Accessory for beverage containers and method

Abstract

An accessory for use with a container has a body defining a generally circular upper opening and a base. The body may also have at least one expansion slot extending downwardly from the upper opening through the body towards the base. The body may also have at least one tab or nub extending inward near the upper opening. The body may also have feet at the base.

1 . An accessory for use with a container, comprising:
 a body defining a generally circular upper opening and a base; and   at least one expansion slot extending downwardly from the upper opening through the body towards the base.   
     
     
         2 . An accessory according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second expansion slot, extending downwardly from the upper opening through the body towards the base. 
     
     
         3 . An accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the base defines a lower opening. 
     
     
         4 . An accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is in the form of a side wall having an upper region and a lower region, at least one region having an increasing outer diameter from the top towards the bottom of the body. 
     
     
         5 . An accessory according to  claim 4 , wherein the lower region further comprises a plurality of feet regions extending downwardly and outwardly from the upper region. 
     
     
         6 . An accessory according to  claim 5 , wherein the feet are generally partially hemispherically shaped. 
     
     
         7 . An accessory according to  claim 5 , wherein the upper region is generally dome shaped, and the feet are generally partially hemispherical shaped. 
     
     
         8 . An accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is at least partially formed from theremoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         9 . An accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is entirely formed from the thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         10 . An accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the expansion slot has an upper mouth portion, an intermediate portion, and a terminating end portion. 
     
     
         11 . An accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the expansion slot is keyhole shaped. 
     
     
         12 . An accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the expansion slot is teardrop shaped. 
     
     
         13 . An accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface finish of the body at the upper opening has a rougher surface finish than the surface finish of other portions of the body. 
     
     
         14 . An accessory according to  claim 1 , further comprising indicia disposed on an outer surface of the body. 
     
     
         15 . An accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein a bendable region is formed in the body between the terminal end of the expansion slot and the bottom surface of the body. 
     
     
         16 . An accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein an overall outer surface shape of the body is substantially complimentary to an overall inner surface shape of the body, to facilitate stacking of one accessory to another. 
     
     
         17 . A method of stabilizing a beverage container, comprising:
 attaching to a lower end of the container to an accessory, the accessory comprising a body defining a generally circular upper opening and a base and at least one expansion slot extending downwardly from the upper opening towards the base through the body towards the base.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein attaching the accessory further comprises applying pressure to opposite sides of a lower portion of the accessory to flex the body so as to open the expansion slot and increase the diameter of the top opening. 
     
     
         19 . An accessory for use with a container comprising:
 a body defining a generally circular upper opening and a base; and   gripping means for gripping the container, disposed proximal to the upper opening and projecting inwardly from the upper opening to grip the container.   
     
     
         20 . An accessory according to  claim 19 , wherein the gripping means includes at least one of a flexible tab, or a compressible nub. 
     
     
         21 . An accessory according to  claim 19 , comprising a plurality of feet disposed around the lower portion of the body, and wherein at least one expansion slot is located at a circumferential location on the body that is aligned with a space between the feet.