Reusable beverage container

Abstract

Methods and systems for a reusable container for the point-of-sale display and advertisement of beverages is disclosed. The container generally comprise an open end, a drinker-friendly lip disposed around the open end, and a lid adapted to fit substantially around the lip to prevent the beverage from leaking out of the container. Graphics may be printed on the container comprising a company logo or an advertisement for the beverage. Instructions may also be provided that the container is reusable as a drinking glass at home.

1 . A container comprising: 
 an open end;    a lip disposed around the open end, the lip having top side defined by a first arc length and a vertical side defined by a second arc length, wherein the first arc length is greater than the second arc length; and    a covering adapted to fit substantially around the lip.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the open end of the container is substantially circular.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the diameter of the container is equal to the diameter of the open end.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the top side of the lip is substantially flat.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 4 , bottom side of the lip is substantially rounded.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the container is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: 
 glass, plastic, and metal.    
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the beverage is selected from the group consisting of a fruit juice, a pomegranate juice product, tea, and iced tea.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the container is reusable at home as a drinking glass after the beverage is consumed.  
   
   
       10 . A vessel comprising: 
 a base;    walls coupled to the base and defining an open top end, wherein the walls and the base define an interior space that contains a liquid;    a rounded protrusion formed along the open top end of the walls and substantially outside of the interior space of the container, the protrusion comprising horizontal and vertical surfaces having first and second curvature values, respectively, wherein the first curvature value is of lesser magnitude than the second curvature value; and    a lid adapted to at least partially mate with the rounded protrusion and to seal the open top end.    
   
   
       11 . The vessel of  claim 10 , wherein the vessel is used for displaying and advertising a beverage.  
   
   
       12 . The vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the walls contain printed advertisement.  
   
   
       13 . The vessel of  claim 11  further comprising instructions that the vessel may be reused as a drinking glass after the beverage is consumed.  
   
   
       14 . The vessel of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are printed on a suitable substrate and removably attached to the vessel.  
   
   
       15 . A system for displaying and advertising a beverage in a reusable container, the system comprising: 
 an enclosure having an open top end and containing a beverage;    a lip portion formed along the periphery of the open top end of the enclosure, the lip portion comprising a maximum height and a maximum width, wherein the maximum height of the lip portion is less than the maximum width of the lip portion;    a lid adapted to at least partially engage the lip portion and substantially cover the open top end; and    instructions that the container is reusable as a drinking glass.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the enclosure is shaped as a cylinder.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the lip portion is an asymmetrically rounded protrusion.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the lid provides a seal to prevent the beverage from leaking out of the container.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions are printed on any one or more from the group selected from the enclosure and the lid.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions are printed on a substrate that is removably affixed to the reusable container.  
   
   
       21 . A pomegranate juice product comprising: 
 a container having a lip;    a cap for the container; and    a beverage containing pomegranate juice.    
   
   
       22 . The pomegranate juice product of  claim 21 , further comprising instructions for reusing the container as a drinking glass at home.  
   
   
       23 . A method for advertising and for providing a point-of-sale display for a beverage, the method comprising: 
 providing a container having an open end and a lip disposed around the open end;    adding a beverage to the container;    providing a covering that encloses the open end of the container by forming a seal with the lip;    displaying the container at the point-of-sale; and    providing instructions that the container is reusable after the beverage is consumed.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising providing graphic art on the container.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the graphic art is an advertisement for the beverage.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the beverage is any one or more selected from the group consisting of fruit juice, pomegranate juice, tea, and iced tea.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the covering is a snap-on lid that mates and creates a leak-proof seal with the lip of the container.  
   
   
       28 . A method for displaying a beverage comprising the following steps: 
 providing a container having the attributes of a jar and a glass;    adding a liquid to the container;    adding a cap to the container;    displaying the container in a point-of-sale location for purchase by consumers; and    providing instructions to consumers that the container can be taken home and reused as a glass.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the container displays printed advertisement.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the container comprises an open end and a lip disposed around the open end, the lip having top and vertical sides each having a first and second arc length, wherein the first arc length is greater than the second arc length.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the container comprises an open top end and a lip portion formed along the periphery of the open top end, the lip portion comprising a maximum height and a maximum width, wherein the maximum height of the lip portion is less than the maximum width of the lip portion;  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the container comprises an open top end and a rounded protrusion formed along the open top end, the protrusion comprising horizontal and vertical surfaces having first and second curvature values, respectively, wherein the first curvature value is of lesser magnitude than the second curvature value.  
   
   
       33 . A method for marketing beverages, the method comprising the following steps: 
 providing a vessel having an outer surface and a lip that is acceptable for drinking;    adding a company logo to the outer surface of the vessel;    adding a beverage to the vessel;    enclosing the vessel with a cap; and    displaying the vessel in retail stores with instructions that the vessel may be reused as a drinking glass after the beverage is consumed.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the lip has top and vertical sides each having a first and second arc length, wherein the first arc length is greater than the second arc length.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the lip is formed along the outer surface, the lip portion comprising a maximum height and a maximum width, wherein the maximum height of the lip portion is less than the maximum width of the lip portion.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the lip is a rounded protrusion formed along the outer surface, the protrusion comprising horizontal and vertical surfaces having first and second curvature values, respectively, wherein the first curvature value is of lesser magnitude than the second curvature value.  
   
   
       37 . A reusable beverage container as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 .