U.S. patent application number 11/983572 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-14 for cocktail shaker.
Invention is credited to Kevin W. McLaughlin.
Application Number | 20090120932 11/983572 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40622743 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090120932 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McLaughlin; Kevin W. |
May 14, 2009 |
Cocktail shaker
Abstract
Devices and methods for filtering mixed drinks. In one
embodiment, drink ingredients are placed in a mixing container and
a cap is placed on top of the mixing container. The cap comprises a
closed end connected with an annular open end by a surface, and has
a perimeter located at the junction between the annulus and the
surface. The annular open end contains perforations formed by holes
or fingers that fit inside the rim of the mixing container, with
the rim of the mixing container in continuous contact with the
perimeter. The drink is poured and filtered by slightly lifting and
tilting the cap to allow gravity to pull the liquid through the
perforations, thereby filtering the drink and eliminating the need
for a separate filter.
Inventors: |
McLaughlin; Kevin W.;
(Berkeley, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ADAMS LAW OFFICE
2140 SHATTUCK AVE. SUITE 207
BERKELEY
CA
94704
US
|
Family ID: |
40622743 |
Appl. No.: |
11/983572 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/212 ;
366/130 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 19/005 20130101;
A47J 43/27 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/212 ;
366/130 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/56 20060101
B65D041/56 |
Claims
1. A device for filtering drinks comprising a cap made from a
solid, relatively rigid material wherein the cap comprises a closed
end and an open end, wherein the open end comprises an annulus with
perforations, wherein the perforations are sized to prevent
particles larger than a pre-determined size from passing through,
and wherein the annulus is connected with the closed end by a
surface, and wherein the surface comprises a rigid, solid body with
a perimeter that is connected with the annulus, and wherein the
perimeter is sized to connect snugly with a mixing container, and
wherein the annulus has a circumference that is smaller than the
perimeter.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the perforations are formed by
holes located in the annulus and wherein the annulus has a
continuous bottom edge.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the perforations comprises a
plurality of fingers in the annulus, wherein the fingers project
away from the surface, and wherein the annulus lacks a continuous
bottom edge.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the perforations are no larger
than 3/8 inch.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein a gasket is located at the
perimeter and wherein the mixing container is in continuous contact
with the gasket when the annulus of the cap is inside the mixing
container.
6. The device of claim 2 wherein a second gasket is located on the
continuous bottom edge of the annulus.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein a plurality of gaskets are located
on the surface.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the mixing container is double
walled.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein the mixing container is single
walled.
10. A device for filtering drinks comprising a mixing container
made of a solid, relatively rigid material connected with a rim,
wherein the mixing container is sized to receive drink ingredients,
wherein the rim comprises an annulus with perforations, and wherein
the perforations are sized to prevent particles larger than a
pre-determined size from passing through, and wherein the annulus
is sized to connect snugly with a cap with an open end with a
circumference.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein the perforations are formed by a
plurality of holes in the annulus.
12. The device of claim 10 wherein the perforations are formed by a
plurality of ridges in the annulus.
13. The device of claim 10 wherein the perforations are no larger
than 3/8/inch
14. The device of claim 10 wherein the cap has a perimeter with a
circumference and the perimeter circumference is greater than the
circumference of the open end.
15. A method of preparing a mixed drink comprising combining drink
ingredients in a mixing container with a rim, obtaining a cap made
from a solid, relatively rigid material wherein the cap comprises a
closed end and an open end, wherein the open end comprises an
annulus with perforations, wherein the perforations are sized to
prevent particles larger than a pre-determined size from passing
through, and wherein the annulus is connected with the closed end
by a surface, and wherein the surface comprises a rigid, solid body
with a perimeter that is connected with the annulus, and wherein
the perimeter is sized to connect snugly with a mixing container,
and wherein the annulus has a circumference that is smaller than
the perimeter, placing the cap on the mixing container so that the
perimeter of the cap connects snugly with rim of the mixing
container, shaking the mixing container connected with the cap to
sufficiently mix the drink ingredients, tilting and slightly
lifting the cap from the rim of the mixing container to expose some
of the perforations in the annulus while keeping the cap in contact
with the mixing container, tilting the mixing container and cap
together to pour the mixed drink ingredients into a receptacle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not applicable.
JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0003] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND
[0004] The invention relates to cocktail shakers used in the home,
restaurants or bars for making mixed drinks, alcoholic or
otherwise. Cocktail shakers have been used to prepare mixed drinks
for many years. A common feature of existing devices is the use of
a screen or other filtering means to filter out large pieces of ice
or other ingredients before pouring the drink into a glass for
consumption. The filter may be part of the cocktail shaker or may
be a separate device that is placed on top of the mixing container,
and extends across the opening of the mixing container. In this
way, the drink is filtered when the drink is poured from the mixing
container.
[0005] In public places, like bars or restaurants, bartenders
typically use a separate filter. The use of a separate screening
device requires time and effort to both use and to clean. A
separate filter requires that the bartender pick up the filter and
place the filter on the mixing container to make the drink. The
separate filter must be separately cleaned after the drink is made.
Debris often gets caught in the screen filter, making clean-up time
consuming and messy. All of these motions and steps take time that
is often in short supply, especially in a crowded bar or
restaurant.
[0006] Sometimes, professional bartenders dispense with the filter
entirely, and simply crack the cap away from the mixing container,
attempting to create a small space between the mixing container and
cap to prevent debris from pouring into the drinking glass. The
drink is then poured from between the crack. But, this technique
often results in large chucks of ice or debris ending up in the
drink because it is difficult to precisely hold the cap and mixing
container at the proper distance. Thus, the end result may be a
watery drink because too much ice ended up in the drink.
[0007] Other cocktail shakers come with a filter that is attached
to either the mixing container or the cap. These filters may be
permanently attached or may be removable for cleaning. Although
these devices exist, they are not typically used in bars and
restaurants because of the need to rapidly clean and re-use the
cocktail shaker. The attached filters make cleaning the device much
more time-consuming and difficult, and cocktail shakers with
attached filters are typically used in the home.
[0008] One common feature of existing devices, whether used in
bars, restaurants or the home, is that the filter device covers the
entire mouth of the mixing container. For example, Hawthorne
strainers are frequently used by professional bartenders and
consist of a flat metal surface that covers the rim of the mixing
container, with a continuous coil of wire at the perimeter. Other
strainers that cover the rim of the mixing container are taught in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,165, issued to Linz et al. on Jul. 5, 2005 and
U.S. D498,966 issued to Fiedeler et al. on Nov. 30, 2004. Other
devices use a filter to entirely cover a pouring spout, for example
U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,046 issued to Bennett on Nov. 26, 1985. In all
cases, the filter device is essentially horizontal, and covers the
rim or other opening through which liquid is dispensed.
[0009] It is often important that mixed drinks be made quickly,
particularly in bars and restaurants. If numerous customers are
waiting for drinks, bartenders may simply refuse to make certain
types of drinks because of the time involved.
[0010] The present invention dispenses with the need for a filter
to cover the entire rim or opening of the mixing container.
Likewise, it eliminates the need to separately clean the
filter.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0011] The present invention allows for rapidly making a mixed
drink, without the use of a separate filter, and without the need
for a filter that covers the opening of the mixing container.
[0012] In one embodiment, the invention is a cap that snugly fits
with a mixing container. The mixing container may be a standard
sized glass or any container that is capable of holding the
ingredients of a mixed drink, and thus the cap may be of any size
needed to snugly connect with the mixing container.
