Abstract:
The invention disclosed herein identifies a novel mug with a removable spiked bottom ring for drinking beverages as well as for self-defense or other emergency uses. Such a mug would be of benefit because generally mugs are generally carried all around and therefore would be a good self-defense or survival instrument if needed.

Description:
ROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C Section 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/890,268, filed on Feb. 16, 2007, by John Cheslock, entitled “MUG WITH REMOVABLE SPIKED BOTTOM PANEL,” which application is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention to The present invention relates generally to beverage containers and is particularly directed to drinking mugs with removable spiked bottom rings for drinking beverages as well as for self-defense. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventional mugs are usually sturdily built type of ceramic drinking cups often used for hot beverages, such as coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Mugs can also be made of porcelain (china), Pyrex and some (usually intended for campers) are made of plastic, steel, or enameled metal or ceramic. Mugs typically have a flat bottom or a bottom that is slightly concave or convex for proper placement on a substantially flat surface such as a cup holder in an automobile for example. Some mugs have a circular protrusion that spans the circumference of the bottom of the mug. 
         [0005]    Conventional mugs typically also have a handle for the user to grip. Mugs can have removable lids, for example so the user can pour the beverage of choice into the mug and close the lid so that the beverage would not spill perhaps while driving. The removable lid can have a finger grip on it such as a protrusion from the lid to lift the lid up. The lid can have an opening so that the user can drink out of the mug while still keeping the lid on in order to maintain the heat of the beverage for example as well as to allow the user to drive as well as drink the beverage for example. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention describes a mug with a removable spiked bottom ring or bottom ring with pointed and/or raised protrusions in which the mug lid, body, handle, and removable base are made of Lexan and/or other high strength polymer material and/or any other high strength material, including such materials as metal or alloys. The removable spiked bottom ring has mug engagement members such as threads for engaging the base engagement members such as threads on the mug. The mug can be used for drinking beverages as well as for other uses as will become more apparent. The ring can be screwed on for example to break open a window after an automobile accident or for self-defense. Typically, the ring is constructed out of Lexan, and/or any other high-strength material that can withstand high impact. Due to the strength of the material, as well as the spikes on the mug, the user can hold the mug with the handle for example to provide a defensive impact to an attacker. The user may also utilize the mug, due to the high strength of the mug&#39;s material, as a defensive device to block attacks from an attacker. The present invention may also incorporate a diamond plate or raised pattern on the exterior of the mug for ease in gripping the mug, as well as an additional striking area. Since mugs are usually used in an automobile to drink coffee for example while driving, in the unfortunate case of a car accident, the strong mug of the instant invention can be used to break open the window. 
         [0007]    An embodiment of the present invention comprises a base, a container adapted to receive the base, a base engagement member disposed on the container, and a container engagement member disposed on the base, the container engagement member adapted to engage the base engagement member, wherein the base comprises at least one spiked projection disposed thereon and the at least one spiked projection point away from the beverage container when the base is engaged with the container. 
         [0008]    Such a container further optionally comprises the container engagement member comprising a thread and the base engagement member comprising a thread, the base engagement member being disposed on an outside surface of the beverage container, the beverage container being constructed from polycarbonate plastic, a lid with a ledge catch on a side of the lid, the lid being secured to the beverage container by means of a hinge, a lever coupled to the beverage container, wherein the lever secures the lid to the beverage container by means of a wire, metal projection or polymer projection coupled to the lever and coupled to the lid, more than one spiked projection, wherein the spiked projection spans a circumference of the base, a void being present between the base and container, the void being of sufficient size to allow for storage, the base comprising a raised pattern, and the raised pattern comprising at least one raised projection. 
