Abstract:
A selectively usable and removable covering for an open-topped beverage container obstructs the ingress of one or more undesired foreign objects into the container and protects the beverage. Kits may include one or more beverage containers and weighted coverings. The coverings or the weights may be decorated and may serve as drink identifiers.

Description:
TECHNICAL FILED 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to glassware, stemware or other beverage accessories and more particularly to a selectively removable protective covering that prevents insects, leaves, plant litter or other undesired foreign objects from dropping into a beverage contained in a wine glass, beer mug, coffee cup or other open-topped container. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    One of the most pleasant ways to enjoy a glass of wine or frosty mug of beer is outdoors at poolside or around the backyard barbeque. Unfortunately, insects such as wasps, bees, ants, flies and so forth may also find our refreshment appealing and may crawl or fall into our glass, spoiling the beverage. Or it may happen that leaves or tree litter may fall in. So, enjoyable as it is, one problem with having a beverage outdoors is keeping unwanted foreign objects such as insects and debris from getting into the beverage. 
         [0003]    It would be desirable, therefore, to have a convenient, easy to use covering that could selectively cover a wine glass or other item of stemware or other open-topped beverage container such as a mug of beer or cup of soda and which could be easily removed for drinking from the container and then quickly replaced again over the top opening. It would further be desirable for the covering to be weighted so that it would not slip or blow off of the container very easily. Such a covering may also serve as a decorative yet useful table setting accessory. 
         [0004]    The present disclosure describes a selectively usable and removable covering for an open-topped beverage container to obstruct the ingress of one or more undesired foreign objects into the container. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A selectively or optionally usable and removable covering for an open-topped beverage container obstructs the ingress of undesired foreign objects into the container and protects the beverage with a drape-able material to drape over the opening of the container and at least one weight on the perimeter of the material. Preferably the material is a gas-permeable fabric to allow the beverage to breathe while covered. Kits may include one or more beverage containers and weighted coverings. The coverings or the weights may be decorated and may serve as drink identifiers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1A  is top view illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a covering of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a top view illustration of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a covering of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0009]      FIG. 1C  is a top view illustration of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a covering of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a top view cut away illustration of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a covering of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  is a side view cut away illustration of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0012]      FIG. 2C  is a top view illustration of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a covering of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic illustration of some exemplary components of a covering kit of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a covering of the present disclosure on a wine glass. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1C  of the drawings,  FIG. 1A  is top view illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a covering of the present disclosure. Reference numeral  100  generally designates a covering embodying features of the present disclosure. The covering  100  includes a body  110  which may be fabricated from a drape-able material such as fabric, leather, synthetic, rubber, plastic, paper, and so on. For use with wine and other beverages that benefit from at least some exposure to the air after they have been decanted into drinking container such as glassware, it is preferable that the material is gas-permeable or “breathes”, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A  by vapor lines  140 , so that the covering does not adversely affect the flavor of the beverage by sealing the beverage off from contact with the air. Indeed, the present inventors tested a variety of materials by trial and error before realizing that breathe-able materials are preferred for certain types of beverages such as wines and brandies. Suitable materials or fabrics may include but not be limited to polyester or nylon organza. In addition to “breathing,” preferred fabrics for a covering of the present disclosure are stain resistant and machine or otherwise washable. 
         [0016]    Perimeter  120  describes a circumference or edge that may or may not have corners. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1A , covering  100  has three corners to make triangle when viewed flat from the top. Weights  130  are attached to each corner. The weights  130  enhance the draping of the covering over the top of the drinking container and also keep the covering from sliding, slipping or being blown off of the drinking container. Weights  130  may be one or more beads, for example, strung in row and which dangle decoratively from each corner of covering  100 . In will be appreciated, however, that beads and the like are only mere examples of weights  130  and that the present disclosure contemplates the use of any suitable object or material which accomplishes the weighting functions described herein. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1B  is a top view illustration of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a covering of  FIG. 1A . Reference numeral  105  generally designates a covering embodying features of the alternative embodiment. Perimeter  115  is formed by hem  125  substantially around perimeter  115  of covering  105 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 1C  is a top view illustration of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a covering of  FIG. 1A . The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1C  provides surged edge  127  around perimeter  115  of covering  107 . An at least partially surged edge  127  may be advantageous for embodiments where fabric  110  would otherwise have a ragged edge or loose strings when cut to the desired shape for covering  107 . A surged edge may also be advantageous for embodiments that have a contoured perimeter that may difficult to hem such as for example, a scalloped edge. It will be understood that perimeter  120 ,  115  of a covering  100 ,  105 ,  107  and so forth of the present disclosure may have a decorative contour such as scalloping, triangles, irregular and so on. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2A  is a top view illustration of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a covering of the present disclosure. Reference numeral  200  generally designates a covering embodying features of the alternative embodiment. Material  210  is shaped into a circle when viewed flat from the top, so perimeter  215  has curves. Perimeter is hemmed  220 . Weights  230  are sewn into hem  220  as shown by the cut-away. Weights  230  may be disposed substantially continuously around perimeter  215 , such as with a rolled or drawn length of metal wire, for example, or may be placed intermittently around perimeter  215  depending on the design choice and aesthetic tastes of the user. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2B  is a side view cut away illustration of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A . At least one weight  215  is contained within hem  220 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2C  is a top view illustration of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a covering of the present disclosure. Reference numeral  205  generally designates a covering embodying features of the alternative embodiment. Covering  205  has four corners to form a square or rectangle edged by with hem  225 . Weights  235 ,  245 ,  255 ,  265  on each corner enhance the draping of covering  205  over the rim of a beverage container and may also serve as unique drink identifiers to that a user does not confuse his glass or beverage with that of another person. For example, weight  235  may be in the shape of a prism, weight  245  in the shape of a pyramid, weight  255  in the shape of a cube and weight  265  in the shape of a sphere. 
