Patent Publication Number: US-9883758-B2

Title: Drinking vessel

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a drinking vessel for determining the amount of a liquid consumed by a user during the course of their daily activities. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As is well known in society, physicians and other health care providers recommend the consumption of a given amount of liquid, particularly water, on a daily basis. The most common recommendation for water consumption is approximately eight 8 ounce glasses per day, for a total of 64 ounces per day. The consumption of water within this recommended range is particularly important for persons engaged in weight loss or daily physical activity. 
     However, due to the myriad of activities and tasks a person is engaged in on a daily basis, keeping a record of the consumption of a liquid may be easily disregarded or even forgotten. As such, a recording procedure is usually necessary. To be successful, the ease of the recording procedure is paramount, such as not to needlessly increase the complexity of the activities a person must perform on a daily basis. In order to further this ease of use, the recording procedure should be incorporated or be made a feature of the drinking vessel such that the user can record consumptive uses with each refill of the drinking vessel. 
     The recording process must also not interfere with the sanitary use of the drinking vessel, and should also permit the user to easily clean the drinking vessel between each consumptive use or as desired by the user. 
     Finally, the recording process should engage the user in a manner which promotes the continued consumption of the liquid so as to maintain a healthy lifestyle as recommended by the health care community. 
     The present invention addresses a perceived and important need for many people, in that it provides a drinking vessel which includes an integrated system for tracking the consumption of a liquid such as water. In the present invention, the exterior facing surface of the drinking vessel is embossed or otherwise fabricated with a series of circumscribing grooves. Within each of these grooves resides a colored elastomeric band. As the user completely consumes the liquid within the drinking vessel, the elastomeric bands may be moved longitudinally along the exterior face of the drinking vessel in either an upward or downward direction, depending upon the desire of the user, to a collection area. Alternatively, the user can remove a single elastomeric band with each consumptive use and place the band around their wrist, for example, each time the liquid within the drinking vessel is consumed. Once all eight elastomeric bands have been moved to the collection area on the drinking vessel, or placed around the wrist of the user, the user can clean the drinking vessel and reset the individual elastomeric bands within the respective circumscribing grooves to ready the drinking vessel, yet again, for use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first aspect of the present invention relates to a drinking vessel which includes a first portion which has a base portion, and a vertically upwardly extending wall which is made integral with the base portion, and wherein the vertically upwardly extending vertical wall further defines an internal cavity and an upper peripheral edge, and wherein the first portion is further defined by an exterior facing surface which defines a multiplicity of continuous, circumscribing, longitudinally spaced grooves; and a multiplicity of continuous elastomeric members which are individually received in the respective spaced grooves. 
     Still another aspect of the present invention relates to a drinking vessel which includes a first portion having a base portion, and a vertically upwardly extending wall which is made integral with the base portion, and wherein the base portion and vertically upwardly extending wall define a first internal cavity, and wherein the vertically upwardly extending wall further defines an upper peripheral edge having a given cross-sectional dimension, and wherein the vertically upwardly extending wall of the first portion has an exterior facing surface which defines a multiplicity of continuous, circumscribing, longitudinally spaced grooves, and which are oriented between the base portion, and the upper peripheral edge of the vertically upwardly extending wall; a second portion of the drinking vessel which includes a base portion, and a vertically upwardly extending wall which is made integral with the base portion of the second portion, and wherein the base portion, and vertically upwardly extending wall of the second portion defines a second internal cavity for receiving and dispensing a fluid for consumption by a user, and wherein the second portion of the drinking vessel is telescopingly received within the first internal cavity as defined by the first portion of the drinking vessel; and a multiplicity of continuous elastomeric members which individually, matingly, and resiliently cooperate with the respective spaced grooves which are defined by the exterior facing surface of the first portion of the drinking vessel, and wherein the user of the drinking vessel forcibly moves the respective elastomeric members in a given direction along the exterior facing surface of the first portion of the drinking vessel. 
