CONTAINER SLEEVE WITH CONNECTION INTERFACE FOR ATTACHING THREE-DIMENSIONAL ELEMENTS AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME
The invention provides for a sleeve for a container, e.g., a food or beverage container, which includes a sleeve body sized to receive therein a portion of the container. Plural connection elements are arranged on an outer surface of the sleeve body. At least one three-dimensional element is removably connectable to the sleeve body via at least one of the plural connection elements.
The instant application is a U.S. non-provisional Application based on U.S. provisional application No. 61/608,966, filed Mar. 9, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference hereto in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a container sleeve for a container, e.g., a food or drink container, to which one or more three-dimensional parts/elements can be attached. A method of making and using the container sleeve is also disclosed as is a method of decorating the container with such parts/elements.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Food and drink containers are well known. Such devices are disclosed in, e.g. U.S. D465,973, U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,833, U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,553, as well as the following list of US patents: U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,425, U.S. D575,103, U.S. D563,723, U.S. D554,433, U.S. D547,122, U.S. D546,625, U.S. D544,304, U.S. D543,416, U.S. D535,152, U.S. D534,770, U.S. D534,762, U.S. D527,576, U.S. D518,333, U.S. D491,020, U.S. D489,940, U.S. D483,613, U.S. D479,671, U.S. D479,437, U.S. D462,575, U.S. D458,082, and U.S. D457,395. The disclosure of each of these listed documents is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though set forth in full.
An improved container, however, would include a sleeve and/or other external interface to allow a user to attached, e.g., removably attach, to the same (or decorate the same with) one or more elements or parts. The container can thereby assume or be converted into a toy or decoratable container.
It is submitted that there is a need for such a container and which is lacking in known devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one non-limiting embodiment, there is provided a sleeve for a food or beverage container comprising a sleeve body sized and contained to receive therein a portion of the container. Plural connection elements are arranged on an outer surface of the sleeve body. At least one three-dimensional element is removably connectable to the sleeve body via at least one of the plural connection elements.
In embodiments, the container is one of: a cup, a can, a drink vessel, a mug; and a conventionally know container that can contain an edible drinking substance.
In embodiments, the container is one of: a food bowl, a soup bowl, a cereal bowl, and a conventionally know container that can contain an edible eating substance.
In embodiments, the at least one three-dimensional element is attachable via a snap connection.
In embodiments, the at least one three-dimensional element is one of: a decorative element, a toy element, an object resembling a portion of a man-made structure, and an object resembling a portion of a living thing.
In embodiments, the at least one three-dimensional element is one of: a letter, a number, an inanimate object, and an object resembling an inanimate object.
In embodiments, the at least one three-dimensional element is one of: a head of an animal, a face of an animal, a body of an animal, and a portion of an animal.
In embodiments, the plural connection elements comprise one of: snap connectors, projections insertable into openings, and recesses receiving projections.
In embodiments, the sleeve body comprises open upper and lower ends.
In embodiments, the sleeve body comprises open upper and lower ends and the lower end is smaller in diameter than the upper end.
In embodiments, the sleeve body comprises an open upper end and a closed lower end.
In embodiments, the sleeve body is structured and arranged to be removably mounted onto a container.
In embodiments, the sleeve body is structured and arranged to be non-removably mounted onto a container.
In embodiments, the sleeve body comprises a generally flexible material.
In embodiments, the sleeve body comprises a synthetic resin material.
In embodiments, there is provided a container comprising a container sized to contain therein an edible substance and the sleeve as described above .
In embodiments, there is provided a method of decorating the container described above, wherein the method comprises attaching at least one three-dimensional element to the sleeve body.
According to one non-limiting embodiment, there is provided a method of decorating a container, wherein the method comprises removably attaching at least one three-dimensional element to a sleeve body arranged on the container via at least one of a plural connection elements.
