DRINKWARE HOLDER
A holder for drinkware, the drinkware having at least a bowl and a foot, is described. In a first embodiment, the holder comprises a wall, the wall having a top end and a bottom end, a cap on the bottom end, and a cap on the top end, the wall and the caps each having at least one perforation. In another embodiment, the holder comprises a frame forming a wall, the frame comprising a plurality of fingers, the wall forming a space, the fingers each having a top end and a bottom end, a base component comprising a base wall forming an opening and a plurality of spokes extending radially into the opening, the base component configured to hold the bottom ends of the fingers; and a top component comprising a plurality of arms extending radially outward from an axial element, an aperture in the axial element and a slit through the axial element to the aperture, the arms comprising bores at their distal tips opposite the axial element, each of the bores configured to hold the top end of a one of the fingers.
This invention relates to a holder for drinkware. The invention relates in particular to a holder for stemware, and more particularly to a holder for glass stemware. The invention will be described as used for glass stemware. The invention is not limited thereby, however, but can also be used for standard drinkware such as beakers, steins, cups, mugs, and similar drinkware, as well as for specialized drinkware, including, for example, ochokos. Additionally, the invention can be used for drinkware made of other materials, such as other ceramics, metals, or plastics.
A representative item of stemware 20 is shown in
The use of dishwashing machines presents a tremendous reduction in the time and effort required for kitchen clean up. Dishwashing machines also contribute to public health by sterilizing dishes, cookware, utensils, and drinkware. The use of spot-free detergent additives, such as nonionic surfactants, makes the use of a dishwashing machine particularly desirable for stemware. Because of the elongated shape of most stemware, however, standard dishwashing racks do not have the appropriate holders for stemware. It is difficult, then, to secure stemware at the proper angle within a dishwashing machine for effective cleaning and rinsing. Inadvertent movement of stemware within a dishwashing machine can lead to inadequate cleaning and to breakage. The somewhat fragile nature of some stemware, especially some fine crystal stemware, also leads to chipping and breakage during the process of placing the stemware in the dishwashing machine or during removal from the dishwashing machine.
The somewhat fragile nature of some stemware also requires great care in storing or transporting it. Items of stemware are commonly wrapped individually for storage or transportation, a labor-intensive and time-consuming process.
Holders have been developed in the art to hold stemware securely within a dishwashing machine. One type of device, as described in, for example, United States Published Patent Application No. 2006/0138064 A1 to Crudgington, Jr., Stemware Saver for Dishwasher, clamps onto the stem 24 to suspend stemware 20 within the dishwashing machine. These types of devices, however, can still result in breakage if vibration causes a piece of stemware to contact an adjacent piece during the dishwashing process, and can result in breakage during the insertion or removal process. Moreover, this type of device has no use in transportation or storage of stemware.
Another type of holder envelopes a plurality of stemware, as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,167 to Finbow, Holder for Stemmed Drinking Vessels. This device is unsatisfactory for use in a dishwashing machine, however, because some of the stemware will not be oriented in the proper direction for washing and rinsing.
A need exists for a holder for drinkware for use in a dishwashing machine, as well as for use in storage or transportation, that avoids the problems of the prior art or at least gives consumers a useful choice. The present invention meets this need.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a holder for drinkware, the drinkware having a bowl and a foot. In a first embodiment, the holder comprises a wall, the wall having a top end and a bottom end, a cap on the bottom end, and a cap on the top end, the wall and the caps each having at least one perforation. In another embodiment, the holder comprises a frame forming a wall, the frame comprising a plurality of fingers, the wall forming a space, the fingers each having a top end and a bottom end, a base component comprising a base wall forming an opening and a plurality of spokes extending radially into the opening, the base component configured to hold the bottom ends of the fingers; and a top component comprising a plurality of arms extending radially outward from an axial element, an aperture in the axial element, and a slit through the axial element to the aperture, the arms comprising bores at their distal tips opposite the axial element, each of the bores configured to hold the top end of a one of the fingers.
The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying non-scale drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:
While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in
End caps 34 are preferably made of a flexible material, such as silicone rubber, preferably low-durometer rubber. End caps 34 are alternatively made of metal, such as 16-gauge or 18-gauge aluminum, or are made of metal coated with an elastomer. In yet other configurations, end caps 34 are made of hard plastic.
