Drinking vessel

• US 6,443,589 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hey Young Lee
• Original Assignee: Joy World, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Seungsoo
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi, Jacob Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/684,256
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 362/276, 362/802, 362/101, 362/96, 362/124, 362/808, 362/318, 362/394
• 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: A47G 2019/2244 with sound emitting means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/18 Time
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A drinking vessel includes a container sized and shaped so as to hold liquid therein and a generating mechanism for generating electrically generated special effects so as to enhance amusement for a user. A first switch is mounted on the container so as to be operable between a first state, in which the first switch is in an electrically closed state, and a second state, in which the first switch is in an electrically open state. The first switch is in the first state when liquid is present in the container and in the second state when liquid is not present in the container. A second switch is also mounted on the container so as to be operable between a third state, in which the second switch is in an electrically closed state, and a fourth state, in which the second switch is in an electrically open state. The second switch is in the third state in response to a predetermined physical activity undertaken by the user in relation to the container. The first switch and the second switch are electrically connected to the generating mechanism such that the generating mechanism is activated to generate the special effects only when liquid is present in the container and when the predetermined physical activity is undertaken by the user.

Claims

1. A drinking vessel comprising a container sized and shaped so as to hold liquid therein;

generating means for generating electrically generated special effects so as to enhance amusement for a user;

a first switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a first state, in which said first switch is in an electrically closed state, and a second state, in which said first switch is in an electrically open state, said first switch being in said first state when liquid is present in said container and in said second state when liquid is not present in said container; and

a second switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a third state, in which said second switch is in an electrically closed state, and a fourth state, in which said second switch is in an electrically open state, said second switch being in said third state in response to a predetermined physical activity undertaken by the user in relation to said container, said first switch and said second switch being electrically connected to said generating means such that said generating means is activated to generate the special effects only when liquid is present in said container and when the predetermined physical activity is undertaken by the user, said second switch being in said third state in response to the lifting of said container from a supporting surface, and said second switch including a mechanical switch housed in said container.

2. The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein said container includes a container portion and a base portion removably attached to said container portion, said first switch being located on said container portion, said second switch being located on said base portion, said first and second switches being electrically connected to one another in serial fashion when said base portion is attached to said container portion and being electrically disconnected from one another when said base portion is detached from said container portion, whereby said second switch can be removed from said container portion together with said base portion.

3. The drinking vessel of claim 2, further comprising a connector mechanism mounted on said container for electrically connecting said first switch to said second switch when said base portion is attached to said container portion.

9. The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein said container has inner and outer side walls spaced from each other so as to form a space therebetween, at least one of said inner and outer side walls being made from a light-transmitting material.

10. The drinking vessel of claim 9, wherein said generating means includes light units mounted in said space such that said light units can be viewed through said at least one of said inner and outer side walls.

17. The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein said second switch is in said third state in response to movement of said container, said second switch including a pair of contacts and a ball movably mounted between said contacts for electrically closing said contacts.

19. The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein said second switch is in said third state in response to the gripping of said container by the user.

20. The drinking vessel of claim 19, wherein said second switch includes a touch-sensitive switch mounted on said container, said touch-sensitive switch being in a closed state when said touch-sensitive switch gripped by the user.

21. The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein said first switch includes a pair of contacts mounted on said container so as to come in contact with and be electrically closed by the liquid.

4. A drinking vessel comprising a container sized and shaped so as to hold liquid therein;

generating means for generating electrically generated special effects so as to enhance amusement for a user;

a first switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a first state, in which said first switch is in an electrically closed state, and a second state, in which said first switch is in an electrically open state, said first switch being in said first state when liquid is present in said container and in said second state when liquid is not present in said container;

a second switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a third state, in which said second switch is in an electrically closed state, and a fourth state, in which said second switch is in an electrically open state, said second switch being in said third state in response to a predetermined physical activity undertaken by the user in relation to said container, said first switch and said second switch being electrically connected to said generating means such that said generating means is activated to generate the special effects only when liquid is present in said container and when the predetermined physical activity is undertaken by the user, said container including a container portion and a base portion removably attached to said container portion, said first switch being located on said container portion, said second switch being located on said base portion, said first and second switches being electrically connected to one another in serial fashion when said base portion is attached to said container portion and being electrically disconnected from one another when said base portion is detached from said container portion, whereby said second switch can be removed from said container portion together with said base portion; and

a connector mechanism mounted on said container for electrically connecting said first switch to said second switch when said base portion is attached to said container portion, said connector mechanism including at least one first connector, which is mounted on said container portion and which is connected to said first switch, and at least one second connector, which is mounted on said base portion and which is connected to said second switch, and said at least one first connector being in contact with said at least one second connector when said base portion is attached to said container portion and being out of contact with said at least one second connector when said base portion is detached from said container portion.

5. The drinking vessel of claim 4, wherein said container portion includes a bottom having a first upper wall and a first lower wall spaced from said first upper wall, said at least one first connector includes third and fourth connectors mounted on said first lower wall;

wherein said base portion includes a second upper wall and a second lower wall spaced from said second upper wall, said at least one second connector includes fifth and sixth connectors mounted on said second upper wall such that said fifth and sixth connectors are in contact with said third and fourth connectors, respectively, when said base portion is attached to said container portion.

