Patent Publication Number: US-2017360226-A1

Title: Cup collar

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/203,640 filed on Jul. 6, 2016, entitled CUP COLLAR, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of conserving natural resources. Generally, the present invention relates to conserving water, and, more particularly, conserving water used in beverages such as coffee, tea, or the like. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Currently, in the case of a typical paper cup which is in use at coffee and tea shops, customers pour out coffee or tea into a garbage can to make room for milk, cream, or any other additive, such as flavoring, and condiments, such as sugar or sweetener. This is a waste of coffee or tea and money, but, more fundamentally, is a waste of water used to make the coffee or tea. With the use of a typical paper cup, coffee and tea shop employees may ask customers if they need room for milk or cream, but the amount of room that is selected by the employee may be not enough, resulting in the customer pouring out coffee or tea, or is too much, resulting in customer dissatisfaction because the amount of coffee or tea in the cup is less than what the customer desired. 
     Also, in the case of a typical paper cup, slipping of the cup from the customer&#39;s hand holding the cup is commonplace. Furthermore, having the lid on the cup so close to the customer&#39;s hand increases the chance of the lid becoming dislodged, spilling coffee or tea and increasing the risk of hot coffee or tea spilling onto the customer&#39;s hand. Additionally, the typical lid does not provide a dependable seal, so coffee or tea may drip out of the cup onto the customer&#39;s clothes, damaging expensive clothing. Also, the coffee and tea shop company name and logo or other advertising is covered by the customer&#39;s hand that carries the cup, so that branding or advertising is not visible to consumers. 
     In any event, when coffee or tea is discarded by the customer, water used to make the coffee or tea is wasted. It is estimated that every month across the country there is a lot of wasted water at coffee and tea shops or other businesses, as much as the volume of the Great Lakes combined. 
     Additionally, when the cup is only partially filled or the customer pours coffee or tea into the garbage can, the cost of the coffee or tea per the volume that is consumable by the customer increases. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has as an object to provide a device to conserve water by reducing the unnecessary amount of wasted beverage, such as coffee or tea, contained, for example, in a paper beverage cup. Various examples of the device in accordance with the present invention provide a cup collar attached securely to a paper beverage cup or other beverage container so customers have enough room to add milk or cream or other additive without pouring out a beverage such as coffee or tea and wasting water, coffee or tea, and money. The cup collar preferably further comprises a skirt having a gasket and a sealing ring attached to the exterior of the cup to reinforce the seal between the cup collar and the cup to prevent leakage. 
     The cup collar in accordance with the preferred example including the skirt, gasket, and sealing ring has several advantages. Because the more coffee or tea poured out and wasted to add milk or cream, the more water is wasted, the cup collar conserves water by avoiding unnecessary waste. The preferred example of the cup collar also prevents slipping of the customer&#39;s hand holding the cup, because the skirt prevents slippage and increases safety. Also, in accordance with the preferred example of the cup collar, the gasket disposed in the skirt and the sealing ring attached to the cup produce compression between a securing ring of the cup collar against the lip of the cup to provide a better seal than the lid that is typically used, and also provide an additional seal between the gasket and sealing ring to prevent leakage. The cup collar also further distances the lid away from the customer&#39;s hand holding the cup, which improves safety. 
