Beverage accessory devices

• US 7,401,935 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Litecubes LLC
• Original Assignee: Carl R. VanderSchuit
• Inventors: VanderSchuit, Carl R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne; Sharon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunwiddie; Meghan K.
• Application Number:
  US11/454,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/101, 362/154, 362/158, 362/184, 362/205, 362/234, 362/253, 362/276, 362/294, 362/318, 362/394, 362/802, 441/16, 43/17, 43/175
• US Class Current: 362/101
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0028 Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

Various embodiments relate to beverage accessory devices for use within beverage receptacles. In one exemplary embodiment, a beverage accessory device generally includes a housing having sidewalls defining a cavity therein. A substantially fluid-tight container is within the cavity of the housing. The container includes sidewalls defining a chamber. At least one of the container'"'"'s sidewalls is spaced apart from at least one of the housing'"'"'s sidewalls such that a portion of the housing'"'"'s cavity remains separating the at least one container sidewall from the at least one housing sidewall. At least one electric light source is substantially entirely within the container'"'"'s chamber. The chamber can also be configured for receiving at least one power source. The at least one electric light source is operable for illuminating at least a portion of a liquid within the beverage receptacle when the beverage accessory device is within the beverage receptacle.

Claims

1. A beverage accessory device for use within a beverage receptacle, the beverage accessory device comprising a housing having sidewalls defining a cavity therein, a substantially fluid-tight container within the cavity of the housing, the container having sidewalls at least one of which is spaced apart from at least one of the housing'"'"'s sidewalls such that a portion of the housing'"'"'s cavity remains separating the at least one container sidewall from the at least one housing sidewall, the container'"'"'s sidewalls defining a chamber configured to receive therein at least one power source, at least one electric light source substantially entirely within the container'"'"'s chamber, whereby the at least one electric light source is operable for illuminating at least a portion of a liquid within the beverage receptacle when the beverage accessory device is within the beverage receptacle, and a filler within the portion of the cavity separating the at least one container sidewall from the at least one housing sidewall, and wherein the container substantially isolates the at least one electric light source and the filler by inhibiting contact therebetween.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the filler suspends the container in a suspended position within the housing'"'"'s cavity such that a spaced distance separates each container sidewall from each housing sidewall.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the filler comprises fluid.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the filler comprises gel.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising electrical terminals external to the housing for switchably connecting the at least one electric light source to at least one power source when the beverage accessory device is placed in a liquid and the liquid electrically connects the terminals to one another.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the electrical terminals are defined by at least one conductor extending from within the container'"'"'s chamber through the housing'"'"'s cavity and terminating external to the housing.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the container encapsulates the at least one electric light source and at least one conductor electrically connected to the at least one electric light source such that the container supports and restrains movement of the at least one electric light source relative to the at least one conductor.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing and the container are substantially transparent such the housing and the container are not readily visible when the beverage accessory device is within a liquid and the at least one electric light source is emitting light.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing integrally defines a portion of the container.

10. A beverage accessory device for use within a beverage receptacle, the beverage accessory device comprising a housing, at least one electric light source within the housing, and gel within the housing, the gel configured such that the gel, upon physical contact with one or more electrical components of the beverage accessory device, does not adversely impact the operation of the at least one electric light source, whereby the at least one electric light source is operable for illuminating at least a portion of a liquid within the beverage receptacle when the beverage accessory device is within the beverage receptacle.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the gel comprises polyacrylamide and petroleum oil.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the gel comprises a beaded material.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the beaded material comprises at least one of plastic or acrylic.

14. A beverage accessory device for use within a beverage receptacle, the beverage accessory device comprising a housing, at least one electric light source within the housing, and gel within the housing, the gel having a specific heat capacity within a range of about 2300 joules per kilogram per degree Celsius to about 2500 joules per kilogram per degree Celsius, whereby the at least one electric light source is operable for illuminating at least a portion of a liquid within the beverage receptacle when the beverage accessory device is within the beverage receptacle.

15. A beverage accessory device for use within a beverage receptacle, the beverage accessory device comprising a housing, at least one electric light source within the housing, and gel within the housing, the gel comprising at least one of polyethylene or polypropylene, whereby the at least one electric light source is operable for illuminating at least a portion of a liquid within the beverage receptacle when the beverage accessory device is within the beverage receptacle.

16. A beverage accessory device for use within a beverage receptacle, the beverage accessory device comprising a housing, at least one electric light source within the housing, gel within the housing, whereby the at least one electric light source is operable for illuminating at least a portion of a liquid within the beverage receptacle when the beverage accessory device is within the beverage receptacle, and a plurality of light-altering particles within the housing for receiving and altering light emitted by the at least one electric light source by at least one or more of refracting, reflecting, diffracting, dispersing, and diffusing such that the altered light illuminates at least a portion of a liquid within the beverage receptacle when the beverage accessory device is within the beverage receptacle.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the light-altering particles include at least one or more of glitter, reflective particles, refractive particles, translucent particles, glass-like prisms, colored particles, faceted particles, and clear particles.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the light-altering particles are suspended in the gel.

19. A beverage accessory device for use within a beverage receptacle, the beverage accessory device comprising a housing, at least one electric light source within the housing, and a plurality of light-altering particles within the housing for receiving and altering light from the at least one electric light source by at least one or more of refracting, reflecting, diffracting, dispersing, and diffusing, whereby the at least one electric light source is operable for producing light which is altered by the light-altering particles such that the altered light illuminates at least a portion of a liquid within the beverage receptacle when the beverage accessory device is within the beverage receptacle.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the light-altering particles include at least one or more of glitter, reflective particles, refractive particles, translucent particles, glass-like prisms, colored particles, faceted particles, and clear particles.

21. The device of claim 19, further comprising a filler within the housing in which the light-altering particles are suspended.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein the light-altering particles comprises a beaded material within the housing.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein the light-altering particles comprise gel.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein the housing is substantially transparent such that the housing is not readily visible when the beverage accessory device is within a liquid and the at least one electric light source is emitting light being altered by the light-altering particles and illuminating at least a portion of the liquid.

25. A beverage accessory device for use within a beverage receptacle, the beverage accessory device comprising a housing, at least one electric light source within the housing, and a beaded material within the housing, the beaded material having a plurality of surfaces positioned relative to the at least one electric light source for receiving and altering light from the at least one electric light source, whereby the at least one electric light source is operable for producing light at least a portion of which is altered by the beaded material and illuminates at least a portion of a liquid within the beverage receptacle when the beverage accessory device is within the beverage receptacle.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the beaded material alters the light emitted by the at least one electrical light source by at least one or more of refracting, reflecting, diffracting, and dispersing light.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the beaded material comprises a plurality of pellets.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the pellets comprise at least one or more of plastic or acrylic.