Weight-Stabilized Beverage Container Flotation Device and Kit

Abstract

A floatation device for a beverage container is configured to have a displacement with a floatation buoyancy sufficient to float the floatation device both empty and while holding the beverage container, whether empty or filled. The floatation device may have a cup-shaped body, a buoyant member (either permanently attached or removably attachable to the cup-shaped body), and a weighting member, with a center of gravity of the floatation device being below a middle point between a base and a top portion of the floatation device. A kit may be provided with one or more cup-shaped bodies and one or more buoyant members to provide user selectability in view use with a container selected from a group of differently-sized containers.

1 . A floatation device for a beverage container comprising:
 a cup-shaped body for receiving the beverage container therein, the cup-shaped body having a base and a generally annular side wall having a bottom portion contacting the base;   a weighting member located substantially at the base;   a buoyant member shaped generally annular and removably attachable to the cup-shaped body spaced from the base, the cup-shaped body and the buoyant member defining a volume within the side wall between the base and a point substantially along a top portion of an inner wall of the buoyant member; and   the cup-shaped body, the buoyant member, and the weighting member being collectively configured so as to have a displacement with a floatation buoyancy greater than a weight of water within the volume plus the weight of the cup-shaped body, the buoyant member, and the weighting member.   
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein a weight of the weighting member is about 1.0 pound. 
     
     
         5 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the floatation buoyancy is at least about 2.0 pounds. 
     
     
         6 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the displacement while floating with the beverage container within the volume is at least about 60 in 3 . 
     
     
         7 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein a center of gravity of the floatation device is below a middle point between the base and the top portion. 
     
     
         12 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 1 , further including a snap-fit fastening assembly for attaching the buoyant member to the cup-shaped body. 
     
     
         15 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 14 , wherein the snap-fit fastening assembly includes interlocking tab members on the buoyant member and the cup-shaped body. 
     
     
         16 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 1 , further including a threaded fastening assembly for attaching the buoyant member to the cup-shaped body. 
     
     
         17 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 16 , wherein the threaded fastening assembly includes mating thread members on the buoyant member and the cup-shaped body. 
     
     
         18 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein an interior surface of the buoyant member is configured for receipt of the beverage container. 
     
     
         19 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 18 , wherein the interior surface includes at least one radially-inwardly extending protrusion for gripping the container. 
     
     
         24 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the cup-shaped body has a bottom support surface configured so that the floatation device can be placed on a surface without toppling. 
     
     
         25 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A floatation device for a beverage container comprising:
 a cup-shaped body for receiving the beverage container therein, the cup-shaped body having a base and a generally annular side wall having a bottom portion contacting the base, a top portion spaced from the base, and a side portion between the bottom portion and the top portion, the cup-shaped body defining a volume within the side wall between the base and the top portion;   a weighting member located substantially at the base;   a buoyant member located substantially along the top portion; and   the cup-shaped body, the buoyant member, and the weighting member being collectively configured so as to have a displacement with a floatation buoyancy greater than a weight of water within the volume plus the weight of the cup-shaped body, the buoyant member, and the weighting member.   
     
     
         35 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 34 , wherein a weight of the weighting member is about 1.0 pound. 
     
     
         38 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 34 , wherein the floatation buoyancy is at least about 2.0 pounds. 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 34 , wherein the displacement while floating with the beverage container within the volume is at least about 60 in 3 . 
     
     
         41 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 34 , wherein the displacement while floating with the beverage container within the volume is at least about 80 in 3 . 
     
     
         42 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The floatation device for a beverage container of  claim 34 , wherein a center of gravity of the floatation device is below a middle point between the base and the top portion. 
     
     
         45 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A floatation device for a beverage container comprising:
 a cup-shaped body for receiving the beverage container therein, the cup-shaped body having a base and a generally annular side wall having a bottom portion contacting the base, a top portion spaced from the base, and a side portion between the bottom portion and the top portion, the cup-shaped body defining a volume within the side wall between the base and the top portion;   a weighting member located substantially at the base;   a buoyant member located substantially along the top portion; and   the cup-shaped body, the buoyant member, and the weighting member being collectively configured so that a center of gravity of the floatation device is below a middle point between the base and the top portion.   
     
     
         49 - 50 . (canceled)