U.S. patent application number 15/791934 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-25 for cup resistant to both slipping and tipping.
The applicant listed for this patent is Joseph Born, Lily Ann Born. Invention is credited to Joseph Born, Lily Ann Born.
Application Number | 20190116999 15/791934 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66170303 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190116999 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Born; Lily Ann ; et
al. |
April 25, 2019 |
Cup Resistant to Both Slipping and Tipping
Abstract
A cup or glass design that prevents both slipping and tipping.
The cup is shaped so that its bottom has both a region of high
friction and a region of low friction. The region of high friction
can be a set of small rubber feet or the like. The region of low
friction can be the smooth cup surface. The two regions are
juxtapositioned so that when the cup is sitting flat in its normal
resting position, the region of high friction makes contact with
the surface; however, if the cup is tipped, the region of high
friction lifts off the surface allowing the region of low friction
to contact the surface. This then causes the partially-tipped cup
to slide rather than tip over. As it slides away from the source of
the tipping force, the cup will then right itself by gravity and
return to the normal resting position.
Inventors: |
Born; Lily Ann; (Skokie,
IL) ; Born; Joseph; (Lincolnwood, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Born; Lily Ann
Born; Joseph |
Skokie
Lincolnwood |
IL
IL |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
66170303 |
Appl. No.: |
15/791934 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/2261
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22 |
Claims
1. A cup bottom that prevents sliding and tipping comprising: a
high friction region positioned to contact a supporting surface
when the cup is in a normal resting position, the high friction
region positioned to lift off of the supporting surface as the cup
tips; a low friction region in proximity to the high friction
region positioned so that the low friction region contacts the
supporting surface when the high friction region lifts off the
supporting surface as the cup tips.
2. The cup bottom of claim 1 wherein the high friction region is
rubber.
3. The cup bottom of claim 1 wherein the high friction region is a
plurality of rubber feet.
4. The cup bottom of claim 1 wherein the high friction region is
recessed into the cup bottom and the low friction region is shaped
to cause the high friction region to lift off the supporting
surface as the cup is tipped.
5. The cup bottom of claim 1 wherein the low friction region is a
smooth portion of the cup bottom.
6. The cup bottom of claim 5 wherein the low friction region is a
same material as the cup bottom.
7. The cup bottom of claim 1 wherein the low friction region is
ceramic.
8. The cup bottom of claim 1 wherein an outer edge of the low
friction region is curved.
9. A cup having a cup bottom that resists both sliding and tipping
comprising: a plurality of high friction areas positioned to
contact a supporting surface when the cup is in a normal resting
position, the high friction areas positioned to lift off of the
supporting surface as the cup tips; a plurality of low friction
areas located in proximity to the high friction areas; wherein, the
low friction areas are shaped to cause the high friction areas to
lift off of a supporting surface when the cup is partially
tipped.
10. The cup bottom of claim 9 wherein the high friction areas and
low friction areas are located on legs extending outward from a cup
body.
11. The cup bottom of claim 9 wherein the low friction areas are a
same material as the cup bottom.
12. The cup bottom of claim 11 wherein the low friction areas are
ceramic.
13. A method of preventing a cup from sliding and tipping
comprising placing a plurality of high friction areas on the cup
bottom; placing a plurality of low friction areas on the cup bottom
in proximity to the high friction areas, wherein, the low friction
areas are shaped to cause the high friction areas to lift off of a
supporting surface when the cup is partially tipped.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the high friction areas are
rubber.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the high friction areas are a
plurality of rubber feet.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the high friction areas are
recessed into the cup bottom and the low friction areas are shaped
to cause the high friction areas to lift off the supporting surface
as the cup is tipped.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein the low friction areas are
smooth portions of the cup bottom.
18. The method of claim 13 wherein the low friction areas are a
same material as the cup bottom.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the low friction areas are
ceramic.
20. The method of claim 13 wherein the high friction areas and low
friction areas are located on legs extending outward from a cup
body.
Description
BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of
slipping/tipping prevention and more particularly to a cup design
that prevents both slipping and tipping over.
Description of the Problem
[0002] Cups have a tendency to slip on a smooth surface such as a
tray or table. This effect is particularly acute on boats and ships
where surfaces tilt as the vessel rolls. The effect also makes
carrying several cups on a tray difficult.
[0003] Cups and glasses are also prone to tipping over when a
relatively small force is applied to an upper surface. Our previous
invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,756,970 solved the problem
of a coffee-style cup tipping over by providing three or more legs
extending from the cup. These legs also served as handles. However,
this previous invention does not alone solve the slipping
problem.
[0004] It would be advantageous to have a cup (or glass or any
other container) that would not slip on a smooth surface and was
resistant to tipping over.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates to a cup design that prevents
both slipping and tipping. The cup is shaped so that its bottom has
both a region of high friction and a region of low friction. The
region of high friction can be a set of small rubber feet or the
like. The region of low friction can be the smooth cup surface. The
two regions are juxtapositioned so that when the cup is sitting
flat in its normal resting position, the region of high friction
makes contact with the surface; however, if the cup is tipped, the
region of high friction lifts off the surface allowing the region
of low friction to contact the surface. This then causes the
partially-tipped cup to slide rather than tip over. As it slides
away from the source of the tipping force, the cup then rights
itself by gravity and returns to the normal resting position.
[0006] It is therefore a goal of the present invention to combine
low and high friction surfaces on the base of a cup, glass or bowl
to allow it to selectively grip and slide to avoid spilling under a
variety of circumstances.
