Non-spillable, Magnetic Drinking Container

Abstract

A drinking container of generally cup configuration and having a magnet mounted in the bottom and/or side to permit attachment of the cup to a ferrous metal surface in an upright position. A top mounts on the cup and is provided with an opening for drinking and an air vent. Alternatively, the top may include an elongated member to function as a straw and another type of vent to permit withdrawal of liquid from the cup while maintaining a nonspillable configuration for the cup when not resting on a ferrous metal surface.

Description

This invention relates generally to a cup and, more particularly, to a nonspillable, magnetic-drinking cup.

It is often desirable during transportation in some vehicle, such as an automobile, truck, aircraft, or boat, to have means for some type of liquid refreshment. In the past it has been necessary for anyone desiring to have a drink of some liquid such as coffee, milk or a soft drink to be confronted with the problem of how to prevent spilling and where to locate the drinking container to prevent its overturning while leaving the hands of the operator and passengers of the vehicle free for the important task of steering and maintaining control of the vehicle or relaxation. Various devices have been proposed to overcome the disadvantage of no adequate location and spillable containers, such for example as the mounting of a pivotal or swiveling holder from some surface of the vehicle. Such devices respond to the movement of the vehicle and, because of the nature of a liquid contained in a cup, still permit sloshing, splashing or spilling of the liquid from the cup. It is also known to provide the cup or drinking container with a top through which a straw may be inserted for withdrawal of the liquid from the container. However, such devices fail to overcome the problem of locating the container to release the hands of the operator and passengers for maintaining control of the vehicle and relaxation.

In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art the present invention contemplates the use of a drinking container having a magnet in the bottom or side to permit the container to be supported on a metallic surface in a vehicle. It is further contemplated that a top be provided for the drinking container which permits drinking of a liquid from the container, but which substantially prevents spilling of any liquid from within the container.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and easily maintained drinking container for use in vehicles.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a drinking container that may be located on some surface in a vehicle to release the hands of the operator of the vehicle for maintaining safe control of the vehicle while preventing spilling of any liquid or material from the container.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a drinking container having magnets fixedly attached thereto for permitting support of the container from a surface of a vehicle and having a nonspillable top attached to the drinking container which permits drinking of the liquid, but substantially prevents any spilling of liquid from the container at undesirable times.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a drinking container having magnets affixed thereto and a top permitting withdrawal of liquid from the container at desirable times and which may be utilized with a metallic member having adhesive on one face that can be attached to a nonferrous metal surface of a vehicle to permit the container to be magnetically held to the surface of the vehicle in an upright position.

A more complete appreciation of the instant invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of one embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein drinking container 10 is shown to have side 12 and bottom 14. Handle 16 extends from side 12 and permits easy manipulation of drinking container 10. Depression 18 extends around the interior of bottom 14 and permits withdrawal of the last remaining liquid in container 10.

Top 20 includes an elongated member 22 having raised portion 24 and central opening 26 extending throughout the length of elongated member 22 to form a strawlike element that is integral with top 20. An opening through top 20 forms air vent 28 having valve 30 to permit selected operation of air vent 28. Valve 30 has mount 32 for pivot 34. Handle 36 is associated with pivot 34 and slide 38 to permit the thumb of the person using container 10 to operate air vent 28 while holding container 10 by handle 16 with the fingers of the same hand. The strawlike elongated member 22 provides a further advantage in that the instant invention can be used without obstructing the vision of the user because it need not be raised above the mouth. This provision is a substantial reduction of the safety hazard created by conventional drinking containers which require the user to raise them such that a major portion of the field of vision is obscured.

Recess 40 in bottom 14 permits attachment of a conventional bottom magnet 42 in a position to give a substantially smooth bottom surface for container 10. It is to be noted that a composition magnet of plastic with embedded metal is a preferable type of magnet for use with container 10, especially when container 10 is made of a plastic material.

Side buildup 44 extends from side 12 and includes recess 46 that receives side magnets 48. The side magnets 48 permit container 10 to be magnetically attached to a vertical ferrous metal surface in a vehicle while bottom magnet 42 permits magnetic attachment of container 10 to a substantially horizontal ferrous metal surface. Generally, magnets 42 and 48 are attached to container 10 by a suitable adhesive that will withstand varying temperatures.

Referring now to FIGS. 3--5 wherein an alternative embodiment of the instant invention is shown to include top 60 having a centrally located depressed area 62 extending substantially the width of top 60. Larger opening 64 permits drinking of fluid contained within container 10 while air vent 66 in top 60 permits air to flow to the interior of container 10 and permit easy withdrawal of liquid through opening 64. Groove 68 extends around top 60 and is spaced from the periphery thereof to permit attachment of top 60 to side 12 of container 10. It is to be noted that, as shown, top 60 is merely snap fitted to side 12.

