Patent Publication Number: US-2011062160-A1

Title: Magnetically Stowable drinking cup

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Caretakers of children and particularly caretakers of small children face a daily challenge of many demands being placed on their time to meet the needs of the children. One of those demands is the steadily growing collection of soiled dishes. Another demand is assisting small children in obtaining basic necessities such as getting a drink of water or other beverage. 
     One objective of the present invention is to provide a drinking cup that can be readily stowed after use, reaccessed and reused by an individual to whom the cup is assigned. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a drinking cup with a magnetic element which provides for stowing of the cup for re-use on a refrigerator or other ferro-magnetic surface. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide a magnetically stowable drinking cup which is stackable for storage during periods of non-use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The magnetically stowable and stackable drinking cup of the present invention has a bottom, a side wall, and a magnetic element, the magnetic element being affixed to magnetic element seat on the outside surface of the side wall or the outside surface of the bottom, or being imbedded in the side wall or the bottom. The bottom has a bottom periphery which is affixed to and sealed to the side wall base of the side wall, thereby forming the liquid chamber of the cup. The liquid chamber of the cup is tapered, the liquid chamber radius and the side wall radius from the center axis increasing from the bottom to the lip of the cup. The liquid chamber and side wall tapering, which is a common feature of drinking cups to provide for stacking will also provide for the stacking of the cup of the present invention. The extent to which a cup of the present invention may be inserted in another cup of the present invention for stacking purposes will depend on the position and the size of the magnetic element and magnetic element seat. The magnetic element may be positioned on the side wall or the bottom of the cup. The magnetic element may be imbedded in the side wall or the bottom of the cup for appearance, durability and ease of cleaning purposes. 
     Positioning of the magnetic element near the side wall base together with the side wall tapering, facilitates the stacking of the cups when the cups are not in use. Positioning the magnetic element near the side wall base also facilitates stowing of the cups on a vertical ferro-magnetic surface, such as a refrigerator door, in an inverted configuration and reduces interference with the ordinary use of the cup for drinking purposes. If the magnetic element is of sufficient size and strength, the stowage orientation of the cup may be selected by the user without regard to the position of the magnetic element. 
     Positioning of the magnetic element on the bottom of the cup provides for stowing the cup in an inverted configuration beneath a horizontal ferro-magnetic surface. Such a horizontal ferro-magnetic surface may be provided by the installation of a thin plate of ferro-magnetic material beneath a counter top, cabinet or the like. 
     The cup of the present invention may have a circular bottom, a circular side wall and a circular liquid chamber. However, other embodiments utilizing other shapes, such as a square with rounded corners, may be utilized. Regardless of the shape, stacking may be facilitated by side wall tapering. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cup of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view cross-section detail of the magnetic element installation for the preferred embodiment of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top view cross-section detail of an embodiment of the magnetic element installation for the preferred embodiments of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 , FIG.,  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view cross-section detail of an embodiment of the magnetic element installation for the preferred embodiments of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 , FIG.,  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view cross-section detail of an embodiment of the magnetic element installation for the preferred embodiments of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 , FIG.,  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 6 . is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cup of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cup of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view cross-section detail of the magnetic element installation for the preferred embodiment of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 7  and for the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 14 , left view. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view cross section detail of an embodiment of the cup of the present invention having a circumferential magnetic element as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 10  is a top view cross section detail of an alternative embodiment of the cup of the present invention having a circumferential magnetic element as shown in  FIG. 14 , the circumferential magnetic element having a series of flat magnetic element facets. 
         FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cup of the present invention having a vertical strip magnetic element. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view cross-section detail of the magnetic element installation for the preferred embodiment of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is vertical front view of embodiments of the present invention magnetically stowed on a vertical ferro-magnetic surface. 
         FIG. 14  is vertical front view of embodiments of the present invention magnetically stowed on a vertical ferro-magnetic surface. 
         FIG. 15  is vertical front view of embodiments of the present invention magnetically stowed on a vertical ferro-magnetic surface. 
