Memorial Shot Glass Apparatus

Abstract

A memorial shot glass apparatus includes a base member having first and second opposed sides, the first side defining a recessed area. A cup member includes a lower rim having a configuration complementary to a configuration of the recessed area, the cup member having an upper rim opposite the lower rim and having a continuous side wall extending between the lower and upper rims. The lower rim is removably coupled to the recessed area of the base member. An adornment indicative of a memorialized event is coupled to the first side of the base member adjacent the recessed area and configured to extend away from the first side of the base member. The base member may be a graduation hat, the adornment may be a graduation tassel, and the cup member may be a shot glass.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Design Patent Application 29/378,652, filed Nov. 8, 2010, and titled “Graduation Shot Glass,” now pending

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to devices for memorializing important life events and, more particularly, to a memorial shot glass apparatus indicative of a graduation collection that is separable and usable to consume a beverage.

Students traditionally keep memorabilia from graduation ceremonies or other important milestone events, such memorabilia including graduation hats, tassels, or the like. In addition, individuals may want to keep other items that remind them of important celebrations, such as a shot glass. In addition, there are numerous ornamental devices on the market to assist or enhance the remembrance or memorialization of educational milestones.

Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices do not provide a memorial of graduation memorabilia that may be separated and used functionally to deliver a beverage. Further, the existing devices and proposals do not provide an apparatus in which graduation memorabilia may be removed and replaced.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a memorial shot glass apparatus that includes a shot glass removably coupled to the underside of a base member having a form indicative of a graduation hat. Further, it would be desirable to have a memorial shot glass apparatus that includes an adornment depending from the base member adjacent the shot glass that is indicative of a graduation tassel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A memorial shot glass apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a base member having first and second opposed sides, the first side defining a recessed area. A cup member includes a lower rim having a configuration complementary to a configuration of the recessed area, the cup member having an upper rim opposite the lower rim and having a continuous side wall extending between the lower and upper rims. The lower rim is removably coupled to the recessed area of the base member. An adornment indicative of a memorialized event is coupled to the first side of the base member adjacent the recessed area and is configured to extend away from the first side of the base member. The base member may be a graduation hat, the adornment may be a graduation tassel, and the cup member may be a shot glass.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a memorial shot glass apparatus that provides a graduate with a permanent memorial of an educational accomplishment that may be utilized selectively to actually celebrate the event.

Another object of this invention is to provide a memorial shot glass apparatus, as aforesaid, in which a traditional graduation hat and tassel are separable and functionally usable as a shot glass.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a memorial shot glass apparatus, as aforesaid, in which a tassel may be removed or replaced with desired year-specific indicia.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a memorial shot glass apparatus, as aforesaid, that is both attractive and functional.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a memorial shot glass apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the shot glass apparatus as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a memorial shot glass apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a memorial shot glass apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A memorial shot glass apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. The shot glass apparatus 10 includes a base member 20, cup member 30, and an adornment 40.

The base member 20 includes first 22 and second 24 opposed sides. Preferably, each side includes a planar configuration. The first side 22 defines a recessed area 26 (FIG. 2). The base member 20 may be constructed of a foam material or other material that is at least slightly flexible but that is resilient to return to its normal configuration after being bent or otherwise manipulated as will be described further later. The base member 20 may have a generally square configuration indicative of a graduation hat although other configurations may also work.

The cup member 30 includes a lower rim 32 and an opposed upper rim 34, each rim preferably having an annular configuration. A continuous side wall 36 extends between the lower 32 and upper 34 rim. Preferably, therefore, the cup member 30 includes a cylindrical configuration. The lower rim 32 includes a cup member closed end, the closed end may also be referred to as a bottom wall of the cup member 30. The upper rim 34 defines a cup member open end 38. The bottom and side 36 walls of the cup member 30 are watertight and define an interior area. Accordingly, the cup member 30 is configured to retain a liquid, such as a beverage, when oriented with the open end upward.

The lower rim 32 of the cup member 30 includes a configuration that is complementary to a configuration of the recessed area 26 of the base member first side 22. The cup member lower rim 32 may be removably coupled to the recessed area 26. More particularly, the recessed area 26 may include a dimension slightly smaller that a dimension of the cup member lower rim 32. The base member 20 may also be constructed of a mildly flexible material, such as foam, that is resilient to return to its normal configuration. Accordingly, the lower rim 32 of the cup member 30 may be inserted into the recessed area 26 and held therein in a friction fit relationship. A gentle pulling and/or twisting force, however, will enable the cup member 30 to be removed from recessed area 26.

