate charge to a mobile device. Further embodiments provided for a removable lens or lens unit.
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This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/626746 filed on Jun. 19, 2017 and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/351656 filed on Jun. 17, 2016, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/471329 filed on Mar. 14, 2017, and U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 15/626746 filed on Jun. 19, 2017 in their entirety.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNone
SEQUENCE LISTINGNONE
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a double walled insulated drinking vessel that allows for illumination of certain portions of the drinking vessel and more particularly illumination of at least one lens bearing indicia in the side of the vessel, illumination of a connection ring at the base of the vessel, and illumination of a top rim and lid while simultaneously providing adequate insulation of a desired liquid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDouble walled insulated drinking vessels exist in the prior art, however, there are none that allow for illumination of the base of the vessel, illumination of an indicia lens located in the sidewall, and illumination of the top rim and lid of the vessel whereby the light source is located solely in the bottom of the cup. The present invention allows for and promotes the display of a desired branding, logo, graphic or indicia to be displayed in a distinct location on the side of a vessel such that it is illuminated without the remainder of the vessel being illuminated. Currently, there are vessels in the art that have illumination incorporated therein, but they illuminate the entire vessel through transparent or translucent vessel materials used in their manufacture. These vessels cannot prominently illuminate and display a desired branding, logo, or indicia because the light is diffused throughout their entire vessel and is therefore lost and does not adequately illuminate and contrast a distinct branding, logo or indicia area with the remainder of the vessel outer surface. Further, these vessels can only use or incorporate transparent or translucent materials in their sidewalls or outer surface. Use of metal or non-transparent material in previous vessels would defeat the purpose for which they were intended. The present invention can use metal or other non-transparent solid color plastic materials in their construction, thus offering a better insulated product, a more durable product and a product that can adequately display an indicia on a lens with sufficient brightness and contrast with the remainder of the exterior of the vessel.
The present invention further allows a user to remove a base illumination unit from the vessel such that it can be used independently as a flashlight or lantern. No other vessel in existence has the capability of illuminating a lens in the sidewall of a vessel or vessel while also serving as a separate and independently functional lighting device. In addition, the base illumination unit is rechargeable and can also be used to re-charge a user's mobile device to an acceptable operating level.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn view of the limitations of existing drinking vessels or vessels, the present invention provides an improved and novel means to illuminate a vessel and a desired indicia in a prominent fashion. The invention provides many other novel advantages and features not currently seen in the field of drinking vessels as will be shown and disclosed below.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a double walled drinking vessel having an inner liner, an outer sleeve, an aperture in the outer sleeve shaped to accommodate an indicia lens, a connection ring, a base, a light source and power source located in the base of the vessel and a switch. The connection ring is transparent or translucent and illuminated by use of a light source and battery located in the base of the vessel. The connection ring, due to its transparent or translucent nature, allows light to travel through it and projects into the hollow space in between the inner liner or inner cup and the outer sleeve such that it allows illumination of the indicia lens which is transparent or translucent and also allows illumination of the top edge or lip of the vessel as well as a lid for the vessel. In one embodiment, the inner liner is also transparent and translucent further enhancing and communicating the light emanating from the base and through the connection ring. The lens is the means by which any number of branding information, logos, trademarks, designs, symbols, graphics, letters or numbers and hereinafter referred to as “indicia” will be displayed by a number of different means. One means by which these indicia will be displayed is by printing the desired indicia on the outer surface of the lens in various colors by the method of pad printing, screen printing, painting, or applying a translucent or transparent color sticker. Another means is forming the indicia out of various color acrylic, polycarbonate, plastic or styrene butadiene copolymers which can be used alone or in blends with crystal polystyrene and then adhering the indicia to the lens. Another means to accomplish the indicia is to inject various colored plastics into a mold to form the lens along with the desired indicia. The connection ring, lens, inner liner, and lid can be formed out of white or color acrylic, polycarbonate, plastic or styrene butadiene copolymers which can be used alone or in blends with crystal polystyrene, and other similar plastics that exhibit transparent or translucent properties.
The light source and battery located in the base can be at minimum a single light and power source connected to a switch that a user can actuate on the bottom of the base. In a more advanced and superior embodiment, an illumination module is inserted into the base. The illumination module is a printed circuit board that is circular in shape and has an array of light emitting diodes mounted on the outer perimeter of the circuit board such that they are in a circular array. The illumination module further has a switch on its underside. The illumination module has a logic gate for determining when a tactile switch is pressed, an optional electronic switch, a plurality of light emitting diodes in parallel connection, a universal serial bus connector, a charge controller and a two pin battery connector. The battery used in one embodiment would be a rechargeable lithium polymer battery mounted to the upper surface of the illumination module. The base unit has a charge aperture located in its sidewall and a switch aperture located in its bottom.
