Abstract:
A personally identifiable container and device is provided to help avoid confusion over beverage container identity. The identifying devices include various types of indicia including blank surface, color- and number-coded, user-selectable and user-customizable iterations in the forms of production and aftermarket container caps, production and aftermarket labels, and container stickers that a manufacturer can build into its products or a user can purchase and apply it to his/her container. User-selectable iterations involve letters, numbers, colors or other indicia which the user can mark to identify a container. User-customizable iterations include surface-malleable containers, container caps, labels, (rings and dials)) and stickers into which a user can scratch or otherwise imprint his/her name and/or specific indicia. Another embodiment allows users to burst dye packets within a container cap or label to mix a custom and identifying color combination.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/671,767 filed on Apr. 15, 2005. 
     
    
     CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0002]     None.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0003]     This invention was not federally sponsored.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0005]     The present invention relates to the field of beverage containers. More particularly, this invention is directed toward a customizable identifying device for a beverage container. 2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0006]     While drink containers have been around since ancient times, it was only in 1892 that William Painter patented the crown bottle cap. 1934 was the first year in which color labels were used on soft drink bottles. These color labels were first baked on the face of the bottle, and have undergone substantial improvements in technology since then.  
         [0007]     While improvements have been made consistently in the field of packaging and promotion of drinks, a major problem has remained unsolved: when a group of people are all using the same drink container, how does each person keep track of which drink is his or hers? In sports events, very frequently an entire team will be given the same water bottles. In many bars and other “mixer” environments, there are only a limited number of types of beverages sold with a few very popular ones taking up the lion&#39;s share of the orders. In such situations, once a person opens a bottle or can and sets it down, it is likely that the person will encounter some confusion over which bottle or can is his/hers, and which belongs to another person.  
         [0008]     The reasons for wanting to avoid drinking from another person&#39;s drink container are obvious and do not need substantial explanation. Suffice to say that in addition to not wanting to take another&#39;s drink, most people are concerned over picking up germs and diseases from another person&#39;s mouth, and therefore do not wish to unwittingly drink from another person&#39;s container. This invention also helps control waste by eliminating owner confusion and preventing the premature disposal of half consumed products.  
         [0009]     The prior has several examples of attempts to resolve this problem. For example, wine glass trinkets have become a big business. These include butterflies, beads, and other unique items that a host hands out to his/her guests for each guest to place in his/her wine glass, thereby to avoid confusion over whose glass is whose. A problem with this idea, however, is that each guest must memorize and remember the color of butterfly or the bead pattern that the host has given to him or her for the evening, which can add to the problem of identifying one&#39;s own drink.  
         [0010]     The use of color-coded bottle caps and labels is, of course, not novel, and the prior art has several examples of medical product dispensing devices which utilize some combination of bottle caps with electronic sensors and monitors, such as the inventions of Weiner (U.S. Pat. No. 6,545,592 and 20010040500), Adams (U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,117) and Wallace (U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,497). None of these inventions, however, deal with the purpose of the current invention, which is to identify a drink container either through user-selected or user-customized criteria.  
         [0011]     Thus there has existed a long-felt need for a device and method for allowing a user to identify his or her container such that he or she does not pick up a similar drink container belonging to another person and drink from it.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     It is a principal object of the invention to provide a device by which a food or beverage manufacturer, container manufacturer, or consumer can allow for a consumer to identify his or her own container from other similar containers.  
         [0013]     It is an object of the invention to provide a container cap with numbers and/or letters on it where the user can scratch or otherwise identify which combination of letters and/or number he or she selects for identification purposes.  
         [0014]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a container cap having rotating circles of numbers and/or letters such that a user can rotate the wheel to the appropriate space and thereby identify the bottle as belonging to the user.  
         [0015]     It is also an object of this invention to provide bottle caps that are suitable, under the constraints and teachings of this application, to be manufactured by the food or beverage manufacturer or a container manufacturer.  
         [0016]     It is an additional object of this invention to provide a container sticker with numbers and/or letters on it where the user can scratch or otherwise identify which combination of letters and/or number he or she selects for identification purposes.  
