Ice guard
United States Patent 3917533
A flat plastic advertising-bearing cut-out member for attachment to a glass or cup to prevent ice or other foreign bodies in a drink from coming into contact with the mouth of a person using the device, in which the plastic has resilience and memory for its flat condition and includes a straining portion formed of ports, serrations or slots which also increase flexibility of the member so that it is useful on greatly varying sizes of cups, pitchers, and glasses, and having mounting slots for supporting the member at spaced positions on a glass lip with the memory of the member urging the mounting slots closed to tightly grip the glass wall and position itself to form a protective volume in the vessel that allows freedom to drink without the discomfort either of interference of solids in the liquid or of the drinker with the member.
US Patent References:
DRINKING ATTACHMENT FOR CONTAINERS
Ward - February 1969 - 3429478
Candle support device
Hingston - January 1967 - 3298206
Strainer-protector for drinking vessels
Gaines et al. - July 1956 - 2753049
Ice-retaining insert for glasses
Chapman - October 1940 - 2217833
Protecting device
Pistorius - April 1940 - 2198059
DRINKING ATTACHMENT FOR CONTAINERS
Ward - February 1969 - 3429478
Candle support device
Hingston - January 1967 - 3298206
Strainer-protector for drinking vessels
Gaines et al. - July 1956 - 2753049
Ice-retaining insert for glasses
Chapman - October 1940 - 2217833
Protecting device
Pistorius - April 1940 - 2198059
Application Number:
05/395988
Publication Date:
11/04/1975
Filing Date:
09/10/1973
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
210/474, 220/703, D07/396.200
International Classes:
A47G19/22; B01D35/02
Field of Search:
222/547,564,575,189,570 210/469,475,480,478,464-468,474 220/90.2,90.4,90.6 215/1R,101
View Patent Images:
Primary Examiner:
Hoffman, Drayton E.
Assistant Examiner:
Marmor, Charles A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Wegner, Stellman, McCord, Wiles & Wood
Claims:
I claim
1. A protecting device for an open top container containing a drink in which solids are floating, said device comprising a flat integral sheet of thin flexible material having memory for its flat condition including a body portion having a convex edge and a concave edge extending the length of said body portion, a projection extending laterally from each end of said body portion and lying in substantially the same plane with said body portion, said body portion having a plurality of openings through said body portion and lying substantially in the midportion of said body portion, slot means extending from the edges of said body portion to intersect with said openings, a port between each of said projections and said ends of said body portion, said ports being of substantial size for receiving the bead of a lip of the container, a cut forming an elongate entry channel into each port, each channel being defined by a pair of sides having one portion thereof being narrower than said port and forming an opening between the projection and the body portion and said channel having another portion thereof with said sides touching each other when the device is unassembled with the container, whereby said device may be mounted on the bead on the lip of the container by threading the lip of the container into the entry channels between the projections and the body portion until the bead on the lip of the container nests in said ports with the body portion extending down into the container.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said channels is crescent shaped with the material of the projection and of the body portion defining the sides of each channel and touching at the outer end portion of each channel.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said concave edge of said body portion is spaced below the plane of the container when the protecting device is in position on the container.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said slot means comprises separate slots extending to separate ones of said openings from opposite edges of said body portion.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said slot means from the opposite edges extend a sufficient distance into said body portion to overlap but not to intersect centrally of said body portion.
1. A protecting device for an open top container containing a drink in which solids are floating, said device comprising a flat integral sheet of thin flexible material having memory for its flat condition including a body portion having a convex edge and a concave edge extending the length of said body portion, a projection extending laterally from each end of said body portion and lying in substantially the same plane with said body portion, said body portion having a plurality of openings through said body portion and lying substantially in the midportion of said body portion, slot means extending from the edges of said body portion to intersect with said openings, a port between each of said projections and said ends of said body portion, said ports being of substantial size for receiving the bead of a lip of the container, a cut forming an elongate entry channel into each port, each channel being defined by a pair of sides having one portion thereof being narrower than said port and forming an opening between the projection and the body portion and said channel having another portion thereof with said sides touching each other when the device is unassembled with the container, whereby said device may be mounted on the bead on the lip of the container by threading the lip of the container into the entry channels between the projections and the body portion until the bead on the lip of the container nests in said ports with the body portion extending down into the container.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said channels is crescent shaped with the material of the projection and of the body portion defining the sides of each channel and touching at the outer end portion of each channel.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said concave edge of said body portion is spaced below the plane of the container when the protecting device is in position on the container.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said slot means comprises separate slots extending to separate ones of said openings from opposite edges of said body portion.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said slot means from the opposite edges extend a sufficient distance into said body portion to overlap but not to intersect centrally of said body portion.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for protecting the lip and surrounding area of a person using the device from having ice cubes or other solid bodies in the drink from coming in contact therewith and for protecting the persons from contact with the device as they are drinking.