         FIG. 16  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the cup of the present invention having a bottom magnetic element as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the cup of the present invention having a bottom peripheral magnetic element as shown in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 18  is a side view cross-section of an embodiment of the cup of the present invention having a bottom magnetic element as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 19  is a side view cross-section of an embodiment of the cup of the present invention having a bottom peripheral magnetic element as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 20  is a top view cross-section detail of an imbedded magnetic element  77  installation for the embodiments of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 , FIG.  2 .,  FIG. 11 , and  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 21  is a side view cross-section detail of an imbedded magnetic element installation for the embodiments of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10 , and  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 22  is a side view cross-section detail of an imbedded magnetic element installation for the embodiments of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10 , and  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 23  is a front view cross-section detail of an embodiment of an imbedded magnetic element installation for the embodiments of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 24  is a front view cross-section detail of an embodiment of an imbedded magnetic element installation for the embodiments of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 25  is a front view cross-section detail of an embodiment of an imbedded magnetic element installation for the embodiments of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 26  is a front view cross-section detail of an embodiment of an imbedded magnetic element installation for the embodiments of the cup of the present invention shown in  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 19 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of the magnetically stowable and stackable drinking cup  1 , hereinafter referred to as the “cup”, is shown. This embodiment of the cup  1  has a bottom  3 , a side wall  5 , a magnetic element seat  7 , and a magnetic element  25  affixed to the magnetic element seat. The bottom  3  has a bottom periphery  83  which is affixed to and sealed to the side wall base  29  of the side wall  5 , thereby forming the liquid chamber  11  of the cup. For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the bottom  3  is circular or approximately circular having a bottom radius  9 . For this specification and including the claims, the use of the term “circular” shall be defined to mean circular or approximately circular. Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the liquid chamber  11  of the cup which is confined by the side wall inside surface  13  and the bottom inside surface  15  is tapered  23 , the liquid chamber radius and the side wall radius  17  from the center axis  27  increasing at a uniform or approximate uniform slope  23  from a minimum side wall inside radius  19  at the bottom to a maximum side wall inside radius  20  at the cup lip  21 . 
     The liquid chamber and side wall tapering  23 , which is a common feature of drinking cups to provide for stacking will also provide for the stacking of the cup of the present invention. The extent to which a cup of the present invention may be inserted in another cup of the present invention for stacking purposes will depend on the position and the size of the magnetic element  25  and magnetic element seat  7 . For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the magnetic element and magnetic element seat are located near the side wall base  29 . Also for this embodiment the magnetic element is a relatively small diameter circular disk  31 . Obviously other shapes of the magnetic element may be used for this embodiment such as square or rectangular. The width or diameter  33  will be determined based upon the size and weight of the cup and the magnetic strength of the magnetic element. Referring also to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , for this embodiment the magnetic element seat  7  is preferably a flat area  37  on the side wall outside surface  39 . The adhesion of the magnetic element to a ferro-magnetic surface will be maximized if the magnetic element contact surface  41  is flat. Referring also to  FIG. 5 , an embodiment of the magnetic element  25  is shown with a curved magnetic element attachment surface  35 . Since the preferred embodiment of the magnetic element, based upon technology, is a relatively thin wafer  43  of resilient and flexible magnetic material, the presentation of a flat magnetic element contact surface is facilitated by a flat magnetic element seat. The embodiments of the magnetic element seat  7  shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  require that the manufacturing process for the cup provide for a variation  36  in the side wall outside surface  39  to provide for a flat magnetic element seat while maintaining a minimum side wall thickness  38 . The embodiment of the magnetic element  25  shown in  FIG. 5  may provide for ease and economy in manufacturing the cup in comparison to the embodiments shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  respectively. 
     As mentioned above, the positioning of the magnetic element near the side wall base together with the side wall tapering, facilitates the stacking of the cups of the present invention when the cups are not in use. Referring to  FIG. 13 , the inventor prefers the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  of the present invention with the magnetic element positioned near the side wall base  29  to facilitate stowing of the cups on a ferro-magnetic surface  47  in an inverted configuration  45  as shown in  FIG. 13 . Furthermore the inventor prefers the positioning of the magnetic element away from the cup lip  21  so as not to interfere with the ordinary use of the cup for drinking purposes. Depending upon the size and strength of the magnetic element, the user of the cup may be able to select the stowage orientation of the cup regardless of the position of the magnetic element on the cup. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , depending upon the magnetic element seat protrusion  49  and the magnetic element thickness  51 , the stacking feature of the cup of the present invention may be preserved even if the magnetic element is positioned between the side wall base  29  and the cup lip  21  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Although as indicated above, the inventor believes the stowage and stacking features of the present invention are best facilitated by positioning the magnetic element on the side wall near the side wall base, the magnetic element may also be positioned near the cup lip as shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . This embodiment is best suited for a user who prefers to stow the cup in an upright configuration  53  as shown in  FIG. 13 . However, depending upon the size and magnetic strength of the magnetic element, this embodiment of the cup may be stowed in an inverted position or other configurations desired by the user. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a horizontal cross-section of an embodiment with the circumferential magnetic element  67  affixed to the side wall outside surface  39  of the cup side wall  5  is shown. The advantage of this embodiment is that it does not require the user to rotate the cup to position the magnetic element for contact with the ferro-magnetic surface. The circumferential magnetic element can be positioned near the sidewall base or just beneath the lip as shown in  FIG. 14 . This is particularly advantageous for use by a small child as it will ordinarily simply require the child to stow the cup or invert and stow the cup as shown in  FIG. 14 . Other embodiments may also incorporate a circumferential magnetic element located at a position between the sidewall base and the lip. Referring to  FIG. 9 , because of the limited contact area between the magnetic element and the ferro-magnetic surface, it is unlikely that the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14  with the circumferential magnetic element positioned near the base of the side wall can be used to stow the cup in an upright configuration. Similarly it is unlikely that the embodiment with the circumferential magnetic element positioned near the lip as shown in  FIG. 14 , can be used to stow the cup in an inverted configuration due to the limited contact area. 
