Abstract:
The base of glassware is hand painted with chalkboard paint. The purpose of the chalkboard painted glass is for the person using the glass to be able to identify her or his glass, or its contents. After being hand painted, the glass is heat cured in an oven for durability. The user can then use chalk to label the base of the glass. The chalk erases from the base with a damp cloth or sponge. The glasses are dishwasher safe.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a chalkboard painted glassware production process, a product made thereby, and a method of using the product. 
         [0002]    More particularly, the present invention relates to the process, product, and method mentioned hereinabove to enable the user of the glass to identify the glass and/or its contents. 
         [0003]    It is a desideratum of the present invention is to avoid the animadversion, disadvantages and deficiencies of conventional glassware and techniques, and to provide novel glassware and processes of making and using same. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a chalkboard painted glassware production process, comprising the steps of: washing the glassware to be painted; rinsing the washed glassware; placing the rinsed glassware upside down to dry; transporting the dried glassware to an area for hand painting; wiping the base of said glassware with a soft cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol; hand painting the base of the dried glassware with a first coat of chalkboard paint; placing the painted glassware upside down; air drying said painted glassware at room temperature for a first predetermined period of time; hand painting said base of said painted glassware with a second coat of the chalkboard paint; placing the painted glassware upside down; air drying said painted glassware at room temperature for a second predetermined period of time; placing said painted glassware upside down in an oven; heat curing said painted glassware in said oven at a predetermined temperature for a third predetermined period of time; turning off said oven; allowing said glassware to remain in said oven until said glassware to cool down to room temperature; removing said glassware from said oven; and cleaning said glassware to remove any fingerprints and/or debris. 
         [0005]    The present invention also provides a product produced by the process described hereinabove. 
         [0006]    The present invention also provides a method of using the product produced by the process described hereinabove, comprising the step of writing or drawing with chalk on the painted area on the glassware. 
         [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide glasses of all shapes and sizes, such as, for example, wine glasses and martini glasses, which are hand painted with chalkboard paint at least on the base of the glass. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a glass which enables: the user thereof to identify her or his glass; a host to place messages/designs on each glass; the user to identify and differentiate beverages. 
         [0009]    Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology and to other persons after having been exposed to the present patent application. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates an unpainted wine glass. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  depicts the  FIG. 1  wine glass being hand painted with chalkboard paint. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows the  FIG. 1  wine glass whose base and bottom ¼ stem portion have been hand painted with chalkboard paint. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates the  FIG. 3  wine glass resting on a cookie sheet in a heat curing oven. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the final wine glass with a name, word(s), and or design(s) chalked on its chalkboard painted base. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows the  FIG. 5  wine glass with a sponge for wiping off the name. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates a martini glass in a view similar to  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  shows the  FIG. 7  martini glass in a view similar to  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    With reference to the drawings, there is illustrated a chalkboard painted glassware production process and method of using same in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0019]    The glassware  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is washed by submersing it in a sink filled with hot water and dish soap. 
         [0020]    After submersion the glassware  10  is washed by hand with a soft cloth. 
         [0021]    The glassware  10  is then rinsed off with hot water, and placed on a towel upside down to air dry. 
         [0022]    After the glassware  10  has dried, it is then placed back into its respective case for transport to the area for which it is to be hand painted. 
         [0023]    Prior to the painting process, a soft cloth is saturated in rubbing alcohol and used to wipe the base  11  of the glassware  10  to which the paint  12  will be applied. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the paint brush  13  used has soft bristles  14  that are approximately ¾″ in length and are positioned at approximately a 45 degree angle. 
         [0025]    Preferably, but not necessarily, the paint  12  used is Porcelaine 150 Chalkboard Black Paint manufactured by Pebeo. 
         [0026]    The prepared glassware  10  is held in one hand while the other hand holds the paint brush  13  and dips the brush into the abovementioned chalkboard paint  12  just enough to submerge ¼ of the bristles  14  into the container holding the supply of paint. 
         [0027]    The brush  13  is then dragged across the lip of the paint container to remove excess paint. 
