Illuminated coaster

• US 6,793,363 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher A. Jensen
• Original Assignee: Christopher A. Jensen
• Inventors: Jensen, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John Anthony
• Application Number:
  US10/319,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 362/101, 362/194, 362/800, 362/154, 362/802
• US Class Current: 362/101
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0309 Illuminated

Abstract

An illuminated coaster includes a base with a body having upper and lower ends and a generally frusto-conical configuration enclosing a compartment. A resilient, insulative sleeve comprising foam rubber, polyurethane or some other suitable material is mounted on the body upper end and forms a container receiver adapted to selectively receive the lower end of a container. A lighting system is located generally in the compartment and includes a power source, such as a battery set. A light source is selectively connected to the battery set through a switching component and can comprise a bulb and socket or an LED, either of which can be mounted below the transparent lens for projecting light upwardly into a container in the container receiver. Modified embodiments of the illuminated coaster include horizontal/annular, helical and vertical ribs located on the inside of the sleeve for engaging a container received therein.

Claims

1. An illuminated coaster for a translucent beverage container with a sidewall and a bottom, which coaster includes:

a base assembly including a body with upper and lower ends and a generally frusto-conical sidewall with an exterior surface, said sidewall enclosing a compartment;

said base assembly further including a generally tubular sleeve with upper and lower open ends and a generally tubular configuration forming an upwardly-open container receiver adapted to receive said container bottom and sidewall adjacent to said container bottom, said sleeve comprising an insulative, resilient foam material and including multiple ribs projecting inwardly into said receiver;

said base assembly further including a bottom plate adapted for selectively covering said body lower end;

a bottom plate mounting mechanism including multiple lugs on said body sidewall projecting into said compartment and multiple hooks extending upwardly from said bottom plate and adapted for selectively engaging respective said lugs; and

a lighting system including a power source comprising a battery container mounted in said compartment and including multiple battery receivers each adapted to receive a respective battery, a lens mounted in said body upper end at said sleeve lower end, a reflector mounted in said compartment below said lens, said reflector being oriented generally upwardly, a socket and bulb mounted in said reflector and selectively connected to said power source and a switch mounted on said body sidewall and accessible at the exterior surface thereof, said switch having a closed positioned connecting said power source and said bulb and an open position disconnecting same.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said lighting system includes a programmable controller connected to said power source and said bulb.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said ribs are generally annular and horizontal, and are positioned in spaced relation in the interior of said sleeve.

4. The invention according claim 1 wherein said ribs extend generally vertically in spaced relation along the interior face of said sleeve.

5. The invention according claim 1 wherein said ribs are helical and extend along the interior face of said sleeve between its top and bottom.