U.S. patent application number 15/071834 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-22 for sleeves for beverage and food containers.
The applicant listed for this patent is Aaron Brooks Panone. Invention is credited to Aaron Brooks Panone.
Application Number | 20160270575 15/071834 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56923488 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160270575 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Panone; Aaron Brooks |
September 22, 2016 |
SLEEVES FOR BEVERAGE AND FOOD CONTAINERS
Abstract
The invention relates to sleeves for containers for beverages
and/or food, and methods for using a sleeve on a container. A
sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, includes a
wall, wherein said wall comprises a wall body and an elastic strip,
for example, for holding utensils while a container is placed into
the sleeve. In certain other embodiments, a sleeve of the invention
comprises a wall and a bottom.
Inventors: |
Panone; Aaron Brooks;
(Somerville, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Panone; Aaron Brooks |
Somerville |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56923488 |
Appl. No.: |
15/071834 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62134548 |
Mar 17, 2015 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 21/145 20130101;
B65D 77/245 20130101; A47G 23/0216 20130101; B65D 25/20 20130101;
B65D 81/3876 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 23/02 20060101
A47G023/02 |
Claims
1. A sleeve for a beverage container comprising a wall, a bottom
and a connection strip; wherein said wall comprises a wall body, a
sticky material, and an elastic strip; wherein said elastic strip
is elastic in a horizontal direction but not a vertical direction;
and wherein said connection strip connects the bottom to the
wall.
2. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is designed
to fit on a jar.
3. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is designed
to fit on a Mason jar.
4. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is designed
to fit on a regular mouth Mason jar.
5. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is designed
to fit on a wide mouth Mason jar.
6. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said wall further
comprises a closure strip.
7. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve comprises
an overlap section.
8. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said elastic strip
further comprises a loop.
9. The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said bottom comprises a
sticky material.
10. A method for using a beverage container comprising placing said
beverage container in a sleeve according to claim 1.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve is
designed to fit on a Mason jar.
12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve is
designed to fit on a Mason jar.
13. The method according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve is
designed to fit on a regular mouth Mason jar.
14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve is
designed to fit on a wide mouth Mason jar.
15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said wall further
comprises a closure strip.
16. The method according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve comprises
an overlap section.
17. The method according to claim 10, wherein said elastic strip
further comprises a loop.
18. The method according to claim 10, wherein said bottom comprises
a sticky material.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/134,548, filed Mar. 17, 2015, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1.0 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to sleeves for containers for
beverages and/or food.
2.0 BACKGROUND
[0003] Sleeves may be used to insulate containers so their contents
may be kept at a desired temperature and so the containers may be
easier to handle if the contents is very hot or cold. Jars, cans,
bottles, glasses, mugs, and cups are examples of containers used to
hold beverages and other liquids, as well as other food items. Jars
include Mason jars, Kilner jars, Leifheit jars, and other jars.
Typically, jars are made of glass and their surface is slippery.
Using a sleeve on a jar, or another container made of a slippery
material, can be problematic in view of the dimensions and the
surface properties of jars.
[0004] It would be desirable to have sleeves for use with jars,
cans, bottles, glasses, mugs, and cups that fit any of these
containers of interest, and that do not easily slip off the
container. It would also be desirable to have sleeves for use with
jars, cans, bottles, glasses, mugs, and cups that can hold utensils
when the sleeves are used on the container, for example, utensils
like a spoon, a fork, a knife, a straw, chop sticks, and other
kinds of utensils. The current invention describes such
sleeves.
3.0 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The current invention, in certain embodiments, relates to
sleeves for beverage containers and food containers, and methods
for using a sleeve on a beverage container and a food container. In
certain embodiments, a sleeve of the current invention fits on a
container holding a liquid and/or food. In certain preferred
embodiments, a sleeve of the current invention comprises a wall. A
wall of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain preferred
embodiments, comprises a wall body and an elastic strip. In certain
embodiments, a sleeve of the invention comprises a wall and a
bottom. In a preferred embodiment, a sleeve of the invention
comprises an elastic strip made of a material that is elastic
predominantly in one direction. An elastic material of a sleeve of
the current invention, in certain embodiments, is located on the
side of a container when said sleeve is fit onto said container. A
sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, may fit
onto any beverage or food container of interest so that the
beverage or food container fits snugly inside the sleeve with or
without stretching the sleeve. A sleeve of the current invention,
in certain embodiments, fits onto a jar, a can, a bottle, a glass,
a mug, and/or a cup of interest. A jar may be, for example, a Mason
jar, a Kilner jar, a Leifheit jar, or another type of jar.
