Drinking vessels with indicator sleeves

Abstract

A drinking vessel includes one or more self-retaining indicator sleeves, each including a detenting mechanism for positioning a window in the sleeve relative to a number, symbol, or picture to be viewed through the window, the detenting mechanism also serving to retain the sleeve on the drinking vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drinking vessel, comprising:
 a main body, configured to hold a substance for consumption by the user;   a series of numbers, symbols or pictures that extend at least partially around a circumference of the main body;   at least one sleeve rotatably mounted on the main body, the sleeve having a window through which at least one but less than all of the numbers, symbols or pictures is visible at a time; and   a detenting mechanism that includes a plurality of tines and a corresponding number of notches to enable rotation of the at least one sleeve in at least one direction, and that maintain the window in a stationary position relative to one of the numbers, symbols or pictures by cooperation between respective tines and corresponding notches until force is applied by the user to rotate the sleeve, and   wherein rotation of the sleeve relative to the main body causes the sleeve to move from one number, symbol, or picture to another number, symbol, or picture.   
     
     
         2 . A drinking vessel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is retained on the main body by engagement between bottom edges of the tines and an upper surface of a rim or an upwardly facing wall extending around the main body. 
     
     
         3 . A drinking vessel as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the tines extend downwardly and inwardly from an inner surface of the at least one sleeve and the notches extend circumferentially around an outer surface of the main body. 
     
     
         4 . A drinking vessel as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the notches are symmetrically shaped with respect to a circumference of the drinking vessel to enable both clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . A drinking vessel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tines extend downwardly and inwardly from an inner surface of the at least one sleeve and the notches extend circumferentially around an outer surface of the main body. 
     
     
         6 . A drinking vessel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the notches are symmetrically shaped with respect to a circumference of the drinking vessel to enable both clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . A drinking vessel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the drinking vessel is a sippy cup. 
     
     
         8 . A drinking vessel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the drinking vessel is a water bottle. 
     
     
         9 . A drinking vessel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a number of sleeves rotatably mounted on the main body is at least two. 
     
     
         10 . A drinking vessel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the number of sleeves rotatably mounted on the main body is three.