Universal beverage container cover

Abstract

A universal cover for covering all types of beverage containers and an associated carrying case is disclosed. When placed over any beverage container, the universal cover disclosed uses decorative weights made with acrylic plastic gems, crystals or metal, to keep the cover secured in place as well as for keeping it well stretched and snugly placed over the rim of beverage container. The universal cover also includes a central opening for inserting a straw or a sipping device there-through. The universal beverage cover offers the functionality of creating a cover for containers where typically no lid or cover typically exists as is the case for non-portable beverage containers such as wine glasses, beer or juice mugs, and other crystal-ware used at a restaurant, banquet hall, or another indoor setting. The universal cover disclosed provides a level of protection against pathogens and other contaminants while maintaining the necessary decor and formality of the setting. Embodiments of the invention provide the additional functionality of maintaining beverage temperature for longer periods. The universal cover can be made with fabrics, or faux leather or vinyl type fabric for based on the degree of insulation or durability desired.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A universal cover for a container comprising:
 a covering component having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a boundary wherein the lower surface is adapted for placement over a mouth of the container, and the upper and the lower surface connect to each other at the boundary;   a plurality of symmetrically placed hoops along the boundary such that a distance measured along the boundary between any hoop and its neighbors is substantially equal;   a plurality of weight components with each weight component having a weight measure wherein the weight measure for each of the plurality of weights is substantially equal, where each of the weight component further includes a hook adapted for insertion into the any of the plurality of hoops.   
     
     
         2 . A universal cover of  claim 1  wherein the covering component has a shape where the shape is that of a square having four vertexes and four hoops where placement of each of the hoops coincides with each of the vertex. 
     
     
         3 . A universal cover of  claim 1  wherein the covering component has a shape selected from a group consisting of a star, a circle, pentagon, a hexagon, or an arbitrarily shaped mascot. 
     
     
         4 . A universal cover of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of weights are detachably attached to the plurality of hoops. 
     
     
         5 . A universal cover of  claim 1  further comprising
 a message, including but not limited to a text or an image, inscribed on the upper surface of the covering component. 
 
     
     
         6 . A universal cover of  claim 1  wherein the covering component includes an opening adapted to allow an insertion of a straw or another sipping device to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . A universal cover of  claim 6  wherein the opening further includes gripping tabs adapted to prevent the straw or another sipping device from moving around in the opening. 
     
     
         8 . A universal cover of  claim 1  where the covering component is selected from a group consisting of fabric, faux leather, and vinyl. 
     
     
         9 . A universal cover of  claim 1  where the plurality of weight components are made with plastic gem weights, crystal beads and metallic beads. 
     
     
         10 . A universal cover of  claim 9  where the plurality of weight components use hard acrylic type plastic beads. 
     
     
         11 . A universal cover of  claim 9  where the plurality of weight components are replaced by stretchable bands. 
     
     
         12 . A pouch adapted to accommodate a universal beverage cover of  claim 1  comprising
 an upper surface bounded by upper surface edges wherein the upper surface edges contains an upper edge opening; 
 a lower surface bounded by lower surface edges wherein the lower surface edges contains an lower edge opening; and wherein 
 the upper surface and the lower surface are fixedly attached to each other along the upper surface edges and the lower surface edges except no attachment exists between the upper surface and the lower surface along the upper edge opening and the lower edge opening. 
 
     
     
         13 . A pouch of  claim 12  further comprising
 an upper surface conduit included within the upper surface; 
 a lower surface conduit included within the lower surface; and 
 a drawstring passing through the upper surface conduit and through the lower surface conduit.