U.S. patent application number 13/136753 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-01 for nautical bar server.
Invention is credited to Diane Lee Pendleton.
Application Number | 20120048149 13/136753 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45695405 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120048149 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pendleton; Diane Lee |
March 1, 2012 |
Nautical bar server
Abstract
Marine Equipment, more specifically, an apparatus that provides
a durable, stable and secure, portable, full service liquor,
beverage, and bar accessory storage, display and server box
designed for nautical vessels in a marine environment that are
subjected to rocking in water. The apparatus can best be described
as a box made of plastic composite board with cut-outs on the top
of the box. The cut-outs securely accommodate various bar items
such as liquor bottles, wine bottles, ice bucket, wine cooler,
blender, shaker cup, glasses, a cutting board, and condiment trays.
The "fixed top" embodiment of the invention has a wood molding trim
top rail for preventing items sitting on the box from sliding off
due to the vessel rocking in water. The "storage box with slide-in,
interchangeable utility tops" embodiment of the invention provides
a storage box plus a full service bar top, a food preparation and
service top, and a cutting board top that can be used to filet fish
or as a general purpose table top for activities such as rigging
bait. A stainless steel bottle opener and bar tool set are bolted
to the side of the box. The box may be bolted to a mounting bracket
which is designed to slide in and securely lock into a rod
holder.
Inventors: |
Pendleton; Diane Lee;
(Jupiter, FL) |
Family ID: |
45695405 |
Appl. No.: |
13/136753 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61376394 |
Aug 24, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
108/13 ;
108/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 29/00 20130101;
B63B 29/22 20130101; A47G 23/0641 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/13 ;
108/25 |
International
Class: |
A47B 69/00 20060101
A47B069/00; A47B 83/02 20060101 A47B083/02; A47F 9/00 20060101
A47F009/00 |
Claims
1. A portable apparatus for securely storing, displaying, preparing
and serving food and beverages on a boat subjected to rocking due
to wave action, comprising: a box with a top, a bottom, left side,
right side, a back side and front side; the top of the box defining
a plurality of holes for receiving and securely holding bottles,
ice buckets, condiment trays, glasses, plates, utensils, napkins
and more; a box having a bottom support surface and a sidewall or
trim molding that rises above the top level surface, thus
preventing items from sliding off the top surface; a plurality of
holes in the central portion of bottom surface of the box adapted
to receive the bolts of a mounting bracket which is designed to
easily slide into and lock securely into the rod holder; A
plurality of holes in the side of box adapted to receive the bolts
which attach a stainless steel bottle opener and bar tool set to
the box;
2. The apparatus of claim 1, also embodies a box design with
slide-in, interchangeable utility tops allowing for use of the box
for accessible, covered storage; and featuring a slide-in top
designed to accommodate a full service bar; a slide-in top designed
to accommodate food preparation, display and service; a slide-in
top that is a flat surface that can be used as a cutting board or
table; additional slide-in utility tops that provide for a wide
variety of utility uses.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 can also be mounted to a bracket
designed to slide-in and lock into a trailer hitch mount thus
providing for use of the invention as a vehicle accessory;
4. Use of the apparatus of claim 1 without any mounting bracket is
claimed;
Description
[0001] Related documents consist of two provisional patents that I
filed in 2010. The first provisional patent was filed Jun. 23,
2010, Application No. 61/357,614, Confirmation #3771, Title:
Nautical Bar Server. The second provisional patent was filed Aug.
24, 2010, Application No. 61/376,394, Confirmation #3281, Nautical
Storage Box with Slide-in Interchangeable Utility Tops. I was
advised by an attorney to integrate the two patents into a single
utility patent.
[0002] The objective of the invention was to solve the problem of
having no way to securely store, prepare and serve beverage items
on a boat subject to rocking due to wave action. Boats typically do
not have a preparation table surface with trim to prevent items
from sliding off, a cutting board surface, or a secure bottle
storage, display, preparation and serving apparatus. Therefore, I
had to get a cup, get ice out of the cooler, get liquor, mixers and
condiments from several different and inconvenient storage places
on the boat. Given no flat surface, I had to sit on the floor of
the boat to make drinks. The rocking boat would cause filled cups
and bottles to fall over and liquor and mixers bottles would spill.
