초록 ▼

A floatable barrier suitably adapted for use with a beverage container having a circular base and a cylindrical wall extending vertically therefrom. The floatable barrier comprising top and bottom planar surfaces for displaying advertising material thereon and for floatingly engaging a substantial p

A floatable barrier suitably adapted for use with a beverage container having a circular base and a cylindrical wall extending vertically therefrom. The floatable barrier comprising top and bottom planar surfaces for displaying advertising material thereon and for floatingly engaging a substantial portion of a comestible liquid contained in the beverage container, respectively; an outer wall integrally connecting the top and bottom planar surfaces along the periphery thereof principally serving as means to space apart and maintain a parallel relationship of the surfaces to form an inner chamber possessing thermal retaining and buoyancy characteristics; and a plurality of apertures collectively located along the periphery of and extending from the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface, through the inner chamber, to assist in promoting the condition of laminar flow over the floatable barrier as the beverage container is being filled with the comestible liquid.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A floatable barrier for use with a beverage container having a circular base and a cylindrical wall substantially extending vertically therefrom, principally serving to contain a comestible liquid, said floatable barrier comprising, in combination: top and bottom planar surfa

What is claimed is: 1. A floatable barrier for use with a beverage container having a circular base and a cylindrical wall substantially extending vertically therefrom, principally serving to contain a comestible liquid, said floatable barrier comprising, in combination: top and bottom planar surfaces for displaying advertising material thereon and for engaging a substantial portion of the comestible liquid contained in the beverage container, respectively, said top and bottom planar surfaces each being spaced apart from one another a predetermined distance, primarily positioned in a parallel arrangement, and having a peripheral edge in proximity to the cylindrical wall of the beverage container; an outer wall having uppermost and lowermost ends connected to said peripheral edges of said top and bottom planar surfaces, respectively, to the extent said outer wall is situated in between said top and bottom planar surfaces, said outer wall and top and bottom planar surfaces being integrally molded together to form a one-piece structure having an inner chamber possessing thermal retaining and buoyancy characteristics; a plurality of apertures each substantially extending from said top planar surface to said bottom planar surface, through said inner chamber, near and along the peripheral edge of said top and bottom planar surfaces, to substantially ensure the continuous passing of the comestible liquid into and from the beverage container; and a plurality of protuberances each being positioned radially inward from said apertures and integrally attached to said bottom planar surface and extending downwardly therefrom to substantially engage and permit stirring of the comestible liquid. 2. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said apertures comprises an inner wall to promote laminar flow conditions and to mitigate the occurrence of turbulence leading to undue volatilization as the comestible liquid is placed into and drawn from the beverage container. 3. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 2, wherein said inner wall comprises a pair of beveled edges of equivalent shape and form and a vertical wall situated therebetween, said beveled edges being adaptably configured to assist in allowing flow of the comestible liquid to said bottom planar surface insofar to promote buoyancy and raise said top and bottom planar surfaces from the circular base of the beverage container, being notably needed when the beverage container is absent of and later filled with the comestible liquid. 4. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said beveled edges comprises an angular relationship to a vertical axis extending perpendicular to said top and bottom surfaces ranging from 45째 to 60째. 5. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said beveled edges comprises an angular relationship to a vertical axis extending perpendicular to said top and bottom planar surfaces of 60째. 6. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top and bottom planar surfaces comprise a diameter ranging from 90% to less than 100% of the effective inner diameter of the beverage container insofar to form an annular opening between said outer wall and the cylindrical wall of the beverage container for passage of the comestible liquid. 7. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 6, wherein said annular opening is approximately ⅛" wide. 8. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said protuberances comprises a conically-shaped wall converging downwardly to a lowermost tip and an inner cavity integrally communicating with said inner chamber. 9. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inner chamber is filled with an inert gas to promote continued buoyancy of said top and bottom planar surfaces and outer wall and to retain the thermal capacity of the comestible liquid within the beverage container. 10. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top and bottom planar surfaces are fabricated from a translucent polypropylene material and said inner chamber is filled with thermotropic liquid crystals having temperature dependent characteristics insofar to promote time-delayed display of advertising material adaptably affixed to said top planar surface. 11. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top and bottom planar surfaces and outer wall are fabricated from a hydrophobic, food-grade polymeric material having heat resisting and thermal retaining characteristics. 12. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top planar surface further comprises a handle extending upwardly therefrom and affixed thereto to assist in stirring the comestible liquid within and removing said floatable barrier from the beverage container. 13. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inner chamber is filled with an air-entrained, light-weighted solid to promote continued buoyancy of said top and bottom planar surfaces and outer wall and to retain the thermal capacity of the comestible liquid within the beverage container. 14. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said outer wall further comprises an apex situated midway in between said uppermost and lowermost ends and extending furthermost therefrom a predetermined distance, said apex being substantially capable of corresponding to the level of the comestible liquid in either a static or dynamic state. 15. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said outer wall comprises a rounded geometric configuration. 16. A method for displaying advertising material and mitigating the inadvertent release of a comestible liquid from a beverage container during the handling and transport thereof, said method comprising the steps of: connecting top and bottom planar surfaces to uppermost and lowermost ends of an outer wall, respectively, to the extent said outer wall is situated in between said top and bottom planar surfaces to integrally form a one-piece structure having an inner chamber substantially configured to house a gas for continued buoyancy and retain the thermal characteristics of the comestible liquid; affixing to said top planar surface advertising material made suitable for promoting an event or sale of a good or service; configuring said top and bottom planar surfaces with a plurality of apertures collectively positioned along the periphery thereof and extending from said top planar surface to said bottom planar surface, through said inner chamber, to permit the passage of comestible liquids to and from the beverage container; configuring said bottom planar surface with a plurality of protuberances each being positioned radially inward from said apertures and extending downwardly therefrom to substantially engage and permit stirring of the comestible liquid; and placing said top planar surface upright into the beverage container, with said bottom planar surface being downwardly positioned insofar to permit substantial contact with the comestible liquid. 17. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein each of said protuberances comprises a conically-shaped wall converging downwardly to a lowermost tip and an inner cavity integrally communicating with said inner chamber. 18. A floatable barrier for use with a beverage container having a circular base and a cylindrical wall substantially extending vertically therefrom, principally serving to contain a comestible liquid, said floatable barrier comprising, in combination: top and bottom planar surfaces for displaying advertising material thereon and for engaging a substantial portion of the comestible liquid contained in the beverage container, respectively, said top and bottom planar surfaces each being spaced apart from one another a predetermined distance, primarily positioned in a parallel arrangement, and having a peripheral edge in proximity to the cylindrical wall of the beverage container; an outer wall having uppermost and lowermost ends connected to said peripheral edges of top and bottom planar surfaces, respectively, to the extent said outer wall is situated in between said top and bottom planar surfaces, said outer wall and top and bottom planar surfaces being integrally molded together to form a one-piece structure having an inner chamber possessing thermal retaining and buoyancy characteristics; a plurality of apertures each substantially extending from said top planar surface to said bottom planar surface, through said inner chamber, near and along the peripheral edge of said top and bottom planar surfaces, each of said apertures comprising an inner wall to promote laminar flow conditions and to mitigate the occurrence of turbulence leading to undue volatilization as the comestible liquid is placed into and drawn from the beverage container, said inner wall comprising a pair of beveled edges of equivalent shape and form and a vertical wall situated therebetween, said beveled edges being adaptably configured to allow flow of the comestible liquid to said bottom planar surface insofar to promote buoyancy and raise said top and bottom planar surfaces from the circular base of the beverage container, being notably needed when the beverage container is absent of and later filled with the comestible liquid; and a plurality of protuberances each being positioned radially inward from said apertures and integrally attached to said bottom planar surface and extending downwardly therefrom to substantially engage and permit stirring of the comestible liquid, each of said protuberances comprising a conically-shaped wall converging downwardly to a lowermost tip and an inner cavity integrally communicating with said inner chamber. 19. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 18, wherein said inner chamber is filled with an inert gas to promote continued buoyancy of said top and bottom planar surfaces and outer wall and to retain the thermal capacity of the comestible liquid within the beverage container. 20. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 18, wherein each of said beveled edges comprises an angular relationship to a vertical axis extending perpendicular to said top and bottom planar surfaces ranging from 45째 to 60째. 21. A floatable barrier as set forth in claim 18, wherein said top planar surface further comprises a handle extending upwardly therefrom and affixed thereto to assist in stirring the comestible liquid within and removing said floatable barrier from the beverage container.