Removable Breathable Covers for Beverage Containers

Abstract

Covers for containers and specifically, beverage containers are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment of the invention, a cover has a breathable membrane and a peripheral rim. The membrane is substantially planar in shape and has a length and width to substantially cover a top opening of a beverage container. A plurality of orifices extend through a top surface toward and through a bottom surface of the breathable membrane, and are sized and shaped to allow air to pass therethrough, but are sufficiently small to prevent external contaminants such as leaves and insects, for example, from passing through the membrane. The peripheral rim is sized and shaped to receive an upper portion of a rim of the container, and be releasably attached thereto. Thus, the cover provides means for enjoying beverages such as wines requiring breathing prior to consummation, carbonated drinks, and other beverage, in the outdoors.

1 . A cover for a container, the cover comprising:
 a membrane having a shape and size as to be disposed over a top opening of a container, the membrane substantially planar having width and length to substantially cover the top opening of the container when disposed thereon, the membrane adapted to allow air to flow therethrough but restrict external contaminants from passing therethrough; and   a peripheral rim disposed along a bottom side of the membrane, the peripheral rim sized and shaped to releasably secure the membrane to the container.   
   
   
       2 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane further comprises a one or more orifices disposed in the membrane and extending through a top-surface to the bottom-surface, the orifices allowing air to flow between the top-surface and the bottom-surface. 
   
   
       3 . The cover of  claim 2 , wherein the orifices are grouped to create a design. 
   
   
       4 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is manufactured of any of the group consisting of plastic, wood, rattan, rubber and metal. 
   
   
       5 . The cover of  claim 4 , wherein the membrane is comprised of woven-wood weave, the weave adapted to allow air to flow bi-directionally through the membrane. 
   
   
       6 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral rim comprises an elastic material, the peripheral rim sized and shaped to contact a surface of the container and releasable secure the cover to the container. 
   
   
       7 . The cover of  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of peripheral rims, each peripheral rim disposed along the bottom side of the membrane and each sized and shaped to secure the cover to a container having a size and shape corresponding to at least one of the peripheral rims. 
   
   
       8 . A breathable cover for a beverage container, the cover comprising:
 a membrane having a shape and size as to be disposed over a top opening of a beverage container, the membrane substantially planar having width and length to substantially cover the top opening of the container when disposed thereon, the membrane adapted to allow air to flow therethrough;   a peripheral rim disposed along a bottom side of the membrane, the peripheral rim sized and shaped to releasably secure the membrane to the container; and   a design area disposed the top side of the membrane, the design area having a design thereon.   
   
   
       9 . The cover of  claim 8 , further comprising orifices disposed in the membrane, the orifices extending from the top side to the bottom side of the membrane and sized to allow air to flow therethrough. 
   
   
       10 . The cover of  claim 9 , wherein the orifices are disposed in the design area and arranged to portray the design thereon. 
   
   
       11 . The cover of  claim 10 , where the design is any of the group consisting of insignias, words, messages and trademarks. 
   
   
       12 . The cover of  claim 9 , wherein the orifices are sized to substantially prevent contaminants from passing through the membrane. 
   
   
       13 . The cover of  claim 12 , wherein contaminants are any of the group consisting of leaves, insects, and unwanted biological agents in the form of pills and tablets. 
   
   
       14 . A method for using a breathable cover for a beverage container, the method comprising the steps of:
 (i) obtaining a beverage container, the container having a top-opening though which the beverage can be consumed;   (ii) disposing a beverage in the container;   (iii) disposing a cover over the top-opening, the cover having a breathable membrane and a peripheral rim, the peripheral rim disposed along a bottom-side of the membrane and having a size and shape to releasably seal along a surface of the container in proximity to the top opening;   (iv) applying a downward pressure to the cover, the pressure causing a surface of the peripheral rim to releasably seal along a surface of the beverage container;   (v) applying an upward pressure to the cover, the pressure causing the cover to release from the container;   (vi) consuming a portion of the beverage;   (vii) repeating steps (iii) through (vi) until the beverage is consumed or discarded.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein step (iv) of applying a downward pressure to the cover further comprises:
 maintaining the seal thereby preventing outside contaminants from entering the beverage container.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein step (v) of removing the cover from the beverage container and consuming at least a portion of the beverage further comprises:
 applying a pressure in an upward direction on the breathable membrane using a single hand, the pressure releasing the seal between the peripheral rim and the surface of the beverage container.