Abstract
A dish selected from the group consisting of a drinking glass, stemware, beverage cup, mug or bowl having a base with a perimeter, a sidewall contiguous with the perimeter of the base and extending upwardly to a top rim, the top rim being substantially level and continuous except for at least one recessed sidewall section having a top edge recessed to a level lower than the level of the top rim.
Claims
1. A dish selected from the group consisting of a drinking glass, beverage cup, mug or bowl, the dish having a base with a perimeter, a sidewall contiguous with the perimeter of the base and extending upwardly to a top rim, the top rim being substantially level and continuous except for at least one sidewall section having a top edge recessed to a level lower than the level of the top rim.
2. The dish of claim 1 wherein the top rim is substantially level except for two oppositely disposed sidewall sections having a top edge recessed to a level lower than the top rim.
3. The dish of claim 1 wherein the at least one sidewall section having a top edge recessed to a level lower than the top rim comprises an outwardly curved lip.
4. The dish of claim 1 wherein the sidewall and the top edge of the at least one sidewall section having a recessed top edge are cooperatively configured to reduce the likelihood of liquid spillage when drinking from the recessed top edge.
5. The dish of claim 4 wherein the recessed top edge of the at least one sidewall section having a recessed top edge has a width, depth and edge configuration that are cooperatively configured to reduce the likelihood of liquid spillage when drinking from the recessed top edge.
6. The dish of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the sidewall comprises one or more structural features that passively influence a user of such dish to orient it so that the recessed rim portion is proximal to and appropriately aligned for drinking when the dish is grasped by the user and raised upwardly to a drinking position.
7. The dish of claim 6 wherein the structural features are flattened sidewall sections with outer surfaces disposed substantially parallel to the at least one sidewall section having a recessed top edge.
8. The dish of claim 1 comprising a base configured to rest on an underlying support surface and a stem configured to support the sidewall above the base.
9. The dish of claim 1 comprising a sidewall with a fixed-position handle and at least one sidewall section having a recessed top edge positioned to accommodate convenient use by one of the group consisting of left-handed and right-handed users.
10. The dish of claim 6 when configured as a drinking glass having a top rim with at least one recessed sidewall section and a sidewall configured to passively influence a user to grasp the glass comfortably and in such manner that the at least one sidewall section with a recessed top edge is proximal to and naturally oriented toward the mouth of the user when the glass is lifted by the user upwardly off an underlying support surface.
11. The dish of claim 1 comprising two or three sidewall sections with recessed top edges that are circumferentially spaced apart around the top rim and are positioned to facilitate drinking or consuming a beverage or food from the dish.
12. The dish of claim 1 comprising a sidewall having one or more sections that are vertical, inwardly or outwardly tapered, flared, curvilinear, or a combination of those.
13. The dish of claim 1 wherein the at least one sidewall section with a recessed top edge has a top edge that is recessed from about 3/16 in. to about ½ inch lower than the top rim of the dish.
14. The dish of claim 13 wherein the at least one sidewall section with a recessed top edge has a top edge that is recessed from about ¼ in. to about ⅜ inch lower than the top rim of the dish.
15. The dish of claim 1 wherein the at least one sidewall section with a recessed top edge has a usable width sufficient to enable a user to drink comfortably from the recessed top edge without liquid spillage.
16. The dish of claim 1 wherein the at least one sidewall section with a recessed top edge has a recessed top edge with a usable arcuate width ranging from about 1.5 inches to about 2.5 inches.
17. The dish of claim 16 wherein the recessed top edge has a usable arcuate width ranging from about 1.25 inch to about 2 inches.
18. The dish of claim 1 wherein at least one of the base, sidewall and top rim is circular.
19. The dish of claim 18 wherein at least two of the base, sidewall and top rim are circular.
20. The dish of claim 19 wherein the base, sidewall and top rim are all circular.
21. The dish of claim 1 wherein the sidewall is substantially vertical between the base and the top rim.
22. The dish of claim 12 wherein the sidewall is outwardly inclined or flairs outwardly between the base and the top rim.
23. The dish of claim 12 wherein the sidewall is continuously curvilinear between the base and the top rim.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The subject invention is further described and shown in relation to the following drawing figures (not drawn to scale) in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one preferred embodiment of a drinking glass of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the drinking glass of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the drinking glass of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the drinking glass of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the drinking glass of FIG. 1 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the drinking glass of FIG. 1 taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 4;
[0021] FIG. 8 is an elevation view of another embodiment of a drinking glass of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of a mug of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10;
[0025] FIG. 12 is an elevation view of another embodiment of a drinking glass of the invention configured as stemware; and
[0026] FIG. 13 is an elevation view of another embodiment of the invention that is configured as a bowl.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1-7, drinking glass 20 is disclosed that is illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that the term “drinking glass” is used as a generic characterization of a type of dish or vessel in which the defining elements of the invention can be embodied and is not intended to restrict the material from which any dish or vessel of the invention, or any part of it, is made or formed. Materials suitable for use in making or forming the articles of the invention can therefore include, for example, glass, plastic, metal, wood, ceramic, stone, combinations of such materials, and the like.
[0028] In the embodiment depicted and described in relation to FIGS. 1-7, drinking glass 20 comprises two principal features that are believed to differentiate the invention both structurally and functionally from the known prior art. First, glass 20 is provided with a top rim 22 having at least one sidewall section (24, 26) with a recessed top edge (32, 34) that offers several functional advantages over conventional, commercially available products. When a user drinks liquid from a portion of top rim 22 having a recessed top edge 32, 34, the lips of the user are less likely to contact the other portions of top rim 22 that are also more likely to have been touched by the hands of other kitchen employees, wait staff or patrons who have handled glass 20 before the user. In the current time of widespread pandemic concerns arising from the COVID-19 virus, the health benefits of reduced hand touching of dishes are widely recognized as a means for limiting the transmission of pathogenic contamination. Further, the provision of recessed top edges 32, 34 that are cooperatively configured and positioned with a desirable width and depth of recess enable a user to drink from glass 20 with less likelihood of inadvertent liquid spillage that often occurs when drinking from glasses having wide mouths without predefined drinking positions. This benefit can be further enhanced by providing the recessed top edges 32, 34 with a lip that is configured to be more comfortable and “user friendly” than drinking from top rim 22 of a glass. Also, by providing at least one sidewall section having a recessed top edge, an added functional benefit is achieved when a drinking glass 20 or other dish or vessel is inverted and placed on an underlying surface or substrate to dry. When a glass 20 has at least one recessed top edge 32, 34, drying of the interior walls of glass 20 is enhanced and accelerated by improved air circulation that is not available with glasses having a level top rim without any recessed sidewall section(s).
[0029] A second principal benefit provided by drinking glass 20 as disclosed in relation to FIGS. 1-7 is attributable to the shape of the sidewall sections 24, 26, 46, 48 in relation to the cooperatively configured and aligned recessed top edges 32, 34. Because sidewall sections 24, 26 are “squeezed” inwardly (comparatively) relative to more widely separated sidewall sections 46, 48, a user naturally tends to grasp glass 20 between the thumb and fingers in such way that one of recessed top edges 32, 34 is positioned facing the mouth of the user as the user lifts glass 20 off an underlying support surface. Use of this preferred sidewall configuration is believed to further enhance the health and comfort benefits achieved by use of the invention. Referring to FIGS. 10, 11, similar functional advantages are achieved by use of a recessed top edge 64 of top rim 62 in relation to handle 69 projecting outwardly from cylindrical sidewall 68 of mug 60 that is contiguous with circular bottom 66. As depicted in FIG. 10, mug 60 is configured for use by a right-handed user. By providing a matching recessed top edge on the side diametrically opposed to recessed top edge 64, mug 60 is also easily used by a left-handed user.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, tapered transition zones 40, 42 and 36, 38 are desirably provided between recessed top edges 32, 34 of sidewall sections 24, 26, respectively, and the adjacent sections of top rim 22. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, it is seen that the compound curvature of the sidewall sections of drinking glass 20 cause the vertical mid-line of sidewall sections 24, 26 to appear curved and relatively narrower at the vertical mid-point of glass 20 whereas the vertical mid-line of sidewall sections 46, 48 appear straight, outwardly inclined, and relatively wider at the vertical mid-point of glass 20. FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 further illustrate the symmetry and eccentricities of the top, “waist” (28) and bottom sidewall portions of drinking glass 20. A comparison of FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 with FIGS. 4 and 6 further demonstrates the relative placement and symmetry of recessed top edges 32, 34 relative to the respective sidewall sections.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, another embodiment of a drinking glass 50 of the invention is illustrated in which a continuous frusto-conical sidewall 58 extends between circular bottom 56 and outwardly flared top rim 52, with at least one outwardly curved recessed top edge 54 being provided adjacent to top rim 52 to provide the health and comfort benefits of the invention.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 12, an article of stemware 70 is disclosed that comprises an interior volume (indicated by dashed line 75) bounded by sidewall 78 having top rim 72 with at least one sidewall section having a recessed top edge 74, with sidewall 78 being supported by tapered stem 77 projecting upwardly from circular base 76.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 13, bowl 80 is disclosed that comprises a continuous curvilinear sidewall 88 supported on base 86. Bowl 80 comprises a top rim 82 and one visible recessed top edge 84. As suggested by the downwardly tapered side of top rim section 82 on the back side of bowl 80, two additional sidewall sections having recessed top edges 84 can be provided with midpoints being circumferentially spaced 120° apart to provide three recessed top edge sections 84 to facilitate drinking or pouring liquid from bowl 80 no matter from what position bowl 80 is grasped by a user.
[0034] Although the accompanying drawing figures depict embodiments in which the dishes or vessels and their base support elements are generally circular, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure that glasses or dishes having non-circular or elliptical cross-sections and non-circular bottoms or bases can also be made within the scope of the present invention. Other alterations and modifications of the invention will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this specification in view of the accompanying drawings, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventors or Applicant(s) are legally entitled.
