System and device for supporting a candle on a drink cup

Abstract

The invention involves a device and system for securing a candle to a drink cup for celebrations. The system includes a cover that secures across the top surface of the drink cup. A center portion of the cover is provided with a depression sized and shaped to cooperate with a small candle base to secure the candle in an upright position with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the drink cup. Once the candle has been blown out by the recipient, the cover can be removed from the drink cup to allow the person to consume the beverage contained within the cup.

Claims

1. A celebration device for securing a candle to a drink cup comprising: a topper member (32) constructed from a material that is sufficiently flexible to allow the topper member to expel a portion of air from the drinking cup (10) when a central portion of the celebration device is flexed inwardly with respect to an inner portion of the drinking cup, the topper member (32) includes a lower surface (34), an upper surface (36), a candle support member (12), and a perimeter edge (38), the lower surface (34) of the topper member (32) is compliant to conform to a shape of a top rim (20) of the drink cup (10) when placed on the top rim (20) to maintain an air seal between the lower surface and the drinking cup rim forming a partial vacuum inside of the drinking cup to hold the celebration device in position with respect to the drinking cup, the upper surface (36) includes the candle support member (12) that is constructed and arranged to cooperate with a birthday candle (14) in an upright position, the candle support member (12) includes a candle support member inner wall (42), a candle support member outer wall (44), and a candle support member bottom wall (46), the candle support member inner wall (42) is sized to cooperate with the outer surface of a candle member (14) to firmly hold the candle in an upright position.

2. The celebration device for securing a candle to a drink cup of claim 1 wherein the candle support member (12) extends inwardly into the upper surface (36).

3. The celebration device for securing a candle to a drink cup of claim 1 wherein the candle support member (12) extends above the upper surface (36).

4. The celebration device for securing a candle to a drink cup of claim 1 wherein the perimeter edge (38) of the topper member (32) is scalloped.

5. The celebration device for securing a candle to a drink cup of claim 1 wherein the topper member (32) is convex when viewed from the top.

6. The celebration device for securing a candle to a drink cup of claim 1 wherein the topper member (32) is spherical when viewed from the top.

7. The celebration device for securing a candle to a drink cup of claim 1 wherein the topper member (32) is flat when viewed from the top.

8. The celebration device for securing a candle to a drink cup of claim 1 wherein the upper surface (36) includes indicia (40).

9. The celebration device for securing a candle to a drink cup of claim 1 wherein the candle support member inner wall (42) includes a taper to more firmly grip the candle (14).

10. The celebration device for securing a candle to a drink cup of claim 1 wherein the candle support member inner wall (42) includes ridges to more firmly grip the candle (14).

11. The celebration device for securing a candle to a drink cup of claim 10 wherein the ridges are helical threads.

12. A celebration device for securing a candle to a drink cup comprising: a topper member (32), the topper member (32) includes a lower surface (34), an upper surface (36), a candle support member (12), and a perimeter edge (38), wherein the lower surface (34) includes a plurality of depending locating ring segments (52), the locating ring segments (52) provide various diameters sized to cooperate with an inner or outer diameters of a top rim (20) of the drink cup (10) to position the topper member with respect to the drinking cup when placed on a top surface of the drink cup (10), the upper surface (36) of the topper member includes the candle support member (12) that is constructed and arranged to cooperate with a birthday candle (14) in an upright position, the candle support member (12) includes a candle support member inner wall (42), a candle support member outer wall (44), and a candle support member bottom wall (46), the candle support member inner wall (42) is sized to cooperate with an outer surface of a candle member (14) to firmly hold the candle in an upright position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the ability to add advertising indicia to the top surface of the device;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present device, illustrating the depending rim and an upstanding candle socket;

(4) FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 having an inward candle socket;

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective section view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 6 is a top view illustrating one embodiment of the present device having a shaped outer perimeter;

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present device; and

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated n FIG. 7 cooperating with a shot glass.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