[0013] The cap has an open end connected by a surface with a closed
end. The open end comprises an annulus connected with a perimeter
which is in turn connected with a surface. The annulus has a
smaller circumference than the perimeter of the cap, so that the
annulus fits inside a mixing container, while the cap perimeter
rests on the rim of the mixing container. The annulus contains a
plurality of perforations sized to prevent large chips of ice or
other debris from passing through the perforations. The size of the
perforations may be varied depending on the size of particles to be
filtered out. In addition, the perforations may be holes or may be
made from a plurality of fingers, projections or flanges.
[0014] In one embodiment, a gasket sits directly above the annulus,
at the perimeter that connects the annulus with the surface. The
gasket surrounds the cap and may prevent leaks. Other embodiments
contain two or more gaskets for ornamentation and/or to prevent
leaks.
[0015] In another embodiment, the mixing container is
double-walled.
[0016] To pour the drink, the operator simply cracks open the cap,
tilting and lifting it slightly out of the mixing container so that
part of the perforated annular opening is exposed. The bartender
tilts the mixing container and cap sideways, and the drink pours
out through the perforations.
[0017] In another embodiment of the invention the perforated
annulus is located on the rim of the mixing container, and the cap
is solid.
[0018] The elimination of a separate filter saves time in preparing
a drink and in the subsequent clean-up. The elimination of an
integral filter that covers the rim of a mixing container also
makes clean-up far more efficient.
DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention, in
use.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a side view of the same embodiment of the
invention, showing the next step in use.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of the
invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the
invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the
invention.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of the
invention.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the
invention.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a side view of another embodiment of the
invention.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a side view of another embodiment of the
invention.
[0029] FIG. 11 is a side view of the same embodiment of the
invention, showing the next step in use.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the same embodiment of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Standard cocktail shakers are frequently used with a
separate filtering device. Typically, drink ingredients are put
into a mixing container, a top is placed over the container and the
bartender shakes the container to mix the drink ("bartender" will
be used for ease of understanding and is defined as any person
preparing a drink, whether in a bar, restaurant, or the home).
After shaking and mixing, the bartender may remove the cap and
place a separate filter over the rim of the mixing container,
pouring the mixed drink through the filter to remove large bits of
ice or other large drink ingredients.
[0032] The use of a separate filter requires extra motions and
steps that take time that is often in short supply, especially in a
crowded bar or restaurant.
[0033] The present invention eliminates the need to separately
handle a filter, either for preparing a drink or during clean-up.
In one embodiment, a cap 10 is made of any solid, relatively rigid
material. Non-limiting examples of such a material are plastic,
metal or wood. Cap 10 may be made of any combination of these
materials, or may be made entirely of one type of solid, relatively
rigid material. Cap 10 has a closed end 12 connected with an open
end 14 by surface 16.
[0034] Open end 14 comprises annulus 18 with a plurality of
perforations 20. Perforations 20 may be any size desired to filter
or remove particles, including ice chips, above a pre-determined
size. Typical filters currently available generally filter out
particles that are larger than approximately 3/8'', and one
embodiment of the invention will contain perforations sized to
filter out particles larger than 3/8''.
[0035] Perforations 20 may be a plurality of holes located in
annulus 18. In this embodiment, annulus 18 has a solid or
continuous bottom edge 26, as shown in FIG. 6. In yet another
embodiment, a second gasket 28 is connected with continuous bottom
edge 26, as shown in FIG. 5.
[0036] In another embodiment, perforations 20 are formed by fingers
21, as shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, annulus 18 does not
have a solid or continuous bottom edge. Instead, annulus 18 is
comprised of a plurality of fingers or projections 21 with spaces
between the fingers, where these spaces are perforations 20.
[0037] Annulus 18 is connected with perimeter 22 that is connected
with surface 16, as shown in FIG. 6. In one embodiment, perimeter
22 will have a gasket 24 surrounding the outside of cap 10.
