# US 9,775,455 B2 · Mobile no spill coaster > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,775,455 B2 - Document ID: US9775455B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/225,539 - Filed: 2016-08-01 - Published: 2017-02-02 - Granted: 2017-10-03 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-31 - Assignees: Barnacle Coaster, LLC - Applicants: Barnacle Coasters, LLC - Inventors: Aaron Joseph Weissbart; Mark Garton Prophet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9775455B2 ## CPC - A47G 23/03: Underlays for glasses or drinking-vessels - F16H 7/08: Means for varying tension of belts, ropes or chains (pulleys of adjustable construction F16H55/52) - F01L 1/022: {Chain drive} - F16K 15/044: {spring-loaded} - F16K 27/0209: {Check valves or pivoted valves} - F16K 27/0245: {with ball-shaped valve members} - F16H 2007/0814: {with valves opening on surplus pressure} - F16H 2007/0859: {Check valves} - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) - F16H: GEARING - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The coaster of claim 1 wherein the valve flange and the outer fluid barrier further comprise stiffener features spaced apart at regular intervals along the outer fluid barrier interior surface and the valve flange exterior surface, the stiffener features configured to support the outer fluid barrier and the valve flange when the coaster is coupled to the container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The coaster of claim 2 wherein the stiffener features comprise integrally formed ridges configured to facilitate engagement of the valve flange inner edge against the external surface of the container in order to stabilize the container within the coaster. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The coaster of claim 1 wherein the lower fluid barrier, the outer fluid barrier, and the valve flange are integrally formed from the same material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The coaster of claim 4 further comprising a living hinge formed intermediate the outer fluid barrier and the valve flange, the living hinge facilitating an alternate equilibrium state of the valve flange via a snap-through effect, in which, with the container uncoupled from the coaster, the valve flange has an equilibrium angle above horizontal when the coaster is oriented in an upright position with the valve flange inner edge above the valve flange outer periphery. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The coaster of claim 1 wherein the outer fluid barrier has a generally frustoconical shape and includes at least one visual identifier to facilitate identification of the container coupled to the coaster. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The reservoir of claim 7 wherein the valve flange does not engage an external surface of a container coupled to the reservoir. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The reservoir of claim 8 comprising a gap between the valve flange and the container, the gap configured to allow liquids from the external surface of the container to be collected in the reservoir. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The reservoir of claim 7 wherein the lower fluid barrier, the outer fluid barrier, and the valve flange are integrally formed from the same semi-rigid material and the reservoir is removably couplable to a suitable container having a complementary shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The reservoir of claim 10 wherein the reservoir is removably couplable to the container via a snap-fit mechanism, the reservoir including one or more compression surfaces configured to compress against a complementary shaped external surface of the container to couple the reservoir to the container. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The reservoir of claim 11 further comprising one or more depressions formed intermediate the one or more compression surfaces, the one or more depressions configured to allow liquids received from the external surface of the container to be collected in the reservoir. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The reservoir of claim 8 Wherein the lower fluid barrier further comprises an aperture configured to receive the container therein. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The reservoir of claim 8 Wherein the lower fluid barrier is integrally formed with a base of the container. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The reservoir of claim 14 further comprising a valve flange lip coupled to the valve flange inner edge, the valve flange lip generally extending downward toward the lower fluid barrier and configured to entrap fluid in the reservoir when the reservoir is tilted away from the upright position. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein: forming the coaster comprises forming stiffener features on the valve flange and the outer fluid barrier, such that the stiffener features are spaced apart at regular intervals along the outer fluid barrier interior surface and the valve flange exterior surface; and the stiffener features are configured to support the outer fluid barrier and the valve flange when the coaster is coupled to the container. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein forming the stiffener features comprises integrally forming ridges configured to facilitate engagement of the valve flange inner edge against the external surface of the container in order to stabilize the container within the coaster. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein forming the coaster comprises integrally forming the lower fluid barrier, the outer fluid barrier, and the valve flange from the same material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 7) The reservoir of claim 7, wherein the living hinge facilitates multiple equilibrium states of the valve flange via a snap-through effect with the container uncoupled from the coaster, with a first equilibrium angle of the valve flange 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, and a second equilibrium angle of the valve flange 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.