Abstract:
A deformable shape retaining sheet of material is provided that can be formed around another object, such as a drinking vessel. The sheet has an absorbent layer, a shape retaining layer, and a decorative layer. The absorbent layer contacts the other object and absorbs any liquid that forms or leaks from the vessel. The shape retaining layer maintains the shape of the material to prevent it from falling away and also prevents any liquid that is present in the absorbent layer from moving to the decorative layer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This present disclosure relates to devices for absorbing moisture from a drinking vessel, especially condensation that commonly forms on a cold drink on a humid day. Condensation can accumulate on the cold outer surface of glass where it can run down onto the surface the glass is sitting. This can cause damage to many surfaces, stain clothing, and at the very least, leave a wet area or mark. Coasters and other drink insulators exist for both hot and cold drinks, but they either require a resilient portion to grip the vessel, or are a standalone coaster that does not travel with the drink, leaving the user to sit the glass down elsewhere, and without a coaster. Other drink covers do nothing to manage and contain condensation as it forms. Further, drink covers and coasters are ill adapted to be used with a variety of vessels, as they frequently fail to absorb any condensation that forms. An improved drink cover is needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure describes a formable drink cover having a flexible absorbent layer, a formable layer that holds its formed shape, and an optional decorative layer. The three layers are bonded together, with the formable layer located and sandwiched between the absorbent and decorative layer. The cover is applied by the user molding the cover around the outside shape of the drinking vessel, where it retains the molded shape. This puts the absorbent layer in direct contact with the outside surface of the vessel. The formable layer is impermeable, so that even a fully saturated absorbent layer does not result in any moisture on the decorative layer. The absorbent layer may be adapted to be decorative and insulative; the decorative and insulative layer may be adapted to be absorbent, allowing the drink cover to be reversible. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    A preferred embodiment of this invention has been chosen wherein: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is the material as installed on a drinking cup; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the material; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric view showing the layers of the material; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the material; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  a side view of the material having an adhesive sheet; 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is the material as installed on a drinking vessel having a stem; 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the material as adapted for use with the drinking vessel in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is an alternate embodiment of the material as installed on a drinking cup; 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the alternate embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is an exploded isometric view of the alternate embodiment; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of the alternate embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    The material  10  as shown in  FIG. 1  is installed on a drinking cup  12 . The cup  12  has an outer surface  14  and contains a liquid  16 . The cup  12  and outer surface  14  can be colder than the environment, forming condensation  18 . As condensation  18  accumulates, it can then run down the outer surface  14 , toward the resting surface  20 . The material  10  forms an absorbent barrier between the outer surface  14  and the resting surface  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the material  10  is comprised of layers. Each layer serves a specific purpose. 
         [0016]    As is shown in  FIG. 3 , the absorbent layer  22  is made from a sheet of absorbent material with an exposed absorbing side  24  and an inner attaching side  26 . The absorbent layer  22  is porous and capable of absorbing and retaining moisture. It is flexible and can be formed into various shapes. When water or other liquids contact the absorbent layer  22 , it wicks the liquid into the layer. The material can be formed from a randomly oriented pulp, woven fabric, or other material that will readily absorb liquid. The distance between the absorbing side  24  and attaching side  26  define the thickness of the absorbent layer  22 . As is known in the art, a thicker absorbent layer will hold more moisture. The absorbent layer  22  can also contain additives or fillers that are specifically designed to absorb and retain moisture. The absorbing side  24  will readily receive any liquid, pulling it into the thickness of the absorbent layer  22 . The absorbent layer  22  is contemplated to be a single layer or be made from several individual layers of absorbent material. 
         [0017]    The decorative layer  40  is made from a sheet of material having insulative properties. It has an inside surface  42  and an exposed decorative surface  44 . The decorative layer can have printing, embossing, or include other designs to add a specific look to the material  10 . As with the absorbent layer  22 , the decorative layer  40  is flexible and can be formed into various shapes. The decorative layer  40  has a thickness defined by the distance between the inside surface  42  and the decorative surface  44 . The decorative layer  40  may be made from a single layer or be made from several individual layers of decorative and/or insulative materials. 