     The foregoing limitations resulting from the limited contact area for a circumferential magnetic element is addressed by the embodiment of the circumferential magnetic element  39  shown in  FIG. 10 , which presents a series of flat magnetic element facets  55 , the contact area  57  between the magnetic element and the ferro-magnetic surface will be increased for the circumferential magnetic element. By increasing the facet width  59  or increasing the facet width, the contact area can be maintained while improving the ease of use of this embodiment. In particular, increasing the height and decreasing the width of the facets will make the embodiment of the cup more suitable for use by small children and improve the ability of the cup to be stowed in a configuration of the user&#39;s choice without regard to the position of the magnetic element on the cups. As with the magnetic element shown in  FIG. 9 , the magnetic element shown in  FIG. 10  may be positioned at the base of the side wall, near the cup lip, or any other position on the cup side wall. Obviously the stacking feature of the present invention will be enhanced by minimizing the thickness of the magnetic element and the protrusion of the magnetic element seat positioning the circumferential magnetic element just beneath the lip of the cup enhances the stackability of the cups. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , an embodiment of the cup  1  of the present invention is shown with a vertical magnetic element  71 . This embodiment provides for the stowing of the cup in an inverted configuration  45  or an upright configuration  53  as shown in  FIG. 15 . The embodiments of the magnetic element seat  7  and the magnetic element  25  shown in FIG.&#39;s  3 - 5  may be used for the embodiment of the cup shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 18  an embodiment of the cup  1  of the present invention is shown with a bottom magnetic element  73  positioned on the bottom  3 . This embodiment provides for the stowing the cup in an inverted configuration beneath a horizontal ferro-magnetic surface  79  as shown in  FIG. 18 . Such a horizontal ferro-magnetic surface may be provided by the installation of a thin plate of ferro-magnetic material  85  beneath a counter top, cabinet or the like. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 18  has a circular magnetic element  25  positioned more or less in the center of the bottom. However, the magnetic element can be other shapes and can be positioned at any location on the bottom as desired for convenience in manufacturing or to satisfy other concerns. A further embodiment shown in  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 19  has a bottom peripheral magnetic element  75  which extends around the periphery  83  of the cup bottom. 
     The magnetic element seat  7  may be recessed for any of the embodiments of the present invention, thereby reducing the protrusion of the magnetic element. These embodiments may also provide greater protection for the magnetic element. 
     Referring now to FIG.&#39;s  20 - 26 , details of embodiments of the cup of the present invention wherein the magnetic element  25  is an embedded magnetic element  77  embedded in the side wall  5  or the bottom  3  of the cup. These embodiments provide for enhancing the durability of the cup and the magnetic element and facilitate the cleaning of the cup.  FIG. 20  shows a detail of an imbedded magnetic element  77  for the embodiments shown in  FIG. 1 , FIG.  2 .,  FIG. 11 , and  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 21  shows a detail of an imbedded magnetic element  77  for the embodiments shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10 , and  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 22  shows details of an imbedded magnetic element  77  for the embodiments shown in  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10 , and  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 23  and  FIG. 25  show details of an imbedded magnetic element  77  for the embodiments shown in  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 24  and  FIG. 26  show details of an imbedded magnetic element  77  for the embodiments shown in  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 19 . The embodiments of the embedded magnetic element  77  shown in  FIG. 25  and  FIG. 26  also provide for a uniform inside bottom surface  81  and a uniform outside bottom surface  87  which further enhance the appearance, durability and cleaning of the cup. 
     While the embodiments of the cup  1  and the details of the cup  1  of the present invention shown in FIG.&#39;s  1 - 26  are all illustrated with a cup having a circular bottom  3  and a liquid chamber  11  with a circular cross section, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that other shapes and cross-sections may be utilized. The various embodiments of the magnetic element  25  shown in FIG.&#39;s  1 - 26  may be incorporated in embodiments with other shapes and cross-sections. Regardless of the shape, stacking will be facilitated by a uniform liquid chamber and side wall tapering  23 . 
     Other embodiments and other variations of the embodiments described above will be obvious to a person skilled in the art. Therefore, the foregoing is intended to be merely illustrative of the invention and the invention is limited only by the following claims and the doctrine of equivalents.