2. The Prior Art
There are many devices disclosed by the patent art which are designed to protect the lips and surrounding area from contact with foreign bodies in a drink. For example, one device is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,198,059. However, such devices have been deficient for one or more reasons. For instance, the device of the above referred to patent is such that it can only be attached to a glass of a particular size. Since currently there are a multiplicity of sizes of cups and glasses available on the market, it is desirable to provide a device that can be adapted for use on many, if not all, diameters of cups and glasses. In addition, many prior devices were not sufficiently rigid to provide gripping action against the lip of the cup so that it was not impossible for the guard to come loose at a critical moment and permit a cascade of ice or other foreign bodies into the face of the user. In addition, prior devices projected above the glass so as to interfere with the face of the drinker making it difficult to drink from the glass.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a new and useful protector device for use on glasses or the like containing ice drinks. Briefly, the device of the invention is a flat integral flexible member having substantial resilience and memory which urges the member to return toward its flat condition. The device, in its flat condition and when not in use, comprises a flat body portion having extensions at each end with a lip receiving port in each extension. The body portion has an arcuate edge for the purpose of reasonably conforming to the inner surface of a glass when the device is in use. At each end of the body portion and intermediate the body portion and projections is an entry channel having at least a portion along its length narrower than the lip receiving port. Each channel extends to the port in the adjacent projection, the port being of sufficient size to accommodate the bead of a glass rim. In use, the channels are opened to receive the wall of the glass with the bead in the ports and the natural resilience and memory of the device for its flat condition causes a gripping action against the glass wall since the device is in partially bent condition as a result of opening the slits.
The material from which the guard is made is sufficiently flexible and, yet sufficiently stiff, to adapt itself for attachment to cups, pitchers, and glasses of many different sizes and to remain positively locked to the container until removed by the user. In a preferred form, strainer slots are provided extending into the body portion to make the body portion more easily bendable away from its flat condition. The slots in the body portion further improve its adaptability to use on various size containers by increasing the flexibility of the body portion; these slots also function for straining purposes.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail a specific embodiment and modifications thereof, with the understanding that the embodiment and modifications shown in the drawings and specifically described herein are intended as examples of the invention and are not intended as limitations on the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drinking glass containing an ice drink and having attached thereto one embodiment of the protective device of my invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of one modified form of my invention;
FIG. 4 is a further modified form of my invention;
FIG. 5 is a still further modified form of my invention; and
FIG. 6 is still another modified form of my invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning first to FIGS. 1-3, there is provided a guard or lip protector 10 for use on a glass 12 containing an iced drink 14. The guard or lip protector 10 is made of a plastic or waterproof paper material that can be readily cleaned and can be maintained in a sterile condition before use. The guard 10 has a body or base portion 13 with a semi-circular or convexly arcuate forward edge 16 and an appropriately shaped rear edge 15, e.g., concave. The rear edge 15 is preferably slightly concave in the center 19 so that in the shaped condition when in use the rear edge 15 becomes the top edge 20 which will not protrude above the top lip of the glass and thereby it will not interfere with the nose or face of a drinker.
The guard 10 also includes a pair of integral lateral supporting projections or arms 22, each having a cut-out or port 24. A slit 26 is cut into each projection at an angle extending from each end of the arcuate edge 16 into one of the ports 24. Slits 26 and ports 24 are used to secure the device on and around the lip of a cup or glass. With the lip protector 10 assembled on a glass, the base portion 13 extends down into the glass and the lateral supporting projections will extend around the lip of a glass via slits 26 and ports 24 and secure against the outer surface of the glass. The base portion 13 extends down into the glass with edge 16 spaced slightly away from the wall but sufficiently close to keep the ice from coming in contact with the lip of the user. The lip protector 10 is rather stiff due to the mass of the body portion but it will flex some when in use, especially in the lateral projection portions.