Specific advantages and features of the present assembly will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description of several illustrative embodiments of the present invention.
It should be understood that the present drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments disclosed herein are sometimes illustrated by fragmentary views. It should also be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe invention is generally depicted in
Referring now to
The inner liner 20 corresponds in shape to the outer sleeve 9 but has a correspondingly smaller diameter than the outer sleeve 8 which allows there to be a hollow space between the inner liner 20 and the outer sleeve 8 for purposes of insulative air space and also for a pathway to allow light to transmit through the hollow space to illuminate both the lens 14 and the inner liner 20. In one embodiment, the outer sleeve 8 and inner liner 20 have corresponding shoulders 12 and 28. In another embodiment, the outer sleeve 8 and inner liner 20 have either a corresponding tapered shape or a corresponding vertical shape.
The inner liner 20 attaches to the outer sleeve 8 either by an individual upper connector ring 104 using an adhesive as shown in U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/351656 in one embodiment, or by forming an annular lip 26 and ring 24 at the top of and integral with the inner liner 20 as shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
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Referring now to
As shown in the various embodiments of the connection ring 44 depicted in
Using the embodiment of the connection ring 44 shown in
In an alternate embodiment as shown in
In another embodiment, and as shown in
In a further embodiment, and as shown in
Referring now to
Additionally, a Bluetooth chip or module can be installed onto the circuit board 64 to allow communication with the illumination module 62 through use of a mobile device or other device with Bluetooth capability. In addition, connected to the Bluetooth module and illumination module 62 are optional micro speakers that can be installed into the base of the vessel 6. The battery 82 would power the micro speakers. This would allow a user to listen to music stored on their device but utilizes the base unit to be an optional speaker and power system to drive the playing of music or other media. In an alternate embodiment, a liquid crystal or LED display could be used as the lens 14 in the aperture 10 such that media such as videos could be played on the liquid crystal or LED display via connection of the display to the Bluetooth module located on the illumination module 62.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
A further embodiment of the present invention would be a vessel 6 that does not have an aperture 10 in the outer sleeve 8, but comprises a removable base illumination unit 84 which comprises the base 34, the illumination module 62 and the connector ring 24. While the vessel 6 would not have the illuminated lens and indicia, it would still offer many benefits to users such that they can locate their drinking vessel 6 in dark environments and also use the removable base illumination unit 84. There are two versions of this embodiment. The first version would comprise the aforementioned outer sleeve 8 and inner liner 20 used in combination with the base illumination unit 84. The connector ring 24 would either be threaded on its top side or have a gasket 60 installed there around its top edge for connection to the bottom interior of the outer sleeve 8 having an inner liner 20. The second version of this embodiment would use a vessel 6 having a sidewall and a bottom. In addition, the bottom would in one embodiment have a flanged edge such that it continues downward below the bottom of the vessel 6 thereby allowing threads to be formed therein, or a threaded sleeve insert that could be adhered into the bottom interior of the flanged edge such that the base illumination unit 84 can be installed.
Referring now to
The preceding paragraphs are fully incorporated into paragraphs [0072]-[0074] for purposes of understanding materials (plastic, polycarbonate, acrylic, metal, etc as previously described) and techniques in manufacturing the follow embodiments of the invention. Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
To aid in connection of the base illumination in any of the aforesaid embodiments and as an alternate means as herein described above, there could be provided a transparent circular mounting plate made of suitable plastic that is permanently mounted in the bottom of the drinking vessel inside the outer non-transparent sidewall and under the inner cup or vessel. Further, it can have pegs formed in it bottom surface that conform to slots that can be located in the top of the upper connector ring for quick attachment and release whereby the pegs are insertable into the slots and a user twists the base illumination a rotation of degree to lock into place the base illumination unit onto the drinking vessel.