[0007] It is also a goal of the present invention to allow the
anti-sliding feature to be combined with the anti-tipping cup of
our previous invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,756,970.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0008] Attention is now directed to several drawings that
illustrate features of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a prior art coffee-style cup prone to both
sliding and tipping.
[0010] FIG. 2A shows the bottom of an embodiment of the present
invention in a normal resting position.
[0011] FIG. 2B shows the embodiment of FIG. 2A in a partially
tipped position.
[0012] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention used
with a standard coffee cup.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a different embodiment of the present invention
used with the three legged cup of our previous patent.
[0014] Several figures and illustrations have been provided to aid
in understanding the present invention. The scope of the present
invention is not limited to what is shown in the figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] The present invention relates to a cup design that prevents
sliding on a smooth surface and also prevents tipping. The bottom
of the cup has both a region of high friction and a region of low
friction. In the normal resting position, the region of high
friction is in contact with the surface preventing sliding; in a
partially tipped position (such as might occur the instant a force
is applied to the top of the cup), the region of high friction
lifts off the surface allowing the region of low friction to
contact the surface. This causes the cup to slide rather than tip
over. As it slides away from the source of the tipping force, the
cup then rights itself by gravity and returns to its resting
position.
[0016] There are multiple mechanisms by which a cup can spill its
contents. It is generally recognized that, with rare exceptions, it
is desirable for a cup not to slide on its supporting surface. This
is especially true when cups are on surfaces that are non
stationary such as on a boat or serving tray. However, it is also
recognized that sliding on a supporting surface is preferable to
tipping, and that these two goals can be in conflict.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a prior art coffee-style cup 1. If the cup is
impacted or pushed by a force 2, it is generally the case that the
frictional force 3 that resists sliding also contributes to a
torsional moment that induces the cup to tip over. Whether the cup
slides or tips generally depends upon the height of its center of
gravity, the amount of friction and the magnitude of the force. If
the center of gravity is high enough, and the moment caused by the
friction large enough, the cup tips rather than slides. Therefore,
the frictional force that was desirable in preventing the cup from
sliding now becomes undesirable in that it makes the cup more
likely to tip. A goal of the present invention is to provide the
desirable aspect of resisting sliding except in those cases where
sliding would be preferable to the alternative, namely tipping.
[0018] The present invention accomplishes this by combining two
different surfaces on the base of a cup which engage the supporting
surface under different circumstances. As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B,
this is done by placing a high friction surface 6 such as rubber or
the like at the bottom of the base of the cup 1 such that when the
cup is sitting flat on the surface, the high friction area 4 is
engaged with the supporting surface. A second surface 5 of lower
friction next to the high friction surface 4 is positioned such
that it is raised off of, and not directly in contact with, the
supporting surface when the cup 1 is sitting flat on the supporting
surface as shown in FIG. 2A. The outer side 7 of the low friction
surface is typically curved.
[0019] When the cup is tilted as the result of applied force or
impact as shown in FIG. 2B, the low friction surface 5 engages the
supporting surface. As the cup 1 is tilted further, a point is
reached that can be called a transition angle, where the high
friction surface 4 will disengage from the supporting surface, and
the entire contact area will be on the low friction surface 5. At
the transition angle and beyond, the interface of the supporting
surface and cup will be governed by the low friction surface 5. The
result is that the force 3 (FIG. 1) that was causing the moment is
significantly reduced, and so is the moment. The cup then begins to
slide, since at this point, the pushing force 2 is almost always
strong enough to overcome the static friction of the low friction
surface 5. However, the partially tipped cup also experiences a
counter moment caused by gravity that tends to right it. As the cup
slides away from the source of the applied tipping force, this
moment from gravity is now much greater than the tipping moment,
the cup drops back down to its normal resting position again with
the high friction surface 4 re-making contact with the supporting
surface.
[0020] Embodiments of the present invention can also be used with a
conventional cup base as shown in FIG. 3 or with the legs of the
multi legged style cup of our previous patent as shown in FIG. 4.
In either case, to facilitate sliding, the leading edge of the low
friction surface can be rounded to facilitate sliding over surfaces
that may be uneven including lumps or folds in tablecloths and
place mats.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows the high friction devices 6 placed in
indentations on the normal surface of the cup 1. This works as long
as the high friction devices 6 lift off the supporting surface when
the cup 1 is tipped.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows high friction devices 6 being used with each
leg of the multi legged cup to provide a high friction surface 4.
The leading edge of the leg can be rounded to provide the low
friction surface 5 and rounded to prevent snagging as stated above.
The outer side 7 of the low friction part of the leg is generally
curved.
[0023] The high friction devices 6 can be rubber or any other
material that will grip a smooth surface and prevent sliding. They
can be attached to the cup 1 by gluing or by any other attachment
method including being pushed into recesses in the cup bottom. The
low friction region 5 is typically simply part of the cup bottom
and can be porcelain, glass, smooth plastic or the like, usually
the same material as the cup itself.
[0024] The present invention provides a solution to the problems of
both slipping and tipping for any style cup, bowl, glass, pitcher
or other liquid container. The present invention is useful for any
container that may slide and/or tip over. It is particularly useful
for tall glasses such as tall beer glasses, wine glasses and the
like. It should therefore be noted, that while the word cup is used
throughout this disclosure, word cup herein means any liquid
container.
[0025] Several descriptions and illustrations have been presented
to aid in understanding the present invention. One with skill in
the art will realize that numerous changes and variations may be
made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Each of
these changes and variations is within the scope of the present
invention.
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