INFUSER FOR CUP HAVING SIP HOLE CAP

Abstract

An infuser apparatus for cooperation with an associated hot beverage cup having a sip hole defined in a plastic cap and bounded by planar edges which includes a container having an interior and an exterior as well as a top and a bottom. The bottom has a generally planar surface. The apparatus includes an elongated port extending from the bottom. The port is sleeve-shaped and has an interior in fluid communication with the interior of the container.

Claims

1. An infuser apparatus for cooperation with an associated hot beverage cup having a sip hole defined in a plastic cap and bounded by planar edges which comprises: a container having an interior and an exterior as well as a top and a bottom, said bottom having a generally planar surface; and an elongated port extending from said bottom, said port being sleeve-shaped and having an interior in fluid communication with the interior of said container; said elongated port having an axial extent including a flange extending around at least a part of said elongated port, said flange having a generally planar surface, said generally planar surface of said elongated port and said generally planner surface of said container being disposed in parallel relationship and spaced apart to provide a snug engagement with a planar edge bounding the associated sip hole when the bounded edge of an associated beverage cup cap is inserted there-between.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said elongated port has a hollow axial extent including a first axial extremity in fluid communication with said interior of said container and a second axial extremity dimensioned and configured for engagement an oblong sip hole in and associated beverage cup cap.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said flange extends completely around said elongated port.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 1 further including a side clip for engaging the edge of a cup that does not have a cap installed on that cup.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 1 further including an elongated port that has one or more bumps to better secure engagement with a sip port.

6. The method of marketing an additive to be used by a consumer to insert an additive into a cup having a sip hole cap which comprises: providing a container having an interior and an exterior as well as a top and a bottom, said bottom having a generally planar surface; and providing an elongated port extending from said bottom, said port being sleeve-shaped and having an interior in fluid communication with the interior of said container; said elongated port having an axial extent including a flange extending around at least a part of said elongated port, said flange having a generally planar surface, said generally planar surface of said elongated port and said generally planner surface of said container being disposed in spaced relation to provide a snug engagement with a planar edge bounding the associated sip hole when the bounded edge of an associated beverage cup cap is inserted therebetween; and packaging a substance within said container and distributing the assemblies.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. Although specific features of various exemplary embodiments of the invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. In accordance with the principles of the invention, any feature of a drawing maybe referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.

[0015] The invention, however, both as to organization and method of practice, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of the infuser accordance with one form of the present invention,

[0017] FIG. 2 is a view of a coffee cup cap typical of the style utilized by the Starbucks coffee chain.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a view of a coffee cup typical of the style utilized by the Dunkin' Donuts coffee chain,

[0019] FIG. 4 is a view of a coffee cup cap typical of the style offered as McDonald's fast-food establishments,

[0020] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of another embodiment having a side clip for engaging the side of a cup having no cap covering the top of the cup.

[0021] FIG. 6 is an assembled view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0022] FIG. 7 is another view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a view of the infuser shown in FIG. 6 a with a cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] An embodiment of the infuser 10 in accordance with one form of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The illustrated embodiment as provided with a cylindrical body 14 to hold whatever substance is to be infused into a hot beverage such as coffee. A removable top 16 snaps onto the body 14.

[0025] Extending from the lower (as viewed) extremity of the body 14 is an elongated tubular exit port 20. A circular flange 24 extends completely around the tubular port 20. The upper surface of the flange 24 is planar and (1) parallel to the bottom 26 of the body 14 and (2) spaced apart from the bottom 14 by a distance 22 chosen to snuggly engage opposing sides of the coffee cap as will be described hereinafter.

[0026] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate respective caps 30, 40, and 50 having respective sip holes 32, 42 and 52. For simplicity, and to more clearly shown the sip hole structure the drawings do not shown any tab that may selectively cover the sip hole in some products.

[0027] The apparatus in accordance with the present invention is able to engage a very wide range of coffee caps that are commercially available. The tip 28 is dimensioned and configured for engagement with the sip hole 32 illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0028] For all other sip holes, the flange 24 is dimensioned to allow passage of the flange 24 through the sip hole thereof. After the user axially inserts the flange 24 into, for example, sip holes 42 or 52, the user secures the infuser 10 to such covers by moving the entire assembly 10 laterally. Upon such movement the engagement with the cap stabilizes the spatial relationship between the container and the cap to facilitate the substance transfer from the container to the cap as well as the cup.

[0029] The present apparatus also has application to infusing a substance into a typical cold beverage cup through the. cap. More specifically, a typical cold beverage cup usually a cap that accommodates the insertion of a straw. The accommodation consists two or more intersecting slits. That same accommodation will also cooperate with the elongated tubular exit port 20 as well as the flange 24. Accordingly, a stable connection is also established with such cold beverage cap and cup assemblies.

[0030] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of another embodiment 50 having a side clip for engaging the side of a cup having no cap covering the top of the cup.

[0031] FIG. 6 is an assembled view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is another view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 illustrating a side clip configured for engaging the side of a cup having no cap covering. This view also shows bumps 56 for securing the infuser to a sip hole, for example, the sip hole 32.

[0032] FIG. 8 is a view of the infuser shown in FIG. 6 a with a cap.

[0033] All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0034] It will be understood that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims, are generally intended as open terms (e.g., the term including should be interpreted as including but not limited to, the term having should be interpreted as having at least, the term includes should be interpreted as includes but is not limited to, etc.). It will be further understood that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of introductory phrases such as at least one or one or more to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles a or an limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases one or more or at least one and indefinite articles such as a or an (e.g., an imager should typically be interpreted to mean at least one imager); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, it will be recognized that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of two images, or a plurality of images, without other modifiers, typically means at least two images). Furthermore, in those instances where a phrase such as at least one of A, B, and C, at least one of A, B, or C, or an [item] selected from the group consisting of A, B, and C, is used, in general such a construction is intended to be disjunctive (e.g., any of these phrases would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together, and may further include more than one of A, B, or C, such as A.sub.1, A.sub.2, and C together, A, B.sub.1, B.sub.2, C.sub.1, and C.sub.2 together, or B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 together). It will be further understood that virtually any disjunctive word or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase A or B will be understood to include the possibilities of A or B or A and B.

[0035] Although the description above contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one unless explicitly so stated, but rather one or more. All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase means for.