Abstract:
An apparatus for safe carriage of a drink vessel within a darkened area, the apparatus including a receptacle having an upper opening, the receptacle&#39;s upper opening being fitted for nestingly receiving the drink vessel; the apparatus further including an attached and underlying illumination component case, the illumination component case housing light emitter, battery, electrical conductor and electrical switching elements.

Description:
This regular patent application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/288,896 filed by Inventor/Applicant, Karen Fusilier, on Dec. 22, 2009, and entitled “Koozie Flashlight.” The Karen Fusilier who is the Applicant herein is one and the same person as the Karen Fusilier who is the Applicant in said provisional application. The Specification and drawings of the instant application are substantially directed to the same structure and subject matter disclosed in said provisional application. The filing date of the instant application precedes the first anniversary of the filing date of said provisional application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to drink carrying receptacles and light emitting electric torches. More particularly, this invention relates to specialized modifications applicable to such receptacles and torches for safe usage within darkened areas. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Parties and social gatherings are commonly held out of doors and during darkened evening hours. In many cases, grounds within which such parties are held are incompletely illuminated, creating areas of hazardous footing for party goers. Accordingly, it is often desirable for attendees at such parties to carry an electric torch or flashlight. Yet, in many circumstances, attendees at such parties wish to carry a drink in one hand and another object such as a plate of food in the other hand. Such common hand carrying of articles during parties often makes it difficult for such party attendees to further carry and utilize the needed electric torch. 
     The instant inventive apparatus for safe carriage of a drink vessel within a darkened area solves or ameliorates the problems discussed above by specially adapting a drink carrying receptacle for dually or additionally functioning as an electric torch. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first structural component of the instant apparatus for safe carriage of a drink vessel within a darkened area comprises a receptacle having an upper opening, and being fitted for receiving a drink vessel. Where the drink vessel comprises bottled or canned pop or beer, the receptacle&#39;s an upwardly opening space is preferably cylindrical and has a circular horizontal cross-sectional profile whose inside diameter is closely fitted for nesting receipt of such drink vessel. In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle is composed of a foam elastomer making the receptacle slightly stretchable for fitted receipt of drink vessels having various diameters, and allowing the receptacle to perform a thermal insulating function for keeping a received drink cool for an extended period of time. 
     A further structural component of the instant inventive apparatus comprises illuminating means which are preferably electrically actuated and powered. In a preferred embodiment, the illuminating means comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes. Suitably, the illuminating means may alternatively comprise an incandescent bulb or a florescent bulb. In the preferred embodiment, the illuminating means preferably further comprise at least a first electric storage battery, a network of electrical conductors including the battery and the light emitter within a circuit, and including on/off switching means which are connected operatively within such circuit. 
     A further structural component of the instant inventive apparatus comprises attaching means which are connected operatively to a lower end of the receptacle, the attaching means preferably housing, supporting, and downwardly directing the illuminating means. In a preferred embodiment, the attaching means comprise a circular cylindrical plastic case whose upper end is fitted for attachment to a lower end of the receptacle, and whose lower end is fitted and adapted for housing and supporting the electric powered light emitter. Preferably, the attaching means positions the light emitting components of the illuminating means for casting light downwardly from the lower end of the drink vessel receiving receptacle. 
     In use of the instant inventive apparatus for safe carriage of a drink vessel within a darkened area, a user may nestingly insert a drink vessel into the receptacle and may actuate the apparatus&#39;s illuminating means by manipulating a suitably provided single throw on/off switch or rotary switch mounted at a lower end of the apparatus. As a result of such illuminating actuation, the inventive apparatus advantageously casts light downwardly through darkened areas toward the ground, illuminating ground areas and illuminating potentially tripping obstacles at the user&#39;s feet. 
     During use of the instant inventive apparatus, the user may allow one of his or her hands to be occupied with carrying an object such as a food plate, while the other hand simultaneously carries a drink and directs light downwardly for obstacle detection and tripping prevention. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the instant invention to provide an apparatus for safe carriage of a drink vessel within a darkened area which incorporate structures, as described above, and which arranges those structures in manners described above for the performance of beneficial functions, as described above. 
     Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive apparatus for safe carriage of a drink vessel within a darkened area. 
         FIG. 2  redepicts the structure of  FIG. 1 , the view of  FIG. 2  being from a view alternatively showing undersurface structures. 
