Beverage Container Identification

Abstract

A container identification system for a container with a neck. There is a ring, wherein each ring encircles the neck. There are a series of identifying indicia on at least one of a ring and the neck. The ring is rotatable about the neck, to align a particular portion of the ring with an identifying indicium of the series of identifying indicia. Alternatively, each container can be uniquely marked in another manner, such as by applying a unique sticker to each container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container identification system for a container with a neck, comprising:
 at least one ring, wherein each ring encircles the neck; and   at least one series of identifying indicia on at least one of a ring and the neck;   wherein a ring is rotatable about the neck, to align a particular portion of the ring with an identifying indicium of a series of identifying indicia.   
     
     
         2 . The container identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the series of identifying indicia comprises at least one of letters and numbers. 
     
     
         3 . The container identification system of  claim 1 , wherein a ring has a window that can be located over an indicium. 
     
     
         4 . The container identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying indicia are located on the container neck. 
     
     
         5 . The container identification system of  claim 1 , comprising two separate rings. 
     
     
         6 . The container identification system of  claim 5 , wherein both rings are rotatable. 
     
     
         7 . The container identification system of  claim 5 , wherein one ring carries indicia and the other ring carries a pointer or other position indicator. 
     
     
         8 . The container identification system of  claim 5 , wherein both rings have a window, and there are two separate series of identifying indicia. 
     
     
         9 . The container identification system of  claim 8 , wherein each series of identifying indicia is located directly under a ring. 
     
     
         10 . A method of identifying the containers in a group of containers, where the containers have removable caps, comprising:
 a group comprising a plurality of separate identifying indicia, each indicium of the group unique from the other indicia of the group;   wherein one indicium is applied to one container, to uniquely identify the container among the group.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the indicia comprise stickers. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each sticker carries a graphic that is different than any other graphic carried by any other sticker of the group. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein one sticker of a group of stickers is applied to each container. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the stickers are applied to the cap assemblies. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the indicia comprise a color of the caps. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the caps are each part of a cap assembly that includes a cap and a ring, wherein the ring remains on the container when the cap is removed, and wherein the caps and associated rings of each cap assembly are the same color, so that the color remains on the container even after the cap has been removed from the container. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the indicia comprise printed graphics. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each graphic is different than any other graphic of the group. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein one graphic of a group of graphics is applied to each container. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the graphics are applied to the cap assemblies.