They Invented What? (No. 13)
U.S. Pat. No.6,637,447: Beerbrella.
We claim:
1. A combined beverage container and shading apparatus, comprising: a beverage container, for containing a beverage; a means for removably attaching the apparatus to the beverage container; a shaft, coupled to the means for removably attaching the apparatus, and extending vertically with respect to the beverage container; an umbrella, coupled to the shaft at a point above the means for removably attaching, so as to shade the beverage container, wherein the means for removably attaching comprises a clip provided to attach to the beverage container by means of spring action and friction.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the umbrella comprises a small umbrella approximately five to seven inches in diameter.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the umbrella comprises a small paper-like umbrella with balsa framing.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the umbrella comprises a solid plastic umbrella.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the umbrella comprises a cloth umbrella.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a pivot joint, coupled between the shaft and the means for removably attaching; and a counterweight, coupled to the shaft, wherein the shaft extends downward from the pivot joint and the counterweight is coupled to the shaft at a location below the pivot joint such that when the beverage container is tilted, the shaft remains substantially vertical.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a pivot coupling the shaft to the umbrella to allow the umbrella to be suitably angled to shield the sun or for aesthetic purposes.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip is made of spring steel.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip is made of passtic.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip is made of formed cardboard.
Anticipate This!™ | Patent and Trademark Law Blog 
And what is the point of this thing exactly?
Apparently, to keep one’s beverage cool.
According to the Background of the Invention, “[o]ne problem with these Prior Art devices is that although they do provide insulation for beverages, they do not shield the beverage from the direct rays of the sun. A beverage left out in the sun, even if insulated or cooled with ice, quickly warms due to the effect of the intense infrared radiation from the sun, particularly on hot, sunny summer days.”
Reblogged this on Anticipate This!™ | Patent and Trademark Law Blog.