WO2004076309A1

WO2004076309A1 - Protective cover for liquid holding vessel

Info

Publication number: WO2004076309A1
Application number: PCT/AU2004/000100
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Edmunde Grogan; Mark Lawrence Brennan; Jamie Wade O'keeffe
Original assignee: Six Armed Fork Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-26
Filing date: 2004-01-29
Publication date: 2004-09-10
Also published as: AU2003900853A0

Abstract

A protective cover (10) for a vessel (15) comprises a body sized to cover an opening of the vessel a coupling means (16, 18 & 20). The coupling means includes an adhesive coated surface arranged to contact a rim around the opening of the vessel or an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near the rim. In use, the body is coupled to the vessel such that it covers the vessel opening, thereby preventing entry of unwanted foreign substances into the vessel. The body or coupling means may display advertising indicia (40, 42). The invention also includes a method of preventing unwanted substances from entering a vessel by use of the protective cover and a method of displaying advertising indicia using the cover.

Description

PROTECTIVE COVER FOR LIQUID HOLDING VESSEL

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a protective device for covering a liquid holding vessel to prevent entry of unwanted substances into the vessel. The present invention also relates to a method of displaying advertising indicia on a drinking vessel.

BACKGROUND

Many people frequent bars, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and the like where patrons consume beverages from glassware or other liquid holding vessels. It is becoming increasingly common for beverages being consumed by women to be spiked' by the introduction of an unwanted substance such as a drug. Many drugs are used in this manner for nefarious purposes. The substance known as Rhohypnol, has been used in these circumstances with serious consequences.

While it is more common for women to fall victim to such circumstances, obviously anyone with an open liquid holding vessel could be the subject of another person introducing an undesirable substance into their beverage.

It is known to provide a removable lid to coffee cups and cups provided by fast food chains that contain juice or post mix drinks. These lids rely on a radially projecting lip to provide a mechanical interference to couple the lid to the drinking vessel. Such a drinking vessel is not well suited to many establishments which prefer to use glassware.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

The present invention has been devised to attempt to reduce the instances of these unfortunate circumstances and to provide an alternative to the disposable cup and lid. Advantageously the present invention also provides an opportunity to display advertising indicia.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a protective cover for a vessel comprising: a body sized to cover an opening of the vessel; and a coupling means for coupling the body to the vessel, wherein the coupling means includes an adhesive coated surface arranged to contact a rim around the opening of the vessel or an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near the rim; whereby, in use, the body may be coupled to the vessel such that it covers the vessel opening, thereby preventing entry of unwanted foreign substances into the vessel.

Preferably the body includes a straw receiving portal arranged to allow a drinking straw to pass through the portal, allowing the contents of the vessel to be consumed through the drinking straw.

Preferably the coupling means includes a border portion of the body sized to overlap with the rim of the vessel in use, the border portion arranged to be folded to make contact with the exterior surface of the vessel, the adhesive coated surface being on the side of the border portion that contacts the exterior surface of the vessel in use.

Preferably the border portion includes one or more notches or cuts therein to allow the border portion to fold along a curve of the rim of the vessel in use.

Preferably the coupling means further comprises at least one tab extending outwardly from the body for folding and affixing to the exterior side wall of the vessel, the tab having an adhesive coating on a surface that contacts the exterior surface of the vessel in use. Preferably the tab is arranged to be easily peeled from the exterior surface of the vessel and then to facilitate peeling of the body of the protective cover from the vessel.

Preferably the tab is connected to the body by a narrow section, the narrow section formed between a pair of scores, notches or cuts to allow the tab to be folded relative to the body over the rim of the glass in use.

Preferably the body is a thin flexible material. More preferably the body is formed of paper. More preferably still, the body is formed of white gloss coated paper. In another embodiment the body is formed of a sheet of plastics. In this embodiment the plastics may be transparent, preferably clear.

