WO2010041049A1

WO2010041049A1 - Universal beverage container marker

Info

Publication number: WO2010041049A1
Application number: PCT/GB2009/051296
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gennady Lubarsky; Helen Lubarsky
Original assignee: Smart Patents Limited
Priority date: 2008-10-08
Filing date: 2009-10-02
Publication date: 2010-04-15
Also published as: GB0818355D0

Abstract

There is provided a universal marker for identifying individual beverage containers. The marker is made of a sheet of flexible material with distinctive indicia thereon with a lead- in notch at an edge and an inner slot forming a tongue which may be displaced from the plane of the sheet. Embodiments include an aperture at the base of the notch providing gripping members, a hinge formed at an axis between the ends of the slot and locking means at each end of the slot. These arrangements provide a planar configuration and a locked and unlocked non-planar configuration. Methods of identifying beverage containers such as cans, wine glasses and bottles using the marker in an appropriate configuration are also described.

Description

UNIVERSAL BEVERAGE CONTAINER MARKER

Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to hygiene, hospitality and beverage consumption and, more specifically to marking of beverage containers which may otherwise be similar in appearance.

Background of the Invention

At parties, gatherings and events numerous glasses, bottles and cans of similar appearance are in use. In the absence of any distinguishing means people may lose track of which beverage belongs to them and may accidentally consume the drink from another person's container, increasing the risk of infection transmission.

Consequently, several types of markers have been designed to personalise beverage drink containers. The most popular example which exists on the market is wine charms. These are typically chains to which an identifying trinket is affixed. They are designed to be attached to the stem of a wine glass and as a result are not suitable for any other beverage containers. Another solution to identify beverage cans have been proposed in U.S. patent 6,053,349 to Griggs (2000). Distinctive user identification markers are applied to the top of the can and the lever-opener is used as an identification indicator through rotational alignment with and locking at a desired user's marker. It is only capable of use on beverage cans as it requires the lever opener and it can only be used on one single can as it does not provides a transferable means for identification of the next can consumed by a user. An international patent WO2007100817 to Glass (2007) discloses a beverage container marker for placement over the opening of a beverage container. The marker is generally a disc with a removable central section to fit over a bottle. Tabs are arranged around the edges which fold down to prevent the disc from moving when placed on top of a glass. However, these markers are suitable for bottles and glasses only and are not convenient in practical use as they do not remain stationary upon inversion of the beverage container, making it difficult to drink from the container with the marker in place. Canadian patent 2,214,938 to Mongrain et al. (1999) shows a marker formed as a rubber ring with extrusions carrying indicia. The rubber is sized to stretch and fit over a beverage can or the neck of a bottle. In order to withstand the repeated stretching, the marker is expensive to produce, being made of rubber, and must be produced in multiple sizes in order to be compatible with the variety of available beverage containers which may be used. UK patent 2,438,730 to Pike (2007) discloses a luminous elastic marker ring for drinking vessels. This marker is designed to identify a beverage container in the dark rather than identify containers belonging to different people. It also suffers from defects similar to those of the Mongrain patent disclosure above.

It is to the provision of a universal, transferable, simple, convenient and inexpensive identification marker that the present invention is primarily directed.

