Patent Publication Number: US-2004045855-A1

Title: Personal identification for improved hygiene

Description:
[0001] This invention relates to devices and methods for facilitating identification of beverage containers and similar items in order to discourage inadvertent or mistaken identity by another with resultant use and potential spreading of communicable disease  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Personal identification of food and beverage containers has heretofore been proposed, illustrative of which are the proposals of U.S. Pat. No. 2,024,889 granted to A. Simeone Dec. 17, 1935; U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,468 granted to David Wolf on Jul. 16, 1968; U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,916 granted to Edgar O. Bartolucci on Aug. 17, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,240 granted to George I. Goodwin May 20, 1980; U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,804 granted to Antony-Euclid C. Villa-Real on Sep. 7, 1982; U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,139 granted to M. David Ricks on Jul. 26, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,457 granted to Donald O. Chandler on Feb. 20, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,077 granted to Howard L. Rose on Feb. 20, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,815 granted to Michael A. Lang on Sep. 1, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,581 granted to Douglas Vagedes on Nov. 24, 1998; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,777 granted to Boman K. Najmi on Dec. 8, 1998.  
       [0003] Although such proposals have addressed selected problems encountered in providing personal identification for containers of alimentary products (e.g., food and beverages), there have continued to be certain drawbacks to their use. Thus, apparently for a variety of reasons such as cost or cumbersomeness in use, they have not found popular expression in the market place. Accordingly, there has continued to be a need for improved and more attractive product identification devices that are simple, easy to use, and cost effective.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] The improved devices and methods according to the invention hereof include simple and cost effective features that ameliorate adverse conditions and characteristics heretofore associated with prior use and conditions. Thus, in accordance with preferred embodiments hereof, improved identification is provided for conventional screw-top beverage bottles, conventional pop-top cans and boxed and bagged beverages.  
       [0005] For a screw top beverage bottle, lips are added to the upper and lower extremities of the lower, or retaining ring, portion so that a turnable identification ring can readily be mounted (e.g., snapped) thereupon; letters and/or numerals are disposed around the annular exposed periphery of the identification ring; and a turnable (rotatable) member is mounted between the lips. A window is disposed within the side wall of the rotatable follower member so that as the turnable member is turned, the letters and/or numerals are successively displayed through the window to the exterior. The geometry and size of the turnable member are such that when it is snapped in place, there is a frictional fit between a pair of its internal surfaces and the exterior surface of the retaining ring thus preventing the follower member from moving once it is positioned by the user. As an alternative to, or in addition to, exclusively frictional retention, spaced indentations may optionally be provided in the retaining ring so as to engage with extending protrusions positioned within the turnable member so that when protrusions enter indentations, the turnable member is disengagably locked into position. Unlocking is performed by squeezing the turnable member at predetermined locations so as to spring the protrusions outwardly and disengage them from the indentations.  
       [0006] For bottles not originally fitted with a retaining ring, (e.g., bottles adapted for metallic press-fit caps), a ring may readily be installed by forcing a stretchable cylindrically-shaped member, or wrap-around member about the neck of the bottle in the location normally occupied by a screw-cap retaining ring.  
       [0007] To apply the principles of the invention to conventional pop top cans, a semi-circular array of indicating letters and/or numbers is located on the top outer surface of the can; and a swivelable arm (identification wand) is mounted on the opening mechanism so as to provide a means whereby the user can swivel the arm (wand) to point to a selected one of the indicia (e.g., letters and/or numerals).  
       [0008] For boxed and bagged beverages and for cup tops, a relatively large number of closed but penetrable apertures are provided, each identified with a different alpha-numeric character (number or alphabet letter); and selection is made by selecting the desired one of the penetrable apertures (e.g., as by pushing a straw therethrough). In addition, a rotating selection dial may be attached to the exterior of the box or bag, and selection of an identifying indicia is made by setting the dial to a desired position.  