     Another example in accordance with the present invention provides a cup collar incorporated into a paper beverage cup or other beverage container to provide customers with enough room to add milk or cream or other additive without having to pour out a beverage such as coffee or tea to make room for the additive and wasting water, coffee or tea, and money. The cup collar comprises a portion of the paper beverage cup or other beverage container proximate the opening of the cup. The cup collar is provided on the interior with one or more graduated markings to indicate levels to which to fill the cup to provide room to add milk or cream or other additive without overfilling the cup and having to pour out a beverage such as coffee or tea and wasting water, coffee or tea, and money. Preferably, the graduated markings comprise three spaced circumferential lines on the inner -  circumference if the cup. The circumferential lines may also comprise alphanumeric characters to label the circumferential lines to identify them so that the level to which the cup is to be filled can be indicated by a customer. Because the more coffee or tea poured out and wasted to add milk or cream, the more water is wasted, the cup collar comprising the one or more graduated markings conserves water by avoiding unnecessary waste. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The various examples of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying figures of the drawing to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. In the drawing: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a cup collar in accordance with an example of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the cup collar shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate alternative configurations for a cup extension comprising the cup collar shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a cup collar in accordance with another example of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the cup collar in accordance with a preferred example of the present invention.  FIG. 1  shows the cup collar  10  to provide enough room to add milk or cream, or any other additive, to the beverage contained in a conventional paper cup or other beverage container  24 . The cup collar  10  comprises a cup extension  11  having a conventional rim  26  mounted to or formed integrally with the cup extension at a first end of the cup extension and a securing ring  14  mounted to or formed integrally with the cup extension at a second end of the cup extension and configured to attach to and seal with a conventional lip  20  of the cup  24 . 
     Preferably, a skirt  12  is attached to or formed integrally with the securing ring  14 . A gasket  18  is disposed within the skirt  12 . The skirt  12  is relieved at  16  and the gasket is split to facilitate attachment of the cup collar  10  to the cup  24 . 
     Also, a sealing ring  22  is preferably provided on the cup  24 . The sealing ring  22  is attached to or formed on the exterior of the cup  24  proximate the lip  20  of the cup. The gasket  18  engages and locks with the sealing ring  22  when the cup collar  10  incorporating the skirt  12  and gasket  18  is attached to the cup  24 . 
     The securing ring  14  of the cup collar  10  attached to or formed integrally with the skirt  12  having the gasket  18  is attached to the cup  24  such that the skirt and gasket pass over the lip  20  of the cup and the gasket engages and locks with the sealing ring  22 . In accordance with the preferred example, there is an attachment and seal both between the securing ring  14  and the lip  20  of the cup  24  and between the gasket  18  and the sealing ring  22  to provide compression between the securing ring and the lip of the cup to thereby reinforce the seal and attachment of the cup collar  10  to the cup  24 , and to provide an additional seal between the gasket and the sealing ring to prevent leakage. 
       FIG. 2  shows the cup collar  10  assembled and ready for attachment to the cup  24 . The securing ring  14  which may have a configuration similar to the lower portion of a conventional lid  28  shown in  FIG. 1 , attaches and seals with the lip  20  of the cup  24 , as the gasket  18  engages and locks with the sealing ring  22  on the cup. The gasket  18  expands to slide over the lip  20  and sealing ring  22  and then contracts beneath the sealing ring to reinforce the attachment and seal of the cup collar  10  to the lip  20  by producing compression between the securing ring  14  and the lip, as well as providing an additional seal between the gasket and the sealing ring to prevent leakage. 
     The customer can place a conventional lid  28  ( FIG. 1 ) on the rim  26 . Thus, the customer&#39;s hand holding the cup  24  is further displaced from the lid  28  to lessen the risk of the lid becoming dislodged. 
     The cup extension  11  of the cup collar  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is illustrated to have a generally cylindrical shape. Alternatively,  FIG. 3  shows different attractive and artistic shapes for the cup extension  11  of the cup collar  10 .  FIG. 3A  illustrates the cup extension  11  may have a conical shape similar to the upper portion of an ice cream cone.  FIG. 3B  shows the cup extension  11  may have a spiral shape.  FIG. 3C  illustrates the cup extension  11  may have a square shape transitioning into a rounded shape at the top to form the rim  26  and a rounded shape at the bottom to form or attach to the securing ring  14 . These are only examples of shapes for the cup collar  10 , and the cup collar may be shaped in any other shape, to add an artistic look and make the cup collar  10  and cup  24  more attractive. 
     Advantageously, in accordance with the preferred example of the invention, the cup collar  10  is easily attached by customers or employees by simply snapping the cup collar on the cup  24  in seconds. Attachment of the cup collar  10  utilizes compression with the aid of the sealing ring  22  on the cup  24  with the gasket  18  disposed in the skirt  12 , in addition to the securing ring  14 , to provide a secure attachment of the cup collar and prevent leakage. Also, the sealing ring  22  around the top portion of the cup  24  strengthens the cup (or other beverage container) to prevent buckling of the cup when the cup is grasped in a customer&#39;s hand. 
     In accordance with an alternative example, the cup collar  10  may be constructed at a factory for attachment to a beverage container. The skirt  12  can be provided with threads (instead of the gasket  18  and the need for the sealing ring  22 ) and screwed onto the beverage container to attach the cup collar to the beverage container. 
     An isometric view of the cup collar in accordance with another example of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  shows the cup collar  10 ′ to provide enough room to add milk or cream, or any other additive, to the beverage contained in a conventional paper cup or other beverage container  24 . The cup collar  10 ′ comprises a portion  30  of the paper beverage cup or other beverage container  24  proximate the opening at the lip  20  of the cup. The portion  30  of the paper beverage cup or other beverage container  24  comprising the cup collar  10 ′ is provided on the interior with one or more graduated markings  32  to indicate one or more levels to which to fill the cup to provide room to add milk or cream or other additive without overfilling the cup and having to pour out a beverage such as coffee or tea and wasting water, coffee or tea, and money to make room for the additive. Preferably, the graduated markings  32  comprise three spaced circumferential lines on the inner circumference of the portion  30  of the cup or other beverage container  24 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The circumferential lines  32  may also comprise alphanumeric characters  34  to label the circumferential lines to identify them so that the level to which the cup or other beverage container  24  is to be filled can be indicated by a customer. For example, the alphanumeric characters  34  may comprise a first alphanumeric character “X” to provide an indication to allow for addition of a large amount of milk or cream or other additive, a second alphanumeric character “L” to provide an indication to accommodate a moderate amount of additive, and a third alphanumeric character “A” to provide an indication to make room for a small amount of additive. In accordance with alternative examples, other alphanumeric characters may be employed. For example, referring to the example shown in  FIG. 4 , “L” or “3” may be substituted for “X” for the first alphanumeric character to indicate a large amount of milk or cream or other additive is desired, “M” or “2” may be substituted for “L” for the second alphanumeric character to indicate a moderate amount of additive is to be used, and “S” or “1” may be substituted for the third alphanumeric character “A” to indicate room should be left for a small amount of additive. Because the more coffee or tea poured out and wasted to add milk or cream or other additive, the more water is wasted, the cup collar  10 ′ comprising the one or more graduated markings  32  conserves water by avoiding unnecessary waste. 
     There are also various other advantages. One advantage is that with the cup collar  10  or  10 ′, there is enough room inside the cup collar to add milk or cream, an additional flavoring, sugar or sweetener, or any other additive, so consumers benefit, because they get more for their money, as they do not have to pour out and waste coffee, tea, or other beverage. Another advantage is that advertising, a company name and logo, or other branding is typically covered by the customer&#39;s hand that carries the cup  24 ; but with the cup collar  10 , advertising, the company name and logo, or other branding on the cup is above the customer&#39;s hand and is visible to customers. The cup collar  10  can be utilized as a signboard being on top of the cup or other beverage container  24 , to let customers know about any promotions or specials, and business hours, and it can help to let customers know the time of closing during national holidays, and can be decorated, and colored nicely, for every holiday. Additionally, an advantage is that the cup collar  10  with the skirt  12  can be constructed in any shape, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and decorated to create a conversation piece. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , advertising, the company name and logo, or other branding on the cup or other beverage container  24  is preferably provided on a rim  28 A of the lid  28  or a surface of an alternative lid  36  attached to the lip  20  proximate the cup collar  10 ′ so that the advertising, the company name and logo, or other branding is above the customer&#39;s hand and is visible to customers. 
     The examples described above are provided by way of example only, and various modifications which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art are contemplated. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention can only be ascertained with reference to the appended claims.