6. The drinking vessel of claim 5, wherein said fifth and sixth connectors are concentrically mounted on said second upper wall of said base portion, said fifth connector being positioned radially inwardly from said sixth connector.

7. The drinking vessel of claim 6, wherein said fifth connector has a cylindrical shape;

and wherein said sixth connector has a ring shape.

8. The drinking vessel of claim 6, wherein each of said fifth and sixth connectors has a ring shape.

11. A drinking vessel comprising a container sized and shaped so as to hold liquid therein;

generating means for generating electrically generated special effects so as to enhance amusement for a user;

a first switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a first state, in which said first switch is in an electrically closed state, and a second state, in which said first switch is in an electrically open state, said first switch being in said first state when liquid is present in said container and in said second state when liquid is not present in said container; and

a second switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a third state, in which said second switch is in an electrically closed state, and a fourth state, in which said second switch is in an electrically open state, said second switch being in said third state in response to a predetermined physical activity undertaken by the user in relation to said container, said first switch and said second switch being electrically connected to said generating means such that said generating means is activated to generate the special effects only when liquid is present in said container and when the predetermined physical activity is undertaken by the user, said generating means including a rotor rotatably mounted in said container, said rotor being rotated when said first and second switches are in said first and third states, respectively, and at least one portion of said container being made from a light-transmitting material such that at least one section of said rotor can be viewed through said at least one portion of said container.

12. The drinking vessel of claim 11, wherein said generating means includes rotating means for rotating said rotor.

13. The drinking vessel of claim 12, wherein said container includes a container portion and a base portion removably attached to said container portion, said rotor being rotatably mounted in said container portion, said rotating means including an electric motor housed in said base portion, said generating means including interconnecting means for releasably interconnecting said motor to said rotor such that said motor can be disconnected from said rotor when said base portion is detached from said container portion.

14. The drinking vessel of claim 13, wherein said interconnecting means includes a link attached to said rotor, said motor having a shaft which includes an end sized and shaped so as to releasably engage said link.

15. The drinking vessel of claim 11, wherein said container includes inner and outer side walls spaced from each other so as to form a space therebetween;

and said rotor includes a column rotatably mounted in said space and having indicia thereon for amusement, at least one of said inner and outer side walls being made from a light-transmitting material such that said column can be viewed through said at least one of said inner and outer side walls.

16. A drinking vessel comprising a container sized and shaped so as to hold liquid therein;

generating means for generating electrically generated special effects so as to enhance amusement for a user;

a first switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a first state, in which said first switch is in an electrically closed state, and a second state, in which said first switch is in an electrically open state, said first switch being in said first state when liquid is present in said container and in said second state when liquid is not present in said container; and

a second switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a third state, in which said second switch is in an electrically closed state, and a fourth state, in which said second switch is in an electrically open state, said second switch being in said third state in response to a predetermined physical activity undertaken by the user in relation to said container, said first switch and said second switch being electrically connected to said generating means such that said generating means is activated to generate the special effects only when liquid is present in said container and when the predetermined physical activity is undertaken by the user, said second switch being in said third state in response to the lifting of said container from a supporting surface, said second switch including an optical sensor mounted in said container, said container having an opening aligned with said optical sensor, said opening being covered by the supporting surface when said container is placed on the supporting surface, whereby said optical sensor is deactivated, and said opening being exposed when said container is lifted from the supporting surface, whereby said optical sensor is activated.

18. A drinking vessel comprising a container sized and shaped so as to hold liquid therein, said container including an opening;

generating means for generating electrically generated special effects so as to enhance amusement for a user;

a first switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a first state, in which said first switch is in an electrically closed state, and a second state, in which said first switch is in an electrically open state, said first switch being in said first state when liquid is present in said container and in said second state when liquid is not present in said container; and

a second switch mounted on said container so as to be operable between a third state, in which said second switch is in an electrically closed state, and a fourth state, in which said second switch is in an electrically open state, said second switch being in said third state in response to a predetermined physical activity undertaken by the user in relation to said container, said first switch and said second switch being electrically connected to said generating means such that said generating means is activated to generate the special effects only when liquid is present in said container and when the predetermined physical activity is undertaken by the user, said second switch including an optical sensor mounted in said container, and said optical sensor being located in said container so as to be actuated by a light beam reflected thereto through said opening by a mirror held by the user.

22. An amusement device comprising a body having an opening formed therein, said body being in the form of a drinking vessel and including a downwardly oriented passageway;

generating means for generating electrically generated special effects so as to enhance amusement for a user;

an optical sensor operable between activated and deactivated states, said optical sensor activating said generating means when said optical sensor is in said activated state, said optical sensor being located in said passageway of said body such that a light beam can be transmitted to said optical sensor through said opening of said body from a light source located exterior to said body; and

a reflective member located exterior to said body and including a mirror, said reflective member being sized and shaped so as to be held by a user'"'"'s hand and to be manipulated by the user for reflecting a light beam from the light source to said optical sensor through said opening, said optical sensor being in said activated state when a light beam is reflected thereto from the light source through said opening.