Patent Publication Number: US-2023148774-A1

Title: Illuminated Double Wall Lens Indicia Drinking Vessel

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional application U.S. Non-Provisional Application 16/562330 filed on Sep. 5, 2019 what was a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Non-Provisional Pat. Application No. 15/626746 filed on Jun. 19, 2017 and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/351656 filed on Jun. 17, 2016, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/471329 filed on Mar. 14, 2017, and U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 15/626746 filed on Jun. 19, 2017 in their entirety. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     None 
    
    
     SEQUENCE LISTING 
     NONE 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a double walled insulated drinking vessel that allows for illumination of certain portions of the drinking vessel and more particularly illumination of at least one lens bearing indicia in the side of the vessel, illumination of a connection ring at the base of the vessel, and illumination of a top rim and lid while simultaneously providing adequate insulation of a desired liquid. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Double walled insulated drinking vessels exist in the prior art, however, there are none that allow for illumination of the base of the vessel, illumination of an indicia lens located in the sidewall, and illumination of the top rim and lid of the vessel whereby the light source is located solely in the bottom of the cup. The present invention allows for and promotes the display of a desired branding, logo, graphic or indicia to be displayed in a distinct location on the side of a vessel such that it is illuminated without the remainder of the vessel being illuminated. Currently, there are vessels in the art that have illumination incorporated therein, but they illuminate the entire vessel through transparent or translucent vessel materials used in their manufacture. These vessels cannot prominently illuminate and display a desired branding, logo, or indicia because the light is diffused throughout their entire vessel and is therefore lost and does not adequately illuminate and contrast a distinct branding, logo or indicia area with the remainder of the vessel outer surface. Further, these vessels can only use or incorporate transparent or translucent materials in their sidewalls or outer surface. Use of metal or non-transparent material in previous vessels would defeat the purpose for which they were intended. The present invention can use metal or other non-transparent solid color plastic materials in their construction, thus offering a better insulated product, a more durable product and a product that can adequately display an indicia on a lens with sufficient brightness and contrast with the remainder of the exterior of the vessel. 
     The present invention further allows a user to remove a base illumination unit from the vessel such that it can be used independently as a flashlight or lantern. No other vessel in existence has the capability of illuminating a lens in the sidewall of a vessel or vessel while also serving as a separate and independently functional lighting device. In addition, the base illumination unit is rechargeable and can also be used to re-charge a user’s mobile device to an acceptable operating level. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the limitations of existing drinking vessels or vessels, the present invention provides an improved and novel means to illuminate a vessel and a desired indicia in a prominent fashion. The invention provides many other novel advantages and features not currently seen in the field of drinking vessels as will be shown and disclosed below. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is a double walled drinking vessel having an inner liner, an outer sleeve, an aperture in the outer sleeve shaped to accommodate an indicia lens, a connection ring, a base, a light source and power source located in the base of the vessel and a switch. The connection ring is transparent or translucent and illuminated by use of a light source and battery located in the base of the vessel. The connection ring, due to its transparent or translucent nature, allows light to travel through it and projects into the hollow space in between the inner liner or inner cup and the outer sleeve such that it allows illumination of the indicia lens which is transparent or translucent and also allows illumination of the top edge or lip of the vessel as well as a lid for the vessel. In one embodiment, the inner liner is also transparent and translucent further enhancing and communicating the light emanating from the base and through the connection ring. The lens is the means by which any number of branding information, logos, trademarks, designs, symbols, graphics, letters or numbers and hereinafter referred to as “indicia” will be displayed by a number of different means. One means by which these indicia will be displayed is by printing the desired indicia on the outer surface of the lens in various colors by the method of pad printing, screen printing, painting, or applying a translucent or transparent color sticker. Another means is forming the indicia out of various color acrylic, polycarbonate, plastic or styrene butadiene copolymers which can be used alone or in blends with crystal polystyrene and then adhering the indicia to the lens. Another means to accomplish the indicia is to inject various colored plastics into a mold to form the lens along with the desired indicia. The connection ring, lens, inner liner, and lid can be formed out of white or color acrylic, polycarbonate, plastic or styrene butadiene copolymers which can be used alone or in blends with crystal polystyrene, and other similar plastics that exhibit transparent or translucent properties. 
     The light source and battery located in the base can be at minimum a single light and power source connected to a switch that a user can actuate on the bottom of the base. In a more advanced and superior embodiment, an illumination module is inserted into the base. The illumination module is a printed circuit board that is circular in shape and has an array of light emitting diodes mounted on the outer perimeter of the circuit board such that they are in a circular array. The illumination module further has a switch on its underside. The illumination module has a logic gate for determining when a tactile switch is pressed, an optional electronic switch, a plurality of light emitting diodes in parallel connection, a universal serial bus connector, a charge controller and a two pin battery connector. The battery used in one embodiment would be a rechargeable lithium polymer battery mounted to the upper surface of the illumination module. The base unit has a charge aperture located in its sidewall and a switch aperture located in its bottom. 
