Abstract:
A device for illuminating a beverage container, the beverage container having a substantially transparent side wall, a base and an indent configured within the base. The device includes a light source and, a power supply for activating the light source, the device sized to reside within the indent or upon a support surface to which the base is applied. The device causes the indent to be illuminated to such an extent that the illumination is visible through the substantially transparent side wall of the beverage container.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention involves a device for illuminating a substantially transparent beverage container, such as a wine bottle for a variety of purposes. These include the ability to transform such containers to fanciful displays as well as for the functionally of being able to differentiate beverage containers in low light commercial settings. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Both domestically and commercially, one can often times find beverage containers either displayed singly or in rows and columns. Many of such containers are configured from either clear or substantially translucent glass or plastic having a base which includes an indent. Certainly virtually all 750 ml wine bottles are configured from clear, transparent or semi-transparent glass, or plastic having such an indent. It has been recognized that there would be certain distinct advantages in providing a device to selectively illuminate such containers for a variety of reasons. 
         [0003]    Domestically, it is quite common to display wine bottles and other beverage containers at a bar or on a counter. Such containers house beverages oftentimes of different colors and transparencies. By incorporating the present invention, one is able to transform such containers into fanciful displays with little or no effort. 
         [0004]    Commercially, bars and similar high volume dispensing stations oftentimes operate in low light conditions requiring a worker to be able to grab and dispense a beverage quickly and efficiently. By selectively illuminating such containers, the ability to identify them selectively is greatly enhanced. Further, the ability to illuminate such containers to again create fanciful displays provides obvious commercial appeal. 
         [0005]    It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a device enabling one to convert common beverage containers to create fanciful displays selectively and at low cost. 
         [0006]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to enable one to clearly differentiate beverage containers by selectively illuminating them or by providing certain characteristic light sources to assist a vendor, particularly in an industrial or commercial operation. 
         [0007]    These and further objects will be more readily apparent in considering the following disclosure and appended claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A device for illuminating a beverage container, the beverage container having a substantially transparent side wall, a base and an indent configured within the base. The device includes a light source and, a power supply for activating the light source, the device sized to reside within the indent or upon a support surface to which the base is applied. The device causes the indent to be illuminated to such an extent that the illumination is visible through the substantially transparent side wall of the beverage container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the illumination device of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are cross sectional views taken along  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  as alternative embodiments to the illumination device of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of yet a further embodiment of the illumination device of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side plan view of a typical beverage container display embodying the illumination device of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a further embodiment of this invention implanted in an indent of a beverage container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Turning first to  FIG. 1 , device  10  is shown for illuminating a beverage container, such as that depicted in  FIG. 4 . Typically, such beverage containers include a base  49 / 59  and indent  42 / 51  configured within base  49 / 59 . 
         [0016]    Turning again to  FIG. 1 , in a first embodiment, the present device comprises light source  12 , most preferably an LED and power supply  24 / 27  ( FIGS. 2A and 2B ). In this first embodiment, base  14 / 21  is provided with depressed region  11 / 22  to which typical beverage container  40 / 45  can nest positioning light source  12 / 23  within indented portion  42 / 51  so that light emanating from this light source will pass within beverage container  40 / 45  and be visible to an observer by virtue of the beverage container having substantially transparent side walls  41 / 48 . It should be noted that the present invention can be employed with any beverage container as long as light emitted by light source  12 / 23  can be made visible to an observer. For example, “transparent” side walls are intended to embrace an aluminum can having a cut out portion in its side walls and having a plastic liner to contain the beverage. 
         [0017]    In turning to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , it is noted that light source  23  can be powered by stand alone battery  24 , ideally in the form of a “button” cell. Alternatively, power source  27  can be rechargeable by virtue of the use of AC power cord  28  or can be bypassed by providing suitable AC current directly to light source  23  or circuit board  25 . These various iterations of the present invention are certainly well known to those of ordinary skill in the portable lighting art. 
         [0018]    It is contemplated that light source  23  can remain dormant by blocking current from power source  24  while in storage or on sale by providing a simple insulating barrier or membrane as is common in the portable lighting industry. Once the membrane is removed, power is established to light source  23  from battery  24  so that light source  23  will remain illuminated until battery  24  is dissipated. Alternatively, base  21  can be provided with circuit board  25  having switch  26  provided thereon. Switch  26  can be a simple “on/off” switch to extend the battery life of the present device. In addition, switch  26  can be a three position switch having both “on/off” as well as “flashing” functions. As such, different illumination devices can be made to stay constantly “on” or “flash” to accomplish the goals of the present invention. 
         [0019]    It is fully noted that LED  12  and LED  23  as well as LEDs  44  and  53  can illuminate light of the same or singular frequency or can be made to emit light of different frequencies in order to enhance the fanciful displays created thereby as well as to enable one to differentiate beverage containers in both domestic and commercial settings. 
         [0020]    In addition to providing platforms  14 / 21 / 43 / 47 , each configured to house said light source and power supply to support beverage containers  40 / 45  therein, an alternative embodiment are contemplated such as that shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0021]    In turning to  FIG. 3 , it is noted that device  30  can take the form of a thin film  31  having a thin film LED  32  and thin film battery  33  contained thereon. By providing adhesive strips  34 , device  30  can be pressed within indents  42 / 51  to reside entirely therein. Thus, when employing the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , even when beverage containers  40 / 45  are removed from shelf  50 , light emitted from light source  32  remains with the container so that illumination of it is not interrupted. 
         [0022]    From the above description, the benefits in practicing the present invention should become quite apparent. In a domestic setting, one wishing to add a festive appearance to one&#39;s bar area can align one or more beverage containers, such as wine bottles on a shelf and by employing the illumination device suggested herein, illuminate the containers at will. The containers can be illuminated constantly or, can display an intermittent or “flashed” source at the discretion of a user. In a dimly lit bar area, a bartender can employ the present invention to enable he or she to grab from a plurality of beverage containers to enable the correct container to fill an order simply by associating the appropriate container with a distinguishing light source. Bars can also employ the present invention for creating fanciful displays as many bars align a plurality of such containers in front of mirrored back drops which would represent an ideal setting for employing this invention. 
         [0023]    As a further iteration, reference is made to  FIG. 5 . In this instance, device  60  is shown as a stand alone base  61  having battery  62  and LED  63  embedded therein. Device  60  can simply be placed within the indent to a beverage container or adhesive dot  64  can cause device  60  to adhere to the underside of the indent to remain with the beverage container whether the beverage container remains upon a shelf or is removed from it. In other words, device  60  is not intended to act as a support for the beverage container but is intended to reside beneath it completely within the indented portion of the base of the beverage container. 
         [0024]    In turning to  FIG. 6 , yet a further embodiment of this invention is depicted. In this instance, beverage container  70  is shown within indent  75 . Device  71  is contained therein in the form of, for example, a device similar to that depicted in  FIG. 5 . In this instance, lens  72  is placed upon the LED causing light emanating therefrom to project in the direction of beams  73  for applying a focused beam to area  74  in the side wall of beverage container  70 . This creates a further fanciful display at the option of a user.