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US 9,775,455 B2Granted
Mobile no spill coaster
AssigneeBarnacle Coaster, LLC
InventorsAaron Joseph Weissbart, Mark Garton Prophet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The instant disclosure may provide a coaster that can be used with articles including fluid containers to mitigate and/or preclude undesired transmission of liquids by collecting condensation and dripped fluids and directing them to a contained reservoir within the coaster. An upper flange of the coaster may act as a unidirectional valve, directing fluid into the reservoir and preventing the escape of stored fluid even while the cup on which the coaster is mounted is tilted, as when tilted for drinking purposes. The coaster may be installed and removed with one hand, may move with the cup, and may provide improved cup-on-surface stability.
Claims20
A coaster configured to entrap and retain liquids, the coaster comprising:
- a lower fluid barrier including:
- a lower fluid barrier interior surface;
- a lower fluid barrier exterior surface;
- and
- a lower fluid barrier outer periphery;
- an outer fluid barrier including:
- an outer fluid barrier interior surface;
- an outer fluid barrier exterior surface;
- an outer fluid barrier superior end;
- and
- an outer fluid barrier inferior end, wherein the outer fluid barrier inferior end is coupled to the lower fluid barrier outer periphery;
- and
- a valve flange including:
- a valve flange interior surface;
- a valve flange exterior surface;
- a valve flange inner edge defining a container opening;
- and
- a valve flange outer periphery, the valve flange outer periphery coupled to the outer fluid barrier superior end;
- wherein the lower fluid barrier, the outer fluid barrier, and the valve flange together form a reservoir configured to capture and retain liquids received from an external surface of a container coupled to the coaster;
- and
- wherein, with the container uncoupled from the coaster, the valve flange has a frustoconical shape having an angle below horizontal such that the valve flange inner edge is below the valve flange outer edge when the coaster is oriented in an upright position.
18 more elements
A reservoir configured to capture and hold fluid, the reservoir comprising:
- a lower fluid barrier including:
- a lower fluid barrier interior surface;
- a lower fluid barrier exterior surface;
- and
- a lower fluid barrier outer periphery;
- an outer fluid barrier including:
- an outer fluid barrier interior surface;
- an outer fluid barrier exterior surface;
- an outer fluid barrier superior end;
- and
- an outer fluid barrier inferior end, wherein the outer fluid barrier inferior end is coupled to the lower fluid barrier outer periphery;
- a valve flange including:
- a valve flange interior surface;
- a valve flange exterior surface;
- a valve flange inner edge;
- and
- a valve flange outer periphery, the valve flange outer periphery coupled to the outer fluid barrier superior end;
- and
- a living hinge formed intermediate the outer fluid barrier and the valve flange, integrally with the outer fluid barrier and the valve flange;
- wherein, in at least one configuration of the living hinge, the lower fluid barrier, the outer fluid barrier, and the valve flange together form a reservoir configured to capture and retain liquids received from an external surface of a container coupled to the coaster
- wherein, with the container uncoupled from the coaster, the valve flange has a frustoconical shape.
18 more elements
A method of manufacturing a coaster for capturing and retaining fluid from an external surface of a container, the method comprising:
- within a mold, forming a coaster having:
- a lower fluid barrier including:
- a lower fluid barrier interior surface;
- a lower fluid barrier exterior surface;
- and
- a lower fluid barrier outer periphery;
- an outer fluid barrier including:
- an outer fluid barrier interior surface;
- an outer fluid barrier exterior surface;
- an outer fluid barrier superior end;
- and
- an outer fluid barrier inferior end, wherein the outer fluid barrier inferior end is coupled to the lower fluid barrier outer periphery;
- a valve flange including:
- a valve flange interior surface;
- a valve flange exterior surface;
- a valve flange inner edge defining a container opening;
- and
- a valve flange outer periphery, the valve flange outer periphery coupled to the outer fluid barrier superior end;
- and
- a living hinge formed intermediate the outer fluid barrier and the valve flange, the living hinge facilitating multiple equilibrium states of the valve flange via a snap-through effect, wherein forming the coaster comprises, within the mold, forming the coaster with the living hinge such that the valve flange is at a first equilibrium angle above horizontal such that, when the coaster is oriented at an upright position, the valve flange inner edge is above the valve flange outer periphery;
- after forming the coaster in the mold, removing the coaster from the mold;
- and
- after removing the coaster from the mold, moving the living hinge to position the valve flange at a second equilibrium angle below horizontal such that, when the coaster is oriented at an upright position, the valve flange inner edge is below the valve flange outer periphery;
- wherein, with the living hinge in the second equilibrium angle below horizontal, the lower fluid barrier, the outer fluid barrier, and the valve flange together form a reservoir configured to capture and retain liquids received from an external surface of a container coupled to the coaster.
21 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.