WO2015015286A1

WO2015015286A1 - Coffee cup with filling level indicator

Info

Publication number: WO2015015286A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/001449
Authority: WO
Inventors: Domenico GIRARDI
Original assignee: Marvulli, Felice
Priority date: 2013-08-02
Filing date: 2014-08-01
Publication date: 2015-02-05
Also published as: ITBA20130049U1

Abstract

The present invention is related to a coffee mug or up provided with a filling level indicator (L1 - L2-L3), able to allow the correct and rapid filling of the cup according to the type of coffee or beverage to serve. Said filling level indicator (L1-L2-L3) placed on the inner and/or external surface of the coffee cup is made of a plurality of protruding notches (L1-L2-L3) placed at various heights or filling desired levels, for example a first level (L1) for the reduced coffee, a second level (L2) for espresso and a third level (L3) for long coffee. Said filling levels (L1 -L2- L3) can be marked in various ways, by means of lines, signs and symbols of various type and color.

Description

DESCRIPTION

COFFEE CUP WITH FILLING LEVEL INDICATOR

The present invention relates to a coffee mug or cup provided with a filling level indicator, able to allow the correct and rapid filling of the .cup according to the type of coffee or beverage desired.

There are known several ways of preparing espresso also called "normal coffee" in Italy, and among them we mention:

- Short or reduced (ristretto) coffee, namely a very short shot of espresso coffee with a reduced volume, sometimes only a few drops, so to maximize its aroma, with a very low content of caffeine and characterized by being a typical Italian drink usually almost impossible to be served abroad;

- Normal coffee, i.e. the classic espresso coffee served at the bar, with an intermediate filling level of the cup;

- Long (lungo) coffee, usually made by using an espresso machine to make an espresso with much more water, so that it is less strong, but it contains more caffeine than normal and even more caffeine than short coffee, since the same quantity of ground coffee has been "exploited" to a greater extent (long coffee is considered normal in the United States and in North and Central Europe).

To the above mentioned three basic types of coffee by volume, density and aroma we can further add: double ristretto coffee (which doubles the amount of a reduced coffee, then having a double volume but equal density and aroma); double long coffee (i.e. a double dose of long coffee, then also having a double volume than long or American coffee); stained coffee (caffe macchiato) which is coffee with a "stain" of milk; foam coffee (caffe schi mato), a type of stained coffee to which a bit of warm and foamy milk is added; caffe corretto (espresso with a small amount of grappa or other alcoholic drink). In the known technique there are no mugs or cups of coffee similar to the one according to the present invention, but there are known several patents of other applications, among which we mention:

• Chinese Utility Model CN201468984, published on May 19, 2010 discloses a container or water heater provided with a water-level indicator placed on the lateral surface of the cup body;

• U.S. Patent Invention US2009241661, published on October 01, 2009 discloses a level indicator or pressure measuring device with a cup-shaped cover, having a cylindrical lateral wall and an inspection glass fixed to the base by a bayonet fitting;

• Chinese Utility Model CN2803164, published on August 09, 2006 discloses a cup provided with an electric level indicator, formed of a floating conductive body inside a channel placed at the handle and provided with a conductive surface at its upper end, in its turn connected with an acoustic switch, especially useful for use by the blind.

The present invention is, therefore, innovative since it provides a coffee cup or mug equipped with a filling level indicator, in order to allow a rapid and correct filling of the cup according to the type of coffee or beverage desired.

The main object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a coffee cup or mug provided with a filling level indicator, in order to allow a rapid and correct filling of the cup according to the type of coffee or beverage desired.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a coffee cup or mug provided with a filling level indicator of the same cup, so as to facilitate the barman work.

These objects are achieved by providing a coffee cup or mug 1 for the rapid and easy filling to the correct level of coffee or other beverage to be served at the bar, characterized in that it is provided with filling level indicators L1-L2 L3 of the same cup 1.

These purposes and the related advantages, as well as the characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments that do not restrict further developments within the scope of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic view of a coffee cup 1, equipped with filling level indicators L1-L2-L3, consisting of a plurality of notches on the inner surface 2 of the same cup 1, which allow the filling of the cup at various levels L1-L2-L3 (for the sake of simplicity, said levels L1-L2-L3 are represented with different shades surfaces placed at the corresponding levels of the same cup 1);

Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the cup 1 of Figure 1, where the filling level indicators L1-L2-L3 are more clearly represented, and they are formed of a plurality of notches L1-L2-L3 formed on the inner surface 2 of the cup 1, said notches being protruding or simply coloured or marked with a simple dividing line on the inner surface 2;

Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the cup 1 of Figure 1 , showing another preferred embodiment of the filling level indicator, consisting of a plurality of coloured stripes Ll- L2-L3 on the inner surface 2 of the cup 1 ;

Figure 4 is a three-dimensional schematic view of a partially transparent or windowed coffee cup 1, i.e. having at least one glazed window F or made of food-safe transparent material, provided with a plurality of notches L1-L2-L3 on its inner and/or external surface, acting as indicator of the different filling levels L1-L2-L3 of the mug or cup 1.

From Figures 1 , 2, 3 and 4 it is shown that the coffee mug or cup 1 according to the present utility model is characterized in that it provides a filling level indicator, able to allow the correct filling of the cup to various levels L1-L2-L3, which can be marked according to the type of coffee or drink desired.

