U.S. patent application number 11/679752 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-28 for coaster.
Invention is credited to Stafford M. Lombard.
Application Number | 20080203264 11/679752 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39714798 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080203264 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lombard; Stafford M. |
August 28, 2008 |
COASTER
Abstract
An improved coaster that is cling resistant and simultaneously
transportable with a drinking vessel.
Inventors: |
Lombard; Stafford M.;
(Seattle, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AXIOS LAW GROUP. PLLC
1525 FOURTH AVENUE, SUITE 800
SEATTLE
WA
98101
US
|
Family ID: |
39714798 |
Appl. No.: |
11/679752 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/346.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 23/03 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/346.11 |
International
Class: |
A47G 23/03 20060101
A47G023/03 |
Claims
1. A coaster comprising: a coaster body having: a top surface
suitable to support a beverage container; a bottom surface suitable
to engage a substantially flat surface; an interior cavity formed
by said coaster body such that said cavity intersects both said top
surface and said bottom surface to form a hole; and said top
surface affixed substantially parallel to said bottom surface, said
interior cavity substantially centrally positioned on said top
surface and said bottom surface.
2. The coaster of claim 1, wherein said top surface and said bottom
surface comprises an absorbent material, said absorbent material is
selected from a group comprising paper, cardboard, cork, wood, wood
pulp, cotton, felt, cloth, rubber, sponge and synthetic fibers.
3. The coaster of claim 1, wherein said top surface and said bottom
surface form an outer edge, the shape of said outer edge is
selected from a group comprising a circle, square, star, triangle,
acute triangle, equilateral triangle, hexagon, obtuse triangle,
octagon, parallelogram, pentagon, rectangle, rhombus, right
triangle, semicircle, trapezoid, oval, quadrilateral, heptagon, and
kite.
4. The improved coaster of claim 1, wherein the shape of said
cavity is selected from a group comprising a circle, square, star,
triangle, acute triangle, equilateral triangle, hexagon, obtuse
triangle, octagon, parallelogram, pentagon, rectangle, rhombus,
right triangle, semicircle, trapezoid, oval, quadrilateral,
heptagon, and kite.
5. The coaster of claim 1, wherein said top surface and said bottom
surface form an outer edge, the shape of said outer edge is
different than the shape of said cavity.
6. The coaster of claim 1, wherein said cavity is suitable for
engaging a bottle neck.
7. 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.
8. A coaster for supporting a container comprising: a substantially
circular body having: a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer
edge, and an inner edged, wherein the diameter of said inner edge
is less than the diameter of said outer edge.
9. The coaster of claim 8, wherein said top surface and said bottom
surface comprises an absorbent material, said absorbent material is
selected from a group comprising paper, cardboard, cork, wood, wood
pulp, cotton, felt, cloth, rubber, sponge and synthetic fibers.
10. The coaster of claim 8, wherein, the shape of said outer edge
is different than the shape of said inner edge.
11. The coaster of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of
channels on said top surface and said bottom surface extending
radially from said inner edge to said outer edge.
12. The coaster of claim 8, wherein said top surface and said
bottom surface are suitable to support a beverage container and
suitable to engage a substantially flat surface.
13. The coaster of claim 8, wherein the diameter of said inner edge
is suitable for engaging a bottle neck.
14. A method for manufacturing a coaster from a substantially flat
absorbent material comprising: forming a body having a top side and
a bottom side; and cutting a hole in said body that is
substantially centrally located on said body and extending from
said top side to said bottom side.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising forming a plurality
of channels on said top side and said bottom side that extend
radially from said hole.
16. The method of claim 14 where said body is a shape selected from
a group comprising a circle, square, star, triangle, acute
triangle, equilateral triangle, hexagon, obtuse triangle, octagon,
parallelogram, pentagon, rectangle, rhombus, right triangle,
semicircle, trapezoid, oval, quadrilateral, heptagon, and kite.
17. The method of claim 14 where said hole is a shape selected from
a group comprising a circle, square, star, triangle, acute
triangle, equilateral triangle, hexagon, obtuse triangle, octagon,
parallelogram, pentagon, rectangle, rhombus, right triangle,
semicircle, trapezoid, oval, quadrilateral, heptagon, and kite.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The invention relates generally to drink coasters and more
specifically, in one embodiment, to a coaster that both prevents
adhesion to a drinking vessel or beverage bottle that has
condensation on its surface and can be placed around the neck of a
beverage bottle for easy carrying.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It has long been known that condensation from a drinking
glass or vessel can cause damage to the surface of bars, tables or
furniture upon which the glass or vessel is placed. Similarly,
spillover from the contents of the glass or vessel can cause such
damage. Numerous solutions to this problem have been proposed
throughout history. One popular solution is the drink coaster.
