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CA2214938A1 - A distinctive indicator marker for a beverage drink container - Google Patents

A distinctive indicator marker for a beverage drink container Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2214938A1
CA2214938A1 CA 2214938 CA2214938A CA2214938A1 CA 2214938 A1 CA2214938 A1 CA 2214938A1 CA 2214938 CA2214938 CA 2214938 CA 2214938 A CA2214938 A CA 2214938A CA 2214938 A1 CA2214938 A1 CA 2214938A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
marker
aperture
sheet
container
beverage
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2214938
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Johanne L. Mongrain
Richard S. Tremblay
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2214938 priority Critical patent/CA2214938A1/en
Publication of CA2214938A1 publication Critical patent/CA2214938A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D25/00Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D25/20External fittings
    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09FDISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/04Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps to be fastened or secured by the material of the label itself, e.g. by thermo-adhesion

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Abstract

There is provided a distinctive indicating marker for identifying individual beverage drink containers. The marker comprises a sheet of flexible material with an aperture therein to receive the container body, the material being of a composition and the aperture being of a size so that the marker will frictionally engage a portion of the body when the marker is in position on the body, the marker having distinctive indicia appearing thereon.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

DISTINCTIVE INDICATOR MARKER FOR A BEVERAGE DRINK CONTAINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

l~is invention relates to a device for use in distinctively m~rking beverage drink containers which may otherwise be similar in appearance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is frequently desirable to have a convenient means by which to distinguish similar beverage containers, such as beer or soft-drink containers, from one another. For example, this may be desirable at parties or gatherings of persons where many different persons may be (lrinking from such similar containers. In the absence of such a distinguishing means, individuals may be unsure which of several otherwise similar containers was the container from which they had been (lrinking. In such situations, the risk of disease tr~n.cmi~ion is accordingly increased, as persons may inadvertently drink from another person's container.
It is thus desirable to have a distinctive indicator marker for beverage drink containers which will allow ready identi~lcation of otherwise similar beverage containers, while being convenient to use. Previous devices designed to serve as distinctive indicator markers for containers have suffered from the defects of bulk and excessive mobility, thereby being n~llit~hle for use as distinctive indicator markers for beverage containers such as beer and soft-. - CA 02214938 1997-09-02 drink bottles or cans which are frequently inverted and which may need to be brought close to the individual's face when taking a drink.
Reference is made for example to United States Patent No. 3,149,431 of Blish which issued September 2, 1964. This patent discloses a self-~ligning neck card label. As this is a self-~ligning structure, it moves freely under the force of gravity and is therefore lln~llit~hle for use as a distinctive indicator marker for beverage containers which are inverted during the consumption of the container's contents. United States Design Patent No. 352,967 of Laufer which issued November 29, 1994 discloses an identifying tag for bottled beverages which suffers from defects similar to those of the Blish patent discussed above. The invention disclosed in the Laufer patent is ornamental in nature and is not designed to remain stationary upon inversion of the beverage container. Moreover, the design of this device requires that one portion of the identifying tag must be conlp~lively firm and bulky, thereby potentially interfering with easy gripping of the container and flrinking therefiolll. United States Patent No. 5,390,435 of Grody issued February 21, 1995; United States Patent No. 5,581,921 of Hutchens issued December 10, 1996, and United States Patent No. 3,196,567 of Boehmer et al., issued June 15, 1961 are also of general background interest.