         [0017]     It is a further object of this invention to provide bottle cap stickers that can be manufactured by a food or beverage manufacturer, or a container manufacturer, and either sold with the container or be available for the user to purchase separately from the container and attach to the container as needed.  
         [0018]     It is another object of the invention to provide a label with various indicia on it wherein the user can scratch or otherwise select which indicia he or she wants for identification purposes.  
         [0019]     A further object of the invention is to provide a promotional or other label that a user of the invention could selectively tear off or peel off some indicia.  
         [0020]     It is still yet another object of this invention to provide a label that has a blank, scratch able surface that the user can scratch, peal, or otherwise mark as he or she desires to create a personalized identifier.  
         [0021]     It is a further an object of this invention to provide labels can be manufactured by the food and beverage manufacturer or a label manufacturer.  
         [0022]     It is an additional object of the invention to provide a label, which may or may not be peelable, with indicia on it wherein the user can scratch or otherwise identify which indicia he or she selects for identification purposes.  
         [0023]     It is also an object of this invention to provide label stickers that can be manufactured by the food or beverage manufacturer or a label manufacturer, and either sold with the container or be available for the user to purchase separately from the container and attach to the drink container as needed.  
         [0024]     It is a further object of the invention to provide an enclosed sticker or capsule inside of which are placed small packets of different types of dye in a matrix of water or some other liquid into which the dye is dissolvable, such that a user can selectively burst individual packets to form his or her “unique color combination”, but which he or she can identify his or her own container.  
         [0025]     It is still another an object of this invention to provide glitter packets, dye packets, and other novelty items such that a user can even further customize his or her container or label.  
         [0026]     It is a further object of this invention to provide a container identifying device that a user shall not need to use a pen, permanent felt-tipped marker, pencil, jackknife, or other marking tools to mark.  
         [0027]     It is yet another object of this invention that the invention be suitable for mass production and lends itself easily to the concept of sponsorship, where companies pay for the right to put the stickers, container caps, or labels onto a food or beverage container.  
         [0028]     A personally identifiable container and device is provided to help avoid confusion over beverage container identity. The identifying devices include various types of indicia including blank surface, color- and number-coded, user-selectable and user-customizable iterations in the forms of production and aftermarket container caps, production and aftermarket labels, and container stickers that a manufacturer can build into its products or a user can purchase and apply it to his/her container. User-selectable iterations involve letters, numbers, colors or other indicia which the user can mark to identify a container. User-customizable iterations include surface-malleable containers, container caps, labels, and stickers into which a user can scratch or otherwise imprint his/her name and/or specific indicia. Another embodiment allows users to burst dye packets within a container cap or label to mix a custom and identifying color combination.  
         [0029]     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0030]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principals of this invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the personally identifiable container.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the personally identifiable container with the upper cap portion removed.  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of the cap portion of the personally identifiable container.  
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of the cap portion of the personally identifiable container, illustrating the gripping prongs.  
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the personally identifiable container having an identification tab and indicia field.  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows an alternate embodiment of the personally identifiable container having a malleable top cap surface and side surface. It is envisioned that a manufacturer of this iteration of the invention could choose one or both locations for the personally identifiable materials.  
         [0037]      FIG. 7  shows an alternate embodiment of the personally identifiable container having a malleable label or sticker. This figure also shows an iteration of the invention where the personally identifiable materials are located in a cavity or depression manufactured into the top of the container cap, container side and container cap side, where the recessed cavity provides protection for the malleable surface.  
         [0038]      FIG. 8  shows an alternate embodiment of the personally identifiable container having a sticker with a pouch containing dye and/or sparkle packets. In this figure the sticker is shown on the side of the bottle, the side of the cap, and the top of cap, with the understanding that a manufacturer of this invention could select one or more locations.  FIG. 8  also shows a recess, cavity, or depression into which the personally identifiable materials can be placed.  