Preferably the adhesive is water soluble.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of preventing unwanted substances from entering a vessel comprising: providing a protective cover comprising a body sized to cover an opening of the vessel and a coupling means for coupling the body to the vessel, wherein the coupling means includes an adhesive coated surface arranged to contact a rim around the opening of the vessel or an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near the rim; and coupling the cover to the vessel such that it covers the vessel opening. Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided an advertising indicia display comprising: a body arranged to cover at least part of an opening of a vessel; and a coupling means for coupling the body to the vessel, wherein the coupling means comprises an adhesive coated surface arranged to contact a rim around an opening of the vessel or an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near the rim; wherein the body comprises advertising indicia visible when the body is coupled to the vessel; whereby, in use, the body may be coupled to the vessel such that the advertising indicia at least partly covers the vessel opening, thereby displaying the advertising indicia.

Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of display of advertising indicia comprising: providing a cover comprising a body arranged to cover at least part of an opening of a vessel, wherein the body comprises advertising indicia visible on first surface of the body and a coupling means for coupling the body to the vessel, wherein the coupling means comprises an adhesive coated surface opposite the first surface arranged to contact a rim around the opening of the vessel or an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near the rim; and coupling the cover to the vessel such that the advertising indicia at least ^■ partly covers the vessel opening, thereby displaying the advertising indicia.

Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided an advertising indicia display comprising: a body arranged to cover an opening of a vessel; and a coupling means for coupling the body to the vessel, wherein the coupling means comprises advertising indicia visible on an upper surface of the coupling means and an adhesive coating on an underside surface arranged to contact an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near a rim around the opening of the vessel; whereby, in use, the body may be coupled to the vessel such that it covers the vessel opening, the advertising indicia is displayed.

Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of display advertising indicia comprising: providing a vessel cover comprising a body arranged to cover an opening of the vessel; and a coupling means for coupling the body to the vessel, wherein the coupling means comprises advertising indicia visible on an upper surface of the coupling means and an adhesive coating on an underside surface arranged to contact an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near a rim around the opening of the vessel; and coupling the cover to the vessel such that it covers the vessel opening, and the advertising indicia is displayed.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as

"comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF DIAGRAMS

In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a underside plan view of a preferred embodiment of the protective cover of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the protective cover of Figure 1 applied to a liquid holding vessel;

Figure 3A is a top side plan view of the protective cover of Figure 1;

Figure 3B is an end view of the protective cover of Figure 3A;

Figure 3C is a side view of the protective cover of Figure 3A;

Figure 4A is a plan view of the protective cover shown in Figure 3A with advertising indicia displayed;

Figure 4B is an enlarged section of the protective cover of Figure 4A; and

Figure 4C is another enlarged section of the protective cover of Figure 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a protective cover 10, which includes a body 12 and a pair of tabs 18 and 20 extending from the body 12. The body 12 is formed of white gloss coated paper or a sheet/film of plastics. The body is circular in shape to corresponding with the mouth or opening of a liquid holding vessel, such as glass 15. On the perimeter of the body 12 a border portion 16 is sized to overlap a rim of the glass 15. In other words, the border portion 16 is of a larger diameter than the diameter of the rim of the glass 15. This is so that the border portion 16 can be folded over the rim to make contact with the exterior surface of the side wall of the liquid holding vessel near or bordering the rim.

On the underside of the border portion is a water soluble adhesive 26 arranged so that the adhesive 26 contacts the rim and exterior surface of the drinking vessel to stick the border portion 16 to the exterior surface of the glass 15 thereby sealing the mouth of the glass 15 with the protective cover 10. The seal is not necessarily perfect, merely sufficient to prevent an unwanted solid (such as a soluble tablet or powder) or liquid from being readily put into the glass 15. The underside of the tabs 18 and 20 also are coated with the water soluble adhesive 24 so that the tabs can extend down the side of the glass to provide a major holding force of the body 12 to the glass 15. The adhesive of the boarder portion 16 provides a secondary holding force to ensure that the sides of the body are not inadvertently or easily lifted.