According to another non-limiting embodiment, there is provided a container comprising a container body and a sleeve body. The sleeve body is sized and contained to receive therein a portion of the container and comprising plural connection elements arranged on an outer surface of the sleeve body. At least one three-dimensional element is removably connectable to the sleeve body via at least one of the plural connection elements.
According to another non-limiting embodiment, there is provided a container comprising a container body and plural connection elements arranged on an outer surface of the container body.
In embodiments, the container may further comprise at least one of at least one three-dimensional element having at least one complementary connection element, the outer surface comprises a silicone material, and the plural connection elements are generally equally spaced projections.
Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawing.
The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:
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Although various embodiments shows the sleeve having external projections that can connect to recesses formed in one or more attachment elements, the invention also contemplates that either the sleeve is integrally formed with the container or that the external attachment elements (instead of being formed on the sleeve) are formed on an outer surface of the container itself. These elements can be either projections of the type shown in the drawings or alternatively (or additionally) external recesses, depressions and/or blind openings.
Although various embodiments shows the sleeve having external projections that can connect to recesses formed in one or more attachment elements, the invention also contemplates a sleeve with external recesses, depressions and/or blind openings and with projections formed on the one or more attachable elements.
One or more of the herein disclosed embodiments can also include one or more features described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/364,886 filed on Feb. 2, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Further additional features can be utilized on the sleeve and/or container such one, more than one, or all of those described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/608,956 filed on Mar. 9, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.
It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A sleeve for a food or beverage container comprising:
- a sleeve body sized and contained to receive therein a portion of a container;
- plural connection elements arranged on an outer surface of the sleeve body; and
- at least one three-dimensional element being removably connectable to the sleeve body via at least one of the plural connection elements.
2. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the container is one of:
- a cup;
- a can;
- a drink vessel;
- a mug; and
- a conventionally know container that can contain an edible drinking substance.
3. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the container is one of:
- a food bowl;
- a soup bowl;
- a cereal bowl; and
- a conventionally know container that can contain an edible eating substance.
4. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the at least one three-dimensional element is attachable via a snap connection.
5. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the at least one three-dimensional element is one of:
- a decorative element;
- a toy element;
- an object resembling a portion of a man-made structure; and
- an object resembling a portion of a living thing.
6. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the at least one three-dimensional element is one of:
- a letter;
- a number;
- an inanimate object;
- an object resembling an inanimate object.
7. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the at least one three-dimensional element is one of:
- a head of an animal;
- a face of an animal;
- a body of an animal;
- a portion of an animal.
8. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the plural connection elements comprise one of:
- snap connectors;
- generally equally spaced projections;
- generally circular projections;
- generally polygonal projections;
- projections insertable into openings; and
- recesses receiving projections.
9. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve body comprises open upper and lower ends.
10. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve body comprises open upper and lower ends and the lower end is smaller in diameter than the upper end.
11. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve body comprises an open upper end and a closed lower end.
12. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve body is structured and arranged to be removably mounted onto a container.
13. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve body is structured and arranged to be non-removably mounted onto a container.
14. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve body comprises a generally flexible one-piece member.
15. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve body comprises one of:
- a synthetic resin material; and
- a silicone material.
16. A container comprising:
- a container sized to contain therein an edible substance; and
- the sleeve of claim 1.
17. A method of decorating the container of claim 16, the method comprising:
- attaching at least one three-dimensional element to the sleeve body.
18. A method of decorating a container, the method comprising:
- removably attaching at least one three-dimensional element to a sleeve body arranged on the container via at least one of a plural connection elements.
19. A container comprising:
- a container body;
- plural connection elements arranged on an outer surface of the container body.
20. The container of claim 19, further comprising at least one of:
- at least one three-dimensional element having at least one complementary connection element;
- the outer surface comprises a silicone material; and
- the plural connection elements are generally equally spaced projections.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 14, 2012
Publication Date: Sep 12, 2013
Inventor: Robert GLUCK (Lawrence, NY)
Application Number: 13/715,288
International Classification: B65D 25/34 (20060101); B65B 61/00 (20060101);