Patent Publication Number: US-2003224689-A1

Title: Beverage container with integrated noisemaker

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Technical Field  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a noisemaking device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a noisemaking device which may be integrated with a beverage container for purchase and use by fans at sporting or entertainment events.  
       [0003] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0004] Sporting and entertainment events are commonly held in stadiums and halls of various sizes which are capable of seating thousands of fans. These events may include sports and music concerts. Professional and collegiate sport teams are very popular and draw thousands of spectators at each game. Many spectators bring special banners, costumes and noisemakers to the games to show their support for their team.  
       [0005] During games, concessions are usually operated providing fans with food and drink while at the game. Many fans consider the food and beverages served at the stadium or arena an enjoyable and indispensable part of the experience and fun associated with watching the game. Advertisers utilize concession drink containers to market the hometown team and other local businesses and sell souvenirs or memorabilia along with the purchase of food and drink at the event.  
       [0006] However, the nature of consuming food or drink at an event and participating by applauding or cheering with a noisemaker is somewhat difficult, if possible, to perform at the same time. Due to the limited space in seating, most spectators must hold their food and drink in both hands, place it in their laps, or set the containers on the ground in order to applaud or shake a noisemaker. Some spectators place their drinks or noisemakers on the ground which tend to get knocked over by foot traffic of persons moving around the rows of seats in the stadium. Sometimes fans become excited when viewing a crucial moment in the game and knock over their food or drinks setting on the ground. In order to avoid spilling a beverage, one must then hold onto the beverage container which inhibits participation by clapping hands or otherwise expressing approval thereby detracting from the enjoyment of the sporting experience.  
       [0007] There is a substantial need in the art for a food or beverage container which may be incorporated with a noisemaking device whereby a fan may enjoy his or her food or drink and at the same time cheer and operate the noisemaker. There is a further need in the art for a noisemaker which may be easily bundled with concession products and allow a fan to make a single purchase to obtain food, drink and a noisemaker souvenir. There is a further need in the art for a reusable noisemaker which may be reaffixed to food or drink containers purchased by a fan at future events.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] The present invention relates to a beverage container integrated with a noisemaking device. According to a preferred embodiment, the noisemaking device comprises an enclosure containing small pellets which may be shaken to make noise when cheering for a sports team or at a concert. The enclosure is a preformed shape with sufficient dimensions to be fixably attached to or formed as a one-piece unit with a food or beverage container as generally sold at concession stands in stadiums and arenas. A person may then consume food and drink and, at the same time, utilize the noisemaker concurrently therewith. After the event is over, the fan may then detach the noisemaker, dispose of the food or beverage container, and retain the noisemaker as a souvenir and/or for future use at other events.  
       [0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a food or container with an integrated noisemaking device that may be used concurrently with the ingestion of food or drink. It is another object of the present invention to provide a noisemaker which may be detached from the food or drink container and kept by the fan as a souvenir and reused at future events if desired.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical beverage container with integrated noisemaker constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the noisemaker is attachable and detachable from the beverage container by threaded screw mechanism; and,  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the noisemaker is attachable and detachable from the beverage container by locking tab mechanism.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0014] With regard to FIG. 1, there is shown a beverage container with integrated noisemaker  10  constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the beverage container with integrated noisemaker  10  is composed of a typical beverage container  12  integrated with noisemaker enclosure  14  which contains pellets  16 . Partition  18  separates the fluid contained in beverage container  12  and pellets contained in noisemaker enclosure  14 . In this embodiment, one may hold and consume a liquid refreshment and, at the same time, generate noise by shaking the noisemaker. It is contemplated that the beverage container with integrated noisemaker  10  may be formed and constructed as a one-piece plastic unit by apparatus and methods as generally known to one of ordinary skill in the art.  
     [0015]FIG. 2 represents an alternative embodiment of the present invention providing an attachable/detachable noisemaker enclosure  14 . Beverage container  12  may be preformed with a threaded base  20 . Noisemaker enclosure  14  may be preformed with partition  18  structured below the threaded inner circumference  22  of the noisemaker enclosure  14 . In this embodiment, the fan may simply screw or unscrew the noisemaker enclosure  14  from the beverage container  12 . The ability to attach and detach the noisemaker enclosure  14  from the beverage container  12  allows a fan to discard the beverage container  12  and retain the noisemaker enclosure  14  for further. This allows the user to utilize the noisemaker enclosure  14  alone at subsequent events or he or she may purchase another beverage container  12  and then attach the noisemaker enclosure to the beverage container  12  for subsequent use.  
     [0016] Turning to FIG. 3, another alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown whereby noisemaker enclosure  14  may be attached/detached to beverage container  12  by locking tabs  24 . In this embodiment, beverage container  12  may be preformed with tabs  24  at the base of the beverage container  12  and capable of receiving noisemaker enclosure  14 . When pressed together, beverage container  12  and noisemaker enclosure  14  will be held together by locking tabs  24 . Other mechanisms for attaching and detaching work pieces are commonly known to one of ordinary skill in the art and may be applied to various other potential embodiments of the invention disclosed herein.  
     [0017] As will be recognized by those of skill in the art, beverage container with integrated noisemaker  10  may be fabricated to include ornate advertisements, sports team logos and other forms of promotional material. The device  10  may be fabricated from a variety of materials, including plastic, metal or wood and combinations thereof. Likewise, pellets  16  maybe fabricated from glass, plastic, wood or metal and be formed in various sizes and shapes commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, pellets  16  may be round, square, spherical or rectangular in shape and any combination of thereof. For the sake of brevity and description, pellet is a general term describing various materials and shapes used as to produce noise as is generally known in the art and is not to be construed as a limitation on the size, shape or material comprising pellet  16 . It is contemplated that a variety of other noisemaking devices, such as a whistle or bell apparatus, maybe incorporated into the invention disclosed herein in lieu of or along with pellet  16 . Furthermore, glow sticks or fluorescent materials may be incorporated into the noisemaking enclosure to enhance the experience. The present invention also contemplates incorporating the noisemaking device into containers designed to hold food products or possibly other sorts of memorabilia.  
     [0018] The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.