I.C.B. illuminating unity ring for drinking glass

1 2

I.C.B. ILLUMINATING UNITY RING FOR easily in large quantities at a relatively low cost from readily

DRINKING GLASS available materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION These and other objects of the invention will become fully

_ . . . , , ... , ,, apparent from the following description taken in conjunction

This invention relates generally to a drinking glass. More <, „„^m„„mM-„„ J °„,;„„r

. . , . , , ^ , , , ^ , 3 with the accompanying drawings, particularly, the invention relates to a glass adapted to be

filled with a beverage and being provided with an electrical BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION circuitry producing a lighting effect through the beverage.

Various types of illuminated drinking glasses have been (A> ^ invention must start at the unique base at the foot described in the patent literature. For example. U.S. Pat. No. 10 of Ruminating drinking glass. The base is what differenti919.691 to CahiU describes an illuminated drinking glass ates illuminated drinking vessel (Glass) from all discomposing a bowl having a stem and a tube which can be covered Prior m of this subJect- See accompanying drawing easily removed from the glass, the lighting being provided

by an incandescent lamp bulb. U.S. Pat. No. 2.177,337 to (B) This base is actually a circular ring. This ring I am

Stein discloses a holder for a tumbler which can be easily 15 naming as a "Unity Ring". It is called a Unity Ring for the

detached therefrom and comprising an electrical circuitry fact that it unites the above (16) glass drinking vessel to the

including a button spring cylinder switch. U.S. Pat. No. below (14) circuit board retainment cover.

2,224319 to Schroyer teaches an iUuminated drinking ves- (C) Now I'll go into more detail of this Unity Ring. The

sel supported by a hollow base which is detachable there- shape is circular with the diameter slightly more than that of

from and having an electric lamp as well as a push-button 2o the foot of the drinking vessel, with a height of not more than

switch. U.S. Pat No. 2.532.181 to Moore describes an (6.24 mm) centimeters. This ring may have a slight furrow

illuminated drinking glass adapted to be detachably received (10) around the upper arch of the ring on the inside track, for

into the upper end of a hollow stem and comprising a coil glue or any suitable sealing compound capable of providing

spring for urging the battery upwards to contact an electric a lasting and firm bond or as an attachable (permanent) piece

lamp. U.S. Pat. No. 2.663.866 to Simpson discloses a 25 of the base design.

drinking glass comprising an illuminated bottom attachment ^ be rignt on the f00t 0f the gass in

which can be separated therefrom and containing electrical wnicn case tne f^o^ wj]i not be needed.

components including a battery and a lamp set in a socket. ^ ^ QUter wa]J is curved ^ a bacfc tQ feack

U.S. Pat. No. 3.218 447 to Pardue teaches a drinking glass ... gh This sh is ca]led & douWe buUnose fe me

comprising a conicd glass secured to a metallic stem which 30 tile and ^adc md describes an edge finish. As the ^

contains electrical elements including a battery a mercury for the outer shape of the ring comes around to the underside

switch and a convenUonal hght^bulb connected thereto. U.S. of said ^ ^ is a sUghtl an^ed recess (6)

Pat. No. 3,374344 to Rudolph et al describes a beverage wi{h a d ± of oximatel y2 of a This st

glass comprising a shell removable mounted on a stem t0 a (2Q) latform ms latform extends approximately 1

containing electrical components including a hght bulb and 35 (M.M.) horizontally to the rings (21) interwaU The angled

a rotating switch to turn the hght on and off. U.S. Pat. No. inward and latform hdd m<J removable (14) circuit

3.878 3 86 to Douglas a lighted beverage glass which is board retainment disk/cover,

removable from a stem assembly comprising a conventional _. . „ , . ,

electric bulb which is Ughted by turning a rotating switch A ^ tmtTMf connects mfetuPPer P°?lon °? *« TM&

knob. U.S. Pat. No. 4,344.113 to Ditto et al shows an 40 design to the lower pomon of the rmgs design by the (22)

...... i- -j J • 1 •• 1 inter wall line which connects the glue furrow and the

apparatus to illuminate a liquid drink comprising a glass , . .. . .. . = . .