         [0009]    Other features and advantages are inherent in the system disclosed or will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a mug with a removable base of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a back view of a mug of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a view of a mug of the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates another view of a mug of the present invention wherein entire mug is molded from lexan and/or other high-strength polymer material and/or metal or an alloy with double or single-wall construction. The mug may also contain a stainless steel and/or alloy liner. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and which is shown, by way of illustration, several embodiments of the present invention. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, mug  100  is constructed out of polycarbonate plastic (typically known as LEXAN®). Mug  100  can also be constructed with any other high strength polymer materials or a combination of polycarbonate plastic and another high strength polymer material, or any type of metal or alloy, or any combination of materials that results in a high strength material. The body of mug  100  is typically of double-wall construction (insulated), however, in some embodiments, other types of construction, such as a single wall construction, can be used. The mug may also utilize a stainless steel and/or alloy liner. 
         [0017]    Mug  100  includes removable base  115  with tooth projections  120  that are molded into base  115 . Threads  125  are molded directly into base  115  and threads  130  are molded directly onto mug  100  on an outside  111  of mug  100 . Base  115  can be threaded on and off, or screwed on and off. In other embodiments, base  115  can be removably attached to mug  100  via other engagement means such as, for example, detents and detent openings, bayonet mounting, press-fit, or other mechanical attaching methods that will securely hold base  115  to mug  100 . Further, base  115  can optionally be molded as part of mug  100  if desired. 
         [0018]    Base  115  can also have a cover, typically of a different material, that will only expose tooth projections  120  when enough force is placed on the bottom of mug  100  to deform or otherwise puncture the cover. So, for example, and not by way of limitation, a soft plastic or malleable rubber can be molded into base  115  to provide a substantially flat surface on the bottom of base  115 , but, when force is applied, the rubber would detent, while the tooth projections  120  would remain rigid, providing points of contact with the surface struck by base  115 . 
         [0019]    Mug  100  also comprises handle  135  which is molded into the body of mug  100  and which is generally constructed of similar material to mug  100 . Handle  135  can also be constructed of another high strength polymer material. Mug  100  can also comprise a second handle (not shown). 
         [0020]    The mug  100  comprises a lid  170  that is shown in a slightly open position in  FIG. 1 . Lid  170  utilizes a friction fit slide closure (not shown) with a detent (not shown) providing the friction fit. In the open position, the slide exposes a small opening (not shown) to provide fluid to the user. 
         [0021]    The lever  150  can be used to open and close the lid  170 . When the lever  150  is pushed down for example, the lid  170  closes. When the lever  150  is pulled up for example, the lid  170  opens. The lever  150  is coupled to the mug  100  by a hinge pin  155  that is typically a stainless steel rod, but can be made of other materials and can also be a different type of hinge if desired. 
         [0022]    The lid  170  has a ledge-catch  165  molded directly into mug lid  170 . However, the ledge catch  165  does not need to be directly molded into mug lid  170 . The purpose of the ledge catch  165  is to secure the lid  170  into the down position when the lever  150  is latched onto the ledge catch  165  on the lid  170 . The wire loop  160  can be made of stainless steel or other appropriate materials and is used to engage the ledge catch  165  of the lid  170 . 
         [0023]    The lid  170  seals against a top of the body of mug  100  by means of a flat, and/or round food-grade silicone seal  145 . The lid  170  uses a hinge  140  that is a stainless steel rod near the top of the handle  135  as a pivot when lid  170  is opened and closed for example. The hinge  140  can also be constructed from other materials such as steel, metal, or high strength plastic, and could be threaded along its length for example. 
