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» Obscure Patent
of the Week - 4/25/2005
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Beerbrella [ HTML ]
US Patent No. 6,637,447
Issued October 28, 2003
Here is a great invention. This gets included here as an obscure
patent because it is rather simple, something you don't see every
day, and completely ingenious. The US Constitution says that Congress
can provide for the issuance of patents to further the progress of
science and the useful arts. That is the goal, but there is no
requirement that every invention be a scientific breakthrough. Almost
anything that is useful can be patented in the US, and what is more
useful than keeping the sun off your beer on a hot summer afternoon?
Also important to realize is that frequently simple inventions, or
inventions that make people smile or laugh, can be quite lucrative.
If the price is right who wouldn't buy this as a gag gift for their
favorite beer drinker? Think of the possibilities with respect to the
umbrella portion. Who could resist the opportunity to buy a
beerbrella with the logo of your favorite sports team?
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» Patent Abstract
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The present invention provides a small umbrella
("Beerbrella") which may be removably attached to a
beverage container in order to shade the beverage container from the
direct rays of the sun. The apparatus comprises a small umbrella
approximately five to seven inches in diameter, although other
appropriate sizes may be used within the spirit and scope of the
present invention. Suitable advertising and/or logos may be applied
to the umbrella surface for promotional purposes. The umbrella may be
attached to the beverage container by any one of a number of means,
including clip, strap, cup, foam insulator, or as a coaster or the
like. The umbrella shaft may be provided with a pivot to allow the
umbrella to be suitably angled to shield the sun or for aesthetic
purposes. In one embodiment, a pivot joint and counterweight may be
provided to allow the umbrella to pivot out of the way when the user
drinks from the container.
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» Guts of the Invention
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Claim 1 reads:
1. A combined beverage container and shading apparatus, comprising:
a beverage container, for containing a beverage;
a means for removably attaching the apparatus to the beverage
container;
a shaft, coupled to the means for removably attaching the apparatus,
and extending vertically with respect to the beverage container;
an umbrella, coupled to the shaft at a point above the means for
removably attaching, so as to shade the beverage container,
wherein the means for removably attaching comprises a clip provided
to attach to the beverage container by means of spring action and
friction.
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