         [0018]    The shape retaining layer  30  is made from a sheet of material with formable properties. The shape retaining layer  30  may start out as a flat sheet, but once it is formed into a different shape, it retains most, if not all, of the formed shape. The shape retaining layer  30  has a first side  32  and a second side  34 . The shape retaining layer  30 , specifically the first side  32  overlays the attaching side  26 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the first side  32  is adhered to and directly contacts attaching side  26 . The second side  34  is adhered to and directly contacts the inside surface  42 . The distance between the first side  32  and second side  34  define the thickness of the shape retaining layer  30 . The shape retaining layer is also made from a material that is impervious to fluid transfer from the first side  32  to the second side  34 . It is further contemplated that the shape retaining layer  30  allows a small portion of fluid to transfer from the first side  32  to the second side. Examples of shape retaining material include but are not limited to metallic foil, polymers, formable mesh, and various combinations of those materials. It is also possible that the shape retaining layer  30  allows fluid transfer but has an additional layer in direct contact that is impervious or substantially impervious to fluid transfer through the shape retaining layer  30  and additional layer. 
         [0019]    The material  10  can be formed and adapted to work with a variety of drinking vessels. As is shown in  FIG. 6 , a wine glass  36  having a stem  38  requires a different shape. For the wine glass  36 , the stem  38  creates a technical challenge that is overcome by adding a hole  48  in the center with a slit  50  that extends between the hole  48  to an outside perimeter  52 . As is shown in  FIG. 7 , the decorative layer  40  can further include apertures  46  that reveal portions of the second side  34  of the shape retaining layer  30 . 
         [0020]    The three layers  22 ,  30 ,  40  overlay each other as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , with the absorbent layer  22  on one side, the shape retaining layer  30  directly overlaying it, and the decorative layer  40  overlaying the shape retaining layer  30 . The three layers are affixed on their respective overlaying surfaces, either through adhesive  28  or mechanical interlocking. Mechanical interlocking can be through stippling, similar to the method that is frequently used with existing multi-layer absorbent materials. Mechanical interlocking is well known in the art. 
         [0021]    When the layers are secured with adhesive  28 , the adhesive  28  is located between adjacent layers. The adhesive  28  can be applied in sheet form, sprayed, rolled, or other means. In  FIG. 5 , the adhesive  28  is shown as a sheet located between the shape retaining layer  30  and the absorbent layer  22  and the decorative layer  40 . The adhesive  28  maintains the bond of the shape retaining layer  30  and the layer that directly contacts it. As the shape retaining layer  30  is deformed, the adhesive  28  keeps the contacting layer from separating away from the shape retaining layer  30 . When the adhesive is located between the first side  32  and the attaching side  26  of the absorbent layer  22 , it can penetrate through the attaching side  26  and into the absorbent layer  22 , but it cannot significantly degrade the absorbent qualities of the absorbent layer  22 . When the adhesive  28  is located between the second side  34  and the inside surface  42  of the decorative layer  40 , it can penetrate partially into the decorative layer  40 , but it cannot significantly degrade the insulative properties of the decorative layer  40 . As described, the adhesive is a continuous layer but it is contemplated that the adhesive is selectively applied to attach adjacent layers. If mechanical interlocking is used to adheredly secure the layers, the shape retaining layer  30  retains its ability to be fluid impervious. 
         [0022]    An alternative embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 8-11  is a reversible material  60 . The reversible material  60  has the same layers as the first embodiment, but includes an extra layer on each side of the shape retaining layer  66 . There is an upper decorative layer  62 , an upper absorbent layer  64 , a shape retaining layer  66 , a lower absorbent layer  68 , and a lower decorative layer  70 . 
         [0023]    The upper decorative layer  62  has an upper surface  72  and a lower surface  74 . The upper surface  72  can be decorative with a printed pattern or a coating. The upper decorative layer is fluid transmissive. The shape retaining layer  66  has the same shape retaining and impervious properties as shape retaining layer  30 . 
         [0024]    Further it is contemplated that an activating adhesive is applied to the exposed decorative surface  44 , the upper surface  72 , or the outer surface of the lower decorative layer  70 . When the material  10  or reversible material  60  is folded around a cup  12 , portions of the material will overlap and be folded over. In the event the cup  12  is tapered as is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , it is possible for the material to fall away from the cup  12 . The adhesive allows the material  10  or reversible material  60  to stick to itself in any areas where the material would overlap itself. 
         [0025]    To make the material  10  as shown in  FIGS. 4, 7, and 11 , the layers are attached and then typically rolled for storage or transportation. Later in the process, the layers are then stamped into the final flat shape and packed for transportation to the final user. 
         [0026]    It is understood that while certain aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been shown and described, the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects. No specific limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Modifications may be made to the disclosed subject matter as set forth in the following claims.