(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2003/0075208A1 Mcmullin Et Al
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US 20030075208A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2003/0075208A1 McMullin et al. (43) Pub. Date: Apr. 24, 2003 (54) BEERBRELLA (57) ABSTRACT (76) Inventors: Mason Schott McMullin, St. Louis, MO (US); Robert Bell, Alexandria, VA The present invention provides a small umbrella (“Beer (US); Mark Andrew See, Alexandria, brella’’) which may be removably attached to a beverage VA (US) container in order to Shade the beverage container from the direct rays of the Sun. The apparatus comprises a Small Correspondence Address: umbrella approximately five to Seven inches in diameter, Robert Platt Bell, Registered Patent Attorney although other appropriate sizes may be used within the 8033 Washington Road Spirit and Scope of the present invention. Suitable advertis Alexandria, VA 22308 (US) ing and/or logos may be applied to the umbrella Surface for promotional purposes. The umbrella may be attached to the (21) Appl. No.: 09/981,966 beverage container by any one of a number of means, Filed: Oct. 19, 2001 including clip, Strap, cup, foam insulator, or as a coaster or (22) the like. The umbrella shaft may be provided with a pivot to Publication Classification allow the umbrella to be suitably angled to shield the Sun or for aesthetic purposes. In one embodiment, a pivot joint and (51) Int. Cl." ............................. E04G 5/06; A47B 96/06 counterweight may be provided to allow the umbrella to (52) U.S. Cl. ......................................... 135/16; 248/231.81 pivot out of the way when the user drinks from the container. Patent Application Publication Apr. 24, 2003. Sheet 1 of 5 US 2003/0075208A1 Figure 1 Patent Application Publication Apr. 24, 2003. Sheet 2 of 5 US 2003/0075208A1 Figure 2 Patent Application Publication Apr. 24, 2003. Sheet 3 of 5 US 2003/0075208A1 Figure 3 Patent Application Publication Apr. 24, 2003 Sheet 4 of 5 US 2003/0075208A1 Figure 4 Figure 5 Patent Application Publication Apr. 24, 2003. Sheet 5 of 5 US 2003/0075208A1 Figure 7 US 2003/0075208A1 Apr. 24, 2003 BEERBRELLA However, the apparatus of the present invention may also be used to prevent rain or other precipitation from contaminat FIELD OF THE INVENTION ing a beverage. 0001. The present invention relates to a novelty accessory 0010. In addition, the apparatus of the present invention for use with beverages. In particular, the present invention is may be used in other locations (e.g., indoors) purely as a directed toward a small attachable umbrella (“Beerbrella') decorative novelty item or the like. which may be attached to a beverage container (e.g., glass 0011. The apparatus comprises a small umbrella approxi or can of beer). mately five to Seven inches in diameter, although other appropriate sizes may be used within the Spirit and Scope of BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION the present invention. The umbrella may be made from any one of a number of materials. A Small paper-like umbrella 0002 Beverage accessories are known in the art for use may be used, with balsa framing (e.g., in a similar manner with beverage containers, be they glasses, cans, or bottles, to a cocktail umbrella) if low cost and disposability is an and in particular with alcoholic beverages. Many of these objective. A Solid plastic umbrella may also be inexpen accessories provide novelty amusement as well as practical sively made and may be reusable and waterproof. More effects, Such as increased insulation to keep a beverage cold. elaborate umbrella types Such as cloth or the like may also Many of these accessories are Sold or given away as pro be employed without departing from the Spirit and Scope of motional items for advertising purposes. the present invention. 0.003 For example, the popular insulated beverage sleeve 0012 Suitable advertising and/or logos may be applied to known as a “coozie' may be provided, manufactured of Soft the umbrella Surface for promotional purposes. The expanded polyurethane foam. These beverage sleeves are umbrella may be attached to the beverage container by any typically provided with an applied graphic advertising a one of a number of means, including clip, Strap, cup, foam beverage brand or the name of the company giving away the insulator, or as a coaster or the like. The umbrella Shaft may device as a promotion. A can, glass, or bottle may be inserted be provided with a pivot to allow the umbrella to be suitably into the sleeve. The sleeve acts as an insulator to prevent angled to Shield the Sun or for aesthetic purposes. In one ambient heat as well as heat from the user's hands, from embodiment, a pivot joint and counterweight may be pro warming the beverage. vided to allow the umbrella to pivot out of the way when the 0004 Similar devices are known for use specifically with user drinks from the container. bottles beverages. In this variation, a tailored expanded polyurethane jacket may be provided, replete with Zipper, to BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS encapsulate Substantially all of a bottle. 