Receptacles – Closures – Closure adaptable for various sizes or openings
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-12
2001-08-21
Newhouse, Nathan J. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Closure adaptable for various sizes or openings
C215S319000, C150S154000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276551
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to closures, caps, covers or lids for beverage or other liquid containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to caps having a dilating elastic perimeter region to accommodate wide varieties of beverage container openings.
2. Description of the Related Art
The novel drink cap provides beverage consumers a remedy against the increasing use of illegal substances, such as rohypnol, by deviants adding such substances into an unsuspecting beverage consumer's drink. The use of rohypnol gives criminals a method to render a person incapacitated and thereafter commit such heinous crimes as rape, robbery and kidnapping on the defenseless victim. Unfortunately, bars and nightclubs offer criminals an opportune dimly lit forum wherein potential victims are easily and unknowingly taken advantage of.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a remedy for this long sought, yet currently unsolved, need by presenting beverage consumers with a drink cap which is easily applied to a variety of styles of beverage containers. Other objects of the instant invention will be apparent in the disclosures hereafter.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved drink cap.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved drink cap which can be used with a variety of beverage container sizes and shapes.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved drink cap adapted to display logos for marketing purposes.
It is yet as another object of the present invention to provide an improved drink cap which can be efficiently manufactured with regard to apparatus materials and labor, and can be easily marketed to the buying public at low sale prices.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved drink cap that is easily utilized and advantageous to a user.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the detailed description annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.
A broad aspect of the invention involves an improved drink cap used to cover beverage containers
18
to prevent foreign substances from entering therein. The drink cap
10
is made of at least one flexible non-wetting sheet
22
that has an outer surface
24
and an inner surface
26
. From the outermost periphery of the flexible sheet
22
toward the center thereof, the flexible sheet
22
also has an edge portion
28
, a skirt portion
34
, an elastic periphery region
32
, and a central web portion
30
.
In usage, the drink cap
10
is expanded or dilated by an individual grasping the opposing first skirt portion
36
and second skirt portion
38
, and pulling them in opposite directions. Then, the central web portion
30
of the inner surface
26
is placed on the opening
12
of the beverage container
18
. After that, the individual releases the first skirt portion
36
and the second skirt portion
38
which automatically allows the flexible sheet
22
to tightly fit around and cover the opening of
12
the beverage container
18
. A major advantage of this invention is that the drink cap
10
is made to fit most, if not all, conventional beverage containers
18
.
In nightclub and bar settings, where the lighting is usually dim, a drink cap
10
of the instant invention may be placed upon the beverage container
14
,
16
and
18
when the beverage consumer is inattentive to such beverage containers
14
,
16
and
18
, and removed each time the beverage consumer wishes to consume the beverage.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other devices for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the invention be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
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patent: 5016774 (1991-05-01), Rodriguez
patent: 5111961 (1992-05-01), Van Melle
patent: 5197624 (1993-03-01), Dodaro
patent: 5253781 (1993-10-01), Van Melle
patent: 5415312 (1995-05-01), Mueller
patent: 5454492 (1995-10-01), Hunter et al.
patent: 5709312 (1998-01-01), Lake
patent: 988458 (1976-05-01), None
patent: 474420 (1969-06-01), None
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patent: 36028 (1925-06-01), None
patent: 2238303 (1991-05-01), None
Newhouse Nathan J.
Wiemelt Mark E.
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