Illumination – With liquid container
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-14
2001-07-03
Tso, Laura K. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With liquid container
C362S154000, C359S032000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254247
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to containers and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to disposable beverage containers which can be illuminated.
Beverage containers are commonplace and exist in a variety of sizes and materials. For example, beverage containers sold for consumption are typically sized from a few ounces up to three liters or more and are constructed of glass, plastic, aluminum, metal and other materials.
Primarily for novelty, but also for a variety of other reasons such as safety and visibility, efforts have previously been attempted to illuminate beverage containers and related items. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,928 to Runge, which is incorporated by reference herein, describes a liquid drink container having a lamp and a battery. The lamp is activated by a motion sensor. U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,998 to Collet, which is incorporated by reference herein, relates to a container for liquids having a chemiluminescent light to illuminate the liquid therein. In addition to cups and containers, lighting mechanisms have been added to decanting baskets as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,476 to Wolf, which is incorporated by reference herein, and to baby bottles as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,406 to Mattice et al., which is incorporated by reference herein.
These prior attempts to illuminate beverage containers have several shortcomings. For example, prior efforts are neither compatible with nor readily adaptable to a single serve, disposable beverage container such as a sealed carbonated beverage bottle. Many of the prior attempts describe a battery source such as alka- line or nickel cadmium, which either will not function or will function poorly in temperature ranges at which beverages are often served, e.g., below 45° F. Also, many of the prior attempts result in a container which is too expensive to be discarded or recycled after use which is commonplace with beverage containers. Further, the prior attempts are not well suited for a disposable beverage container in terms of use, submersibility, reliability of the light switch, power consumption and/or the ability to maintain a pressure in a carbonated beverage. Furthermore, other attempts fail to include enhancements to increase the novelty aspect of the container such as holographic image capability.
Thus, there is a need for improved illuminable containers and methods which are compatible with single serve, disposable beverage containers in terms of use, operating temperature, cost, submersibility, reliability of the light switch, power consumption, the ability to maintain a pressure in a carbonated beverage and enhancements to increase the novelty aspect of the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides improved illuminable containers and methods which meet the needs described above and overcome the shortcomings of the prior art.
The disposable liquid beverage container of the present invention comprises a first compartment for sealably containing a beverage, a second compartment adjacent the first compartment and a barrier having a translucent portion separating the first and second compartments. A light source and an energy source electrically connected to the light source for providing current to the light source are disposed in the second compartment. The container also includes switch means for activating the light source such that the light source shines through the translucent portion of the barrier and illuminates the fluid disposed in the first compartment of the container.
The method of illuminating a fluid in a container comprises providing a submersible container having a first compartment containing a fluid, a second compartment sealably attached to the first compartment, a light source secured in the second compartment, a battery secured in the second compartment and electrically connected to the light source, and a switch for activating the light source. The switch has a pull ring connected to a non-conductive strip interposed between a pole on the battery and a lead on the light source. The method also comprises pulling the pull ring of the switch whereby the non-conductive strip is removed between the pole on the battery and the lead on the light source such that current flows between the battery and the light source effecting illumination of the fluid contained in the first compartment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4390928 (1983-06-01), Runge
patent: 4771902 (1988-09-01), Teng
patent: 4836476 (1989-06-01), Wolf
patent: 5171081 (1992-12-01), Pita et al.
patent: 5178450 (1993-01-01), Zelensky et al.
patent: 5339548 (1994-08-01), Russell
patent: 5504663 (1996-04-01), Tucker
patent: 5575553 (1996-11-01), Tipton
patent: 5624177 (1997-04-01), Rosaia
patent: 5662406 (1997-09-01), Mattice et al.
patent: 5671998 (1997-09-01), Collet
patent: 5743620 (1998-04-01), Rojas et al.
patent: 5785407 (1998-07-01), Ratcliffe et al.
patent: 5822088 (1998-10-01), Danno et al.
patent: 5938318 (1999-08-01), Mattsen
patent: 62-250472 (1987-10-01), None
McAfee & Taft
Redgate Industries, Inc.
Tso Laura K.
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