Abstract:
The present invention provides a container including a system for personal identification. A series of bands are mounted between ridges formed circumferentially around the container. The bands have symbols printed in a color similar to the container. The bands can be rotated around the container to position selected symbols over a patch printed on the container in a contrasting color to make the selected symbol visible.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of personalized identification of property, and more particularly to personal identification of a drinking container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Water has become a popular drink of choice. Water is sold in individual size bottles for the purchaser to carry during the day. These individual size water bottles, for reasons of economy, are made of plastic resin that is blow molded to a very thin wall thickness. This thin wall causes two specific problems. First, the bottle will easily collapse when squeezed or just held firmly. Second, the water becomes warm fairly quickly as the thin bottle wall is a minimal thermal barrier. In addition, these bottles in general have become a burden on the nation&#39;s landfills. 
     These problems have encouraged an industry that provides reusable water bottles that are typically filled from a water tap or other source and reused. A reusable water bottle is generally made with thicker plastic walls, overcoming the crushing and thermal transfer problems as well as the disposal problem. In addition, a reusable water bottle is a separate sale item which the purchaser keeps for a period of time. A reusable water bottle can also be a medium for advertising, for example bearing the name of a business such as an exercise facility. However, a need exists to identify the reusable water bottle allowing the owner to be comfortable in knowing that he or she is drinking from their own bottle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention disclosed herein provides a system for the identification of a drinking bottle or similar container in order to reduce the likelihood of a person taking and drinking from a container belonging to another. The description below is directed to a bottle, but encompasses similar containers. The bottle is formed of a plastic resin or other moldable material. A series of circumferential ridges are formed on the bottle with a flat between each pair of adjacent ridges. A patch is formed on each flat, the patch being of a color that provides a contrast with the color of the bottle. The series of patches are aligned with one another in a vertical line. A band of translucent or transparent material is mounted between each pair of adjacent ridges to reside over each flat. The bands are printed with letters or other symbols in a color to blend with the bottle color, therefore contrasting with the patch color. The user of the bottle is therefore able to rotate the bands into positions to place a selected symbol over the patch, making the series of symbols visible by the contrasting patch color. The unique series of symbols enables the user to identify their bottle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a reusable water bottle with a set of identification bands in position for being assembled onto the water bottle. 
         FIG. 2  depicts the reusable water bottle of  FIG. 1  after the bands have been assembled on the water bottle and positioned to show an identifying name. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a bottle  10  is shown in front elevation view. Bottle  10  has a substantially cylindrical body  12  and a removable cap  16  that includes a spout. Although the drawing figure and description herein depict a plastic bottle, it is understood that the novel features of the disclosed invention are equally applicable to alternate types of containers, for example open top plastic tumblers as well as bottles or tumblers made of other materials, e.g. glass. A series of ridges  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d , and  18   e  are formed around the lower section of body  12 . The ridges extend radially outward beyond the diameter D of body  12  for a ridge diameter D′. Each pair of adjacent ridges  18   a  through  18   e  are separated from one another by a flat portion  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c , and  20   d , the flat portions  20   a  through  20   d  residing at diameter D of body  12 . In this manner, each ridge  18   a  through  18   e  is raised relative to the diameter D of body  12 . Optionally, the flats may have a smaller diameter than body  12  and the ridges have a similar diameter to body  12 . 
     Referring further to  FIG. 1 , a contrast patch  28   a  is formed, e.g. printed, on flat  20   a . If bottle  10  is a light color, for example white, contrast patch  28   a  would be a dark color, for example black. Contrast patch  28   a  may be formed by printing on flat  20   a  or formed by applying an adhesive label. A series of further contrast patches  28   b  is formed on flat  20   b ,  28   c  is formed on flat  20   c , and  28   d  is formed on flat  20   d . It is preferred that contrast patches  28   a  through  28   d  are positioned in vertical alignment with one another. 
     Continuing with  FIG. 1 , a series of identification bands  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c , and  22   d  are shown adjacent to bottle  10  in perspective view for clarity. Identification bands  22   a  through  22   d  are each printed with indicia, for example displaying alphabetic characters. The identification bands  22   a  through  22   d  are preferably formed of a translucent elastic resin and are sized to snugly fit on flats  20   a  through  20   d  between adjacent ridges. The indicia are preferably printed in an opaque color substantially matching the color of body  12 , i.e. a white letter set is printed on bands to be used on a white bottle. 
     Referring further to  FIG. 1 , it is noted that whereas identification bands  22   a  through  22   d  are formed of an elastic resin, and are sized to fit snugly onto flats  20   a  through  20   d , a considerable amount of friction will make it difficult for a user of bottle  10  to rotate identification bands  22   a  through  22   d  around bottle  10 . A series of slip bands  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c , and  24   d  are shown adjacent to bottle  10 , interspersed with identification bands  22   a  through  22   d . Slip bands are formed of a resin having a relatively low coefficient of friction when in contact with bottle  10 . Slip bands  24   a  through  24   d  are placed on bottle  10  in each respective flat  20   a  through  20   d  before placing identification bands  22   a  through  22   d  thereupon. In this way, the identification bands are permitted to be rotated relatively easily around bottle  10 . An elastic resin suitable for the purpose of the present invention identification bands is silicone rubber, and a low friction resin suitable for the slip bands is polyethylene. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , bottle  10  is illustrated in front elevation view with identification bands  22   a  through  22   d  mounted thereon. As shown, identification bands  22   a  through  22   d  have an outside diameter when mounted on bottle  10  that is substantially equal to diameter D′ of ridges  18   a  through  18   e . Although not visible in this view, slip bands  24   a  through  24   d  (see  FIG. 1 ) have been mounted on bottle  10  to reside between bottle  10  and respective identification bands  22   a  through  22   d . With identification bands  22   a  through  22   d  mounted on body  12  in flats  20   a  through  20   d  (see  FIG. 1 ), and the printed letters matching the color of bottle  10 , none of the printed letters are readable except for the single letter that resides over the respective contrast patch  28   a  through  28   d , the contrasting color making the letter visible. The series of letters positioned at contrast patches  28   a  through  28   d  in  FIG. 2  spell the name “JEAN”. To spell a different name or other term, identification bands  22   a  through  22   d  are rotated and different printed letters become visible over contrast patches  28   a  through  28   d.    
     While the description above discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is contemplated that numerous variations and modifications of the invention are possible and are considered to be within the scope of the claims that follow.