Object of the Invention

A primary objective of the invention, accordingly, is to provide an improved marker which is universal and allows identification of beverage drink containers of different types such as bottles and cans or glasses. Further objects, each being within at least one embodiment of the present invention, provide an improved marker which is simple and inexpensive to use and manufacture, which is ergonomic and user-friendly, which can be used repeatedly, which minimises the spread of mouth-spread diseases, which obviates the need to use napkins or coasters to identify unattended drinks, which provides a medium for the advertisement and promotion of goods and services, and which has an attractive appearance. Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuring description and accompanying drawings to be explained hereinafter and are more fully delineated in the appended claims.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a universal beverage container marker having a flexible body with distinctive indicia thereupon, a lead-in notch extending into said body from an edge thereof, and an inner set slot, circumnavigating the notch, to form a depending tongue portion of the body substantially surrounded by the remaining body. In this way, the marker is formed from a unitary piece of material which can be arranged in a planar configuration for ease of manufacture and storage. Preferably a first aperture is arranged at and intersects a closed end of the notch, the aperture and notch defining gripping members. In this way, the marker can be positioned around the stem of a glass and held thereon by the gripping members. A hinge is also created at the axis of the first and second termini of the slot to provide a first non planar configuration. In this way, a second aperture is created in the remaining body when the tongue portion is moved to a different plane. The neck of a bottle can be located through the second aperture to hold the marker on a bottle. Additionally, the first aperture can be arranged over the lever opener of a beverage can with the remaining body resting on the cylindrical side wall of the can. Preferably also, the marker includes locking means to engage the first and second termini of said slot. In this way, the body can be arranged in a second non-planar configuration. The marker can remain permanently in this configuration. In this way, the marker can be located over the rim of a glass by sliding the rim into the slot. Additionally, with the tongue portion arranged within the glass, a straw may be held within the first aperture.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the present invention and wherein:

Figure IA is a front view of one embodiment of the universal beverage container marker according to the present invention;

Figure IB is a front view the device shown in Figure IA in a closed state;

Figure 1C is a side view of Figure IB;

Figure ID and IE show further embodiments of the marker according to the present invention; Figure 2A is a perspective view of a universal beverage container marker according to an embodiment of the present invention in place on a cylindrical beverage can; Figure 2B is a sectional view of Figure 2 A;

Figure 3 A is a perspective view of a universal beverage container marker according to an embodiment of the present invention in place on a cylindrical beverage glass; Figure 3B is a sectional view of Figure 3 A;

Figure 4A is a perspective view of a universal beverage container marker according to an embodiment of the present invention in place on a long-necked bottle; Figure 4B and 4C are respectively a side view and a rear view of Figure 4A; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a universal beverage container marker according to an embodiment of the present invention in place on a wine glass; Figure 5A and 5B are respectively a side view and a sectional view of Figure 5; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a universal beverage container marker according to an embodiment of the present invention in place on a disposable cup with a lid; and Figure 7A and 7B are respectively a sectional and a side view of a universal beverage container marker according to an embodiment of the present invention in combined use with a straw in place on a glass.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention are now described. These embodiments are presented to aid in an understanding of the invention and are not intended to, and should not be construed to limit the invention in any way. All alternatives, modification and equivalents that may become obvious to those of ordinary skill upon a reading of the present disclosure are included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Further, this disclosure is not a primer on processes or materials for making beverage container markers, cutting, printing or other common means of applying indicia; basic concepts know to those skilled in the art have not been set forth in detail. Readers are referred to appropriate and available texts for further details on these subjects. One embodiment of the universal beverage container marker 10 is illustrated in the Figure IA. The marker has a body member 12 of uniform thickness consisting of a flexible sheet of material which can be repeatedly bent and straightened out without fracturing, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, nylon, rubber, leather, various impregnated or laminated fibrous materials, various plasticised materials, cardboard, paper, etc.

The marker has a depending egg-shaped portion 14 with a distinctive indicia 16 appearing thereon. The indicia may serve to differentiate beverage containers. The marker may allow for the use of color, shape, embossing, decal application, printing, or other presentation methods and other methods of customisation and types of indicia. The body portion 12 has an inner set slot or cut 18, so that a depending tongue like portion 20 is formed. At the midline of the tongue 10 is a lead-in notch 22 which terminates in gripping points 24 and leads to a hole 26.

The upper 28 and the lower 30 portions of the outer periphery of body member 12 are typically rounded to avoid snagging and personal injury. In this particular instance the marker 10 is integrally cut of laminated plastic sheet of the type that would be somewhat bendable such that the tongue 20, formed by reason of the slot 18, may be displaced out of the plane of the contiguous body portion 14 so as to permit the marker 10 to sit securely on the edge of the beverage container, for example, a glass or a cup (not shown) retained by friction forces operating in the contact formed by the tongue 20 and surrounding body portion 14 with the walls of the beverage container. Thus, it is clearly seen that in one of manners of using, the universal marker 10 can be placed as a clip to the edge of the beverage container in order to make it recognisable.

