Food and drink drip guard and utility top and method for making the same

Abstract

A flexible lap food and beverage drip guard is disclosed. The food and drip guard may include a non-slide surface to act as a desk top for mobility devices such as, for example, cell phones and lap top computers. The device may further include textured upper surface to divert the flow of fluids to a catch pocket on either side of the device, and the bottom surface may be textured or honey combed to provide insulating properties to the user.

Claims

1. A food and beverage drip guard comprising: An arcuate flexible waterproof diverter member having a length and a width, said diverter member having a top surface and a thermal barrier bottom surface; said top surface having a non-slip work area; said thermal barrier bottom surface being textured to cause the food and beverage drip guard to remain in place when the food and beverage drip guard is positioned over an object; opposed diverter walls extending along the width of the diverter member that are substantially perpendicular to and separated by said top surface; and opposed channels extending along the length of the diverter member.

2. The food and beverage drip guard of claim 1, wherein said non slip work area includes raised features arranged on the top surface.

3. The food and beverage drip guard of claim 1, wherein said thermal barrier bottom surface is formed of embossed air pockets.

4. The food and beverage drip ward of claim 1, further including a liquid absorbent material insert in said opposed channels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a view of one embodiment of the food and drip guard with arcuate diverter walls and channels;

(2) FIG. 2 is a view of the food and drip guard of FIG. 1 in a rolled up position;

(3) FIG. 3 is a view of one embodiment of a mold to make a food and beverage drip guard;

(4) FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the food and drip guard showing a textured diverter surface;

(5) FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the food and drip guard showing a textured bottom surface;

(6) FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the food and drip guard apparatus on a user's leg in a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(7) Turning now to the drawings wherein like numbers refer to like structures, food and beverage drip apparatus 10 (shown in a curved state) has a length 12 and a width 14. The apparatus 10 has a diverter surface 16 extending the entire length and width of the apparatus. While the diverter surface is shown as generally rectangular, it could include extensions or be configured to cover the groin area of the user. The embodiments of the Figures include a diverter surface having opposed drip barrier walls 18 and 20 along the width separated by the diverter surface 16. Along the length of the apparatus are opposed channels 22 and 24, separated by the diverter surface. The channels have opposed walls 26 and 28, joined at arcuate surface 30 to from the channel. The channel may be further equipped with absorbent material insert 32 along the arcuate surface to absorb any liquids that may pool in the channels. The diverter surface may be smooth to permit the free flow of liquids to the channels and/or may have embossed or raised design features 35 (see FIG. 4) to slow down or control the flow of liquids to the channel. The addition of the raised design features on the top surface 16 may also add to the utility of the device and make it a functional nonslip work surface for such devices but not limited to cell phones and tablets. To that end, the device may be positioned over the center console arm rest and the cell phone, lap top or tablet may be positioned thereon with assurance that it will not slip from position. As seen in FIG. 5, the opposite surface 34 may be textured to ensure it stays in place on the leg of the user, or if it is smooth, the surface is made of material that has anti-skid properties to keep it in place on the user's leg. Also, this opposite surface 34 may have embossed designs such as but not limited to a honey comb 37, to not just add to the nonslip characteristic of the food, drip and utility top the user's leg, but would also form air pockets that would add to the utility of a thermal barrier should a very hot liquid such as but not limited to coffee spill on the leg of the user. In other embodiments, the apparatus may include a catch to secure the drip apparatus to a console or door or other surface of the vehicle interior.

(8) The food and beverage drip guard may be made of an elastomer material that is waterproof and flexible. Suitable elastomer materials may be selected from (but are not limited to) rubber (both synthetic and natural), isoprene rubber, nitrile rubbers, ethylene propylene rubber, latex, neoprene, silicone, fluroelastomers, flurosilicone, to name a few. It is contemplated that in addition to being water-proof, the material used to make the apparatus have thermal protection properties so if hot liquid is dripped to the apparatus, the user will not suffer any heat discomfort or burns.

(9) The mold 36 has an arcuate or semi-circular profile 38 with grooves along the width to form the diverter walls when an elastomer is applied to it. There are smaller arcuate surfaces 40 on either side of the profile 38 to form the channels. In operation, a mold release agent may be applied to the mold, and the elastomer is then applied. The elastomer cures and the mold release agent facilitates the easy removal of the cured food and beverage drip guard.

(10) In operation, the food and drip guard apparatus is placed over the right leg (see FIG. 6) when the food or beverage is on the right hand and over the left leg when the food or beverage is held in the left hand. Any drips are then intercepted by the apparatus and the liquid flows into the channels in the apparatus. After cleaning, the apparatus may be rolled into a compact form for storage as seen in FIG. 3.

(11) Those skilled in the art recognize the words used in this application are words of description, not words of limitation. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.