(10) Referring generally to FIGS. 1-6, a celebration device and system 100 for securing a candle to a drink cup 10 is illustrated. The system includes a candle support member 12 and a candle 14. The drink cup 10 includes a bottom 16, a side wall 18 and a top rim 20. In some embodiments, the top rim 20 includes a depending lip 22. The drink cup 10 components are connected together to create a watertight hollow liquid container 28 having an open mouth 24 for allowing liquid 26 from within the drink cup 10 to be consumed by a user. The celebration device 100 of the preferred embodiment includes a candle support 30 having a preferably spherically shaped topper member 32 constructed from a material, such as silicon, to be flexible. The topper member 32 includes a lower surface 34, an upper surface 36, a candle support member 12, and a perimeter edge 38. The lower surface 34 of the topper member 32 in this embodiment is preferably compliant to conform to the shape of the top rim 20 of the drink cup 10. The upper surface 36 is generally smooth and may include indicia 40 for advertising, greetings, jokes and the like. The upper surface 36 includes a candle support member 12 that is constructed and arranged to cooperate with a birthday candle 14 or the like in an upright position. The candle support member 12 may extend inwardly as illustrated on FIG. 1, or outwardly as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 without departing from the scope of the invention. The candle support member 12 includes a candle support member inner wall 42, a candle support member outer wall 44, and may include a candle support member bottom wall 46. The candle support member inner wall 42 is sized to cooperate with the outer surface of a candle member 14 to firmly hold the candle in an upright position. Tapers, threads, ridges, or the like may be incorporated into the inner wall 42 to more firmly grip the candle 14 without departing from the scope of the invention. The perimeter edge 38 of the topper member 32 may be round, scalloped, or may include any other edge decoration suitable for use with the present device. In this manner, the candle support member 12 can be loaded with a candle 14, the celebration device 100 can be placed on the top rim 20 of the drink cup 10, and a central portion of the celebration device 100 can be pressed downward slightly to expel a small amount of air from the drink cup 10. The lower surface 34 of the candle support member 12 conforms to the top rim 20 to maintain a small amount of vacuum within the container 28 to retain the celebration device 100 in position for use. Thus, while it is preferred that the celebration device is spherically shaped, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the celebration device may be provided as flat, conical, frustoconical, or any suitable combination of shapes that allow the small amount of downward pressure applied to the device to create a vacuum inside of the drinking vessel.

(11) Referring generally to the figures, and more specifically to FIG. 2, one embodiment of the celebration device 100 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the celebration device 100 is provided with an outwardly extending candle support member 12, indicia 40 on the upper surface 36, and a smooth and round perimeter edge 38.

(12) Referring generally to the figures, and more specifically to FIG. 3, one embodiment of the celebration device 100 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the celebration device 100 is provided with an outwardly extending candle support member 12, indicia 40 on the upper surface 36, and a perimeter edge 38 that includes a depending ring 48 and a scalloped bottom edge 50. This embodiment also includes a substantially flat, within general manufacturing tolerances, upper surface 36. The embodiment may also be constructed as a rigid member from polymeric materials such as plastic or the like.

(13) Referring generally to the figures, and more specifically to FIG. 4, one embodiment of the celebration device 100 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the celebration device 100 is provided with an inwardly extending candle support member 12 and a perimeter edge 38 that includes an inset depending ring 48 and a scalloped bottom edge 50. This embodiment also includes a substantially flat, within general manufacturing tolerances, lower surface 34. This embodiment also illustrates a plurality of depending locating ring segments 52. The locating ring segments 52 provide various diameters sized to cooperate with the inner or outer diameters of the top rim 20 of the drink cup 10. The embodiment may also be constructed as a rigid member from polymeric materials such as plastic or the like.

(14) Referring generally to the figures, and more specifically to FIG. 5, one embodiment of the celebration device 100 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the celebration device 100 is provided with an outwardly extending candle support member 12 and a perimeter edge 38 that includes a depending ring 48 and a scalloped bottom edge 50. This embodiment also includes a substantially flat, within general manufacturing tolerances, lower surface 34. This embodiment also illustrates a plurality of depending locating ring segments 52. The locating ring segments 52 provide various diameters sized to cooperate with the inner or outer diameters of the top rim 20 of the drink cup 10. The embodiment may also be constructed as a rigid member from polymeric materials such as plastic or the like.

(15) Referring generally to the figures, and more specifically to FIG. 6, one embodiment of the celebration device 100 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the celebration device 100 is provided with an inwardly extending candle support member 12 and a perimeter edge 38 that includes a contoured design 54.

(16) It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification.

(17) One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. Any compounds, methods, procedures, and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.