At the opposite termini of the slot 18 are two round shaped tabs 32 in shape so as to provide ease of fastening the marker. Figures IB (top view) and 1C (side view) show a closed-up marker 33 with the tabs 32 are engaged, the marker bending causes formation of the outer 34 and the inner 36 conically shaped portions connected by the bridging portion 38. With the marker closed, the tension created in the bridging region 38 due to elastic deformation of the inner 36 and the outer 34 body portions is considerably higher than for the flat marker arrangement described previously, due to the enhanced rigidity of bent elements. This elastic means provides stronger contact between the marker and the beverage container, as previously described with respect to marker 10. Also, as the curved marker of congruent configuration to the outer periphery of the most of spherically and cylindrically shaped containers, it folds along and around of the container providing a convenient and safety means for the identification of beverages. The aperture 40, formed in the inner portion 36, provides an additional fastening means, which may be used to clasp the marker to thin parts of beverage container.

The body of marker is typically 0.5mm to 1.5mm in thickness, and the overall dimensions roughly 60mm x 50mm. The marker may also be of any variety of desired and suitable sizes to be used, for example, to identify containers in pharmaceutical, chemical and biological labs or gas cylinders.

Examples of alternative embodiments are shown in Figure ID and IE. In Figure ID the lower portion 44 of the marker 42 is fashioned to fit (in a fastened state) the shape of the outer periphery of a cylindrically-shaped container. The beverage container marker of the present invention has exceptional and valuable capabilities as an advertising medium. In Figure IE the body 48 of marker 46 configured as a star providing extensive area for advertising, promotion, or branding messages. The marker may also be used as a coupon in lotteries, games and other purposes desired by advertisers.

Figures 2A (perspective view) and 2B (sectional view) show the manner of using the marker 10 on a beverage can 50 as of the blown aluminium cylindrical type, widely used for beer, juices, water, soft drinks and other beverages. Typically, a lever opener 52 is attached to a pivot 54 to open the can by forming the drinking opening 56 in the top cover surface 58. To secure the marker on the can, one first deflects the tongue 20 out of the plane of the body portion 14 to the angle of 120 to 180 degrees. Next holding the marker so that plane of the tongue is generally perpendicular to the axis of the pivot and so the lead-in notch 22 is adjacent to the pivot, one places the tongue in the gap between the lever opener and the top cover surface inserting the pivot into the lead-in notch until it is forced past gripping points 24 at the base of the notch and into hole 26. Therefore, when one releases the marker, the body portion 14 will be forced to elongate in the direction of the outer surface 60 of the can by the tension created in the twisted regions 61 due to elastic deformation of the material.

To remove the marker from the can, one deflects the body portion 14 out of the can surface so that the marker is still in contact with the pivot and the angle between the body portion 14 and the tongue is about 120 to 180 degrees. Then one expands the notch 22 in the body portion 14 and pulls the marker up and away from the can. Thus, the marker can be reused to indicate another can or any other beverage container many times.

Figures 3A (perspective view) and 3B (sectional view) show the manner of using the marker to individualise a beverage glass 62 as of the blow mould cylindrical type, widely used in pubs, clubs, restaurants, and other settings. In this application the marker used is in the state with tabs 32 engaged. To secure the closed-up marker 33 on the glass, one deflects the conical tongue like portion 36 and the bridging portion 38 out of the plane of the ring body portion 34 to the angle of about 30 to 45 degrees. Next, holding the marker so that the plane of the ring portion is generally parallel to the wall 64 of the glass, one inserts the glass into the gap 66 between the tongue and the ring portion and then releases the tongue.

To remove the marker from the glass, one first deflects the ring portion out of the glass surface and pulls the marker up and away from the glass. Thus, the marker can be reused to indicate another glass or any other beverage container many times.

Figures 4A (perspective view), 4B (side view) and 4C (rear view) illustrate the manner of using the marker 10 on a long -necked bottle 68. To secure the marker on the bottle, one first deflects the tongue 20 out of the plane of the ring body portion 14 to the angle of about 90 degrees. Next holding the marker so that plane of the ring portion is generally perpendicular to the axis of the bottle neck 70 and so an aperture 72 formed in the ring portion is adjacent to the neck, one locates the bottle neck in the aperture until the marker is engaged a body of the bottle 74.

To remove the marker from the bottle, one first deflects the ring portion out of the body of bottle and pulls the marker up and away from the bottle neck. Thus, the marker can be reused to indicate another bottle.

As shown on Figures 4B (side view) and 4C (rear view), when the marker of present invention is in place on the long-necked bottle, the tension due to elastic deformation in the twisted 61 and stretched 76 regions, allows the device to operate as a three dimensional spring to ensure the marker can be fitted on bottles with different sizes of the neck.

Figure 5 (perspective view) illustrates the manner of using the marker 10 on a wine glass 78. In this application, to secure the marker on the glass, one holds the marker so that the plan plane of the body potion 14 is generally perpendicular to the axis of a stem 80 of the glass and inserts the stem into the lead-in notch until it is forced past gripping points 24 at the base of the notch and into the hole 26. The marker may be used on wine glasses in an opened or, for additional security, in a closed state, as described herein before.

To remove the marker from the wine glass, one holds the body portion 14 and pulls the marker away from the glass until the stem forced past the gripping points 24. Therefore, the marker can be reused to indicate another glass or beverage container.

As shown on Figures 5A (side view) and 5B (top view), when the marker of present invention is in place on the wine glass, the tension created in the stretched region 76, due to the expanding of the hole 26 and the notch 22, allows the device to operate as a spring making sure the marker can be fitted on wine glasses with different diameters of the stem.

Figure 6 (perspective view) shows the method of using the marker 10 on a paper cup 82 closed with a lid 84 and a straw 86 inserted into a hole 88 perforated in the centre of the lid. To secure the marker on the cup, one first places the marker flat on the top surface of the lid so that the centre of the hole 26 in marker is aligned with the centre of the hole 88. Next, one binds the marker and the lid inserting the straw into the holes.

To remove the marker from the cup, one holds the marker attached to the surface of the lid. Next, one pulls the straw away from the lid. Therefore, the marker can be removed from the top of the lid and reused to indicate another beverage container.

There are various possibilities with regards to methods of using the marker in combination with other beverage-related objects, such as forks, straws, garnish etc. As an example, figures 7A (sectional view) and 7B (perspective view) show the using of the marker in combination with the straw 86 to identify a glass 90. To realise this use, one first fastens the marker by engaging the tabs 32. After that one deflects the conical tongue 36 out of the plane of the ring portion 34 to the angle of about 90 degrees and inserts the straw into an aperture 40. Next, one inserts the glass into the gap 66 between the tongue and the ring portion and releases the tongue. This manner of using provides dual functionality of the device of present invention, as the marker may also be used to fasten the straw to the wall of the glass in the fixed position.

From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodiments of the present invention become evident:

(a) The marker is universal and can be used easily and conveniently on a wide range of most common types of beverage containers.

(b) The marker, equipped with a locking means, provides a firm holding on beverage containers despite the fact that inexpensive materials may be used to manufacture the marker.

(c) The marker is reusable and can be removed just as easily from the container, and can be used to identify another container without requiring a new marker, so one marker can be linked to one customer for the duration of the event.

(d) The marker is a valuable advertising media and may be used as a point-of- sale advertising label. (e) The marker is flat and compact in non operating state, so the large amount of markers can be packed together in small volume.

(f) The marker remains in place while the beverage is being consumed and is not obtrusive.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention herein described without departing from the scope thereof. For example, the marker can have other shapes, such as squared, triangular or configured as a cartoon etc; the slots, slits and holes can have various other shapes, positions, sizes etc; a lead-in notch can be of other shapes and positions; the locking means for the marker folding can be of other constructions and shapes and positions.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A universal beverage container marker having a flexible body with distinctive indicia thereupon, a lead-in notch extending into said body from an edge thereof, and an inner set slot, circumnavigating the notch, to form a depending tongue portion of the body substantially surrounded by the remaining body.