4.0 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The present invention will be better understood by reading
the Detailed Description of the various embodiments with reference
to the accompanying figures.
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain
embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and
with an elastic strip 2 shown from the side.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain
embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and
looking straight at an elastic strip 2.
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain
embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and
looking straight at a closure strip 7.
[0010] FIG. 4 shows a top down view of a sleeve according to
certain embodiments of the invention, showing the top view of an
elastic strip 2, a closure strip 7, and a bottom 3 with sticky
material 8.
[0011] FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of a sleeve according to certain
embodiments of the invention, showing the bottom view of an elastic
strip 2 and a closure strip 7.
[0012] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a cross-section of a sleeve
according to certain embodiments of the invention, with an elastic
strip 2 shown from the side and with sticky material 8 on the
inside of the wall body 1.
[0013] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a sleeve according to
certain embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the
sleeve and with a spoon 9 inserted between an elastic strip 2 and
the jar 5.
[0014] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain
embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and
with a spoon 9 inserted between an elastic strip 2 and the jar 5
and by looking straight at the elastic strip 2.
[0015] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain
embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and
with a spoon 9 inserted between an elastic strip 2 and the jar 5
and by looking straight at the elastic strip 2. The outlines of the
spoon 9 under the elastic strip 2 are shown in broken lines.
5.0 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention relates to sleeves for beverage and/or
food containers, for example, a jar, a can, a bottle, a glass, a
mug, a cup, or any other kind of container that can be used to hold
a beverage and/or food. In certain preferred embodiments, a sleeve
of the current invention comprises a wall. A wall of a sleeve of
the current invention, in certain preferred embodiments, comprises
a wall body and an elastic strip. In certain embodiments, a sleeve
of the invention comprises a wall and a bottom. The wall of a
sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, has a
length that travels around the circumference of a container that is
in the sleeve, and a height that measures from a lower to a higher
point along the vertical axis of a container that is in the
sleeve.
[0017] A wall of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain
embodiments, has a length that is sufficient to travel the outside
circumference of a container, while holding the container snugly.
In certain embodiments, the length of a wall of a sleeve of the
current invention is the same as the outside circumference of the
container for which the sleeve is intended. In certain embodiments,
a wall of a sleeve of the current invention fits around a container
of interest, so that the container maybe inserted into the sleeve
and so that the sleeve fits snugly around the container, but
preferably without having to stretch the wall of the sleeve or
without having to stretch the wall of the sleeve more than 1
percent, or more than 2 percent, or more than 4 percent, or more
than 8 percent, or more than 16 percent in any dimension.
[0018] In certain preferred embodiments, a sleeve of the current
invention is designed to fit on a jar, for example, a Mason jar.
The circumference of a Mason jar depends on the size of the jar and
whether it is a regular mouth or a wide mouth Mason jar. The
circumferences for Mason jars are as follows: 16 ounces (oz) jar,
regular mouth, 10.19 inches (25.88 centimeter (cm)) circumference
(1 inch equals 2.54 cm); 32 oz jar, regular mouth, 12.13 inches
(30.81 cm) circumference; 16 oz jar, wide mouth, 10 inches (25.4
cm) circumference; 24 oz jar, wide mouth, 10.25 inches (26.04 cm)
circumference; 32 oz jar, wide mouth, 12 inches (30.48 cm)
circumference; 64 oz jar, wide mouth, 14.5 inches (36.83 cm)
circumference. In certain embodiments, a wall of a sleeve of the
invention has a length of 25.4-36.83 cm, or about 25.4-36.83 cm, or
20-40 cm, or about 20-40 cm, or 25.4-26.4 cm, or about 25.4-26.4
cm, or 25.88-26.88 cm, or about 25.88-26.88 cm, or 26.04-27.04 cm,
or about 26.04-27.04 cm, or 30.48-31.48 cm, or about 30.48-31.48
cm, or 30.81-31.81 cm, or about 30.81-31.83 cm, or 36.83-37.83 cm,
or about 36.83-37.83 cm.