         [0022]    In additional to shapes, unique identification of a covering of the present disclosure may also be accomplished for the weights with the use of colors or patterns and the like as well as with the use of various materials such as metals, glass, stones or gems, synthetics, plastics, resins and so forth. Identification may also be achieved with the covering material itself with the use colors, patterns and textures. Still other identifying means may include appliqué or low-heat adhesive application to the fabric of an identifier such as a logo or monogram, embossing or imprinting the fabric and the so forth. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic illustration of some exemplary components of a covering kit of the present disclosure. Reference numeral  300  generally designates components of a kit of the present disclosure. Components  300  may include but not be limited to one or more open-topped beverage containers  310 ,  320 ; one or more coverings  330 ,  340 , and printed instructions  350 . 
         [0024]    Containers  310 ,  320  may be stemware as shown in  FIG. 3  for illustration purposes, but may also be cups, beer glasses or mugs, or plastic picnic cups for use at parks, public pools, boats or other places where glass containers may be prohibited. Covering  330  is illustrated having spherical weights  335  while covering  340  is illustrated having cube-shaped weights  345  so that covering  330  and  340  may be distinguished from each other. Alternative embodiments provide weights  335 ,  345 , loose in the kit with corresponding hooks  355  or other suitable connectors so that the user may selectively attach the weights to the coverings in a mixed and matched arrangement of the user&#39;s own choosing. 
         [0025]    Additionally or alternatively, coverings  330 ,  340  may be fabricated from materials having different colors, patterns, fabrics, textures and so forth so that coverings  330 ,  340  are distinguishable from each other. Of course, embodiments are contemplated where the components are substantially identical to create a substantially uniform appearance if such is the desired aesthetic. 
         [0026]    Instructions  350  may be printed on paper or other suitable material for inclusion in the packaging (not shown) of the kit. Additionally or alternatively instructions may be available on a website, in which case instructions  350  may include a website address. Instructions  350  may include, for example, either or both text and pictures or illustrations that depict how to use the coverings on a drink container and how to attach one or more weights for those embodiments in which one or more weights are provided loose in the kit for attachment to the covering by the user. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a covering of the present disclosure on a wine glass. Reference numeral  400  generally designates a covering/container combination of the present disclosure. Open-topped beverage container  410  is depicted covered by covering  100  from  FIG. 1A . Weights  130  on covering  100  enhance the draping of covering  100  over rim  420  of container  410 . Enhanced draping is preferred so that the open top of container  410 , as defined by rim  420 , is well covered. The term “enhanced” draping simply refers to the improved contact between covering  100  and rim  420  provided by weights  130  in comparison to the contact that would exist in the absence of weights  130  and also to the fact that the weights have the effect of causing the corners of covering  100  to fall relatively close to the body of container  410  in an aesthetically appealing form rather than jutting out jarringly or otherwise failing to drape in a pleasing manner. 
         [0028]    Certain materials for covering  100  may drape more pleasingly than other materials and so it may be a matter of design choice and aesthetic taste to select a suitable material for covering  100 . Silk, rayon and other silk-like synthetics, linen and so forth are fabrics well known for their pleasing draping characteristics, for example. 
         [0029]    Covering  100  is easily removed by hand when one wishes to drink the beverage in container  410  and then is also easily placed back on top of container  410  between drinks. When used outdoors, weights  130  help keep covering  100  from inadvertently slipping off of rim  420  or from blowing off rim  420  should a gust of wind blow. 
         [0030]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the covering described herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.