This is the Beerbrella. As you can see, it is an umbrella for your beer. One of the few masterpieces of our time. As per common knowledge, harmful UV's can turn our delicious and refreshing beers into disgusting, foul-smelling sadness in a bottle. The drawings in this patent are actually quite good however.
Mason Schott McMullin, the inventor, filed this description:
We claim:
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.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the umbrella comprises a small umbrella approximately five to seven inches in diameter.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the umbrella comprises a small paper-like umbrella with balsa framing.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the umbrella comprises a solid plastic umbrella.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the umbrella comprises a cloth umbrella.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a pivot joint, coupled between the shaft and the means for removably attaching; and a counterweight, coupled to the shaft, wherein the shaft extends downward from the pivot joint and the counterweight is coupled to the shaft at a location below the pivot joint such that when the beverage container is tilted, the shaft remains substantially vertical.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a pivot coupling the shaft to the umbrella to allow the umbrella to be suitably angled to shield the sun or for aesthetic purposes.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip is made of spring steel.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip is made of plastic.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip is made of formed cardboard.
I don't think it gets better than this. This is actually a pretty specific patent. I think potentially the best part about this patent is the following:
"One problem with these Prior Art devices is that although they do provide insulation for beverages, they do not shield the beverage from the direct rays of the sun. A beverage left out in the sun, even if insulated or cooled with ice, quickly warms due to the effect of the intense infrared radiation from the sun, particularly on hot, sunny summer days.
Thus, it remains a requirement in the art to provide a means for shielding a beverage from direct sunlight."
Sweet patent, can't wait to buy one.
I like how the patent addressed prior art and invalidated it. What's even more funny but not surprising at this point is that there was prior art regarding this apparatus.
ReplyDeleteI feel like this product can be used by every social fraternity on campus, and would especially work well in the weather that we are currently facing. Ya seriously I can't wait to buy one
ReplyDeleteOh My goodness, Where do I get one of these.
ReplyDeleteI don't really think this is useful. The umbrella provides shade from direct sun but most the time I can find shade that does that anyway. I think a puch that kept the beer cold would be better because even with the umbrella, if it's a hot day, this beer won't be cold long.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there are other devices that may keep a beer colder, but if I'm on a beach, finding a place with shade just to keep my beer cold defeats the purpose of being there. It could even double as a shield from crap like sand or even worse, bird poop hitting your bottle!
DeleteNice find Eric!
I am very unsure as to how prior art did not apprehend the patenting of this idea. Surely the very presence of an already invented umbrella invalidates this.
ReplyDelete