The adhesive is selected to provide sufficient adhesion of the cover 10 to the glass 15 so that it will not fall off or is not inadvertently removed, but still enables the body and tabs to be relatively easily peeled by taking one to the tabs 18 or 20 and peeling it away from the side wall and then peeling the remainder of the body 12 and other tab 20 or 18 from the glass 15. The preferred adhesive is a wash- away transparent adhesive, known as WA4, applied at a thickness of about 90μm. If any adhesive remains on the glass 15 it will be removed when the glass is washed for reuse.

In one embodiment, it is preferred that the adhesive is applied to a release liner of KV75 glossing paper on the underside of the gloss coated paper of the body. In another embodiment the adhesive is applied to the underside of a plastics sticker which forms the body 12 and tabs 18 and 20. In the paper version to assist the tabs folding over the rim of the glass, slits 30 (seen in Figure 3A) may be provided to narrow the interface between the body 12 and the tabs 18 and 20. The slits on either side provide a narrower portion that it easier to bend or folded over the rim. The tab is wide enough to provide ,sufficient adhesion and to be easily grasped so as to remove the cover. Each slit is generally shaped with a cut and a circular portion 32 at the end of the cut. The circular portion would assist in preventing the tab from tearing away from the body 12. Scoring may be an alternative to the slits 30. The slits 30 are less necessary in the plastics version as the thin plastics film folds easily.

Also to assist the border portion 16 to fold over the rim of the glass, notches 28 may be provided around the perimeter. In this example, two notches are provided although four notches, six notches, or some other number may be suitable, depending on the size and shape of the mouth of the glass. In addition, scoring may be provided on the underside of the interface between the part of the body covering opening of the glass and the border portion 16 so that it is more easily folded. The position of the scoring would correspond with the rim of the glass 15 so that the border portion 16 folds correctly.

The body 12 includes a portal 22 through which a drinking straw may pass. The portal is in the form of a cross shaped cut. The drinking straw may be forced through the portal so that the contents of the glass may be consumed.

As can be seen in Figure 4A advertising indicia 40 may be placed on the upper surface of the body 12 so that when the cover is placed on a glass 15 the advertising indicia 40 is displayed. Instead or in addition advertising indicia 42 may be displayed on one or more of the tabs. This form of advertising may be very attractive to drink suppliers as their product is advertised as it is being consumed. The orientation of the advertising indicia may also be important. In Figure 40 the advertising indicia "X BRAND" is oriented so that it may be more readily read by the person drinking from the glass due to the orientation of the indicia in relation to the position of the portal 22. However the advertising indicia may be the other way around, so that it is more readily read by other people. This may have value to advertisers as it may be appealing to observers of the person drinking that that person is drinking "X BRAND". Naturally the branding need not be advertising in relation to the drink.

This form of advertising may be of such value that in instances where it is not desired or not needed to protectively cover the glass 15 a cover may still be used to display the advertising indicia. In this instance the body 12 may not fully cover the mouth of the glass. Indeed the cover could take the form of a strip extending between the tabs 18 and 20, with the tabs providing the holding force to suspend the strip over the mouth of the glass on which is displayed the advertising indicia.

It will be clear to the skilled addressee that the advantages of the present invention include providing a protective cover that would prevent or at least increase the difficulty of surreptitiously slipping an unwanted substance into a person's drink. The cover may also provide an opportunity to display advertising material such as trade marks, logos or slogons.

The protective cover can be fixed to any vessel that the body is shaped to cover. In particular, it is not necessary for the glass or vessel to include a radially projecting lip to provide a mechanical interference arrangement and therefore does not require change from existing glass stock at bars, pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and the like. Modifications and variations may be made to the present invention without departing from the basic inventive concept. Such modifications include varying the shape of the body to conform with the shape and size of the glass or vessel being covered. The number and position of tabs may be varied as desired.