         [0039]      FIG. 9  shows an alternate embodiment of the personally identifiable container having a sticker with a pouch containing dye and/or sparkle packets, with the dye and/or sparkle packets burst. In this figure the sticker is shown on the side of the cap of the bottle, affixed to the cap, and on the side of the bottle as well, or recessed into a cavity built into either the side of the container, the side of the cap of the bottle, or the top of the cap of the bottle. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0040]     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the personally identifiable container  10 . Container  10  includes a storage portion  20  and a cap portion  30 . Container  10  can be any type of container that utilizes a cap, including soft drink and water bottles. Cap portion  30  includes an upper cap portion  32  and a lower cap portion  34 . Upper cap portion  32  preferably contains inner threads for attachment to storage portion  20 , but can also contain a smooth inner surface for frictional attachment to storage portion  20 . Lower cap portion  34  includes identification indicia  36  on the outer surface thereof. Lower cap portion  34  is preferably a rotatable ring that can be detachable from upper cap portion  32 . Lower cap portion  34  preferably contains a plurality of gripping prongs  37  (see  FIG. 4 ) to enable lower cap portion  34  to be detached from upper cap portion  32  and still remain attached to storage portion  20 . Upper cap portion  32  can include an identification arrow  38  that points to one or more identification indicia  36 . Similarly, storage portion  20  can include an identification mark  22 , here shown as an arrow, that points to one or more identification indicia  36 . Storage portion  20  can be comprised of plastic, glass, or other material as would be recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art. Cap portion  30  can be comprised of plastic, metal, or other material as would be recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of personally identifiable container  10  with the upper cap portion  32  removed. In this figure, lower cap portion  34  is detached from upper cap portion  32  and is positioned around cap receiving portion  24  of storage portion  20 . Cap receiving portion  24  preferably includes threads  26  to allow the removable attachment of upper cap portion  32 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of cap portion  30  removed from storage portion  20 , including upper cap portion  32  and lower cap portion  34 . Cap portion  30  can be various sizes and shapes depending on the size and shape of cap receiving portion  24  of storage portion  20 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of cap portion  30  removed from storage portion  20 , illustrating the positioning of gripping prongs  37 . Gripping prongs  37  are preferably angled to allow the rotation of lower cap portion  34  around cap receiving portion  24 , such that identification arrow  22  and/or  38  point to a user determined identification indicia  36 . Gripping prongs  37  can be comprised of plastic, metal, or other material as recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the personally identifiable container  100  having an identification tab  110  and indicia field  120 . Identification tab  110  is preferably a standard rotatable tab found on soft drink cans. Identification tab  110  includes an identification arrow  112  that can be aligned by a user to match up with various indicia  122  located on indicia field  120 . Indicia  122  can include any combination of numbers, letters, or other symbols that can be used for identification purposes. Identification arrow  112  and indicia field  120  can be formed within container  100  or can be a sticker for attachment to container  100 , located in or out of a recess which may or may not be manufactured into the top of the can, or could be engraved, embossed or printed upon the top of the container.  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  shows an alternate embodiment of the personally identifiable container  200 . It is envisioned that a manufacturer of this iteration of the invention could choose one or both locations for the personally identifiable materials. Container  200  includes a cap portion  210  and a storage portion  220 . Cap portion  210  includes a malleable top surface  212  for allowing a user to scratch or otherwise mark identification indicia  214  therein to allow the user to personally identify their container. In an additional or alternative embodiment of the invention, depending on the desires of the manufacturer, one the side  217  of the cap portion  210  there can be affixed a malleable side surface  216  for allowing a user to scratch or otherwise mark identification indicia  215  therein to allow the user to personally identify their container. The same iteration can provide a malleable side surface  219  on the side of the storage container.  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  shows an alternate embodiment of the personally identifiable container  300 . This figure also shows an iteration of the invention where the personally identifiable materials are located in a cavity or depression manufactured into the top of the container cap. Container  300  includes a cap portion  310  and a storage portion  320 . Storage portion  320  includes a label  330  having a malleable surface  332  thereon for allowing a user to scratch or otherwise mark identification indicia  334  therein to allow the user to personally identify their container. Cap portion  310  provides two possible surfaces for attaching a label: a top surface which has an encircling rim  340  which defines a recess or cavity into which the personally identifiable materials  341  are placed, and a side surface  350 , which defines a recess or cavity  352  into which the personally identifiable materials  353  are placed. Labels preferably contain a sticky surface for allowing attachment to storage portions and caps. However, personally identifiable materials can be also formed within recesses by spraying, painting, pouring, or otherwise covering the bottom of the recess with the personally identifiable materials. Alternatively, a label of personally identifiable materials can be manufactured separately from materials such as plastic and “snapped” into the recess, providing that the edges of the recess had adequately steep sides or slight protrusions on the edges such that once the label was pushed toward the bottom of the recess it would not pop back up toward the surface. Labels can be placed anywhere on storage portion, and the side and top portions of the cap, and can vary in size to accommodate various sized storage portions or bottling requirements.  