     Still another aspect of the present invention relates to a drinking vessel which includes a first portion of the drinking vessel which has a base portion, and a vertically upwardly extending wall which is made integral with the base portion, and wherein the base portion and vertically upwardly extending wall define a first internal cavity, and wherein the vertically upwardly extending wall further defines an upper peripheral edge having a given cross-sectional dimension, and which permits access to the first internal cavity, and wherein the first portion of the drinking vessel is further defined, at least in part, by a longitudinal axis, and wherein the vertically upwardly extending wall of the first portion has an exterior facing surface which defines a multiplicity of continuous, circumscribing, longitudinally spaced grooves, and which are oriented between the base portion, and the upper peripheral edge of the vertically upwardly extending wall; a second portion of the drinking vessel which includes a base portion, and a vertically upwardly extending wall which is made integral with the base portion of the second portion, and wherein the base portion, and vertically upwardly extending wall of the second portion defines a second internal cavity for receiving, and dispensing, a fluid for consumption by a user, and wherein the second portion of the drinking vessel is telescopingly received within the first internal cavity as defined by the first portion of the drinking vessel, and wherein the base portion of the second portion is located in spaced relation relative to the base portion of the first portion, and wherein the second portion of the drinking vessel is secured to the first portion of the drinking vessel at a location which is in spaced relation relative to the upper peripheral edge of the first portion of the drinking vessel; and a multiplicity of continuous elastomeric members which individually, matingly, and resiliently cooperate with the respective spaced grooves which are defined by the exterior facing surface of the first portion of the drinking vessel, and wherein the user of the drinking vessel forcibly moves the respective elastomeric members in a longitudinal direction along the exterior facing surface of the first portion of the drinking vessel as the user consumes the fluid contained in the second portion of the drinking vessel so that the user can readily determine the amount of the fluid which has been consumed. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of the drinking vessel of the present invention, and which is illustrated without the presence of individual moveable elastomeric members. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a multiplicity of elastomeric members which are used in combination with the drinking vessel as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the present invention shown with the multiplicity of elastomeric members positioned in spaced relation along a drinking vessel. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial, greatly enlarged, side elevation view of a portion of the drinking vessel of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial, longitudinal, transverse, vertical sectional view showing the relationship of the aforementioned elastomeric bands and the exterior surface of the drinking vessel. 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of a user&#39;s hand bearing the elastomeric members employed with the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial, side elevation view of the drinking vessel showing the elastomeric members positioned within a recessed region that is defined by the drinking vessel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science in useful arts” [Article 1, Section 8] 
     Referring now to the drawings, the drinking vessel of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral  10  in  FIG. 1  and following. As understood by a study of the drawings, the drinking vessel  10  includes a first portion  11 . The first portion  11  further includes a base portion  12 , which has an outside-facing surface  13 , an inside-facing surface  14 , and further is defined by a peripheral edge  15 . The base portion  12  is substantially concavely curved when viewed from the opposite end of the drinking vessel  10 , as will be described, below. 
     The first portion  11  of the drinking vessel  10  further includes a vertically, upwardly extending wall  20 , which is made integral with the base portion  12 , The vertically, upwardly extending wall  20  has an exterior-facing surface  21 , and an opposite interior-facing surface  22 . The interior-facing surface  22  defines an internal cavity  23 . The vertically, upwardly extending wall has an upper peripheral edge  24  ( FIG. 7 ), and which defines an aperture and which further permits access to the drinking vessel  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and following, a multiplicity of continuous, circumscribing and longitudinally spaced grooves or channels  25  are formed in the exterior-facing surface  21 , of the first portion  11 , and which are further longitudinally spaced along the longitudinal dimension of the drinking vessel  10 . As best seen by reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the multiplicity of continuous circumscribing and longitudinally spaced grooves  25  here are shown having a semi-hemispherical or concavely shaped profile, which are operable to matingly receive individual elastomeric members, which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. However, it will be recognized that other shaped profiles will work with an equal degree of