GB2188828A - Attachment for a drinking vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

An attachment for a drinking vessel (41) comprises a channel-shaped, curved, flexible and resilient member (31) which can be clipped onto the rim of a drinking vessel. The flexibility and resilience is preferably such that the attachment can be used on vessels whose rims have different curvatures. The member is liquid impervious and serves to protect a user from microbes which may be on the rim of the vessel. The attachment need not cover more rim than the user's lips contact during drinking. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Attachment for a drinking vessel This invention relates two an attachment for a drinking vessel.

There is substantial public concern with the possibility of picking up diseases from implements used by others in public places. One such area isthe use of drinking vessels, for example in public houses. Although such vessels are cleaned using detergents, the cleaning process is not always adequate to remove all organisms. A cleaned vessel may become contaminated by being touched by dirty hands.

The present invention avoids these problems.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided an attachment for a drinking vessel comprising achannel-shaped member of liquid impervious material clippable onto a rim ofthe vessel so as to cover a portion of the rim to protect the lips of a user from contact with the rim.

The attachment will be made sterile prior to its use and may be accommodated in a sterile package.

The sterile package may accommodate a plurality of such attachments which may inter-nest.

The attachment is preferably curved longitudinally of the channel and may be sufficiently flexible and resilient to permit attachment to vessels whose rims have different curvatures.

Various embodiments ofthe invention wiil nowbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1,2 and 3 are diagrammatic side perspective views of various drinking vessels each fitted with an attachment according to the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the attachment of Figures 1,2 and 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified attachment; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the attachment according to the invention; and Figure 7is a cross-sectional view of the alternative attachment of Figure 6.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 4, there is shown an attachment 31 for clipping on a rim ofa drinking vessel 41. The attachment comprises a channel shaped member defining an elongate channel 33 between first 35 and second 36 side portions. The channel shaped member 31 iscurved longitudinally with the second side portion 36 defining the convex outer surface of the member.

The marginal portion 39 ofthesecond side portion 36 adjacent to the longitudinal free edge 38 is outwardlyflared.

As shown in Figures 1,2 and 3 the attachment 31 is deformable such that its curvature can be varied to fit the rims of different drinking vessels 41, in these examples, a beertumbler of conical form, a tumbler of cylindrical form and a wine glass respectively. The material ofthe attachment is sufficiently resilient to allow the rim to be gripped within the channel 33 when the attachment is clipped onto the rim. The material may be plastics or could be paper, impregnated or coated to make the attachment liquid impervious.

Referring to Figure 5, the modified attachment shown therein is curved to an extent such that both ends ofthe attachment are in close proximity to each other. This embodiment is highly resilient to facilitate clipping onto vessels such as those shown in Figures 1 to 3.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures6 and 7. Inthis embodimentathin membrane 62 of sealing material is secured to the innerface ofthe first side portion 135 and projects laterally below the first side portion, in use. This membrane, which may be made of polyethylene, forms a seal between the first side portion and the interiorwall of a vessel to prevent liquid from passing between the rim and the attachment e.g. by capillary action. The material of the channel-shaped membrane may be such as to provide such seal.

The attachments will be sterilised prior to packaging and may be sealed in sterile manner in a sealed container. Each attachment may, for example, be sealed in a flexible bag and the bags may be stacked in a holder from which they can be individually removed.

1. An attachment for a drinking vessel comprising a channel-shaped member of liquid impervious material clippable onto a rim ofthe vessel so as to cover a portion of the rim to protect the lips ofauserfrom contactwiththe rim.

2. An attachment according to Claim 1, wherein the channel-shaped member is sufficiently flexible and resilient to permit clipping on rims of different curvatures.

3. An attachment according to Claim 1 or2, wherein the material ofthe channel-shaped member is such as to seal the attachment to a rim to prevent passage of liquid between the attachment and the rim.

4. An attachmentaccording to Claim 1 or 2, wherein a sealing membrane is attached to the channel-shaped member to seal the attachment to a rim to prevent passage of liquid between the attachment and the rim.

5. An attachment according to any preceding claim which is sterile and contained in a sterile environment in a package.

6. An attachment according to Claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4, 5 or6 and 7 ofthe accompanying drawings.