Perimeter 22, with or without gasket 24, is sized to fit snugly
with rim 30 of mixing container 32, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When
cap is 10 placed on mixing container 32, gasket 24 will be in
continuous contact with rim 30 of mixing container 32, thereby
preventing leaks and spills, as shown in FIG. 1. Gasket 24 may be
made of any flexible, food-grade material, and is preferably made
from silicone.
[0038] In one embodiment surface 16 is dome shaped, with surface 16
comprised of curved walls connecting closed end 12 with open end
14. However surface 16 may be any shape that can accommodate
perimeter 22.
[0039] Perimeter 22 is located at the bottom of surface 16 and is
connected with surface 16. When cap 10 is placed on mixing
container 32, perimeter 22 will rest snugly against the rim 30 of
mixing container 32. Annulus 18 is angled slightly inward so that
the circumference of annulus 18 is smaller than the circumference
of perimeter 22. In this way, when cap 10 is resting on rim 30 of
mixing container 32, annulus 18 will be inside the walls of mixing
container 32 and will not rest snugly against the walls of mixing
container 32, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0040] In all embodiments, mixing container 32 may be
single-walled, as shown in FIG. 1, or it may be double-walled, as
shown in FIG. 8. The second or double wall 34 helps to insulate the
mixing container.
[0041] In all embodiments, there may be a single gasket 24, two
gaskets 24 and 28, or a plurality of gaskets, as shown in FIG. 7.
The plurality of gaskets may be to prevent leak or for
ornamentation.
[0042] To make a drink, the drink ingredients are placed in mixing
container 32. Cap 10 is put on top of mixing container 32 and
perimeter 22 or gasket 24 comes into continuous contact with rim 30
of mixing container 32. The device is shaken to mix the drink. To
filter and pour the mixed drink, cap 10 is slightly lifted out of
mixing container 32. Cap 10 is not entirely removed from mixing
container 32; it is partially lifted and slightly tilted, as shown
in FIG. 2. Because annulus 18 has a smaller circumference than
perimeter 22, the lifting and tilting action will expose part of
annulus 18 above rim 30 of mixing container 32. As the annulus is
exposed, perforations 20 in annulus 18 are similarly exposed. The
bartender tilts the mixing container and cap sufficiently far
enough sideways, so that gravity will pull liquid out through
perforations 20 in annulus 18. In the preferred method, the
bartender keeps part of annulus 18 from which the liquid will flow
in contact with mixing container 32. Thus, the liquid can only
leave the mixing container by going through perforations 20 in
annulus 18. This is the same, whether the perforations are formed
by holes or by fingers.
[0043] Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment,
annulus 118 is connected with mixing container 132. Annulus 118
contains perforations 120, where perforations 120 may be formed by
holes, or may be formed by ridges 123.
[0044] As shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, annulus 118 is connected
with rim 130 of mixing container 132. Perforations 120 are formed
by ridges 123 which extend inward from annulus 118. FIG. 12 shows a
cross-sectional view of annulus 118, showing ridges 123 extending
inward, and forming perforations 120.
[0045] In these embodiments, cap 110 is of any shape and material
that fits snugly inside mixing container 132. Cap 110 comprises
closed end 112 connected with open end 114 by surface 116. FIGS. 10
and 11 show cap 110 with perimeter 122 that has a circumference
that is greater than the circumference of open end 114.
[0046] The drink ingredients are placed in mixing container 132,
cap 110 is put in place so that perimeter 122 is in continuous
contact with rim 130, and the device is shaken to mix the drink.
After mixing, the bartender lifts and tilts cap 110, again keeping
the lower edge of cap 110 in contact with mixing container 132, as
shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. The mixing container 132 and cap 110 are
tilted and gravity will act on the liquid inside mixing container
132, pulling it down and filtering the liquid through perforations
120.
[0047] Various changes and modification to the invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention. The embodiments disclosed herein
are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not
restrictive, and the scope of the invention is as stated in the
claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that
come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are
intended to be embraced herein.
* * * * *