         [0028]    The paint  12  is then applied to the glassware  10  using smooth strokes and taking care not to create any running of the paint  12 . 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the bottom ¼ portion of the stem  15  of the glassware  10  and the base  11  of the glassware  10  are covered with a thin coat of paint  12 . 
         [0030]    The glassware  10  is then placed upside down and allowed to air dry at room temperature for 24 hours. 
         [0031]    After the 24-hour drying time, a second coat of paint  12  is applied to the glassware  10  in the same manner as the first coat of paint  12 . 
         [0032]    The glassware  10  is then again placed upside down and allowed to air dry at room temperature for 24 hours. 
         [0033]    Once the glassware  10  has been dried for 24 hours for the second time, it is now ready to be heat cured. 
         [0034]    Two separate standard kitchen ovens  16  (only one of which is illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) are used for the heat curing process. 
         [0035]    While the ovens  16  are off, flat cooking sheets  17  are placed on top of the oven grates  20 . 
         [0036]    Approximately forty-eight of the hand painted glasses  10  are then inverted and placed on the cooking sheets  17  in the ovens  16 . 
         [0037]    A cooking thermometer is placed in the ovens  16  for close monitoring of the temperatures. 
         [0038]    The oven doors are closed, the ovens  16  are then turned on, and the temperature dials are set at approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit. 
         [0039]    Once the oven temperatures reaches approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit, a timer is set for 35 minutes. 
         [0040]    When the timer alerts that the 35 minutes has passed, the ovens  16  are turned off and the glassware  10  is left in the ovens  16  until they cool down to room temperature. 
         [0041]    After the glassware  10  has cooled down to room temperature, they are removed from the ovens  16  and cleaned with glass cleaner to remove any fingerprints or debris they may have acquired during the production process. 
         [0042]    The painted glassware  10  is now completed and ready for use. 
         [0043]    To use the chalkboard hand painted glassware, the individual in possession of the glassware may take a piece of standard white chalk or colored chalk and write or draw whatever she or he may choose on the painted area  17  of the glass  10 . 
         [0044]    This is illustrated by the word “NAME”  18  in  FIG. 5  to indicate the name of the individual. 
         [0045]    This aids the individual in identifying her or his glass, and/or its contents. 
         [0046]    Alternatively, perhaps someone is hosting a party and the host chooses to write messages to the guests on the glassware  10 . 
         [0047]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , cloth or sponge  19  dampened with water may be used to remove the chalk from the glassware if the user chooses to write or draw something else on her or his glassware  10 . 
         [0048]    The glassware  10  may be rated dishwasher safe. However hand washing is recommended due to the fragile nature of the glassware  10 . 
         [0049]    Both of the ovens  16  used for the manufacturing process are General Electric. The model number for the first one is JBP24G002WH serial number RG208142G. The model number for the second oven is JBS25001HA serial number HA170806G. 
         [0050]    The brushes used are Loew-Cornell soft comfort TM/MC Ang Shader U.S. Pat. No. D458,761. 
         [0051]    The present invention relates to a broad range of glassware, only some of which are mentioned hereinbelow. 
         [0052]    Some colored wine glasses are 18.5 ounces and manufactured by Famous-Maker. 
         [0053]    Some large clear wine glasses are 20 ounces, and smaller clear wine glasses are 10 ounces. 
         [0054]    The present invention also applies to other types of glassware, such as, for example, 12-ounce green and blue martini glasses  21  manufactured by Famous-Maker. In this connection, attention is directed to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         [0055]    Although brush painting has been described hereinabove and is the preferred method of applying the chalkboard paint, the present invention also covers chalkboard paint applied by spray painting. 
         [0056]    There have been described hereinabove and illustrated in the accompanying patent drawings, only some of the many possible embodiments of the present invention which can be practiced in many different ways. 
         [0057]    Many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications will become apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology and to others after having been exposed to the present patent application. 
         [0058]    Any and all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are therefore covered by and embraced within the patent claims set forth hereinbelow.