         [0024]    Raised pattern  175  provides additional gripping surfaces for mug  100 , and, if desired, provides an additional surface for striking mug  100  against an intruder or surface. Raised pattern  175  can be molded into mug  100 , or be attached as a separate piece to mug  100 , and can take a variety of patters depending on the desired use for raised pattern  175 . For example, and not by way of limitation, raised pattern can be made from a soft rubber if the only desired function of raised pattern  175  is for gripping purposes. However, as with base  115 , raised pattern can also be made from a high-impact plastic, with or without a soft rubber cover, to provide an additional defensive surface to be used against an attacker or to break a window in case of emergency. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , mug  200  includes stainless or alloy pin hinges  205  and  210 . Mug  200  can comprise a slight recess  215  on the body of mug  200  to aid in lifting the handle  220 . Alternatively, more than one recess can be provided on mug  200 . Further, cache  225  can be provided between the bottom of recess  215 , or between toe bottom of the inside of mug  100  and the base  115 , to be able to hide items from plain view. For example, a house or car key, money, or other small items can be stored in cache  225 , to prevent these items from being seen by a would-be burglar or thief who would not normally steal a mug  100  because of the perceived lack of value of mug  100 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of mug  100  comprises lid  340  with a shelf  320  that is molded into lid  340 . Thick stainless steel wire  310  can catch on shelf  320  of lid  340  to close lid  340  for example. Force of lever  315  creates compression seal. Indent  325  molded into mug  300  allows fingers to access under lever  315  to lift lever  315 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , embodiments of the mug  400  comprise lid  405 , hinge  410 , and handle  415 . Mug  400  also comprises hinge point  420  and wire  425 . Wire  425  is used to provide pressure on hinge point  420  of lid  405  to close and open lid  405 . 
       Advantages of the Present Invention 
       [0028]    The present invention provides a coffee mug that also acts as a self-defense weapon or striking device which may be useful for people in certain situations. For example, if a person is being attacked, the base  115 , with tooth projections  120 , and/or raised pattern  175  on the outer surface area of mug  100 , mug  100  can be used as a self-defense weapon, either by striking base  115  or raised pattern  175  against an attacker to cause injury to the attacker, allowing the user of mug  100  to escape or disarm the attacker. Further, if the person is stuck in an automobile, the tooth projections  120  or raised pattern  175  can act as a point of contact which can break a window in an automobile to allow the person to escape. 
         [0029]    With an appropriate cover, the base  115  and tooth projections  120  can be hidden from view of would be assailants. For example, the hard polycarbonate plastic and/or metal teeth can be embedded or covered with a soft rubber material, which is attached to base  115  via a variety of methods, and, when the tooth projections strike something hard, such as human skin or a pane of glass, the rubber cover would deform, leaving only the sharp points of the tooth projections  120 . As such, the mug  100  is a clandestine self-defense weapon in that it appears relatively harmless to the casual observer. 
         [0030]    The base  115  can also be removed from the mug if desired, or other types of bases  115  with different profiles and/or accessories such as a light can be added depending on the desires of the user. For example, a larger or smaller number of tooth projections  120  can be molded into a variety of bases  115 , and users can select the base  115  that best suits their needs. Further, the base  115  and mug  100  body may leave a small opening, or cache  225 , between base  115  and mug  100 , which may provide a small cache for items such as emergency keys, emergency cash, etc. 
       Conclusion 
       [0031]    In summary, the present invention describes a beverage container, which comprises a base, a container adapted to receive the base, a base engagement member disposed on the container, and a container engagement member disposed on the base, the container engagement member adapted to engage the base engagement member, wherein the base comprises at least one spiked projection disposed thereon and the at least one spiked projection point away from the beverage container when the base is engaged with the container. 
         [0032]    Such a container further optionally comprises the container engagement member comprising a thread and the base engagement member comprising a thread, the base engagement member being disposed on an outside surface of the beverage container, the beverage container being constructed from polycarbonate plastic, a lid with a ledge catch on a side of the lid, the lid being secured to the beverage container by means of a hinge, a lever coupled to the beverage container, wherein the lever secures the lid to the beverage container by means of a wire, metal projection or polymer projection coupled to the lever and coupled to the lid, more than one spiked projection, wherein the spiked projection spans a circumference of the base, a void being present between the base and container, the void being of sufficient size to allow for storage, the base comprising a raised pattern, and the raised pattern comprising at least one raised projection. 
         [0033]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but by the claims appended hereto and the full range of equivalents to the claims appended hereto.