     Specific advantages and features of the present assembly will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description of several illustrative embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a side elevation of the vessel fully assembled. 
         FIG.  2    shows an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the vessel components. 
         FIG.  3    shows a perspective view of the indicia lens. 
         FIG.  4    is a side elevation of the inner liner of the vessel. 
         FIG.  5    is a top plan view of the inner liner. 
         FIG.  6    is a cross sectional view along the plane  6  -  6  as shown in  FIG.  5   . 
         FIG.  7    is a side elevation of the outer sleeve. 
         FIG.  8    is a top plan view of the connection ring. 
         FIG.  9    is a cross sectional view along the plane  9  -  9  as shown in  FIG.  8   . 
         FIG.  10    is a top plan view of the base. 
         FIG.  11    is a cross-sectional view of the base along the plane  11  -  11  as shown in  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  12    is perspective view of the outer sleeve and the bottom interior opening. 
         FIG.  13    is a side elevation of an embodiment of the connection ring. 
         FIG.  14    is a side elevation of an embodiment of the connection ring. 
         FIG.  15    is a side elevation of an embodiment of the connection ring. 
         FIG.  16    is a side elevation of an embodiment of the connection ring. 
         FIG.  17    is a perspective view of an embodiment of the base. 
         FIG.  18    is a side elevation of the base illumination unit. 
         FIG.  19    is a top plan view of the illumination module. 
         FIG.  20    is a bottom plan view of the illumination module. 
         FIG.  21    is a schematic of the electrical circuit and components on the illumination module. 
         FIG.  22    is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the vessel. 
         FIG.  23    is a side elevation of the inner liner of an alternate embodiment of the vessel. 
         FIG.  24    is an exploded view of a further alternate embodiment of the vessel. 
         FIG.  25    is a top plan view of the upper connection ring. 
         FIG.  26    is a side elevation view of the upper connection ring. 
         FIG.  27    is a cross-sectional view of the upper connection ring along the line  27  -  27  as shown in  FIG.  25   . 
         FIG.  28    is a side elevation of an embodiment of the vessel. 
         FIG.  29    is an upper perspective view of the vessel showing the protruded lens on the inner surface of the outer sleeve of the vessel. 
         FIG.  30    is a top plan view of an embodiment of the outer sleeve. 
         FIG.  31    is a cross section along line the line  30  -  30  as shown in  FIG.  30   . 
         FIG.  32    is cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the drinking vessel. 
         FIG.  33    is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the drinking vessel. 
         FIG.  34    is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the drinking vessel. 
         FIG.  35    is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the drinking vessel whereby an exploded view of a removable lens and transparent are shown. 
         FIG.  36    is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the drinking vessel whereby an exploded view of a removable lens unit is shown. 
         FIG.  37    is partial cross-section view of the drinking vessel and cavity as well as the lens unit. 
         FIG.  38    is a side plane view of the components of the lens unit. 
         FIG.  39    is an exploded perspective of the lens unit and components. 
         FIG.  40    is an exploded view of alternate embodiment of the lens unit. 
         FIG.  41    front plan view of the outer housing of the lens unit showing light emitting diodes mounted on the inner walls of the outer housing. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the present drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments disclosed herein are sometimes illustrated by fragmentary views. It should also be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention is generally depicted in  FIGS.  1 -  20    but may be embodied in various other forms. The principles and teachings of the invention, therefore, can be applied to numerous alternative variations. The vessel described herein can be a cup, bottle, tumbler, mug, glass, container or any other similar vessel used for the storage of a liquid for drinking purposes. The terms aperture, cut-out, hole or opening can be used interchangeably in the specification. The terms outer sleeve and outer wall can be used interchangeably in the specification. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  1  -  2   , there is shown an assembled and exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the vessel  6 . There is shown an inner liner  20 , a lens  14  having an indicia  16  displayed on the lens  14 , an outer sleeve  8 , an aperture  10  formed in the outer sleeve  8  to receive the indicia lens  14 , a connection ring  44  and the base  34 . In one embodiment of the vessel  6  these items can be disassembled such that the vessel  6  can be washed and can also be disassembled for interchangeability of an alternate lens  14  bearing a different indicia. In another embodiment, the vessel shown in  FIGS.  1  -  2    are bonded together with an adhesive with a light, a rechargeable battery and switch located in the base  34  and as further shown in  FIG.  18   . The outer sleeve  8  can be made of any suitable material including metal and various types of plastic, however, metal provides the most stability and structural integrity to the vessel  6 . The indicia  16  lens  14  can be formed of acrylic, polycarbonate or other transparent or translucent similar plastic material such as styrene butadiene copolymers which can be used alone or in blends with crystal polystyrene. The aperture  10  can be formed in virtually any shape in the outer sleeve  8  but rectangular and/or circular shapes would be the most efficient. In addition, more than one aperture  10  can be formed in the outer sleeve  8  to allow a plurality of lens  14  and indicia  16  to be displayed on the sidewall of the outer sleeve  8 . The aperture  10  can be formed by stamping or cutting the aperture  14  out of the outer sleeve  8  in a metal version and in a plastic version of the outer sleeve  8  can be molded to have the aperture  10  formed in it or the aperture  10  can be cut out. 
