Combination cup sleeve and plug assembly

Abstract

A Combination Cup Sleeve and Plug Assembly is disclosed. Also disclosed is a combination that includes an insulating sleeve for disposable beverage containers, as well as a detachable plug for the dispensing aperture formed in the lid of the container and a lanyard interconnecting the two. The sleeve is provided in a variety of durable, aesthetically pleasing, non-disposable forms. The plug is configured to be insertible into the dispensing aperture of the cup and should be made either from semi-precious or low cost materials, depending upon the target market. The plug further has a portion for displaying trademarks and/or identifying indicia thereon. The sleeve may further include a holder for retaining the plug therein when the plug is not in use for plugging the dispensing aperture. The lanyard is a detachable member made from cord, chain or other material that interconnects the plug and the sleeve.

1 . A plug for beverage containers, comprising: 
 an elongate body defined by an upper head end and a lower tip end, a front face and a rear face and a pair of opposing side faces therebetween, said faces being separated by a greater distance adjacent to said head than adjacent to said tip; and    an attachment member associate with said body.    
   
   
       2 . The plug of  claim 1 , wherein said faces are generally planar in contour.  
   
   
       3 . The plug of  claim 2 , wherein said faces and said head and said tip meet in rounded edges.  
   
   
       4 . The plug of  claim 3 , wherein one said face of said body further has indicia displayed thereon.  
   
   
       5 . The plug of  claim 4 , wherein said indicia is engraved in said body.  
   
   
       6 . The plug of  claim 3 , wherein said head is rectangular in shape defined by four chamfered corners.  
   
   
       7 . The plug of  claim 6 , wherein said body comprises a billet of metal material.  
   
   
       8 . A sleeve and plug assembly, comprising: 
 a plug;    an insulating sleeve; and    a lanyard interconnecting said plug and said sleeve.    
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said sleeve further comprises a plug pocket associated with said sleeve.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said sleeve forms a cup chamber defined at its ends by a top sleeve opening and a bottom sleeve opening.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said sleeve is defined by an outer layer, said plug pocket attached to said outer layer.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said sleeve and said plug each further comprise attachment means for attaching said lanyard thereto.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said lanyard comprises a chain of links interconnected.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said sleeve is further defined by an inner layer, said inner layer attached to said outer layer whereby said sleeve defines walls having two-layer thickness.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said outer layer is made from burlap.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said plug is made substantially from silver.  
   
   
       17 . An accessory for beverage containers, said containers defining a cylindrical cup having a slightly tapered shape and a lip defined by a dispensing aperture, comprising: 
 a plug;    an insulating sleeve; and    a lanyard interconnecting said plug and said sleeve.    
   
   
       18 . The accessory of  claim 17 , wherein sleeve comprises a cup chamber having a top opening and a bottom opening, said cup chamber shaped to cooperate with said cup to fit thereover.  
   
   
       19 . The accessory of  claim 18 , wherein said plug is shaped to cooperate with said dispensing aperture whereby said plug is accepted partially within said dispensing aperture.  
   
   
       20 . The accessory of  claim 19 , wherein said dispensing aperture defines a generally rectangular shape having rounded corners, and said plug defines a cross section that cooperates with said aperture shape.