         FIG. 3  shows the instant inventive apparatus in use by a user within a darkened area. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  presents a sectional view of an alternatively configured apparatus, the view being as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an under surface view of a first case component of the  FIG. 5  structure. 
         FIG. 7  is an upper surface view of a second case component of the  FIG. 5  structure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive apparatus for safe carriage of a drink vessel within a darkened area is referred to generally by Reference Arrow  1 . The apparatus  1  comprises a receptacle  2  which forms and defines an upwardly opening hollow interior space  4 . Referring further simultaneously to  FIG. 4 , the receptacle  2  has a lower and annular inset section  8  which facilitates fitted receipts of variously sized drink vessels, such as drink cans, bottles, and the like. An air passage port  10  through the wall of the receptacle  2  is preferably provided for air emission or aspiration, such port relieving any back or vacuum pressure which may undesirably resist insertions and extractions of drink vessels into and out of the receptacle  2 . In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle  2  comprises a flexible and durable elastomer foam for enhanced ability to receive variously sized drink vessels, and for thermally insulating inserted drink vessels. 
     Referring simultaneously to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the instant inventive apparatus  1  preferably further comprises illuminating means which preferably incorporate a plurality of light emitting diodes  42 . The depicted light emitting diodes  42  are intended as being representative of other suitably used electrically powered light emitters such as incandescent bulbs and florescent bulbs. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the illuminating means component of the instant apparatus preferably further comprise at least a first, and preferably first and second electric storage batteries  60  and  62 . A network of electrical conductors  47 ,  46 ,  45 ,  36 ,  30 ,  28 ,  45 ,  26 ,  24 ,  25 ,  40 , and  44 , which incorporate and interconnect the light emitters  42  and the batteries  60  and  62  within an electrical circuit constitute preferred further components of the illuminating means. A single throw on/off switch  34  or alternatively, referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 , a rotary switch  89 ,  84 ,  90 ,  74 ,  66 , is preferably provided as an additional illuminating means component. 
     Referring further to  FIG. 4 , attaching means for suspending and positioning the illuminating means at the lower end or floor  6  of the receptacle  2  are preferably provided, such means suitably comprising a vertically sectioned or vertically partitioned cylindrical case  14 , or with reference to the alternatively switched configuration of  FIGS. 5-7 , a cylindrical case  15 . The upper end of the case,  14  or  15  as the case may be, preferably forms and upwardly opening concavity for receipt of the lower end  6  of the receptacle  2  and an adhesive layer  16  preferably fixedly and permanently secures such receptacle&#39;s lower end within such concavity. In the single throw on/off switched embodiment of  FIG. 4 , a lower aspect of its cylindrical case  14  presents downwardly opening battery receiving cavities  22  and  32  for receipt of wafer batteries  60  and  62  between cavity embedded electric circuit completing electrodes  24  and  25 , and  28  and  45 . Referring further simultaneously to  FIG. 1 , such case component  14  preferably forms or includes an outwardly opening switch well  35  for receipt of and side wall support of a single throw on/off electrical switch  34 . 
     Referring further to  FIG. 4 , the cylindrical case component  14  preferably includes and presents an annular and downwardly extending attachment flange  18 , such flange  18  having an annular and outwardly extending snap attachment ridge  20 . A disc shaped bulb mounting plate  38  is preferably provided as a further component of the attaching means, such plate  38  being nestingly received within the downwardly opening concavity which is defined by the annular flange  18 . The plate  38  supports the light emitting diodes  42 , and electrical conductors  40 ,  44 ,  47 , and  46 , and such plate  38  provides overlying and positioning support for a concave and downwardly directed light reflector  48 . Upon receipt of the plate  38  within the cavity of flange  18 , and upon rotary alignment of lug and detent combination  39 , electrodes  40  and  46  which are embedded within and upwardly exposed upon plate  38  align with and contact electrodes  45  and  25 , completing a bulb powering electrical circuit. 
     Referring further to the  FIG. 4  switch configuration, a retainer ring  52  having an annular and inwardly opening snap channel  54  is fitted for receipt over flange  18 . Upon installation of the retainer ring  52  as indicated in  FIG. 4 , such ring advantageously secures in place an elastomeric moisture barrier ring or washer  50 . An inwardly extending and annular flange  56  at the lower end of the retainer ring  52  in a similar fashion retains a transparent lens  58  against the annular lower end of flange  18 , and causes the lens  58  in turn to retain the concave reflector  48  against the concave lower face of plate  38 . 