success. Still further, the exterior-facing surface  21  defines a circumscribing recessed region  26 , which is formed in the exterior-facing surface  21 , and which is positioned in spaced relation relative to the upper peripheral edge  24  of the vertically, upwardly extending wall  20 . The recessed region  26  ( FIG. 7 ) is dimensioned so as to receive and accommodate the storage of a multiplicity of continuous elastic members, as will be described in greater detail below. This recessed region, in the alternative, may be located near the base portion  12 , Further, a recessed region may be located in each place. As can be seen by  FIG. 1 , the internal cavity  23  of the first portion has a variable internal cross-sectional dimension when this is measured from the upper peripheral edge  24 , and in the direction of the base portion  12 . Still further, and as seen in the drawings, it will be recognized that the vertically, upwardly extending wall  20  in the region of the upper peripheral edge  24 , inclines laterally, outwardly in a flaring manner so as to facilitate the dispensing of the liquid, which is contained within the drinking vessel  10 , as will be described below. The first portion  11  is further defined by a longitudinal axis  27 , and which is seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     The drinking vessel  10  includes a second portion  30 . The second portion  30  is defined, in part, by a base portion  32 . The base portion  32  has an outside facing surface  33 , and an opposite, inside-facing surface  34 . Still further, the base portion  32  has a peripheral edge  35 . As seen in the drawings, the second portion includes a vertically, upwardly extending wall  40 , which is made integral with the peripheral edge  35  of the base portion  32 . The vertically, upwardly extending wall  40  has an exterior-facing surface  41 , and an opposite, interior-facing surface  42  ( FIG. 3 ). The interior-facing surface  42  defines an internal cavity  43 , which is operable to receive and enclose a source of a liquid, or other fluid to be dispensed  45  ( FIG. 1 ). Still further, the vertically, upwardly extending wall  40  has an upper peripheral edge  44 . The upper peripheral edge  44  is affixed to the interior-facing surface  22  of the first portion  11  at a location which is spaced from the upper peripheral edge  24  thereof. This arrangement permits the drinking vessel  10  to have a single-wall construction at the upper peripheral edge  24 . This single-wall construction provides for a more comfortable “mouth feel” when a user is drinking from the vessel  10 . Still further, as seen in the drawings, it will be understood that the second portion  30  is telescopingly received within the first internal cavity  23 , as defined by the first portion  11 ; and the base portion  32  of the second portion  30  is disposed in predetermined, spaced relation relative to the base portion  12  of the first portion  11 . The spaced relationship of the second portion  30 , relative to the first portion  11 , provides some insulative benefit for the fluid or other liquid  45  which is received within the second internal cavity  43 , as defined by the second portion  30 . As should be understood, and in one possible form of the invention, the second portion could be eliminated, and just the first portion would be utilized to hold and dispense a beverage, for example. 
     The drinking vessel  10  of the present invention includes a multiplicity of continuous elastomeric members, which are generally indicated by the numeral  50  ( FIG. 2 ), and which further can be resiliently deformed so as to fit about, and be matingly received within, the multiplicity of continuous circumscribing longitudinally spaced grooves  25  ( FIG. 5 ). Each of these elastomeric members have a main body  51 , which has an exterior-facing surface  52 . In one possible form of the invention, the exterior-facing surface  52  may be colored in different hues so as to provide a rainbow-like effect when viewed by a user. Otherwise, the multiplicity of elastomeric members can be uncolored, and are further resiliently deformable so as to be enlarged and moved in a direction, longitudinally, along the first portion  11 , either in a direction towards the upper peripheral edge  24 , or on the other hand, in the direction of the base portion  12 . As seen in  FIG. 6 , and as one possible use of the present invention, the individual continuous, elastomeric members  50  may be removed as a user drinks water, for example, from the drinking vessel  10 , and can then be placed around the hand or wrist  53  of the user so as to remind the user during the day to continue to drink the required volume of water which is necessary to maintain their health. On the other hand, and as seen in  FIG. 7 , the multiplicity of continuous elastomeric members  50 , may be moved in the direction of the upper peripheral edge  24 , and into the recessed region  26 , as best indicated by reference to  FIG. 7 . Once the drinking vessel  10  is depleted, or the given volume of fluid has been consumed, the individual elastomeric members  50  may be moved back into individual mating receipt within each of the multiplicity of continuous circumscribing, longitudinally spaced grooves  25 , so as to begin the process again. As seen in the drawings, the drinking vessel  10  further includes a removable lid  54 , which is operable to be matingly received, and located in an occluding orientation relative to the second portion  30 , thereby retaining the fluid contained within the internal cavity  43 , while the drinking vessel  10  is not in use. 
