Beverage floatation device and method of advertising

Abstract

An apparatus relating to sealable floating beverage holders and containers for use in an aquatic environment that are constructed to inhibit listing as the volume of the beverage in the container varies, and a method of advertising using the floating beverage holders and containers are disclosed. The apparatus includes a float, a beverage container, and a ballast. A beverage container sleeve may also be used. The ballast helps to keep the beverage container and float level in the water and helps to prevent it from tipping over. The beverage container is sealable to prevent the beverage from spilling and to prevent water from splashing into the beverage. The method of advertising utilizes the apparatus to display messages while the apparatus is used in an aquatic environment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A beverage flotation device comprising 
 a float comprising a float aperture, a top surface, and a bottom surface;    a beverage container sleeve comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being secured to said float at said float aperture, and said beverage container sleeve extending downwardly from said bottom surface of said float;    a sealable beverage container releasably inserted into said beverage container sleeve; and    a ballast portion at said lower portion of said beverage container sleeve.    
     
     
         2 . A beverage flotation device comprising 
 a float including a float aperture defining an inner engagement surface;    a beverage container sleeve defining an outer engagement surface and a ballast portion, wherein said outer engagement surface of said beverage container sleeve releasably engages said inner engagement surface of said aperture; and    a sealable beverage container releasably inserted into said beverage container sleeve.    
     
     
         3 . A beverage flotation device comprising 
 a float including an aperture defining an inner engagement surface; and    a sealable beverage container defining an outer engagement surface and a ballast portion, wherein said outer engagement surface of said beverage container releasably engages said inner engagement surface of said aperture.    
     
     
         4 . A beverage flotation device comprising 
 a beverage container;    a float associated with said beverage container, wherein said float is constructed to bias said beverage container in an upright configuration while in the water; and    a ballast, wherein said ballast is adapted to bias said beverage container in an upright configuration while in the water.    
     
     
         5 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 4 , wherein said beverage container has a bottom portion, and wherein said ballast is located at said bottom portion of said beverage container.  
     
     
         6 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 4 , wherein said beverage container is a sealable beverage container.  
     
     
         7 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 4 , wherein said beverage container is insulated.  
     
     
         8 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 4 , wherein said ballast is constructed of a solid, heavy material.  
     
     
         9 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 4 , wherein said ballast comprises a vessel that contains a heavy granular material.  
     
     
         10 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 4 , wherein said ballast comprises a vessel that contains liquid.  
     
     
         11 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 4 , wherein said ballast comprises part of said float.  
     
     
         12 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 11 , wherein said ballast comprises a flat piece of relatively dense material affixed to a bottom surface of said float.  
     
     
         13 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 12 , wherein said ballast further defines an aperture equal in diameter to a float aperture, and wherein said ballast defines a shape corresponding to an outer contour of said float bottom surface.  
     
     
         14 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 11 , wherein said ballast define a ring that covers an outer circumferential edge of said float.  
     
     
         15 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 4 , wherein said ballast comprises part of said beverage container.  
     
     
         16 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 4 , wherein said ballast comprises a first ballast connected with said float and a second ballast connected with said beverage container.  
     
     
         17 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 4  further comprising a beverage container sleeve configured to hold said beverage container, wherein said beverage container sleeve insulates said beverage container, and wherein said ballast comprises part of said beverage container sleeve.  
     
     
         18 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 4 , wherein said ballast comprises a first ballast connected with said float and a second ballast connected with said beverage container sleeve.  
     
     
         19 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 17 , wherein said ballast is integrally-formed with said beverage container sleeve.  
     
     
         20 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 17 , wherein said ballast is releasably secured to said beverage container sleeve.  
     
     
         21 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 20 , wherein said ballast is threadedly engageable with a threaded beverage container sleeve  
     
     
         22 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 20 , wherein said ballast is frictionally engageable with said body of said beverage container sleeve.  
     
     
         23 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 20 , wherein said ballast includes an engagement portion, wherein said beverage container sleeve includes a body having a bottom portion, and wherein said bottom portion defines a body engagement area in the inner wall of said body.  
     
     
         24 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 23 , wherein said engagement portion is adapted to frictionally engage said body engagement area of said body.  
     
     
         25 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 20 , wherein said ballast is a disk-shaped ballast, and wherein said disk-shaped ballast is connected with said bottom portion of said beverage container sleeve.  
     
     
         26 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 20 , wherein said beverage container sleeve further comprises outwardly extending baffles.  
     
     
         27 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 17 , wherein said beverage container sleeve is adapted to provide additional buoyant force to assist said float.  
     
     
         28 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 17 , wherein said beverage container sleeve is adapted to provide additional downward force to assist said ballast.  
     
     
         29 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 17 , wherein said beverage container sleeve is adapted to provide both additional buoyant force to assist said float and additional downward force to assist said ballast.  
     
     
         30 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 17 , wherein said beverage container sleeve has a bottom portion, and wherein said ballast is located at said bottom portion of said beverage container sleeve.  
     
     
         31 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 30 , wherein said ballast is cylindrical in shape with an outer diameter equal to an outer diameter of said beverage container sleeve.  
     
     
         32 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 4 , wherein said beverage container comprises a cylindrical main body, a removable lid, and a sealable straw.  
     
     
         33 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 32 , wherein said cylindrical main body has an outer diameter that is dimensioned to fit snuggly inside said beverage container sleeve.  
     
     
         34 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 17 , wherein said beverage container sleeve comprises a sleeve body and a ballast.  
     
     
         35 . The beverage flotation device of  claim 17 , wherein said float is releasably connected with said beverage container sleeve.  
     
     
         36 . A convertible beverage flotation device comprising 
 a beverage container having a lid, a body, and a ledge portion near the juncture of said lid and said body, wherein said ledge portion has a bottom surface;    a float adapted to slidingly engage said body of said beverage container below said ledge portion; and    a removable insulation sleeve adapted to slidingly engage said body of said beverage container below said float to removably secure said float on said body of said beverage container adjacent to said bottom surface of said ledge portion.    
     
     
         37 . The convertible beverage flotation device of  claim 36  further comprising a ballast.  
     
     
         38 . The convertible beverage flotation device of  claim 37 , wherein said float comprises a tope surface, and wherein an advertisement is on said top surface of said float.  
     
     
         39 . A beverage flotation device comprising 
 a beverage holding means for holding a beverage;    a sealing means for sealing said beverage holding means;    a floating means for releasably supporting said beverage holding means; and    a ballast means to inhibit listing of said floating means.    
     
     
         40 . A method of advertising utilizing the beverage flotation apparatus according to any one of claims  1 - 5 , the method comprising the steps of 
 creating a message to be conveyed;    affixing said message to said beverage floatation apparatus; and    distributing said beverage floatation apparatus.