[0003] Drink coasters have been used for years as a means to
prevent condensation or spillover damage caused by drinking
vessels. One common problem with standard coasters is their
tendency to stick to the bottom of the vessel during use. This is
most often caused either by the condensation from the vessel or its
spilled contents forming a seal between the bottom of the vessel
and the coaster. The surface tension of the liquid, together with
the natural vacuum created between the coaster and the bottom of
the vessel, is often strong enough to hold the coaster to the
bottom of the vessel during use.
[0004] Multiple solutions have been proposed that include choice of
coaster material for absorption of the condensation or spillover,
means of elevating the vessel away from the coaster to prevent a
seal from forming, sufficiently weighted coasters to overcome the
surface tension and vacuum effect, etc. Such coasters are often
difficult or expensive to produce as they can involve the use of
multiple parts, expensive material or costly manufacturing
processes. While coasters of this type can be cost effectively
produced for individuals or residential use, they are often cost
prohibitive for use by bars or restaurants that require large
amounts of coasters on a yearly if not monthly basis.
[0005] While coasters come in all forms for both personal and
commercial use, the vast majority of coasters are used by bars and
restaurants that serve hundreds of drinks per business day. Such
establishments often use hundreds of coasters in a single evening
and given the regularity with which they are used, a certain
portion of the coasters are therefore lost, stolen or destroyed on
a daily basis. The number of coasters required on a yearly basis by
such bars and restaurants necessitate that they be inexpensive and
cost effective. Unfortunately, most coasters that are designed to
prevent their adhesion to the drinking vessel are too costly to be
used by most bars and restaurants.
[0006] Apart from their use to protect surfaces, coasters are a
popular means of advertising. Given the number of coasters used by
bars and restaurants, advertising on coasters is seen as an
effective way to market to a captive and targeted audience. Not
only do bars and restaurants advertise on coasters, many beverage
manufactures will place their name, slogans and marks on drink
coasters. Indeed, beverage producers find such advertising to be so
effective that they will provide large numbers of coasters to bars
and restaurants at no charge.
[0007] Because the typical non-stick type coaster is often made of
multiple parts with raised surfaces or mesh-like material, their
surfaces cannot effectively be used for advertising space. And
unlike the majority of coasters used in bars and restaurants,
printing or adhering a logo or advertisement on most non-stick type
coasters is not an easy or inexpensive process. Beverage producers
therefore have little interest in using or purchasing coasters that
cannot effectively and efficiently be used for advertising.
[0008] At establishments that provide bar service, cocktail waiters
and waitresses must carry drink coasters separate from the drinks
they are serving. While certain cocktails may not require the use
of a coaster, most beer bottles do because of the large amount of
condensation often present on the bottle. Servers that deliver more
than two drinks at a time most often will have to use a tray in
order to deliver both the drinks and the coasters in one trip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows the improved coaster positioned around the neck
of a drinking vessel.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the improved coaster.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the improved coaster.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
improved coaster.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a close-up view of an embodiment of the improved
coaster in use with a drinking vessel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] In one embodiment, the improved coaster can be made from a
single piece of material that is both simple and inexpensive to
manufacture. Since the coaster can be made from inexpensive
materials, it is both disposable and economical to produce in large
quantities. The center hole helps prevent a vacuum from forming
between the bottom of the drinking vessel and the coaster, thereby
preventing the coaster from sticking to the vessel during use. The
coaster can be made from an absorbing material such as paper,
cardboard, cork, wood, wood pulp, cotton, felt, cloth, rubber,
sponge, synthetic fibers and the like. Such material can further
prevent the coaster from sticking to the bottom of the drinking
vessel by absorbing the liquid collected at the base of the vessel
and preventing it from forming a seal between the coaster and the
vessel base.
[0015] Another embodiment provides a series of channels that help
to disperse the spillover and condensation collected on the
coaster, thereby expediting its absorption into the coaster. The
channels can also help prevent the vacuum effect by breaking up the
liquid seal at the base of the vessel which creates the vacuum.
Similarly, since the channels can be located on both sides of the
coaster, the channels located on the underside of the coaster
provide further ventilation between the coaster center hole and the
outside air to stop the vacuum effect from forming, even if a seal
is formed at the base of the vessel.
[0016] The hollow center of the coaster has the added benefit of
allowing it to be placed around the neck of the drinking vessel.