[0019] A wall body of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain
embodiments, has a height of 5-15 cm, or about 5-15 cm, or 6-12 cm,
or about 6-12 cm, or 7-10 cm, or about 7-10 cm. A wall body of a
sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments, has a
thickness of 0.5-10 millimeters (mm), or about 0.5-10 mm, or 1-5
mm, or about 1-5 mm, or 2-4 mm, or about 2-4 mm.
[0020] A wall body of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain
embodiments, comprises a closure strip. A closure strip, in certain
embodiments, connects two or more sections of the wall body,
preferably resulting in the sleeve having a shape suitable to hold
a container the sleeve is designed for, for example, a jar, a can,
a bottle, a glass, a mug, a cup, or any other kind of container
that can be used to hold a beverage and/or food. A closure strip,
in certain embodiments, runs along the entire edge of a wall body
section, or 30-100 percent of the edge, or 50-100 percent, or
70-100 percent, or 50-80 percent, or 80-100 percent, or 90-100
percent. A closure strip, in certain embodiments, runs along the
edge of a wall body section in a continuous manner, an intermittent
manner, an uninterrupted manner, an interrupted manner, or in
another manner. A closure strip, in certain embodiments, connects
sections of the wall body through gluing, stitching, sewing,
clamping, stapling, or a mixture of any two, three, four or more
thereof, or by any other method. In a closure strip, in certain
embodiments, edges of sections of the wall body may overlap or not
overlap.
[0021] In certain embodiments, a wall body of a sleeve of the
current invention comprises sections that are sticky so that a
container in the sleeve does not easily slip out of the sleeve. A
sticky material for a sleeve of the current invention is preferably
located on the inside of the wall body so that it can contact a
container in the sleeve. In certain embodiments, a sticky material
may be worked into the wall body of the sleeve in lines, dots,
squares, patches, or any other way. The sticky material may be
arranged in stripes, circles, squares, rectangles, or any
combination thereof, or any other pattern, including a random
pattern. Preferably, a sleeve of the invention with a sticky
material in the inside surface of its wall body, has the sticky
material in more than one location so that a container inside the
sleeve would be in contact with the sticky material from more than
one direction. In certain preferred embodiments, a wall body of a
sleeve of the invention has a sticky material in 5-100 percent of
the circumference when viewing the sleeve from the top or bottom,
or about 5-100 percent, or 10-100 percent, or about 10-100 percent,
or 20-100 percent, or about 20-100 percent, or 30-100 percent, or
about 30-100 percent, or 40-100 percent, or about 40-100 percent,
or 50-100 percent, or about 50-100 percent, or 70-100 percent, or
about 70-100 percent, or 50-80 percent, or about 50-80 percent. In
certain preferred embodiments, a wall body of a sleeve of the
invention has a sticky material that covers a fraction of the
interior surface of the wall body, or 5-100 percent of the interior
surface of the wall body, or about 5-100 percent, or 10-90 percent,
or about 10-90 percent, or 20-80 percent, or about 20-80 percent,
or 30-70 percent, or about 30-70 percent, or 40-60 percent, or
about 40-60 percent.
[0022] A wall of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain
embodiments, includes an elastic strip. An elastic strip, in
certain embodiments, is made of an elastic material. In a preferred
embodiment, the wall body is non-elastic or substantially
non-elastic. An elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention is
preferably attached to the wall body of the sleeve. In a preferred
embodiment, an elastic strip in a wall of a sleeve of the invention
is elastic in one direction, but non-elastic or substantially
non-elastic in a direction perpendicular thereto. The direction in
which an elastic strip in a wall of a sleeve of the invention is
elastic is preferably the direction of the horizontal axis of the
sleeve (in other words, parallel to the bottom of the sleeve, if
the sleeve has a bottom, when a container is inside the
sleeve).
