Sea salt cup with an inner lining

A sea salt cup, made from a single block of unrefined sea salt, having an inner lining to significantly minimize or prevent the intermixing of the salt with any liquid or food item contained therein, and also having a salty lip for enhancing the flavor of the liquid or food item contained therein. The sea salt cup comprises a uniform exterior portion, a uniform hollow interior receptacle, a flat bottom, a flat rim, and an inner lining. The inner lining is made of plastic or other durable material and serves as a barrier between the salt and any liquid or food item contained in the sea salt cup.

This invention has been created without the sponsorship or funding of any federally sponsored research or development program.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sea salt cup, made entirely of unrefined sea salt, having an inner lining to prevent or minimize the intermixing of the salt with any liquid or food contained therein while enhancing the flavor of its contents.

BACKGROUND

Prior art in this area is focused on a sea salt shot glass which imitates the traditional shot glass that is common place in bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops worldwide and is usually made from glass or like material and used for the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Shot glasses vary in sizes, shapes, and decorative patterns, but the one universal constant is that they are comprised mainly of glass or similar solid stable and transparent materials. In the field of this invention, there are shot glasses made of metals such as copper, plastics, ice or other materials including salt. However, this invention is not limited to being a receptacle for merely alcoholic beverage, but encompasses the gamut of food items and/or items suitable for consumption.

It is well known that salt is used as a flavoring agent for food as well as drinks, including alcoholic beverages such as tequila, margaritas, bloody mary, vodka, beer, or even bourbon. Although salt is used to enhance the taste of these beverages, it may also serve as a decorative feature of a shot glass or drink glass (e.g. around the rim of a margarita glass). Generally, the salt used in bars and restaurants is iodized salt or refined table salt. However, there has been a trend towards using unrefined salt, namely sea salt, which adds a richer flavor to food and beverages. The origin of unrefined or natural sea salt plays a role in its richness and flavor. Natural sea salt has its trace minerals left intact giving a richer, more complex flavor than table salt and there are no additives. The texture of natural sea salt varies from region to region, harvester to harvester and is surprisingly different around the world. It can be a thin crisp flake, a coarse chunk, or a tiny pearl. The color can be white or grey or pink. Some salt is completely dry while some is left moist. There are many styles of natural sea salt to choose from which opens up a world of experimentation.

There has been experimentation with the salt shot glass, comprised completely from salt and allows for the pouring of liquid into a salt lined receptacle. However, these variations on the salt shot glass require immediate consumption of any liquid poured into it due to the rapid erosion of the salt, the mixing of the salt and liquid in proportions which corrupts the flavor of the liquid, and if left for too long the leaking of liquid from the salt shot glass. In order to maintain the integrity and stability of the salt shot glass, the origin and composition of the salt must be such that it is resistant to erosion at room or normal indoor temperatures, as well as being hard enough to withstand breaking and crumbling when packaged and shipped. In addition, these sea salt shot glasses are not suitable for the consumption of solid or semi-solid food items such as chilled soups or stews or ceviche style dishes. A more suitable design is for a cup or similar receptacle made entirely of salt which overcomes the limitations of the traditional shot glass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention serves to improve upon existing salt shot glasses and address the above mentioned problems.

The present invention is a salt cup or receptacle made from unrefined sea salt mined in the mountains of Pakistan and carved from a single block of sea salt. This feature addresses the issue of the stability of the sea salt shot glass and its resistance to crumbling and rapid erosion under normal temperature and shipping conditions. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the interior of the sea salt cup has an inner lining which serves as a barrier between the liquid, solid or semi-solid food item and the hollow interior of the sea salt cup, without diminishing the flavoring of the liquid, solid, or semi solid food item. The preferred embodiment of this invention comprises the combination of the sea salt cup or receptacle; and the inner lining made of plastic or other durable material not susceptible to erosion by food items, including alcoholic beverages. The inner lining prevents or significantly minimizes the mixing of the food item with the salt, effectively preserving the enhanced flavor of the food item when sipped or tasted. The inner lining is fashioned to meet the size and dimensions of the salt cup for easy, snug, and seamless insertion and fit. The inner lining of the sea salt cup has a lip or slight overhanging lip and is fashioned to fit flush against the hollow interior of the sea salt cup. There is a 0.5 mm or greater distance between the rim of the sea salt cup and the inner lining, essentially creating a salty lip. This portion of the sea salt cup comes in contact with the lips of the user and provides an added salty flavor to the contents of the salt cup. Upon sipping or tasting the liquid or food inside the sea salt cup, the drinker's mouth first comes into contact with the salty lip of the sea salt cup followed immediately by the liquid or other food item, and thus he is able to experience the flavor of the salt mixed with the liquid or other food item.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the inner lining of the sea salt cup may be removable, providing a user with the option to insert or remove the inner lining depending on the desired level of salty flavoring. For example, a user who is taking a shot of alcohol may opt to remove the inner lining. Whereas another user may choose not to remove the inner lining in order to enjoy lesser salty flavor with a chilled soup, such as gazpacho. In this embodiment of the invention, the salty lip is retained and may serve as the maximum point for filling liquid or other food time, as well as the source of salty flavor before, during and/or after consuming a particular food item

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. One skilled in the art to which this invention belongs will recognize, however, that the techniques described can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring certain aspects.