     The inner liner  20  corresponds in shape to the outer sleeve  9  but has a correspondingly smaller diameter than the outer sleeve  8  which allows there to be a hollow space between the inner liner  20  and the outer sleeve  8  for purposes of insulative air space and also for a pathway to allow light to transmit through the hollow space to illuminate both the lens  14  and the inner liner  20 . In one embodiment, the outer sleeve  8  and inner liner  20  have corresponding shoulders  12  and  28 . In another embodiment, the outer sleeve  8  and inner liner  20  have either a corresponding tapered shape or a corresponding vertical shape. 
     The inner liner  20  attaches to the outer sleeve  8  either by an individual upper connector ring  104  using an adhesive as shown in U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/351656 in one embodiment, or by forming an annular lip  26  and ring  24  at the top of and integral with the inner liner  20  as shown in  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  6    such that the inner liner  20  frictionally joins to the outer sleeve  8  and the sidewall of the outer sleeve  8  butts up flush to the annular lip  26  such that there is smooth connection. Ridges  32  located on the inner liner  20  ring  24  aid in the frictional connection of the inner liner  20  by compressing the ridges against the outer sleeve  8 . In this embodiment, the inner liner  20  would be formed of a transparent or translucent plastic and one particularly suitable material is styrene butadiene copolymers which can be used alone or in blends with crystal polystyrene. Additionally, polycarbonate or acrylic material is suitable choice as the inner liner  20  material as well as other suitable plastic materials and including glass. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3   , the lens  14  has a curvature that corresponds to the outer sleeve  8  curvature such that a uniform outer curvature is achieved when the lens  14  is installed within the aperture  10 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the lens  14  has indicia  16  and also has a lip  17  that allows the lens  14  to be secured within the aperture  10  by way of the lip  17  being trapped behind the outer sleeve  8 . To install the lens  14 , it is placed in the aperture  10  cut out of the sidewall of the outer sleeve  8  face down such that the indicia  16  is facing outwards for view by a user. To aid in installation the outer sleeve  8  is tilted such that the aperture  10  is on the bottom side of the outer sleeve  8  and facing the ground. The lens  14  is then installed in the aperture  10 . In this position the lens  14  will maintain its position due to the law of gravity and the inner liner  20  can be inserted thereby locking the lens  14  between the inner liner  20  and the outer sleeve  8  but allowing the lens  14  to be removed should a user want to change it with another lens  14  with different indicia  16 . Depending on the embodiment chosen as revealed by this specification, the lens  14  can be joined to the inner surface of the outer sleeve  8  at the point of contact with the lens  14  with an adhesive. In one embodiment, the inner liner  20  can also be made out of photo-luminescent material such that the inner liner  20  can glow in the dark and continue to illuminate the lens  14  indicia  16  after the vessel  6  light is turned off. Further, at least one light located in the base  34  can be an ultraviolet light as this type of light most rapidly charges the photo-luminescent material. Further, the ultra violet light would create a different and unique effect on the inner liner  20 , lens  14 , rim  30  and lid. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  4 - 6   , there is shown the inner liner  20  having a ring  24  formed at the top and integral with the inner liner  20 . Above and adjacent to the ring  24  is the annular lip  26  and adjacent to the annular lip  26  is the rim  30 . Also shown is a shoulder  28  at the junction of the ring  24  and the sidewall of the inner liner  20 . The ring  24  allows the inner liner to be adjoined to the outer sleeve  8  without the use of a separate upper connection ring and occupies the space between the inner liner  20  and outer sleeve  8 . Ridges  32  are also shown. The inner liner  20  can have a downward taper as depicted. Regarding  FIG.  6   , there is shown the particular shape of the ring  24  and annular lip  26  located on the top of the inner liner  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  7   , there is shown the outer sleeve  8  with an aperture  10  and shoulder  12 . Also shown are threads  18  that allow connection with the connection ring  44  as shown and described below. In an alternate embodiment, the threads  18  can be a threaded sleeve inserted and adhered to the bottom inner surface of the out the outer sleeve  8 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  8  &amp;  9   , there is shown the connection ring  44  and a cross-section thereof. The connection ring  44  is shaped generally like a disc or wafer and is circular in shape. The connection ring  44  can be translucent or transparent and made of a material such as acrylic, polycarbonate or styrene butadiene copolymers which can be used alone or in blends with crystal polystyrene. A light source as more fully discussed below will be positioned below the connection ring  44 . In addition, the connection ring  44  can be made of any translucent or transparent colored material for a desired effect on the remainder of the vessel  6  appearance. This allows for use of a standard white light such as light emitting diode without the need to resort to use of a colored light emitting diode. However, in other embodiments, colored light emitting diodes or red-green-blue-white light emitting diodes and ultra-violet light emitting diodes can also be used in the base  34  below the connection ring  44  to allow a user to change the color of the light emitted through a clear non-colored connection ring  44 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  10  &amp;  11    there is shown a top plan view and cross sectional side view of the base  34 . The base  34  has a charge aperture  40  located in its sidewall  36  and a switch aperture  42  located in its bottom surface  38 . The base  34  is the location where a light, battery and switch will be located since it occupiess the space directly beneath the connection ring  44  which acts as a light transmitter and diffuser. 
