US20140175044A1

US20140175044A1 - Beverage bottle identifier

Info

Publication number: US20140175044A1
Application number: US14/047,187
Authority: US
Inventors: Curtis Lee Pryor; Peggy Sue Pryor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-12-21
Filing date: 2013-10-07
Publication date: 2014-06-26

Abstract

A bottle identifier tag having a body portion with an outer rim and an inner rim. The inner rim may be formed to fit around a beverage bottle neck. The bottle identifier tag may further include an identifier, which may be at least one of a design, a color, and a pattern. Using the present invention, the bottle identifier tag with a unique design, color, or, a pattern may be placed on a beverage bottle. Therefore, the user may quickly find the beverage bottle that they have been using.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/848,020, filed Dec. 21, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bottle identifier and, more particularly, to a tab having an identifier that may be placed on a bottle.
A beverage bottle is a container used to hold water or other beverages for consumption. It allows an individual to transport and carry a beverage from one place to another. A beverage bottle is usually made of plastic, glass, or metal. Beverage bottles can be either disposable or reusable. Reusable beverage bottles can also be used for liquids such as juice, iced tea, alcoholic beverages, or soft drinks.
Currently, when multiple people keep their beverage bottles in the same place, such as at home, work, school, sporting events, or the like, it may be difficult to determine which beverage bottle belongs to whom. To cope with this, users may place sticky labels, tags that won't stay on doring nomal use or try to mark their bottles. However, due to condensation, labels tend to fall off and it may be difficult to write on the bottle. Further, such methods do not use re-usable devices.
As can be seen, there is a need for an effective re-usable beverage identifier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a bottle identifier tag comprises: a body portion comprising a surface, an outer rim and an inner rim, wherein the inner rim forms an opening; and an identifier comprising at least one of a color, a design, and a pattern, wherein the identifier is displayed from the body portion.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of placing a plurality of identifying tags on a plurality of beverage bottles comprises: providing a plurality of bottle identifier tags comprising: a body portion comprising a surface, an outer rim and an inner rim, wherein the inner rim forms an opening; and a plurality of identifiers comprising at least one of a color, a design, and a pattern, wherein the plurality of identifiers is displayed from the body portion, wherein the each individual plurality of bottle identifier tags comprises a unique identifier; and placing a first bottle identifier tag comprising a first unique identifier onto a first bottle; and placing a second bottle identifier tag comprising a second unique identifier onto a second bottle, wherein the inner rim of the first bottle identifier tag and the second identifier tag are secured around the neck of the first bottle and the second bottle.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view demonstrating application of present invention to an exemplary beverage bottle;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a bottle identifier tag having a body portion with an outer rim and an inner rim. The inner rim may be formed to fit around a beverage bottle neck. The bottle identifier tag may further include an identifier, which may be at least one of a design, a color, and a pattern. Using the present invention, the bottle identifier tag with a unique design, color, or, a pattern may be placed on a beverage bottle. Therefore, the user may quickly find the beverage bottle that they have been using. The bottle identifier tag may be dishwasher safe and reusable.
The present invention may include tags having a plurality of designs, colors, and patterns that may be attached to drink bottles for identification. The present invention may include a set of marked identification tags that may easily slip over the neck of most twelve ounce beverage bottles to easily identify which bottle is for which user. In certain embodiments, the present invention may utilize around five color coded injection molded rubber tags that may be pushed over the neck of the bottle. The tags may be flexible and therefore may tightly grip under the top so that the tag will not fall off of the bottle. The tags may be written on and may be reusable.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention may include a bottle identifier tag 10. The tag 10 may include a body portion 16, with a surface 28, an outer rim 24, and an inner rim 22. The inner rim 22 may form an opening. The inner rim 22 may be formed to fit around the neck of a bottle 12. The present invention may further include an identifier 26. The identifier 26 may include a color, a design, or a pattern. The identifier 26 may be displayed on the surface 28 of the body portion 16.
The identifier 26 of the present invention may be painted, printed or the color of the material used to make the bottle identifier tag 10. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 7, each bottle identifier tag 10 may have its own unique identifier 26. For example, the identifier 26 may include a plurality of patterns and colors. The colors may include but are not limited to, green, purple, blue, orange, yellow, and the like. The identifier 26 may be used to easily and quickly identify which bottle belongs to which user.
In certain embodiments, the present invention may further include a tab 20. The tab 20 may extend from the body portion 16 and may be used to hold and grip the bottle identifier tag 10. Further, the tab 20 may be an empty space in which business logos and names, sports logos, player numbers, advertisements or the like may be displayed. In certain embodiments, the outer rim 24 may be substantially round at the body portion 16 and may form a pair of corners at the tab 20.
In certain embodiments, the present invention may be made of a polymer. The polymer may be a stretchable polymer so that the bottle identifier tag 10 may be stretched to fit over the bottle cap and snuggly fit on the bottle neck 14 of the bottle 12. For example, the stretchable polymer may be a type of rubber. The present invention may be made by injection with a thermoplastic elastomer finish.
A method of placing a plurality of identifying tags on a plurality of beverage bottles may include the following. A plurality of bottle identifier tags mentioned above may be provided. Each identifier tag may include a unique identifier, such as, but not limited to, a design, color, and pattern. A first bottle identifier having a first unique identifier may be placed over the neck of a first bottle. A second bottle identifier having a second unique identifier may be placed over the neck of the second bottle. Therefore, a user owning either the first bottle or the second bottle may identify their unique identifier and know that the bottle is theirs. The beverage bottle may be a soda bottle, water bottle, juice bottle, beer bottle, or the like.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A bottle identifier tag comprising:

a body portion comprising a surface, an outer rim and an inner rim, wherein the inner rim forms an opening; and

an identifier comprising at least one of a color, a design, and a pattern, wherein the identifier is displayed from the body portion.

2. The bottle identifier tag of claim 1, further comprising a tab extending from the body portion.

3. The bottle identifier tag of claim 2, wherein the outer rim is substantially round at the body portion, and comprises a pair of corners forming the tab.

4. The bottle identifier of claim 1, wherein the tag is made of a stretchable polymer.

5. The bottle identifier tag of claim 4, wherein the stretchable polymer is rubber.

6. The bottle identifier tag of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a color comprising at least one of green, purple, blue, orange, and yellow.

7. A method of placing a plurality of identifying tags on a plurality of beverage bottles comprising:

providing a plurality of bottle identifier tags comprising: a body portion comprising a surface, an outer rim and an inner rim, wherein the inner rim forms an opening; and a plurality of identifiers comprising at least one of a color, a design, and a pattern, wherein the plurality of identifiers is displayed from the body portion, wherein the each individual plurality of bottle identifier tags comprises a unique identifier; and

placing a first bottle identifier tag comprising a first unique identifier onto a first bottle; and

placing a second bottle identifier tag comprising a second unique identifier onto a second bottle,

wherein the inner rim of the first bottle identifier tag and the second identifier tag are secured around the neck of the first bottle and the second bottle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of bottle identifier tags further comprises a tab extending from the body portion.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of bottle identifier tags are made of a stretchable polymer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the stretchable polymer is rubber.