Method and System of Alignment of Nucleation Points to Carbonated Beverage Vessel Features

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The present invention relates generally to drinking vessels for carbonated beverages. More specifically, the present invention is a system and method that aligns the nucleation points with external features of the beverage vessel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]Nucleation points are surface features on the inside of the vessel such as a glass, cup, flute, or bottle (that is physically in contact with a carbonated beverage) that create points in which bubbles form when a carbonated beverage is open to the atmosphere. There are many products on creation of artificial nucleation points on the inside just for bubble formation and range from methods of scratching the inside surface, laser etching, applying glaze or stickers, but none of these patents or any drinking container in existence aligns nucleation points with other features of the glass. By aligning the nucleation points with outside features, a person holding the glass can view a scene or feature as if the bubbles were part of other features of the glass such as outside art, other outside etchings, etc.

[0003]An objective of the present invention is to provide users with process and system in which nucleation points on the inside of the glass can be precisely aligned with other glass features such as surface etchings. The present invention intends to provide users with a system and method that can work in tandem with existing methods of manually or mechanically creating nucleation points. In order to accomplish that, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises at least one lasers, a plurality of fixed mirrors, a translating carriage that couples multiple focusing lenses, a carriage track, and a rotating fixture. Thus, the present invention is a method and system of alignment of nucleation points to carbonated beverage vessel features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention.

[0006]FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 4 is an illustration of the preferred system of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 5 is an illustration of the alternative system of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 6 is an illustration of the preferred system of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 7 is an illustration of the alternative system of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 8 is an illustration of the alternative system of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 9 is an illustration of an example vessel feature and aligned nucleation point for the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013]All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0014]In reference to FIG. 1-9, the present invention is a process and system that allow consumers of carbonated beverages to not only to enjoy the bubbles as they add to the flavor, but to also experience the awe and wonder of the bubbles appearing as if they are part of design or artwork on the beverage container itself. The present invention seeks to provide users with a system and method that creates nucleation points that align with other features along the outside of a beverage vessel 6 to create moving, or kinetic scenes. In order to accomplish this the present invention comprises at least one laser 1 which creates the etching along the outside of the vessel and the nucleation points along the inside of the vessel. Further, the plurality of fixed mirrors 2 directs the laser beam 7 from the lasers onto the outer surface 62 of the vessel and the inner surface 61 of the vessel. Additionally, the at least one translating carriage 3 and the at least one carriage track 4 enables the nucleation point along the vessel to be adjusted along the length of the glass. Further, the rotating fixture 5 enables the vessel to be rotated to a desired position when creating the features along the outer surface 62 of the vessel or the nucleation point along the inside of the vessel. Thus, the present invention is a method and system of alignment of nucleation points to carbonated beverage vessel 6 features.

[0015]As shown in FIG. 1-9, the present invention is a method and system of alignment of nucleation points to carbonated beverage vessel 6 features. An objective of the present invention is to provide users with methods and systems that create artificial nucleation points on the inside of a vessel for bubble formation that aligns with beverage vessel 6 features along the outside of the vessel. To accomplish this the present invention comprises at least one laser 1, a plurality of fixed mirrors 2, at least one translating carriage 3, at least one carriage track 4, and a rotating fixture 5. Many of these components allow for a beverage vessel 6 to be etched along the inside and outer surface 62, ensuring a nucleation point matches a feature along the outer surface 62. Each of the plurality of fixed mirrors 2 comprises a first mirror set 21 and a second mirror set 22. The at least one translating carriage 3 comprises a plurality of focus lenses 31 and a plurality of carriage mirrors 32. The at least one laser 1 is positioned offset the plurality of fixed mirrors 2 and projects a laser beam 7 onto each of the plurality of mirrors. The at least one translating carriage 3 is positioned offset the plurality of fixed mirrors 2 in a location that the at least one translating carriage 3 receives the laser beam 7 as it bounces off each of the plurality of fixed mirrors 2. The at least one translating carriage 3 is mechanically coupled to the at least one carriage track 4, enabling axial movement. The rotating fixture 5 is positioned offset below the at least one translating carriage 3 and secures the beverage vessel 6 in place as a laser beam 7 is focused within the at least one translating carriage 3 and hits the beverage vessel 6. Thus, the present invention is a method and system of alignment of nucleation points to carbonated beverage vessel 6 features.