The recessed area 26 may include an inner wall 28 that is perpendicular to the planar surface of the base member first side 22 (FIG. 2). The lower rim 32 of the cup member 30 includes a complementary configuration—namely, the lower rim 32 is generally perpendicular to the base member first side 22 when the lower rim 32 is received in/coupled to the recessed area 26 of the base member 20. By contrast, the side wall 36 of the cup member 30 extends outwardly from the lower rim 32 at an angle greater than 90 degrees. Accordingly, the upper rim 34 includes a diameter larger than a diameter of the lower rim 32.

The first side 22 of the base member 20 may define a bore 29 adjacent the recessed area 26. The adornment 40 may have a generally elongate configuration indicative of a pendant or graduation tassel, the adornment 40 including a proximal end 42 having a configuration complementary to that of the bore 29. Accordingly, the proximal end 42 of the adornment may be received in the bore 29 in a selectively removable friction fit arrangement. The adornment 40 may include indicia 44 indicative of an event to be memorialized, such as a year of graduation from an educational institution.

In one embodiment, a magnet 46 may be positioned in the bore 29 (FIG. 3). Correspondingly, the proximal end 42 of the adornment may include a metal section 48 such that the proximal end 42 and magnet 46 are magnetically secured together when the proximal end 42 is received in the bore 29. Alternatively, of course, the proximal end 42 may include a magnet while a metallic element may be positioned in the bore 29.

In another embodiment, a hook material 50 may be fastened to the first side 22 of the base member 20. Correspondingly, a loop material 52 may be fastened to the proximal end 42 of the adornment such that proximal end 42 of the adornment 40 may be selectively secured to the base member first side 22. Alternatively, of course, the proximal end 42 may include the hook material 50 while the loop material 52 may be attached to the base member first side 22. In any case, hook and loop materials may be utilized to removably secure the adornment 40 to the base member 20.

In use, the memorial shot glass apparatus 10 may be utilized to recognize an accomplishment such as a student's graduation from college, from a professional certification program (i.e. from a police academy), or the like. The memorial shot glass apparatus 10 includes a base member 20, a cup member 30, and an adornment 40 that memorialize the celebratory event but that may also function to hold a beverage, such as a shot of an alcoholic beverage. More particularly, the cup member 30 may be removed from the base member 20 and utilized for holding a drink. In addition, the adornment 40 may be removed and replaced with another adornment having desired indicia.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A memorial shot glass apparatus, comprising:

a base member having first and second opposed sides, said first side defining a recessed area;

a cup member including a lower rim having a configuration complementary to a configuration of said recessed area, said cup member including an upper rim opposite said lower rim and having a continuous side wall extending between said lower and upper rim;

wherein said lower rim is removably coupled to said recessed area of said base member;

an adornment removably coupled to said first side of said base member adjacent said recessed area and configured to extend away from said first side of said base member

wherein: said base member includes a slightly flexible and resilient construction; and said recessed area includes a dimension slightly smaller than a dimension of said lower rim such that said lower rim is selectively held in said recessed area in a friction fit relationship.

2. (canceled)

3. The memorial shot glass apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said recessed area includes a side wall that is generally perpendicular with respect to said base member first side;

said lower rim of said cup member includes a configuration that is generally perpendicular to said base member first side when received in said recessed area; and

said cup member continuous side wall extends away from said lower rim at an angle greater than ninety degrees.

4. The memorial shot glass apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said adornment includes indicia indicative of a memorial event.

5. The memorial shot glass apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said adornment includes a proximal end removably coupled to said first side of said base member in a friction fit relationship.

6. The memorial shot glass apparatus as in claim 5, wherein:

said first side of said base member defines a bore;

said proximal end of said proximal end of said adornment includes a configuration complementary to a configuration of said bore such that said adornment proximal end is selectively received into said bore.

7. The memorial shot glass apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said lower rim includes a cup member closed end; and

said upper rim defines a cup member open end.

8. The memorial shot glass apparatus as in claim 7, wherein:

said cup member closed end and said side wall collectively define an interior area; and

said cup member closed end and said continuous side wall are watertight.

9. The memorial shot glass apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising:

one of a metal and a magnet positioned in said bore; and

wherein said proximal end of said adornment includes one of a metal construction and a magnetic construction, such that said proximal end of said adornment is magnetically held in said bore when selectively received therein.

10. The memorial shot glass apparatus as in claim 5, further comprising:

one of a hook and loop fastener attached to said first side of said base member;

another of a hook and loop fastener attached to said proximal end of said adornment such that said adornment is selectively coupled to said first side of said base member.

11. The memorial shot glass apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said base member includes a configuration indicative of a graduation hat.

12. The memorial shot glass apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said cup member is a shot glass.

13. The memorial shot glass apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said adornment is a graduation tassel.

14. The memorial shot glass apparatus as in claim, wherein said base member is constructed of foam.