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, an elastic strip of a sleeve of
the invention has a total length of 5-20 cm or about 5-20 cm, or
7-15 cm or about 7-15 cm, or 9-12 cm or about 9-12 cm. In another
preferred embodiment, an elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention
has a total width of 1-10 cm or about 1-10 cm, or 1.5-5 cm or about
1.5-5 cm, or 2-4 cm or about 2-4 cm, or 2.5-3.5 cm, or about
2.5-3.5 cm. The total width of an elastic strip of a sleeve of the
invention includes, in certain embodiments, an overlap section on
one or both side edges of the elastic strip, which overlap with the
wall body so the elastic strip and the wall body can be attached to
each other, for example, through sewing, gluing, staples, or any
other kind of means to attach the elastic strip and the wall body
to each other. An overlap section, in certain embodiments, is 0-15
mm in width, or about 0-15 mm, or 1-10 mm, or about 1-10 mm, or 2-8
mm, or about 2-8 mm, or 3-6 mm, or about 3-6 mm. An overlap
section, in certain embodiments, runs along the entire edge where
the elastic strip engages the wall body, or 50-100 percent of the
entire edge, or 80-100 percent.
[0024] In another preferred embodiment, an elastic strip of a
sleeve of the invention is looped into a double layer at its top,
so that the top 1-6 centimeters (cm) or about 1-6 cm of the elastic
strip is double layered, or 2-5 cm or about 2-5 cm, or 3-4 cm or
about 3-4 cm. In a preferred embodiment, a loop of an elastic strip
of a sleeve of the invention is non-elastic or substantially
non-elastic along the vertical axis of the sleeve (in other words,
perpendicular to the bottom of the sleeve, if the sleeve has a
bottom, when a container is inside the sleeve). A loop of an
elastic strip of a sleeve of the invention, in certain embodiments,
can be used to hold the sleeve, with or without a container in the
sleeve; or to attach something to the sleeve, for example, through
clipping, tying, taping, or in any other way; or to attach the
sleeve, with or without a container in the sleeve, to something,
for example, to a belt, to pants, to a jacket, to clothing, to a
vehicle, to a bicycle, to a car, to gear for walking, hiking, or
mountaineering, or to something else.
[0025] A wall body of a sleeve of the invention is preferably made
of a material that is sufficiently insulating so a container with a
hot or cold liquid can be handled during ordinary use. A wall body
of a sleeve of the invention is preferably made of any one, two,
three, four, or more of the following materials: wool, any kind of
felt, non-woven felt-like materials, heatset carpet, leather, rigid
plastic, flexible plastic, expanded foam, closed cell foam, open
cell foam, organic fabric, synthetic fabric, silicone, natural
rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, cork, wood,
steam-bent wood, kerf-bent wood, wood-like materials, paper
products, and/or plasticized paper products. A wall body of a
sleeve of the invention may also be made of any other material or
materials with properties that are similar or substantially similar
to those of any one of the materials mentioned or suggested
herein.
[0026] An elastic strip of a sleeve of the current invention in
certain embodiments is made of a material that is sufficiently
elastic so that a utensil may be inserted between the elastic strip
and a container in the sleeve. An elastic strip of a sleeve of the
invention is preferably made of any one, two, three, four, or more
of the following materials: elastic, flat elastic, non-flat
elastic, profiled elastic, braided elastic, knitted elastic, woven
elastic, cord, elastic cord, flexible cord, a cord or elastic that
is threaded back and forth between edges that are being linked
together, rubber product, springs, plastic springs, metal springs,
rubber springs, molded springs, chemically reduced springs,
additive manufactured material, 3d-printed material, 3d-printed
additive manufactured material and/or machined profiles allowing
expansion of material (for example, like a bellows). An elastic
strip of a sleeve of the invention may also be made of any other
material or materials with properties that are similar or
substantially similar to those of any one of the materials
mentioned or suggested herein.
