SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MAP AND ASSIGN DRINKS OR LIQUID CONTAINERS TO SPECIFIC USERS

A system and method for assigning liquid containers to specific users are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes affixing a plurality of identifying labels to a plurality of liquid containers belonging to a plurality of users. The method further includes assigning the plurality of identifying labels to the plurality of users, wherein each of the plurality of identifying labels has a unique artistic symbol or graphic icon, the unique artistic symbol or graphic icon is assigned to a specific user selected from the plurality of users, and the specific user uses the unique artistic symbol or graphic icon to identify his or her liquid container.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a system and method to map and assign drinks or liquid containers to specific users.

SUMMARY

A system and method for assigning liquid containers to specific users are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes affixing a plurality of identifying labels to a plurality of liquid containers belonging to a plurality of users. The method further includes assigning the plurality of identifying labels to the plurality of users, wherein each of the plurality of identifying labels has a unique artistic symbol or graphic icon, the unique artistic symbol or graphic icon is assigned to a specific user selected from the plurality of users, and the specific user uses the unique artistic symbol or graphic icon to identify his or her liquid container.

DESCRIPTION

Plastic waste has been and still is a huge problem. As an example, it is estimated that each person uses up to over 150 water bottles per year, resulting in billions of plastic water bottles used each year. It is a known fact in every household in the U.S. that water bottles are left to trash because people do not know which one is theirs. Everyday people trash half used water bottles because they do not remember which water bottle belongs to them. There are about 900 billion water bottles produced annually. If even one ounce of water could be saved from one person of these bottles, it would save about 266 million liters of wasted drinking water. Furthermore, people pick up the wrong water bottle and spread germs. If there exists a system and method to assist users to identify their respective water bottles, such system and method would help reduce plastic and water waste, as well as reducing the potential spread of germs.

In general, the inventive system and method includes a sticker that could be attached or adhered to a drink or a liquid container (such as a water bottle, a cup of tea or coffee, etc.). In one embodiment, the sticker could be waterproof. Furthermore, each sticker could include a unique artistic symbol or a graphic icon. Once a person or user attaches or adheres the sticker to his or her drink, a water bottle, or a liquid container, a person or user could use the unique artistic symbol or graphic icon on the sticker to identify his or her drink, water bottle, or liquid container.

FIGS.1A and1Billustrate exemplary stickers with unique artistic symbols or graphic cons according to one embodiment. As shown inFIGS.1A and1B, each sticker includes a different and unique artistic or graphic representation of an animal. In practice, the sticker may include any unique artistic symbols or any graphic icons. The unique artistic symbols or graphic icons could be provided by a provider, or could be designed and made by the users.

FIGS.2A-2Dillustrate alternative exemplary embodiments where the stickers105shown inFIGS.1A and1Bare affixed to different “Tag it” labels (shown as element110onFIGS.2A-2D). The “Tag it” label could generally be used as an identifying label that helps a person or user to identify his or her liquid container, cup, or water bottle. In one embodiment, the “Tag it” labels could be adhesive labels. As shown inFIGS.2A-2D, the “Tag it” label110could come in different sizes and shapes. In particular, the “Tag it” label110shown inFIG.2Ais a bottle tag. The “Tag it” labels110shown inFIGS.2B,2C, and2Dare round beverage tags, square beverage tags, and tall beverage tags respectively. Each “Tag it” label110shown inFIGS.2A-2Dcould be affixed with a different sticker105with a different and unique artistic symbol or graphic icon.

FIG.3shows a “Tag it” label110with an affixed sticker105attached to a water bottle205according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG.3, the “Tag it” label110is attached to the water bottle label210. In one embodiment, the “Tag it” label110and/or the artistic symbol or graphic icon105on the “Tag it” label110could be printed directly on the water bottle label210.

As discussed above, once a person or user405attaches or adheres the “Tag it” label110to his or her water bottle205(or to a drink or a liquid container), the person or user405could use the unique artistic symbol or graphic icon on the sticker to identify his or her water bottle205(or his or her drink or liquid container), as illustrated inFIGS.4A and4B. More specifically,FIG.4Aillustrates a scenario where a user405is confused and does not know which water bottle205on a table belongs to her as the water bottles are untagged and unidentifiable. In contrast,FIG.4Billustrates a scenario where water bottles on the table are tagged with “Tag it” labels with different affixed stickers. As shown inFIG.4B, the unique artistic symbol or graphic icon on the affixed sticker enables the user to identify which water bottle205is hers.

FIG.5illustrates a ledger500that could be used to keep track of the one-to-one mapping of the stickers and the users according to one exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG.5, the ledger includes a “TAG IT” column505on the left and the “USER NAME” column510on the right. Unique stickers with unique artistic symbols or graphic icons could be added to the left or “TAG IT” column505. Each sticker could then be mapped to a corresponding user, whose name could be entered in the right or “USER NAME” column510. The ledger could then be used to keep track of the one-to-one mapping of “Tag it” labels105to users.

FIGS.6A and6Billustrate alternative exemplary embodiments where the artistic symbol or graphic icon610is printed directly on the “Tag it” label605. Each “Tag it” label605shown inFIGS.6A and6Bcould have a different and unique artistic symbol or graphic icon.610.FIG.7shows a “Tag it” label605with an artistic symbol or graphic icon610attached to a water bottle205according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG.7, the “Tag it” label605is attached to the water bottle label210. In one embodiment, the “Tag it” label605and/or the artistic symbol or graphic icon610could be printed directly on the water bottle label210.

As discussed above, once a person or user attaches or adheres the “Tag it” label to his or her water bottle205(or to a drink or a liquid container), the person or user could use the unique artistic symbol or graphic icon on the sticker to identify his or her water bottle (or his or her drink or liquid container).

FIG.8illustrates a ledger800used with the “Tag it” labels605to keep track of the one-to-one mapping of the labels and the users according to one exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG.8, the ledger includes a “TAG IT” column805on the left and the “USER NAME” column810on the right. “Tag it” labels605with different artistic symbols or graphic icons could be added to the left or “TAG IT” column805. Each sticker could then be mapped to a corresponding user, whose name could be entered in the right or “USER NAME” column810. The ledger could then be used to keep track of the one-to-one mapping of “Tag it” labels605to users.