Wine glass holder

Abstract

This invention discloses four novel devices for holding the Stemware glasses, especially wine glasses firmly with a tray in an upward position to prevent the glass from falling and preventing spillage of wind during transportation of the wine tray with one or multiple wine glasses. These devices can hold all kinds of stemware of any stem height and base size. Two devices made of a single piece of metal wire including a pair of metal springs, which provides freedom to slide the glass base beneath where a hook-like metal loop of the device is used to make a tight grip with the side of the tray. One embodiment can be a plastic clip with a central rubber clasping washer. One embodiment modifies a tray to have a plurality of transverse springs.

Claims

1. A drinking glass holder comprising: a. a wall hanger having an outer wall bracket connected to an inner wall bracket via a straddle connector; b. a left and a right base rod extending away from the inner wall bracket forming a space therebetween; c. a tray bottom connected to the wall hanger; d. said left and right base rods forming a gap above the tray bottom; e. said left and right base rods each having a distal end with an extension facing inward toward an opposite base rod; f. a flexible tether connected between each extension to the inner wall bracket; and g. wherein a stem of a drinking glass slides against the two flexible tethers and a base of the drinking glass rests in the gap under the left and right base rods so as to enable the drinking glass to remain stable when the tray is tilted.

2. The drinking glass holder of claim 1, wherein at least one flexible tether has a movable connection to a horizontal segment of the inner wall bracket so as to provide an adjustable space between the flexible tethers.

3. The drinking glass holder of claim 1, wherein both flexible tethers have a movable connection along a common horizontal segment of the inner wall bracket.

4. The drinking glass holder of claim 3, wherein each flexible tether further comprises a spring.

5. The drinking glass holder of claim 4, wherein each movable connection further comprises a hook on each spring that slides along the common horizontal segment.

6. A wine glass holder comprising: a. a side of a tray clip; b. said tray clip having a pair of vertical parts which are sized to reach above a bottom of tray at a height ranging from about 0.25 inch to about 0.50 inch; c. said pair of descending arms each having a bottom end that bends to form a pair of base legs that are supported transversely above the bottom of the tray; d. said pair of base legs each having an extender end facing each other; e. each extender end having a spring anchor; f. a gap sized to receive a stem of a wine glass formed between the spring anchors; g. a spring attached to each spring anchor; and h. each spring having an opposing end attached to a crossbar mounted across the base legs.

7. The wine glass holder of claim 6, wherein the said tray clip, vertical parts, pair of base legs, and spring anchors are all formed of a single metal rod.

8. The wire glass holder of claim 7, wherein the crossbar is formed from a similar metal rod.

9. The wine glass holder of claim 8, wherein the crossbar further comprises a spring indent to prevent a movement of the spring.

10. The wine glass holder of claim 8, wherein the springs are connected to the crossbar to form a V shape.

11. The wine glass holder of claim 8, wherein the pair of descending arms are parallel to each other, and the pair of base legs are parallel to each other.

12. The wine glass holder of claim 8, wherein the gap is wider than a space between the springs.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention, together with further advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top view of the first embodiment wine glass holder;

(3) FIG. 2 is a right-side elevation view;

(4) FIG. 3 is a left-side elevation view;

(5) FIG. 4 is a top plan view;

(6) FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the wine glass holder attached to the tray;

(8) FIG. 7 is a right-side perspective view of the wine glass holder attached to the tray;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the wine glass holder with wine glass;

(10) FIG. 9 is a is a left side elevation view of the wine glass holder with wine glass;

(11) FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a (plastic) second embodiment;

(12) FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the second embodiment;

(13) FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the second embodiment clipped in a tray;

(14) FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the second embodiment clipped in a tray;

(15) FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of a third embodiment, a tray with integral springs;

(16) FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the first embodiment showing an alternative spring attachment;

(17) FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the first embodiment showing the alternative spring attachment;

(18) FIG. 17 is a top plan view of a bottom of the gray fifth embodiment; and

(19) FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of a screw onto side sixth embodiment.

(20) Before explaining the disclosed embodiments in detail, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in application to the details of the particular arrangements shown, since other embodiments are possible. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(21) Referring first to FIGS. 1-5 glass holder 100 can be constructed of two bent wires, 12 and 13. Wire 13 has a clip 14 comprising a pair vertical parts 15, a pair of outboard extensions 16, a pair of downward extensions 17 and a crossbar 18.