     As shown in the various embodiments of the connection ring  44  depicted in  FIGS.  13  - 16   , the connection ring  44  has an upper portion  48 , an annular lip  46  in its middle region and a lower portion  50  and a recess  52  on its upper portion for proper seating of the inner liner  20  onto the connection ring  44 . The connection ring  44  is the support structure that holds the outer sleeve  8  and base  34  together in rigid connection and also allows the uniform transmission of light through the connection ring  44  and into the space between the outer sleeve  8  and inner liner  20 . The connection ring  44  would be made by means of injection molding, however, other methods such as machining may be used as well. The annular lip  46  on the sidewall of the connection ring  44  creates a first shoulder between it and the upper portion  48  of the connection ring  44  and a second shoulder between the annular lip  46  and the lower portion  50  of the connection ring  44 . These shoulders allow the outer sleeve  8  and the base  34  to be installed upon the connection ring  44  such that they result in a flush outer surface on the exterior bottom sidewall of the vessel  6 . 
     Using the embodiment of the connection ring  44  shown in  FIGS.  8  &amp;  9   , the connection ring  44  is connected to the base  34  on its lower portion  50  and is connected to the outer sleeve  8  and inner liner  20  on its upper portion  48 . In one embodiment, the connection ring  44  is permanently connected to the base  34  after insertion of a light source via insertion of the lower portion  50  into the base  34  and by means of an adhesive such as glue, epoxy, resin or other suitable adhesive for the particular materials used in the manufacture of the base  34  and the connection ring  44 . The upper portion  48  of the connection ring  44  is then inserted into the outer sleeve  8  bottom and connected by using an adhesive. 
     In an alternate embodiment as shown in  FIG.  16   , after insertion of a light source and rechargeable battery into the interior of the base  34 , the base  34  is permanently connected to the connection ring  44  using an adhesive and the upper portion  48  of the connection ring  44  is removably connected to the outer sleeve  8  by means of threads  54  on the connection ring  44  upper portion  48  sidewall and threads  18  located on the interior bottom sidewall of the outer sleeve  8  such that a threaded connection is achieved and as shown in  FIG.  18   . This removable connection allows the base  34  and connection ring  44  unit to become a removable base illumination unit  84  that be can be removed and used independently from the vessel  6  and as shown in  FIG.  18   . 
     In another embodiment, and as shown in  FIG.  15   , after insertion of a light source and rechargeable battery into the interior of the base  34 , the base  34  is permanently connected to the connection ring  44  using an adhesive and the upper portion  48  of the connection ring  44  is removably connected to the outer sleeve  8  by use of a gasket  60  that is insertable into an annular channel  56  formed on the outer edge of the upper portion  48  of the connection ring  44 . The gasket  60  along with the appropriate amount of tolerance between the outer sleeve  8  and the connection ring  44  upper portion  48  would allow a rigid connection of the base  34  and connection ring  44  which can otherwise be referred to as the base illumination unit  84  as shown in  FIG.  18   . Both the threaded means and the gasket means are the means of attachment and detachment of the base illumination unit  84  from the outer sleeve  8 . 
     In a further embodiment, and as shown in  FIG.  13    both the base  34  and the outer sleeve  8  can be removably connected from the connection ring  44  by having threads  54  on the upper portion  48  of the connection ring  44  corresponding to threads  18  on the outer sleeve  8  as shown in  FIG.  7    and threads on the lower portion  50  of the connection ring  44  corresponding to threads on the interior of the base  34  sidewall  36 . In an even further embodiment as shown in  FIG.  14   , the upper portion  48  of the connection ring  44  is removably connected to the outer sleeve  8  by use of a gasket  60  that is insertable into an annular channel  56  formed on the outer edge of the upper portion  48  of the connection ring  44  and threads on the lower portion  50  of the connection ring  44   corresponding to threads on the interior of the base  34  sidewall  36  allow removable connection of the connection ring and base. The gasket  60  along with the appropriate amount of tolerance between the outer sleeve  8  and the connection ring  44  upper portion  48  would allow a rigid connection of the base  34  and connection ring  44  which can otherwise be referred to as the base illumination unit  84  as shown in  FIG.  18   . This embodiment allows a user to use the base illumination unit  84  as an independent light source and to also have the ability to change batteries located in the base illumination unit  84 . This allows a user to remove the base illumination unit  84  as desired for use as an independent light or lantern or for purposes of cleaning the vessel  6 . Also shown in  FIG.  16    is the charge aperture  40  and a USB connector port  76  and a seal inserted in between the USB connector port  76  and the charge aperture  40  to protect the illumination module  62  as described below. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  19  -  20    there is shown a top plan view and bottom plan view of the illumination module  62 . The illumination module has a circuit board  64  in a circular shape having a circular array of light emitting diodes (hereinafter “LED”)  66  located on the outer edge  68  of the circuit board  64  and positioned to emit light upwards. The light emitting diodes  66  can be at least one of a white light emitting diode, a red light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, a blue light emitting diode, an ultra-violet light emitting diode, a red-green-blue light emitting diode, and a red-green-blue-white light emitting diode. The switch  70  is located on the bottom side of the circuit board  64  such that it can communicate with the switch aperture  42  in the base  34 . The switch  70  in one embodiment is a tactile switch. The switch  70  will employ use of a rubber button or other similarly characteristically situated material that will be inserted into the switch aperture  42  of the base  34  and glued to the bottom interior of the base  34 . The rubber button will protrude out of the bottom of the base  34  and allow a user to actuate the  70  switch while protecting the illumination module  62  from the elements. The illumination module  62  is sized so as to fit inside the base  34  with the USB connector  76  on the illumination module  62  and is aligned with the charge aperture  40  on the base  34  and the switch  70  aligned with the switch aperture  42  on the base  34 . Also shown is the battery  82  which in the shown embodiment is a rechargeable lithium polymer ion battery. However, the battery  82  can be of many different types such as commonly used alkaline AAA batteries that would enable a user to replace the battery(s)  82 . Alkaline, nickel metal hydride, or lithium batteries  82  in the AAA or AA form may be used as well as use of rechargeable batteries  82  of the type just listed. Mounting for said batteries  82  is well known for those skilled in the art of making and manufacturing battery  82  enclosures such that the batteries are in either series or parallel. 