       OBJECTS AND FEATURES OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] It is one general object of the invention to improve personal hygiene.  
       [0010] It is another object of the invention to facilitate personal identification of food and beverage containers.  
       [0011] It is yet another object of the invention to reduce cost and complexity associated with personal identification of food and beverage containers.  
       [0012] Accordingly, in accordance with one feature of the invention, in one embodiment, spaced, parallel retaining lips are disposed on the neck of a beverage bottle; selectable indicia are disposed in a circumferential array about the neck of the bottle, and a mating turnable member (rotatable follower) is disposed to display to view the selected indicia, thus facilitating customized selectable identification.  
       [0013] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the aforementioned turnable member is configured to present geometrical characteristics whereby when installed on the neck of the bottle between the aforementioned lips, interior surfaces frictionally engage corresponding exterior surfaces of the bottle neck or of a retaining ring on the bottle neck, thereby facilitating retaining the turnable member (i.e., follower) in a desired identifying position.  
       [0014] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, in one embodiment, protrusions are positioned within the turnable member; and mating indentations are provided in a mating sleeve mounted on the bottle neck or on the bottle neck itself, thereby providing additional facility for retaining the turnable member in a selected position.  
       [0015] In accordance with still another feature of the invention, provision is made for ease of freeing the turnable member from frictional or locking retention in a particular position by the inclusion of predetermined geometrical characteristics to the turnable member whereby the turnable member may be freed to turn by the exertion of manual pressure to preselected resilient regions on the turnable member.  
       [0016] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, when locked by the aforementioned protrusions and indentations, unlocking is performed by squeezing on the turnable member at predetermined regions so as to spring the protrusions outwardly and disengage them from the indentations thus facilitating ease of unlocking.  
       [0017] In accordance with still another feature of the invention, an aperture is provided within a sidewall of the turnable member so that as the turnable member is rotated, the aforementioned visual indicia (e.g., letters and/or numerals) are successively displayed through the aperture to the exterior, thus facilitating visual identification.  
       [0018] In accordance with still one further feature of one embodiment of the invention, for bottles not originally fitted with a retaining ring, (e.g., bottles adapted for metallic press-fit caps), selectable identifying indicia may be positioned on the bottle neck directly or on a ring installed by forcing a stretchable cylindrically-shaped member, or wrap-around member about the neck of the bottle in the location normally occupied by a screw-cap retaining ring, thus improving versatility of application of the principles hereof.  
       [0019] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, in one embodiment, a plurality of privacy flaps are provided to permit selection of a desired indicia without the necessity for a turnable member.  
       [0020] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the principles of the invention are made applicable to conventional pop top cans by disposing a semi-circular array of indicating letters and/or numbers on the top outer surface of the can; and a swivelable arm (identification wand) is mounted on the opening mechanism so as to provide a means whereby the user can swivel the arm (wand) to point to a selected one of the indicia (e.g., letters and/or numerals).  
       [0021] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, for boxed and bagged beverages and for cup tops, a relatively large number of closed but penetrable apertures are provided, each identified with a different alpha-numeric character (number or alphabet letter); and selection is made by selecting the desired one of the penetrable apertures (e.g., as by pushing a straw therethrough), thus facilitating selective identification.  
       [0022] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, a rotating selection dial may be attached to the exterior of the box or bag, and selection of an identifying indicia may be made by setting the dial to a desired position, thus further facilitating identification.  
