U.S. patent application number 11/228983 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for ergonomic wine glass.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pleo Originals, LLC. Invention is credited to Peter E. Rigas.
Application Number | 20070062961 11/228983 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37883042 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070062961 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rigas; Peter E. |
March 22, 2007 |
Ergonomic wine glass
Abstract
A beverage drinking glass includes a base support segment and a
beverage holding vessel segment. The beverage holding vessel
segment has at least one sidewall, a bottom, and a top rim to
create the vessel segment. The bottom is connected to the base
support segment. The top rim has a cut-out section to create a
facial profile/nose-receiving depression, and the cut-out section
is less than 50% of the peripheral length of the rim. The beverage
drinking glass is preferably selected from the group consisting of
tumbler, cup, wine glass, mug and goblet.
Inventors: |
Rigas; Peter E.; (Yardley,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kenneth P. Glynn
24 Mine Street
Flemington
NJ
08822
US
|
Assignee: |
Pleo Originals, LLC
|
Family ID: |
37883042 |
Appl. No.: |
11/228983 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/703 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/2205 20130101;
A47G 2400/045 20130101; A47G 19/2227 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/703 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22 |
Claims
1. A beverage drinking glass, which comprises: a.) a base support
segment; b.) a beverage holding vessel segment having at least one
sidewall, a bottom, and a top rim, to create said vessel segment,
said bottom being connected to said base support segment, said top
rim having a cut-out section to create a facial profile depression,
said cut-out section being less than 50% of the peripheral length
of said rim.
2. The beverage drinking glass of claim 1 wherein said cut-out
section extends downwardly for at least one half inch from said top
rim.
3. The beverage drinking glass of claim 1 wherein said cut-out
section is a continuous curvilinear cut-out section.
4. The beverage drinking glass of claim 1 wherein said cut-out
section is arcuate and symmetrical.
5. The beverage drinking glass of claim 1 wherein said beverage
drinking glass is selected from the group consisting of tumbler,
cup, wine glass, mug and goblet.
6. The beverage drinking glass of claim 1 wherein said vessel
segment bottom and said base support segment are the same
component.
7. The beverage drinking glass of claim 1 wherein said vessel
segment bottom and said base support segment are different
components.
8. The beverage drinking glass of claim 1 wherein said base support
component includes a flat base and a stem wherein said stem is
connected to said vessel segment bottom.
9. The beverage drinking glass of claim 1 wherein said cut-out has
a portion that is selected from the group consisting of a circle
arc, an ellipse segment, an oval segment, a parabola segment and a
sine curve segment.
10. The beverage drinking glass of claim 1 wherein said beverage
drinking glass is a wine glass.
11. A set of beverage drinking glasses, which comprises: a set of
at least four beverage drinking glasses, each of said at least four
beverage drinking glasses including: a.) a unique identifier
located thereon to distinguish it from all other beverage drinking
glasses in said set; b.) a said base support segment; c.) a
beverage holding vessel segment having at least one side wall, a
bottom, and a top rim, to create said bottom being connected to
said base support segment, said top rim section to create a
nose-receiving depression, said cut-out section being less than 50%
peripheral length of said rim.
12. The set of beverage drinking glasses of claim 11 wherein said
cut-out section extends downwardly for at least one half inch from
said top rim.
13. The set of beverage drinking glasses of claim 11 wherein said
cut-out section is a continuous curvilinear cut-out section.
14. The set of beverage drinking glasses of claim 11 wherein said
cut-out section is arcuate and symmetrical.
15. The set of beverage drinking glasses of claim 11 wherein said
beverage drinking glass is selected from the group consisting of
tumbler, cup, wine glass, mug and goblet.
16. The set of beverage drinking glasses of claim 11 wherein said
vessel segment bottom and said base support segment are the same
component.
17. The set of beverage drinking glasses of claim 11 wherein said
vessel segment bottom and said base support segment are different
components.
18. The set of beverage drinking glasses of claim 11 wherein said
base support component includes a flat base and a stem wherein said
stem is connected to said vessel segment bottom.
19. The set of beverage drinking glasses of claim 11 wherein said
cut-out has a portion that is selected from the group consisting of
a circle erc, an ellipse segment, an oval segment, a parabola
segment and a sine curve segment.
20. The set of beverage drinking glasses of claim 11 wherein said
beverage drinking glass is a wine glass.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1 . Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to ergonomic wine glasses
particularly, and relates more generally to ergonomic beverage
drinking glasses. The present invention drinking glasses have a
unique structure that includes a rim depression that provides for
more convenient beverage filling, sniffing, breathing, decanting
and drinking. This is particularly important to wine consumption
and the present invention offers tremendous improvements over
existing glasses for wine connoisseurs.
[0003] 2 . Information Disclosure Statement
[0004] The following prior art id representative of the state of
the art in the field of:
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,712B1 describes a drinking vessel
provided having the duel purpose of providing in addition to
drinking therefrom to also smell the aroma emitted from the drink
by providing the drinking vessel with at least one inner element
inside the drinking vessel dividing the drinking vessel into
drinking compartment from which a drink can be sipped and providing
an aroma compartment from which the aroma of the drink can be
smelled while drinking from the drinking compartment and that the
drinking compartment and the aroma compartment have different
configurations.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,034B1 describes a wine bottle ring of a
continuous unbroken form for accepting a neck of a wine bottle so
the ring may be supported on the wine bottle. A plurality of wine
glass rings, are formed of spring steel in a loop having a pair of
opposing and abutting ends. The loops are of a size for accepting a
stem of wine glass, and further, for being supported on a base of
wine glass. The wine glass rings each provide a distinctive
ornamentation so as to distinguish the wine glasses from each
other. The method includes serving the wine bottle with the wine
glass rings attached to the bottle ring so that the decorative
elements are immediately visible. When the wine, glasses are
distributed to guests, each has one of the wine glass rings engaged
on its stem so that one glass may be distinguished from the
next.
[0007] U.S. Pat No. 5,899,354 describes a drinking mug including a
body with a lipid-receiving interior volume with a handle connected
to the body and extending outwardly therefrom. The body has a first
eye relief channel extending longitudinally along the body and a
second eye relief channel extending generally parallel to the first
eye relief channel and extending longitudinally along the body. The
first and second eye relief channels are indentations in the
exterior surface of the annular configuration of the body. Each of
the first and second eye relief channels extends from a top of the
body to a bottom of the body. A nose bridge receptacle is formed in
the body between the first and second eye relief channels.
[0008] U.S. Pat No. 5,014,865 describes drinking implements or
utensils are devised by assembling various components having
distinctive decorative features. A cup assembly is provided with a
threaded ferrule at the base thereof receiving a threaded pin at
the end of a stem assembly. A decorative collar is interposed
between the two and adapted for covering and concealing the ferrule
in a fashionable manner. A candle holder based upon the same
modular assembly technique is also presented.
[0009] U.S. Pat No. 4,681,236 describes a drinking glass have a
press-molded stem and a base (or pedestal), comprising at least one
hallow passage extending approximately horizontally and
transversely through the stem. An insert, formed of, for example, a
colored plastic, may be fitted into the hallow passage.
[0010] U.S. Pat No. 4,555,040 describes a receptacle for holding
liquid includes temperature measuring device to measure the
temperature of the liquid contained therein. The receptacle may be
a stemmed wine glass which includes a thermometer in the stem. The
thermometer has a bulb with a tip adjacent to or extending into the
bowl of the wine glass. Thus, the temperature of the contents of
the wine glass may be easily measured to establish whether the wine
has been stored and poured at the correct temperature.
[0011] U.S. Pat No. 3,400,855 describes a spill proof container
comprising ajar having an interior surface, at least one set of
diametrically opposed and foldable channel members secured to the
interior surface, said members normally folded against the interior
surface and adapted to be rotated to a position perpendicular to
the interior surface, and a baffle member positioned in the channel
members after rotation thereof to the perpendicular position.
[0012] U.S. Pat No. 2,196,450 describes a vessel comprising a body
having a hollow top forming a container, and a depending flange
forming a support, the underside of the top and flange together
forming a pocket, said pocket having a screw threaded recess,
detachable member shaped to fit the internal surface of said
pocket, said detachable member having an opening registering with
said recess, a screw projecting through said opening and screwing
into said recess, said screw having a flanged head, a sheet bearing
display matter clamped between said detachable member and said
body, and compressible packing rings between said flanged head and
the detachable member and the depending flange of the body.
[0013] U.S. Pat No. 2,170,311 illustrates it should be understood
that this form of bowl is more or less conventional and other forms
may be substituted as long as they lend themselves to the
application of the special features about to be described.
[0014] U.S. Design Pat. No. Des 355,812 illustrates a beverage
glass with a stem and base.
[0015] U.S. Design Pat. No. Des 143,778 describes a stem article of
glass where in which the joint between the bowl and the foot is
formed in the stem.
[0016] U.S. Design Pat. No. Des 77,942 illustrates a goblet or
similar device with a rectangular center stem.
[0017] U.S. Design Pat. No. 77,227 illustrates a goblet with a
stylized diamond center stem.
[0018] Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is
neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The present invention is a drinking glass and a set of
drinking glasses that have an ergonomic structure utilizing a
facial profile depression, and preferably a nose-receiving
depression at the rim. The terms "drinking glass" and "drinking
glasses" are used herein to describe one or more of any drinking
vessel that holds a predetermined volume of consumable beverage, is
hand held, has an open top that typically involves nose insertion
partially into the open top when used to drink a beverage
therefrom. This includes cups, mugs, steins, goblets, tumblers and
wine glasses. It includes those drinking glass made from glass and
those made from other materials, such as ceramic, metal, plastic,
natural materials, etc. The term "tumbler" means any non-stemmed
drinking glass that has no handle.
[0020] The present invention relates to a beverage drinking glass
includes a base support segment and a beverage holding vessel
segment.
[0021] The beverage holding vessel segment has at least one
sidewall, a bottom, and a top rim to create the vessel segment. The
bottom is connected to the base support segment. The top rim has a
cut-out section to create a facial profile depression, and the
cut-out section is less than 50% of the peripheral length of the
rim.
[0022] In some preferred embodiments, the present invention
beverage drinking glass cut-out section extends downwardly for at
least one half inch from the top rim. Preferably, the beverage
drinking glass cut-out section is a continuous curvilinear cut-out
section. It is also preferably arcuate and symmetrical.
[0023] The present invention beverage drinking glass is preferably
selected from the group consisting of tumbler, cup, wine glass, mug
and goblet. Snifters are particularly popular goblets among wine
connoisseurs.
[0024] In some embodiments, the present invention beverage drinking
glass vessel segment bottom and the base support segment are the
same component. In other embodiments, the beverage drinking vessel
segment bottom and the base support segment are different
components. For example, the beverage drinking glass base support
component may include a flat base and a stem wherein the stem is
connected to the vessel segment bottom.
[0025] The present invention drinking glass cut-out may have any
shape that*reasonably accommodate a facial profile, e.g. angular
linear sections and/or curved sections. In some present invention
preferred embodiments, the beverage drinking glass cut-out has a
portion that is selected from the group consisting of a circle arc,
an ellipse segment, an oval segment, a parabola segment and a sine
curve segment.
[0026] In many preferred embodiments, the present invention
beverage is a wine glass.
[0027] The present invention also includes a set of beverage
drinking glasses, which comprises:
[0028] a set of at least four beverage drinking glasses, each of
the at least four beverage drinking glasses including:
[0029] a.) a unique identifier located thereon to distinguish it
from all other beverage drinking glasses in the set;
[0030] b.) the base support segment;
[0031] c.) a beverage holding vessel segment having at least one
side wall, a bottom, and a top rim, to create the bottom being
connected to the base support segment, the top rim section to
create a nose-receiving depression, the cut-out section being less
than 50% peripheral length of the rim.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The present invention should be more fully understood when
the specification herein is taken in conjunction with the drawings
appended hereto wherein:
[0033] FIG. 1 shows a front view of present invention ergonomic
beverage drinking glass;
[0034] FIGS. 2 and 3 show side and top views respectively of the
present invention glass shown in FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 4 shows a front view of a present invention goblet;
[0036] FIG. 5 shows a front view of a present invention tumbler
glass;
[0037] FIG. 6 shows a front view of a present invention cup;
[0038] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate front and right side views of a
present invention mug;
[0039] FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of a present invention set
of wine glasses;
[0040] FIG. 10 illustrates the present invention glass shown in
FIGS. 1 through 3 wherein wine from a bottle is conveniently being
poured into it;
[0041] FIG. 11 shows a present invention beverage glass in use for
experiencing the bouquet of a wine; and,
[0042] FIG. 12 shows a present invention beverage glass in use for
consumption of wine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0043] FIG. 1 shows a front view of present invention ergonomic
beverage drinking glass 100, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show side and top
views respectively of the present invention glass 100 shown in FIG.
1.
[0044] Ergonomic beverage drinking glass 100 includes a base
support segment made up of a base 3 and a stem 5. There is a color
indicia 7 that may be part of a set of glasses each having unique
identifiers to distinguish it from others in the set.
[0045] There is also a beverage holding vessel segment 10 that
includes a bottom 9, a wall. 11 and a top rim 13. There is also a
cut-out section 15, as shown. The cut-out section 15 acts as a
bottle neck rest for pouring water, wine, soda, beer or other
consumable beverage. Additionally, cut-out section 15 permits
closer nose contact with otherwise higher walls for testing bouquet
or other sniffing. Finally, when a user is drinking from a present
invention glass such as wine glass 100, the head need not be tilted
to tip the glass without spilling because cut-out section 15 acts
as a nose-receiving depression.
[0046] FIG. 2 shows a side view and FIG. 3 shows a top view of wine
glass 100 that is shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen by looking at all
of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the cut-out 15 is preferably less then 50% of
the rim length and is usually about 25 to 35% thereof from a top
view. The top view arc representing cut-out section 15 is segment A
of FIG. 3.
[0047] FIG. 4 shows a front view of a present invention goblet 200.
This goblet 200 has a base support segment made up of base 43 and
stem 45. Vessel segment 40 has side wall 51 and bottom 49. The
upper portion 47 of stem 45 is connected to vessel segment 40.
Vessel segment 40 of goblet 200 is typical in its ability to hold
liquid, but rim 53 has a present invention cut-out 55 to act as a
nose-receiving depression so that a user does not need to tip his
head to cleanly consume the last drops of liquid. The cut-out 55
also acts as a rest for pouring and offers a closer nose position
for sniffing.
[0048] FIG. 5 shows a front view of a present invention tumbler
glass 300. This tumbler glass 300 may be a vitreous product, or a
metal, plastic or ceramic product, and may have any top view shape
that can be used to drink from. Most common, of course, is a
circular glass, but it could be a square, hexagonal or other shape
without exceeding the scope of the present invention. The glass 300
has a common bottom and base support segment. Specifically, bottom
63 also acts as base 61. Vessel segment 65 is square from a top
view and has four equal side walls such as side wall 67, except
that rim 69 has a deep notch 71 that finctions in the same manner
and serves the same purposes as cut-out section 15 described above.
Tumbler glass 300 when the present invention tumbler is used for
iced drinks, one can learn to consume the beverage without being
inundated with a cascade of ice cubes in the face to finish (bottom
liquid).
[0049] FIG. 6 shows a front view of a present invention cup 400. It
includes a base support 81 and a vessel segment 85 with bottom 87
and finger loop 89. Side wall 83 has a cut-out section 93, as
shown, and functions in a manner similar to the cut-out sections
described above.
[0050] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a front and right side views of a
present invention mug 500. It has a base 161 and bottom 163 that
are integral. In other words, the bottom 163 of vessel segment 165
also serves as a base support segment (base 161). Wall 167 is a
cylindrical member and has cut-out 171 at rim 169 to attain the
present invention benefits and functionality as described above in
conjunction with other present invention glasses.
[0051] FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of a present invention set
of wine glasses 1000. These four wine glasses are individually wine
glasses 600, 700, 800 and 900. Glass 900 is identical to glass 100
of FIGS. 1 through 3 above, and identical parts are identically
numbered. The other glasses are also identical except for markings
on the stem 5. On glass 600, there is a single color indicia 7; on
glass 700, two such indicia 7 and 12; on glass 800, three indicia
7, 12 and 14; and on glass 900, indicia 7, 12, 14 and 16. These are
unique identifiers and help drinking individuals distinguish their
glasses from others. Thus, when you put a glass down at a party and
return, you can be assured that you will not pick up someone else's
glass and germs!
[0052] FIG. 10 illustrates the present invention glass 100 in FIGS.
1 through 3 wherein wine from a bottle is conveniently being poured
into it. Thus, all of the components of glass 100 are numbered as
above, and bottle 120 with neck 122 contains wine 124. As can be
seen, neck 122 conveniently positions or rests in cut-out 15,
making pouring wine 124 from bottle 120 much easier than it would
otherwise be. The cut-out 15 provides numerous advantages: first,
it aligns neck 122 for easy pouring; second, the resting prevents
roll-off of the bottle 120 during pouring; third, the lower portion
of neck 122 decreases spillage from splashing.
[0053] FIG. 11 shows the present invention beverage glass 100 in
use for experiencing the bouquet of a wine. The wine drinker 250
uses the olfactory sense to identify wine qualities. The nose 252
of a seasoned wine drinker 250 will discern cork smell, mold,
sweetness, fruitiness, etc. and the expert will discern and even
identify specific flavors, e.g. hint of pear, etc. The present
invention cut-out 15 brings nose 252 close to the wine surface
while maintaining high walls to keep in the vapors, without the
need to tilt the glass.
[0054] FIG. 12 shows a present invention beverage glass 100 in use
for consumption of wine. Here, drinker 250 has reversed the
position of glass 100 from the FIG. 11 position so that cut-out 15
is away from drinker 250. The cut-out 15 enables high bottoms up
tilting without the need for putting the head back, due to the
facial profile nose-receiving depression of cut-out 15.
[0055] Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the
present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It
is therefore understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described herein.
* * * * *