Abstract:
A method of assembling a collapsible cup with vented pocket requires that a base member be formed. Next, a plurality of telescoping components are assembled. Each of the plurality of telescoping components are adapted to form a substantially liquid-tight seal upon telescopic extension by friction-fitting the plurality of telescoping components together. One of the plurality of telescoping components is then attached to the base member to form an impervious junction between the base member and one of the plurality of telescoping components. Finally, a vented pocket is fixedly attached to another of the plurality of telescoping components.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/360,074 filed Feb. 6, 2003, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable.  
         APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not Applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0005]    This invention relates generally to containers and, more particularly, to a method of assembling a collapsible cup with vented pocket.  
           [0006]    Seasonal allergy sufferers and others who take a daily pill to remedy aches and pains have had a difficult time administering their medication. Because of this, it is desirous to find a better way of assembling a collapsible cup with vented pocket.  
           [0007]    2. Related Art Solid cups having a pill-dispensing pocket are known. These cups, however, have a problem in that the “pocket” or pill-dispensing area, requires the pill to be placed in a certain orientation. In addition, only pills of a certain size can be deployed in the pill-dispensing area.  
           [0008]    Collapsible cups are known in the camping arts.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is in view of the above problems that the present invention was developed. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of first forming a base member. Second, a plurality of telescoping components are assembled. Each of the plurality of telescoping components are adapted to form a substantially liquid-tight seal upon telescopic extension by friction-fitting the plurality of telescoping components together. Next, one of the plurality of telescoping components is attached to the base member to form an impervious junction between the base member and one of the plurality of telescoping components. Finally, a vented pocket is fixedly attached to another of the plurality of telescoping components.  
           [0010]    Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical collapsible cup with vented pocket, shown without a mating lid, with a plurality of telescoping components in expanded form;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a top view of the collapsible cup with vented pocket shown without the mating lid;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective of the collapsible cup with vented pocket, shown without the mating lid, with a plurality of telescoping components in expanded form;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a side view of the collapsible cup with vented pocket, shown with the plurality of telescoping components in retracted form, with the mating lid included. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate like elements, FIG. 1 illustrates a collapsible cup with vented pocket. Reference character  20  generally indicates the apparatus of the present invention. A base member  22  provides foundational support for the apparatus  20 .  
         [0017]    The base member  22  is cylindrical in shape. However, it is envisioned that the base member  22  may be any shape suitable to maintain the structural integrity of the apparatus  20 . The base member has a contoured lip  24  on its upper side, thus increasing the overall circumference of the base member  22  as one views the base member from bottom to top.  
         [0018]    The base member  22  supports a plurality of telescoping components  26 . FIG. 1 shows that five components preferably comprise the plurality of telescoping components  26 . It is preferred that each component comprising the plurality of telescoping components  26  be cylindrical in shape. It is, however, understood that component shape may be any geometrical shape allowing telescopic motion, such as square, triangular, or any host of other shapes. Likewise, it is also understood that the total number of components comprising the plurality of telescoping components  26  may deviate from five. This allows one to properly size the apparatus  20  for an appropriate fluid volume.  
         [0019]    A fluid-tight seal  28  is formed by friction-fitting the plurality of telescoping components  26  together. This is possible because the plurality of telescoping components  26  are a series of progressively varying circumference either progressively-decreasing or progressively-increasing depending on the initial point of reference. Friction fitting allows proper liquid containment when using the apparatus  20 . An outermost telescoping component  30  is attached to the base member  22  to form an impervious junction  32  between the base member  22  and the outermost telescoping component  30 . The impervious junction  32  is necessary in order to allow proper liquid containment when using the apparatus.  
         [0020]    As depicted in FIG. 2, a vented pocket  34  (alternatively termed a pill basket or vented pill basket) is attached to an innermost telescoping component  36 . The innermost telescoping component  36  is the final component, or end piece of the plurality of telescoping components  26 .  
         [0021]    Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 2 and 3, the plurality of telescoping components  26  are a series of cylinders having decreasing circumference. This allows the plurality of telescoping components  26  to friction-fit together and form the fluid-tight seal  28 . The outermost telescoping component  30  is molded to the base member  22  to form the impervious junction  32 . It is envisioned that the impervious junction  32  may also be formed by an adhesive, weld, bond, or other suitable attachment means.  
         [0022]    The vented pocket  34  is formed by attaching a rectangular plate  38  perpendicularly with a semi-circular plate  40 . The attachment of the rectangular plate  38  to the semicircular plate  40  may be by any suitable method, including, but not limited to, molding, welding, or adhesion. Narrow edges  42  of the rectangular plate  38  are molded into an inside edge  44  of the innermost telescoping component  36 . A curved edge  46  of the semi-circular plate  40  is also molded into the inside edge  44  of the innermost telescoping component  36 . Likewise, the attachment of the narrow edges  42  of the rectangular plate  38  and the curved edge  46  of the semi-circular plate  40  may be performed by any suitable method, such as molding, welding, or adhesion.  
         [0023]    The vented pocket  34  allows liquid transmission to occur. This is possible because both the rectangular plate  38  and the semi-circular plate  40  are perforated. Rectangular plate perforations  48 , as shown, are narrow rectangular incisions through the rectangular plate  38 . Upper ends of the rectangular plate perforations  48  are rounded. Semi-circular plate perforations  50  are both circular and oval in shape. It is, however, understood that on both the rectangular plate  38  and the semi-circular plate  40 , the perforations may be any shape that permits liquid (such as water, cola, or juice) to flow therethrough.  
         [0024]    Using the apparatus  20  involves obtaining a pill from a store, one&#39;s pants pocket, medicine cabinet, or other appropriate place, and placing the pill into the vented pocket  34 . The plurality of telescoping components  26  would then be actuated by hand. A person would grasp the rectangular plate  38  with the fingers of one hand and place his other hand on the base member  22 . The person would then pull the rectangular plate  38  up, thus extending the plurality of telescoping components  26 , while maintaining pressure on the base member  22  with his other hand. It is, however, understood that placement of the pill into the vented pocket  34  may also be automated, such as in a factory assembly line employing programmable logic controllers or other automated processes. Likewise, in similar fashion, actuation of the plurality of telescoping components  26  may also be automated.  
         [0025]    Retracting the apparatus  20  involves pushing down on the rectangular plate  38  or innermost telescoping component  36  until the plurality of telescoping components  26  are in their retracted position. As shown in FIG. 4, the base member has a mating lid  52  that covers the apparatus  20  when the plurality of telescoping components  26  are in their retracted position. The mating lid  52  fits snugly over the apparatus  20  by sliding on top of the apparatus until movement is stopped by the contoured lip  24 . The mating lid  52  allows one to encapsulate the pill in the apparatus  20  and to make the apparatus smaller and more mobile. It is envisioned that one may transport the apparatus  20  in one&#39;s pocket, brief case, or similar carrying location, once the plurality of telescoping components  26  are in their retracted position and the mating lid  52  is placed over the apparatus.  
         [0026]    In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several advantages of the invention are achieved and attained.  
         [0027]    The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of this invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.  
         [0028]    As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.