WO1999058407A1

WO1999058407A1 - Drinks container with identification means

Info

Publication number: WO1999058407A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/009461
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Alan Gloss
Original assignee: David Alan Gloss
Priority date: 1998-05-08
Filing date: 1998-05-08
Publication date: 1999-11-18
Also published as: AU7476398A

Abstract

The invention comprehends comestible containers (10) and/or lids, and user selectable indicator indicia (21) on the container bodies and/or lids, configured to create or maintain a specific association of a specific user with a specific comestible container by making a visually ascertainable selection of desired indicator indicium. Typical such indicator indicia indicate information other than information regarding contents of the container. The container body or the lid body, or both, can comprise indicator material integral therewith. Indicator indicia are disposed on or in the indicator material, such as by printing, or by positive or negative relief on the surface of the indicator material, or may be integral portions of the indicator material. A selector element can be mounted on the container body and/or on a container lid associated with the container body. The selector element can be moved with respect to the container body, to thereby indicate a selected indicium.

Description

DRINKS CONTAINER WITH IDENTIFICATION MEANS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to containers, especially containers for comestible products. Such containers are made from a variety of materials, in a variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations, for containing a variety of beverage and other comestible products. A particular difficulty arises with such containers where a number of container users congregate in an area, such as at a party. Typically each person may have a drink in a container. It is common for a person attending a party to set his/her drink down while he/she attends to other matters, and to then go back to pick up his/her drink. However, another person may have set down their drink at generally the same location, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for any one person to determine which drink is his/hers .

Normally, unless a user knows that a particular drink container is his/hers, the user will abandon a container rather than risk unintentionally picking up a drink container that may belong to someone else. The concern, of course, is that using a container which has been used by someone else might spread disease or other contaminants to the acquisitive user. Accordingly, many containers with comestible contents therein are abandoned in favor of getting a "new" drink because the user is unable to determine which container is his/hers. The result is unused and wasted comestible, use of an excessive number of comestible containers, corresponding unnecessary excess demand on - 3 - raw material resources, and corresponding unnecessary excess demand on recycling or other disposal resources, such as landfills.

Accordingly, there is an urgent need for each person to be able to quickly and easily provide an indication on their container, unique to their container, and thus to be able to later identify their own container when it is proximate containers belonging to others. Such indication must be so configured that each person can provide an indicator that will distinguish his/her container from other containers likely to be encountered while the container is being used. At minimum, the container should provide a relatively large number of separately distinguishable indicators which can be selected or otherwise activated by the user.

It is an object of this invention to provide a comestible container having a container body, user selectable indicator configured to accommodate a visually ascertainable selection being made by a user indicating information other than information regarding the comestible contained in the comestible container, the user selectable indicator including a selector element operative to select identification indicia on the container, and to perform a second operation on the container.

It is another object to provide such a container wherein the indicia indicate information other than contents of the container. It is yet another object to provide a liquid container wherein the container body comprises indicator material, and indicator indicia on the indicator material, the indicator material being deformable, by employing a body part of the user, to thereby activate a selected indicator on the comestible container.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a comestible container having a selector element mounted on the container body, for manipulation by a user, with respect to the container body, to thereby indicate selected indicia.

It is a still further object to provide such a comestible container in which, after the indicator element is moved to indicate the selected indicium, the selector element is restrained against movement away from the selected indicium.

A further object is to provide a comestible container having a plurality of removable indicator elements mounted on the container body, such that removal of a selected one of the - 4 - indicator elements represents a message different and distinct from the message indicated by removal of a different one of the removable elements.

It is yet a further object to provide a container lid, for use on a comestible container, wherein the lid has a central main body portion, a container-engaging outer rim, for engaging a liquid comestible container, and an indicator system, wherein the indicator system is configured to accommodate a visually ascertainable selection and activation, by a user, indicating information other than information regarding contents of the container on which the lid is to be used.

- 5 -

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention generally comprises a comestible container which includes a container body, and a user selectable indicator on the container, configured to accommodate a user of the container making a visually ascertainable selection of a desired indication.

The body of the container may comprise indicator material, with indicator indicia disposed thereon, such as by printing, or by relief on the surface of the indicator material wherein the indicator material is deformable by the user to thereby activate a selected indicator.

A selector element may be mounted on the container. The selector element can be manipulated by a user to thereby move the selector element with respect to the container body, to thereby indicate a selected indicator indicium. After having been moved to indicate the selected indicium, the selected element may be restrained, such as by friction, against movement away from the selected indicium.

A plurality of removable indicator elements may be mounted in surface-to-surface attachment on the container body. Removal of any selected set of one or more of the indicator elements represents a unique message different and distinct from the message indicated by removal of a second different set of one or more of the removable elements. The comestible container preferably includes an indicator system on the container body, enabling activation of any one of at least 3, preferably at least 9, more preferably at least 10, indications such that the probability of a common indication based on a random selection of indicators is no greater than 1 in 3 , 1 in 9, and 1 in 10, respectively.

Other embodiments include a container lid, for use on a comestible container. The lid may have a container-engaging outer rim, preferably at or adjacent an outer perimeter of the lid, for engaging the top of a comestible container. The lid may comprise an indicator system, configured to accommodate visually ascertainable selection and activation by a user, indicating information other than information regarding contents of the container on which the lid is used. - 6 -

Thus , the invention may comprise a comestible container, preferably a single-use container, comprising a container body, a container lid, indicator indicia on one of the container body and the container lid, and a dual use selector element on one of the container body and the container lid, the selector element being operative to select at least one of the indicator indicia, and being further operative to perform a second non-indicating operation, for example as a lift tab for gaining access to contents of the container. The indicator indicia do not represent contents of the comestible container. Rather, the indicator indicia represent information other than contents of the container. The indicator indicia may be arranged as an array on at least one of the container body and the container lid, and may include a "no selection" zone associated with the array. The selector element is preferably mounted on the lid for movement of at least a portion of the selector element with respect to the lid thereby to select indicator indicia on one of the container lid and the container body. The container lid may comprise a lid substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a thickness therebetween, with the indicator indicia impressed into the lid substrate, from the outer surface .