When finished making a drink, I would have to put everything back
to various storage places. I had to go through the entire arduous
process every time someone wanted a drink. These previously
existing problems are all solved by the Nautical Bar Server and my
objective was successfully met. The Nautical Bar Server is a
unique, original apparatus that provides a stable and secure full
service beverage and/or food bar, as well as cutting board and
rigging table for nautical vessels that are subjected to rocking in
water.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The field of endeavor to which this invention pertains is
Marine Supplies, specifically equipment for storing, displaying,
preparing and serving drinks and/or food, being more specifically a
nautical bar server box with the option of interchangeable,
slide-in utility tops which provide for additional marine related
uses such as storing lures, rigging bait, filleting fish and
more.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally
provides an apparatus that provides a durable, stable and secure,
portable, full service liquor, beverage, and bar accessory storage,
display and server box designed for nautical vessels in a marine
environment that are subject to rocking in water. The apparatus can
best be described as a box made of durable, marine grade plastic
composite board with cut-outs on the top of the box. The cut-outs
securely accommodate various bar items such as liquor bottles, wine
bottles, ice bucket, wine cooler, blender, shaker cup, glasses, a
cutting board, and condiment trays. The "fixed top" embodiment of
the invention has a wood molding trim top rail for preventing items
sitting on the box from sliding off due to the vessel rocking in
water. The "storage box with slide-in, interchangeable utility
tops" embodiment of the invention provides a storage box plus a
full service bar top, a food preparation and service top, and a
cutting board top that can be used to filet fish or as a general
purpose table top for activities such as rigging bait. A stainless
steel bottle opener and bar tool set are bolted to the side of the
box. The box may be bolted to a mounting bracket which is designed
to slide in and securely lock into a rod holder along the gunwale
of a vessel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The features and advantages of the invention will be more
apparent from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top view of the "fixed top" embodiment of the
Nautical Bar Server.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a view of the bottom of the Nautical Bar Server
showing holes for bolt inserts and the screws along the edge which
secure the bottom to the sides of Bar.
[0008] FIG. 3 is the "Interchangeable, Slide-In Top" embodiment of
the Nautical Bar Server.
[0009] FIG. 4 is the "Cutting Board and/or Table Top" Slide-In
Top.
[0010] FIG. 5 is the "Bar & Beverage Service" Slide-In Top.
[0011] FIG. 6 is the "Food Service" Slide-In Top.
[0012] PHOTO 1 is the only means to show the Nautical Bar Server
bolted to mounting bracket which is securely locked into rod holder
along Gunwale of vessel.
[0013] PHOTO 2 is the only means to show bottle opener and bar tool
set bolted to Bar.
[0014] PHOTO 3 is the only means to show the "Bar Slide-In Top" on
Nautical Bar Server.
[0015] PHOTO 4 is the only means to show Slide-In Cutting Board Top
with storage inside box.
[0016] PHOTO 5 is the only means to show Box use for Storage.
[0017] PHOTO 6 is the only means to show "Tailgate Version" mounted
to trailer hitch.
[0018] PHOTO 7 is the only means to show Bar without Mount.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the
invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,
but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention since the scope of the invention is
best defined by the appended claims.
[0020] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally
provides an apparatus that provides a durable, stable and secure,
portable, full service liquor, beverage, and bar accessory storage,
display and server box designed for nautical vessels that are
subject to rocking in water.
[0021] One embodiment of the Nautical Server Box 7 may comprise a
"Starboard" (type of plastic composite board which is a very
durable, trademarked product commonly used on boats and for marine
products) box with cut-outs on the top of the box. The cut-outs may
securely accommodate various items that a user may require
convenient access to. In one aspect, the cut-outs may accommodate
various bar items such as mixers 3, liquor bottles 4, ice bucket 2,
shaker cup 9, glasses 5, a cutting board 8, and condiment trays 6.
The box may also comprise a wood molding trim top rail 1 for
preventing items sitting on the box from sliding off due to the
vessel rocking in water. The box may employ mounting bracket
attaching means comprising four holes 13 on the bottom adapted to
receive the bolts of a mounting bracket which is designed to
securely fit into the rod holder. Two holes 10 are provided along
the side 18 of box to receive the bolts which attach a bottle
opener. Two holes 11 are provided along same side for bolting bar
tool set to the box (PHOTO 2).
[0022] One embodiment of said box is a fixed top FIG. 1 attached to
sides of box with stainless steel screws and finished with wood
trim molding. The bottom of the box is securely attached to the
sides with stainless steel screws FIG. 2 inserted into holes along
the edges 12 of the bottom of the bar 21. Four holes 13 are
provided in the central portion of the bottom of the box to insert
the bolts securing the mounting bracket to the bar. A second
embodiment of said box is a box design FIG. 3 with removable,
interchangeable tops FIGS. 4, 5, 6 which easily slide into and out
of the box from the front of box 20 via slotted tracks 19 in the
interior sides 17, 18 of the box. The top sits on a shelf 14 which
runs along the inside of the rear side 16 of the box. The top is
secured to the box through a hole 15 in which a stainless steel,
quick release pin is inserted. The interchangeable tops can be
designed for a cutting board 22, FIG. 4 (PHOTO 4); beverage service
FIG. 5 (PHOTO 3); food service FIG. 6 which provides cut-outs
designed for bowls 24, plates 25, condiments 26, napkins 27,
utensils 28, and a rectangular serving tray 29. The invention may
also be used for a plurality of marine related uses such as bait
rigging or fishing cleaning (PHOTO 4). This embodiment of said box
provides for stable and dry storage of fishing tackle (PHOTO 5),
utensils, service items and more. The items stored in the box can
be easily accessed by simply pulling the pin and sliding the top
toward the front and/or off the box. The box provides effective
storage, display and service means, especially designed for
stabilization given a rocking boat.
[0023] The box with attached mounting bracket may easily be
inserted and easily removed from the fishing rod holders located
along the gunwale of a boat. (PHOTO 1) The four holes may also
provide the means to attach said box to a mount designed to fit
into a trailer hitch, allowing said bar server box to be used as a
vehicle accessory for tailgating, camping or other activity
requiring a stable server box mounted to a vehicle via the tailgate
(PHOTO 6). The box can be used without a mount on any flat surface
(PHOTO 7).
[0024] The manner and process of making said box commences with
cutting appropriate size pieces of plastic composite board from a
56''.times.96''.times.1/2'' sheet with a table saw equipped with a
80 tooth carbide tipped blade that is specially designed to
effective cut plastic composite board. Each box consist of at least
six pieces of plastic composite board which are attached together
to form the four sides, bottom and top of box. Multiple,
interchangeable tops are provided for one embodiment of box. Round
holes with various sizes corresponding to the intended use are cut
out of the top of the box using an adjustable circle cutting bit
attached to a drill press. Unique shaped holes and slots designed
to accommodate various uses such as wine stem glasses, condiment
trays, a teak wood cutting board and more, are cut out of the tops
with a router guided by custom made jigs, or a jigsaw. Four holes
are drilled in one side of the box to accommodate a bottle opener
and a bar tool set. Four holes are drilled in the central portion
of the bottom of the box to accommodate the bolts which attach the
rod holder mounting bracket to the box.
[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, the next step is to
drill screw holes in the top, bottom and sides which allow the box
to be assembled and secured together with stainless steel screws.
6' Strips of wood trim "Ell" molding are cut at a 45.degree. angle
with a mitre saw, sanded, hand painted with 3 coats of outdoor
paint, glued together and attached to the top with glue and brads
inserted along the sides of the molding with a nail gun.
[0026] In a second embodiment of the invention, screw holes are not
drilled in the top. Instead slotted tracks are cut out of the
inside of the sides and rear of the box with a router bit. The
bottom and four sides of the box are attached together with
stainless steel screws and the top slides into position. A 3/4''
wide strip of Starboard is attached to the inside of the rear side
of the box providing a shelf for the slide-in top to sit on and be
pinned to.
[0027] Once the slide-in top is in place, a hole is drilled through
the top and rear inside shelf which is designed to accommodate a
2'' stainless steel quick release pin which is easily inserted and
removed. The quick release pin secures the top in place.
[0028] A teak wood cutting board is cut to shape with a table saw.
The edges are rounded with a router and sanded. The cutting board
is placed in a specially designed hole in the top of the box. The
hole is designed with a router bit to provide a 1/2'' wide shelf
for the teak cutting board to sit on and be flush with the top of
the box. The stainless steel bottle opener and bar tool set are
bolted to the side of the box. A stainless steel plaque with
Trademark name is taped and then screwed to the front side of the
box. All of the edges of the box are sanded by either a palm
sander, sanding bit attached to a drill press, or by hand with
sandpaper. The process of making the bar is complete.
[0029] The bar and additional interchangeable tops are stored in a
heavy duty canvas carrying case while vessel is underway and bar is
not in use. A bottle and accessories bag is provided. Once
anchored, the bar is removed from the carrying case and the
mounting bracket is inserted into the rod holder and locked
securely into place with a lever. Reuseable "ice" packs are placed
in the box to keep the contents of the condiment trays and bottles
chilled. The ice bucket, condiment trays, glasses, bottles, shaker
and accessories are placed in the appropriate hole or slot. Ice is
placed in the ice bucket. Liquor and beverages are displayed and
conveniently accessible for users. The glasses sit securely in a
hole while being filled with ice and beverage of choice. Limes and
other condiments are contained in covered condiment trays. These
trays can also be used for crackers, cheese bites and more.
[0030] Regarding the nautical bar server with interchangeable,
slide-in, utility tops, several tops are provided in the carrying
case. If the storage box with cutting board is desired, the box is
filled with desired items and the cutting board top slides into
place and is secured with a pin. If the nautical bar server top is
desired, the bar service top slides into place and accessories are
placed appropriately. If the food service top is desired, it is
simply slid into place and bowls, plates, napkins and utensils are
placed appropriately.
[0031] When finished using nautical bar server, inserted items are
removed and placed in accessory storage bag. The bar can be rinsed
(if desired), dried and returned to storage carrying case.
[0032] The foregoing description of preferred, exemplary or other
embodiments of is not intended to limit or restrict the scope or
applicability of the inventive concepts conceived of by the
Applicant. In exchange for disclosing the inventive concepts
contained herein, the Applicant desires all patent rights afforded
by the appended claims. Therefore, it is intended that the appended
claims include all modifications and alterations to the full extent
that they come within the scope of the following claims or the
equivalent thereof.
* * * * *