     Additionally, a Bluetooth chip or module can be installed onto the circuit board  64  to allow communication with the illumination module  62  through use of a mobile device or other device with Bluetooth capability. In addition, connected to the Bluetooth module and illumination module  62  are optional micro speakers that can be installed into the base of the vessel  6 . The battery  82  would power the micro speakers. This would allow a user to listen to music stored on their device but utilizes the base unit to be an optional speaker and power system to drive the playing of music or other media. In an alternate embodiment, a liquid crystal or LED display could be used as the lens  14  in the aperture  10  such that media such as videos could be played on the liquid crystal or LED display via connection of the display to the Bluetooth module located on the illumination module  62 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  21   , there is shown a schematic of the electrical circuit located embodied in the illumination module  62 . The schematic shows a switch  70  connected a power source and further connected to a logic gate  72  that senses every time the switch  70  is depressed such that it makes electrical contact the logic gate  72  determines in what power state the circuit was last in and toggles the opposite power state. Additionally, there is shown an optional electrical switch  74  to be used in a future embodiment employing a carbon and gold pill on a silicone rubber button that makes contact with contacts on the circuit board  64  such that a mechanical tactile switch  70  is not required. Further shown is a plurality of LEDS  66  in parallel connection. There is also shown a charge circuit  75  having a mini Universal Serial Bus connector port  76 , a charge controller  78  and a two pin battery connector  80 . The charge circuit  75  allows the battery  82  to be charged. In an additional embodiment, another charge circuit  75  could be employed on the circuit board  64  that allows the battery  82  to discharge itself and charge a mobile device. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  22   , there is shown an alternate embodiment of the vessel whereby the inner liner  20  has on its outer surface at least one protruding lens  94 . The protruding lens  94  is formed onto the inner liner  20  during manufacture and is primarily made by the method of injection molding. This approach minimizes the components needed to make the vessel  6  by reducing the inner liner  20  and the lens  14  of the earlier described embodiments to a unitary piece formed by one mold.  FIG.  23    shows a side elevation cross section showing the protruding lens  94  located on the side of the inner liner  20 . The inner liner  20  and protruding lens  94  are translucent or transparent and can be clear or colored. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  24  -  27   , there is shown a further alternative embodiment of the vessel  6  comprising an outer sleeve  8  having an aperture  10 , an inner cup  100 , a lower connector ring  102 , an upper connector ring  104 , an illumination module  62 , a gasket  60 , a base  34 , and a lens  14 . This embodiment can be made of metal or plastic materials, but from a structural point of view, metal would be preferred. The inner cup  100  and outer sleeve  8  are joined to the upper connector ring  104  by use of an appropriate adhesive. The lower connector ring  102  is joined to the bottom sidewall of the outer sleeve  8  and the bottom of the inner cup  100  via adhesive, a threaded connection or a gasket connection. The lens  14  would be installed into the aperture  10  using an adhesive. The base  34  is connected to the lower connector ring  102  by use of an adhesive, threaded connection or gasket connection. The base  34  and lower connector ring  102  encapsulate the illumination module  62 . A gasket  60  is installed into the base  34  switch aperture  42  and there is also a charge aperture  40  located in the base  34 . Both the upper connector ring  104 , lower connector ring  102 , and lens  14  are transparent or translucent and can be clear or colored. The hollow space created between the outer sleeve  8  and inner cup  100  by nature of their connection with the upper connector ring  104  and lower connector ring  102  allows light to be transmitted to the lens and the upper connector ring  104 . Additionally, a reflective coating can be applied to the outer surface of the inner cup  100  and the inner surface of the outer sleeve  8  to help focus the light towards the lens  14  and the upper connector ring  104 . 
     A further embodiment of the present invention would be a vessel  6  that does not have an aperture  10  in the outer sleeve  8 , but comprises a removable base illumination unit  84  which comprises the base  34 , the illumination module  62  and the connector ring  24 . While the vessel  6  would not have the illuminated lens and indicia, it would still offer many benefits to users such that they can locate their drinking vessel  6  in dark environments and also use the removable base illumination unit  84 . There are two versions of this embodiment. The first version would comprise the aforementioned outer sleeve  8  and inner liner  20  used in combination with the base illumination unit  84 . The connector ring  24  would either be threaded on its top side or have a gasket  60  installed there around its top edge for connection to the bottom interior of the outer sleeve  8  having an inner liner  20 . The second version of this embodiment would use a vessel  6  having a sidewall and a bottom. In addition, the bottom would in one embodiment have a flanged edge such that it continues downward below the bottom of the vessel  6  thereby allowing threads to be formed therein, or a threaded sleeve insert that could be adhered into the bottom interior of the flanged edge such that the base illumination unit  84  can be installed. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  28  -  31    there is shown another embodiment of the present invention where the outer sleeve  106  is made of transparent or translucent plastic. Using paint or some other suitable light impeding coating, the outer sleeve  106  can be painted and coated such that the outer sleeve  106  is completely opaque or unclear except for a window  110  that is formed in the shape of the above-mentioned embodiments of the lens  14 . This window  110  would be transparent or translucent and an indicia  112  could be printed on the window  110  or a decal or sticker could be placed on the window  110 . In one embodiment, the decals or stickers would display indicia  112  that ideally would be transparent or translucent. This embodiment would be suitable for the present invention’s intended purposes, but it could further be enhanced by having the outer sleeve  106  made of transparent or translucent plastic and having a protruding lens  108  on the interior of the outer sleeve  106 . Because the protruding lens  108  intrudes into the hollow space between the outer sleeve and inner liner  20  or inner cup  100  the protruding lens  108  captures light by obstructing the hollow space though which light is transmitting up through from the illumination module  62 . The light hits the lens  108  and thereby diffuses through said protruding lens  108  illuminating the indicia  112 . In one embodiment, forming the protruding lens  108  out of a translucent material may be a preferred embodiment as translucent material refracts and reflects light within the material thus enhancing the glowing effect. This outer sleeve  106  would be coated either on the outer and inner surface of the outer sleeve  106  or both with paint or some other type of suitable attractive coating that would render the remainder of the outer sleeve opaque and/or fully light blocking except for the protruding lens  108  and window  110 . The outer sleeve  106  and protruding lens  108  would be formed by the method of injection molding. 
     The preceding paragraphs are fully incorporated into paragraphs - [0074] for purposes of understanding materials (plastic, polycarbonate, acrylic, metal, etc as previously described) and techniques in manufacturing the follow embodiments of the invention. Referring now to  FIGS.  33  -  35    there is shown an alternate embodiment of the drinking vessel  200  having a transparent or translucent lens  210  that is removable from the drinking vessel  200 . This allows a user to exchange one lens  210  for another lens  210  bearing different indicia  214 . The drinking vessel  200  has an inner cup  202  portion and an outer non-transparent sidewall  204  that has an aperture  206  formed therein. The inner cup  202  in a further embodiment can have a interior sidewall  202   a  and an exterior sidewall  202   b  whereby the interior sidewall  202   a  and the exterior sidewall  202   b  are joined at their top edges via a weld and vacuum sealed. The interior sidewall  202   a  floats inside the exterior sidewall  202   b  and maintains rigid position via the welded connection mentioned directly above whereby there is a hollow space maintained between the interior sidewall  202   a  and the exterior sidewall  202   b  such that in a vacuum sealed state the hollow space prevents transmission of heat via convection and conduction. Inside and adjacent and underneath the foot print of the aperture  206  there is a transparent frame  208  that is installed using adhesive contact between the inner cup  202  and the interior surface of the no-transparent sidewall  204 . The transparent frame  208  allows for the interior void  220  of the drinking vessel  200  to stay sealed and in one embodiment also vacuum sealed. The transparent frame  208  further allows light to pass through the transparent frame  208  and into the lens  210  to illuminate the lens  210  and the indicia  214 . The lens  210  is removable from the drinking vessel  200  and installable into the aperture  206  of the drinking vessel. Various means could be used to maintain the lens  210  in position inside the aperture  206 . One such means is to install a magnetic surface  222  on the outside of the inner cup  202  in the footprint of the aperture  206  of the outer non-transparent sidewall  204 . The magnetic surface  222  could be individual magnets or magnetic strips adhered to the inner cup or the magnetic surface could be magnetic paint applied and coated on to the inner cup  202 . Further, the lens  210  on its interior surface could have a metal or magnetic portion  224  adhered thereto. Further, the lens itself could have a metal portion  224  or a magnet  223  molded into the actual lens  210  itself such that when the lens  210  is placed flush into the aperture  206  the magnetic surface’s  222  magnetic field engages the metal portion  224  or magnetic portion  223  and brings the lens  210  firmly resting against magnetic surface. A further means of maintaining the lens  210  in flush position inside the aperture would be to install hook and loop fasteners onto the inner cup  202  in the footprint of the aperture  206  and to the rear or interior surface of the lens  210 . Removal of the lens could be achieved by using and engaging a suction cup onto the exterior surface of the lens  210  and gently pulling the lens  210  out of the aperture  206 . Additionally, removal of the lens  210  could be achieved by having a small cutout or divot on the outside edge of the lens  210  that would allow a user to gently pry the lens  210  away from the magnetic field being exerted by the magnetic surface  222 . The light source would be as shown in  FIGS.  13  -  21    as previously described and in  FIGS.  33  -  35   . The light source is a base illumination unit comprised of a base  228 , a connector ring  216  and an illumination module  218  having light emitting diodes  226  on its upper surface and the base illumination unit is removable in certain embodiments of the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  35  &amp;  36  -  41    there is shown a further alternate embodiment of the drinking vessel  300  having a metal outer sidewall  304  and an inner cup  302  whereby said metal outer sidewall  304  has a cavity  306  that has been stamped into the metal outer sidewall  304 . The cavity  306  has a rear wall  322 , a top sidewall  324 , a bottom sidewall  326 , a left sidewall  328 , and right sidewall  330 . The cavity  306  is purposed to receive a lens unit  308  as shown whereby the lens unit  308  is self-contained and comprised of an outer housing  312 , a transparent front lens plate  314  having an indicia  310  located on the transparent front lens plate  314 , an opaque inner plate  316  that is in front an electronic circuit board  318  an behind the opaque inner plate  316 . The electronic circuit board in one embodiment has light emitting diodes  320  on its outward facing surface as shown in  FIG.  39   . In an alternate embodiment as shown in  FIGS.  40  -  41   , the outer housing  320  can have a plurality of light emitting diodes or LED strip lights located on the inner sidewall of the outer housing such that light is directed across the lens unit  308  behind the opaque inner plate  316  so that hotspots of light in the lens unit  308  are minimized. Located also in the lens unit  308  is a power source such as a coin type battery or a lithium polymer rechargeable battery  344 . The lens unit  308  can have a recharging circuit located on the electronic circuit board and a charging port located in the outer housing  308 . The lens unit  308  is removable from the drinking vessel  300  and installable into the lens cavity  306  of the drinking vessel. Various means could be used to maintain the lens  308  in position inside the lens cavity  306 . One such means is to install a magnetic surface  332  on the outside of the inner cup  302  on the rear wall  322  of the cavity  306 . The magnetic surface  332  could be individual magnets or magnetic strips adhered to the inner cup or the magnetic surface could be magnetic paint applied and coated on to the rear wall  322  of the cavity  306 . Further, the lens unit  308  could have a metal or magnetic portion  224  adhered to the back surface of the outer housing. Alternately, the lens unit  308  itself could have a metal portion  333  or a magnet  335  located in the lens unit  308  itself such that when the lens unit  308  is installed into the lens cavity  306  the magnetic surface’s  332  magnetic field engages the metal portion  333  or magnet  335  and brings the lens unit  308  firmly resting against the magnetic surface  332  located on the rear wall  322  of the lens cavity  306 . A further means of maintaining the lens unit  308  in flush position inside the aperture would be to install hook and look fasteners onto the rear wall  322  of the lens cavity  306  and to the back of the outer housing  312  of the lens unit  308 . Removal of the lens unit could be achieved by using and engaging a suction cup onto the exterior surface of the lens unit  308  and gently pulling the lens unit  308  out of the lens cavity. Additionally, removal of the lens unit  308  could be achieved by having a small cutout or divot on the outside edge of the lens unit  308  that would allow a user to gently pry the lens unit  308  away from the magnetic field being exerted by the magnetic surface  332 . The drinking vessel  300  in a further embodiment can have an incorporated base illumination unit  334  as fully described above and in  FIGS.  13  -  21   . The base illumination unit  334  has a base  336  connectable to a transparent or translucent connector ring  340  and an illumination module  338  located in between the connector ring  340  and the base illumination unit  334 . Additionally, the drinking vessel can have a transparent or translucent upper connector ring  342  whereby the inner cup  302  and the metal outer sidewall  304  are joined to the upper connector ring  340  at their top edge and whereby light from the base illumination unit  334  transmits through a void  346  located in between the inner cup  302  and metal outer sidewall  304 . Additionally, the drinking vessel  300  can optionally be vacuum sealed. Further, the inner cup  302  can have an inner wall and an outer sidewall whereby the inner wall and outer sidewall are welded are at their top edges and vacuum sealed. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  32    a further embodiment of the drinking vessel  400  is shown whereby the drinking vessel  400  has an inner vessel  402  and said inner vessel  402  has an interior sidewall  404  and exterior sidewall  406  whereby the interior sidewall  404  is welded to the exterior sidewall  406  and vacuum sealed. Further shown is an outer non-transparent sidewall  408  that is joined to the inner vessel  402  at the top edge of the inner vessel  402  where the interior sidewall  404  and exterior sidewall  406  are joined and further joined to the top edge of the outer transparent sidewall  408 . There is also shown an aperture  410  formed in the outer non-transparent sidewall  408  and is adapted to receive a transparent or translucent lens  412 . The outer non-transparent sidewall  408  bottom edge is connected to a removable base illumination unit  416  having a base  414  that contains an illumination module  420  whereby the illumination module  420  has light emitting diodes on its top surface having a light source. As shown in  FIGS.  13  -  21    and further described above and in  FIG.  32    there is shown a base illumination unit  416  comprised of a base  414 , a transparent or translucent connector ring  418 , and an illumination module  420  having light emitting diodes on its top surface. 
     To aid in connection of the base illumination in any of the aforesaid embodiments and as an alternate means as herein described agove, there could be provided a transparent circular mounting plate made of suitable plastic that is permanently mounted in the bottom of the drinking vessel inside the outer non-transparent sidewall and under the inner cup or vessel. Further, it can have pegs formed in it bottom surface that conform to slots that can be located in the top of the upper connector ring for quick attachment and release whereby the pegs are insertable into the slots and a user twists the base illumination a rotation of degree to lock into place the base illumination unit onto the drinking vessel. 
     The principles, embodiments, and modes of operation of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing specification. The embodiments disclosed herein should be interpreted as illustrating the present invention and not as restricting it. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the range of equivalent structure available to a person of ordinary skill in the art in any way, but rather to expand the range of equivalent structures in ways not previously contemplated. Numerous variations and changes can be made to the foregoing illustrative embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.  
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                 Enumerated Elements 
               
