Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a coding and personalization device for containers to allow an individual to identify the ownership of the container. The coding and personalization device includes an opaque covering over each individual indicia on a portion of the container. The opaque layer is removable or detachable to expose select indicia thereunder to provide customization of that container. Further, a method providing a customization, including removing a portion of the opaque cover on the container to visually distinguish the container from similar looking containers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/698,682, filed Jul. 13, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to coding and personalizing containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for personalizing a beverage container, to facilitate identification of the container against containers of like appearance.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The proliferation of bottled water, soda, juice and tea in disposable containers has reached epidemic proportions. It is common practice to have a water or beverage container within ones immediate grasp when traveling, at social functions, exercising and in the workplace. Beverages are often purchased and distributed in identically labeled disposable containers, such as Poland® Spring water, Snapple® ice tea, Pepsi® and Coke®. Therefore, when two or more individuals place similarly looking containers in close proximity of each other and later return to retrieve their container, it is difficult to determine which container belongs to them. Often the individual retrieves the wrong container which results in the transmission of germs from making oral contact with another person&#39;s beverage container.  
         [0004]     Typically, one will try to distinguish their item by marking the container or destroying the label or container. Often one partially or completely removes a label or a tab on a can to distinguish it from others. However, destruction of a container compromises the integrity of the container and creates a hazardous condition, such as sharp edges, which may lead to injury. Additionally, these methods of distinguishing one&#39;s container are limited in nature and do not provide convenient customization by the end user. Therefore, there is a need to provide a convenient and safe way to customize an item as well as offering a multitude of distinguishing options.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention is directed to an identification mechanism for a container including a container having distinct indicia thereon; and individual covers over each of the distinct indicia, at least one of the covers is selectively removable to reveal at least one of the indicia thereunder to provide visual personalization of the container.  
         [0006]     Another embodiment of the present invention is an identification mechanism for a container including a container and an opaque layer. The container has an outer surface with individual indicia thereon. The opaque layer is attached to the outer surface. The opaque layer includes individually removable tabs therein. Each tab covers one of the individual indicia, and the tabs are selectively removable to reveal selected individual indicia thereunder to provide visual identification of the container.  
         [0007]     A further embodiment includes an identification mechanism including a preprinted label having individual indicia printed thereon and perforated tabs therein. Each of the perforated tabs corresponds to specific individual indicia. Individually selected perforated tabs corresponding to the specific indicia are removable from the pre-printed label to provide a customization of the label.  
         [0008]     Further, the present invention is directed to an identification mechanism for container including a container having an outer surface, an identification layer attached to the outer surface of the container, and an opaque layer being attached to the identification layer. The opaque layer includes removably attached tabs to reveal a portion of the identification layer thereunder.  
         [0009]     A further embodiment of the present invention includes an identification mechanism for container including a container having an outer surface, and an opaque layer being attached to the outer surface. The opaque layer includes perforated tabs therein to reveal a portion of the identification layer thereunder upon removal of the perforated tabs.  
         [0010]     Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a method for identifying a container including the steps of providing a container having an outer surface; providing an opaque layer having perforated portions therein defining a tab; attaching said opaque layer to the outer surface; and removing select tabs to expose a portion of the outer surface thereunder to personalize the container.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a container having a label of the present invention including removable perforated tabs.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a container having a label of the present invention including removable stickers.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of a container having a label of the present invention including a scratch off portion.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of a container having a label of the present invention including a scratch off portion.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of a container having a label of the present invention including a scratch off portion.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of a container having a label of the present invention including a designated blank area.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a label of the present invention including removable perforation tabs thereon.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     The present invention is a method and apparatus for coding and personalizing containers by providing each container with an identification mechanism. For example, the identification mechanism includes, but is not limited to, letters, numbers, symbols, shapes, patterns, names and/or colors. These identification mechanisms can be incorporated anywhere on the container&#39;s cap, label, underside and/or body surface. A container, as defined herein, refers to any object that can be used to hold a substance. A container herein refers to disposable items, non-disposable items, cans, bottles, cups, bowls, and various food storage devices, etc.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 1, 2  and  7  show an identification mechanism  2 ,  12  and  62 , respectively, of the present invention. The identification mechanisms of  FIGS. 1, 2  and  7  allows the user to peal off a desired code for personalization of that label and any item of which that label is placed on. More specifically,  FIG. 1  shows container  1 , as a bottle, including an identification mechanism  2  of the present invention. The identification mechanism  2  includes an opaque layer  3  covering an identification layer  5 , or indicia. The opaque layer  3  may have printed information, letters, numbers, etc. thereon. The opaque layer may be a new separate label or incorporated as part of an existing label. The existing label can be modified to include the identification indicia and an identification layer. The opaque layer  3  includes various perforated removable tabs  4 . The tabs  4  are removable to reveal a portion of the identification layer  5  thereunder. Either the identification layer  5  as defined herein refers to the outer surface of the container or a separate layer of material sandwiched between the container&#39;s outer surface and removable tabs  4 . Further, the identification layer  5  may include printed material thereon or remain without printed material. For example,  FIG. 1  shows the opaque layer  3  having letters and numbers printed thereon which correspond to the letters and number printed  7  on the identification layer  5 . Some tabs  4  are removed to reveal “1” and “P” on the identification layer  5 . Upon removal of the tabs  4 , the container  1  is personalized and identifiable to that user. When removed by the user pre-selected numbers, letters  4 , symbols, names, colors or shapes are revealed, and cannot be replaced.  
         [0020]     Another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 1  including an identification mechanism  62 . The indication mechanism  62  includes a preprinted label  60  with identification indicia  61  thereon and corresponding perforated removable tabs  64 . The identification indicia  61  may include symbols, numbers, letters, markings, etc. The corresponding perforated removable tabs  64  are located on the preprinted label  60  in proximity to the identification indicia  61  for easy association therewith. Further, the identification mechanism  62  may be incorporated into a pre-existing label. In use, the user removes the perforated removable tabs  64 , which correspond to the users chosen identification indicia  61  for personalization. Upon removal of the perforated removable tabs  64 , the surface of the container is revealed which creates a void in the label, exposing the surface under the label  65 , in proximity to the chosen identification indicia  61 . This provides a customized label for that user.  
         [0021]     A further embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2  is similar to the identification mechanism  2  of  FIG. 1 . The identification mechanism  12  of  FIG. 2  is shown on a container  10 . The identification mechanism  12  includes an opaque layer  13  and identification layer  15 . The opaque layer  13  includes the tabs  14  that are removable to reveal a portion of the identification layer  15  there beneath. The opaque layer  13  further includes an adhesive layer  16  that removably attaches tab  14  of the opaque layer  13  to the identification layer  15 , or indicia. Either the identification layer  15  as defined herein refers to the outer surface of the container or a separate layer of material sandwiched between the container&#39;s outer surface and tabs  14 . Further, the identification layer  15  may include printed material thereon or remain without printed material. For example,  FIG. 2  shows the tab  14  removed to reveal a shape of a baseball on the identification layer  15 .  
         [0022]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show an alternative embodiment of coding and personalizing containers. The identification mechanisms  25  and  33  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively, are similar to the identification mechanisms of  FIGS. 1 and 2  including an opaque layer and identification layer. The opaque layer  21  and  31  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively, is formed from a scratch-off material. The removal of the opaque layer  21  and  31  reveals a portion of the identification layer  24  and  34 , respectively. The opaque layer  21  and  31  may include printed material or remain without printing thereon. Similarly, the identification layer  24  and  34  may include printed material thereon or remain without printed material. Either the identification layer  24  and  34  as defined herein refers to the outer surface of the container or a separate layer of material sandwiched between the container&#39;s outer surface and opaque layer  21  and  31 , respectively.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows a beverage container  20  having an identification mechanism  25  on the label  23 . The identification mechanism  25  includes an opaque layer  21  and an identification layer  24 . The identification layer  24  has numbers  22  printed thereon. The opaque layer covers the identification layer  24  and number  22 . Upon removal of any part of the opaque layer  21 , one or more of the numbers  22  of the identification layer  24  are shown.  
         [0024]     Similarly, the container  30  of  FIG. 4  shows an identification mechanism  33  of the present invention including an opaque layer  31  and an identification layer  34 . The opaque layer has names  35  printed thereon. The opaque layer  31  is removably attached to the identification layer  34  and the opaque layer  31  covers the identification layer  34 . The identification layer  34  includes corresponding printed material  32  thereon. Upon removal of the opaque layer  31 , one or more of the printed material  32  of the identification layer  34  may be revealed.  
         [0025]     A further embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , is identification mechanism  44 . The identification mechanism  44  is shown on container  40 . The identification mechanism  44  includes an opaque scratch off portion  41  applied over the container&#39;s outer surface  43 . The opaque scratch off portion  41  allows one to scratch out any design, symbol, name, initials or marking therein to provide customized identification thereon.  FIG. 5  shows the initials  42  “CJ” scratched out of the opaque scratch off portion  41  and revealing the underlying container&#39;s surface. While the opaque scratch off portion  41  shown in  FIG. 5  covers the outer surface  43  of the container  40 , it is contemplated that the opaque scratch off portion  41  can be applied over a variety of surfaces, such as a label, a cap, an identification layer (as above-described), etc. Further, the surface  43  may further include additional colors, shapes, patterns under the scratch off portion  41  to provide contrast upon removal thereof. Upon removal of the opaque scratch off portion  41 , i.e. etching one&#39;s name, symbol, marking, code, etc., the surface  43  is revealed showing the color, shape, pattern, etc. thereunder.  
         [0026]     An alternative conceptualization for coding and personalizing a beverage container is shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  shows a container  50  including an identification mechanism  53  as a designated blank area  51  to write a customized identification  52  thereon.  FIG. 6  shows printed name  52 , “Joseph”, printed on the blank area  51 . This surface would be designated for this function and constructed of a material that accepts and retains the markings of a pencil, pen, felt marker and/or indentation and concentrated pressure.  
         [0027]     The present invention contemplates a method and apparatus to code and identify a beverage container, bottle, and can. The current designs call for beverage containers to display letters, numbers, names, symbols, shapes, patterns and/or colors that allow for personal coding and identification by each user. Using a scratch-off surface, adhesive covering, perforated covering, or designated blank area that retains the marking of pen, pencil, felt marker or indentation, each user can permanently code beverage containers. This beverage container coding system(s) will allow the consumer to avoid drinking from another&#39;s container and risk the transfer of germs.