Durable protective and decorative cover for various beverage containers including delicate glassware

Abstract

A durable, reusable, protective and decorative cover for drinking vessels and beverage containers is disclosed which relies on gravity and friction intrinsic to the mass and material composition of a peripheral collar to reversibly attach to the apical surface of the rim of any type of drinkware. A modularly distinct but integrally attached barrier, which may be permeable or impermeable, occupies an inner pore defined by said collar to protect the beverage from contamination by insects, narcotics, and other unwanted objects. The cover is devoid of extrinsic attachment means or elements which directly contact the side walls of covered vessels and therefore it is suitable for use with delicate glassware and it is exceptionally easy to apply. Ornamental, identifying, and functional devices may be variously incorporated in the cover for numerous practical, interactive, and entertainment purposes.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 340,998 filed on Mar. 25, 2010.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The field of the present invention relates generally to removable closures for beverage-containing receptacles, or, to protective and decorative covers for drinking vessels and beverage containers. More particularly, the present invention encompasses an improved protective and decorative cover retained by friction that prevents the ingress of insects and other undesirable objects to drinking vessels and beverage containers while optionally incorporating semi-permeable barriers that allow the exchange of gasses or the filtering of liquids through the cover.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]The unwanted contamination of beverages with flying insects and other foreign objects is a problem for which consumers have demanded convenient, attractive solutions since at ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0054]Another advantage of the present invention is that the collar is easy to grasp between the thumb and fingers of a single hand, because the outer peripheral surface of the collar is graspable at its edges and does not extend horizontally beyond the periphery of the cover to a substantial degree. Furthermore, the cover of the present invention is exceptionally easy to use because it does not require precise alignment with the rim of the vessel or container, removal of the device does not require the breaking of an adhesive bond or the disconnection of interconnected elements or the “unsnapping” of tightly fitting components, and the procedure for placing and removing this cover atop any vessel or container is both simple and intuitive.

[0055]In order to attach the cover of the present invention to a target vessel or container, the user may hold the cover by the outer peripheral surface of the collar between the thumb and fingers of one hand, and then the user simply sets the cover down approximately upon the apex of the rim of said vessel or container so that the bottom surface of the collar is roughly aligned with said rim. Some embodiments of the present invention include a gripping means that further aids the fingers in finding a secure hold around the peripheral surface of the collar.

[0056]In order to remove the cover, the user again grasps the outer peripheral surface of the collar, or of the gripping means, if present, between the thumb and fingers of one hand, and then the user lifts the cover either directly, tangentially, or rotationally upwards. This method of use is superior to other covers which require the disconnection of snug-fitting attachment means from the rim of the vessel or which require that the cover be lifted only directly, but never tangentially or rotationally, upwards in order to avoid catching the rim of the vessel upon the descending skirts, ledges, grooves, or other extrinsic attachment elements of prior art covers.

[0057]A further advantage of the present invention is that the internal barrier element is modularly distinct from the collar element, so that the cover can be manufactured with any combination of collar and barrier types, e.g., screen, membrane, or solid barriers. Still another

Problems solved by technology

In contrast, prior art drink covers employ a panoply of adhesive materials, elastic bands, grooves, skirts, hinges, peripheral descending ledges and other distinct att

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