     In the alternatively switched configuration of Drawing  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 , case  15  receives wafer batteries  60  and  62  within battery concavities  64  and  76 , and case  15  receives and supports electrical conductor components  66 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72 , and  74 . The case component  15  presents a peripheral, annular, and downwardly extending mounting flange  83  which includes an annular and inwardly opening snap attachment channel  82 . A disc shaped lower case component  78  having an annular outwardly extending snap ridge  80  is fitted for nesting receipt within the downwardly opening concavity formed by flange  83 . Upon engagement of snap ridge  80  within snap channel  82 , such ridge and channel advantageously dually functions as attaching means and as a rotary bearing. The case component  78  preferably carries light emitting diodes  80  along with electrical conductors  84 ,  88 , and  90 . Electrodes  84  and  90  are preferably embedded within the floor of an upwardly opening circular channel  89  within the upper aspect of plate  78 , the upper surfaces of such electrodes  84  and  90  being exposed within such channel  89  for alternative completing and breaking of an electrical circuit. Upon receipt of plate  78  within the concavity formed by flange  83 , plate  78  is advantageously rotatable with respect to the upper case component  15 , causing electrodes  74  and  66  to orbit within the circular channel  89  relative to the exposed electrodes  90  and  84 . Upon such rotation, electrodes  74  and  66  may alternatively simultaneously contact electrodes  90  and  84 , or may break their contact with such electrodes, alternatively completing and breaking the illuminating means&#39; electrical circuit. 
     Referring further to the switching configuration of  FIG. 5 , the rotatable plate  78  preferably presents a specialized annular and outwardly extending flange  99  which advantageously secures a washer or ring  98  against the annular lower periphery of flange  83 . The lower end of flange  99  preferably presents an annular shelf or stepped mounting land which receives a circular transparent lens  96 . Such lens  96  is preferably mounted at and retained upon such stepped land by an annular inwardly extending snap ridge  89 , the lens  96  and the snap ridge  89  securing in place an overlying concave reflector  94 . 
     Referring simultaneously to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , in use of the instant inventive apparatus for safe carriage of a drink vessel within a darkened area, a user  100  may conveniently insert or replace batteries  60  and  62  within their battery receiving cavities  22  and  32  or  64  and  76 , as the case may be, by disengaging retainer ring  52  and removing plate  38 , or by disengaging case component  78 , as the case may be. Thereafter, assuming a provision of the configuration of  FIG. 4 , on/off switching of the preferred light emitting diodes  42  may be accomplished by the user&#39;s manipulation of the single throw electrical switch  34  which is exposed at the side wall of case component  14 . In the alternatively switched configuration of  FIG. 5 , the user&#39;s manual rotation of case component  78  actuated via grasping and manual turning of flange  99  causes annular ridge  80  to rotate within annular channel  82  and simultaneously causes electrodes  66  and  74  to orbitally move within annular channel  89 , such orbital motion causing such electrodes to perform an on/off switching function, alternatively contacting with or disconnecting from electrodes  84  and  90 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , following such user actuated battery insertion and illuminating means on/off switching, the user  100  may grasp the receptacle component  2  within one of his hands  104  and may insert a drink vessel such as a pop can  106  into the interior space  4  of the receptacle  2 . Upon switching (either rotary or toggle switching) the illuminating means to an “on” position, and upon forward extension of the user&#39;s arm  102 , light  108  casts downwardly through darkened areas  109 , advantageously illuminating obstacles  110  which might otherwise remain unseen and might undesirably catch against the user&#39;s foot  112 , tripping the user. By simultaneously illuminating potentially tripping objects  110  and facilitating carriage of the drink vessel  106 , the instant inventive assembly advantageously frees the user&#39;s other hand  101  for carriage of other items and articles such as a plate of food  103 . Accordingly, the instant inventive apparatus advantageously allows the user&#39;s two hands  101  and  104  to perform multiple article carrying functions while simultaneously downwardly 
     performing the needed function of casting light  108  downwardly through darkness  109  for trip prevention. 
     While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications in the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims.