Drinking Vessel and Retainer Therefor

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to drinking vessels and, more particularly, to drinking vessels which will tip over if positioned on the bottom surface thereof unless a specially adapted coaster is utilized to maintain the drinking vessel in an upright position.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Many drinking containers are known which include a bottom designed to maintain the container in an upright position and which have an upwardly extending cylindrical portion for retaining the contents. The planar bottom surfaces are designed to come to rest contiguously upon another planar support surface when the drinking container is not held by an individual. If a sufficient force is subjected upon the container at anyone of a number of different angles, the planar surface of the drinking container will become disengaged from the planar support surface causing the container to tip over and discharge the contents.

Other drinking vessels are also known which attempt to preclude spillage of the contents contained therein. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,601,767 discloses a drinking container having an arcuate bottom which contains weighting for self-righting the container in the event that a force is subjected upon the container which is sufficient to cause the container to tip over. This type of drinking container requires that a false bottom be disposed within the cylindrical portion of the cup to maintain the weighting in the bottom of the drinking container.

Heretofore, there are no drinking containers which will tip over if placed directly upon a planar surface. Under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to provide a drinking container which cannot be positioned solely upon a planar support surface without spilling the contents thereof. For instance, when it is desired that an individual, such as an infant, drink the entire amount of liquid originally placed in the drinking container, the present invention would be useful. Unless all of the liquid has been consumed, the drinking container cannot be put down without spilling the contents. The detachability and specific way the drinking vessel and coaster fit together serve the additional function of teaching hand and eye coordination. Additionally, the drinking vessel of the present invention is useful as a novelty item for a practical joke where it is desirable that someone be forced to hold onto their drinking vessel so as to not spill the contents.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a drinking vessel which will spill the contents thereof, unless substantially all of the liquid contained therein has been consumed or otherwise emptied from the containment area.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in combination a drinking vessel having a substantially arcuate bottom surface and a specially adapted coaster for detachably maintaining the drinking vessel in an upright position.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a selectively interconnecting drinking vessel and coaster arrangement which enhances the hand and eye coordination of small children.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a drinking vessel which can be used to effectuate a practical joke.

The present invention, therefore, relates to a drinking vessel having an arcuate bottom and an upwardly extending portion wherein the contents of the container will be spilled if the container is set down on its bottom or outer surface. The drinking container typically comprises a body portion, an arcuate bottom and a hollow containment area located within the body portion. The arcuate bottom can be integral with the body portion or can be provided with a transitional step to separate the arcuate bottom from the body portion. The drinking container can be provided with a handle which extends from the outer surface of the body portion. Specially designed coasters are also provided which allow the user to set the drinking container down without spilling the contents of the drinking container.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from reading of the detailed description of the preferred embodiments which make reference to the following set of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view demonstrating a first embodiment of the drinking container and specially adapted coaster of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the drinking container and coaster of FIG. 1 shown in a mated position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view demonstrating a second embodiment of the drinking container and specially adapted coaster of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view demonstrating a third embodiment of the drinking container and a specially adapted coaster of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view demonstrating a fourth embodiment of the drinking container and a specially adapted coaster of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 wherein the drinking container is provided with a transitional stop which separates the arcuate bottom and the body portion.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the drinking container of FIG. 6 wherein the coaster has been modified.

Referring to the Figures and more particularly to FIG. 1, a drinking vessel and retainer assembly according to the present invention is shown. The drinking vessel 12 includes a body having a substantially hollow cylindrical upper portion 14, a closed bottom 32 and an outwardly projecting handle 20. The upper portion 14 is defined by the inner and outer surfaces 16 and 18, respectively, occurring above the point 20 where the upper portion 14 and the bottom 32 merge. The area defined by the inner surface is known as the containment area. The outer surface 16 which can include a variety of decorative features is optionally provided with an area 30 for advertising or for placing an individual's name. Extending outwardly from the outer surface 18 is a handle 22 which includes first and second horizontally extending portions 24 and 26, respectively, and a vertically extending portion 28 located therebetween. The bottom 32 is defined by the area located below point 20 and is provided with an arcuate outer surface 34. This arcuate outer surface 34 causes the drinking vessel 12 to tip over when the arcuate outer surface is positioned directly upon a substantially planar surface (not shown) such as a table top or counter. The drinking vessel 12 can be made from a number of different materials including glass, ceramics, plastic, metal, crystal and polymer-based materials.

A specially adapted coaster 36 is provided which allows the drinking vessel 12 to be maintained in an upright position when the user (not shown) releases the handle 22. This coaster 36 may be made from ceramic, wood, glass, crystal, rigid plastic or a polymer based material. The coaster 36 typically includes a relatively planar bottom surface 38 which rests upon a planar supporting surface such as the above-mentioned table top or counter. Coaster 36 is further provided with side walls 40 which can also be provided with an area 42 for advertising or for placing an individual's name. A top surface 44 of the coaster 36 includes a substantially concave recess 46 designed to matingly receive the bottom 32 of the drinking vessel 12. Extending into the recess and disposed below the top surface 44 is a groove 48 which hosts the horizontally extending portion 24 of handle ? S. As demonstrated more clearly in FIG. 2, horizontally extending portion 24 is positioned within the groove 48 sufficiently deeply to preclude lateral movement of the drinking vessel 12 while the bottom 32 is engaged within the recess 46. In this embodiment, the horizontally extending portion 24 of the handle 22 extends less than half way above the top surface 44 of the coaster 36. Typically, the coaster 36 is sufficiently wide to project laterally beyond the outer surface of the drinking vessel to provide added support. The height of the coaster can be varied provided the height is sufficient to accommodate a recess having a depth equal to that of the bottom of the drinking vessel.

Referring to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the drinking container and specially adapted coaster of the present invention is shown. The embodiment is essentially the same as that disclosed in FIG. 1 except that the handle has been modified. Since many of the features of this embodiment are similar to those described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the same reference numerals accompanied by a distinguishing lefter character will be used to designate similar features. The handle 22a which extends from the upper portions 18a has been modified to be relatively flat. The handle 22a still includes horizontally extending portions 24a and 26a, respectively, and vertically extending portion 28a. Coaster 36a includes substantially concave recessed portion 46a and groove 48a. When the drinking vessel 12a is properly placed on the coaster 36a, the horizontally extending portion 24a comes to rest contiguously atop the relatively flat groove 48a. Again, the horizontally extending portion 24a is positioned sufficiently deeply within the groove 48a to preclude lateral movement of the drinking vessel 12a.

Referring to FIG. 4, a third embodiment 10b of the drinking vessel and specially adapted coaster of the present invention is shown. The drinking vessel 12b is provided with a handle 22b having outwardly projecting flanges 24b. When the bottom 32b of the drinking vessel is positioned within the substantially concave recessed portion 46b of the coaster 36b, the flanges 24b fittingly mate with slots 50b contained in groove 48b to further preclude lateral movement of the drinking vessel 12b.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a fourth embodiment 10c of the drinking vessel and specially adapted coaster of the present invention is shown. The drinking vessel 12c includes a body having a substantially cylindrical upper portion 14c and a closed bottom 32c. The upper portion 14c is defined by the area occurring above the step 20c which separates the upper portion 14c from the bottom 32c. The outer surface 18c is provided with a series of alternating channels 22c which facilitate grasping the drinking vessel 12c. The bottom 32c is defined by the area located below point 20c and is provided with an arcuate outer surface 34c. This arcuate outer surface 34c causes the drinking vessel 12c to tip over when the arcuate outer surface 34c is positioned directly upon a substantially planer surface such as a table top or counter.

Coaster 36c is provided with a relatively planar bottom surface 38c, side walls 40c and a top surface 44c. Top surface 44c includes a substantially concave recessed area 46c designed to matingly receive the bottom 32c of drinking vessel 12c. As shown more clearly in FIG. 6, the arcuate outer surface 34c comes to rest contiguously against the recessed portion 46c of coaster 36c. The step 20c comes to rest upon the top surface 44c which precludes the drinking vessel 12c from wobbling.

FIG. 7 demonstrates a modified coaster which can be utilized with the drinking vessel shown in FIG. 6. The coaster 36d is provided with a recessed area 46d and a top surface 44d as in the previous embodiments. In addition, the coaster 36d is provided with a circumferential ledge 48d located below the top surface 44d and above the substantially concave recessed area 4d. When the drinking vessel 12c is positioned upon the coaster 36d, the transitional step 20d of the drinking vessel 12c comes to rest upon the ledge 48d and the outer surface 18c of the drinking vessel 12c is contiguous against blocking wall 50d to maintain the drinking vessel 12c in an upright position.

Various modifications of the structures of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, each of the drinking vessels can be provided with a handle or a transitional step which separates the body portion from the bottom of the drinking vessel. It is also contemplated that the shape of the drinking vessel's bottom can take on various other shapes such as a conical shape and still require a specially adapted coaster to position the drinking vessel upon a planar surface. Likewise, the specially adapted coaster can take on a variety of overall shapes provided there is still a recessed portion.

While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and the fair meaning of the accompanying claims.