       [0023] These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, by way of example of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the drawing. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
     [0024]FIG. 1 is a front elevation view depicting a conventional screw-on-type bottle closure separated from its retaining ring;  
     [0025]FIG. 2 is a tilted front elevation view depicting an indicia inscribed ring according to the invention;  
     [0026]FIG. 3 is an elongated view of a retaining ring such as that depicted in FIG. 1 to which spaced parallel lips and identifying indicia have been added;  
     [0027]FIG. 4 is a top view of a turnable selecting member adapted for fitting around the annular-shaped identity-displaying part of the ring assembly of FIG. 3;  
     [0028]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the member of FIG. 4;  
     [0029]FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a stretchably resilient sleeve member adapted for fitting onto the neck of a crimped-cap bottle;  
     [0030]FIG. 7 is a partially exploded view of the members of FIGS.  3 - 5  when assembled together and mounted on the neck of a bottle;  
     [0031]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a boxed beverage container fitted with a plurality of indicia-representing and identifying apertures according to the invention;  
     [0032]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bagged beverage container fitted with a plurality of indicia-representing and identifying apertures according to the invention;  
     [0033]FIG. 10 is a top view of a beverage cup lid fitted with a plurality of indicia-representing and identifying apertures according to the invention;  
     [0034]FIG. 11 is a top view of a pop-top beverage can fitted with identification indicia and a selectable pointing device according to the invention;  
     [0035]FIG. 12 is a front elevation detailed view of a segment of an identification ring fitted with privacy flaps;  
     [0036]FIG. 13 is a detail, partly in section, depicting one of the privacy flaps of FIG. 12 in its closed position in which it prevents view of its covered indicia; and  
     [0037]FIG. 14 is a detail similar to that of FIG. 13 but depicting the privacy flap in its open, or viewing, position in which its underlying indicia is observable. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0038] As employed in this specification and claims, the following terms are defined as follows:  
     [0039] 1. Identity-indicating Alpha Numeric Indicia: means one or more ciphers, numerals, characters or a combination thereof whose purpose is to identify the object on which it is displayed.  
     [0040] 2. Turnable Member: means a multi-faced non-circular ring having a major lateral dimension greater thank perpendicular lateral dimension, and having one or more regions adjacent extremities bounding said major dimension which, when urged inwardly, correspondingly urge outwardly portions adjacent said perpendicular dimension thereby decreasing said major dimension and increasing said perpendicular dimension.  
     [0041] Now turning to the drawing, and more particularly FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen to depict the two parts  11  and  12  of a conventional screw-type bottle cap  10  after the parts have been separated by unscrewing the cap from its bottle as represented by the circular arrow  11   a . As is well known, the lower collar part  12  ordinarily remains on the neck of its bottle after the cap  11  is removed, thus providing a convenient medium for displaying identify-indicating alpha-numeric indicia. In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, the ring  12  is marked with identity-indicating indicia as depicted in. FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 1, the indicia are arabic numerals and/or letters of the alphabet; whereas in FIG. 2 the indicia are letters of the alphabet. These, it will be observed, are individually disposed within a corresponding plurality of circumferentially disposed segments which, in FIG. 2 are identified as  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  . . .  12   n . For bottles not having a lower collar part  12 , such indicia may be disposed directly on the neck surface. e.g., neck  33  of FIG. 7).  
     [0042] To equip collar  12  for receiving a cooperating turnable member  13  (FIGS.  4 - 5 ), a pair of spaced-apart lips  14   a  and  14   b  are fastened to, or made part of, member  12  at its upper and lower extremities so as to form the spool-shape depicted in FIG. 3. Such spacing is depicted by arrow  15 .  
     [0043] Turnable member  13  (FIGS.  4 - 5 ) is shown to be configured in the aforementioned modified rectangular shape as a non-circular ring having the major lateral dimension “x” being substantially greater than the perpendicular dimension “y”. Walls  17   a - 17   d  are resilient so that inward pressure applied to end portions  18   a  and  18   b  urges them inwardly and correspondingly urges outwardly portions adjacent said perpendicular dimension, e.g., regions  19   a  and  19   b , thereby decreasing said major dimension “x” and increasing perpendicular dimension “y”. The values of “x” and “y” are such that when dimension “y” is expanded, the-geometry of the interior region  20  is changed so that turnable member  13  can be slipped over one of the lips  14   a / 14   b  of FIG. 3; and then when pressure is released, forms the composite assembly depicted in FIG. 7.  
