DEVICE FOR REDUCING THE INFLUENCE OF MOTION ON A DRINKING VESSEL

Abstract

A device is provided for reducing the influence, on a drinking vessel (240), of linear and/or rotational motions of a surface on which the drinking vessel is placed, for example for use on a marine vessel. The device comprises a pliable structure and is provided with a plurality of slits (120) arranged between a plurality of cooperating portions (102) to accommodate a plurality of drinking vessels, in particular drinking vessels having a base and a stem, such as wine glasses. The cooperating portions are adapted to accept a drinking vessel, and are operable to at least partially envelop the drinking vessel by conforming to at least a part of the upper surface of the base of the drinking vessel.

Claims

1. A device for reducing the influence, on a drinking vessel, of linear and/or rotational motions of a surface on which the drinking vessel is placed, wherein the device comprises a pliable structure and is provided with a plurality of slits arranged between a plurality of cooperating portions to accommodate a plurality of drinking vessels having a base and a stem, the cooperating portions adapted to accept a drinking vessel, the cooperating portions operable to at least partially envelop the drinking vessel by conforming to at least a part of the upper surface of the base of the drinking vessel.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slits divide the device into segments.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each segment comprises two segment portions.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each segment portion cooperates with an adjacent portion of another segment.

5. (canceled)

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooperating portions are arranged in mutually adjacent pairs, on either side of a respective slit.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each slit extends inward from the perimeter of the device.

8. (canceled)

9. The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the inward end of the slit terminates in a bulbous node.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the diameter of the bulbous node is at least 2 cm.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device has a length and/or width greater than 20 cm and less than 45 cm.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device has a generally shallow toroidal shape.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device has a generally shallow cylindrical shape.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pliable structure comprises a homogenous material.

17. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pliable structure comprises multiple component materials.

18. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pliable structure comprises an internal structure within an external housing.

19. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the internal structure is malleable.

20. The device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the internal structure comprises a granular material.

21. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the external housing is flexible.

22. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the underside of the device comprises a non-slip surface.

23. The device according to claim 1 which weighs at least 500 g.

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. A device for reducing the influence, on a drinking vessel, of linear and/or rotational motions of a surface on which the drinking vessel is placed, wherein the device comprises a granular internal structure within a flexible external housing; has an underside comprising a non-slip surface and is provided with a plurality of slits extending inwards from its perimeter and arranged between a plurality of cooperating portions to accommodate a plurality of drinking vessels having a base and a stem, the cooperating portions adapted to accept a drinking vessel, the cooperating portions operable to at least partially envelop the drinking vessel by conforming to at least a part of the upper surface of the base of the drinking vessel.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a top-down view of a device for restraining a drinking vessel according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device according to FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of part of the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a top-down view of a device for restraining a drinking vessel according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device according to FIG. 4.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a top down view of a first embodiment of a device 100 for restraining a drinking vessel so as to reduce the influence of linear and/or rotational motions of a surface on which the drinking vessel is placed. The device 100 is a shallow toroid with a depth of around 3 cm and a diameter of around 40 cm. The device perimeter 101 is provided with 6 slits 120. The slits 120 divide the perimeter of the device into 6 equal segments 110. Each slit 120 is approximately 1 cm wide, extends approximately 10 cm radially inwards from the device perimeter 101 towards the centre of the device 100 and passes through the entire depth of the device 100. Each slit 120 terminates with a bulbous node 121 of diameter 2 cm. The device 100 is provided with a circular central hole 130 of approximately 8 cm diameter corresponding to the typical diameter of a wine bottle.

[0030] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a stemmed glass 240 is shown present within a node 121. Cooperating portions 230 of the segments 110 are shown to be substantially overlapping the base of the stemmed glass 240. The underside of the device 100 comprises a non-slip surface 102. The base non-slip surface 102 contacts both the glass and the surface on which the glass 240 and device 100 are placed.

[0031] The device comprises an external housing. The external housing comprises an upper flexible fabric exterior and the non-slip surface 102. The non-slip surface is stitched to the upper body of the device. Within the external housing of the device is aquarium gravel. The gravel is chosen such that it does not react with liquids which may come into contact with the device (such as water, wine, cocktails, cleaning products etc.) and that it is heavy. The device weighs approximately 3.5 kg.

[0032] When in use, the device 100 increases the stability of stemmed glasses 240 by providing a counterweight to the base of the glass 240. In order to use the device, the device 100 is first placed onto a desired surface (such as a table) with the non-slip underside contacting the desired surface. A segment 110 is peeled towards the centre of the device 100 by the user, allowing access to a bulbous node 121 via a temporarily widened slit 120 between two segments 110. A stemmed glass 240 is then introduced to the bulbous node 121 via this widened slit 120 between cooperating portions 230 of adjacent segments. The user then replaces the segment 110, now upon the base of the stemmed glass 240 and the pair of mutually adjacent cooperating portions 230 of the adjacent segments 110 enclose the base of the stemmed glass 240. The device's structure envelops the stem of the glass and envelops and conforms to the shape of the base of the stemmed glass 240 thus providing a secure hold upon the glass 240. Additional glasses 240 can be introduced to the device in the same manner. A wine bottle may be introduced to the device 100 by simply placing it within the central hole 130.

[0033] The weight of the device presses down upon the stemmed glass 240 effectively lowering the centre of gravity of the stemmed glass 240. Via this method, the stemmed glass 240 can experience larger linear and rotational forces (e.g. as experienced onboard a boat) before experiencing a slide or topple.

[0034] The non-slip surface 102 provides increased frictional forces between the glass 240 and device 100, and surface and device 100. This reduces the tendency of the glass to slide upon the surface.

[0035] In FIG. 4, a second embodiment of a device 400 for restraining a drinking vessel 240 is shown. The device 420 is a shallow cylinder with a depth of around 3 cm and a diameter of around 40 cm. The device perimeter 401 is provided with 6 slits 420. The slits 420 divide the perimeter of the device into 6 equal segments 410. Each slit 420 is approximately 1 cm wide, extends approximately 10 cm radially inwards from the device perimeter 401 towards the centre of the device 400 and passes through the entire depth of the device 400.

[0036] With reference to the device 400 cross-section, shown in FIG. 5, the device 400 comprises a singular homogenous materialsilicone. The silicone material used for the device 400 is inherently non-slip and deforms to the base of the stemmed glass 240.

[0037] The mode of operation is the same as the first embodiment, with pairs of cooperating portions 430 of the segments 410 substantially overlapping the base of the stemmed glass 240 so as to reduce the influence on the glass 240 of linear and/or rotational motions of a surface on which the glass 240 is placed.

[0038] The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.