(22) The base comprises a pair of legs 19 which end distally from the clip 14 with spring supports 20, 21. Springs 10, 11 are suspended from spring supports 20, 21 to a base crossbar 12, wire 12.

(23) Preferably springs 10, 11 are parallel. Connections 23, 24 can be permanent or removable. Base crossbar 12 has end anchors 22 to stabilize the glass holder 100.

(24) Nominal distances are: d1=3.00 inch; d2=2.38 inch; d3=0.50 inch; d4=1.07 inch; d5=1.75 inch; d6=0.63 inch; d7=0.38 inch.

(25) Referring next to FIGS. 6-9, the wine glass G has a bowl 60, a stem 61, and a base 62. It is half full of wine W. the glass holder 100 clip 14, has been clipped over a side S of tray T. Tray T may have handle recesses R. Springs 10 and 11 clasp the stem 61. The base 62 is tapered with the thickest portion at the stem. Therefore, the springs 10, 11 put a downward vector force FD on the base 62. Also, the springs put a side vector force FS on the stem 61. Also, the legs 19 put a downward vector force F19 on the base 62.

(26) In FIG. 1 an alternate spring setup puts the springs 10, 11 shown in dots, in a V pattern with a common connection point 240 for both springs 10, 11. The further toward the side S the stem 61 is pushed, the greater the side to side force FS of the springs 10, 11 against the stem 61 becomes.

(27) Referring next to FIGS. 10-13, holder 300 can be made of plastic and rubber or a cardboard with a rubber clamp for the stem. The clip 301 is formed to clasp onto a side S of a tray T. the tray T may have a handle H in the recess R.

(28) The base B300 has a width d300 smaller than a typical 3.12 inch width of a wine glass base 62. The base B300 has a distal keyhole cutout B301. Attached in the keyhole cutout is a pliable (rubber) washer B302. The stem groove B304 ends in a stem hole B303, force down FD from the washer B302 and the side forces on the stem are shown in FIG. 10.

(29) FIG. 13 shows the glass base 62 resting on the bottom BOT of the tray T. the base B300 of the holder 300 contacts the glass base 62 at CON. FIG. 12 shows the Washer B302 exerting a radial force RF on the stem 62.

(30) Referring next to FIG. 14, holder 400 comprises a modified tray TS. A plurality of transverse springs 140 are connected at anchors 141, 142 on opposing S1, S2. Several glasses G can be inserted at their base 62 between adjacent springs 140. These springs are tensioned to put both a downward force FD and a sideward force FS on the stem 61.

(31) Referring next to FIGS. 15, 16 holder 200 can be made of wire. The clip 201 has a crossbar 202 and clasps a side S of a traditional tray T.

(32) Parallel base legs 207 provide a downward force FD1 on glass base 62. The (parallel) springs 208 put a second downward force FD2 on the base 62. Base legs 207 curve inward distally to form extensions 206 which end in a spring anchor 205. Nominal dimensions are: d20=0.63 inch d21=0.50 inch d22=1.25 inch d23=1.75 inch d24=3.00 inch d25=2.38 inch d26=0.25 inch d27=2.75 inch d28=0.13 inch d29=2.38 inch d30=3.12 inch d31=0.40 inch d32=0.50 inch.

(33) Crossbar 203 stabilizes the holder 200. Indents 204 prevent the springs 208 from sliding.

(34) Referring next to FIG. 17, holder 1700 has a pair of base legs, 1701, each screwed at 1704 to the sides of tray T. a stiff extender, 1702 points inward to the opposing extender. Each extender secures a spring, 1703 which has an opposing end, 1705 screwed into the side Sw of tray T. The springs, 1703 alternatively could be metal wires of the same width as extenders 1702. They may or may not be attached to sides.

(35) Referring next to FIG. 18, holder 1800 has a side bracket, 1801 secured by screws, 1802 to side s of tray T. Stiff base legs, 1803 are secured (welded) to side bracket, 1801. Extenders, 1804 face each other. Springs, 1805 are secured to the extenders. They can form a V shape as shown using a common connection point to side bracket, 1801. The springs alternatively could be stiff metal legs which may or may not be connected to side bracket 1801.

(36) While a number of exemplifying features and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.