2. A universal beverage container marker according to claim 1 wherein a first aperture is arranged at and intersects a closed end of the notch, the first aperture and notch defining gripping members.

3. A universal beverage container marker according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the marker includes an integral hinge along an axis which intersects termini at first and second ends of the slot.

4. A universal beverage container marker according to any preceding claim wherein the slot is continuous and curvilinear.

5. A universal beverage container marker according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the slot narrows between the termini at the first and second ends of the slot.

6. A universal beverage container marker according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the marker includes locking means to engage the first and second termini of the slot.

7. A universal beverage container marker according to claim 6 wherein the locking means comprises first and second tabs arranged at first and second ends of the slot respectively, the tabs being extensions of the body and wherein the first/second tab is located behind the second/first tab within the second/first end of the slot to lock the termini together.

8. A universal beverage container marker according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the first aperture is substantially circular.

9. A universal beverage container marker according to any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the slot provides a substantially circular second aperture in the remaining body.

10. A universal beverage container marker according to any preceding claim wherein the distinctive indicia is located upon the remaining body.

11. A universal beverage container marker according to any preceding claim wherein the edge of the body is shaped to contribute to the distinctive indicia.

12. A universal beverage container marker according to any preceding claim wherein the body comprises a flexible, non-frangible material.

13. A universal beverage container marker according to claim 12 wherein the material is a sheet of material.

14. A universal beverage container marker according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the material is polyester.

15. A method of identifying a beverage can, the can being cylindrical having a top cover surface provided with a substantially centrally located pivot and a lever opener communicating with said pivot, the method comprising the steps:

(a) providing a universal beverage container marker according to any one of claims 3 to 14;

(b) displacing said lever so that it forms a drinking opening on said top cover surface;

(c) displacing the tongue portion from the remaining body by use of the hinge so that it forms an obtuse angle with the remaining body; (d) locating the second aperture over said lever and sliding the tongue portion over said cover so that said pivot, between said lever and said cover, passes into the notch; and

(e) pulling the marker until said pivot is located in the first aperture and the remaining body rests on said cylindrical outer surface of said can to display the distinctive indicia.

16. A method of identifying a beverage glass, the glass having a base and a substantially cylindrical side wall with an upper rim, the method comprising the steps;

(a) providing a universal beverage container marker according to any one of claims 6 to 14;

(b) engaging the locking means and thereby separating the tongue portion and the remaining body via the hinge;

(c) locating the rim of the glass into the slot and sliding the marker down the cylindrical wall until the remaining body rests on said cylindrical side wall to display the distinctive indicia.

17. A method of identifying a beverage glass according to claim 16 wherein the method includes the step of opening the hinge and locating a drinking straw through the first aperture.

18. A method of identifying a beverage glass according to claim 16 wherein the method includes the step of opening the hinge and locating an elongate garnish element through the first aperture.

19. A method of identifying a beverage bottle, the bottle having a substantially cylindrical neck portion upon a shoulder, the method comprising the steps;

(a) providing a universal beverage container marker according to any one of claims 3 to 14; (b) displacing the tongue portion from the remaining body by use of the hinge so that it forms an obtuse angle with the remaining body;

(c) locating the neck of the bottle through the second aperture and pulling the marker down the neck until the tongue portion and/or the remaining body contacts the shoulder to display the distinctive indicia.

20. A method of identifying a beverage container, the container having at least one elongate member supporting a fluid carrying retainer, the method comprising the steps;

(a) providing a universal beverage container marker according to any one of claims 2 to 14;

(b) locating the elongate member in the notch;

(c) moving the elongate member relative to the notch until the elongate member is located in the first aperture;

(d) engaging the gripping members with the elongate member to hold the marker to the container and display the distinctive indicia.