U.S. patent application number 11/751830 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-27 for aeration wine glass.
Invention is credited to Joy Mangano.
Application Number | 20080290102 11/751830 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39673191 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080290102 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mangano; Joy |
November 27, 2008 |
Aeration Wine Glass
Abstract
A wine glass having a bowl with a protrusion on the inner
surface of the bottom end. The wine glass may aerate and enhance
the bouquet of wine contained therein while providing an
aesthetically pleasing appearance. The protrusion may also include
a hole to allow wine to flow therethrough for further aeration.
Inventors: |
Mangano; Joy; (St. James,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KENYON & KENYON LLP
1500 K STREET N.W., SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
39673191 |
Appl. No.: |
11/751830 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/703 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 2400/045 20130101;
A47G 19/2205 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/703 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22 |
Claims
1. A drinking glass configured to hold wine therein, comprising: a
bowl having a top end and a bottom end, the bowl having an opening
at the top end; and a conically shaped protrusion integrally formed
on an interior surface of the bottom end of the bowl, wherein the
protrusion is formed such that when the bowl is moved the
protrusion creates turbulence to increase oxygen flow to enhance
aeration of the wine.
2. The drinking glass of claim 1, further comprising a stem having
a top and a bottom, the stem extending from the bottom end of an
exterior surface of the bowl for supporting the bowl thereon.
3. The drinking glass of claim 1, further comprising a foot
connected to the bottom of the stem for supporting the stem and
bowl thereon.
4. The drinking glass of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is
symmetrical.
5. A wine glass for holding wine, comprising: a bowl having a top
end and a bottom end, the bowl having an opening at the top end;
and a conically shaped protrusion integrally formed on an interior
surface of the bottom end of the bowl, the protrusion having at
least one hole extending therethrough, wherein the protrusion is
formed such that when the bowl is moved the protrusion creates
turbulence to increase oxygen flow to enhance aeration of the
wine.
6. The wine glass of claim 5, further comprising a stem having a
top and a bottom, the stem extending from the bottom end of an
exterior surface of the bowl for supporting the bowl thereon.
7. The wine glass of claim 5, further comprising a foot connected
to the bottom of the stem for supporting the stem and bowl
thereon.
8. The wine glass of claim 5, wherein the at least one hole extends
along a horizontal plane.
9. The wine glass of claim 5, wherein the at least one hole extends
at an angle from a horizontal plane.
10. The wine glass of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of
holes formed in the protrusion.
11. The wine glass of claim 5, wherein the plurality of holes are
parallel to each other.
12. The wine glass of claim 5, wherein the plurality of holes
intersect with each other.
13. The wine glass of claim 5, wherein the protrusion is
symmetrical.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to a wine glass configured
to enhance the aeration of wine.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Numerous wine glasses have been developed for the drinking
and tasting of wine. Some of these glasses are designed to enhance
the bouquet of the wine. Riedel.TM. has developed wine glasses
where the bowl is shaped to match a particular type of wine, as
discussed in the "Background" section of U.S. Publication No.
2003/0189055.
[0003] Beverage containers have been made having various centrally
disposed protrusions, frequently for artistic or visual effect,
such as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,028,035; Des. 405,316; Des.
363,854; and Des. 343,990. Protrusions have also been used to
improve the mixing action of shakers for preparing mixed drinks,
for instance, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 2,208,431.
[0004] More recently, protrusions have been employed in wine
tasting vessels to increase the release of the bouquet of a wine as
a sample of wine in the vessel is swirled, as taught in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 6,644,846 and 6,409,374.
[0005] These patents teach a protrusion having a platform which
extends across the top of the protrusion and is described as
extending to and continuing down the side, forming what might be
viewed as a vertical rib or fin protruding from the protrusion.
This protrusion is employed in combination with a rib on the
interior surface of the vessel positioned opposite the platform, to
constrict the flow of the swirled liquid in order to provide a
venturi effect to promote release of the bouquet. This geometry
would appear to provide most of the disturbance beneath the surface
and, unless the swirling were very violent, would not notably
aerate the wine, thereby limiting the effectiveness in enhancing
the bouquet. Furthermore, the rib is an integral part of the
sidewall of the glass and thus interferes with the visual
observation of the clarity and color to the wine which contributes
to the tasting experience.
[0006] U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2006/0032855 shows a bouquet
enhancing wineglass that has a central circular or spiral
protrusion extending vertically into the bowl of the glass. This
publication teaches a protrusion that takes up a large portion of
the volume of the bowl and may extend from the center of the
liquid, disrupting the aesthetic appearance.
[0007] Thus, there is a need for a wineglass which is effective in
aerating and enhancing the bouquet of the wine contained therein
while providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0008] The present application relates to a wine glass configured
to enhance the aeration of wine.
[0009] In accordance with certain embodiments of the present
invention, a drinking glass may comprise a bowl having a top end
and a bottom end. The bowl can have an opening at the top end and a
conically shaped protrusion integrally formed on an interior
surface of the bottom end thereof. The protrusion may be formed
such that when the bowl is moved the protrusion creates turbulence
to increase oxygen flow to enhance aeration of the wine.
[0010] In accordance with other embodiments of the present
invention a wine glass may comprise a bowl having a top end and a
bottom end. The bowl can have an opening at the top end and a
conically shaped protrusion integrally formed on an interior
surface of the bottom end thereof. The protrusion may have at least
one hole extending therethrough. The protrusion may be formed such
that when the bowl is moved the protrusion creates turbulence to
increase oxygen flow to enhance aeration of the wine.
[0011] The invention may be embodied by numerous other devices and
methods. The description provided herein, when taken in conjunction
with the annexed drawings, discloses examples of the invention.
Other embodiments, which incorporate some or all steps as taught
herein, are also possible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a wine glass as may be employed
in accordance with certain embodiments of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the wine glass of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a front view of a wine glass as may be employed
with other embodiments of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the wine glass of FIG. 3; and
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a front view of a wine glass as may be employed
in accordance with still other embodiments of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The present invention provides an aeration wine glass that
enhances the flavors of the wine when the wine is swirled.
[0018] For example, when sampling wine, by swirling the wine glass,
the taster mildly agitates the wine to enhance the bouquet of the
wine before it is sampled. The agitation is accomplished by
swirling the wine glass roughly in a horizontal plane and imparting
an essentially circular motion. This motion results in the wine
being carried up the sides of the glass. When the swirling is
stopped, the wine settles back. This motion of the surface of the
wine relative to the air captive in the glass enhances transfer of
the bouquet of the wine to the air, which in turn increases the
flavor perceived by the taster upon tasting the wine. The present
application allows for greater aeration of the wine than a normal
wine glass would allow.
[0019] Referring initially to FIGS. 1-2, the wine glass 10 includes
a bowl 12, a stem 14, and a foot 16. The bowl has an opening 18 at
the top end for drinking. The bowl has a protrusion 20 at the
bottom end, above where the stem 14 meets the bowl 12. In the
example, the protrusion 20 is generally conically shaped with a
rounded top surface; however, other shapes (e.g., circular, oval,
square, rectangular, star, etc.) may be used. Although only one
protrusion 20 is shown, any number of protrusions may be provided
to enhance aeration.
[0020] As the wine is swirled by the taster, the liquid is forced
to flow around the protrusion 20, thus creating turbulence to
enhance the flow of oxygen to aerate the wine.
[0021] In accordance with other embodiments of the present
application, as seen in FIGS. 3-4, the wine glass 310 may include a
protrusion 320 having a hole 322. The hole 322 may extend through
the protrusion 320 to form a generally tubular bore. Hole 322 can
allow the wine to flow therethrough. Consequently, as the wine is
swirled by the taster, not only may turbulence be created by the
protrusion 320, but the wine can also travel through the hole 322
to further enhance aeration.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention in
which multiples holes 522 can be used. In the example of FIG. 5,
the protrusion 520 has multiple holes 522a, b, c which extend
parallel to each other. Although the holes extend parallel to one
another in this example, other arrangements may be used. For
example, any number of holes may be used and these holes can be
arranged perpendicular and/or diagonal to each other, such as by
intersecting at one or more points.
[0023] It is noted herein above that this invention contemplates
any number of holes to allow for aeration of the wine. Moreover,
although the holes are shown as being horizontal, they can
alternatively extend at an angle to the horizontal plane, so that
gravity assists with the aeration process.
[0024] The wine glass described herein above can be composed of any
suitable materials, but is preferably composed of glass, plastic,
metal, or lead crystal. The bowl and the stem can be made as one
integral piece or can be designed as two detachable pieces for
easier storage. Although the present invention is discussed with
respect to wine, any liquid can be placed inside the bowl.
[0025] The shape of the bowl may be altered to suit the liquid that
is placed inside. Traditionally, white wine is served in narrower
glasses with an approximately cylindrical shaped bowl, and red wine
is served in wider glasses with an approximately spherical shaped
bowl. Champagne is typically served in a glass called a flute,
which has a narrower and taller bowl than that used for white wine.
A traditional wine glass has convex sides, which allows for the
glass to be wider at the base to improve the wine-air interface,
and narrower at the top to concentrate the aromas to the nose of
the taster. The bowl of this invention may have a range of shapes
including spherical and cylindrical, and may have convex sides,
concave sides, or straight sides. The protrusion and hole(s) can
improve the aeration, so that even in a glass that is narrower at
the bottom of the bowl, the air-wine interface may be greater.
[0026] While the present invention is described with respect to
particular examples and preferred embodiments, it is understood
that the present invention is not limited to these examples and
embodiments. The present invention as claimed therefore includes
variations from the particular examples and preferred embodiments
described herein, as will be apparent to one of skill in the
art.
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