WO1999066481A1

WO1999066481A1 - Beverage containers having inscribable labels

Info

Publication number: WO1999066481A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/013700
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Joel Marrin
Original assignee: Michael Joel Marrin
Priority date: 1998-06-19
Filing date: 1999-06-16
Publication date: 1999-12-23
Also published as: AU4824399A

Abstract

A practical and useful beverage container (2) by which the identification of user of the beverage container (2) can be easily inscribed onto the container (2). The inscription can be achieved by having an inscribable label (4) mounted onto the external surface of the container (2). The inscribable label (4) is comprised of a material commonly known as the scratch off brand material (6). In the alternative, the inscribable material (6) can be mounted directly onto the containers' surfaces during the manufacturing process. Alternatively, the inscribable labels (4) can be packaged together with the disposable beverage containers (2) and be affixed onto the containers (2) surface by the users.

Description

BEVERAGE CONTAINERS HAVING INSCRIBABLE LABELS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to beverage containers capable of being labeled for the purpose of identifying users of the containers with unique identifications such as the users' names or users' unique insignias.

In a typical party or an event having numerous people, disposable beverage containers are almost always used because they are convenient in that no time is wasted washing the containers after use. The users merely throw them away after use. It would be extremely time consuming if one needs to wash all the containers and dry them after a large party or gathering. Therefore, particularly in our society, in the interest of saving time, used parts are thrown away.

The disposable beverage containers typically are manufactured using paper, cardboard, plastic, Styrofoam or the like materials. They are typically low in price for consumers because manufacturers mass produce them in large quantities to achieve a low per diem cost. Therefore, the mass produced containers purchased by the consumers are all similar if not identical in their outward appearances.

Because of the identical outward appearances of the beverage containers, it leads to confusion among users because the users often forget which container belongs to them and would later speculate on whether the containers they are now holding are the original containers that they started with.

In this country where a transmittable disease such as AIDS is publicized to an extreme for public awareness, population at large are sensitive to legal liabilities and are thus taking all precautionary measures to ensure that diseases are not transmitted as the result of the sponsor's events. This invention will assist in the employment of precautionary measures taken against transmittable diseases due to exchange of body fluid. In addition, this invention will prevent users from throwing away their drinks because they are uncertain whether they have in their hands drinks belonging to other people. Thus, this invention will prevent waste of drinks and beverage containers. The drinking cups of U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,979 to Nemeroff provides cups each having an unique indicia which differentiates one cup from another. By providing each cup with an unique indicia, it eliminates the needs for writing the names of users on the cup and thus should resolve the ownerships of cups at a large event where many disposable beverage containers are being used.

The individual driiiking cups of U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,802 to Nemeroff accomplishes many of the aforesaid shortfalls of the mass produced beverage containers. It proposed to provide a set of drinking cups with individual identifying indicia serve to distinguish one cup set from another. A set of separate matching indicia labels to be held on to by the users, which are used to help users identifying their cups by matching the cups with their own separate matching indicia labels.

The difference between U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,979 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,802 is that in U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,802, the users carry duplication unique indicia labels in their possessions for the purpose of matching the indicia labels to cups having the unique indicia printed on. None of the aforesaid patents provides a simple and an inexpensive method of matching ownership of cups to users. If an user forgets the unique indicia or loses the indicia label, then the problem of linking the containers to users still exists. This invention will allow users to scribe on their names directly onto the containers. Assuming arguendo that even at a large event, the probability of attendees having the exact same names is remote, then by inscribing names on each container, the probability is minimal where confusion between drinks could exist.

Another object of this invention is to provide entertainment at parties. For example, games can be played by inscribing meaningful and/or entertaining messages on the containers and the participants can que off on the messages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to practical and useful beverage containers by which the identifications of users of the beverage containers can be easily inscribed onto the containers. The beverage containers have labels capable of being inscribed with names and other messages are affixed onto the containers' external surface. The inscribable material can be directly mounted onto the containers' surfaces during manufacturing process or the inscribable labels can be packaged together with the disposable beverage containers and be affixed onto the container surface by the users. Alternatively, the inscribable labels for identifying beverage containers can be sold separately apart from the containers and be used in conjunction with any beverage containers.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a practical, inexpensive or an entertaining system for identifying beverage containers with their users. The drawings and the specification outlined herein are the preferred employment of this invention. However, the invention should not be limited to the strict interpretation of the disclosure herein and interpretation of the specification within the spirit of the invention should be considered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a side view of the beverage container having an inscribable label;

Figure 2 is a side view of the inscribable label apart from the beverage container;

Figure 3 is a side view of the beverage container package showing the inscribable label apart from the beverage containers but mountable by users;

Figure 4 is a side view of the beverage container showing the inscribable material mounted onto the container during manufacturing process and having a cover; and

Figure 5 is a side view of the beverage container showing the inscribable material mounted onto the container without a cover.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is directed to a container 2 having a self adhesive inscribable label 4 that an user can inscribe bis or her name or identification onto the label 4 for the purpose of identifying the container 2 with the user. With reference to Figures 1-5 of the drawings, a beverage container 2 having a self adhesive inscribable label 4. The beverage container 2 are typically of the disposable type manufactured using paper, cardboard, plastic, Styrofoam or the like materials adapted for low cost mass manufacturing.