     Operation 
     The operation of the described embodiment of the present invention is believed to be readily apparent, and is briefly summarized at this point. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to a drinking vessel  10  for determining an amount of a liquid which is consumed, and which further includes a first portion  11 . The first portion has a base portion or region  12 , and a vertically, upwardly extending wall  20 , which is made integral with the base portion  12 . The vertically, upwardly extending wall  20  defines an internal cavity  23 , and an upper peripheral edge  24  of the first portion. The first portion  11  is further defined by an exterior facing surface  21 , and which further defines a multiplicity of continuous, circumscribing, longitudinally spaced grooves  25 . The drinking vessel  10  also includes a second portion  30 , which has a base portion  32 , and a vertically, upwardly extending wall  40 , which is made integral with the base portion  32  of the second portion  30 . The vertically, upwardly extending wall  40  further defines an upper peripheral edge  44  of the second portion  30 . The second portion  30  cooperates with the first portion  11 . In one possible form of the invention, the second portion  30  could be eliminated. The drinking vessel  10  also includes a multiplicity of continuous annular shaped elastomeric members  50 , which are individually received in mating relationship within the respective concave shaped spaced grooves  25 . Further, the present invention includes a lid  54 , which matingly cooperates with the first portion  11  of the drinking vessel  10  and which substantially occludes the internal cavity  23  of the first portion  11 . 
     It should be understood that in one form of the invention, the base portion  12 , and the vertically, upwardly extending wall  20  of the first portion  11  defines a first internal cavity  23 , and the second portion  30  is telescopingly received within the first internal cavity  23 . Additionally, the vertically upwardly extending wall  20  of the first portion  11  defines an upper peripheral edge  24 , and which further has a given cross-sectional dimension. This cross-sectional dimension is greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the base portion  12 . In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the continuous circumscribing, longitudinally spaced grooves  25  are oriented between the base portion  12  and the upper peripheral edge  24  of the vertically, upwardly extending wall  20  of the first portion  11 . Still further, it should be understood that the base portion  32 , and the vertically, upwardly extending wall of the second portion  30 , defines a second internal cavity  43  for receiving and dispensing of fluid  45  for consumption by a user. 
     In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, and in one form of the invention, the second portion  30  of the drinking vessel  10  is telescopingly received within the first internal cavity  13 , as defined by the first portion  11  of the drinking vessel  10 . Still further the vertically, upwardly extending wall  40  of the second portion  30  is located in spaced relation relative to the vertically, upwardly extending wall  20  of the first portion  11 . In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the continuous elastomeric members  50  individually, matingly, and resiliently cooperate with the respective spaced grooves  25 , which are defined by the exterior-facing surface  21  of the first portion  11  of the drinking vessel  10 . These further can be moved along in the vertically, upwardly extending wall  20  of the first portion  11 , so as to permit a user to keep a record of a quantity of a beverage which is consumed by the user. 
     In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, a user  53  of the drinking vessel  10  forcibly moves the respective elastomeric members  50  in a given direction along the exterior-facing surface  21  of the first portion of the drinking vessel  10 , so as to account for the amount of fluid  45  which has been consumed by the user. Still further, the invention includes an upper peripheral edge  44 , which forms a portion of the second portion  30 , and which is secured to the first portion  11 , at a location which is disposed in spaced relation relative to the upper peripheral edge  24  of the first portion  11 . In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the base portion  12  of the first portion  11  is convexly curved when viewed from the upper peripheral edge  24  of the first portion  11 . 
     Therefore, it will be seen that the present invention provides a convenient means whereby a user can conveniently account for the amount of fluid they drink during a given time interval so that they may maintain a healthy lifestyle. The present invention is easy to use, convenient to operate, and further provides both a visual and actual means by which users can accurately track the amount of fluid they intake during any given time period. 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural, methodical features. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention in effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalence.