Thin removable beverage coaster for insertion over the top of a stemware foot to absorb and minimize condensation

Abstract

A thin, flat, absorbent, removable beverage coaster for placement over the top of a stemware foot to absorb condensation trickling down from the stemware bowl. This reduces condensation for reaching the stemware user or the table surface.

Claims

1. A coaster for stemware glasses, the coaster comprising: a substantially planar body with a substantially flat top surface, a substantially flat bottom surface, and an external side edge; the coaster further comprising a centralized opening with an internal side edge; a substantially diagonal radial slit extending from a first opening on the external side edge to a second opening on the internal side edge into the centralized opening; at least one substantially straight radial perforated slit extending from the internal side edge of the centralized opening to a position on the body of the coaster between the external side edge and the internal side edge of the centralized opening; wherein the centralized opening is configured to removably receive and hold a stem of a stemware glass through the diagonal radial slit, such that the bottom surface rests on a top surface of a foot of the stemware glass and the internal side edge of the centralized opening surrounds the stem; wherein the straight radial perforated slit expands to permit that body of the coaster to sit substantially flat on the top surface of the foot of the stemware glass.

2. The coaster of claim 1, wherein the shape of the body is selected from a group consisting of substantially circular, semi-circular, oval, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, trapezoidal, rhombus, hexagonal, heptagonal, and octagonal.

3. The coaster of claim 1, wherein the shape of the centralized opening is selected from a group consisting of substantially circular, semi-circular, oval, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, trapezoidal, rhombus, hexagonal, heptagonal, and octagonal.

4. The coaster of claim 1, wherein the body is composed of a fluid absorbing material.

5. The coaster of claim 1, wherein the body is composed of absorbing material selected from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, cork, wood, wood pulp, cotton, felt, cloth, rubber, sponge, and synthetic fibers.

6. The coaster of claim 1, wherein the top surface comprises printed indicia selected from the group consisting of pictures, logos, colors, cartoon images, photographic images, game images, reflective materials, florescent materials, and advertisements.

7. The coaster of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface comprises printed indicia selected from the group consisting of pictures, logos, colors, cartoon images, photographic images, game images, reflective materials, florescent materials, and advertisements.

8. The coaster of claim 1, wherein the coaster is configured to fit all stemware.

9. The coaster of claim 1, wherein the coaster is re-useable.

10. The coaster of claim 1, wherein the coaster is disposable after one use.

11. A coaster for cradling the stem of a glass, the coaster comprising: a substantially planar, absorbent, and portable body with a substantially flat top surface, a substantially flat bottom surface, and an external side edge; the coaster further comprising a centralized cavity with an internal side edge; a substantially diagonal radial channel extending from a first opening on the external side edge to a second opening the internal side edge into the centralized cavity; at least one substantially straight radial perforated channel extending from the internal side edge of the centralized cavity to a position on the body of the coaster between the external side edge and the internal side edge of the centralized cavity; wherein the centralized cavity is configured to removably receive and hold a stem of a stemware glass through the diagonal radial channel, such that the bottom surface of the coaster rests on a top surface of a foot of the stemware glass and the internal side edge of the centralized cavity surrounds the stem; wherein the straight radial perforated channel expands to permit that body of the coaster to sit substantially flat on the top surface of the foot of the stemware glass.

12. The coaster of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of channels positioned on said top surface and said bottom surface, said plurality of channels extend radially from said interior cavity across the length of said top surface and said bottom surface.

13. The coaster of claim 11, wherein the shape of the body is selected from a group consisting of substantially circular, semi-circular, oval, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, trapezoidal, rhombus, hexagonal, heptagonal, and octagonal.

14. The coaster of claim 11, wherein the shape of the centralized cavity is selected from a group consisting of substantially circular, semi-circular, oval, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, trapezoidal, rhombus, hexagonal, heptagonal, and octagonal.

15. The coaster of claim 11, wherein the body is composed of a fluid absorbing material.

16. The coaster of claim 11, wherein the body is composed of absorbing material selected from the group consisting of paper, cardboard, cork, wood, wood pulp, cotton, felt, cloth, rubber, sponge, and synthetic fibers.

