Beverage container accessory
The present invention relates generally to holders for beverage containers. The present invention also relates generally to coasters and napkins that are used in conjunction with beverage containers, especially beverage containers containing cold beverages. More particularly, the present invention relates to a beverage container accessory that in a collapsed state can be used as a conventional napkin or a coaster and in a non-collapsed state can be used to facilitate the holding of beverage containers, as well as the method of making and using of the present invention.
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 INVENTIONGlass 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 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.
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.
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. Curtis 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. Pat. No. 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Still another object of the present invention to provide a beverage container accessory that can accept printing and embossing.
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 beverage containers of varying shapes and sizes, e.g., high ball glasses, low ball glasses, pints.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container accessory that is easy to use.
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.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container accessory that can be made inexpensively.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container accessory that is disposable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 DRAWINGSThe 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:
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.
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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The preferred process of making the present invention is as follows:
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- 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″×5″
- Affixing adhesive along the edges of three of the sides of the first section
- Placing the second section on top of the first section with the adhesive to form a 5″×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
The preferred process of using the beverage container accessory is as follows:
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- 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
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 the invention disclosed herein. The specification and examples should be considered exemplary only.
Claims
1) A beverage container accessory, made from at least one blank of pliable material, dimensioned and operable for conversion from a roughly planar collapsed state to a non-planar non-collapsed state capable of facilitating the holding a beverage container.
2) The beverage container accessory of claim 1, wherein said pliable material is fabric.
3) The beverage container accessory of claim 2, wherein said fabric is a paper composite.
4) The beverage container accessory of claim 3, wherein said beverage container is a bottle.
5) The beverage container accessory of claim 3, wherein said beverage container is a can.
6) The beverage container accessory of claim 3, wherein said beverage container is a glass.
7) A method of making an beverage accessory device, comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining a sheet of pliable, disposable material;
- b) cutting said sheet to form a first section and a second section where both said first section and said second section are dimensioned to be roughly square;
- c) affixing adhesive means along the edges of three sides of said first section;
- d) placing said second section on top of said first section to form a beverage container accessory blank;
- e) pressing firmly on said beverage container accessory blank to form a beverage container accessory;
- f) waiting until said first section is affixed to said second section;
- g) imprinting at least one side of said beverage container accessory; and,
- h) stacking said beverage container accessory in a dispensing container.
8) A method of using a beverage container accessory comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining a beverage container accessory with at least one open end, a near edge and a far edge;
- b) positioning said beverage container accessory such that said open end is facing up;
- c) placing a thumb along said near edge of the beverage accessory container;
- d) placing the remaining fingers along said far edge of the beverage container accessory;
- e) moving said thumb and said fingers slightly towards each other in order to form an opening at said top of said beverage container accessory;
- f) placing a suitably sized beverage container into said opening of said beverage container accessory; and,
- g) gripping said beverage container accessory such that said beverage container is firmly held within said beverage container accessory.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 17, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 21, 2006
Inventor: Wayne McDonald (Atlanta, GA)
Application Number: 11/156,226
International Classification: B65D 25/00 (20060101);
