SHOT GLASS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shot glass with a handle for attachment to a larger drinking glass, for example, a beer mug. In at least one embodiment, this invention relates to a shot glass designed and/or configured for use in making specialty and regular mixed drinks and for storage in and outside a drinking glass. In at least one embodiment, the invention relates to a shot glass which includes a novelty lighting mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shot glasses are traditionally small vessels, in the shape of a drinking glass, which are used to serve a small amount, typically 1.0 or 1.5 oz, of liquor. They are conventionally made of thick glass from which liquor is either drunk directly or poured into another glass to make a mixed drink.

When used to serve liquor for making a mixed drink, a shot glass is typically provided separately from a drinking glass which contains the other ingredients of the mixed drink. The liquor from the shot glass is then poured into the drinking glass to make the mixed drink. This necessitates that two glasses be separately and independently provided, which is particularly inefficient in a restaurant or similar establishment.

In making certain specialty mixed drinks, a shot glass is dropped into a drinking glass in order to cause the liquor in the shot glass to mix with the liquor in the drinking glass. However, this may result in spillage and/or damage to one or both of the glasses. Also, shot glasses are often awkwardly stored one on top of another or

in an inefficient non-stacked manner due to their unique size and shape.

In view of the above-enumerated drawbacks , it is apparent that there exists a need in the art for apparatus and/or methods which overcome the above drawbacks . It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill these needs in the art, as well as other needs which will become apparent to the skilled artisan once given the above disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, this invention fulfills the above described needs in the art by providing: a shot glass, comprising: (a) a bottom surface, (b) a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface; wherein the bottom surface and the side wall define a vessel for holding a liquid, the vessel having a closed first end and an open second end, and (c) a handle associated with the side wall. The side wall may be continuous and may be substantially circumferential in shape.

The handle may be integral with the side wall or an edge thereof, may be fixedly attached to an outer surface of the side wall or an edge thereof, may be fixedly attached to an inner surface of the side wall or an edge thereof, may be removably attached to an outer surface of the side wall or an edge thereof, or may be removably attached to an inner surface of the side wall or an edge thereof.

The shot glass handle combination may further include a ring or sleeve attached to the handle, wherein the side wall may be capable of contacting the ring or sleeve in order to suspend the bottom surface and the side walls from

the ring or sleeve. The ring or sleeve may be fixedly or removably attached to the handle.

The shot glass may further include a light emitting mechanism, which may include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) that may, in some embodiments, be activated by pressure and/or in other embodiments by moisture detection (e.g. when inserted into an alcoholic drink). The side wall, bottom surface and handle may each independently be made of a material selected from the group consisting of one or more polymers, such as plastic, or glass or metal.

The side wall may be tapered such that the circumference of the open second end is greater than ' ^" the circumference of the closed first end.

The handle may have a non-linear portion thereof, such as a substantially curved portion, which permits the shot glass to suspend from a container, which may be a drinking glass such as a beer mug.

In another embodiment, this invention provides: a shot glass, comprising: (a) a bottom surface, (b) a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface; wherein the bottom surface and the side wall define a vessel for holding a liquid, the vessel having a closed first end and an open second end, (c) a handle associated with the side wall, and (d) a lighting mechanism associated with the bottom surface.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a shot glass, comprising: (a) a bottom surface, (b) a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface; wherein the bottom surface and the side wall define a vessel for holding a liquid, the vessel having a closed first end and an open second end, (c) a handle, and (d) a

ring or sleeve attached to the handle; wherein the ring or sleeve is so designed such that it is capable of carrying or suspending the shot glass by contacting the side wall of the shot glass.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a shot glass, comprising: (a) a bottom surface, (b) a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface; wherein the bottom surface and the side wall define a vessel for holding a liquid, the vessel having a closed first end and an open second end, (c) a handle, (d) a ring or sleeve attached to the handle; wherein the ring or sleeve is so designed such that it is capable of carrying or suspending the shot glass by contacting the side wall of the shot glass; and (e) a light emitting mechanism associated with the bottom surface.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a drinking glass assembly, comprising: (a) a shot glass, the shot glass comprising: (i) a bottom surface, (ii) a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface; wherein the bottom surface and the side wall define a vessel for holding a liquid, the vessel having a closed first end and an open second end, and (iii) a handle connected proximal the side wall; and (b) a drinking glass; wherein the handle is so designed and so connected to the shot glass such that the shot glass is capable of being suspended from the drinking glass.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. IA illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a shot glass of the present invention with the handle attached to the side wall.

FIG. IB illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a shot glass of the present invention with the handle attached to a ring from which a glass is suspended.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a shot glass of the present invention which utilizes a light emitting mechanism.

FIG. 3A illustrates an embodiment of a shot glass of the present invention suspended inside a drinking glass.

FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment of a shot glass of the present invention suspended outside a drinking glass.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS For a more complete understanding of the present invention and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description of various illustrative and non- limiting embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate like features.

Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a shot glass with a handle for attachment to a larger drinking glass, such as a beer mug. In at least one embodiment, a shot glass of the present invention is uniquely configured for use in making specialty and regular mixed drinks and for storage in and outside a drinking glass. In another embodiment, a shot glass of the present invention includes a novelty light emitting mechanism.

