Abstract:
An automobile coaster that is particularly designed to be placed in an automobile beverage container. The coaster exhibits excellent hydrophilic properties and in an alternative mode contains a pressure sensitive adhesive on the bottom portion thereof. The outside radius of the sponge is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the automobile drink container to provide bias against the coaster.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a car coaster for automobiles. The car coaster fits into the bottom of cup holders in automobiles. Normally, when liquid containers contain cold liquids therein, the cold liquid causes moisture in the surrounding atmosphere to condense on the container&#39;s outer surface and run down the container. This situation causes problems with water flowing into the automobile cup holder or onto a person&#39;s clothing, the car seat or onto the car floor.  
         [0003]     The present invention solves the above-described problem by presenting an automobile coaster that is particularly designed to fit into the bottom of a car cup holder.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     A large variety of protective devices, for example, coasters have been developed to provide protection from condensed liquids for furniture and other objects, including dripping on an individual&#39;s clothing.  
         [0006]     For example: U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,873 to Wilmoth, et al., entitled Non-Stick Drink Coaster relates to a coaster for supporting drinking vessels containing cold drinks, wherein said coaster will absorb condensation. The coaster is described as not sticking to the bottom of the drink vessel when it is lifted for use.  
         [0007]     The coaster contains an absorbent layer in the base of a central recess and support rods spaced above the absorbent material, but beneath the rim of the recess. The support rods have a configuration wherein they present a minimum surface for contact with the drinking vessel, thus eliminating any sticking that could occur between the drinking vessel and the coaster.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,695 to Bishop, entitled Disposable Coasters describes a coaster for use underneath liquid containers, for example, drinking glasses, beverage cans, etc. The coaster consists of an upper pad formed of a liquid-absorbent material and a lower pad formed of a thermal insulating material. The two pads are separated by a liquid barrier material so that the insulating pad is maintained in a dry operable condition. A series of adhesive patches are arranged on the upper surface of the coaster. This allows for the coaster to be releasably attached to the bottom of the beverage container. The coasters are described as disposable.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,302 to Ferster, entitled Anti-Slide Coaster teaches an inexpensive coaster for resisting sliding and tipping over of a beverage container or other implement during, for example, turbulence on a commercial airliner.  
         [0010]     The lower surface of the Coaster is slide resistant and the upper surface adhesively attaches to the bottom of the beverage container, so as to remain attached when the beverage container is up for drinking. The coaster receives the bottom of the beverage container and extends outwardly therefrom to increase the beverage container footprint for greater stability against tipping over.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,938 to Mitchell, entitled Beverage Coaster and Dispenser, relates to a beverage coaster for removably adhering to a surface. The coaster contains a planar disc having an adhesive on the bottom side to prevent the coaster from clinging to the bottom of a beverage container. A dispenser for a stack of coasters is also provided.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,352 to Kvalvog, entitled Cling Resistant Drink Coaster describes a coaster constructed for the purpose of sustaining the weight of glasses, bottles, cans and other receptacles containing drinks and other liquids. The coaster is composed of mesh joined with an absorbent layer and held in place by a frame. The coaster permits air to circulate through the multiple cavities of the mesh to accomplish the evaporation of moisture and surface non-adherence and to allow any remaining residue to be easily absorbed by the absorbent bottom layer.  
         [0013]     A bottom adhesive layer is contained in the lower portion of the coaster, wherein the base of said coaster contains stand-off features or feet affized to the base or bottom of the coaster.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The present invention resides in a car coaster for automobiles that absorbs condensed moisture that accumulates around containers having cold beverages therein. The car coasters are particularly constructed and designed to fit inside of cup holders located in an automobile. The car coaster is constructed from a synthetics sponge-like material that inhibits the moisture sealing effect present between the bottom of a beverage container and the top of the car coaster when condensed moisture accumulates in the car coaster. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a car coaster.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is another front perspective view of the car coaster of  FIG. 1  with the following exception: the car coaster has a larger radius as compared to the car coaster of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is yet another front perspective view of the car coaster of  FIG. 1  wherein the car coaster contains a releasable adhesive layer on the bottom portion thereof.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is another front perspective view of  FIG. 2  wherein the car coaster contains a releasable adhesive layer on the bottom portion thereof.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the car coaster of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     The present invention resides in a car coaster for automobiles that absorbs condensed moisture from the outside of beverage containers which contain a cold beverage.  
         [0021]     Throughout history, various societies and civilizations have endeavored to produce devices for the sole purpose of preventing the accumulation of adherent moisture associated with the use of liquids contained in moisture-bearing vessels, containers, etc. The accumulation of moisture on the outside of a container occurs when the liquid or beverage contained in the container is at a temperature lower than the dew point of the environment.  
         [0022]     Currently, it is commonplace to see individuals struggle with coasters which do not adequately dispose of adherent moisture on beverage containers and which additionally cling to the bottom of said beverage containers.  
         [0023]     Many common coasters in use today are characterized by a one layer construction of absorbent material composed of cork, wood, paper fiber or cotton, which when saturated with moisture no longer provide a moisture-proof, protective device. These types of coasters provide for a moisture-adhesive seal, which joins coasters to containers.  
         [0024]     Embodiments of the car coasters of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the drawings in which identical or corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters or numbers through the several views.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the car coaster ( 2 ) herein. Car coaster ( 2 ) has a width ( 6 ) of 2.25 inches and a height ( 14 ) of 0.25 inch. Car coaster ( 2 ) is constructed from a synthetic sponge ( 4 ) like material. Preferably, the synthetic sponge ( 4 ) like material is constructed from a material marketed under the trade name of Cello. Another suitable or alternative material is marketed under the trade name Spontex.  
         [0026]     Other suitable synthetic sponges are constructed from polyurethane, cellulose, polyurethane/polyurea, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetas. These types of sponges have densities of from about 0.50 g/in 3  to 1.60 g/in 3  in the dry state. They also have water absorption and wet wipe characteristics of from about 0.012 g/cm 2  sec to 0.19 g/cm 2  sec and from about 70 percent to about 90 percent respectively.  
         [0027]     The width of these synthetic sponges is from 2 inches to about 3.5 inches, with a height of from about ¼ inch to ¾ inch. The synthetic sponges herein have disc like characteristics with an upper surface area and a lower surface area wherein the upper surface area is constructed to receive a beverage container.  
         [0028]     In a preferred mode, the outside radius of the synthetic sponge is slightly larger than the inside radius of an automobile beverage container to provide bias, thus preventing the adhesive properties of condensed moisture on a beverage container from adhering to the synthetic sponge.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is another view of the car coaster ( 2 ) shown in  FIG. 1 , except that the width ( 10 ) is 3 inches.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the car coaster ( 2 ) shown in  FIG. 1  with the following exception: a layer of releasable adhesive ( 12 ) is contained on the bottom of car coaster ( 2 ). Releasable adhesives ( 12 ) that are suitable for use herein include a contact, pressure sensitive, hightack adhesive such that when the car coaster ( 12 ) is placed in a cup holder the bottom of car coaster ( 12 ) will adhere to the cup holder.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is substantially the same view as  FIG. 2  with the following exception: releasable adhesive layer ( 12 ) is attached to the bottom of synthetic sponge ( 4 ).  
         [0032]     The pressure sensitive adhesives herein are attached to the bottom surface of the synthetic sponges herein. The pressure sensitive adhesives can be constructed from strips, circular configurations or arc like configurations, which can form a variety of patterns on the bottom of the synthetic sponge.  
         [0033]     Pressure sensitive adhesives that are suitable for use herein are random copolymers of isobutylene and paramethylstyrene and a tackfier, acrylic based isooctyl acrylate and acrylic based 2-ethylhexyl acrylate as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,718B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,861,139B2 the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein. The above-identified pressure sensitive adhesives are manufactured by the 3M Innovative Properties Company, located in Saint Paul, Minn.  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the car sponge ( 2 ) of  FIG. 4  which gives a better view of the relationship of the synthetic sponge ( 4 ) layer and the releasable adhesive ( 12 ) layer.  
         [0035]     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention, as herein before set forth and claimed, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.