Preferably, an array of indicator indicia is associated with the selector element and an alignment mark on the selector element is operative to associate the selector element with selected ones of the indicator indicia.

The invention may further comprise a method of maintaining a specific association of a specific user with a specific comestible container, preferably a single-use container, the container having a container body, a container lid, and an indicator system on the container, the indicator system being operative to give at least 3, preferably at least 9, more preferably at least 10, different indications. The method comprises the steps of activating the indicator system on the container to thereby specify the identity of the container according to at least one of the indications, making an association between the container identity and the specific user, and making the association subject to recall, - 7 - confirming an absence of contact between the specific container and the specific user, recalling the association of the specific container with the specific user, and uniting the specific container with the specific user in accord with recall of the specific association therebetween.

In some embodiments, the activating of the indicator system comprises moving at least a portion of the selector element with respect to the lid.

The selector element may include an alignment mark and the method may include associating the alignment mark with a selected one of the indicator indicia to thereby activate the indicator system and establish the identity of the specific container. The selector element may, for example, be moved, such as by pivotation, with respect to the lid and/or the container body. The making of the association between the comestible container and the specific user may comprise a mental step, or the recording, in a device, of information relating to activating the indicator system.

The invention may be embodied in a lid for use in association with a comestible container, the lid comprising a lid substrate, indicator indicia on the lid substrate, preferably arranged as an array on the lid, and preferably including a "no selection" zone associated with the array, and a dual use selector element on the lid substrate, the selector element being operative to select at least one of the indicator indicia, and being effective to perform a second non-indicating operation.

The invention is still further embodied in a comestible container comprising a container body, the container body comprising container body material, and indicator indicia, including indicator indicia material, associated with the container body material, at least one of the container body material and the indicator indicia material being susceptible to being deformed by crushing, by employing a person's fingernail, to thereby activate a selected indicator indicium on the comestible container. The invention may be yet further comprised in a method of maintaining a specific association of a specific user with a specific comestible container, e.g. a single-use container, the container having a container body fabricated with container body - 8 - material, and an indicator system including indicator indicia, including indicator indicia material, the indicator system being operative to give at least 3, preferably at least 9, more preferably at least 10, different indications, at least one of the container body material and the indicator indicia material being susceptible to being deformed by crushing, to thereby activate a selected indicator indicium on the container. The method comprises the steps of activating the indicator system on the container by deforming and thereby at least partially crushing at least one of the container body material and the indicator indicia material at or adjacent an indicator indicium, thereby to specify the identity of the specific container according to at least one of the indications, making the above association between the container identity and the specific user, subject to recall, confirming an absence of contact, recalling the association, and uniting the specific container with the specific user.

The indicator indicia may comprise extensions of the container body material, extending outwardly from the general outline of the outer surface of the container body material, such that the activating comprises deforming by crushing an outwardly-extending portion of an indicator indicium.

The invention further comprehends a method of maintaining a specific association as above, using an identification system including identification indicia, including identification material, on at least one of the container body and the container lid, the method comprising the steps of activating the indicator system on at least one of the container body and the container lid by deforming and thereby at least partially crushing at least one of the container body material, the container lid material, and the identification material at or adjacent an identification indicium, thereby to specify the identity of the comestible container according to the identification indicium at the deformation, making the above association between the container identity and the specific user, confirming an absence of contact, recalling the association, and uniting the specific container with the specific user.

The identification indicia may comprise outward extensions of at least a respective one of the container body material and the - 9 - container lid material, such that the activating comprises deforming by crushing an outwardly-extending portion of an identification indicium.

The invention yet further comprehends a comestible container, comprising a comestible container body made with container body material, and a plurality of, preferably at least 3, more preferably at least 9, most preferably at least 10, removable indicator elements mounted on the container body, the removable indicator elements being attached in surface-to-surface attachment to the container body, removal of a selected first set of one or more of the removable indicator elements, by severing the respective surface-to-surface attachment, representing a first message different and distinct from a second message indicated by such removal of a selected different second set of one or more of the removable indicator elements. The messages may relate to, for example, identity of the specific container.

The invention still further comprehends a lid for use on a comestible container, comprising a lid substrate made with lid substrate material, and a plurality of removable indicator elements mounted on the lid, the removable indicator elements being attached in surface-to-surface attachment to the lid substrate, removal of a selected first set of one or more of the removable indicator elements, by severing the respective surface-to-surface attachment, representing a first message relating to, for example, identity of the specific lid, different and distinct from a second message indicated by such removal of a selected different second set of one or more of the removable indicator elements.

- 10 -

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1A shows a top view of a first embodiment of a single- use beverage can employing an array of indicator indicia of the invention.

FIGURE IB shows a top view of a second embodiment of a single- use beverage can employing an array of indicator indicia of the invention, including a "no response" zone.

FIGURE 2 shows a pictorial view of a foam drinking cup employing indicator indicia of the invention.

FIGURE 3 shows a top view of a cup lid of the invention, separable from, and separated from, the cup with which it is used, the lid employing indicator indicia.

The invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the terminology and phraseology employed herein is for purpose of description and illustration and should not be regarded as limiting. Like reference numerals are used to indicate like components in the several drawings.

- 11 -

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGURE 1A, a comestible container 10, such as an aluminum beverage can, has a container body 12 and a container lid 14. Container body 12 defines a receptacle 16 having a bottom wall (not shown) and an encompassing side wall 18.

Lid 14 is secured to side wall 18 of the can in the usual and conventional manner. Lift tab 20 is secured to lid 14 by a rivet 22 in the usual and conventional manner. Frictional engagement between rivet 22, lift tab 20, and lid 14 provides restraint against unrestricted rotation of the lift tab with respect to lid 14.

Suitable indicator indicia 21, such as the letters of the alphabet, namely "A" through "Z," are printed on lid 14, or impressed into the substrate of lid 14, in an array 25 spread around a desired portion of the circumference of the lid. Lead lines 23 extend from each of the letters to the area of lift tab 20. An alignment mark 24 is printed, impressed into, or otherwise affixed on lift tab 20. In the embodiment just described, lift tab 20 can be rotated about rivet 22, against the restraint of the friction between rivet 22, lift tab 20, and lid 14.

When the user desires to mark his/her container, such as for identification, he/she selects one of the letters of the alphabet, for example the letter "X, " as his/her mark. He/she then rotates the lift tab such that alignment mark 24 comes into alignment, and thus is associated with, the respective lead line 23 which is associated with the selected one of the letters of the alphabet, e.g. "X." Alignments of alignment mark 24 with the lead lines 23 associated with the letters "X" and "A" are illustrated in dashed outline in FIGURE 1A. Alignment of selector mark 24 with the letter "N" is shown in solid outline in FIGURE 1A.

The friction between rivet 22, lift tab 20, and lid 14, which prevents unrestricted rotation of the lift tab with respect to lid 14, also prevents unrestricted rotation of the lift tab away from the selected letter after the alignment mark has been so rotated and the alignment mark 24 associated with the respective lead line 23, which lead line is in turn associated with the selected letter. - 12 -

In the embodiment of FIGURE IB, centerline 26 extends across the center of coined opening 28 as well as across the center of the top of the container. Coined opening 28 is the opening which is opened, and which provides access to the contents of the container, when lift tab 20 is lifted. In FIGURE IB, the letters of the alphabet are displaced left and right from centerline 26, leaving a "no selection" zone 30 generally centered about centerline 26, and across lid 14 from opening 28.

Referring to FIGURE IB, lid 14 may be fabricated and/or the can may be fabricated and filled, with lid 14 secured thereto, such that alignment mark 24 is oriented toward "no selection" zone 30. As illustrated in FIGURE IB, "no selection" zone 30 comprises a zone associated with array 25 of indicia, which zone 30 is susceptible of being selected by alignment mark 24, but which zone 30 carries no association with any of the indicator

(identification) indicia 21. In the embodiment of FIGURE IB, "no selection" zone 30 represents a blank space in array 25, which blank space is not associated with any of the indicia of the array.

"No selection" zone 30 can have a wide variety of indicia, including decorations and other graphics, letters, numbers, and the like, so long as the indicia so associated with "no selection" zone 30 are not readily associated with the indicator (identification) indicia 21 of array 25.

Thus, a preferred process for fabricating containers of the invention includes a sensing step for ensuring that alignment mark 24 is disposed in the "no selection" orientation. If alignment mark 24 is not so disposed, tab 14 is moved as a result of position sensed in the sensing step such the alignment mark is so properly disposed. Such sensing step may be performed when the lid is fabricated. Preferably, however, the sensing step is performed after fabrication of the container is complete, including filling of the container and installing and sealing (if appropriate) of the lid on the container.

The ordinary friction restraining rotation of lift tab 20 impedes rotation of the lift tab such that, in typical use, alignment mark 24 remains directed toward space 30, which is devoid of indicator indicia, until or unless intentionally moved/rotated by a user of the container to a selected indicator indicium. - 13 -

Thus, the typical container of the FIGURE IB embodiment will reach the consumer indicating, or giving a message, that "no selection" has been made. Accordingly, until the specific user of the specific container intentionally selects an indicator, and activates the selection by rotating alignment mark 24 into alignment with the selected indicator, the alignment mark actively indicates that no selection has been made.

FIGURE 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention applied to a disposable drinking cup 32, for example a molded foam cup made from, for example, foamed polystyrene. Cup 32 comprises a container/cup body 34 having a main body portion 36 and a rim 38. Rim 38 is disposed toward the top of the cup, and includes top edge 40.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, letters of the alphabet are disposed on outer surface 42 of rim 38, in indicator zones 43. As with the embodiments of FIGURES 1A and IB, a letter is selected, and marked by the specific user of the specific cup. Contrary to the marking of FIGURES 1A and IB, wherein alignment mark 24 was used to indicate the selected letter, in FIGURE 2, the selected letter is preferably marked by deforming, namely crushing, the foam material at the selected letter, or adjacent the selected letter, whether on rim 38, itself, or on the main body portion adjacent the rim.

The illustration in FIGURE 2 shows some crushing at 44 of rim 38, including crushing of the outwardly extended identification material at the indicium "F, " as well as some crushing at main body portion 38 immediately below indicator zone "F." Thus, the deformed area 44 bridges rim 38 and main body portion 36.

Preferred method for deforming the foam to make deformed area 44 is by the user impressing the distal edge of one of his or her fingernails or thumbnails into the foam, thereby physically and visibly crushing a portion of the thickness of the foam material which defines the thickness of the cup side wall at the locus of deformation. The purpose of the crushing described herein is to provide a visual indicator. Accordingly, the crushable material need be crushed only enough to be visible, and to distinguish the intentionally crushed area from such incidental deformations of the - 14 - foam as are normally experienced during routine use of such containers .

As received by the user, the cup typically would have no deformed area indicating any selection had been made. Thus, by creating the deformed area, the user is making both a statement that a selection has been made and a statement regarding what the selection is, typically by the above partial crushing of the foam or other crushable material at the selected indicator zone.

As in the embodiments of FIGURES 1A and IB, activating a given indicator (letter) distinguishes the user's container from the containers of all other users who have not selected the same letter as an indicator.

In addition, in the embodiment of FIGURE 2, since the crushing of the foam itself is the indicator mechanism, more than one letter can be activated by crushing the foam at more than one of the respective letters, whereby the number of possible indicator combinations becomes a multiple of the number of separate and distinct indicators applied to the container. By activating more than one of the respective letters, the specific user can be more certain that no other container provides the identical indication.

The indicia such as "A, " "B, " "C, " and the like may be applied to the container as impressions into the surface of the container substrate, as impressions into a tape, sticker, or other layer affixed to the container substrate, or as outward extensions of the container substrate or tape or sticker. The indicia may be printed on the container substrate or tape or sticker. Thus, the mechanism for associating the indicia with the container is generally not limited, in any of the embodiments.

Another mechanism for activating the indicators (letters) is to apply the indicators in such manner that they can be selectively removed from the container (e.g. the container body). Thus, letters can be applied in surface-to-surface attachment, for example, to rim 38 of cup 32 as peel -off stickers, or may be peelable elements, peelable from a larger whole, such as from an applied elongate tape which is then the mechanism for the surface- to-surface attachment of the indicator indicia. In FIGURE 2, dashed circles are shown around the letters "I," "J, " "K, " and "L, " illustrating that the respective letters can be activated by - 15 - peeling off respective adhesive labels 46 represented inside the dashed circles.

Thus, activating the identification process comprises removing a set of one or more indicia by severing the respective surface-to- surface attachment between the respective indicia and the container, optionally through an intermediate layer, such as a substrate tape which is in surface-to-surface attachment to the container body, and which is between the container body and the respective removable indicator indicium. Removal of any one set of indicia represents a message different and distinct from a second message which would be indicated by removal of a selected different second set of one or more of such indicia.

The above statements with respect to removing indicia from the container body can generally be applied to a similar removal process applied to a container lid. Thus, letters can be applied in surface-to-surface attachment, for example, about an outwardly disposed portion of lid 14 as peel -off stickers, or may be peelable elements, peelable from a larger whole, such as from an applied annular tape which is then the mechanism for the surface-to-surface attachment of the indicator indicia.

Thus, activating the identification process with respect to the lid comprises removing a set of one or more indicia by severing the respective surface-to-surface attachment between the respective indicia and the container, optionally through an intermediate layer, such as a substrate tape. Removal of any one set of indicia represents a message different and distinct from a second message which would be indicated by removal of a selected different second set of one or more of such indicia.

In such embodiment, the absence of the removed indicia may be part of the identity, along with the identity of the remaining indicia, especially the indicia immediately adjacent the indicator zones from which peel-off stickers have been removed. Further, the peel-off stickers themselves may define unique outlines such that peeling off any one sticker leaves a uniquely- shaped opening in the e.g. outer layer of a multiple layer tape, thus to reflect the unique (to that container) shape of the sticker removed.

As a typical arrangement, but without limitation thereto, on any given cup, all the indicators operate by the same mechanism, - 16 - whether by crushing, by peeling, by removal, by other transformation, or otherwise. As with the crushing embodiment, more than one label 46 can be removed m order to give the specific user added assurance that he/she has created a unique identification for his/her specific cup.

FIGURE 3 shows still another embodiment of the invention, as applied to a cup lid. Such lids are typically considered to be "disposable, " and are readily available at restaurants for use on drink cups. Typical such lids are molded from sheet stock of e.g. a variety of well known polymers. The lids may be transparent, translucent, or opaque.

As seen m FIGURE 3, lid 48 has a central main body 50, and a downwardly depending outer rim 52 for engaging a cup or other container body. In the embodiment illustrated m FIGURE 3, indicator zones 43 extend from outer edge 52 of the lid inwardly onto the main body 50, thus bridging between the top edge of the outer rim and an outer portion of the main body of the lid.

Each indicator zone 43 carries an indicium m the form a number between "1" and "26." One or more of the numbers is activated by deforming the selected number (s) to effect a visible change, such as a characteristic shape, or a change in the appearance of the material m the respective indicator zone.

In FIGURE 3, a preferred lid material is translucent, and indicator zone "13" has been activated by deforming the translucent material m the indicator zone with the user's finger nail, causing the translucent material to turn white and thus more opaque. Once such material is deformed, causing it to turn white, the change is permanent, such that once the indicator zone is whitened, it remains white permanently, so that any markings so made on the lid become a permanent characteristic of that lid. Thus, once the lid is so marked, such marking can be relied on as indicative of the identity of that particular lid.

It is possible that more than one person may select a particular indicium to activate on their container. Thus, marking two or more, though not all, such indicators can attach a more reliable separate and distinct identity to any given lid.

Downwardly depending outer rim 52, as illustrated m FIGURE 3, is coextensive with the outer edge of lid 48. In the embodiment - 17 - of lid 48 illustrated, the inner surface of outer rim 52 of the lid generally engages the outer surface of rim 38 of the cup. In another embodiment, not shown, outer rim 52 of the lid is disposed inwardly of the outer edge of the lid, whereby the outer rim of the lid is not coextensive with the outer edge of the lid. In such embodiment, outer rim 52 may engage the inner surface of rim 38 of the cup .

Comestible containers on which indicia of the invention are used are generally single-service size containers. Thus, such containers typically hold up to about 32 fluid ounces of liquid. While somewhat larger containers may be used for dispensing, for example, fountain drinks, normally such drinks are dispensed in 32 ounce or less quantities.

The shape of the container is not a factor in determining the utility of the invention with the container. Thus, the container has been illustrated with such diverse containers as a metal beverage can and a molded polystyrene foam cup. The invention could well be used on containers made in other shapes and with other materials. For example, the invention could well be applied to presently available aseptically packaged juice boxes. The invention could also well be applied to other single-service comestible packages not mentioned herein, as well as to (e.g. single-service) comestible containers developed in the future. In accord with the type of container of the invention selected for use herein, the container can contain a wide variety of comestible products, namely virtually any product suitable for containment in containers otherwise similar but not having the identification features of the invention.

The location of the activatable indicia of the invention, on the container, is not critical other than that it should be in a location that is readily accessible to the user for activation purposes, and should be readily detectable when a user wants to determine what identity has been activated on a given container. Thus, where the container has a container body (e.g. side walls) and a lid, as in FIGURES 1A and IB, the indicator indicia should be either on the outside of the side wall or on the outside of the lid. In FIGURES 1A and IB, the indicia are on the outside of the lid. In FIGURE 2, the indicia are on the outside of the side wall. - 18 -

Preferably, the indicia are not on an inner surface of the container which will be in contact with the comestible product contained in the container unless the material thereat is suitably transparent to allow visual identity therethrough. In the instance where the container comprises a receptacle which does not necessarily include a lid, but where a lid may be received on, and joined with, the receptacle, to form a top in closure of the receptacle, such as respects the cup in FIGURE 2, then the indicia may be located either on the receptacle/container body or on the lid, or both. Thus, the lid illustrated in FIGURE 3 can be used on a cup having no indicia of the invention thereon. However, the lid of FIGURE 3 could well also be used on a cup having indicia of the invention, such as the cup of FIGURE 2 whereby the user could activate indicia on either the cup body 36 or on the lid, or both. Thus, closed containers of the invention comprehend embodiments having a cup and lid combination wherein both the cup and the lid include indicia 21 described in the invention.

Generally, indicia useful in the invention would not be placed on the bottom of the container, whether inside or outside, since it would be rather difficult to inspect such indicia to see which one(s) had been activated. However, where the container material is transparent or the indicia could otherwise be made easily readable when the container has been opened, such as with crystal polystyrene or polyethylene terephthalate, the indicia could, under some conditions, be placed on the bottom of the container.

A wide variety of methods can be used to activate indicium in the invention. As illustrated in FIGURES 1A and IB, an indicium can be activated by moving a pointer to indicate the selected indicium. FIGURE 2 illustrates activating an indicium by crushing foam material, preferably only part -way through (partial crushing) the thickness of the foam material, at or adjacent the selected indicium.

Thus, wherever the term "crushing" is used herein, there is intended all levels of crushing, including that small amount of crushing that will clearly distinguish the crushed area from marks made by normal wear and tear on the container body, the rim, or the lid, as applicable, which is incidental to the intended use of the - 19 - container. Also included is that amount of crushing that approaches destruction of the container material at the respective location. However, "crushing" in the invention does not, in general, include that level of crushing which results in destruction of the respective container material (body or lid) to the extent that the normal ability of the container to retain liquid at the respective location, or elsewhere, is compromised.

FIGURE 2 also illustrates activating an indicium by removing a peelable or other element from the container, thereby activating the indicator system using one or more of a larger number of indicium, to thereby establish a specific container identity, by removing one or more selected such indicia.

FIGURE 3 illustrates activating an indicium by deforming a readily changeable plastic material to make a transparent or translucent such plastic turn permanently white at the marked location.

The invention further contemplates applying pressure to container material to permanently change the shape, and thus the perceived apparent configuration of the container material at one or more selected indicia. Thus, the user can change e.g. the thickness of the material at the selected indicium by a deforming, crushing act as shown at "F" in FIGURE 2. Further, the user can displace a sheet-like section of the container material at the selected indicium, for example depress an upwardly extending button carrying the selected indicium on a cup lid.

In other embodiments, indicium can be activated by breaking or otherwise changing a line of weakness, such as a line of weakness on the lid, but without thereby separating any element from the container. In still other embodiments, indicium can be activated by activating a latent image in the container substrate material or a layer of material on the container substrate.

The invention contemplates that a wide variety of arrangements or layout configurations may be used for laying out arrays 25 of indicators on containers and lids of the invention. Thus, the array may be, for example, linear as shown, square, rectangular, oval, or virtually any other shape desired, so long as individual, - 20 - easily identifiable indicia, or other uniquely distinguishable identification characteristics, can be readily activated.

Where the structure of a particular container of the invention provides for activating more than one indicium, it is highly preferred that less than all such indicia be activated. By contrast, if all available indicia are activated, then no selectivity is obtained where more than one such container is treated in the same manner, and the desired identification system fails to establish any distinguishable identity. The number and nature of indicia 21 employed on any given container is not limited to the alphabet characters illustrated. For example, the number of different characters employed may be more or less than those shown. A greater number of distinct, and different, characters may be desirable where a large population of users may be engaged in close proximity to each other. Where a smaller number of users is anticipated, a smaller number of different characters may be preferred for indicia 21.

Further, where more than one character may be selected, in combination, on a given container, a smaller number of characters may be used to provide a desirable number of potentially separate and distinct selections than in embodiments where multiple characters are not readily selected in combination.

While letters have been illustrated, numbers could as well be used. Similarly a wide variety of known or unknown, practical or fanciful, character combinations may be employed, such as characters representing the English alphabet, and non-English alphabets, letters, words, or languages, or other language sets, graphic figures or designs, and the like. Generally, the combination of characters is derived from one or more such published character sets, though publication is not critical to use of a character set in connection with indicator indicia of the invention. However, the character set should be well known in most cases .

The structural nature of the characters can vary widely. For example, such characters can be embossed, coined, or otherwise impressed into or onto the material of the container body or the lid. The characters can be printed on the container with ink, or coated on with a non- ink coating material. The characters can be - 21 - molded as raised figures in a molded container body or lid. The characters can be applied as part of a strip or tape as on cup 34 in FIGURE 2. Other methods of applying the character sets will now be obvious to those skilled in the art . The invention can be practiced with containers, including container bodies, tops, lids, boxes, and the like, made from a wide variety of materials, and such materials can be fabricated using a wide variety of processing methods. FIGURES 1A and IB illustrate application of the invention on metal (e.g. aluminum) beverage cans.

FIGURE 2 illustrates application of the invention on molded polystyrene foam cups .

FIGURE 3 illustrates application of the invention on e.g. vacuum formed or compression molded sheet-plastic lids. The invention can be practiced with extruded foam materials such as cups made with extruded polystyrene foam.

The invention can also be practiced with paper cups, for example wax coated paper cups, polyethylene coated cups, and the like. The invention can further be practiced with laminated and other composite cups, for example a laminate of rather thick paper and a relatively thin layer of higher density (e.g. 7-20 pounds per cubic foot) polystyrene foam, or a laminate of rather thin (e.g. 10-20 pound per 3000 square foot ream) paper and relatively thicker but lower density (e.g. 1-6 pounds per cubic foot) polystyrene foam.

Further, the invention can be practiced using unfoamed polymeric cups, such as vacuum formed plastic cups.

The invention can be similarly practiced using drink boxes, such as aseptic drink boxes made with e.g. laminates of paper, metal foil, and plastic.

The above illustrations of container shapes and materials with which the invention can be practiced are not intended to be limiting, but are offered as examples of the wide variety of shapes and materials with which the invention can be utilized. Other shapes and materials will be obvious to those skilled in the art. In view of the above, it is now clear that the primary application of the invention is to social engagements where a - 22 - number of people are using similar or identical unsealed beverage containers, where the users are inclined to move about from place to place within a meeting area, and to periodically set their containers down. For example, the user may set the container down to go get some food, or to engage in a game or other recreation, or the like, where their attention to their containers is temporarily diverted to other interests. When they come back to find their container, they may find other containers have also been set down by other users near the location where they set their container down. The value of the invention then comes into being when the user looks for, and finds, or doesn't find, a container wherein the activated indicium or indicia correspond with the indicium or indicia he/she activated on his/her specific container.

Thus, in the typical, and preferred embodiment of the invention, the indicia are applied to beverage containers. In such application, the user uses the indicia and activation methods of the invention such that the use of the indicia is to identify the specific container to the specific user of the container, irrespective of the contents of the specific container. Thus, in preferred use, the activation of indicia in the invention does not in any way indicate nature, quantity, or value of any contents of the container, or any destination of the container. Rather, activation of indicia in the invention generally creates an identity for the specific container, which identity of the specific container may be associated with the identity of the specific owner or user of the container and/or its contents.

Overall, then, the value of the invention is seen in a method of associating a specific user with a specific comestible container, the container preferably being operative to provide at least 3 different potential identification indications; and maintaining that specific association of specific user with specific container for at least the period during which the product contained in the container is being consumed. When the user receives, acquires, or otherwise appropriates the comestible container, he/she activates the indicator system on the container by activating one or more indicia on the container, thereby to identify the specific container according to the activated indicia. Typically if the container is sealed, the specific user opens the - 23 - container at about the same time, namely shortly before activating the identity of the container.

The user makes an association between himself or herself and the thus-established specific identity of the container. The association may be an entirely mental step, or may comprise recording, in a device, such as notebook, computer, or the like, information relating to the identity of the specific container.

Later, the user sets the open container down in the normal course of the social event, thus absenting himself or herself from the specific container.

When the user goes back to pick up his/her container, he/she recalls the association between himself or herself and the specific container, namely the identification which he or she activated, and looks for a container bearing that identification. Upon finding such container, the user has reasonable certainty that the container is his/hers. As a confirmation, the user can check all the other containers in the area to confirm that no two containers have identical activated indicia. Having thus satisfied the recall and having identified the specific container, the specific user takes the container, thus uniting specific container with specific user in accord with the recall of the specific association between specific container and specific user.

The value of the identity of the container to its user or owner is not generally intended here to reflect any commercial value of the container or its contents as valuable products worth protecting by identity with an owner. Rather, the value of the identity of the container is usually more related to the health of the user, in that, by identifying the container to the user, the user can be reasonably assured of not acquiring a communicable disease through partaking of another person's drink, since the identification of the container with the user provides a reasonable certainty that the user is reassociating with his or her own container.

Thus, for sealed containers, the value of the invention attaches at the time identity of the container is activated, especially at the moment the open container is set down, and most especially when the user's attention is diverted away from the - 24 - container, whereby he/she may temporarily lose visual contact with the container.

The specific indicator used on the container is, of course, unknown to others unless the user tells others what identification has been activated. Thus, the user's privacy is protected, such that another may not use the activated identification on the container as a mechanism for finding a particular user's drink and thereby performing some malevolent deed therewith.

In view of the above disclosure and description, those skilled in the art can now see that certain modifications can be made to the articles and methods herein disclosed with respect to the illustrated embodiments, without departing from the spirit of the instant invention. And while the invention has been described above with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is adapted to numerous rearrangements, modifications, and alterations, and all such arrangements, modifications, and alterations are intended to be within the scope of the invention as herein described.

Claims

- 25 -CLAIMSHaving thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A comestible container, comprising:

(a) a container body;

(b) a container lid;

(c) indicator indicia on one of said container body and said container lid; and

(d) a dual use selector element on one of said container body and said container lid, said selector element being operative to select at least one of said indicator indicia, and being effective to perform a second non- indicating operation.

2. A comestible container as in Claim 1, including comestible material in said container, said indicator indicia not representing any contents of said comestible container.

3. A comestible container as in Claim 1, including comestible material in said container, said indicator indicia representing information other than contents of said container.

4. A comestible container as in Claim 1, said indicator indicia being arranged as an array on at least one of said container body and said container lid, and including a "no selection" zone associated with the array of indicator indicia.

5. A comestible container as in Claim 1, said indicator indicia being disposed on said container lid, said selector element - 26 - being mounted for movement of at least a portion of said selector element with respect to said container lid thereby to select indicator indicia on one of said container lid and said container body.

6. A comestible container as in Claim 1, said container lid comprising a lid substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a thickness therebetween, said indicator indicia being impressed into said lid substrate, from the outer surface.

7. A comestible container as in Claim 1 wherein the second use is as a lift tab to thereby open said container for access to contents thereof.

8. A comestible container as in Claim 1, including an alignment mark on said selector element operative to be associated with a selected one of said indicator indicia.

9. A comestible container as in Claim 1, including comestible contents in said container, said indicator indicia representing other than contents of said comestible container, said selector element being mounted on said container lid for pivotation with respect to said container lid thereby to select indicator indicia on said container lid, said indicator indicia being arranged in an array associated with said selector element and said selector element having an alignment mark operative to associate said selector element with selected ones of said indicator indicia, the second use of said selector element being as a lift tab to thereby open said container for access to contents thereof.

10. A comestible container as in Claim 9, said container lid comprising a lid substrate having an outer surface and an inner - 27 - surface, and a thickness therebetween, said indicator indicia being impressed into said lid substrate, from the outer surface.

11. A comestible container as in Claim 9, and including a "no selection" zone in association with the array of indicator indicia.

12. A comestible container as in Claim 1, said comestible container being a single-use container.

13. A comestible container as in Claim 9, said comestible container being a single-use container.

14. A comestible container as in Claim 1, the indicator indicia comprising a combination of characters arranged in a sequence unrelated to any other readily recognized application of that combination of characters.

15. A comestible container as in Claim 14, the combination of characters comprising only number characters.

16. A comestible container as in Claim 14, the combination of characters comprising only letter characters.

17. A comestible container as in Claim 14, the combination of characters being derived from at least 2 known character sets .

18. A method of maintaining a specific association of a specific user with a specific comestible container, the comestible container having a container body, a container lid, and an indicator system on the container, the indicator system being operative to provide at least 3 different potential indications, the method comprising the steps of: - 28 -

(a) activating the indicator system on the container to thereby specify the identity of the comestible container according to at least one of the indications;

(b) making an association between the comestible container identity and the specific user, and making the association subject to recall;

(c) confirming an absence of contact between the specific comestible container and the specific user;

(d) recalling the association of the specific comestible container with recall of the specific user; and

(e) uniting the specific comestible container with the specific user in accord with recall of the specific association therebetween.

19. A method as in Claim 18, the indicator indicia being arranged as an array on at least one of the container body and the container lid, and including a "no selection" zone associated with the array.

20. A method as in Claim 18, including using the selector element as a lift tab to thereby open the container for access to contents thereof.

21. A method as in Claim 18, the activating comprising moving at least a portion of the selector element with respect to the lid.

22. A method as in Claim 21, including an alignment mark on the selector element, and including associating the alignment mark with a selected one of the indicator indicia to thereby activate - 29 - the indicator system and establish the identity of the specific container.

23. A method as in Claim 18, including comestible contents in the container, the indicator indicia representing other than contents of the comestible container, the selector element being mounted on the container lid for pivotation with respect to the container lid thereby to select indicator indicia on the container lid, the indicator indicia being arranged in an array associated with the selector element and the selector element having an alignment mark thereon, the method including using the selector element to open the container to thereby gain access to contents of the container, and moving at least a portion of the selector element from a "no selection" position to thereby associate the alignment mark on the selector element with one of the indicator indicia .

24. A method as in Claim 18, the making of the association between the comestible container and the specific user comprising a mental step.

25. A method as in Claim 18, the making of the association between the comestible container and the specific user comprising recording, in a device, information relating to activating the indicator system.

26. A method as in Claim 18, the method comprising maintaining a specific association of a specific user with a specific single-use comestible container.

27. A lid for use in association with a comestible container, comprising : - 3 0 -

(a) a lid substrate;

(b) indicator indicia on said lid substrate; and

(b) a dual use selector element on said lid substrate, said selector element being operative to select at least one of said indicator indicia, and being effective to perform a second non-indicating operation.

28. A lid as in Claim 27, said indicator indicia being arranged as an array on said lid, and including a "no selection" zone associated with the array of indicator indicia.

29. A lid as in Claim 27, said lid substrate having an outer surface for disposition outwardly on a container and an inner surface for disposition inwardly in a container, and a thickness therebetween, said indicator indicia being impressed into said lid substrate, from the outer surface.

30. A lid as in Claim 27 wherein the second use is as a lift tab thereby to open a container to which said lid is mounted, for access to contents of the container.

31. A lid as in Claim 27, including an alignment mark on said selector element operative to be associated with a selected one of said indicator indicia.

32. A lid as in Claim 27, said selector element being mounted on said lid for pivotation with respect to said lid thereby to select indicator indicia on said lid, said indicator indicia being arranged in an array associated with said selector element and said selector element having an alignment mark operative to associate said selector element with selected ones of said indicator indicia, - 31 - and wherein the second use of said selector element is as a lift tab thereby to open a container to which said lid is mounted, for access to contents of the container.

33. A lid as in Claim 32, said lid body having an outer surface for disposition outwardly on a container and an inner surface for disposition inwardly in a container, and a thickness therebetween, said indicator indicia being impressed into said lid substrate, from the outer surface.

34. A lid as in Claim 32, and including a "no selection" zone in association with the array of indicator indicia.

35. A lid as in Claim 27, said selector element being mounted on said lid body for pivotation with respect to said lid body, thereby to select ones of said indicator indicia.

36. A lid as in Claim 27, the indicator indicia comprising a combination of characters arranged in a sequence unrelated to any other readily recognized application of that combination of characters .

37. A lid as in Claim 36, the combination of characters comprising only number characters.

38. A lid as in Claim 36, the combination of characters comprising only letter characters.

39. A lid as in Claim 36, the combination of characters being derived from at least 2 published character sets. - 32 -

40. A comestible container comprising a container body, said container body comprising container body material, and indicator indicia, including indicator indicia material, associated with said container body material, at least one of said container body material and said indicator indicia material being susceptible to being deformed by crushing, by employing a person's fingernail, to thereby activate a selected indicator indicium on said comestible container.

41. A comestible container as in Claim 40, said indicator indicia not representing any contents of said comestible container.

42. A comestible container as in Claim 40, said indicator indicia indicating information other than contents of said comestible container.

43. A comestible container as in Claim 40, said comestible container being a single-use container.

44. A comestible container as in Claim 40, the indicator indicia comprising a combination of characters arranged in a sequence unrelated to any other readily recognized application of that combination of characters.

45. A comestible container as in Claim 44, the combination of characters comprising only number characters.

46. A comestible container as in Claim 44, the combination of characters comprising only letter characters. - 33 -

47. A comestible container as in Claim 44, the combination of characters being derived from at least 2 published character sets .

48. A method of maintaining a specific association of a specific user with a specific comestible container, the comestible container having a container body fabricated with container body material, and an indicator system including indicator indicia, including indicator indicia material, the indicator system being operative to give at least 3 different indications, at least one of the container body material and the indicator indicia material being susceptible to being deformed by crushing, by employing a person's fingernail, to thereby activate a selected indicator indicium on the comestible container, the method comprising the steps of :

(a) activating the indicator system on the container by deforming and thereby at least partially crushing at least one of the container body material and the indicator indicia material at or adjacent an indicator indicium, thereby to specify the identity of the specific comestible container according to at least one of the indications;

(c) confirming an absence of contact between the specific container and the specific user;

(d) recalling the association of the specific container with the specific user; and

(e) uniting the specific container with the specific user in accord with recall of the specific association therebetween . - 34 -

49. A method as in Claim 48, the making of the association between the comestible container and the specific user comprising a mental step.

50. A method as in Claim 48, the making of the association between the comestible container and the specific user comprising recording, in a device, information relating to activating the indicator system.

51. A method as in Claim 48, the method comprising maintaining a specific association of a specific user with a specific single-use comestible container.