The nature of advertising indicia displayed can vary in its orientation and presentation. In particular where the cover is to be used in nightclubs which often use ultraviolet light, fluorescent inks that glow under ultraviolet light may be used. This form of advertising may be better suited to where the body is formed of clear plastics or transparent plastics. Naturally numerous variations are possible.

Such modifications and variations as apparent to the skilled addressee are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A protective cover for a vessel comprising: a body sized to cover an opening of the vessel; and a coupling means for coupling the body to the vessel, wherein the coupling means includes an adhesive coated surface arranged to contact a rim around the opening of the vessel or an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near the rim; whereby, in use, the body may be coupled to the vessel such that it covers the vessel opening, thereby preventing entry of unwanted substances into the vessel.

2. A protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a straw receiving portal arranged to allow a drinking straw to pass through the portal, allowing the contents of the vessel to be consumed through the drinking straw.

3. A protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprises a border portion of the body sized to overlap with the rim of the vessel in use, the border portion arranged to be folded to make contact with the exterior surface of the vessel, the adhesive coated surface being on the side of the border portion that contacts the exterior surface of the vessel in use.

4. A protective cover according to claim 3, wherein the border portion comprises one or more notches or cuts therein to allow the border portion to fold along a curve of the rim of the vessel in use.

5. A protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means further comprises at least one tab extending outwardly from the body for folding and affixing to the exterior side wall of the vessel, the tab having an adhesive coating on a surface that contacts the exterior surface of the vessel in use.

6. A protective cover according to claim 5, wherein the tab is connected to the body be a narrow section, the narrow section formed between a pair of scores or cuts to allow the tab to be folded relative to the body over the rim of the glass in use.

7. A protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the body is a thin flexible material.

8. A protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed of paper.

9. A protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed of a sheet of plastics.

10. A protective cover according to claim 9, wherein the plastics is transparent.

11. A protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is water soluble.

12. A method of preventing unwanted substances from entering a vessel comprising: providing a protective cover comprising a body sized to cover an opening of the vessel and a coupling means for coupling the body to the vessel, wherein the coupling means includes an adhesive coated surface arranged to contact a rim around the opening of the vessel or an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near the rim; and coupling the cover to the vessel such that it covers the vessel opening.

13. An advertising indicia display comprising: a body arranged to cover at least part of an opening of a vessel; and a coupling means for coupling the body to the vessel, wherein the coupling means comprises an adhesive coated surface arranged to contact a rim around the opening of the vessel an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near the rim; wherein the body comprises advertising indicia visible when the body is coupled to the vessel; whereby, in use, the body may be coupled to the vessel such that the advertising indicia at least partly covers the vessel opening, thereby displaying the advertising indicia.

14. A method of display of advertising indicia comprising: providing a cover comprising a body arranged to cover at least part of an opening of a vessel, wherein the body comprises advertising indicia visible on a first surface of the body and a coupling means for coupling the body to the vessel, wherein the coupling means comprises an adhesive coated surface opposite the first surface arranged to contact a rim around the opening of the vessel or an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near the rim; and coupling the cover to the vessel such that the advertising indicia at least partly covers the vessel opening, thereby displaying the advertising indicia.

15. An advertising indicia display comprising: a body arranged to cover an opening of a vessel; and a coupling means for coupling the body to the vessel, wherein the coupling means comprises advertising indicia visible on an upper surface of the coupling means, and an adhesive coating on an underside surface arranged to contact an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near a rim around the opening of the vessel; whereby, in use, the body may be coupled to the vessel such that it covers the vessel opening, the advertising indicia is displayed.

16. A method of display advertising indicia comprising: providing a vessel cover comprising a body arranged to cover an opening of the vessel; and a coupling means for coupling the body to the vessel, wherein the coupling means comprises advertising indicia visible on an upper surface of the coupling means and an adhesive coating on an underside surface arranged to contact an exterior surface of the vessel bordering or near a rim around the opening of the vessel; and coupling the cover to the vessel such that it covers the vessel opening, and the advertising indicia is displayed.