[0016]The present invention may project a laser beam 7 with the at least one laser 1 as seen in FIG. 1. The at least one laser 1 is a CO2 laser that projects a laser beam 7 in a desired direction towards the plurality of fixed mirrors 2. The at least one laser 1 further comprises a external etching laser 11 and a internal etching laser 12 wherein the external etching laser 11 is positioned adjacent and above the internal etching laser 12. The dual laser system enables a first laser beam 7 to etch a design along the outer surface 62 of the beverage vessel 6 wherein a second laser beam 7 etches a nucleation point along the inner surface 61 of the beverage vessel 6, perfectly aligned with the design along the outer surface 62 of the beverage vessel 6. In an alternative embodiment the at least one laser 1 is a fiber laser or other similar laser with enough power to etch the surface of a beverage vessel 6. In yet a further embodiment, the present invention may utilize an etching material to create the etching and nucleation point along the inner and outer surface 62 of the beverage vessel 6. It should be further noted that, the at least one laser 1 can be created in various shapes and sizes and utilize various types of lasers while still staying within the scope of the present invention.

[0017]The plurality of fixed mirrors 2 receives and redirects the laser beam 7 produced by the at least one laser 1 as seen in FIG. 4. The plurality of fixed mirrors 2 is positioned offset the at least one laser 1 and the at least one translating carriage 3. In its preferred embodiment the plurality of fixed mirrors 2 comprises a first mirror set 21, and a second mirror set 22. The first mirror set 21 is a mirror positioned at a 45-degree angle wherein the first mirror set 21 receives the laser beam 7 from the at least one laser 1 and redirects the laser beam 7 at a 90-degree angle towards the second mirror set 22. The second mirror set 22 is a mirror positioned at a 45-degree angle. The second mirror set 22 receives and redirects the laser beam 7 at a 90-degree angle towards the at least one translating carriage 3.

[0018]The at least one translating carriage 3 is positioned offset the plurality of fixed mirrors 2 and is designed to receive the laser beam 7 redirected from the second mirror set 22 as seen in FIG. 4. The at least one translating carriage 3 further comprises a plurality of focus lenses 31 and a plurality of carriage mirrors 32. The plurality of carriage mirrors 32 further redirects the laser beam 7 within the at least one translating carriage 3, towards the beverage vessel 6. The plurality of carriage mirrors 32 further comprises an outer carriage mirror 321 and a plurality of inner carriage mirrors 322. The outer carriage mirror 321 is positioned along an end of the at least one translating carriage 3 and redirects the laser beam 7 at a 90 degree towards the beverage vessel 6. The plurality of inner carriage mirrors 322 further comprises a lower mirror, an upper mirror, and an internal mirror. The upper mirror is positioned along the top of the at least one translating carriage 3, at a height lower than the outer carriage mirror 321, enabling the upper mirror to receive the internal etching laser 12 beam and redirect the internal etching laser 12 beam downwards at a 90-degree angle. The internal etching laser 12 beam is then received by the lower mirror which redirects the lower laser beam 7 at a 90-degree angle into the beverage vessel 6 wherein the lower laser beam 7 is received and redirected at a 90-degree angle onto the inner surface 61 of the beverage vessel 6 by the internal mirror. The plurality of carriage mirrors 32 is designed to ensure the top and internal etching laser 12 beams are properly aligned to ensure the etched feature on the outer surface 62 of the beverage vessel 6 matches the nucleation point created along the inner surface 61 of the beverage vessel 6. The plurality of focus lenses 31 receives the laser beams 7 and focuses the laser beam 7 to a small point, enabling the laser beams 7 to etch the surface of the beverage vessel 6. The plurality of focus lenses 31 further comprises an outer focus lens 311 and an inner focus lens 312. The outer focus lens 311 is positioned below the outer carriage mirror 321 and receives the external etching laser 11 beam focusing the external etching laser 11 beam onto the outer surface 62 of the beverage vessel 6. The inner focus lens 312 is positioned offset the internal mirror and receives the internal etching laser 12 beam, focusing it onto the inner surface 61 of the beverage vessel 6.

[0019]The at least one translating carriage 3 is mechanically coupled to the at least one carriage track 4 as seen in FIG. 2. The at least one carriage track 4 receives the at least one translating carriage 3. The at least one carriage moves laterally along the at least one carriage track 4 which enables the at least one translating carriage 3 to move into various positions around the beverage vessel 6. This design ensures the at least one translating carriage 3 can move to a point along the beverage vessel 6 where the desired alignment of the nucleation point and the etched design is required. The rotating fixture 5 is positioned below the at least one carriage track 4. The rotating fixture 5 is a fastener. The rotating fixture 5 secures the beverage vessel 6 is a desired position as the laser beams 7 etch the outer surface 62 and create a nucleation point along the inner surface 61 of the beverage vessel 6. The rotating fixture 5 rotates the beverage vessel 6 about a central axis 63 of the beverage vessel 6, adjusting the nucleation point and aligned etched outer surface 62.

[0020]The method of alignment of nucleation points to carbonated beverage vessel 6 features begins with securing a beverage vessel 6 with a rotating fixture 5. Next the leaser beam is projected with at least one laser 1. Afterwards the laser beam 7 is projected onto a plurality of fixed mirrors 2. Then the laser beam 7 is reflected into at least one translating carriage 3. Wherein a nucleation point is etched along an inner surface 61 of the beverage vessel 6. Finally, a design is etched along an outer surface 62 of the beverage vessel 6. Furthermore, the beverage vessel 6 rotates within the rotating fixture 5. Furthermore, the at least one translating carriage 3 adjusts laterally along the at least one carriage track 4.

[0021]In an alternative embodiment the present invention may utilize a temporary film, in this instance, a dark colored soluble paint, to coat a section of the inside of the beverage vessel 6 in which nucleation points are desired. The film can be applied before or after the next process. Next, the beverage vessel 6 is placed in a CO2 or Ultra Violet (UV) Laser engraver and a surface pattern etched on the outside of the glass. Alternatively, outside features such as paintings, stickers, colors, or glazing can be also applied to the surface in addition or in lieu of surface etching. Next, the glass is placed under a fiber laser where a positioning laser can be used to align the etch point with a desired nucleation site. The fiber laser is then used to mark the nucleation site in a small, controlled manner, shooting through the outside-etched glass and heating the interior film, which burns away and etches into the glass surface, creating a nucleation point aligned with the outside feature. In another alternative embodiment of utilizing a fiber laser to achieve the same result is to use a sacrificial material such as a metal like aluminum or steel inside that has a curvature that allows it to be in contact with the surface of the glass. Upon laser impact, the surface of the metal will burn and create an etch and resulting nucleation point on the inside surface of the glass in the desired location. In addition to manually using a positioning laser to align the proposed nucleation site, the sites can be aligned by positioning of the glass or by using computer vision in lieu of manual optical alignment. In addition to laser etching of the glass, other methods such as tool etching, glazing, adhesives, or glass particles can be placed on the inside using manual optical alignment or computerized processes to align the resulting nucleation points with outside features. One additional novel method that was used to create interior nucleation points was a heated metal tool, in this case a sharpened tungsten carbide rod that was pressed into the glass, creating a local nucleation point. Metal tools can be heated by the use of a small inductive heating coil around the tool to generate localized heat that heats the tool above the melting temperature of the glass without melting the glass vessel. In an additional alternative embodiment, a singular laser and laser beam 7 may be utilized. Within this system, the translating carriage 3 utilizes a rotating inner carriage mirror wherein the rotating inner carriage mirror is level on height with the outer carriage mirror 321. The rotating inner carriage mirror flips up as needed to redirect the laser beam 7 at a 90 degree angle to switch between creating an etch along the outer surface 62 of the beverage vessel 6 and a nucleation point along the inner surface 61 of the beverage vessel 6. The resultant effect of these processes process is the creation of nucleation points that align with other features of the vessel to create moving, or kinetic scenes that can range from simple shapes to scenes. Some additional examples of these may be but are not limited to: Two fish are etched on the outside surface of the vessel. Nucleation points are placed where the lips meet on the inside of the glass. When filled with a carbonated beverage, the fish kissing appears to have bubbles emanating from the point where the lips are touching; A child blowing into a bubble wand is etched on the outside surface of the vessel. Nucleation points are placed on the inside surface where the wand is. When filled with a carbonated beverage, the child appears to be blowing actual bubbles which rise inside of the glass; Dolphins or other fish can be etched, with bubbles emanating from their blow holes or gills/mouths respectively; Champagne flutes are pictured clinking together in a toast, with bubbles appearing to rise from the surface of the liquid. With all the components working in tandem with each other it can be seen that the present invention is a method and system of alignment of nucleation points to carbonated beverage vessel 6 features.

[0022]Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.