The coffee mug or cup 1 according to the present invention is, therefore, basically provided with a filling level indicator and it can be realized in different ways, such as for example:

- Making a cup 1 with an inner surface 2 provided with a plurality of protruding notches L1-L2-L3 (or simply traced lines at different height or level) at the various heights or desired filling levels L1-L2-L3 of the cup 1 , for example LI for reduced coffee, L2 for espresso and L3 for long coffee (as shown in Figure 2); - Colouring said inner surface 2 of the mug or cup 1 with various coloured stripes (for example in the case of three filling levels L1-L2-L3, respectively with the colours of the Italian flag) at the desired filling levels L1-L2-L3 (as shown in Figure 3);

- Making a partially transparent glass cup, or other food-safe transparent material, on which transparent surface (inside or outside the cup) a plurality of notches are marked at the desired filling levels L1-L2-L3;

- Making a cup provided with a window F, in glass or other transparent material, on which a plurality of notches of the desired filling levels L1-L2-L3 are marked (as shown in Figure 4).

The above preferred, but not limitative, embodiments of the mug or cup 1 according to the present invention, do not include those solutions which can create difficulties for the cup 1 washing or difficulties related to the realization of the filling level indicator in particular non- preferred solutions, such as, for example, the risks related to the reduction of the thickness of the cup, which could facilitate its damage due to a decreased resistance to thermal shock or related to the difficulty of washing the cup if the indicator is positioned within the handle (if the cup is completely hollow and transparent) of which the cup 1 may be provided.

Moreover, simple glasses or glass containers are not taken into consideration since they are already provided with a filling level indicator.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the manufacturing of the present utility model is very simple and can give rise to a plurality of shapes and solutions protectable with specific design patents. Said plurality of filling levels L1-L2-L3 of the cup 1 can vary both in number and in volume according to the type of drink to serve. The same filling levels L1-L2-L3 can be marked in different ways, with lines, symbols and signs of different type and colour.

The coffee cup provided with a filling level indicator according to the present invention has the advantage that it is adapted to allow the correct, easy and rapid filling of the same cup according to the type of coffee or beverage desired.

The invention also has the advantage of allowing a better cleaning of the mug or cup 1 provided with said filling level indicator, as said indicator does not affect the usual washing operations of the cup. Several changes, adaptations, integrations, variations and substitutions of elements with other functionally equivalent ones can be made to the described preferred embodiment, without broadening the scope of protection of the following claims.

Claims

1. Coffee mug or cup (1) useful to allow the rapid and easy filling to the correct level of coffee or other beverage served in a cup at the bar, characterized in that it is provided with a filling level indicator (LI - L2-L3) of the same cup (1).

2. Coffee mug or cup (1) useful to allow the rapid and easy filling to the correct level of coffee or other beverage served in a cup at the bar, according to claim 1 , characterized in that it has a plurality of filling levels (L1-L2-L3), differently marked on the inner surface (2) of said cup (1) according the type of coffee or beverage to serve.

3. Coffee mug or cup (1) useful to allow the rapid and easy filling to the correct level of coffee or other beverage served in a cup at the bar, according to previous claims, characterized in that said filling level indicator (L1-L2-L3) is placed on the inner surface (2) of the coffee cup (1) by means of a plurality of protruding notches (L1 -L2-L3) placed at the various heights or filling desired levels of the cup (1), with a first level (LI) for reduced coffee, a second level (L2) for espresso and a third level (L3) for long coffee.

4. Coffee mug or cup (1) useful to allow the rapid and easy filling to the correct level of coffee or other beverage served in a cup at the bar, according to previous claims, characterized in that said filling level indicator (L1-L2-L3) is placed on the inner (2) and/or external surface of the coffee cup (1) by means of lines or symbols marked at different heights or filling level (L1-L2-L3), according to the type of coffee or beverage to serve.

5. Coffee mug or cup (1) useful to allow the rapid and easy filling to the correct level of coffee or other beverage served in a cup at the bar, according to previous claims, characterized in that said filling level indicator (L1-L2-L3) is placed on the inner surface (2) of the coffee cup (1) by coloring said inner surface (2) of the mug or cup (1) with various colored stripes placed at the various filling levels (L1-L2-L3) desired.

6. Coffee mug or cup (1) useful to allow the rapid and easy filling to the correct level of coffee or other beverage served in a cup at the bar, according to previous claims, characterized in that said filling level indicator ( L1-L2-L3) is placed on the inner (2) or external surface of the coffee cup (1), said cup (1) being provided with a portion made of transparent material, glass or other food-safe material, and marking it with various colored stripes placed at the various filling levels (LI - L2-L3) desired. coffee or other beverage served in a cup at the bar, according to previous claims, characterized in that said filling level indicator (L1-L2-L3) is placed on the outer and/or inner surface of the coffee cup (1), said cup (1) being provided with a glazed window (F) or provided with other transparent food-safe material portion, on which a plurality of notches, signs or symbols are marked at the various filling levels (L1-L2-L3) desired.

8. Coffee mug or cup (1) useful to allow the rapid and easy filling to the correct level of coffee or other beverage served in a cup at the bar, according to previous claims, characterized in that said various filling levels (L1-L2-L3) can be marked in different ways by means of lines, symbols and signs of different types and color.