Stemware Coaster
One embodiment of a stemware coaster having an arched syncline slot (2) on the upper surface to keep a variety of stemware beverage containers in an upright position. The stemware coaster consists of a base (5), an elongated concave shaped upper surface (3) and a horizontal cavity (8) that receives a stemware base. Other embodiments are described and shown.
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/528,604, filed 2011 Aug. 29 by the present inventor.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED SEARCHNot Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTINGNone.
BACKGROUND1. Field
This application relates to beverage receptacles, specifically to such receptacles for accommodating stemware designs.
2. Prior Art
Consumers normally consume beverages at places of business or at households. Most locations have some form of article used to rest beverages on to prevent a wide variety of damaging effects to local surroundings. Not only do the articles prevent damage to the surface of the table but they additionally have secondary functions such as absorbing condensation from the beverage containers. Traditionally, the articles are limited by design and are not functional to all forms of beverage containers. One specific beverage container is that of stemware designs. Presently, consumers do not have any means for the prevention of tipping, spillage and breakage of their stemware vessels.
A circular coaster made of a material that can absorb moisture and receive an enlarged base of stemware and to be carried with the stemware described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,705 issued on Apr. 12, 2005 to Nancy Dauer. These coasters are made from fabric to prevent the transmission of moisture onto the resting table top. The coaster construction does not prevent tipping or breakage of the stemware.
U.S. Pat No. 6,059,138 issued on May 9, 2000 to Andre Labruyere describes a slotted cup holder having multiple slots that is adapted to accommodate a variety of beverage container shapes. The slotted cup holder is a multipurpose holder that works only with an armrest to provide the stability needed to prevent slippage. In addition, the slotted cup holder can only accommodate a specific size of stemware glass bases without a complete redesign of space to accommodate larger or smaller glasses.
A stemware holder maintains a piece of stemware in an upright position that has an embodiment that has a base extending downward from a cap. The stemware holder base is insertable into the recess of a stand cup holder is described in U.S. Pat. No 8,132,770 issued Mar. 13, 2012 to Michael A. Nargi is limited by means of an existing cup holder or a thin surface to attach to.
Thus, if there is no available cup holder or a thin surface to attach the stemware holder, the holder is useless. Furthermore the differences of stemware base size limit the design to only the specified glasses in the patent.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to be identical to the invention as claimed. The present invention fulfills the market need of a stemware coaster that has such functionality.
SUMMARYAccordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a stemware coaster that will provide stability to prevent spillage and breakage of stemware containers.
It is another object of the invention to provide a stemware coaster to accommodate a multitude of stemware vessels.
It is further an object to provide a stemware coaster that can be used in almost all industries including by cruise, air or conventional places of business.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a stemware coaster for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effect in accomplishing its intended purposes.
To meet the above objectives and in accordance with the preferred embodiment a stemware coaster comprises of a flat underside, a raised vertical side walls with crenation, a concave shaped elongated upper surface, an arched syncline slot, a horizontal cavity used to rest a stemmed beverage container, for example, a wine glass. The arched syncline serves to secure the stem of a beverage container, thereby increasing the stability to maintain the upright position held by the stemware coaster.
In alternate embodiments, an integrally formed elongated flat extension attached to the rear of the stemware coaster is used to secure the invention to an appropriately configured table, for example, a poker table that has an armrest.
Still further advantages will become apparent from a study of the following description and the accompanying drawings.
4.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS
- 1. stemware coaster
- 2. arched syncline slot
- 3. elongated concave shaped upper surface
- 4. integrally formed elongated flat extension
- 5. upper surface of the base
- 6. stemware glass base
- 7. stemware glass container
- 8. horizontal cavity
The present invention is described with reference to
The manner of using the stemware coaster to prevent the tipping, slippage and breakage of stemware glasses is namely, simple. One first grasps the stem of a stemware container 7 and places the edge of the stemmed glass base 6 against the upper surface of the base 5. Next, slide the base of the stemmed glass into the horizontal cavity until the stem rests against the arched syncline slot 2 of the said coaster.
To remove the stemmed glass container 7, one first grasps the stem of the stemware container and slowly pulls the stemware container out of the horizontal cavity along the upper surface of the base 5 until the edge of the stemware glass base 6 is able to be safely lifted out.
FIGS. 7-13—Additional EmbodimentsAdditional embodiments are shown in
From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodiments of the stemware coaster become evident:
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- (1) The elongated concave shaped upper surface 3 allows for standard designed stemware containers to rest and cradle the stem regardless of stemware glass type.
- (2) The arched syncline slot 2 in the elongated concave shaped upper surface 3 of the stemware coaster allows for the stem of the stemware containers to rest against where the center of gravity is located.
- (3) Integrally formed elongated flat extension 4 allows for the stemware coaster to be held by means of either a restraining device of the table or another device feature of said table to hold the alternate embodiment in completely secured.
FIGS. 6 , 12 and 13 show the stemware coaster in use with a stemware container.
Accordingly, the reader will see that the stemware coaster and the alternate embodiments can be used easily and will help prevent the tipping, slippage, and breakage of precious stemware containers. In addition, the stemware coasters can be relocated easily since the stemware coaster is small in nature. Furthermore, the stemware coaster has the additional advantages in that:
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- It permits the use of any standard stemware container base from wine glasses to the smaller base of a Chambord glass;
- It permits an immediately recognizable object when constructed from different materials and/or color;
- It allows to be used with various table configurations from the ability to use the preferred embodiment or the alternate embodiment;
- It provides a clean surface from the tabletop to collect moisture from the stemware containers;
- It provides protection of tabletop surfaces from accidental nicks or scrapes;
- It provides a reusable coaster whereas other coasters are throw-away, preventing environment problems.
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. For example, the stemware coaster can have other shapes, such as more circular, oval, trapezoidal, triangular, etc.; the lead-in horizontal slot can have other shapes; the elongated concave shaped upper surface can be replaced by convex shaped upper surface, etc.
Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
Claims
1. A stemware coaster, comprising a concave-shaped elongated upper surface, an arched syncline slot, which will overlie the base of a stemware container when said stemware container is in an upright position in said stemware coaster.
2. A stemware coaster of claim 1 wherein a lower surface which underlies the base of said stemware container.
3. A stemware coaster of claim 1 wherein said lower and upper portions being of one or more pieces are in fluid communication.
4. A stemware coaster of claim 1 wherein a configured horizontal cavity where said stemware container rests.
5. A stemware coaster of claim 1 wherein said configured cavity contains an opening configured to receive said stemware container.
6. A stemware coaster, comprising a concave-shaped elongated upper surface, an arched syncline slot, which will overlie the base of a stemware container when said stemware container is in an upright position in said stemware coaster.
7. A stemware coaster of claim 6 wherein said lower portion has an integrally formed elongated flat extension rearwardly from the base.
8. A stemware coaster of claim 6 wherein said extension provides extra stability.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 29, 2012
Publication Date: Mar 14, 2013
Inventor: Curtis Paul Cecil (Chandler, AZ)
Application Number: 13/597,256
International Classification: A47G 23/03 (20060101);