However, it is to be understood that, if desirable, groove 68 could be provided with threads as could the exterior of the top portion of side 12 to permit a threaded attachment of top 60 to container 10.

It is well known that many present day vehicles do not have ferrous metal surfaces which would be available for permitting attachment of container 10 by either bottom magnet 42 or side magnet 48. Accordingly, a ferrous metal plate 70, generally of circular configuration or in configuration conforming to the bottom of container 10, is utilized. Plate 70 has adhesive back 72 to permit plate 70 to be adhesively attached to a nonferrous metal surface in the vehicle. Plate 70 is then available for holding container 10 on the nonferrous metal surface. Since in many vehicles there is no horizontal surface available for support of plate 70, it is contemplated that side plate 74, of a ferrous metal, be used in order that container 10 may be held in an upright position by magnet 48 attaching to side plate 74 when it is adhered to a substantially vertical surface. Side plate 74 includes an outwardly extending lip 76 on the bottom thereof which prevents vibrations from causing container 10 to slide downwardly from the forces of gravity and, thus, slide from contact with side plate 74. Side plate 74, similarly to bottom plate 70, has adhesive backing 78 applied to the back to permit plate 74 to be adhesively attached to a substantially vertical surface to thereby provide a metallic surface for attachment of container 10 in an upright position. It is to be understood that, although plates 70 and 74 are disclosed as having an adhesive backing, in some applications it may be more desirable to mechanically attach, such as by screws, the plates to the surface of a vehicle.

Drinking container 10 is shown in FIGS. 1--5 as having both bottom magnet 42 and side magnets 48. However, it is to be recognized that container 10 need only have either bottom magnet 42 or side magnet 48. The configuration shown in the drawings being merely to indicate both methods of attachment of container 10 to either a horizontal or upright surface in a vehicle. Furthermore, although container 10 is shown to have alternative embodiments 20 and 60, it is to be recognized that container 10 could be utilized to hold regular soft drink cups or bottles as inserts. In fact, some such soft drink cups have containers designed with lids that would function satisfactorily with the instant inventive container.

Thus, it is seen that the instant invention provides a magnetized drinking container having a cover which prevents sloshing or spilling of liquid from the cup. There are various uses for such a device, the main purpose being to provide a container capable of being held on the surface of a vehicle to provide readily available refreshment while leaving the hands of the vehicle operator for maintaining control of the vehicle. The instant drinking container can obviously be made from any material such as plastic or glass and it is merely necessary to utilize an adequate adhesive for attaching the magnet in order to provide a nonspillable drinking container for any type liquid.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the subject invention are possible in light of the above teachings.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

Claims

1. A nonspillable magnetic drinking container comprising: cup means having a bottom and side; top means for attachment to said side of said cup means; a magnet rigidly affixed to the said side of said cup means for permitting said cup means to be fixedly attached to a metallic surface in an upright position; a side plate having a lip extending from one edge thereof; and adhesive on the side of said plate opposite that of said lip; a top having a groove means for fitting over and securing said top to said side of said cup means; a depressed area centrally located in said top for receiving any liquid spilled from said cup means; an opening in said top located adjacent one edge thereof; and vent means in said top adjacent the opposite edge thereof, whereby said opening may be used for drinking from said cup means and said vent means permits the free flow of liquid from

2. A nonspillable magnetic-drinking container comprising cup means having a bottom and side; a magnet rigidly affixed to said bottom of said cup means to permit said cup means to be fixedly attached to a metallic surface in an upright position; a top having groove means for fitting over and securing said top to said side of said cup means; a depressed area centrally located in said top for receiving any liquid spilled from said cup means; an opening in said top located adjacent one edge thereof; vent means in said top in the opposite edge thereof; a metallic bottom plate having a configuration substantially the same as said bottom of said cup means; and adhesive means applied to one side of said bottom plate, whereby said bottom plate may be adhesively attached to a nonmetallic surface to permit magnetic attachment of said drinking container to a

3. The nonspillable magnetic-drinking container of claim 2, comprising: a magnet rigidly affixed to said side of said cup means to permit said cup means to be fixedly attached; a side plate having a lip extending from one edge thereof; and adhesive on the side of said side plate opposite to that of said lip, whereby a said plate may be adhesively attached to a nonmetallic surface in a vehicle to permit magnetic attachment of the drinking container to either a substantially horizontal or vertical metallic surface in an upright position.