GB2504348A

GB2504348A - A cover for a drinking glass

Info

Publication number: GB2504348A
Application number: GB201213388A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bharat Mohan Daswani
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-07-26
Filing date: 2012-07-26
Publication date: 2014-01-29
Also published as: GB201213388D0

Abstract

A cover for an elongate tubular vessel with a closed base and an open mouth, comprising a plate 2 dimensioned to substantially close the mouth in use, the plate having a non-continuous peripheral collar 1 for engagement about the mouth. The cover is preferably a single moulded whole and may be formed or moulded from synthetic plastic, rubber, silicone, neoprene or another elastomer and may be disposable. The cover may include the use of more than one material and may be transparent, translucent, thermochromic or luminescent. The collar may provide a open segment 3 and include an elastomer seal and may include stepping or incremental variation of shape or contour to provide a plurality of diameters. The collar may include arcuate, offset, asymmetric, ogee or dog-leg shaping and be otherwise of a smaller diameter at the edges or cinched so as to flex grip the mouth. The plate may be substantially planar and be used to display messaging and be writeable and wipe/clean. The plate may be conical or concave to accommodate the drinkers face or provide a display which may include electronic components such as LEDs or LCD. The collar may provide messaging space and include detachable tabs which extend towards the vessel base.

Description

A COVER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cover, more particularly but not exclusively to a cover for an elongate container or vessel such as a drinking glass.

Backcjround Despite increasing fiscal and spatial pessures, drinking socially or more particularly drinking in company QI at commercial premises remains an enjoyable experience for many with time on their hands.

Such drinkers or users typically have higher levels of free time, sociability and often disposable income wherein they are happy to pass time in social environments, mixing with others and tend to be amongst those users who influence society to a higher level.

Outdoor events such as festivals, beer gardens or corporat! events often include high levels of drinking including alcoholic drinks which tend to promote more frequent drinking and larger quantities or vessels.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: Granted United States patent US 8 056 752 (CARNEVALI) discloses a lid closure for mounting upon the lip of a personal beverage container, the lid closure characterized -by: a top plate portion surrounded by a mounting portion that anchors upon the lip; a drink4hrough opening within the top plate portion and adjacent to the mounting portion enabling drinking from the cup without removal of the lid and permitting the lips of a user drinking from the cup to encompass the drink-through opening, the drink-through opening being further characterized by a liquid permeable membrane; and a vent opening within the top plate portion adjacent to the mounting portion substantially opposite from the drink-through opening, the vent opening being further characterized by an air permeable membrane.

Granted United States patent US 8 100 287 (MILNARK) discloses a selectively removable cap for covering an opening of a drinking vessel, the cap comprising: a substantially rigid cover disk assembly; and a flexible tubular membrane secured to and extending from the cover disk assembly; wherein the cover disk assembly is adapted to cover the opening of the drinking vessel and wherein the tubular membrane is adapted to unroll over and surround an outer side wall of the drinking vessel.

In contrast the present invention provides a means of allowing messages to be relayed to drinkers effectively, affordably and repeatedly.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a cover for an elongate tubular vessel with a closed base and an open mouth; said cover including a plate dimensioned to substantially close the mouth in use, said plate having a peripheral collar for engagement about the mouth in use, and said peripheral collar being non-continuous.

Ideally the elongate tubular vessel is a drinking glass, but may include cups, beakers or mugs such as formed from plastic, ceramic or porcelain.

In preferred embodiments the vessel has a circular open mouth and rim, and the peripheral collar is shaped and dimensioned such that in use the collar largely and continuously surrounds the rim and in which the collar provides an open segment by diverting or finishing at the segment.

Said segment is preferably shaped, and dimensioned and located so as to allow a drinker to place their mouth into and onto the vessel in order to access contents of the vessel. The plate ideally and typically also includes a cutaway pàThon that largely corresponds to the segment.

The cover thereby provides a cover for such vessels, which cover does not surround the entire vessel and consequently allows the drinker to sip or drink from the vessel, allowing the drinkers lips to come into contact with the vessel directly. In this way the drinker's drinking experience is not altered or affected and a reassuring experience of drinking from glass or appropriate vessel material is reinforced and remaining.

In some preferred embodiments the cover is formed or moulded from a flexible or resiliently deformable material, such as thin synthetic plastics for single-use embodiments, wherein such as rubber, silicone, neoprene or other elastomer may be used for reusable embodiments.

In the preferred embodiments however the cover is a single injection moulded whole, wherein production costs may be minimised, and differences in flexibility or elasticity within the cover are accommodated by or more particularly provided for by differences in shape, density, or thickness of different areas of the material.

In this way even a single material may advantageously enable the cover to stretch and accommodate a plurality of vessels with a plurality of mouth diameters.

In some further embodiments the cover may include use of more than one material, for example wherein the collar may be formed from a more flexible material than the plate, or wherein the collar may include an elastomer seal, for example.

Advantageously however the collar is formed of the same material as the plate in preferred embodiments wherein formation and flexure of the collar in particular permits deformation so as to grip the vessel rim and the plate accommodates the collars flexure.

