A coaster is structured to be coupled to a conventional cup, such as an iced beverage cup, using a conventional cup sleeve. The coaster includes a generally disk shaped base having an outer perimeter. Two or more elongate tethers extend outwardly from the outer perimeter of the base. The coaster assumes a combination-ready configuration with the two or more elongate tethers extending generally upright and outwardly to a same side of the base, in such a way that the coaster fits snugly within a conventional cup sleeve. In a final combination configuration with a cup sleeve, the coaster combines with the cup sleeve to create an insulating and water absorptive coaster and sleeve, frictionally and snugly coupled to the cup in a robust manner to make the coaster highly portable together with the cup and cup sleeve, and configured to collect condensation formed on the exterior surface of the cup.

A coaster is structured to be coupled to a conventional cup, such as an iced beverage cup, using a conventional cup sleeve. The coaster includes a generally disk shaped base having an outer perimeter. Two or more elongate tethers extend outwardly from the outer perimeter of the base. The coaster assumes a combination-ready configuration with the two or more elongate tethers extending generally upright and outwardly to a same side of the base, in such a way that the coaster fits snugly within a conventional cup sleeve. In a final combination configuration with a cup sleeve, the coaster combines with the cup sleeve to create an insulating and water absorptive coaster and sleeve, frictionally and snugly coupled to the cup in a robust manner to make the coaster highly portable together with the cup and cup sleeve, and configured to collect condensation formed on the exterior surface of the cup.

The invention discloses a drinking vessel comprising a beverage container and a spillage receptacle, the latter having an opening which excessively encompasses the vertical projection of the widest outer periphery of the beverage container. The spillage receptacle further comprises an annulated top surface designed to maintain the spillage in the spillage receptacle while the drinking vessel is tilted. The invention also provides a drinking vessel comprising a beverage container, a spillage receptacle which encompasses the vertical projection of the widest outer periphery of the beverage container, and an annulated draining surface (e.g. a funnel) wherein the top end of the spillage receptacle has a wider diameter than a lower holding portion of the drinking vessel, thus protecting the hand of the holder from spillage.

Proposed is a bottle holding apparatus having a removable LED light source. The bottling apparatus includes a bottle holder body and a lighting device module. The bottle holder body is structured to accommodate a lower portion of a bottle. The lighting device module is removably fitted in the bottle holder body and is removable from underside of the bottle holder body. Light generated by an LED light source of the lighting device module is illuminated through the lower portion of the bottle accommodated in the bottle holder body, thereby providing visual lighting effects and creating a romantic atmosphere suitable for drinking alcohol.

The invention discloses a drinking vessel comprising a beverage container and a spillage receptacle, the latter having an opening which excessively encompasses the vertical projection of the widest outer periphery of the beverage container. The spillage receptacle further comprises an annulated top surface designed to maintain the spillage in the spillage receptacle while the drinking vessel is tilted. The invention also provides a drinking vessel comprising a beverage container, a spillage receptacle which encompasses the vertical projection of the widest outer periphery of the beverage container, and an annulated draining surface (e.g. a funnel) wherein the top end of the spillage receptacle has a wider diameter than a lower holding portion of the drinking vessel, thus protecting the hand of the holder from spillage.

The invention discloses a drinking vessel comprising a beverage container and a spillage receptacle, the latter having an opening which excessively encompasses the vertical projection of the widest outer periphery of the beverage container. The spillage receptacle further comprises an annulated top surface designed to maintain the spillage in the spillage receptacle while the drinking vessel is tilted. The invention also provides a drinking vessel comprising a beverage container, a spillage receptacle which encompasses the vertical projection of the widest outer periphery of the beverage container, and an annulated draining surface (e.g. a funnel) wherein the top end of the spillage receptacle has a wider diameter than a lower holding portion of the drinking vessel, thus protecting the hand of the holder from spillage.

A beverage coaster includes integrated electronics, such as a power system, a load cell, an analog to digital converter and a wireless transceiver. The beverage coaster communicates with a computing device to send information, such as a first weight, a second weight, and a third weight of objects placed on the beverage coaster. The first weight may be associated with a container, a second weight may be associated with a first ingredient, and the third weight may be associated with a second ingredient. The computing device is configured to display information related to the first, second, and third weights and provide instructions to a user thereof for maintaining proper proportions of the first and second ingredients as the user adds them to the container.

An active foodware system includes a mechanical structure and provides visual stimuli, heating of food, and wireless communication by having a power source, a visual stimulating component, a heating component, and a wireless communication component. Other components can provide sensing, data processing, as well as auditory and haptic stimuli. The mechanical structure can be a single unit where the components and circuitry are all contained in the unit and protected from water, or can be two units: an upper food surface for receiving food, and an underplate comprising components and circuitry.

A press-fit check valve for a hydraulic tensioner includes a retainer, a seat, a ball, and a spring. The seat of the check valve is press-fit against the wall of the check valve counterbore of the hydraulic tensioner body. In some embodiments, the seat is cup-shaped to provide a predetermined level of press force retention of the press-fit check valve. In some embodiments, the seat includes a plurality of legs separated by leg openings. In some embodiments, a backflow path is provided past the press-fit check valve by a combination of the leg openings and at least one backflow slot through a flange of the retainer. In some embodiments, a lip at the outer end of the check valve counterbore prevents the seat from backing out of the check valve counterbore.

A feeding mat and methods for its use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the feeding mat comprises a base having an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner region and an outer region. In some embodiments, an outer wall is integrally formed in the upper surface forming a dish suitable to contain a food product. In some embodiments, the inner region is essentially planar and forms a reference plane generally parallel to the flat surface. In some embodiments, the outer region has a slope with respect to the inner region and reference plane in the range of around 1.0 to 10.0.