Identification system for individual containers

In combination with a set of individual containers, an identification system for distinguishing among the individual containers, the identification system comprising:

• an identifier member associated with each of the containers in the set for facilitating visual discrimination of each of the containers from the others of the set, the identifier member of each container in the set comprising a plurality of distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia positioned over a first surface portion of the container and an opaque covering material disposed over a second surface portion of the container different from the first surface portion thereof and having a preselected color, the opaque covering material having a color which contrasts with the preselected color of the second surf ace portion of the container and having a plurality of visible discrete areas each corresponding to a respective one of the printed identifying indicia, each of the visible discrete areas of the opaque covering material being selectively removable to expose the preselected color of the second surface portion of the container so that during consumption of the contents of the container a user may readily distinguish his container from the other containers in the set by visual inspection of the exposed preselected color of the second surface of the container corresponding to the removed discrete area of the opaque covering material and by visual inspection of the printed identifying indicia corresponding to the removed discrete area of the opaque covering material.

In combination with a plurality of groups of separate containers, an identification system for distinguishing among the containers within all of the groups, the identification system comprising:

• an identifier member associated with each of the containers in each of The groups for facilitating visual discrimination of each of the containers within any group from one another and from the containers of other groups, the identifier member associated with each of the containers within all of the groups comprising a set of distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia positioned over a surface portion of the container and an opaque covering material covering the set of printed identifying indicia, all of the sets of printed identifying indicia within any group of containers being substantially visually identical to one another, the sets of printed identifying indicia of each group of containers being visually distinct from the sets of printed identifying indicia of other groups of containers, and the opaque covering material of the identifier member associated with each of the containers of the sets within all of the groups being removable to selectively expose a preselected one of the printed identifying indicia so that during consumption of the contents of the container a user may readily distinguish his container from The other containers within any group and from the containers of other groups by visual inspection of the exposed printed identifying indicia;
• wherein the set of distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia of the identifier member for the container in each group comprises a set of first distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia and the surface portion of the container comprises a first surface portion of the container;
• and wherein the identifier member further comprises a set of second distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia associated with each of the containers in each group and each corresponding identically to a respective one of the first printed identifying indicia, each of the second printed identifying indicia being disposed over a second surface portion of the container different from the first surface portion and being generally aligned with the corresponding identical one of the first printed identifying indicia, all of the sets of second printed identifying indicia within any group of containers being substantially visually identical to one another, and the sets of second printed identifying indicia of each group of containers being visually distinct from the sets of second printed identifying indicia of other groups of containers.

In combination with a plurality of groups of separate containers, an identification system for distinguishing among the containers within all of the groups, the identification system comprising:

• an identifier member associated with each of the containers in each of the groups for facilitating visual discrimination of each of the containers within any group from one another and from the containers of other groups, the identifier member associated with each of the containers within all of the groups comprising a set of distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia positioned over a surface portion of the container and an opaque covering material covering the set of printed identifying indicia, all of the sets of printed identifying indicia within any group of containers being substantially visually identical to one another, the sets of printed identifying indicia of each group of containers being visually distinct from the sets of printed identifying indicia of other groups of containers, and the opaque covering material of the identifier member associated with each of the containers of the sets within all of the groups being removable to selectively expose a preselected one of the printed identifying indicia so that during consumption of the contents of the container a user may readily distinguish his container from the other containers within any group and from the containers of other groups by visual inspection of the exposed printed identifying indicia;
• wherein the identifier member for the container in each group further comprises a substrate layer having a first main surface on which the printed identifying indicia is printed and over which the opaque covering material is disposed to cover the printed identifying indicia, and an adhesive layer disposed on a second main surface of the substrate layer opposite the first main surface for adhering the substrate layer to the surface portion of the container.