Cover for tumblers or other vessels.

(Application filed Oct. 8, 1901.) (No Model.)

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THE NORRIS F£T£RS CO. PHOTC-OTHO.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

United States Patent Office.

FRANK LEE JOBSON, OF RICHMOND, VIR GINTA.

COVER FOR TUMBLERS OR OTHER VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,653, dated May 20, 1902.

Application, filed October 8_f 1901. Serial No, 77_}980. (No model.)

To cM zvhom it rncvij concern:

Be it known that I, Frank Lee Jobson, of Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful 5 ImprovementinCoversforTumblers or other Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in elastic covers for tumblers, goblets, glasses, io cups, &amp;c., having means for attaching a spoon thereto.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective cover for such articles as cups, goblets, tumblers, &amp;c., such as will 15 effectually cover the same and prevent the ingress of air, odors, dust, germs, insects, &amp;c., and which at the same time serves the purpose of a spoon-holder.

To these ends my invention consists of an 20 elastic cover or cap provided with a thickened portion or ring at its base, said ring being provided with a spoon-holding jaw attachment.

It further consists in the special construe25 tion and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device applied to a tumbler. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cover or cap 30 detached from the tumbler. Fig. 3 is a crosssection of the cover or cap in its normal shape aud condition. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a tumbler with my device applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a plan view of my device 35 applied to a tumbler or cup. Fig. 6 is a view of a modification. Fig. 7 is a view of a modified form. Fig. 8 is a view of another modification.

A represents a cup or tumbler of ordinary 40 construction.

B is the cover or cap, which is made of rubber of the proper consistency, which will preferably be about that of the ordinary nursingbottle nipples, which by virtue of its elasticity 45 canbereadilymanipulated. The cover or cap B is made of a size from one-fourth to one-third less than the diameter of the vessel which is to be covered and has a downwardly-projecting or pendent curved portion A', which is 50 less in diameter than the top portion of the cap. The lower end of this downwardly-pro jecting portion is thickened or formed into an annular ring or bead A².

The object in making the cover with its pendent thickened portion of smaller diam- 55 eter relatively than the article to which it is applied is to secure an air-tight-fitting cover for the vessel, such as will exclude air, dust, odors, flavors, insects, &amp;c. The thickened portion of the cover or cap is provided at a 60 suitable point or points with an enlargement or swell C, which has in its outer face a vertical slot or opening C', preferably having rounded or beveled edges. This slot or opening communicates at its rear with a larger 65 opening D, which is approximately circular in shape, thus forming gripping-jaws C² C²; but the slot may be simply a vertical opening with straight walls in the periphery of the elastic cap, and the larger opening D may be 70 omitted, if desired.

When the cover is stretched or distended and placed on a eup or glass, the opening in the enlargement or swell forms a recess for a spoon or other article, as clearly shown in the 75 drawings. The shank of the spoon is introduced into the slot C' and is guided into the enlarged opening D, where it remains held by the elasticity and gripping action of the jaws C² C³; but if the opening should be larger 80 than the shank of the spoon the spoon will drop downwardly until the handle of same rests upon the top of the enlargement C and its jaws C³ C³, where it will rest securely.

It is a common practice in sick-rooms, hos- 85 pitals, &amp;c., to place medicines, custards, water, &amp;c., in cups or glasses and coverthem with a napkin or a piece of paper; but as such an arrangement does not exclude air, &amp;c., aud as the atmosphere in such places is 90 more or less tainted it will be readily understood that my device provides an effectual means whereby the deleterious effects of exposure to such injurious influences are obviated and prevented. It is also a common prac- 95 tice to put cups or glasses containing liquids, foods, &amp;c., in refrigerators in the same compartment with meats and vegetables, which may become tainted, and thus injuriously affect the contents of said cups or glasses. My 100 invention, it will be noted, will effectually prevent this.

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Another use to which my invention may be put is at soda-fountains where soda-water is sold and is to be carried to people at a considerable distance. With my device applied 5 to the top of glass containing soda-water the glass and its contents may be carried to a considerable distance and yet retain the gases which the soda-water usually contains, and a spoon to stir the contents or remove the io same maybe held in slot of the elastic cover.

The enlargement or swell having the opening and jaws which receive the spoon makes my device a particularly desirable adjunct to the sick-room, as the medicine and means for 15 administering the same are at all times conveniently at hand.

I do not confine the application of my device to any particular receptacle nor to any particular shape.

My device makes a perfectly air-tight covering and one that is cheap and easily attached or detached. It may be used as a cover for jars, cups, jelly-glasses, and various other articles, and the thickened edge which 25 has the enlargement or swell wherein the spoon is held forms a convenient means for attaching and detaching the same.

If desired, the cover may be made with its side walls of sufficient thickness from top to 30 bottom to have the slots or openings cut therein, as shown in Fig. 6. The thickened portion instead of being located at the lower edge of the cover may be made at the upper edge of the cover in the form of a horizontally-pro35 jecting flange, as shown in Fig. 7, or the flange may project from the side wall between its top and bottom, as shown in Fig. 8.