Each end cap 34 has an outer wall 50 and a plurality of spokes 52 radiating from the center 54 to outer wall 50, as shown in
Wall 32 preferably connects to a first end cap 34 by a plurality of slotted apertures 56, which lock to spokes 52 in bayonet-fashion, as shown in
End cap 34 preferably has a lip 58 on its inner periphery 60, as shown in cross-section in
When an item of stemware 20 is placed in holder 30 and held therein by two end caps 34, spokes 52 push inwardly on stemware 20 to hold stemware securely within holder 30.
Other configurations of the stemware holder of the present invention are shown in
Wall element 132 is preferably in the shape of a cylinder, having a circular cross-section, a top end 162, and a bottom end 138, as shown in perspective, diagrammatic view in
Bottom end cap 134 is preferably identical to end cap 34 shown in
Bottom end cap 134 is perforated to allow the passage of water therethrough. The perforations in bottom end cap 134 must be at least large enough to allow droplets of water to pass through, but not large enough to allow a portion of stemware 20 to pass therethrough.
In one embodiment, bottom end cap 134 has an outer wall 140 and a plurality of spokes 142 radiating from the center 144 to outer wall 140, as shown in diagrammatic plan view in
In some embodiments, bottom end cap 134 has a second, inner circumferential wall 148 between outer wall 140 and center 144, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, spokes 142 of bottom end cap 134 curve upward toward the center 144 to receive stemware 20, as shown in elevation view in
In another embodiment, bottom end cap 134 has two portions, as shown in cross-section in
When a first end cap, such as bottom end cap 134, is fastened to bottom end 138 of wall 132, a chamber 156 is formed within wall 132. Stemware 20 is placed within chamber 156. Holder 130 can be used in this configuration for washing, storage, or transportation of stemware 20.
In another embodiment, a top end cap 136 is removably attached on top end 162 of wall 132, more securely to hold stemware 20 within chamber 156. In one embodiment, top end cap 136 is identical to end cap 34 or end cap 134. When stemware 20 is placed within chamber 156, application of top end cap 136 to wall 132 causes contact between top end cap 136 and foot 26 of stemware 20, pushing bowl 22 against bottom end cap 134. Stemware 20 is then tightly secured within holder 130. Holder 130 can be stored or transported with slight chance of damage to stemware 20. Holder 130 can also be placed in a dishwashing machine. Water can enter holder 130 through perforations 133 in wall 132 and through holes 146 in top end cap 136 and bottom end cap 134.
In one embodiment of holder 130, only one of top end cap 136 and bottom end cap 134 has extended spokes 142 with receiving portions 154 as shown in
In other embodiments of holder 130, top end cap 136 in is made of a flexible material, such as silicone rubber, preferably low-durometer rubber. For instances in which foot 26 of stemware 20 is at or slightly above second end 162 of wall 132, application of top end cap 136 to top end cap 136 applies a slight force, due to stretching and compression of the silicone rubber, onto foot 26 and thereby securing stemware 20 in place in chamber 156. Other embodiments of top end cap 136 are shown in
Another type of end cap is shown in
In one embodiment, a bottom end cap 34 or 134, as described above, is placed on bottom end 138 of wall 132. A user places stemware 20 within chamber 156 and grasps diaphragm 170, for example, as shown in
In yet another embodiment, a pair of diaphragms 170 is used at top end 162 and bottom end 138 to hold stemware 20 within chamber 156.
