U.S. patent application number 11/461053 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-31 for device for holding and displaying vial-shaped beverage containers.
Invention is credited to James Francis Duffy.
Application Number | 20080023423 11/461053 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38985106 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080023423 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Duffy; James Francis |
January 31, 2008 |
Device for Holding and Displaying Vial-shaped Beverage
Containers
Abstract
The present invention is a device that holds and displays
vial-shaped containers in commercial refrigerators and other
locations. The device of the present invention can be positioned in
locations currently occupied by other beverage holders, such as
attached to the inside of a glass door. The device can also be
configured to occupy locations not currently occupied by other
devices, such as suspended from the top-inside of a refrigerator,
between the glass door and the horizontal shelving, and made of
either a flexible or rigid material. The hardware used to attach
the horizontal configuration differs from the hardware used to
attach the vertical configuration. The holes in each configuration
will also differ.
Inventors: |
Duffy; James Francis;
(Lafayette Hill, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WHITE-WELKER & WELKER, LLC
P.O. BOX 199
CLEAR SPRING
MD
21722-0199
US
|
Family ID: |
38985106 |
Appl. No.: |
11/461053 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/85.18 ;
211/88.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 9/06 20130101; A47B
73/004 20130101; F25D 2331/809 20130101; F25D 25/005 20130101; A47F
7/283 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/85.18 ;
211/88.01 |
International
Class: |
A47G 29/00 20060101
A47G029/00 |
Claims
1. A device for holding and displaying vial-shaped containers
comprising: a vertical rectangular surface region; said rectangular
surface region has a depth with a minimum thickness of 1 mm and is
further comprised of four sides equal to said depth; and said
rectangular surface region is further comprised of a plurality of
holes.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the length and width of the
rectangular surface region is dependent upon the diameter and
quantity of the vials required to be held.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the holes are circular,
non-joining, and are spaced along a linear path on the rectangular
surface region.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the depth is not less than 1
mm.
5. The device of claim 1 further comprising: a back-forming portion
which is rectangular and vertical with respect to the a rectangular
surface region with a minimum wall thickness of 1 mm; and mounting
hardware means attached to said back-forming portion.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the back edge of the bottom
forming portion joins with the bottom edge of the back-forming
portion to create a flange for attaching the device to a commercial
freezer.
7. The device of claim 3 wherein a hook is attached to one end of
the rectangular surface region in such a manner so that the
rectangular surface region is supported on one end by the hook and
suspended in a vertical position.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein the holes are
elliptical-shaped.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein the eccentricity of the
elliptical-shaped holes 2 can vary between 0 and 1.
10. The device of claim 5 wherein a plurality of hooks are attached
to the back-forming portion in such a manner so that the
rectangular surface region is supported and suspended in a
horizontal position.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein the distance between each hole 2
is dependent upon the diameter of the closure area of the
vial-shaped containers.
12. The device of claim 5 wherein a plurality of suction cups are
attached to the back-forming portion in such a manner so that the
rectangular surface region is supported and suspended in a
horizontal position.
13. The device of claim 5 wherein a plurality of hooks are attached
to the back-forming portion and such hooks are attached to suction
cups in such a manner so that the rectangular surface region is
supported and suspended in a horizontal position.
14. The device of claim 14 wherein said holes are only large enough
to accommodate the diameter of vial-shaped containers but small
enough such that the cap area of the vial-shaped containers does
not pass through said holes.
Description
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0001] Not Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM
[0002] Not Applicable
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0003] Not Applicable
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates generally to container
holders. More specifically the present invention relates to a
beverage container holder for use inside a commercial
refrigerator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The width of the closure area on conventional beverage
containers, whether plastic or metal, is either the same or smaller
than the body of the container. In order to suspend these
containers from a holder inside a commercial refrigerator, the
holder must have a bottom to support the containers. In contrast,
the width of the closure area on a vial-shaped beverage container
is wider than the body, which allows for the creation of novel
container holders.
[0006] Those of ordinary skill in the art in the industry will
recognize that there are devices for holding and displaying
conventional containers in commercial refrigerators. These devices
may rest on the refrigerator shelves, or they may attach via
suction cups to the glass doors. The shortcoming of these devices
is that they are made of two or more pieces of material, not
including any mounting hardware, which increases the production
cost and decreases the structural integrity.
[0007] The present invention accommodates vial-shaped containers
and can be used in similar locations as the aforementioned prior
art devices, but it may also be used in spaces not currently
occupied by the devices known in the prior art. Additionally, the
present invention is made of one piece of material, not including
any mounting hardware, which provides a manufacturing and cost
advantage over the prior art devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The purpose of the device for holding and displaying
vial-shaped beverage containers of the present invention is to
provide a device that holds and displays vial-shaped containers in
commercial refrigerators and other locations. The device of the
present invention can be positioned in locations currently occupied
by other beverage holders, such as attached to the inside of a
glass door. In this location and position, the device would be
positioned horizontally and made of a rigid material.
[0009] The invention can also be configured to occupy locations not
currently occupied by other devices, such as suspended from the
top-inside of a refrigerator, between the glass door and the
horizontal shelving, and made of either a flexible or rigid
material. The hardware used to attach the horizontal configuration
differs from the hardware used to attach the vertical
configuration. The holes in each configuration will also
differ.
[0010] This invention can be made from many different types of
plastics or other materials, and there are many different types of
hardware and apparatus that can be used to attach the invention.
Further, this invention is not dependent upon the process by which
the materials are formed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and
form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention
and, together with the description, further serve to explain the
principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the
pertinent art to make and use the invention.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of the present invention as it is
used in a vertical configuration;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention as it is used
in a vertical configuration;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention as it is used
in a vertical configuration;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention as it is used
in a vertical configuration illustrating the vial-shaped containers
positioned in the invention, as well as a hook for attaching the
invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a front view of the present invention as it is
used in a horizontal configuration;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention as it is used
in a horizontal configuration;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a top view of the present invention as it is used
in a horizontal configuration;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a side view of the present invention as it is used
in a horizontal configuration illustrating the vial-shaped
containers positioned in the device of the present invention and
one possible mounting option using suction cups and a hook;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a side view of the present invention as it is used
in a horizontal configuration illustrating the vial-shaped
containers positioned in the device of the present invention and a
second possible mounting option using suction cups; and
[0021] FIG. 10 is a front view of the present invention as it is
used in a horizontal configuration illustrating the vial-shaped
containers positioned in the device of the present invention and
the mounting option depicted in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] In the following detailed description of the invention of
exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements),
which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of
illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention
may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient
detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the
invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical,
mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention. The following
detailed description is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by
the appended claims.
[0023] In the following description, numerous specific details are
set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.
However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced
without these specific details. In other instances, well-known
structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art
have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the
invention.
[0024] Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various
major elements constituting the device of the present invention.
The device consists of a flat, rectangular surface having holes
large enough to accommodate the diameter of vial-shaped containers,
and small enough such that the closure area of the containers does
not pass through said holes. The device is further comprised of a
plurality of holes that are either circular or elliptical,
depending upon whether the device is suspended horizontally or
vertically, respectively. The eccentricity of the holes can vary
between 0 and 1. The number of holes and spacing between the holes
is dependent upon the size of the vial and the height or width of
the area in which the invention will be mounted.
[0025] Now referring to FIG. 1, device for holding and displaying
vial-shaped beverage containers of the present invention is
illustrated. The device consists of a rectangular surface region 1
with a plurality of elliptical-shaped holes 2. The length and width
of the rectangular surface region 1 invention as shown in FIG. 1 is
dependent upon the diameter and quantity of the vials the device is
required to hold, which can vary for a number of reasons such as
the size of the commercial refrigerator or the number of vials
wishing to be displayed or offered for sale. The eccentricity of
the elliptical-shaped holes 2 can vary between 0 and 1.
[0026] Now referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the rectangular surface
region 1 further consists of four sides each of which has a depth
with a minimum thickness of 1 mm. The thickness may be increased as
necessary to support increased weight due to the number of size of
the vials, but can not be less than 1 mm for the device to properly
function.
[0027] The material of the rectangular surface region 1 and can be
any plastic or other material suitable of supporting a gross weight
of at least one kilogram, including but not limited to
polypropylene, polyethylene and PVC. The material can be clear,
translucent or opaque.
[0028] Back-forming portion 4 of the present invention as shown in
FIG. 5 is rectangular and vertical with respect to the rectangular
surface region 1 of the bottom forming portion 5 with a minimum
wall thickness of 1 mm. Mounting hardware attaches to the
back-forming portion 4. The bottom forming portion 5 of the present
invention shown in FIG. 5 is rectangular and horizontal with
respect to back-forming portion 4 and also has a minimum wall
thickness of 1 mm.
[0029] Now referring to FIG. 4, a hook 6 is attached to one end of
the rectangular surface region 1 in such a manner so that the
rectangular surface region 1 is supported on one end by the hook 2
and suspended. In this vertical position, the device of the present
invention can hold a plurality of vials 7.
[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the back edge of the bottom
forming portion 5 joins with the bottom edge of the back-forming
portion 4 to create a flange for attaching the device to a
commercial freezer.
[0031] Now referring to FIG. 7, circular, non-joining holes 2 are
spaced along a linear path on the rectangular surface region 1. The
distance between each hole 2 is dependent upon the diameter of the
closure area of the vial-shaped containers.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a side view of the present invention as it is used
in a horizontal configuration illustrating the vial-shaped
containers 7 positioned in the device of the present invention and
one possible mounting option using suction cups 8 and a hook 6.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a side view of the present invention as it is used
in a horizontal configuration illustrating the vial-shaped
containers 7 positioned in the device of the present invention and
a second possible mounting option using suction cups 8 integrated
into the back-forming portion 4.
[0034] Now referring to FIG. 10 a front view of the present
invention as it is used in a horizontal configuration illustrating
the vial-shaped containers 7 positioned in the device of the
present invention and the mounting option mounting option using a
plurality of suction cups 8 and hooks 6.
[0035] It is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships
for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size,
materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly
and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary
skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description
are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
[0036] Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method
and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of
the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their
legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
* * * * *