Drinking vessel

A drinking vessel comprising a container sized and shaped so as to hold liquid therein;

• generating means for generating electrically generated special effects so as to enhance amusement for a user;
• a first switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a first state, in which said first switch is in an electrically closed state, and a second state, in which said first switch is in an electrically open state, said first switch being in said first state when liquid is present in said container and in said second state when liquid is not present in said container;
• a second switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a third state, in which said second switch is in an electrically closed state, and a fourth state, in which said second switch is in an electrically open state, said second switch being in said third state in response to a predetermined physical activity undertaken by the user in relation to said container, said first switch and said second switch being electrically connected to said generating means such that said generating means is activated to generate the special effects only when liquid is present in said container and when the predetermined physical activity is undertaken by the user, said container including a container portion and a base portion removably attached to said container portion, said first switch being located on said container portion, said second switch being located on said base portion, said first and second switches being electrically connected to one another in serial fashion when said base portion is attached to said container portion and being electrically disconnected from one another when said base portion is detached from said container portion, whereby said second switch can be removed from said container portion together with said base portion;
• and a connector mechanism mounted on said container for electrically connecting said first switch to said second switch when said base portion is attached to said container portion, said connector mechanism including at least one first connector, which is mounted on said container portion and which is connected to said first switch, and at least one second connector, which is mounted on said base portion and which is connected to said second switch, and said at least one first connector being in contact with said at least one second connector when said base portion is attached to said container portion and being out of contact with said at least one second connector when said base portion is detached from said container portion.

A drinking vessel comprising a container sized and shaped so as to hold liquid therein;

• generating means for generating electrically generated special effects so as to enhance amusement for a user;
• a first switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a first state, in which said first switch is in an electrically closed state, and a second state, in which said first switch is in an electrically open state, said first switch being in said first state when liquid is present in said container and in said second state when liquid is not present in said container;
• and a second switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a third state, in which said second switch is in an electrically closed state, and a fourth state, in which said second switch is in an electrically open state, said second switch being in said third state in response to a predetermined physical activity undertaken by the user in relation to said container, said first switch and said second switch being electrically connected to said generating means such that said generating means is activated to generate the special effects only when liquid is present in said container and when the predetermined physical activity is undertaken by the user, said generating means including a rotor rotatably mounted in said container, said rotor being rotated when said first and second switches are in said first and third states, respectively, and at least one portion of said container being made from a light-transmitting material such that at least one section of said rotor can be viewed through said at least one portion of said container.

A drinking vessel comprising a container sized and shaped so as to hold liquid therein;

• generating means for generating electrically generated special effects so as to enhance amusement for a user;
• a first switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a first state, in which said first switch is in an electrically closed state, and a second state, in which said first switch is in an electrically open state, said first switch being in said first state when liquid is present in said container and in said second state when liquid is not present in said container;
• and a second switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a third state, in which said second switch is in an electrically closed state, and a fourth state, in which said second switch is in an electrically open state, said second switch being in said third state in response to a predetermined physical activity undertaken by the user in relation to said container, said first switch and said second switch being electrically connected to said generating means such that said generating means is activated to generate the special effects only when liquid is present in said container and when the predetermined physical activity is undertaken by the user, said second switch being in said third state in response to the lifting of said container from a supporting surface, said second switch including an optical sensor mounted in said container, said container having an opening aligned with said optical sensor, said opening being covered by the supporting surface when said container is placed on the supporting surface, whereby said optical sensor is deactivated, and said opening being exposed when said container is lifted from the supporting surface, whereby said optical sensor is activated.

A drinking vessel comprising a container sized and shaped so as to hold liquid therein, said container including an opening;

• generating means for generating electrically generated special effects so as to enhance amusement for a user;
• a first switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a first state, in which said first switch is in an electrically closed state, and a second state, in which said first switch is in an electrically open state, said first switch being in said first state when liquid is present in said container and in said second state when liquid is not present in said container;
• and a second switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a third state, in which said second switch is in an electrically closed state, and a fourth state, in which said second switch is in an electrically open state, said second switch being in said third state in response to a predetermined physical activity undertaken by the user in relation to said container, said first switch and said second switch being electrically connected to said generating means such that said generating means is activated to generate the special effects only when liquid is present in said container and when the predetermined physical activity is undertaken by the user, said second switch including an optical sensor mounted in said container, and said optical sensor being located in said container so as to be actuated by a light beam reflected thereto through said opening by a mirror held by the user.