j * j t , 4.. ilLi platform line. This line thus completes the design for a

receptacle adapted to fit on a base containing electrical v , . _ ^. . , ^"K . x . 4 ,

. ■ , .. M J- J *. u «. • t. complete ring. The thickness <0f this ring at approximately

components including a coil, a diode, two batteries, a switch 4. 4.. , c .„ ...

and a light bulb 111111 311 ^ differentiates this base for illumination

Tt^m ^ . . J- , • over all discovered prior art. This ring will illuminate when

While the aforementioned patents disclose various con- 45 made of a baDsluceDt

cepts of lighted drinking glasses, however, there are certain _ , ., , ....

differences in the structure of my glass and in the electric £ The ring may be made with, but not limited to the

circuitry and that of prior above noted art. following materials: glass, plastic, acrylic, polycarbonate.

Therefore. I believe that I should be entitled to patent ^fan" TMC T ^ * t TSf

. .. u. .. £ , 4, ■ „ all electrical components under the foot of the drinking

protection on the specific combination of elements in my 50 . „, . _ . 7* , . .. rTT .. %

, u-u ■ ^ L ■ t„. , ^^t-l vessel. This finishes the description of Unity Ring. Now, I

glass which is not shown m any of the above patents. I wish , ., , . , c.

Z j -4.1. r 1 4. 4. i-4- describe some observations of the rings benefits over prior

to proceed with a formal patent application. => r

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONS (1) The thin ring design lends itself to adapt to the foot of

In view of the foregoing, it is the principal object of this 55 many style glasses,

invention to provide a new ornamental illuminating glass for (2) The ring design uses the least amount of material and

use in drinking various kinds of sparkling beverages. the ring is most economical to produce of all the

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel designs studied of prior art. I see a simple 2 piece

transparent drinking glass constructed from a unitary body multi-cavity die made for injection mold which can

characterized by a colorful and decorative appearance when gg easily produce a few parts or a million parts at a very

iUuminated. low per piece cost

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a (3) The rings recess step for the IC.B. cover retainment

one-piece watertight glass containing a simple electrical disk allows user to snap on and off a variety of lighting

circuitry which provides an appealing lighting effect to a options. Such as different color light, blinking,

sparkling beverage contained in the glass. 65 dirnming, continues all at the snap of a different disk.

An even further object of the invention is to provide an The blinking and timed off LED extend the life of the

iUuminating drinking glass which can be manufactured battery.

cover.

FIG. 4a is a detailed circuit view of the I.C.B. FIG. 4b is an overhead view of the I.C.B. electrical components and placement holes. 25

3 4

Although the uniqueness of the ring will be obvious to a On the board to one side of the L.E.D are several small

layman skilled in the making of light glasses, this unique surface mount components. They are a surface mount

ring would not be achievable at the thickness or better stated compositor, resistors and a a chip. On the opposite side of

for appropriateness "its thinness" of design, without the the L.E.D. is a removable battery held to LC. board by a

technologically advanced electrical components contained 5 fixed conducting battery retainment clip. All these compo

within the ring. nents are soddered to the board through automated wave

soddering technology accept for the removable battery for

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS obvious reasons. The components are electrically connected

^ , ... by me boards etched trace line conduits. This completes the

For a fuUer understanding of the nature and objects of the w ^^ ^ side rf LC ...

invention, reference should be made toe the following r , . , , . ^ , . ., „

drawings Description of the underside of the board: On this side of

'. ,. , the board there is etched 14.25 m.m. in diameter a partially

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the drinking glass ^ wfth & ^ ^ m m ^ nG j fe

and unity ring of the present invention. conductivity these together create an open circuit. To accom

FIG. 2 is an overhead view of the unity ring of the present 15 p]jsh this there iS- seaied t0 foe circle, a dome snap of the invention. same diameter as etched conductor circle. The dome snap,

FIG. 2a is a cross-sectional view of the unity ring. known to those (familiar) in micro-electronic art is variable

FIG. 2b is an enlarged detail of the cross-sectional view by type, touch sensitive membrane component which is used of FIG. 2a. t0 complete a circuit, monuntary. This circuit stays open or