Yet another embodiment of top end cap 136 is shown in
In one embodiment, pleats 182 are biased normally to be in an extended position. Placement of top end cap 136 on wall 132 causes pleats 182 to fold and to apply pressure on foot 26. In another embodiment, pleats 182 are biased normally to be in a retracted position. When a user places top end cap 136 on wall 132, the user pushes pleats 182 to an extended position into chamber 156, causing pleats 182 to apply pressure on foot 26, to hold top end cap 136 in place and secure stemware 20 within chamber 156, as shown in partial cut-away in
Yet another embodiment of top end cap 136 is shown in
Yet another embodiment of top end cap 136 is shown in
In certain other embodiments of the present invention, the wall of the holder is made of fingers that allow water to pass between them. In one embodiment, the fingers are made of wire, as shown in
The wire frame can take various configurations. In one embodiment, as shown in
Wire frame 220 is made of stainless steel or aluminum to withstand a wet environment. In another embodiment, wire frame 220 is coated to provide a cushion for holding stemware. Preferably, wire frame 220 or a portion thereof is dipped in urethane, as shown in
Wire frame 220 of
Wire frame 220 of
Base component 234 is shown in perspective view in
Top component 236 is shown in perspective view in
To use holder 232 or 240, wire frame 220 is secured into base component 234. Drinkware 20 is placed within wire frame 220, with bowl 22 resting on spokes 244, 246, 248 of base component 234. Top component 236 is fastened to drinkware 20 by sliding stem 24 through slit 266, so that stem 24 rests within aperture 268. Fins 270 will create resistance to stem 24 sliding within aperture 268. Top component 236 is then slid downward, along stem 24, until arms 254, 256, 258 meet wire frame 220. Three U-shaped elements 222 or 226 are inserted into bores 264.
Top component 236 is preferably made of a flexible material, most preferably urethane. Accordingly, bores 264 will tend to hold U-shaped elements 226 tightly. This tendency, along with fins 270, will hold top component into place and keep drinkware 20 securely within holder 232 or 240.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A drinkware holder comprising:
- a wall, said wall having a top end and a bottom end, said wall forming a space;
- a cap on said bottom end and a cap on said top end, said wall and said caps each having at least one perforation.
2. The drinkware holder of claim 1, wherein
- said wall comprises a plurality of fingers, said fingers each having a top end and a bottom end,
- said cap on said bottom end comprises a base wall forming an opening and a plurality of spokes extending radially into said opening, said base component configured to hold said bottom ends of said fingers; and
- said cap on said top end comprises a plurality of arms extending radially outward from an axial element, an aperture in said axial element, and a slit through said axial element to said aperture, said arms comprising bores at their distal tips opposite said axial element, each of said bores configured to hold said top end of a one of said fingers.
3. The drinkware holder of claim 1, wherein said fingers comprise wire.
4. The drinkware holder of claim 3, wherein said wire is coated.
5. The drinkware holder of claim 3, wherein said fingers comprise U-shaped elements.
6. The drinkware holder of claim 3, wherein said fingers are connected by foot elements at said bottom end.
7. The drinkware holder of claim 3, further comprising framing elements connecting said fingers.
8. The drinkware holder of claim 2, wherein said top component comprises silicone rubber.
9. The drinkware holder of claim 1, wherein at least one of said caps comprises a base wall forming an opening and a plurality of spokes extending radially into said opening.
10. The drinkware holder of claim 9, wherein said spokes are arcuate.
11. The drinkware holder of claim 9, wherein said spokes are compressible.
12. The drinkware holder of claim 9, wherein said wall comprises slotted apertures configured to hold said spokes.
13. The drinkware holder of claim 1, wherein said wall comprises tabs configured to fit into slots in at least one of said caps.
14. The drinkware holder of claim 1, wherein said frame forms an interference fit with at least one of said caps.
15. The drinkware holder of claim 1, wherein said space is cylindrical.
16. The drinkware holder of claim 1, wherein said perforations in said wall are scallops.
17. The drinkware holder of claim 1, wherein at least one of said caps comprises a plurality of flexible tongues extending from said cap, each said tongue having a flange, each said flange configured to mate with a corresponding slot in said wall.
18. The drinkware holder of claim 1, wherein at least one of said caps comprises pleats.
19. The drinkware holder of claim 18, wherein said pleats are biased to be normally extended.
20. The drinkware holder of claim 18, wherein said pleats are biased to be normally retracted.
Type: Application
Filed: May 11, 2009
Publication Date: Apr 15, 2010
Inventors: Joseph M. Vanek (Chicago, IL), Edward Claffy (Clarendon Hills, IL)
Application Number: 12/463,763
International Classification: A47G 23/02 (20060101);