The self adhesive inscribable label 4 is comprised of 4 components. A wax paper 14, a label media 12, an adhesive 10, an inscribable material 6, and an inscribable material cover 8. The inscribable material cover 8 having a plurality of sides.

The wax paper 14 having a top side and a bottom side. The label media 12 having a top side and a bottom side. An adhesive 10 is disposed on the bottom side of the label media 12.

Referring to Figure 2, the bottom side of the label media 12 is mated to the top side of the wax paper 14 through the adhesive 10. The inscribable material 6 is disposed on the top side of the label media 12. The inscribable material 6 is typically comprised of a material commonly available in the market known as the scratch off brand.

Referring to Figure 2, an inscribable material cover 8 provides a closure for the label media 12 so that the inscribable material 6 does not get inscribed accidentally during shipping, transportation or during an unintended event. The inscribable material cover 8 is contiguous with the label media 12 at least at one of its sides. It is capable of being folded and covering the inscribable material 6. When the beverage container 2 is being used, an user can peel of the inscribable material cover 8 and exposing the inscribable material 6 to the user.

The self adhesive inscribable label 4 can be affixed onto the surface of beverage container 2 as part of the packaging process for sale to the consumers. Alternatively, referring to Figure 3, the self adhesive inscribable label 4 be sold as part of the beverage containers 2 package but not affixed onto the beverage containers 2 during the manufacturing process. Or, the self adhesive inscribable labels 4 can be sold separately from the beverage containers 2.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Referring to Figure 4, the inscribable material 6 can be mounted directly onto the beverage container 2 during the manufacturing process of the beverage containers 2. The adhesive 10, label media 12, and wax paper 14 can be dispensed with and not implemented herein. However, the inscribable material cover 8 can be employed to prevent accidental inscription onto the inscribable material 6.

Referring to Figure 5, another implementation of the invention is that the inscribable material is mounted onto the beverage container 2 during its manufacturing process but doing away with the inscribable material cover 8.

Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A beverage container comprising:

(a) a container having a surface, a self adhesive inscribable label comprised of an inscribable material, an inscribable material cover, a label media, and a wax paper, the self adhesive inscribable is being mounted onto the surface of the container;

(b) the wax paper having a top side and a bottom side;

(c) the label media having a top side and a bottom side, the adhesive is disposed on the bottom side of the label media, and the inscribable material is disposed on the top side of the label media; and

(d) the inscribable material cover is disposed on the top side of the label media and covering the inscribable material.

2. The beverage container of Claim 1, wherein the inscribable material is made of scratch off brand material.

3. The beverage container of Claim 1, wherein the inscribable material cover is adopted to be detachable from the label media.

4. A beverage container comprising:

(a) a container having a surface, a self adhesive inscribable label comprised of an inscribable material, an inscribable material cover, a label media, and a wax paper;

(b) the wax paper having a top side and a bottom side;

5. The beverage container of Claim 4, wherein the inscribable material is made of scratch off brand material.

6. The beverage container of Claim 4, wherein the inscribable material cover is adopted to be detachable from the label media.

7. The beverage container of Claim 4, wherein the self adhesive inscribable label 4 is not mounted onto the surface of the container but adopted to be mountable to the surface of the surface of the container through the adhesive mounted on the bottom side of the label media.

8. A beverage container comprising:

(a) a container having a surface, an inscribable material, and an inscribable material cover;

(b) the inscribable material being mounted onto the surface of the container; and

(c) the inscribable material cover is mounted onto the surface of the container and covering the inscribable material.

9. The beverage container of Claim 8, wherein the inscribable material is made of scratch off brand material.

10. The beverage container of Claim 8, wherein the inscribable material cover is adopted to be detachable from the container.

11. A beverage container comprising:

(a) a container having a surface and an inscribable material; and

(b) the inscribable material is mounted onto the surface of the container.

12. The beverage container of Claim 11 , wherein the inscribable material is made of scratch off brand material.