FIG. 3 is an underside view of the retainment disk and 20 closed by me mP floP integrated circuit on the top side of the

board (see FIG. 4B detail (13) which fully describes the
touch sensitive membrane switched and complete the LC.
Board description.
This LC. board is attached to the (14) removable cover for

for LC.B. retainment disk (see drawing FIG. 1 and FIG. 3). FIG. 4c is an underside view of the circuit board with a is a smaU (not shown) pry on edge of Ms

dome snap assembly in place. t0 ease rem0Val of disk from its seated position while in

place on the unity ring. The circular disk provides retainDESCRim^ON OF THE PREFERRED ment by heat sinks Qr glue of ^ dectrical components with

EMBODIMENT 30 the ... providing the (14) cover for said components

The board is of common circuit board material with a and completing the lower side of the unity rings housing,

thickness of approximately (V2) MM. Each glass' board is This completes the description of the LC. Board retain

25 mm by 45 nun. by 25 m.m. by 45 m.m. This etched ment disk cover.

integrated circuit board not only eliminates any use of wires 35 Now That the Housing of Unity Ring and attached cir

by use of etched circuit lines, but the LC.B. facilitates the cuitry has been described, I will go into more detail of the

use of automated pick and place manufacturing technology. preferred glass to be illuminated. Refer to drawing FIG. 1,

Each glass' board come from, a mother board which is detail (16), the glass shows as described, a hollow long stem

designed in dimensions for use by automated feed, of mother champagne flute, also known by some in the industry as a

board through etch solution, etch bath scoring machines pick 4Q trumpet glass. While dimension or capacities of glass are not

and place machines then wave soddering machine. These critical, and the upper portion of the design of the glass may

mother boards hold exactly '70' individual boards. They are be of any design of known or unknown shape used for a

easily snapped apart along their score lines. The mother drinking vessel. Although a long hollow stem flute is

boards are tested at the circuit board M.F.G. Plant by a preferred, the benefit of a long stem gives the bubbles of a

testing circuit. There are no wasted materials and is designed 4J sparkle type beverage longer time to "play" on the light

for high volume production. within the glass; this creates a visually more appealing

This rectangle shape individual board has a permanently effect The sides of the glass may be etched or cut for effect,

placed (by sodder) L.E.D. in approximately the center of the The light will travel the glasses wall into said effects giving

board. This L.E.D. is the component of light L.E.D. is the them illumination.

abbreviate term for Light Emitting Diode. The L.E.D. that I 50 Description of the foot of the preferred glass: It is to be a

use is very recent technology just introduced in late 1994 by high foot as known in the art of table glassware with the

the Hewlett Packard Corporation. They call this supper center of the glass higher than the outer edge of the foot. The

bright L.E.D. (Transparent Substrate AllnGap L.E.D. height may be (8.6) rn.ni. or more from center of glass'

Technology). L.E.D. description: these light emitting diode underside to a flat surface. This minimum height of the foots

are untinted, non diffused, solid state lamps, utilizing the 55 center is a key aid to the low profile of the unity ring for the

newly developed transparent substrate aluminum Idium gal- (18) slight arch in the foot partially accommodates the

lium phosphide. (T.S. AllnGap) L.E.D. Technology. This L.E.D. package which is required for illumination. The glass

material has a luminous efficiency for producing visible may be (see FIG. 1) detail (13) opaque coated in gold/silver

light that far exceeds an incandescent lamp, and is capable colors or frosting of glass from where the stem begins

of producing high light output over a wide range of drive ^ upward on the outer surface, to a parallel line where the stem

currents with far less power consumption. A luminous begins upwards on the underside. This is to conceal view of

intensity M.C.D. @ 20 MA is 6,500 typ. for the L.E.D. inter compartment of glass but is not necessary. The center

These L.E.D.'s make my glass brighter for longer with of the glass (3) is clear for passage of the L.E.D. light,

less mounting space required. There are far more reliable If the foot of the glass is opaquely coated with the

than any type of gas filled bulb and consume far less energy. 65 preferred shinny gold, this now shinny surface helps bounce

All of these facts of the LED allowed for the design of an light through the unity ring for an even brighter ring; giving

LC.B. and a low profile ring style base for the drinking glass. an additional, more appealing effect in a low lit room. The