GLOW-IN-THE-DARK TOP-LOADING BEVERAGE COVER "JER-Z"

Abstract

A glow-in-the-dark top-loading beverage cover is provided. The beverage cover may be made of luminous, insulative, rollable material to form a generally cylindrical shape having a tubular configuration with open, generally circular ends. The beverage cover may have a body, a bottom end and a top end. The top end may define a top opening having a circumferential hem. The bottom end may define a bottom opening for top-loading the beverage cover over a beverage container so that the body slidably receives the beverage container until the circumferential hem secures a top portion of the beverage container. The body may form at least one aperture, wherein each aperture provides a cylindrical sleeve. The body, the circumferential hem and each sleeve may maintain a coordinated appearance of a garment to enhance the drinking experience.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 29/487199, filed 7 Apr. 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to beverage covers and, more particularly, to a novel glow-in-the-dark top-loaded beverage container holder having readily identifiable utilitarian structure.

[0003] Conventional beverage covers and/or insulators, commonly referred to as "koozies," are used to thermally insulate a hot or cold beverage and allow a user to comfortably grasp the container regardless of the temperature of the beverage and container. Such beverage holders are well known in the art.

[0004] Currently, such known beverage container covers are bottom loaded. Bottom loading has several negative consequences. First, the surface area of the base of the original container increases to the surface areas of the beverage container cover. As a result, the covered beverage frequently can no longer fit in a conventionally-sized beverage holder, such as those found in motor vehicles, increasing the likelihood of spillage. Second, since a large portion of social activities are fueled by the consumption of beverages, the bottom-loaded beverage container cover requires a server, for example a bartender, to handle a customer's beverage container in order to fit it with the bottom-loaded beverage container cover. In an increasingly germ phobic society, this can be unsettling to a significant population of consumers/customers. Third, bottom loading is prone to creating resistive air pressure when the air within the beverage cover cavity is being displaced by the received beverage container. Likewise, vacuum pressure can produce a resistive force caused by a tight fitting beverage container when unloading.

[0005] Finally, also well known is the difficulty of identifying one's beverage container among a plurality of similar beverage containers within such beverage covers.

[0006] As can be seen, there is a need for a top-loaded beverage cover that prevents resistive air pressure as well as allows a user to easily identify their desired beverage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, a top-loading beverage cover comprising: a generally tubular shaped body forming a bottom end and an opposing top end; a bottom opening is defined by the bottom end; a top opening is defined by the top end; and at least one aperture formed by the body near the top end.

[0008] In another one aspect of the present invention, a top-loading beverage cover comprises: a generally tubular shaped body constructed of luminous, insulating material forming a bottom end and an opposing top end; a bottom opening is defined by the bottom end; a top opening is defined by the top end; a circumferential hem is provided along a portion of the top opening; at least one aperture formed by the body near the top end, wherein each aperture forms a sleeve, whereby each sleeve, the circumferential hem, and the body maintain the coordinated appearance of a garment.

[0009] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a left side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a right side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0016] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0018] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a glow-in-the-dark top-loading beverage cover. The beverage cover may be made of luminous, insulative, rollable material to form a generally cylindrical shape having a tubular configuration with open, generally circular ends. The beverage cover may have a body, a bottom end and a top end. The top end may define a top opening having a circumferential hem. The bottom end may define a bottom opening for top-loading the beverage cover over a beverage container so that the body slidably receives the beverage container until the circumferential hem secures a top portion of the beverage container. The body may form at least one aperture, wherein each aperture provides a cylindrical sleeve. The body, the circumferential hem and each sleeve may maintain a coordinated appearance of a garment to enhance the drinking experience.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention may include a beverage cover 10. The beverage cover 10 may have a generally cylindrical shape having a tubular configuration with open, generally circular ends. The beverage cover 10 may have a body 12, a bottom end 14 and a top end 16.

[0020] The body 12 may define a cavity adapted to receive a beverage container 30 so as to provide a better grip and as well as insulate the temperature of the beverage container 30. The body 12 may be made from flexible insulative material, such as, but not limited to, polychloroprene. Such body 12 material can permit the beverage cover 10 to stand upright on a surface and to retain the generally cylindrical shape with or without beverage containers 30 disposed within the beverage cover 10. The flexible insulative material may be mixed with luminous powder to maximize the ability of the body 12 to absorb light so as to glow in the dark. Such body 12 material can provide a printable surface for customized graphic designs. The body 12 may maintain an attractive, streamlined appearance. In particular, the body 12 may maintain the appearance of a garment 22, so as to be easily identifiable and associated with a predetermined user. The garment appearance 22 may include, but not be limited to familiar sports jerseys, business attire, causal wear, swim wear, formal attire, and the like.

[0021] The body 12 may form at least one aperture 18 for preventing or reducing air and/or vacuum pressure within the cavity caused by the loading and/or unloading of tight fitting beverage containers 30. Each aperture 18 may provide a cylindrical sleeve 28, which is either in the form of a separate panel or unitary with the body 12. Each sleeve 28 may maintain an attractive, streamlined appearance. In particular, each sleeve 28 may be coordinated with and complementary of the garment appearance 22 of the body 12 so as to maintain an overall coordinated appearance thereof.

