Utensil and method of manufacture thereof

Abstract

A container is provided, comprising an upper portion with a circumferential sidewall defining therewithin a liquid-containing space, a base made of a non-opaque material and being disposed below the upper portion with an inner surface defining a downwardly-facing concavity, a plug disposed within the concavity and sealingly contacting at least a portion of the inner surface, and an article distinct from the plug and disposed within the concavity such that it is encased by the plug. The article is visible through at least the plug and/or the base.

1 . A container comprising:
 an upper portion comprising a circumferential sidewall defining therewithin a liquid-containing space;   a base made of a non-opaque material, the base being disposed below said upper portion and comprising an inner surface defining a downwardly-facing concavity;   a plug made of a material having one or more optical properties substantially similar to that of the base, said plug being disposed within said concavity and sealingly contacting at least a portion of said inner surface; and   an article distinct from said plug and disposed within said concavity such that it is encased by said plug;   
       wherein said article is visible through at least said plug and/or said base. 
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base and plug are made of transparent materials, said optical properties comprising the refractive indices of the base and the plug. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base and plug are the same color. 
     
     
         5 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion and said base are formed as a unitary element. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said article is disposed within said plug. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said article at least partially contacts the inner surface of said base. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 11 , wherein said article is at least partially attached to said inner surface with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said article is completely encased within said plug. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the base and plug are made of different materials. 
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 14 , wherein the temperature required for molding said base is higher than the temperature required for molding said plug. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface thereof comprises a downwardly projecting circular ridge, defining therein a depression. 
     
     
         18 . The container according to  claim 17 , wherein said ridge is formed circumferentially on a bottom surface of said plug. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base is made of glass. 
     
     
         21 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said plug is made of polyurethane. 
     
     
         22 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said article comprises a downwardly facing barcode printed thereon. 
     
     
         23 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said article comprises an element configured to alter its appearance correspondingly to a change in temperature. 
     
     
         27 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said article comprises a power supply comprising a wireless power receiver. 
     
     
         28 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said article comprises an electronic component configured to facilitate detection by an external electronic circuit. 
     
     
         34 - 109 . (canceled)