Referring now initially to Figure IA, an embodiment of an apparatus according to the subject invention is illustrated therein as shot glass 100. In the illustrated embodiment, shot glass 100 includes a hollow glass 102 for holding a liquid, such as liquor, defined by a bottom surface 104 and a side wall 106, which may be a continuous

surface and which may be circumferential in shape, extending upwardly from bottom surface 104. Glass 102 has a closed first end 108 and an open second end 110.

Open second end 110 is anticipated to be completely open, as is the case with a conventional shot glass, so that liquid can be readily poured into and out of the glass, but it is anticipated in the present invention that a portion of second open end 110 may be covered, provided that liquid may still be poured into and out of the glass. Moreover, shot glass 100 may be of any desired and suitable size and shape, such a tapered design such that the circumference of open second end 110 is greater than that of closed first end 108.

Shot glass 100 further includes a handle 112 which may have a non-linear end 114, such as a curved end, for suspending the shot glass 100 from the inside or outside of a drinking glass, such as a beer mug. Non-linear end 114 may be of any suitable shape and dimensions for attachment of shot glass 100 to a desired surface, such as the lip of a beer mug. Handle 112 may be of any desired length and is associated with side wall 106, which is defined herein, without limitation, as being integral with side wall 106, such as when handle 112 and side wall 106 are formed from a single piece of material, such as plastic, as being fixedly attached to an outer surface of side wall 106, such as by bonding with glue, as being fixedly attached to an inner surface of side wall 106, as being removably attached to an outer surface of side wall 106, and as being removably attached to an inner surface of side wall 106.

Alternatively, handle 112 may be integral with or attached to a ring or sleeve member 116 (Figure IB) such that side wall 106 contacts the inner surface of ring or

sleeve member 116 causing glass 102 to be suspended therefrom.

As shown in Figure 2, shot glass 100 may include a lighting mechanism 118 which may be any suitable lighting mechanism for use with shot glass 100, such as a circuit board with multiple flashing light bulbs 120, which are preferably light emitting diodes (LEDs) that may each independently be any desired color. The light bulbs are capable of flashing synchronously or asynchronously to provide a pleasing distribution of light throughout shot glass 100 and any liquid contained therein, rendering shot glass 100 particularly useful as a promotional or novelty item. As will be appreciated, the effect of such flashing light will be accentuated in a substantially darkened restaurant or like establishment.

Moreover, when shot glass 100 includes lighting mechanism 118, it is preferred that shot glass 100 be made out of glass material such that it is suitable as a keepsake, and may further include the name of an establishment or other advertising on the surface of, or etched into, a surface of side wall 106. One of skill in the art will readily appreciate that various embodiments of the present invention as a novelty item are possible.

As shot glass 100 is submersible in a liquid, it is preferred that lighting mechanism 118 contain a housing, such as a rubber housing, to prevent the electronics therein from contacting liquid. For example, the rubber housing may be a molded rubber housing which attractively conceals the electronics contained therein while serving as an impervious barrier to the liquid environment.

Further, the lighting mechanism may be activated in any suitable manner, such as by pressure activation of

switch element 122. One of skill in the art will appreciate that other mechanisms, such as liquid-contact mechanisms are possible to activate the lighting mechanism (for example, in at least one embodiment, the light emitting mechanism is equipped with a liquid or moisture detection sensor so that it may be automatically activated upon sensing a threshold moisture content) . Moreover, as will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the electronic assembly of lighting mechanism 118 may also include a preprogrammed microchip and a speaker to provide audio which may be activated in the same manner as light bulbs 120, and which may correspond to the flashing of light bulbs 120.

Figures 3A and 3B show the inventive shot glass 100 suspended inside and outside of a drinking glass 124, respectively. Figure 3A shows the inventive shot glass 100 as it is intended to be used in mixing a first liquor contained in shot glass 100 with a second such liquor contained in drinking glass 124. When both shot glass 100 and drinking glass 124 contain liquors, the liquors will mix either immediately when shot glass 100 is placed inside of drinking glass 124 or after shot glass 100 and drinking glass 124 are tipped at an angle required for mixture of the liquids. Figure 3B shows an alternative embodiment wherein shot glass 100 is suspended outside drinking glass 124 in order to provide shot glass 100 concurrently with drinking glass 124 without the need to provide both glass separately and independently.

Further, shot glass 100 may be suspended from drinking glass 124 as shown in Figures 3A and 3B for storage purposes, thereby overcoming the conventional problems attendant to the storage of shot glasses.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, all elements of the present invention may be formed from a variety of suitable materials, for example and without limitation, polymers, including plastics, glass and metal. The particular material chosen may depend on the specific application for which a shot glass of the present invention is to be used. For example, when a shot glass of the present invention is to be disposable, it may readily be made of an inexpensive plastic material. On the other hand, when it is desired that a shot glass of the present invention will be a keepsake, it is preferably made out of a durable material such as glass. Moreover, a shot glass of the present invention may be formed of a single molded piece of material, or may be a combination of pieces which are attached together, such as when handle 112 is bonded to side wall 106.

Once given the above disclosure, many other features, modifications, and improvements will become apparent to the skilled artisan. Such other features, modifications, and improvements are therefore considered to be part of this invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims: