U.S. patent number RE29,708 [Application Number 05/740,831] was granted by the patent office on 1978-07-25 for decanter handle structure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Cory Food Services, Inc.. Invention is credited to Norman H. Schlegel.
United States Patent |
RE29,708 |
Schlegel |
July 25, 1978 |
Decanter handle structure
Abstract
A one-piece plastic handle structure for supporting a glass
decanter such as for dispensing coffee and similar liquids. The
handle structure is adapted to be removably engaged with the glass
decanter and includes means for releasably embracing the decanter
neck and means for protecting the bowl portion of the decanter bowl
from injury.
Inventors: |
Schlegel; Norman H. (Chicago,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Cory Food Services, Inc.
(Chicago, IL)
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Family
ID: |
22427026 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/740,831 |
Filed: |
November 11, 1976 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
126853 |
Mar 22, 1971 |
03717288 |
Feb 20, 1973 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/465.1;
215/396; 16/425 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
95/02 (20130101); A47J 45/077 (20130101); Y10T
16/4707 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
95/00 (20060101); A47B 95/02 (20060101); A47J
45/00 (20060101); A47J 45/07 (20060101); A47B
095/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/465,470-473
;294/31.2 ;215/1A ;16/114A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Knowles; Allen N.
Assistant Examiner: Scherbel; David A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wegner, Stellman, McCord, Wiles
& Wood
Claims
I claim: .[.1. For use with a glass decanter having a globular bowl
portion terminating in an upper distal outturned portion defining a
pouring spout, a handle structure comprising a one-piece element
defining a handle adapted to be grasped for manually carrying the
decanter, a pair of arcuate gripping means having connecting
portions fixedly connected to a common fixed upper portion of the
handle and defining deflectible gripping portions spaced apart
forwardly of said handle upper portion and extending at least
approximately 270.degree. whereby said gripping means is adapted
for yieldingly firmly embracing the decanter subjacent said pouring
spout, and an annular band extending in a continuous arc from a
lower portion of the handle and having a large diameter preselected
to embrace and protect the bowl portion of a decanter at the
portion thereof having largest horizontal cross section for
cooperation with said gripping elements in stabilizing the handle
in retained association with the decanter, said element being
formed of a material having limited resilience, the opening of said
annular band being unobstructed axially thereof whereby said handle
structure is mountable on said decanter by firstly moving said
annular band vertically about the decanter to said decanter portion
of largest cross section and then swinging the gripping means to
embrace laterally opposed portions of said upper decanter portion
below said pouring spout..]. .[.2. The decanter handle structure of
claim 1 wherein said carrier is formed of substantially homogeneous
synthetic plastic material..]. .[.3. The decanter handle structure
of claim 1 wherein said gripping means comprise arcuate walls
having a curvature preselected to be generally similar to the
curvature of the decanter subjacent said upper portion..]. .[.4.
The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said handle
comprises an elongated, substantially straight portion of said
handle structure..]. .[.5. The decanter handle structure of claim 1
wherein said handle extends angularly to the axis of said annular
band..]. .[.6. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein
said portions of the gripping means are arcuate and axially
parallel, and said handle
extends angularly thereto..]. .[.7. The decanter handle structure
of claim 1 wherein said gripping means define similar arcuate
elements inturned toward each other..]. .[.8. The decanter handle
structure of claim 7 wherein said inturned elements extend at least
approximately 60.degree. toward each other..]. .[.9. The decanter
handle structure of claim 1 wherein said decanter includes a
tubular neck subjacent said outturned portion and said gripping
means has a height parallel to the lengthwise extent of said
decanter neck at least one-half said lengthwise extent..]. .[.10.
The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said gripping
means is arcuate and said annular band and gripping means are
generally coaxially spaced..]. .[.11. The decanter handle structure
of claim 10 wherein said arcuate gripping means has a height
parallel to the axis thereof substantially greater than the height
of said annular band parallel to said axis..]. .[.12. The decanter
handle structure of claim 1 wherein said gripping means extends
downwardly from said outturned portion of the decanter to overlie
said bowl portion..]. .[.13. The decanter handle structure of claim
1 wherein said gripping means is provided with an outturned upper
edge adapted to engage the underside of the distal outturned
portion of the decanter..]. .[.14. The decanter carrier of claim 1
wherein said gripping elements comprise a pair of segmentally
cylindrical walls having a radius slightly smaller than the radius
of curvature of the decanter neck, said wall being resiliently
spread by the engagement thereof with the decanter neck to provide
the firm embracing of the neck thereby..]. .[.15. The decanter
carrier of claim 14 wherein the axes of curvature of the respective
segmentally cylindrical walls are spaced from each other..]. .[.16.
The decanter carrier of claim 14 wherein the axes of curvature of
the respective segmentally cylindrical walls are spaced closely
adjacent the axis of the annular band..]. .[.17. The decanter
carrier of claim 1 wherein the annular band is provided with spaced
end portions joined to said handle and defining a gap in the
annular configuration thereof permitting limited circumferential
extensibility off the band in accommodating itself to the
configuration of the bowl portion of the decanter..]. .[.18. The
decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said gripping means
comprises means for partially encircling the decanter neck having a
gap intermediate the handle and a portion of the gripping means
spaced most remotely from the handle..]. .[.19. The decanter handle
structure of claim 1 wherein said gripping means comprises means
for partially encircling the decanter neck having a gap at a
portion of the gripping means spaced most remotely from the
handle..]. .[.20. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein
said annular band is spaced from said gripping means a distance
preselected to dispose the annular band superjacent a position of
maximum diameter of the globular bowl portion of the decanter with
the gripping means disposed about the decanter subjacent said
outturned portion of the decanter..]. .[.21. The decanter handle
structure of claim 1 wherein said annular band is spaced from said
gripping means a distance preselected to dispose the annular band
subjacent a position of maximum diameter of the globular bowl
portion of the decanter with the gripping means disposed about the
decanter subjacent said outturned portion of the decanter..].
.[.22. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said
annular band is spaced from said gripping means a distance
preselected to dispose the annular band accurately about the
maximum diameter of the globular bowl portion of the decanter
closely with the gripping means disposed about the decanter
subjacent said outtruned portion of the decanter. .Iadd. 23. For
use with a glass decanter having a globular bowl portion
terminating in an upper distal outturned portion defining a pouring
spout, a handle structure comprising a one-piece element defining a
handle adapted to be grasped for manually carrying the decanter, a
pair of arcuate gripping means having connecting portions fixedly
connected to a common fixed upper portion of the handle and
defining deflectible gripping portions spaced apart forwardly of
said handle upper portion and extending at least approximately
270.degree. whereby said gripping means is adapted for yieldingly
firmly embracing the decanter subjacent said pouring spout, and an
annular band extending in a continuous arc from a lower portion of
the handle and having a large diameter preselected to embrace and
protect the bowl portion of a decanter at the portion thereof
having largest horizontal cross section for cooperating with said
gripping elements in stabilizing the handle in retained association
with the decanter, said element being formed of a material having
limited resilience, the opening of said annular band being
unobstructed axially thereof whereby said handle structure is
mountable on said decanter by firstly moving said annular band
vertically about the decanter to said decanter portion of largest
cross section and then swinging the gripping means to embrace
laterally opposed portions of said upper decanter portion below
said pouring spout, said gripping portions each defining a
segmentally cylindrical lower portion and an outturned upper end
portion, said upper portion of the handle having a height equal to
that of said cylindrical portion and being spaced radially
outwardly of said upper decanter portion by said connecting
portions of the gripping means, said handle upper portion defining
a planar top surface and a stepped lower surface, said handle
including a grasping portion defining an upper surface continuing
uninterruptedly outwardly and downwardly from said planar top
surface, said grasping portion and upper handle portion further
defining a U-shaped downwardly opening recess spaced outwardly of
the connecting portions of the gripping means by at least
approximately half the outward extent of the handle upper portion
away from said connecting portions. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pouring devices and in particular to
handle structures for use with decanters.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,554,367 issued to Harvey R. Karlen for a
Beverage Brewer and owned by the assignee hereof, a glass decanter
D is illustrated for use in dispensing coffee or similar beverage
produced by the brewer. As shown, a handle is secured to the neck
of the decanter by means of a suitable band encircling the neck of
the decanter. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,982,451 issued to David C.
Eisendrath for a Decanter, also owned by the assignee hereof, a
modified form of decanter is shown to include a neck terminating at
an upper portion on which a plastic spout is mounted and which is
retained in association with the decanter neck by a band encircling
the spout and neck and also serving to connect the handle to the
decanter.
In a still further form of beverage dispenser shown in U.S. Pat.
No. 2,552,420 issued to S. H. Frankel and owned by the assignee
hereof, a handle is shown to be secured to a metal decanter bowl by
screw means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprehends an improved removable handle
structure adapted to be readily removably secured to a decanter
having a globular bowl portion and a tubular neck upstanding from
the bowl portion and terminating in an upper pouring spout.
The handle structure comprises a carrier having a handle portion
adapted to be grasped for manual carrying of the decanter by a
user. Gripping elements are provided on the upper end of the handle
portion adapted to be biased into firm embracing relationship with
the neck of the decanter. At the lower end of the handle is carried
an annular band adapted to encircle the bowl portion of the
decanter bowl for protecting the bowl portion against injury as
from striking forces directed theretoward.
The handle structure comprises a unitary element which may be
formed as a one-piece plastic molding which is extremely simple and
economical of construction while yet providing a positive means for
carrying the decanter such as for use in dispensing beverage
therefrom. The handle structure may be quickly and easily removably
installed on the conventional glass decanter permitting facilitated
maintenance as desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent
from the following description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawing wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage dispensing decanter
having a handle structure embodying the invention as used in
dispensing a beverage from the decanter;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the handle structure;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation thereof;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a beverage dispensing
decanter having a modified form of handle structure embodying the
invention;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the modified
handle structure of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a beverage dispensing decanter having
a further modified handle structure embodying the invention;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of a beverage dispensing
decanter having a still further modified handle structure embodying
the invention; and
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of a beverage dispensing
decanter having a yet further modified handle structure embodying
the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIGS.
