Personally identifiable container and device

Abstract

A personally identifiable container and device is provided to help avoid confusion over beverage container identity. The identifying devices include various types of indicia including blank surface, color- and number-coded, user-selectable and user-customizable iterations in the forms of production and aftermarket container caps, production and aftermarket labels, and container stickers that a manufacturer can build into its products or a user can purchase and apply it to his/her container. User-selectable iterations involve letters, numbers, colors or other indicia which the user can mark to identify a container. User-customizable iterations include surface-malleable containers, container caps, labels, (rings and dials)) and stickers into which a user can scratch or otherwise imprint his/her name and/or specific indicia. Another embodiment allows users to burst dye packets within a container cap or label to mix a custom and identifying color combination.

1 . A personally identifiable container comprising: 
 a) a container; and    b) a personal identification device attached to the container, the personal identification device including means for manipulation,    whereby a user of the container can manipulate the personal identification device such that the personal identification device identifies that particular container as belonging to the user.    
   
   
       2 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 1 , wherein the personal identification device is a container cap.  
   
   
       3 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 2 , wherein the means for manipulation is one or more rotatable rings connected to the container cap, the one or more rotatable rings containing indicia on the outer surface thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 3 , wherein the container cap has one or more identification alignment marks on the outer surface thereof, whereby to allow a user to personally identify a container, a user can rotate the one or more rotatable rings to align the one or more identification alignment marks with indicia located on the outer surface of the one or more rotatable rings.  
   
   
       5 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 3 , wherein the container has one or more identification alignment marks on the outer surface thereof, whereby to allow a user to personally identify a container, the user can rotate the one or more rotating rings to align the one or more identification alignment marks with indicia located on the outer surface of the one or more rotatable rings.  
   
   
       6 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 2 , wherein the container cap has a semi-malleable surface embedded within its top surface for allowing a user to scratch identifying marks therein.  
   
   
       7 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 1 , wherein the personal identification device is a sticker, where the sticker comprises an outer surface upon with the means for manipulation is located, and an inner surface which contains an adhesive surface which will adhere to the section of the container upon which the sticker is intended to be affixed.  
   
   
       8 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 7 , wherein the means for manipulation is a semi-malleable surface residing on the outer surface of the sticker for allowing a user to scratch identifying marks therein.  
   
   
       9 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 7 , wherein the means for manipulation is a semi-malleable surface embedded within the top surface of the sticker for allowing a user to scratch identifying marks therein.  
   
   
       10 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 7 , wherein the means for manipulation comprises: 
 a) an enclosed capsule with a sticky portion on one side for the purpose of allowing the sticker to be adhered to the container, and a clear surface on the other side for the purpose of allowing a person to look into the capsule; and    b) one or more dye packets containing one or more colors located within the capsule,    whereby the one or more dye packets can be burst by a user by putting pressure on the one or more dye packets, wherein the dye packet will burst and mix with the surrounding fluid, thereby coloring the capsule in a certain and unique color designated by the user.    
   
   
       11 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 7 , wherein the container additionally comprises a surface area which contains a recess, which consists of a section of the surface area which lies below the rest of the surface area, and is bounded by one or more sides, which connect the rest of the surface area to a bottom of the recess, wherein the sticker is adhered to the bottom of the recess.  
   
   
       12 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 11 , wherein the sticker is applied directly to the bottom of the recess through painting, spraying or other means of applying the sticker directly to the bottom of the recess.  
   
   
       13 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more sides of the recess contain two or more protrusions which extend out from the sides of the recess away from the sides of the recess, and wherein the sticker is manufactured of plastic or some other suitable material with a thickness and suppleness sufficient to cause it to “snap” under the protrusions when a user pushes the sticker onto to the bottom of the recess.  
   
   
       14 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 7 , wherein the recess is located on one or more locations selected from the container portion, the side of the container cap, and the top of the container cap.  
   
   
       15 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 1 , wherein the personal identification device is a promotional label which can be affixed to the container and has means by which a user can selectively tear off or peel off indicia to identify that particular container as his or hers.  
   
   
       16 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 1 , wherein the personal identification device is a label which is painted, sprayed, or adhered to the surface of the container by another more or less permanent means, and the label additionally comprises a semi-malleable surface attached to the top surface of the label for allowing a user to scratch identifying marks therein.  
   
   
       17 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 16 , wherein the container additionally comprises a surface area which contains a recess, which consists of a section of the surface area which lies below the rest of the surface area, and is bounded by one or more sides, which connect the rest of the surface area to a bottom of the recess, wherein the label is applied to the bottom of the recess.  
   
   
       18 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 1 , wherein the personal identification device is an indicia field having a combination of numbers, letters, or other symbols that can be used for identification purposes on the outer surface thereon.  
   
   
       19 . The personally identifiable container of  claim 19 , wherein the means for manipulation is a rotatable tab having at least one identification arrow on the top surface thereof whereby to allow a user to personally identify a container, the user can rotate the rotatable tab to align the at least one identification arrow with indicia located on the outer surface of the indicia field.  
   
   
       20 . A personal identification device for attachment to a container comprising: 
 a) a cap having means for engaging a container located on the inner surface thereof, the cap containing at least one identification arrow on the outer surface thereof; and    b) one or more rotating rings connected to the cap, the one or more rotatable rings containing indicia on the outer surface thereof,    whereby to allow a user to personally identify a container having the cap placed thereon, the user can rotate the one or more rotatable rings to align the at least one identification arrow with indicia located on the outer surface of the one or more rotatable rings.    
   
   
       21 . The personal identification device for attachment to a container of  claim 20 , wherein the means for engaging a container is a plurality of threads.  
   
   
       22 . A personal identification device for attachment to a container comprising: 
 a) an enclosed capsule with a sticky portion on one side for the purpose of allowing the device to be adhered to a container and a clear surface on the other side for the purpose of allowing a person to look into the enclosed container; and    b) one or more dye packets containing one or more colors located within the enclosed capsule    whereby the one or more dye packets can be burst by a user by putting pressure on the one or more dye packets, wherein the one or more dye packets will burst and mix with the surrounding fluid, thereby coloring the enclosed container in a certain and unique color designated by the user.    
   
   
       24 . The personal identification device of claim  23 , wherein the enclosed container further comprises one or more sparkle packets, wherein the one or more sparkle packets can be burst by the user to add additional personalization to the enclosed container.  
   
   
       25 . A method for making a personally identifiable container comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a container;    b) providing a personally identifiable device for attachment to the container, the personal identification device including means for manipulation; and    c) attaching the personally identifiable device to the container,    whereby a user of the container can manipulate the personally identifiable device such that the personally identifiable device identifies that particular container as belonging to the user.    
   
   
       26 . The method for making personally identifiable containers of  claim 25 , wherein the personal identifying device is selected from the group of personal identifying devices consisting of a sticker, label, dye packet, container cap, a dial and a ring.  
   
   
       27 . The method for making personally identifiable containers of  claim 25 , wherein the container additionally comprises a recessed portion, and the personally identifiable device is attached to the recessed portion of the container.