0013 FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodi 0005 Various devices are known for supporting bever ment of the present invention. ages, Such as coasters and the like as well as beverage Stands, trays, and Supports. One example is illustrated in 0014 FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a second Foley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,496, issued Oct. 20, 1998 embodiment of the present invention. and incorporated herein by reference. Foley provides an 0.015 FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a third outdoor Stand with a Stake or pole which may be inserted embodiment of the present invention. into the ground to Support a beverage container. 0016 FIG. 4 is a front perspective view illustrating an 0006 Similia, U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,645, issued Jan. 27, alternative attachment device for the present invention. 1987 and incorporated herein by reference, discloses a beverage container cooler for receiving a single beverage 0017 FIG. 5 is a front perspective view illustrating container (e.g., can) and providing a location for ice or the another alternative attachment device for the present inven like to cool the beverage. tion. 0007. One problem with these Prior Art devices is that 0018 FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a coaster for although they do provide insulation for beverages, they do Supporting the umbrella of the present invention. not shield the beverage from the direct rays of the Sun. A 0019 FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of an alternative beverage left out in the Sun, even if insulated or cooled with embodiment of a coaster for Supporting the umbrella of the ice, quickly warms due to the effect of the intense infrared present invention. radiation from the Sun, particularly on hot, Sunny Summer days. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 0008 Thus, it remains a requirement in the art to provide INVENTION a means for Shielding a beverage from direct Sunlight. 0020 FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodi ment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION clip 2 may be provided to attach to container 1 by means of 0009. The present invention provides a small umbrella Spring action and friction. Clip 2 may be made of Spring (“Beerbrella’’) which may be removably attached to a bev steel, or preferably plastic (e.g., PVC or the like). Clip 2 may erage container in order to shade the beverage container even be made of formed cardboard (e.g., cut cardboard tube from the direct rays of the Sun. The apparatus of the present or the like) if low cost is an issue. invention has particular application for use in Sunny loca 0021 Clip 2 may be removably attached to container 1 tions (e.g., poolside, at the bear, outdoor bars, and the like). Such that the apparatus may be reused on another container US 2003/0075208A1 Apr. 24, 2003 when container 1 is empty. Attached to clip 2 is shaft 3 for 0030 FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a coaster for supporting umbrella 4. Umbrella 4 may be fixed to shaft 3 Supporting the umbrella of the present invention. In the or may be attached using a pivot joint or the like as will be embodiment of FIG. 6, shaft 3 is attached to a coaster 60 discussed in more detail below. Shaft 3 may be made of which may have a depressed portion 62 for accepting a plastic, wood, cardboard, or metal, but in the preferred beverage container. When the user wishes to drink, they embodiment is plastic. remove the beverage container from the drink coaster. In 0022. As will be discussed in more detail below, umbrella Such an embodiment, the umbrella (not shown) remains with 4 may be attached to the beverage container 1 by any one of the coaster, which may be weighted to prevent the apparatus a number of means, including clip, Strap, cup, foam insula from becoming top-heavy. tor, or as a coaster or the like. The clip of FIG. 1 is by way 0031 FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of an alternative of example only and is not intended to limit the Scope of the embodiment of a coaster for Supporting the umbrella of the present invention in any way. present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, coaster 60 0023 Umbrella 4 may comprise a small umbrella has been embellished with decorative palm trees 71 and 72 approximately five to Seven inches in diameter, although to give coaster 60 the appearance of a Stereotypical “desert other appropriate sizes may be used within the Spirit and island'.