[0027] In certain embodiments, a sleeve according to the current
invention comprises a bottom. In certain other embodiments, a
sleeve according to the current invention does not comprise a
bottom. A bottom of a sleeve of the current invention, in certain
embodiments, is located below a container that is in the sleeve. A
bottom, in certain embodiments, is made of the same material as the
wall body of the sleeve, or a different material chosen from the
same types of materials from which the wall body may be made. A
bottom is of the same thickness as the wall body or of a different
thickness than selected for the wall body. In certain embodiments,
a bottom may include a sticky material, like the wall body or a
different sticky material, preferably so that the sticky material
would located on the inside of the sleeve and preferably in contact
with a container that is in the sleeve.
[0028] A bottom, in certain embodiments, does not extend beyond the
footprint of a beverage container for which the sleeve is designed.
A bottom may be of any shape, for example, a circle, a square, a
triangle, a rectangle, an irregular shape, or any other shape.
[0029] In certain embodiments, a bottom is attached through a
connection strip to the wall body and/or to the elastic strip of a
sleeve of the invention, or through one connection strip, two,
three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or more connection strips. A
connection strip, in certain embodiments, is made of the same
material as the wall body and the bottom.
[0030] In certain embodiments, a sleeve of the invention comprises
a bottom with a connection strip attached thereto and with the wall
body also attached to the connection strip. In certain embodiments,
a bottom, one or more connection strips, and a wall body of a
sleeve of the current invention may be made of one piece, or of
more than one piece. In certain embodiments, a sleeve of the
invention comprises a bottom with two connection strips attached
thereto and with half the wall body attached to each of the
connection strips. In certain embodiments, a bottom, two connection
strips, and two half segments of a wall body of a sleeve of the
current invention may be made of one piece, or of more than one
piece.
[0031] Sleeves according to certain embodiments of the current
invention are further exemplified in the figures. In FIG. 1 there
is shown a sleeve according to certain embodiments of the invention
with a jar 5 in it. FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a sleeve
according to certain embodiments with a wall body 1 and an elastic
strip 2 with a loop in its top section viewed from the side. Also
shown are a bottom 3 and a connection strip 4.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain
embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and
looking straight at an elastic strip 2. Also shown are a wall body
1, a bottom 3, connection strips 4, and overlap sections 6, where
the wall body 1 is connected to the elastic strip 2.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain
embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and
looking straight at a closure strip 7 where sections of the wall
body 1 are connected. Also shown are a wall body 1, a bottom 3, and
connection strips 4.
[0034] FIG. 4 shows a top down view of a sleeve according to
certain embodiments of the invention, showing the top view of an
elastic strip 2, a closure strip 7, and a bottom 3 with sticky
material 8. Also shown are a wall body 1, and connection strips
4.
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of a sleeve according to certain
embodiments of the invention, showing the bottom view of an elastic
strip 2 and a closure strip 7. Also shown are a wall body 1, a
bottom 3, connection strips 4, and overlap sections 6.
[0036] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a cross-section of a sleeve
according to certain embodiments of the invention, with an elastic
strip 2 with a loop in its top section viewed from the side and
with sticky material 8 on the inside of the wall body 1. Also shown
are a bottom 3 and a connection strip 4.
[0037] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a sleeve according to
certain embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the
sleeve and with a spoon 9 inserted between an elastic strip 2 and
the jar 5. Also shown are a wall body 1, a bottom 3, a connection
strip 4, and a closure strip 7.
[0038] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain
embodiments of the invention, with a jar 5 inside the sleeve and
looking straight at an elastic strip 2. Also shown is a spoon 9
inserted between the elastic strip 2 and the jar 5, a wall body 1,
a bottom 3, connection strips 4, and overlap sections 6.
[0039] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a sleeve according to certain
embodiments of the invention shown in FIG. 8, but further
illustrating the outlines of the spoon 9 shown in broken lines
under the elastic strip 2. Parts of a spoon 9, or any other
utensil, under an elastic strip 2 may not be visible in a sleeve
according to the invention, and FIG. 9 is provided merely for
purposes of illustration.