FIG. 1Ais a perspective view of the present invention; a sea salt cup5formed from a single block of unrefined sea salt, comprising an outer sea salt portion10, an inner lining35for holding various food items, and a salty lip30. The inner lining has a lip25which is positioned flushed against the hollow salt interior15of the sea salt cup (seeFIG. 2A). The salty lip30as represented inFIG. 1Abegins at the rim20of the sea salt cup5extending about 0.5 mm into the hollow interior portion15of the sea salt cup, and ending at the lip25of the inner lining35. AlthoughFIG. 1Aillustrates the salty lip30with a height of 0.5 mm, this is not intended to be limiting as the height of the salty lip30may vary in proportion to the size, dimension, and shape of the sea salt cup5.FIG. 1Bis top perspective view of the invention, showing the rim of the sea salt cup20, the salty lip30, the inner lining35, and the lip of the inner lining25.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2Care cross sectional views of the sea salt cup5, more clearly illustrating its hollow interior15, its rim20, and its salty lip30, as well as its inner lining35which has a lip or slight overhang25. In one embodiment of the invention as shown inFIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2C, the sea salt cup5has a fixed inner lining35comprised of plastic or other durable material not susceptible to erosion or degradation when filled with liquids such as alcoholic beverages or other food items such as soups or stews. The fixed inner lining35is fashioned to fit snugly and seamlessly inside the hollow interior of the sea salt cup15and may vary in height depending on the dimension of the sea salt cup and the desired height of the salty lip30. The positioning and seamless fit of the inner lining35creates a barrier between any liquid or food item poured into the sea salt cup5and the salt, preventing the salt from drastically altering or overpowering the taste and consistency of the food item. This barrier serves to prevent or significantly minimize the intermixing of the salt and liquid or food item while the salty lip30serves to enhance the flavor of the liquid or food item as it is being tasted a user. Upon sipping or tasting the food item contained inside of the sea salt cup5, the user's mouth first comes into contact with salty lip30, followed immediately by the liquid or food item, and thus the user is able to experience the flavor of the salt mixed with the liquid or food item. A drinker may choose to use the salty lip30before, during, and/or after drinking the liquid or eating the food contents of the sea salt cup5.FIG. 3is a top view of the invention5with the fixed inner lining35.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein the inner lining35is removable andFIG. 5is a top perspective view of same. The removable inner lining35may be made of plastic or other durable material not susceptible to erosion or degradation by the addition of liquids, in particular alcoholic beverages. The removable inner lining35has a lip or slight overhang25and is fashioned to snugly and seamlessly fit the dimensions of the sea salt cup5, having a height that varies depending on the dimensions of the sea salt cup5and/or the desired height of the salty lip30. The ability to insert or remove the inner lining35provides a user with options and flexibility in experiencing and enjoying a salt flavored drink or food item. For example, a drinker of a margarita styled shot may desire more salt for heightened flavor and choose to use the sea salt cup without the inner lining35, placing the liquid directly inside of the interior salt receptacle15(as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5). Whereas another drinker may desire to have one quick shot of tequila without the inner lining35(as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5), then follow up with a second shot desiring less salt flavor whereby choosing to insert the inner lining35and utilize the salty lip30before, during, or after the second shot.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6Care cross sectional front views of the invention, illustrating the basic outer dimensions of the sea salt cup5.FIG. 6Ashows a cross section of the interior salt receptacle15;FIG. 6Bshows a cross sectional front view of the inner lining35which has a lip25; andFIG. 6Cshows a cross sectional front view of the inner lining35inserted into the sea salt cup5, illustrating the positioning of the inner lining35in relation to the rim20of the sea salt cup5.FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6Care not meant to be limiting as the embodiments of the sea salt cup5and its components described herein may vary in size, dimension, shape and ornamentation.FIG. 7is a front view of the sea salt cup5andFIG. 8is a front view of the inner lining35with a lip25. The exterior10of the sea salt cup5described herein may have a polished finish or retain its original coarseness; it may be engraved, painted, tattooed or otherwise decorated to change its ornamentation and natural coloring. The unrefined sea salt used to form a cup or receptacle may originate from various regions, including but not limited to the mountains of Pakistan or the nearby Himalayan regions.

The lip or slight overhang25of the inner lining35as shown inFIG. 8is pronounced in appearance for illustrative purposes. However, the lip or slight overhang25of the inner lining35is about 0.01 mm or less and is positioned flushed against the interior of the uniformly sized interior15of the sea salt cup5. By its positioning, the lip25of the inner lining35creates a barrier between any liquid or food item contained inside the sea salt cup5and the salty lip30. The size of the lip15of the inner lining35may vary depending on the dimensions of the sea salt cup5.

As various changes may be made in the above-described subject matter without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention, it is intended that all subject matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, will be interpreted as descriptive and illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

EQUIVALENTS