52. A method as in claim 48, the indicator indicia comprising outward extensions of the container body material, the activating comprising deforming by crushing an outwardly-extending portion of an indicator indicium.

53. A method of maintaining a specific association of a specific user with a specific comestible container, the comestible container comprising (i) a container body fabricated with container body material and (ii) a container lid fabricated with container lid material, and an identification system including identification indicia, including identification material, on at least one of the container body and the container lid, the method comprising the steps of :

(a) activating the indicator system on at least one of the container body and the container lid by deforming and thereby at least partially crushing at least one of the container body material, the container lid material, and the identification material at or adjacent an identification indicium, thereby to specify the identity - 35 - of the comestible container according to the identification indicium at the deformation;

(e) uniting the specific container with the specific user m accord with recall of the specific association therebetween .

54. A method as in Claim 53, the identification indicia comprising outward extensions of at least a respective one of the container body material and the container lid material, the activating comprising deforming by crushing an outwardly-extending portion of an identification indicium.

55. A method as in Claim 53, the method comprising maintaining a specific association of a specific user with a specific single-user comestible container.

56. A comestible container, comprising:

(a) a comestible container body made with container body material; and

(b) a plurality of removable indicator elements mounted on said comestible container body, said removable indicator - 36 - elements being attached in surface-to-surface attachment to said container body,

removal of a selected first set of one or more of said removable indicator elements, by severing the respective surface-to-surface attachment, representing a first message different and distinct from a second message indicated by such removal of a selected different second set of one or more of said removable indicator elements .

57. A comestible container as in Claim 56, said indicator elements not representing any contents of said comestible container.

58. A comestible container as in Claim 56, said indicator elements indicating information other than contents of said container.

59. A comestible container as in Claim 56, including at least 3 said removable indicator elements in surface-to-surface relationship to said container body.

60. A comestible container as in Claim 56 wherein the message relates to identity of the specific container.

61. A comestible container as in Claim 56, the surface-to- surface attachment of said removable elements to said container body comprising an intermediate layer, between at least one of said removable elements and said container body, said intermediate layer thus being in surface-to-surface attachment to said container body. - 3 7 -

62. A comestible container as in Claim 61, said intermediate layer extending along said container body under a plurality of said removable elements.

63. A comestible container as in Claim 56, the indicator indicia comprising a combination of characters arranged in a sequence unrelated to any other readily recognized application of that combination of characters.

64. A comestible container as in Claim 63, the combination of characters comprising only number characters.

65. A comestible container as in Claim 63, the combination of characters comprising only letter characters.

66. A comestible container as in Claim 63, the combination of characters being derived from at least 2 published character sets .

67. A lid for use on a comestible container, comprising:

(a) a lid substrate made with lid substrate material; and

(b) a plurality of removable indicator elements mounted on said lid, said removable indicator elements being attached in surface-to-surface attachment to said lid substrate,

removal of a selected first set of one or more of said removable indicator elements, by severing the respective surface-to-surface attachment, representing a first message different and distinct from a second message indicated by such removal of a selected - 38 - different second set of one or more of said removable indicator elements .

68. A lid as in Claim 67, said indicator elements not representing any contents of said comestible container.

69. A lid as in Claim 67, said indicator elements indicating information other than contents of said container.

70. A lid as in Claim 67, including at least 3 said removable indicator elements in surface-to-surface relationship to said container body.

71. A comestible container as in Claim 67 wherein the message relates to identity of the specific lid.

72. A comestible container as in Claim 67, the surface-to- surface attachment of said removable elements to said container lid comprising an intermediate layer, between at least one of said removable elements and said container lid, said intermediate layer thus being in surface-to-surface attachment to said container lid.

73. A comestible container as in Claim 72, said intermediate layer extending along said container lid under a plurality of said removable elements.

74. A comestible container as in Claim 67, the indicator indicia comprising a combination of characters arranged in a sequence unrelated to any other readily recognized application of that combination of characters. - 39 -

75. A comestible container as in Claim 74, the combination of characters comprising only number characters.

76. A comestible container as in Claim 74, the combination of characters comprising only letter characters.

77. A comestible container as in Claim 74, the combination of characters being derived from at least 2 published character sets .

78. A method of fabricating a comestible container having a container body and a container lid, the method including the steps of:

(a) incorporating indicator indicia on one of the container body and the container lid, in an array, the indicator indicia being operative to provide identification specific to the particular container when one or more of the indicator indicia are activated;

(b) incorporating into one of the container body and the container lid a selector element having an alignment mark operative to select, and thereby to activate, at least one of the indicator indicia;

(c) incorporating into the container a "no selection" zone associated with the array and selectable by the selector element ;

(d) as part of the process of fabricating the container, sensing the position of the alignment mark; and

(e) as necessary according to the sensed position of the alignment mark, moving the alignment mark to indicate "no selection. " -40 -

79. A method as in Claim 78, including impressing the indicator indicia into the container lid from an outer surface of the lid which is disposed outwardly of the container when the lid is affixedly mounted on the container.

80. A method as in Claim 78, including performing step (d) before the container lid is affixed to the container body.

81. A method as in Claim 78, including performing step (d) after the container lid is affixed to the container body.

82. A method of filling and closing a comestible container having a container body and a container lid, the method including the steps of :

(a) selecting a container body and a container having, in combination, indicator indicia on one of the container body and the container lid, in an array, the indicator indicia being operative to provide identification specific to the particular container when one or more of the indicator indicia are activated, one of the container body and the container lid including a selector element having an alignment mark operative to select, and thereby to activate, at least one of the indicator indicia, the container having a "no selection" zone associated with the array and selectable by the selector element;

(b) filling the container body with comestible product:

(c) affixing the container lid to the container body thereby to close and seal the container with the comestible product in the container;

(d) sensing the position of alignment mark; and - 41 -

(e) as necessary according to the sensed position of the alignment mark, moving the alignment mark to indicate "no selection. "

83. A method as in Claim 82, including performing step (d) before the container lid is affixed to the container body.

84. A method as in Claim 82, including performing step (d) after the container lid is affixed to the container body.