The principles, embodiments, and modes of operation of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing specification. The embodiments disclosed herein should be interpreted as illustrating the present invention and not as restricting it. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the range of equivalent structure available to a person of ordinary skill in the art in any way, but rather to expand the range of equivalent structures in ways not previously contemplated. Numerous variations and changes can be made to the foregoing illustrative embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Enumerated Elements200 drinking vessel
202 inner cup
202a interior sidewall
202b exterior sidewall
204 outer non-transparent sidewall
206 aperture
208 transparent frame
210 transparent or translucent lens
212 light source
214 indicia
216 connector ring
218 illumination module
220 void
222 magnetic surface
223 magnet
224 metal portion
226 light emitting diodes
228 base illumination unit
300 drinking vessel
302 inner cup
304 metal outer sidewall
306 lens cavity
308 lens unit
310 indicia
312 outer housing
314 transparent front lens plate
316 opaque inner plate
318 electronic circuit board
320 light emitting diodes
322 rear wall
324 top sidewall
326 bottom sidewall
328 left sidewall
330 right sidewall
332 magnetic surface
333 metal portion
334 base illumination unit
335 magnet
336 base
338 illumination module
340 connector ring
342 upper connector ring
344 battery
346 void
400 drinking vessel
402 inner vessel
404 interior sidewall
406 exterior sidewall
408 outer non-transparent sidewall
410 aperture
412 lens
414 base
416 base illumination unit
418 connector ring
420 illumination module
422 light emitting diode
Claims
1. A drinking vessel, comprising:
- a metal outer sidewall;
- an inner cup;
- at least one cavity stamped into the metal outer sidewall whereby said cavity has a rear wall and said cavity is adapted to receive a lens unit;
- a lens unit insertable into said cavity whereby the lens unit has a power source, a light source and a switch located thereon whereby said light source illuminates said lens and sends light through said lens unit beyond the drinking vessel;
- means for maintaining the lens unit in position inside said cavity whereby said lens unit can also be removed from said aperture.
2. The drinking vessel of claim 1 further comprising an indicia located on said lens unit.
3. The drinking vessel of claim 2 whereby the lens unit further comprises an outer housing, a transparent front lens plate, an opaque inner plate, and an electronic circuit board having light emitting diodes on its forward facing surface.
4. The drinking vessel of claim 3 wherein the cavity has a rear wall, a top sidewall, a bottom sidewall, a left sidewall and a right sidewall.
5. The drinking vessel of claim 2 further comprising a removable base illumination unit comprised of a base, an illumination module and a transparent or translucent connector ring whereby the base and translucent connector ring encapsulate the illumination module and the connector ring whereby the base illumination unit is removable and attachable to the outer sidewall and inner cup of the drinking vessel and whereby said base illumination unit transmits light in a user defined direction when removed from the drinking vessel and transmits light outward through the connector ring when attached to the drinking vessel.
6. The drinking vessel of claim 5 further comprising a transparent or translucent upper connector ring that joins the inner cup and outer metal sidewall and whereby said upper connector ring transmits light that has been transmitted by the base illumination unit through a void between the inner cup and metal outer sidewall.
7. The drinking vessel of claim 2 wherein the lens unit is comprised of an outer housing, a transparent front lens plate, an opaque inner plate, and an electronic circuit board that is connected to light emitting diodes that are located on the outer housing inner sidewalls such that light is transmitted inward and across the opaque inner plate.
8. The drinking vessel of claim 7 wherein the light emitting diodes can be at least one of a white light emitting diode, a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, a blue light emitting diode, an ultra-violet light emitting diode, a red-green-blue light emitting diode, and a red-green-blue-white light emitting diode and further comprising a wireless module located on the circuit board capable of communicating with a user's mobile device using a downloadable interface such that a user can change the color of light emanating out of the lens unit.
9. The drinking vessel of claim 1 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode and said light emitting diode can be at least one of a white light emitting diode, a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, a blue light emitting diode, an ultra-violet light emitting diode, a red-green-blue light emitting diode, and a red-green-blue-white light emitting diode and the transparent or translucent lens has an indicia located thereon.
10. A drinking vessel, comprising:
- an inner vessel comprising an interior sidewall and an exterior sidewall whereby said interior sidewall and the exterior sidewall are joined to each other and are vacuum sealed;
- an outer non-transparent sidewall whereby said inner vessel is located in the interior of said outer non-transparent sidewall;
- at least one aperture formed in the outer non-transparent sidewall;
- a transparent of translucent lens conformed to fit into said at least one aperture of said outer non-transparent sidewall and capable of transmitting light; and
- a light source located in a base of said drinking vessel whereby said light source transmits light upwards through a void between the outer non-transparent sidewall and the inner vessel.
10. The drinking vessel of claim 9 further comprising an indicia located on the lens.
11. The drinking vessel of claim 10 wherein the light source is at least one light emitting diode located in a base of the vessel connected to a battery and operated by a switch located on a base of the vessel.
12. The drinking vessel of claim 11 wherein the light source is an illumination module having light emitting diodes on its top surface and said illumination module is located in a base illumination unit that is comprised of the base, the illumination module and a transparent or translucent connector ring on its top surface that connects to the outer non-transparent sidewall whereby the base illumination unit is removable from the outer sleeve by means of attachment and detachment of the base illumination unit.
13. The drinking vessel of claim 12 wherein the light emitting diode can be at least one of a white light emitting diode, a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, a blue light emitting diode, an ultra-violet light emitting diode, a red-green-blue light emitting diode, and a red-green-blue-white light emitting diode.