     [0044] Within turnable member  13 , and mounted on spaced-apart opposed inner surfaces thereof are arcuate surfaces  22   a  and  22   b  which are optionally adapted for frictional engagement with corresponding outer surface  12   a  of collar  12 . Thus, when pressure on end portions  18   a  and  18   b  is released, surfaces  22   a  and  22   b  frictionally engage surface  12   a  and/or the bottleneck, thereby to impart restraint to turning of turnable member  13  unless and until inward pressure is again imparted to surfaces  18   a  and  18   b . In some instances, such frictional engagement may be adequate to hold turnable member in a desired position during subsequent usage. However, to supplement such, or in instances when frictional engagement is not employed, there are provided optional protuberances  24   a - 24   b  which are positioned to cooperate with correspondingly spaced indentations  25  to afformatively lock turnable member  13  in a desired location until it is desired to rotate it to another position. As with the foregoing frictional engagement description, when protuberances are provided and are positioned within their mating indentations, pressure applied to end portions  18   a - 18   b  urges portions  19   a - 19   b  outwardly to disengage protuberances  24   a - 24   b  from indentations  25  thus permitting turnable member  13  to be rotated to a new position.  
     [0045] Further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 reveals the presence of window  27  which is provided to permit viewing of that one of the aforementioned indicia which is exposed to view therethrough when turnable member is turned to a selected position. Thus, provision is made for the user to select any desired one of the available indicia so as to impart a unique identification to the beverage container on whose neck the indicia are displayed or to which the collar  12  is attached (FIG. 7).  
     [0046] Now turning to FIG. 6, it will be seen to depict a resiliently stretchable composite collar member for use on bottles that are not equipped with adequate collars. There, it will be seen, are a principal section  30  which may be elongated (as shown) or shortened as depicted by member  31 . For either member  30  or  31 , identity-indicating alpha numeric indicia similar to those described above, may be displayed on the exposed circumferential surface as illustrated in FIG. 2. To install the member on a conventional bottle neck, it is stretched and pulled over the neck of the bottle, then released so that stretching is relieved and the collar then remains positioned on the bottle neck.  
     [0047] As mentioned above, FIG. 7 is a partially exploded view of the members of FIGS.  3 - 5  when assembled together. The assembly  32  is shown with the turnable member  13  in a position to display the alphabetical letter A through its window  27 . The upper part  33   a  of the bottle neck  33  extends above lip  14   a  of assembly  32 , and the lower part  33   b  of the bottle neck  33  extends downwardly below lip  14   b  of assembly  32 . The feature of turnability is represented by arrows  13   a  and  13   b  which suggest that in the preferred embodiment, the turnable member can be turned either clockwise or counterclockwise so as to progressively display successive ones of the identifying indicia (e.g., numerals as shown in FIG. 1, or alphabetical letters as shown in FIG. 2). It should be noted, however, that the turnable member may be made to be unidirectional and/or completely rotatable if desired.  
     [0048] Turning to FIG. 8, it will be seen that it is a perspective view of a boxed beverage container  40  fitted with a plurality of indicia-representing and identifying apertures  41   a - 41   m  according to one preferred embodiment of the invention. Mounted on a face of container  40  such as the front face  42 , there is an optional dial  43 , containing an array of indicia corresponding to those depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 (e.g., alphabetical letters and/or arabic numerals). Preferably, dial  43  is detachable and re-usable. However it may be affixed permanently to container  40  if desired.  
     [0049] For the container  40 , identification and association with a particular person is made by selecting a particular one of the apertures to puncture as is illustrated by puncture of aperture  41 I by drinking straw  44 . The remaining apertures are, of course, left in their original closed conditions. If further concern for individuality exists, optional dial  43  may be turned to a selected position, thereby providing further protection against confusion with choices by another person.  
