Reusable Drink Protector

Abstract

A reusable drink protector made of flexible silicone sheet material. The sheet is approximately circular in shape and has a plurality of outwardly extending tabs. Each tab includes a semi adhesive disk. The circular portion of the sheet can close off the top surface of a glass or cup. The tabs can bend down the sides of the cup and be adhered to the cup by the semi adhesive disks. One extension tab has a magnet attached. When the user wants to drink from the cup, he or she folds up the extension tab and attaches the magnet to a metal disk mounted on the circular sheet creating an uncovered space on the edge of the cup for the user to drink from. The drink protector can be rolled up and stored in a tubular container.

Claims

1. A reusable drink protector comprising: a silicone sheet; a magnet; a ferrous disk member; a plurality of semi adhesive disk members; said silicone sheet being flexible and food grade; said silicone sheet being approximately circular and having a plurality of outwardly extending tabs; said plurality of semi adhesive disk members each attached to each end of said outwardly extending tabs; said circular portion of said silicone sheet capable of laying on top of an open topped vessel; said open topped vessel being a cup or glass capable of retaining a beverage; said plurality of outwardly extending tabs capable of folding down over the sides of said cup or glass and being releasably retained to said cup or glass by said semi adhesive disks; said silicone sheet having said magnet attached to the flat surface at the end of one of said outwardly extending tabs; said silicon sheet having a ferrous metal disk attached to said circular portion of said silicon sheet; said magnet holding tab capable of being folded up and over the top of said circular silicone sheet so that said magnet engages said ferrous metal disk enabling a user to drink from the exposed lip said cup or glass; and said magnet holding tab capable of being detached from said ferrous disk member and returned to the side of said cup or said glass via said semi adhesive disk member.

2. A reusable drink protector as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a tubular container capable of receiving and storing said reusable drink protector in a rolled-up configuration.

3. A reusable drink protector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said silicone sheet is approximately sixty thousandths of an inch thick and forty shore in durometer.

4. A reusable drink protector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of outwardly extending tabs total four and are equally spaced around the perimeter of said circular portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention with the reusable drink protector fully in place on a cup.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the invention in the flattened position.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the invention in the flattened position.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention about to be placed on a cup.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention with one tab partially lifted.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention with the tab fully lifted and in place on top of the circular portion of the drink protector.

[0021] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the invention rolled up and about to be inserted into a tubular carrying case.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the carrying case in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the invention 100 covering a cup 8. A circular portion 2 covers the entire top of the cup 8 and a plurality of extension members 4 attach to the side walls of the cup 8 via semi adhesive disks shown in FIG. 3. In the present embodiment, four equally spaced extension members are used, however the invention will work with fewer or more extension members 4. Magnetic member 6 is fixedly attached to one of the extension members 4. The magnet 6 can engage a ferrous metal disk 10 that is attached to the circular portion 2 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the top surface of the invention 100 in the flat position. The invention 100 is made of flexible food grade silicone having a durometer of approximately forty and a thickness of approximately sixty thousandths of an inch. The extension members 4 are spaced equally. Each extension member 4 is identical except for one that includes magnet 6 which is slightly longer than the rest.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the under surface of the invention 100 showing semi adhesive disks 14. All extensions 4 have disks 14 fixedly attached to them. The semi adhesive disks are similar to “Gekkodots Reusable Adhesive Dots” available on-line or in retail stores, except that one side of the disk 14 has permanent adhesive that attaches them to the silicone disk 2 and one side is semi adhesive which removably attaches to the side of a cup or glass.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention 100 about to be installed on a cup 8.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention 100 attached to the cup 8 on three sides with the fourth extension member partially lifted and about to be folded completely so that magnet 6 engages ferrous disk 10 and holds it in place as shown in FIG. 6, leaving a free space 16 for the user to partake of the beverage held within cup 8 without needing to completely remove the protective lid 100. In this way, a user can keep his or her beverage completely protected from possible insertion of an unwanted material from a person other than the holder of the cup 8 while not drinking the beverage, and conveniently remove and fold one extension arm over the circular portion 2 to have access to an edge of the cup for drinking.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the invention 100 in the rolled-up condition, and ready to be inserted into tubular container 18, 20. The container keeps the protective cover 100 free from dirt or germs during storage and provides a convenient way to carry the protective cover 100 in one's purse or pocket.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the tubular container in the closed position with the protective cover safely inside.

[0031] While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.