         [0047]     Positioning the label or sticker in a recessed cavity allows for greater protection of the personally identifiable materials at several stages in the life of a container utilizing one or more aspects of this invention. During shipping and transportation of mass quantities of containers by rail or truck, a recessed label is less like be damaged by other containers. Likewise, when a cooler is loaded with containers, those with recessed personally identifiable materials are more likely to retain the personally identifiable materials in pristine condition than will a container with non-recessed labels. Finally, a container taken by an individual and used during a sporting event is less likely to have its personally identifiable materials damaged, unintentionally modified, or obscured by the inadvertent touching by another person or another person&#39;s container if the personally identifiable materials are recessed. This is true whether the personally identifiable materials are recessed into the top or side of a container top, or upon the side of the container itself.  
         [0048]     The invention also contemplates a container with more than one recessed cavity into which a personally identifiable material or a promotional material could be placed, such that the container could both be personally identifiable and promotional at the same time.  
         [0049]      FIG. 8  shows an alternate embodiment of the personally identifiable container  400 . In this figure the sticker is shown on the side of the bottle, the side of the cap, and the top of cap, with the understanding that a manufacturer of this invention could select one or more locations.  FIG. 8  also shows a recess, cavity, or depression  431  into which the personally identifiable materials can be placed. Container  400  includes a cap portion  410  and a storage portion  420 . Storage portion  420  includes a capsule  430  having a transparent surface  432  on the front thereof. Capsule can be placed anywhere on storage portion  420  and can vary in size to accommodate various sized storage portions  420  or bottling requirements. Capsule  430  contains a plurality of dye packets  434  and/or sparkle packets  436  interspersed within a liquid  438 . Dye packets  434  can be comprised of dye of various colors or dissolution characteristics. Sparkle packets  436  can be comprised of sparkle having various colors, sizes, or shapes. Liquid  438  is preferably water, but can include any other liquid that allows the mixture of dye packets  434  and/or sparkle packets  436 . One or more dye packets  434  and/or sparkle packets  436  can be burst by a user to produce a capsule  430  having a personally identifiable dye/sparkle combination (see  FIG. 9 ). The same iteration of the invention as described in detail for the capsule  430  on the side of the storage portion  420  can be applied to the side  411  of the cap portion  410 , and to the top of the cap portion, where an encircling lip  452  defines a recess into which the capsule  451  is inserted.  
         [0050]      FIG. 9  shows an alternate embodiment of personally identifiable container  400 , with the dye packets  434  and/or sparkle packets  436  burst within capsule  430  to produce a personally identifiable dye/sparkle combination  440 . In this figure the sticker is shown on the side of the bottle, affixed to the cap, and on the side of the bottle as well. In this iteration of the invention, the capsule  450  of the top portion of the cap is not recessed, but rather is laid across the entire top surface.  
         [0051]     It is intended that the various types of stickers show in the above figures can be interchanged, such that all of the various identifiable labels can be applied to the different parts of the containers as described above, and in both recessed and non-recessed locations.  
         [0052]     With respect to the above description it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly, and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents fall within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0053]     The above description, together with the accessories of the invention and the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific advantages attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.  
         [0054]     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.