Container sleeve with connection interface for attaching three-dimensional elements and method of making and using the same

Abstract

The invention provides for a sleeve for a container, e.g., a food or beverage container, which includes a sleeve body sized to receive therein a portion of the container. Plural connection elements are arranged on an outer surface of the sleeve body. At least one three-dimensional element is removably connectable to the sleeve body via at least one of the plural connection elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sleeve for a food or beverage container comprising:
 a sleeve body sized and contained to receive therein a portion of a container;   plural connection elements arranged on an outer surface of the sleeve body; and   at least one three-dimensional element being removably connectable to the sleeve body via at least one of the plural connection elements.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the container is one of:
 a cup;   a can;   a drink vessel;   a mug; and   a conventionally know container that can contain an edible drinking substance.   
     
     
         3 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the container is one of:
 a food bowl;   a soup bowl;   a cereal bowl; and   a conventionally know container that can contain an edible eating substance.   
     
     
         4 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one three-dimensional element is attachable via a snap connection. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one three-dimensional element is one of:
 a decorative element;   a toy element;   an object resembling a portion of a man-made structure; and   an object resembling a portion of a living thing.   
     
     
         6 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one three-dimensional element is one of:
 a letter;   a number;   an inanimate object;   an object resembling an inanimate object.   
     
     
         7 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one three-dimensional element is one of:
 a head of an animal;   a face of an animal;   a body of an animal;   a portion of an animal.   
     
     
         8 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the plural connection elements comprise one of:
 snap connectors;   generally equally spaced projections;   generally circular projections;   generally polygonal projections;   projections insertable into openings; and   recesses receiving projections.   
     
     
         9 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve body comprises open upper and lower ends. 
     
     
         10 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve body comprises open upper and lower ends and the lower end is smaller in diameter than the upper end. 
     
     
         11 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve body comprises an open upper end and a closed lower end. 
     
     
         12 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve body is structured and arranged to be removably mounted onto a container. 
     
     
         13 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve body is structured and arranged to be non-removably mounted onto a container. 
     
     
         14 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve body comprises a generally flexible one-piece member. 
     
     
         15 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve body comprises one of:
 a synthetic resin material; and   a silicone material.   
     
     
         16 . A container comprising:
 a container sized to contain therein an edible substance; and   the sleeve of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         17 . A method of decorating the container of  claim 16 , the method comprising:
 attaching at least one three-dimensional element to the sleeve body.   
     
     
         18 . A method of decorating a container, the method comprising:
 removably attaching at least one three-dimensional element to a sleeve body arranged on the container via at least one of a plural connection elements.   
     
     
         19 . A container comprising:
 a container body;   plural connection elements arranged on an outer surface of the container body.   
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one of:
 at least one three-dimensional element having at least one complementary connection element;   the outer surface comprises a silicone material; and   the plural connection elements are generally equally spaced projections.