This helps simplify the transportation of the coaster when multiple
coasters are needed for one or more drinking vessels. For instance,
when serving a bottle of wine to five people, a waiter can locate
five coasters around the neck of the bottle leaving the other hand
free to carry glasses or other items. Similarly, a waiter or
waitress serving numerous beer bottles can locate the coasters
around the neck of one bottle thereby allowing them to carry
multiple bottles at once without use of a serving tray.
Alternatively, bartenders can put a coaster around the neck of each
bottle when multiple bottles are being delivered to separate
individuals.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the coaster 100 as it is
located around the neck 180 of the drinking vessel 170 having a
shoulder 190 and bottom 195. The neck 180 is positioned through the
coaster center hole 110 thereby allowing it to rest on the shoulder
190 of the drinking vessel. Depending upon the size of the drinking
vessel 170, length of the neck 180 and circumference of the coaster
center hole 110, numerous coasters 100 can be located around the
neck 180 of the drinking vessel 170.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the coaster 100 with center
hole 110, inner edge 220, outer edge 230, top surface 240 and
bottom surface 250. The drinking vessel 170 can rest upon either
the top surface 240 or bottom surface 250 depending upon the
orientation of the coaster 100. The center hole 110 prevents a
vacuum from forming between the bottom 195 of the drinking vessel
170 and the top surface 240 or bottom surface 250, again, depending
upon the orientation of the coaster 100 during use. The center hole
110 also fits around the neck 180 of the drinking vessel 170 such
that the coaster 100 can be simultaneously transported with the
drinking vessel 170. Both the top surface 240 and bottom surface
250 can be made from an absorbing material such as paper,
cardboard, cork, wood, wood pulp, cotton, felt, cloth, rubber,
sponge, synthetic fibers and the like.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the coaster 300. The
outer edge 340 can be made substantially square in shape to
increase the surface area of the top surface 320 and bottom surface
330 thereby increasing the amount of space available for the
inclusion of text, designs or advertising. The added surface area
of the top surface 320 and bottom surface 330 can also increase the
absorption capability of the coaster 300. The outer edge 340 can be
in different geometric shapes including a star, triangle, acute
triangle, equilateral triangle, hexagon, obtuse triangle, octagon,
parallelogram, pentagon, rectangle, rhombus, right triangle,
semicircle, trapezoid, oval, quadrilateral, heptagon, kite and the
like. Similarly, the inner edge 350 can be in different geometric
shapes including a star, triangle, acute triangle, equilateral
triangle, hexagon, obtuse triangle, octagon, parallelogram,
pentagon, rectangle, rhombus, right triangle, semicircle,
trapezoid, oval, quadrilateral, heptagon, kite and the like.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows yet another embodiment of the coaster 400. Both
the top surface 410 and bottom surface 420 of the coaster 400 can
include a plurality of top channels 430 and bottom channels 440 so
that the coaster 400 can function regardless of its orientation.
The top channels 430 and the bottom channels 440 can extend
radially from the coaster inner edge 450 to the outer edge 460.
Both the top channels 430 and bottom channels 440 increase the
surface area of the top surface 410 and bottom surface 420 thereby
adding to the absorption capability of either surface. Both the top
channels 430 and bottom channels 440 also help move excess liquid
away from saturated areas of the coaster 400 to areas that are dry,
thereby further adding to the absorption capability of either
surface.
[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the coaster 400 when it
is in use, together with a close up sectional view of a portion of
the coaster 400 and drinking vessel 170. During use, the bottom 195
of the drinking vessel 170 contacts the top surface 410 of the
coaster 400. Liquid condensation or spillover from the drinking
vessel is absorbed into the coaster 400 through both the top
surface 410 and the top channel walls 510 of the top channel 430.
The top channel walls 510 help draw the liquid away from both the
top surface 410 and the drinking vessel 170 thereby reducing the
seal caused by the liquid at the location where the drinking vessel
170 contacts the top surface 410 of the coaster 400. The top
channel walls 510 also draw liquid out of and away from the top
channel space 520 created between the top channel walls 510 and the
bottom 195 thereby allowing air to pass through the top channel
space 520 to the coaster center hole (not shown) thereby reducing
the vacuum that can be formed underneath the drinking vessel 170.
The plurality of top channels 430 and bottom channels 440 are
included to help draw the liquid away from the drinking vessel 170
across the entire top surface 410 and bottom surface 420, depending
upon the orientation of the coaster 400, and further prevent the
vacuum from forming between the top surface 410 and the bottom 195
of the drinking vessel 170.
[0022] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill
in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent
implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments
shown and described without departing from the scope of the present
invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or
variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is
manifestly intended that this invention not be limited by the
specific embodiments described herein.
* * * * *