SI~IMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved distinctive indicator marker for beverage drink containers.
In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a distinctive indicator device for m~rking beverage drink containers. The device comprises a sheet of flexible material with an aperture therein to receive the container body. The material is of a composition and the aperture is of a size so that the marker will frictionally engage a portion of the body when the marker is in position on the body. The marker has distinctive indicia al)l)e~,llg thereon.
In another aspect of this invention, the sheet is rubber.
In another aspect of this invention, the sheet contains either one or two tabs extending outwardly to one side to assist the user in holding on to the marker while moving the marker into position on the body or removing it therefrom.
In another aspect of this invention, the marker is adapted for a long-necked bottle, so as to seat in position about the neck of the bottle, the aperture being of a size as to cause the material to frictionally engage the neck of the bottle when the marker is in position.
In another aspect of this invention, the marker is adapted for a beverage container having a cylindrical body, the marker to be seated about the cylindrical body when in position, the aperture being of a size so as to cause the material to frictionally engage about the body of the container when the marker is in position.
In another aspect of this invention, the marker is comprised of a plurality of pieces of material joined together to form the sheet, the sheet being thin, stretchable and resilient.
When in use the marker will lie close to the outer surface of the beverage container, thereby providing effective identification while ",inil"i~ g bulkiness. When seated on the neck of a bottle or the top of a can as described, the marker will not illlelrele with the readability of labels on these containers, nor will it inlelrel~ with the use of in~ tors or coolers placed around the bottom of these containers to m~int~in the telllpeldlule of the beverage contained within. As the marker is seated below the opening of the beverage containers, and frictionally engages the outer surface of the beverage container, it will not interfere with the flrinking of the beveMge, nor will it fall or shift when the beveMge container is inverted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the invention will become appar~lll upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the dMwings in which:-FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of the distinctivein(lic~tor marker of the present invention in place on a long-necked beveMge bottle;
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the marker of Figure l;
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view the marker of Figures 1 and 2, along line Fig 3-Fig 3 identified in Figure 2, and viewed parallel to its flat surface;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the distinctive indicator marker of the present invention, in place on a cylindrical beveMge container; and FIGURE 5 is a plan view of one embodiment of the marker of Figure 4;
While the invention will be described in conjunction with example embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contMry, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following drawings, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 illustrate embodiments of the marker 2, shown in place on a long-necked bottle 3. The marker comprises a sheet of flexible material 4 with an aperture 6 therein to receive the container body, the material being of a composition and the aperture being of a size so that the marker will frictionally engage a portion of the body when the marker is in position on the body. This embodiment of the marker has a single distinctive indicia 8 appearing thereon. The distinctive indicia may be, for example colour, numerals, letters, pictures, Braille lettering, textural features, or combinations thereof. The embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 has two tabs 10 located opposite one another across the aperture, each extending oulwardly to one side to assist the user in holding the marker, while moving the marker into position on the body or removing it theler~ulll. The embodiment illustrated in these figures depicts the tabs as being formed from the same sheet of material as the rest of the marker.
While this is the pr~relled embodiment, it would also be possible to form the tabs from dirrel~;nl m~tçri~l joined to the rest of the marker. The use of dirrelcnl material for the tabs might be appr~plia~ where especially large tabs, or tabs of a peculiar shape, are required.
In operation, the aperture 6, and the inner edge 12 of the aperture, as well as the portion of material adjacent to the inner edge 12 frictionally engage the body of the beverage container when the marker 2 is in place. The illustration of this embodiment depicts the use of a sheet of material which is wider than it is thick in the region which does not contain tabs. The exact relation of these two dimensions may be optimized for various materials, depending on the ' CA 02214938 1997-09-02 flexibility, stretch capacity, compressibility, and frictional co-efficient of the material used. In a p,erelr~d embodiment of the invention, the material used would be highly flexible with a high frictional co-efficient and moderate stretch capacity. Soft rubber would be a preferred material.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a further embodiment of the marker in place on a cylindrical beverage container or can 14. This marker is again comprised of a sheet of flexible material 4, with an aperture 6 therein to receive the container body, the material being of a composition and the aperture being of a size so that the marker will frictionally engage a portion of the body of the beverage container when the marker is in position on the body. The marker illustrated has a single distinctive indicia 8 and a single tab 10, as discussed in relation to Figure 1. Its aperture, however, is significantly larger than that of the marker of Figures 1, 2, and 3 to enable the passage of a portion of the body of a can 14.
In use, the marker 2 may be easily secured on beverage containers such as bottles 3 and cans 14 by ~ligning the marker aperture 6 with the bottle neck or the top of the can or other suitable container. Holding the marker 2 or the tab(s) 10, the user may apply slight dowllwal-l force on the marker, causing a slight stretching of the material, thereby allowing the marker to slip down over the bottle neck or container top. Thus secured, the marker will not fall off or otherwise interfere with the easy consumption of the beverage, while giving the container a distinctive appearance, enabling it to be easily differentiated from other similar containers. As a consequence, an individual who has such a marker secured to his or her beverage container will be unlikely to inadvertently drink from someone else' s container or have someone inadvertently drink from his or her container. When it is necessary to remove the marker, it may be removed easily by grasping the marker 2 or the tab(s) 10 and applying a slight upward force, relative to the top of the container or bottle. This force will allow the marker to ' CA 02214938 1997-09-02 stretch sufficiently for it to pass over the bottle neck or container top and be free for use on a new similar container.

Thus, it is appa~ that there has been provided in accordance with the invention a distinctive indicator marker for a beverage drink container that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be appalenl to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as ~all within the spirit and broad scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

1. A distinctive indicator marker for a beverage drink container having a body, the marker comprising a sheet of flexible material with an aperture therein to receive the container body, the material being of a composition and the aperture being of a size so that the marker will frictionally engage a portion of the body when the marker is in position on the body, the marker having distinctive indicia appearing thereon.
2. A marker according to claim 1 wherein the distinctive indicia is colour.
3. A marker according to claim 1 wherein the sheet is rubber.
4. A marker according to claim 1 wherein the sheet includes a tab extending outwardly to one side to assist in holding on to the marker while moving the marker into position on the body or removing it therefrom.
5. A marker according to claim 4 wherein the sheet includes a further tab oppositely disposed from the aperture from the other tab.
6. A marker according to claim 1 adapted for a long-necked beverage bottle to be seated in position about the neck of the bottle when in position, the aperture being of a size as to cause the material to frictionally engage the neck of the bottle when the marker is in position.
7. A marker according to claim 1 adapted for a beverage container having a cylindrical body, the marker to be seated about the cylindrical body when in position, the aperture being of a size so as to cause the material to frictionally engage about the body of the container when the marker is in position.
8. A marker according to claim 6 wherein the indicia is selected from the group comprising colour, numerals, letters, pictures, Braille lettering, textural features and combinations thereof.
9. A marker according to claim 7 wherein the indicia is selected from the group comprising colour, numerals, letters, pictures, Braille lettering, textural features and combinations thereof.
10. A marker according to claim 6 wherein the sheet further comprises a pair of tabs outwardly extending on opposite sides of the aperture to assist in holding the marker while moving the marker into position on the bottle neck or removing it therefrom.
11. A marker according to claim 7 wherein the sheet further comprises a tab outwardly extending to one side to assist in holding the marker while moving the marker into position on the body or removing it therefrom.
12. A plurality of markers according to claim 1, each marker having a different distinctive indicia from the other.
13. A marker according to claim 1 comprised of a plurality of pieces material joined to form the sheet, the sheet being thin, stretchable, and resilient.
CA 2214938 1997-09-02 1997-09-02 A distinctive indicator marker for a beverage drink container Abandoned CA2214938A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2214938 CA2214938A1 (en) 1997-09-02 1997-09-02 A distinctive indicator marker for a beverage drink container

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2214938 CA2214938A1 (en) 1997-09-02 1997-09-02 A distinctive indicator marker for a beverage drink container

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2214938A1 true CA2214938A1 (en) 1999-03-02

Family

ID=4161421

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2214938 Abandoned CA2214938A1 (en) 1997-09-02 1997-09-02 A distinctive indicator marker for a beverage drink container

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2214938A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1232953A1 (en) * 2001-02-19 2002-08-21 Schmalbach-Lubeca AG Beverage can with neck collar
WO2010041049A1 (en) * 2008-10-08 2010-04-15 Smart Patents Limited Universal beverage container marker
WO2019178692A1 (en) * 2018-03-22 2019-09-26 John Fenwick Bottle tag

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1232953A1 (en) * 2001-02-19 2002-08-21 Schmalbach-Lubeca AG Beverage can with neck collar
WO2010041049A1 (en) * 2008-10-08 2010-04-15 Smart Patents Limited Universal beverage container marker
WO2019178692A1 (en) * 2018-03-22 2019-09-26 John Fenwick Bottle tag
GB2587131A (en) * 2018-03-22 2021-03-17 Fenwick John Bottle tag

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