7. A combination of a drinking vessel having a rim with an attachment according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 or6 clipped onto the rim.

8. A combination according to Claim 7, wherein the vessel is made of glass.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Attachment for a drinking vessel This invention relates two an attachment for a drinking vessel. There is substantial public concern with the possibility of picking up diseases from implements used by others in public places. One such area isthe use of drinking vessels, for example in public houses. Although such vessels are cleaned using detergents, the cleaning process is not always adequate to remove all organisms. A cleaned vessel may become contaminated by being touched by dirty hands. The present invention avoids these problems. In accordance with this invention, there is provided an attachment for a drinking vessel comprising achannel-shaped member of liquid impervious material clippable onto a rim ofthe vessel so as to cover a portion of the rim to protect the lips of a user from contact with the rim. The attachment will be made sterile prior to its use and may be accommodated in a sterile package. The sterile package may accommodate a plurality of such attachments which may inter-nest. The attachment is preferably curved longitudinally of the channel and may be sufficiently flexible and resilient to permit attachment to vessels whose rims have different curvatures. Various embodiments ofthe invention wiil nowbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1,2 and 3 are diagrammatic side perspective views of various drinking vessels each fitted with an attachment according to the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the attachment of Figures 1,2 and 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified attachment; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the attachment according to the invention; and Figure 7is a cross-sectional view of the alternative attachment of Figure 6. Referring initially to Figures 1 and 4, there is shown an attachment 31 for clipping on a rim ofa drinking vessel 41. The attachment comprises a channel shaped member defining an elongate channel 33 between first 35 and second 36 side portions. The channel shaped member 31 iscurved longitudinally with the second side portion 36 defining the convex outer surface of the member. The marginal portion 39 ofthesecond side portion 36 adjacent to the longitudinal free edge 38 is outwardlyflared. As shown in Figures 1,2 and 3 the attachment 31 is deformable such that its curvature can be varied to fit the rims of different drinking vessels 41, in these examples, a beertumbler of conical form, a tumbler of cylindrical form and a wine glass respectively. The material ofthe attachment is sufficiently resilient to allow the rim to be gripped within the channel 33 when the attachment is clipped onto the rim. The material may be plastics or could be paper, impregnated or coated to make the attachment liquid impervious. Referring to Figure 5, the modified attachment shown therein is curved to an extent such that both ends ofthe attachment are in close proximity to each other. This embodiment is highly resilient to facilitate clipping onto vessels such as those shown in Figures 1 to 3. An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures6 and 7. Inthis embodimentathin membrane 62 of sealing material is secured to the innerface ofthe first side portion 135 and projects laterally below the first side portion, in use. This membrane, which may be made of polyethylene, forms a seal between the first side portion and the interiorwall of a vessel to prevent liquid from passing between the rim and the attachment e.g. by capillary action. The material of the channel-shaped membrane may be such as to provide such seal. The attachments will be sterilised prior to packaging and may be sealed in sterile manner in a sealed container. Each attachment may, for example, be sealed in a flexible bag and the bags may be stacked in a holder from which they can be individually removed. CLAIMS

1. An attachment for a drinking vessel comprising a channel-shaped member of liquid impervious material clippable onto a rim ofthe vessel so as to cover a portion of the rim to protect the lips ofauserfrom contactwiththe rim.

2. An attachment according to Claim 1, wherein the channel-shaped member is sufficiently flexible and resilient to permit clipping on rims of different curvatures.

3. An attachment according to Claim 1 or2, wherein the material ofthe channel-shaped member is such as to seal the attachment to a rim to prevent passage of liquid between the attachment and the rim.

4. An attachmentaccording to Claim 1 or 2, wherein a sealing membrane is attached to the channel-shaped member to seal the attachment to a rim to prevent passage of liquid between the attachment and the rim.

5. An attachment according to any preceding claim which is sterile and contained in a sterile environment in a package.

6. An attachment according to Claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4, 5 or6 and 7 ofthe accompanying drawings.

7. A combination of a drinking vessel having a rim with an attachment according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 or6 clipped onto the rim.

8. A combination according to Claim 7, wherein the vessel is made of glass.