Mug minder

Abstract

A device for use on any flat surface. A mug minder It is four sides, only. Its shape is square with angled sides. It is placed with the larger open bottom resting upon a flat surface and the opening of the slot for a mug handle is up. The open top is smaller than the open bottom so as to be the best fit for a typical mug. A mug handle fits into the slot. A mug minder reduces the potential for serious spills by the hundreds of millions of people who drink coffee, tea, etc. at their work place. The stability necessary for a mug minder to slide when nudged is achieved by the bottom of a mug minder and the mug inside of it sliding simultaneously because the top of the angled side pushes the mug placed in the mug minder.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a mug minder.

2. Prior Art

The devices, systems used to hold, stabilize, secure, mind mugs are used in concert with other features such as coasters. They often require permanent fastening to a flat or other surface and usually are designed for a cup rather than a mug.

A cup holder for use in a vehicle, U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,984 to Houck (1994), is specifically designed for use in vehicles. This is not the intended area of intended use for the mug minder. It requires prohibitively expensive tooling to manufacture.

A drinking cup stabilizer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,553 to Wischusen (1988), is specifically designed for cups rather than mugs. This is not the intended area of intended use for the mug minder. It requires an attached stabilizer which violates the basic simplicity of the mug minder. It requires prohibitively expensive tooling to manufacture.

A mug holder, U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,206 to De Francesco (2000), is a complex device with moving parts. This is not the intended area of intended use for the mug minder. It is prohibitively expensive to manufacture. It violates the basic simplicity of the mug minder.

A secured receptacle holder, U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,912 to Gibbs (2004), requires use of securing posts, clamping screws, compression knob, rotator ring. This is not the intended area of intended use for the mug minder. All of which violates the basic simplicity of the mug minder. It is prohibitively expensive to manufacture.

A drink holder system, U.S. Pat. No. 7,284,737 to Kane (2007), includes a base assembly, retainer, legs, prongs and other components. This is complex and prohibitively expensive to manufacture. It is not the intended area of intended use for the mug minder.

SUMMARY

A mug minder with a mug of liquid in it positioned on a flat surface when accidentally nudged slides rather than tips over, reducing the potential for a serious spill. Thus, keyboards, papers, products, drawings, pictures and anything else which could be found on any flat surface adjacent to a mug of liquid will escape potential damage.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

MM Is a perspective view of my invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The mug minder is a single part square in shape with angled sides. There is not a bottom or a top. It is manufactured from any material that facilitates fabrication via uncomplicated tooling and assembly and of any color. It has a slot for a mug handle. The manufacturing process includes one off to multiple nested die cutting to stamping to laser cutting with scoring for folding. It is completely assembled without a top piece or bottom piece by manually or mechanically folding. Assembled mug minder rests, sits upon any flat surface with slot opening upright to receive a mug handle.

Operation

A mug minder is positioned on a flat surface and a mug containing liquid is placed inside of it. Thus the reader will see the embodiment of the mug minder provides for the first time a lightweight, attractive economical device useful to everyone who drinks, and could accidentally spill, liquids while using a mug. Reducing potential spills at one's work site reduce damages to adjacent documents.

Claims

1. The mug minder, positioned on any flat surface such as a desk, work station, console, a table, counter top, etc., and with a mug of liquid placed in it, reduces the potential for serious spills. When accidentally nudged the mug minder slides rather than tips over. This is because the mug bottom and the bottoms of the angled sides of the mug minder, larger than the top, rest upon the flat surface and when nudged move simultaneously.