             
            
               
                 
                   200 
                 
                 drinking vessel 
               
               
                 
                   202 
                 
                 inner cup 
               
               
                 
                   202 
                   a 
                 
                 interior sidewall 
               
               
                 
                   202 
                   b 
                 
                 exterior sidewall 
               
               
                 
                   204 
                 
                 outer non-transparent sidewall 
               
               
                 
                   206 
                 
                 aperture 
               
               
                 
                   208 
                 
                 transparent frame 
               
               
                 
                   210 
                 
                 transparent or translucent lens 
               
               
                 
                   212 
                 
                 light source 
               
               
                 
                   214 
                 
                 indicia 
               
               
                 
                   216 
                 
                 connector ring 
               
               
                 
                   218 
                 
                 illumination module 
               
               
                 
                   220 
                 
                 void 
               
               
                 
                   222 
                 
                 magnetic surface 
               
               
                 
                   223 
                 
                 magnet 
               
               
                 
                   224 
                 
                 metal portion 
               
               
                 
                   226 
                 
                 light emitting diodes 
               
               
                 
                   228 
                 
                 base illumination unit 
               
               
                 
                   300 
                 
                 drinking vessel 
               
               
                 
                   302 
                 
                 inner cup 
               
               
                 
                   304 
                 
                 metal outer sidewall 
               
               
                 
                   306 
                 
                 lens cavity 
               
               
                 
                   308 
                 
                 lens unit 
               
               
                 
                   310 
                 
                 indicia 
               
               
                 
                   312 
                 
                 outer housing 
               
               
                 
                   314 
                 
                 transparent front lens plate 
               
               
                 
                   316 
                 
                 opaque inner plate 
               
               
                 
                   318 
                 
                 electronic circuit board 
               
               
                 
                   320 
                 
                 light emitting diodes 
               
               
                 
                   322 
                 
                 rear wall 
               
               
                 
                   324 
                 
                 top sidewall 
               
               
                 
                   326 
                 
                 bottom sidewall 
               
               
                 
                   328 
                 
                 left sidewall 
               
               
                 
                   330 
                 
                 right sidewall 
               
               
                 
                   332 
                 
                 magnetic surface 
               
               
                 
                   333 
                 
                 metal portion 
               
               
                 
                   334 
                 
                 base illumination unit 
               
               
                 
                   335 
                 
                 magnet 
               
               
                 
                   336 
                 
                 base 
               
               
                 
                   338 
                 
                 illumination module 
               
               
                 
                   340 
                 
                 connector ring 
               
               
                 
                   342 
                 
                 upper connector ring 
               
               
                 
                   344 
                 
                 battery 
               
               
                 
                   346 
                 
                 void 
               
               
                 
                   400 
                 
                 drinking vessel 
               
               
                 
                   402 
                 
                 inner vessel 
               
               
                 
                   404 
                 
                 interior sidewall 
               
               
                 
                   406 
                 
                 exterior sidewall 
               
               
                 
                   408 
                 
                 outer non-transparent sidewall 
               
               
                 
                   410 
                 
                 aperture 
               
               
                 
                   412 
                 
                 lens 
               
               
                 
                   414 
                 
                 base 
               
               
                 
                   416 
                 
                 base illumination unit 
               
               
                 
                   418 
                 
                 connector ring 
               
               
                 
                   420 
                 
                 illumination module 
               
               
                 
                   422 
                 
                 light emitting diode