In some such embodiments the collar is stepped with thinner material stepped up to thicker material peripheral to the plate, describable in such manner as providing a thinner mouth edge and thicker plate edge.

Furthermore the collar may in some embodiments include stepping or incremental variation of shape or contour so as to provide a plurality of widths or diameters of mouth.

Some embodiments may include transparent or translucent material, at least in part, so as to allow a drinker to view contents of the vessel.

In some other embodiments the collar includes arcuate, offset, asymmetric, ogee or dog-leg shaping to accommodate or promote flexure intermediate between, the edges, and/or is otherwise of a smaller diameter at the edges or cinched so as to flex grip the mouth edge, whilst allowing flexure or deformation between the edges.

In yet further embodiments intermediate material may be included on the collar, which intermediate material is easier to deform.

In preferred embodiments the plate is substantially planar, and may consequently be used to display advertising, game scorecards, bar games, instructions or other temporary or permanent messaging, which may be stamped, engraved or impressed.

In preferred embodiments for example the plate may include a section that is writeable and/or wipe-clean, so that a drinker can write messages or scores on the plate.

In other embodiments in addition or the alternative the collar may provide messaging space and/or the display, for example wherein the collar may extend, be expanded àí include extending tabs, said tabs extending in use down the vessel towards the vessel's base.

Such tabs may be detachable or displaceable, such as including a living hinge or perforated division.

In preferred embodiments and according to a second aspect of the present invention however the plate allows a user to include messaging on the cover, said messaging being highly visible to the drinker.

The user may provide the messaging by adhering a label or self-adhesive sticker to the cover, which label may consequently be replaced or covered when new messaging is required or justified. In this way a user may be provided with a sheet of said labels for adhesion to a series of covers. . In other embodiments the messaging may be provided by embossing or raised and lowered parts wherein a three-dimensional shape may provide the messaging. In this way for example the plate may be shaped to be for example conical and/or concave rather than planar, and may extend towards the drinker or into the vessel.

In this way the plate may be able to accommodate a drinker's face or nose when drinking final contents of the vessel. In some embodiments the plate or collar may extend away from the vessel in use in order to provide a display.

In some further embodiments the display may include electronic components, for example light emitting diodes (LEDs) wherein said components allow yet further messaging effectiveness.

In still further embodiments the components may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), printed circuit board (PCB), switches, or other refinement capable of enhancing messaging effectiveness such as thermochromic material or luminescent paint, coating or material so as to étore light and release the light during evening hours or low-light conditions.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of FiQures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the cover; Figure 2 shows a view from above of the embodiment; Figure 3 shows a view from the side of the embodiment, showing the segment; And Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view from the side of the embodiment

Detailed Description of Ficiures

The pictured and preferred embodiment of the cover includes the following: Collar 1 Plate 2 Segment 3 The collar 1 attaches to a rim or top of a glass (not shown) to prevent spillages, as well as providing advertising space for pub and bar owners. The collar 1 is shaped with a stepped profile so as to progressively fit over the rim under pressure.

In use, the collar therefore clips securely over the top of a glass and protects the contents, and the removed segment 3 is provided so that a drinker' lips do not touch the cover ito allow an experience of drinking from a glass.

The cover 1 is ideally available in a range of sizes to fit different glasses, and has ability for flexure or deformation to cater for a slight variation in similar sizes.

The plate 2 incorporates or provides space on the top of the glass for advertising, including scratch off panel promotions.

The preferred embodiment is transparent and lightweight and a single moulded piece, economical to produce and disposable after one use.

Claims

Claims 1. A cover for an elongate tubular vessel with a closed base and an open mo,jth; said cover including a plate dimensioned to substantially close the mouth in vse said plate having a peripheralcollar for engagement about the mouth in -use, and said collar being non-continuous.
2. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the vessel is a drinking glass.
3. A cover according to either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the vessel has a circular mouth and rim, and the peripheral collar is shaped and dimensioned such that in use the collar largely and continuously surrounds the rim and in which the collar provides an open segment by diverting at the segment.
4. A cover according to either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the vessel has a circular mouth and rim, and the peripheral collar is shaped and dimensioned such that in use the collar largely and continuously surrounds the rim, and in which the collar provides an open segment by finishing at the segment
5. A cover according to either of claims 3 and 4, wherein the segment is shaped, dimensioned and located so that in use the segment allows the drinker to place their mouth into and onto the vessel.
6. A cover according to any preceding claim wherein at least part of the cover is formed or moulded from a flexible or resiliently deformable material.
7. A cover according to any preceding claim wherein at least part of the plate is substantially planar, and is adapted to display messaging.
8. A cover according to any preceding claim wherein the plate may include a section that is writeable.
9. A cover according to any preceding claim wherein the collar may provide messaging space.
10. A cover according to any of the preceding claims wherein the cover includes luminescent material.11.. A cover according to any of the preceding claims wherein the cover includes a stepped collar providing an ability to accept or engage a plurality of diameter mouths. - 12. A method of providing a glass with a cover that allows drinking from the glass, in which said glass receives a cover according to any preceding claim or with reference to the figures.