     [0050]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bagged beverage container fitted with a plurality of indicia-representing and identifying apertures  48  according to the invention. There, it will be seen, the principles of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 8 are correspondingly extended to a conventionally bagged beverage. An optional dial  43   a  is positioned on a face  46  of the bag, and a plurality of apertures  48  similar to those of FIG. 8 are provided for individual selection by the user. In FIG. 9, aperture “C” has been selected for penetration by drinking straw  49 .  
     [0051] As mentioned above, FIG. 10 is a top view of a beverage cup lid  50  which is fitted with a plurality of indicia-representing and identifying penetrable apertures A, B, C, . . . N, according to the invention. One of these may be selected for penetration (and consequently, user identification) as with the descriptions of FIGS. 8 and 9. However, an additional aperture  52  may be provided, if desired, for insertion of straw  53 . In such event, one of the indicia A . . . N may be marked for example, with a pen, pencil or similar writing instrument to correlate it with the identity of the user.  
     [0052] As previously set forth, FIG. 11 is a top view of a conventional pop-top beverage can  55  fitted with identification indicia  56  (therein illustrated as alphabetical letters A-Z) and a selectable wand-like pointing device  57  according to an embodiment of the invention.  
     [0053] The opening member  58  on a conventional pop-top beverage can is typically attached to the top  59  by a brad, or rivet  60  around which member  58  can rotate once the can is opened. Accordingly, a pointing device such as wand-like arrow  57  may be mounted on the brad, or rivet,  60  and swiveled to point to a selected one of the indicia. Such partial rotation (swiveling) is indicated by arcuate arrows  63  and phantom representation  57   a  of wand-like pointer  57 . The indicating pointer (e.g., pointer  57 ) may be retained in a selected position by the function imparted by brad, or rivet  60 ; or if additional retentive capability is desired, by protuberances and indentations as described above in connection with FIGS.  3 - 5 .  
     [0054]FIG. 12 is a front elevation detailed view of a segment  70  of an identification ring (similar to the identification ring  12  depicted in FIG. 2), to which privacy flaps  72  of FIGS. 13 and 14 have been added. As the name suggests, the privacy flaps  72  when in the closed or obscuring positions (FIG. 13), selectively cover the underlying identifying indicia and prevent view thereof. When in the open or viewing positions (FIG. 14), they selectively display the underlying indicia to view. In FIG. 12, an indicating indicia alphabetical letter “A” is revealed to view since its associated privacy flap  72   a  is in its open position; whereas the adjacent indicia (Z and B which are shown in dashed lines) are obscured from view by their respective flaps  73  and  74  that are in their closed positions.  
     [0055] As mentioned above, FIG. 13 is a detail, partly in section, depicting one of the privacy flaps of FIG. 12 in its closed position in which it prevents view of its covered indicia. There, it will be observed, are two generally L-shaped sections  76  and  77  which are hinged together by hinge  78 . Also retaining them in closed engagement is frictiona/latchedl fitting  79  comprised of springy members  79   a  and  79   b . On the upper surface of inverted L-shaped member  77  there is provided a groove or notch  80  which is adapted for engagement by a user&#39;s finger nail so as to facilitate disengagement from the closed position and deployment (by pivoting member  77  around hinge  78 ) into the open position as shown in FIG. 14.  
     [0056] As previously mentioned, FIG. 14 is a detail similar to that of FIG. 13 but depicting the privacy flap  72  in its open, or indicia revealing, position. This position, as previously mentioned (and as depicted in FIG. 12), reveals the underlying identifying indicia to view, thus identifying the container on which it is mounted with a particular person.  
     [0057] It will now be evident that there has been described herein a system and method for improving sanitation for containers adapted to contain products for human consumption such as beverages. Although the inventions hereof have been described by way of preferred embodiments, it will be evident that adaptations and modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.  
     [0058] The terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation; and thus, there is no intent of excluding equivalents, but on the contrary it is intended to cover any and all equivalents that may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions.