GB2475520A - Beverage container top opening and storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for conveniently opening and storing beverage container tops is provided,including a compartment for receiving and storing a container top, wherein the compartment is attached to a substantially planar piece. The planar piece may display information identifying the manufacturer of the beverage, and or additional advertising information.The container top may be a cork or threaded cap.

Description

BEVERAGE CONTAINER TOP OPENING AND STORAGE DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTTON

The present invention relates to a beverage top opening and storage device, more particularly to a device for opening and then storing the top, cap, cork or stopper of a beverage container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beverage manufacturers, such as wineries, advertise by printing the winery name or logo on or inside the top of various containers, said top used to seal the wine bottle. The beverage container tops, which include metal and plastic caps, threaded and non-threaded, fabricated from natural or man-made materials and used to seal containers including glass, metal and plastic bottles, and corks made from natural or man-made materials, may be collected by customers, as souvenirs or reminders, for various purposes. For example, a customer at a restaurant served a wine may wish to remember the name of the winery that produced the wine, A customer will typically place the beverage top in a pocket or purse, for later retrieval.

It would be useful to have an efficient device for opening a beverage top and securely containing a top from a beverage container, with the identity and general information of the beverage manufacturer on or in the device, for convenient subsequent retrieval.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a beverage container top opening and storage device is provided that consists of an enclosed compartment for receiving, gripping and storing a beverage container top, attached to or forming part of a substantial planar piece used as leverage to open or unscrew the top and that displays the identity of the beverage manufacturer of the beverage, and/or advertisements or other marketing messages unrelated to the beverage manufacturer. The bottle top may be a cork, metal or plastic cap, threaded or unthreaded ("snap-on") for a glass, plastic or metal container.

one embodiment, the beverage container top opener and storage device consists of a cylindrical compartment that grips and contains a threaded metal or plastic cap. In another embodiment, the beverage container top opener and storage device consists of an elongated cylindrical chamber or clip for containing or restraining a wine bottle cork. In an embodiment the identity of the manufacturer of the beverage, and/or any advertisements are placed on a label placed within or on the main body of the device. In another embodiment, the identity of the manufacturer and/or advertisements, is directly printed on the main body of the device. In another embodiment, a loop, fixed or flexible is used to loop the device over the neck of a beverage container.

DETAILED DRAWINGS OF THE INVENTION

HG. 1 is a three dimensional embodiment of the beverage container top opener and storage device of the invention showing a loop used to hold the device around the neck of a beverage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The beverage container top opener and storage device, (FIG. 1), is constructed in accordance with the present invention, preferably from a resilient and moderately flexible, e.g. polymeric material, such as a plastic, so that it will be lightweight. The material may be transparent, frosted, opaque or colored. Exemplary synthetic plastic materials which may be employed include polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl, chloride, polyacrylates, polyamides, polypropylene, etc. The device may he formed using a mold as a single piece or separate pieces, using standard techniques of manufacture known in the art.

The device is comprised of a cylindrical container compartment as shown in FIG. 1, where the compartment is integrally attached to planar piece. Container compartment can be in the shape of a cylinder or tube (as shown in FIG. 1), or any other shape sufficient in depth (length) and diameter (width), to enclose and store a wine bottle cork or cap or other beverage container top. The interior of the container compartment may be smooth or serrated to better grip the top.

Planar piece can have any shape and he made in any color. For example, the planar piece as shown in FIG. 1 is generally curved and elongate. However it can also be rectangular, circular, or an irregular shape capable of manufacture. The planar piece may also have have smooth or non-smooth edges, for example, notched and/or may be clear, frosted or opaque. The planar piece may also have a loop or hook used to attach the device to a beverage container as shown in FIG. 1 Planar piece provides leverage to open the top and a convenient surface for placement of the identity of the beverage manufacture and/or advertising material. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, planar piece contains a raised area in top surface. The identity (name) and, optionally contact information or other advertising for example, the name of the type of the beverage, can be imprinted directly on the top surface of planar piece.

Alternatively, a pre-printed label with such identification information and/or advertising can be adhered to the top surface or bottom surface (see FTG. 1) of planar piece.

Optionally, an opening is provided extending through planar piece for attaching connecting means, such as a metal ring, to permit the beverage container top opener and storage device to be attached to a keyring and conveniently carried.

The beverage top container compartment is integrally attached perpendicularly, although other angles are also suitable, to the substantially planar piece. The thickness or width of the walls of the container compartment and the planar piece is not critical to the practice of this invention, as long as the container compartment and planar piece are sufficiently strong and flexible to resist breakage from normal intended use. Generally, the dimensions will be governed by the economics of manufacture.

As shown in FIG. 1, the user pushes the cylindrical container on to the top and leverages the planar piece to open and unscrew the beverage top from a wine bottler. The identity of the manufacturer of the beverage, and optionally additional advertising information, will have been previously inserted or printed on to the device so that the user can readily identify the source of the stored beverage container top thereafter.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail, by way of illustration and example, for purposes of clarity and understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and such are within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, along with their full scope of equivalents.

Claims (6)

1. What is claimed is: 1. A device for opening and storing a beverage container top, comprising a compartment for receiving and storing a beverage container top, said container compartment attached to a substantially planar piece.
2. 2. The device of Claim 1, wherein said beverage container is a bottle.
3. 3. The device of Claim 1, wherein said container top is a cork and said beverage container is a bottle.
4. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said container top is a metal or plastic threaded or unthreaded cap and said beverage container is a glass or plastic bottle.
5. 5. The device of Claim 1, wherein said planar piece displays information identifying the manufacturer of the beverage and/or advertising information.
6. 6. The device of Claim 6, wherein said information is placed on a label that is attached to the top or bottom of the substantially planar piece.