17. The coaster of claim 11, wherein the top surface comprises printed indicia selected from the group consisting of pictures, logos, colors, cartoon images, photographic images, game images, reflective materials, florescent materials, and advertisements.

18. The coaster of claim 11, wherein the bottom surface comprises printed indicia selected from the group consisting of pictures, logos, colors, cartoon images, photographic images, game images, reflective materials, florescent materials, and advertisements.

19. The coaster of claim 11, wherein the coaster is configured to fit all stemware.

20. The coaster of claim 11, wherein the coaster is re-useable.

21. The coaster of claim 11, wherein the coaster is disposable after one use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 Illustrates a perspective view of a thin, removable, beverage coaster for insertion over the top of a stemware foot to absorb and minimize condensation.

(3) FIG. 2 Illustrates a front view of the beverage coaster.

(4) FIG. 3 Illustrates a right side view of the beverage coaster.

(5) FIG. 4 Illustrates a left side view of the beverage coaster.

(6) FIG. 5 Illustrates a top view of the beverage coaster.

(7) FIG. 6 Illustrates a bottom view of the beverage coaster.

(8) FIG. 7 Illustrates a perspective view of the beverage coaster placed over the stemware foot of a beverage glass, the broken lines shown in the Figure are included for the purpose of illustrating the beverage coaster when placed onto a stemware foot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(9) While several variations of the present invention have been illustrated by way of example in particular embodiments, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present invention. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and are inclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as set forth.

(10) As illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, the subject invention is a thin, removable, disposable beverage coaster 1. Each coaster 1 contains a substantially flat top surface 2, a substantially flat bottom surface 3, a side edge 4, at central opening 5, a substantially diagonal radial slit 6, and at least one substantially straight radial perforated slit 7.

(11) The coaster 1 is configured to place the bottom surface 3 over the foot 8 of a stemware glass 9 by inserting the stem 10 of the stemware glass 9 through the radial slit 6 so that the central opening surrounds the stem 10. The top surface 2 of the coaster 1 faces upwards from the foot 8 of the stemware glass 9. The perforated slits 7 expand to allow the top surface 2 of the coaster 1 to sit substantially flat on the foot 8 of the stemware glass 9. The perforated slits 7 expand to allow the top surface 2 of the coaster 1 to fit various diameters of different stems 10 of different stemware glasses 9.

(12) As condensation trickles down the bowl 11 to the stem 10 and the top of the foot 8, this moisture is absorbed by the coaster 1. This absorption will make holding the glass comfortable, minimizing the amount water from reaching the hand. Furthermore, condensation will be prevented or reduced from dripping onto patrons or the table once the stemware glass 9 is picked up or tilted by the patron for taking a drink.

(13) The coaster 1 may comprise a substantially circular shape. In other embodiments of the subject invention, the coaster 1 may have a shape that is substantially circular, semi-circular, oval, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, trapezoidal, rhombus, hexagonal, heptagonal, or octagonal. The coaster 1 may be multiple sizes, or one size configured to fit all stemware glasses. In embodiments of the subject invention, the coaster 1 may be 1.5 to 4 in diameter. The central opening 5 may be 0.5 to 1 in diameter. The radial perforated slit 7 may be 1/16 to in length.

(14) Each coaster 1 may be composed of soft, flexible, absorbing materials such as paper, cardboard, cork, wood, wood pulp, cotton, felt, cloth, rubber, sponge, and synthetic fibers. In alternative embodiments, the coaster 1 may be composed of as animal fabrics such as wool or silk; animal skin, such as leather or fur; plant fabrics such as cotton, modal, or hemp; or synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester, aramid, olefin, acrylic, or synthetic leather, vinyl polymers, or soft plastic materials. In additional embodiments of the subject invention, the coaster 1 may be composed of a translucent material such as translucent plastic, a vinyl polymer, or a combination thereof material. The coaster 1 may be re-useable or composed of one-use disposable materials.

(15) The coaster 1 may contain printed indicia on the top surface 2 or bottom surface 3, such indicia may include, but is not limited to: pictures, logos, colors, cartoon images, photographic images, game images, reflective materials, florescent materials, or advertisements.