Lighted drinking vessel

• US 5,119,279 A
• Filed: 08/01/1991
• Issued: 06/02/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary R. Makowsky
• Original Assignee: Gary R. Makowsky
• Inventors: Makowsky, Gary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US07/739,326
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 362/101, 362/96, 362/154, 362/234, 362/251, 362/800, 362/806, 40/406
• US Class Current: 362/101
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2227 with means for amusing or giving information to the user A47G23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/2238 with illumination means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A drinking vessel including a mug having a liquid-tight volume therein, a base detachably connected to the mug, and a plurality of lights extending radially outwardly through the base so as to direct light outwardly from the base. The base has a cylindrical portion and a bottom surface. The base defines a liquid-tight volume therein. A power supply is contained within this liquid-tight volume so as to provide power to the plurality of lights. A switch is attached to the base and extends through the exterior wall of the base. The switch and the power supply are electrically connected to the plurality of lights. A sequencer is positioned within this liquid-tight volume so as to control the light actuation pattern of the plurality of lights. The base is in snap-fit connection with the mug. Each of the plurality of lights is a light-emitting diode spaced at even intervals from adjacent lights. The plurality of lights extend outwardly beyond the exterior surface of the base.

Claims

1. A drinking vessel comprising:

a body comprising a generally cylindrical wall and having a fluid-retaining volume interior of said cylindrical wall, said fluid-retaining volume opening at one end of said body, said fluid-retaining volume having a bottom opposite the opening of said fluid-retaining volume extending across said cylindrical wall;

a base consisting of a cylindrical portion extending downwardly from said cylindrical wall of said body and extending downwardly along said bottom of said fluid-retaining volume, a bottom surface extending across said cylindrical portion opposite said body, said cylindrical portion and said bottom surface defining a liquid-tight volume therein, said cylindrical portion in detachable relationship with said cylindrical wall of said body;

a plurality of lights positioned on said base for directing light outwardly from said base; and

switch means attached to said base, said switch means for actuating said plurality of lights.

2. The drinking vessel of claim 1, said cylindrical portion in snap-fit relationship with said cylindrical wall of said body.

3. The drinking vessel of claim 1, said cylindrical portion in threaded relationship with said cylindrical wall of said body.

4. The drinking vessel of claim 1, said plurality of lights comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes extending through said cylindrical portion of said base.

5. The drinking vessel of claim 4, said plurality of lights in electrical interconnection with said switch means, said plurality of lights having electrical wiring within said liquid-tight volume.

6. The drinking vessel of claim 1 said switch means comprising:

a switch extending through said cylindrical portion of said base, said switch movable between an on position and an off position; and

a sequencer means positioned within said liquid-tight volume, said sequencer means electrically connected to said plurality of lights and to said switch, said sequencer means for controlling a light actuation pattern of said plurality of lights.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a mug having a liquid-containing volume therein;

a base detachably connected to said mug, said base having a cylindrical portion and a bottom surface, said base having a liquid-tight volume therein;

a plurality of lights extending radially outwardly through said cylindrical portion of said base for directing light outwardly from said base;

power means contained within said liquid-tight volume, said power means for supplying power to said plurality of lights; and

switch means attached to said base and extending through said cylindrical portion of said base, said switch means and said power means electrically connected to said plurality of lights, said switch means for actuating said plurality of lights.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

sequencer means positioned within said liquid-tight volume, said sequencer means electrically connected to said plurality of lights for controlling a light actuation pattern of said plurality of lights.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, said base being in snap-fit connection with said mug.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, said base being in threaded connection with said mug.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, each of said plurality of lights being a light-emitting diode, each of said plurality of lights spaced from an adjacent light by generally equal intervals.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, each of said plurality of lights in liquid-tight connection with said cylindrical portion of said base, said plurality of lights having a portion extending outwardly beyond an exterior surface of said base.

13. An improved drinking vessel, the improvement comprising:

a base detachably connected to said drinking vessel, said base having an exterior wall, a bottom surface, and a liquid-tight interior volume;

a plurality of lights fastened to and extending through said exterior wall, said plurality of lights for directing light radially outwardly from said base; and

switch means connected to said base, said switch means for controlling an actuation of said plurality of lights.

14. The improvement of claim 13, said plurality of lights comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes spaced at even intervals on said base, said light-emitting diodes having an electrical connection to said switch means, said electrical connection contained within said liquid-tight interior volume.

15. The improvement of claim 13, said switch means comprising:

a battery contained within said liquid-tight interior volume, said battery for supplying power to said plurality of lights;

a sequencer means positioned within said liquid-tight interior volume, said sequencer means electrically connected to said plurality of lights for controlling a light-actuation pattern of said plurality of lights; and

a switch extending through said exterior wall in liquid-tight connection therewith, said switch movable between an on position and an off position, said switch in electrical connection with said sequencer means and said battery.