[0022] The bottom end 14 defines a bottom opening 34 having a bottom diameter adapted to expand to larger diameters at the bottom end 14 of the beverage container 30. The top end 16 defines a top opening 36 having a top diameter smaller than the bottom diameter so as to catch on a narrow neck of the upper end of the beverage container 30. As a result, the body 12 may tend to taper near the top end 16 when traveling from the bottom end 14. The top opening 36 may include a circumferential hem 26 made of slightly less elastic material than the body 12 so as to removably secure the narrowing neck of the beverage container 30. The hem 26 may be coordinated with and complementary of the garment appearance 22 of the body 12 and/or each sleeve 28 so as to maintain an overall coordinated appearance thereof.

[0023] The bottom end 14 of the beverage cover 10 be may be made of a roll material. The roll material may be adapted and/or designed to be rolled up, if necessary, to adjust a vertical dimension of the body 12 so as to enable the covered beverage container 30 to fit in a conventionally-sized beverage holder. In certain embodiments, the beverage cover 10 may be combined with a conventional bottom-loaded koozie.

[0024] In certain embodiments, the bottom opening 34 and the top opening 36 may be substantially similar diameters so that the circumferential hem 26 may slidably receive and secure a top portion of a beverage cans that are common in the United States and have a generally non-tapering body. Such cans are typically constructed of Aluminum and have standard dimensions.

[0025] The beverage cover 10 may be dimensioned to snuggly fit different sizes of beverage containers 30 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The beverage cover 10 may be customized to look like an identifiable garment, for example, but not limited to, a sport jersey the user so as to make the present invention easily identifiable when in the presence of a plurality of similar beverage containers 30.

[0026] A method of using the present invention may include the following. The beverage cover 10 disclosed above may be provided. A user may cover the beverage container 30 by sliding the beverage cover 10 downwardly, bottom opening 34 first, over the top of the beverage container 30 until a top portion of the beverage container 30 is secured within the top opening 36 and/or circumferential hem 26 of the top end 16. The user may hold the at least one sleeve 28 during this top-loading process so as never touch the beverage container 30 being covered. If exposed to light, the beverage cover 10 may immediately glow in the dark. Then the user may roll up the bottom end 14 so as to fit the base of the beverage container 30 in a conventionally-sized beverage holder without any obstruction by the body 12. Then the user may drink more enjoyable as their favorite beverage is donning their favorite sports team's jersey.

[0027] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A top-loading beverage cover comprising: a generally tubular shaped body forming a bottom end and an opposing top end; a bottom opening defined by the bottom end; a top opening defined by the top end; and at least one aperture formed by the body near the top end.

2. The top-loading beverage cover of claim 1, wherein the body is constructed of luminous material.

3. The top-loading beverage cover of claim 1, further providing a taper along the body near the bottom end and extending to the narrower top opening.

4. The top-loading beverage cover of claim 2, wherein the body is constructed of insulating material.

5. The top-loading beverage cover of claim 1, wherein each aperture forms a sleeve.

6. The top-loading beverage cover of claim 5, further providing a circumferential hem along a portion of the top opening.

7. The top-loading beverage cover of claim 6, wherein each sleeve, the circumferential hem, and the body maintain the coordinated appearance of a garment.

8. The top-loading beverage cover of claim 7, wherein the garment is a sport jersey.

9. The top-loading beverage cover of claim 1, wherein the body is constructed of roll material adapted to be rolled up.

10. A top-loading beverage cover comprising: a generally tubular shaped body constructed of luminous, insulating roll material forming a bottom end and an opposing top end; a bottom opening defined by the bottom end; a top opening defined by the top end; a circumferential hem is provided along a portion of the top opening; and at least one aperture formed by the body near the top end, wherein each aperture forms a sleeve, whereby each sleeve, the circumferential hem, and the body maintain the coordinated appearance of a garment.

11. The top-loading beverage cover of claim 10, further providing a taper along the body near the bottom end and extending to the narrower top opening.

12. A method of covering a beverage container so that the beverage container is easily identifiable, easier to grip and easier to fit in a conventional beverage holder, comprising: providing an glow in the dark top-loading beverage cover comprising: a generally tubular shaped body constructed of luminous, roll material forming a bottom end and an opposing top end; a bottom opening defined by the bottom end; a top opening defined by the top end, wherein each aperture forms a sleeve, whereby each sleeve and the body maintain the coordinated appearance of a garment; sliding the bottom opening over a top portion of the beverage container until the top end secures the top portion of the beverage container; and rolling up the bottom end so as to fit a bottom portion of the beverage container in the conventional beverage holder.

13. The method of claim 12, further providing a circumferential hem along a portion of the top opening, and wherein the circumferential hem secures the top portion of the beverage container.

14. The method of claim 12, further providing a taper along the body near the bottom end and extending to the narrower top opening.

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