14. The drinking vessel of claim 13 wherein the illumination module has a printed circuit board, rechargeable battery, a charging circuit, a reverse charging circuit such that the rechargeable battery can charge a mobile device, a charging port and a switch for powering the illumination module on and off.
15. The drinking vessel of claim 11 further comprising an indicia on the lens and wherein the light emitting diode can be at least one of a white light emitting diode, a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, a blue light emitting diode, an ultra-violet light emitting diode, a red-green-blue light emitting diode, and a red-green-blue-white light emitting diode.
16. A drinking vessel, comprising:
- an inner cup;
- an outer non-transparent sidewall;
- at least one aperture formed in the outer non-transparent sidewall;
- a transparent frame adjacent to and in the footprint of said aperture;
- a transparent or translucent lens conformed to fit into said at least one aperture of said outer non-transparent sidewall and capable of transmitting light;
- a light source located in a base of said drinking vessel whereby said light source transmits light upwards through a void between the outer non-transparent sidewall and the inner vessel such that the light passes through said transparent frame and passes through and illuminates said transparent or translucent lens; and
- means for maintaining the lens in position inside of said aperture during use and whereby said lens can also be removed from said aperture at a user's discretion.
17. The drinking vessel of claim 16 further comprising an indicia located on the transparent or translucent lens and whereby the inner cup has an interior sidewall and an exterior sidewall that are welded to each other such that there is a hollow space in between the interior sidewall and the exterior sidewall.
18. The drinking vessel of claim 16 wherein the light source is at least one light emitting diode located in a base of the vessel connected to a battery and operated by a switch located on a base of the vessel and the transparent or translucent lens has an indicia located thereon.
19. The drinking vessel of claim 18 wherein the light source is an illumination module having at least one light emitting diode located on its top surface and said illumination module i located in a base illumination unit comprised of the base, the illumination module and a transparent or translucent connector ring on its top surface that connects to the outer non-transparent sidewall.
20. The drinking vessel of claim 19 wherein the base illumination unit is removable from the outer sleeve by means of attachment and detachment of the base illumination unit.
21. The drinking vessel of claim 20 wherein the light emitting diode can be at least one of a white light emitting diode, a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, a blue light emitting diode, an ultra-violet light emitting diode, a red-green-blue light emitting diode, and a red-green-blue-white light emitting diode.
22. The drinking vessel of claim 21 wherein the illumination module has a printed circuit board, rechargeable battery, a charging circuit, a reverse charging circuit such that the rechargeable battery can charge a mobile device, a charging port and a switch for powering the illumination module on and off.
23. The drinking vessel of claim 18 wherein the light emitting diode can be at least one of a white light emitting diode, a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, a blue light emitting diode, an ultra-violet light emitting diode, a red-green-blue light emitting diode, and a red-green-blue-white light emitting diode.
24. A lens unit, comprising:
- an outer housing;
- a transparent or translucent front lens plate attachable to the front of the outer housing;
- an opaque inner plate located behind the front lens plate;
- a circuit board connectable to a battery and a light source;
- a switch located on the lens unit;
- an indicia located on the front lens plate; and
- means for attachment and removal of the lens unit inside an aperture in a drinking vessel whereby said aperture is formed into an outer sidewall of a drinking vessel.
25. The lens unit of claim 24 wherein the light source is at least one light emitting diode located on the circuit board and focused outwards toward the front lens plate.
26. The lens unit of claim 26 wherein the light emitting diode can be at least one of a white light emitting diode, a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, a blue light emitting diode, an ultra-violet light emitting diode, a red-green-blue light emitting diode, and a red-green-blue-white light emitting diode.
27. The lens unit of claim 24 wherein the light source is at least one light emitting diode located on at least one sidewall of the outer housing of the lens unit such that light is directed across the opaque inner plate.
28. The lens unit of claim 27 whereby the front lens plate is removable and replaceable with an alternate front lens plate.
29. The lens unit of claim 28 wherein the light emitting diode can be at least one of a white light emitting diode, a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, a blue light emitting diode, an ultra-violet light emitting diode, a red-green-blue light emitting diode, and a red-green-blue-white light emitting diode and further comprising a wireless module located on the circuit board capable of communicating with a user's mobile device using a downloadable interface such that a user can change the color of light emanating out of the lens unit.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 5, 2019
Publication Date: Mar 11, 2021
Applicant: Frost Holdings, LLC (Birmingham, AL)
Inventors: Christopher R Ganter, I (Birmingham, AL), Jason A. Cole (Hoover, AL), David Olmstead (Alabaster, AL)
Application Number: 16/562,330