In FIG. 3 the attaching arms 22 include slits 26 in the form of crescent shaped cut-out sections with the slit-defining cut edges touching each other at the outer ends of the slits. These slits will permit the projections to assume the shape of the glass adjacent the lip and not bind and disform unduly because of undue pressure created by surplus material at the slits. However, sufficient pressure still results to keep the protector firmly in place.
The form of my invention shown in FIG. 4 is an especially preferred form in which, in addition to the elements shown in FIG. 3, there are provided the serrations or slots 30 running from the opposite forward and rear edges inwardly into the base portion 13. Slightly enlarged openings or ports 32 are formed on the inner ends of the slots 30 so as to provide greater degree of flexibility to the member. With the member attached to a glass, the slots 30 and ports 32 will permit the base portion 13 of the protector to flex in a more conforming relation. In use the slots 30 on the edge 16 will spread while the slots 30 on the edge 15 will compress and even overlap.
The form of invention shown in FIG. 5 provides slots 30 leading to ports 32 along only the edge 16. This particular form will conform and will serve as a strainer in very much the same fashion as that shown in FIG. 4. The large number of slots 30 provided at edge 16 and their extent into the base portion 13 permit good flexibility in use and the shape assumed in use is only slightly different from that assumed by the device shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is still a further modified form of my invention and herein the slots 30 extend from both edges 16 and 15 and overlap each other as they extend inwardly to ports 32. This provides the greatest degree of flexibility of any known form and the slots when in position will shape themselves to form strainer means for the fluid in the container.
In FIG. 6, the attaching system in the supporting arms 22 includes slots 46 in lieu of the forms of slits 26 shown in the other figures. These are for attaching the guard to thicker materials such as cups and mugs without unduly warping the guard when in position. Obviously the forms of attaching systems in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 can be varied either to include the crescent slits 26 and the openings 24 or can be made with the singlecut slot 46 and opening 24 as shown particularly in FIG. 6.
In all forms of the invention, the combined action of the attaching or supporting arms 22 and the material of the base portion 13 will bow the protector down into the glass so that the edge 20 will be below the plane of the edge of the glass so as not to interfere with the nose or other portions of the face of a drinker using the glass. The edge 20 will be spaced far enough from the opposite wall of the glass as to permit additional ice cubes to be added to the glass without removing the protector therefrom.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for protecting the lip and surrounding area of a person using the device from having ice cubes or other solid bodies in the drink from coming in contact therewith and for protecting the persons from contact with the device as they are drinking.
2. The Prior Art
There are many devices disclosed by the patent art which are designed to protect the lips and surrounding area from contact with foreign bodies in a drink. For example, one device is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,198,059. However, such devices have been deficient for one or more reasons. For instance, the device of the above referred to patent is such that it can only be attached to a glass of a particular size. Since currently there are a multiplicity of sizes of cups and glasses available on the market, it is desirable to provide a device that can be adapted for use on many, if not all, diameters of cups and glasses. In addition, many prior devices were not sufficiently rigid to provide gripping action against the lip of the cup so that it was not impossible for the guard to come loose at a critical moment and permit a cascade of ice or other foreign bodies into the face of the user. In addition, prior devices projected above the glass so as to interfere with the face of the drinker making it difficult to drink from the glass.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a new and useful protector device for use on glasses or the like containing ice drinks. Briefly, the device of the invention is a flat integral flexible member having substantial resilience and memory which urges the member to return toward its flat condition. The device, in its flat condition and when not in use, comprises a flat body portion having extensions at each end with a lip receiving port in each extension. The body portion has an arcuate edge for the purpose of reasonably conforming to the inner surface of a glass when the device is in use. At each end of the body portion and intermediate the body portion and projections is an entry channel having at least a portion along its length narrower than the lip receiving port. Each channel extends to the port in the adjacent projection, the port being of sufficient size to accommodate the bead of a glass rim. In use, the channels are opened to receive the wall of the glass with the bead in the ports and the natural resilience and memory of the device for its flat condition causes a gripping action against the glass wall since the device is in partially bent condition as a result of opening the slits.
The material from which the guard is made is sufficiently flexible and, yet sufficiently stiff, to adapt itself for attachment to cups, pitchers, and glasses of many different sizes and to remain positively locked to the container until removed by the user. In a preferred form, strainer slots are provided extending into the body portion to make the body portion more easily bendable away from its flat condition. The slots in the body portion further improve its adaptability to use on various size containers by increasing the flexibility of the body portion; these slots also function for straining purposes.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail a specific embodiment and modifications thereof, with the understanding that the embodiment and modifications shown in the drawings and specifically described herein are intended as examples of the invention and are not intended as limitations on the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drinking glass containing an ice drink and having attached thereto one embodiment of the protective device of my invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of one modified form of my invention;
FIG. 4 is a further modified form of my invention;
FIG. 5 is a still further modified form of my invention; and
FIG. 6 is still another modified form of my invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning first to FIGS. 1-3, there is provided a guard or lip protector 10 for use on a glass 12 containing an iced drink 14. The guard or lip protector 10 is made of a plastic or waterproof paper material that can be readily cleaned and can be maintained in a sterile condition before use. The guard 10 has a body or base portion 13 with a semi-circular or convexly arcuate forward edge 16 and an appropriately shaped rear edge 15, e.g., concave. The rear edge 15 is preferably slightly concave in the center 19 so that in the shaped condition when in use the rear edge 15 becomes the top edge 20 which will not protrude above the top lip of the glass and thereby it will not interfere with the nose or face of a drinker.
The guard 10 also includes a pair of integral lateral supporting projections or arms 22, each having a cut-out or port 24. A slit 26 is cut into each projection at an angle extending from each end of the arcuate edge 16 into one of the ports 24. Slits 26 and ports 24 are used to secure the device on and around the lip of a cup or glass. With the lip protector 10 assembled on a glass, the base portion 13 extends down into the glass and the lateral supporting projections will extend around the lip of a glass via slits 26 and ports 24 and secure against the outer surface of the glass. The base portion 13 extends down into the glass with edge 16 spaced slightly away from the wall but sufficiently close to keep the ice from coming in contact with the lip of the user. The lip protector 10 is rather stiff due to the mass of the body portion but it will flex some when in use, especially in the lateral projection portions.
In FIG. 3 the attaching arms 22 include slits 26 in the form of crescent shaped cut-out sections with the slit-defining cut edges touching each other at the outer ends of the slits. These slits will permit the projections to assume the shape of the glass adjacent the lip and not bind and disform unduly because of undue pressure created by surplus material at the slits. However, sufficient pressure still results to keep the protector firmly in place.
The form of my invention shown in FIG. 4 is an especially preferred form in which, in addition to the elements shown in FIG. 3, there are provided the serrations or slots 30 running from the opposite forward and rear edges inwardly into the base portion 13. Slightly enlarged openings or ports 32 are formed on the inner ends of the slots 30 so as to provide greater degree of flexibility to the member. With the member attached to a glass, the slots 30 and ports 32 will permit the base portion 13 of the protector to flex in a more conforming relation. In use the slots 30 on the edge 16 will spread while the slots 30 on the edge 15 will compress and even overlap.
The form of invention shown in FIG. 5 provides slots 30 leading to ports 32 along only the edge 16. This particular form will conform and will serve as a strainer in very much the same fashion as that shown in FIG. 4. The large number of slots 30 provided at edge 16 and their extent into the base portion 13 permit good flexibility in use and the shape assumed in use is only slightly different from that assumed by the device shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is still a further modified form of my invention and herein the slots 30 extend from both edges 16 and 15 and overlap each other as they extend inwardly to ports 32. This provides the greatest degree of flexibility of any known form and the slots when in position will shape themselves to form strainer means for the fluid in the container.
In FIG. 6, the attaching system in the supporting arms 22 includes slots 46 in lieu of the forms of slits 26 shown in the other figures. These are for attaching the guard to thicker materials such as cups and mugs without unduly warping the guard when in position. Obviously the forms of attaching systems in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 can be varied either to include the crescent slits 26 and the openings 24 or can be made with the singlecut slot 46 and opening 24 as shown particularly in FIG. 6.
In all forms of the invention, the combined action of the attaching or supporting arms 22 and the material of the base portion 13 will bow the protector down into the glass so that the edge 20 will be below the plane of the edge of the glass so as not to interfere with the nose or other portions of the face of a drinker using the glass. The edge 20 will be spaced far enough from the opposite wall of the glass as to permit additional ice cubes to be added to the glass without removing the protector therefrom.