[0040] In certain embodiments, a wall body of a sleeve of the
current invention may be made from a felt-like heatset non-woven
carpet, produced from recycled plastics. In certain embodiments a
wall body of the sleeve is made of single or multiple combinations
of other plastics, for example, polyethylene terephthalate,
polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene,
polyethylene, plastarch material (thermoplastic made from modified
cornstarch). In certain other embodiments, a wall body of a sleeve
of the invention is made of less common non-food safe plastics, for
example, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, parkesine, bakelite,
polyester, polyvinylidene chloride, high impact polystyrene,
polyamides (nylons), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene,
polyethylene/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate,
polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyurethanes,
melamine formaldehyde, phenolics, polyetheretherketone,
polyetherimide, polylactic acid, polymethyl methacrylate,
polytetrafluoroethylene, urea-formaldehyde.
[0041] In certain other embodiments, a wall body of a sleeve of the
current invention is made of non-plastic materials, for example,
stainless steel, low-carbon medical-grade stainless steel (304L or
316L), treated stainless steel (coated, painted, chemically plated,
heat treated, thermally sprayed), aluminum (coated, painted,
chemically plated, anodized, heat treated, thermally sprayed),
steel (coated, painted, chemically plated [i.e., chromed, etc],
heat treated, thermally sprayed) silicone rubber, natural rubber,
latex, felt, wood, leather, ceramic materials, porcelain, glass and
glass-like materials, fiberglass, carbonfiber, and cork.
[0042] A sleeve of the current invention, in certain embodiments,
is manufactured by a process known in the art, for example,
components could be injection molded, liquid molded (like in the
case of silicone), vacuum formed, thermoformed, stretch-blow
molded, compression molded, calendering, transfer molded,
laminated, fiberglass molded, pultruded, filament wound, rotational
molded, manually molded, slip cast, hand burnished, hand formed,
ground, filed, turned, cast (die, sand, shell, spin, investment,
centrifugal), extruded, rolled, rubber pad formed, sheared,
superplastic formed, hydroformed, coined, decambered, deep drawn,
flowformed, spun, stamped, progressive die stamped, fashioned from
other existing products, retrofit, waterjet cut, EDM, sawed,
chiseled, milled/machined, forged, light-activated resin hardening,
sun-baked, UV cured, chemically cured, dried.
[0043] In certain embodiments of the invention, methods are
provided for insulating a beverage container with a sleeve of the
current invention. A method of the current invention, in certain
embodiments, comprises placing a container into a sleeve of the
current invention. In certain other embodiments, a method of the
invention comprises inserting a utensil into the space between a
sleeve of the current invention and a container, for example, a
knife, a fork, a spoon, a straw, chopsticks, or any other kind of
utensil. In certain other embodiments, a method of the invention
comprises using a beverage container with a sleeve of the current
invention for consuming a beverage or anything else.
[0044] In certain other embodiments, a method of the invention
comprises holding a loop of a sleeve of the invention, with or
without a container in the sleeve, for example, by putting a finger
through the loop. In certain other embodiments, a method of the
invention comprises attaching a loop of a sleeve of the invention,
with or without a container in the sleeve, to something, for
example, to a belt, to pants, to a jacket, to clothing, to a
vehicle, to a bicycle, to a car, to gear for walking, hiking, or
mountaineering, or to something else. In certain other embodiments,
a method of the invention comprises attaching a loop of a sleeve of
the invention, with or without a container in the sleeve, through
clipping, tying, taping, or in any other way, to something, for
example, to a belt, to pants, to a jacket, to clothing, to a
vehicle, to a bicycle, to a car, to gear for walking, hiking, or
mountaineering, or to something else.
[0045] In describing the preferred embodiments of the present
invention illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is
employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not
intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and
it is to be understood that each specific element includes all
technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to
accomplish a similar purpose.
[0046] The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the
specific embodiments described herein, which are intended as single
illustrations of individual aspects of the invention, and
functionally equivalent methods and components are within the scope
of the invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention,
in addition to those shown and described herein, will become
apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing
description. Such modifications are intended to fall within the
scope of the appended claims. All cited publications, patents, and
patent applications are herein incorporated by reference in their
entirety for any purpose.
* * * * *