1-4 of the drawing, a handle structure, or carrier, generally
designated 10 embodying the invention is shown as adapted for use
with a decanter 11 for manipulation of the decanter such as in
dispensing a brewed beverage therefrom. The decanter,
illustratively may be utilized in dispensing brewed coffee into a
suitable cup 12 by a user P manually grasping the handle
structure.
Decanter 11 may comprise a conventional glass decanter having a
globular bowl portion 13 and a tubular neck 14 upstanding from the
bowl portion and terminating in an upper distal outturned portion
15 defining a pouring spout 16.
As best seen in FIG. 2, handle structure 10 includes a handle
portion 17 adapted to be manually grasped by the user to manually
carry the decanter. At the upper end of the handle portion is
provided gripping means herein comprising a pair of gripping
elements 18 defining spaced distal arcuate portions biased into
juxtaposed relationship suitable for yieldingly, firmly embracing
neck 14 of the decanter. At the lower end of the handle portion 17,
handle structure 10 defines an annular band having a diameter
preselected to snugly embrace bowl portion 13 of the decanter for
cooperating with gripping elements 18 in stabilizing the handle in
retained association with the decanter. Further, annular band 19
protects bowl portion 13 of the glass decanter against injury such
as from striking forces directed theretoward.
Handle structure 10 herein comprises a unitary element including
handle portion 17, gripping elements 18, and band 19 formed as a
one-piece structure. Thus, illustratively, the handle structure may
be formed of substantially homogeneous synthetic plastic material
as a plastic molding.
As best seen in FIG. 4, gripping elements 18 may comprise
segmentally cylindrical walls. The curvature of the gripping
elements is preferably preselected to be generally similar to the
curvature of the decanter neck 14 to provide a firm embracing of
the decanter neck in the assembled relationship of the handle
structure and decanter, as shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-4, arcuate gripping elements 18 include corresponding outer
ends 20 which are inturned toward each other. Preferably, a gap 21
is provided between the inturned ends to facilitate mounting of the
gripping elements on the decanter neck. A suitable angular extent
of gap 21 may be utilized within the scope of the invention. In the
illustrated embodiment, a 60.degree. extent of gap 21 is shown to
provide a facilitated mounting of the gripping elements on the
decanter neck of FIG. 1 while yet providing a positive encircling
embracing of the neck for firm mounting of the handle structure to
the decanter.
Handle portion 17 comprises an elongated, substantially straight
portion having a relatively thick connecting means 22 at the upper
end connecting gripping elements 18 to the handle portion. The
handle may extend angularly to the axis of the annular band and
arcuate portions 18 for facilitating handling of the decanter by
the user. Arcuate portions 18 preferably have a substantial height
parallel to axis 23 and in the illustrative embodiment, extend
substantially the full length of the decanter neck. Portions 18
preferably extend at least one-half the length of the decanter neck
for improved gripping of the decanter neck by the gripping
elements. The upper edge 25 of the gripping elements may be
outturned to correspond to the outturned portion 15 of the decanter
neck, if desired, as shown in FIG. 3, for improved support of the
decanter by the handle structure. Gripping elements 18 are
generally coaxially spaced from the annular band a distance
preselected to dispose the annular band adjacent a position of
maximum diameter of the globular bowl portion of the decanter when
the handle structure is mounted on the decanter, as shown in FIG.
1. The gripping elements may have a height substantially greater
than the height of the annular band. The annular band may be
arranged to extend upwardly from the maximum diameter portion of
the band and may define a substantially frustoconical inner surface
24 for improved conformity with the outer surface of the bowl
portion of the decanter, as shown in FIG. 3, thereby to provide
improved stability of the handle structure in carrying the
decanter.
In use, handle structure 10 is installed on decanter 11 by firstly
moving band portion 19 downwardly over neck 14 of the decanter with
the handle structure titled to bring gripping elements 18 to
laterally of neck 14 opposite pouring spout 16 thereof. The handle
structure is then urged forwardly to spread the gripping elements
and permit end portions 20 to pass about the maximum diameter of
the neck portion and spring back about the neck portion adjacent
pouring spout 16 thereby effectively locking the handle structure
to the decanter. The band is automatically disposed adjacent the
maximum diameter of the bowl portion for protecting the bowl
against injury as from striking forces. The gripping elements are
prevented from moving upwardly from decanter neck 14 by the
outturned upper end 15 thereof thereby effectively interlocking the
handle structure to the decanter.
As shown in FIG. 4, the gripping elements herein may have a
curvature slightly smaller than the curvature of the decanter neck.
One gripping element may be centered on an axis 26 and the other
gripping element may be centered on an axis 27 spaced from axis 26
and from axis 23. Thus, the gripping elements provide a resilient
gripping of the decanter neck when urged thereagainst. Further as
shown in FIG. 2, band 19 may be provided with a gap 28 at the
connection thereof to the lower end of handle 17 providing for
limited resilient extension of the band in providing improved
gripping action about the decanter bowl.
As the handle structure is formed of a suitable molded plastic, it
may be readily cleaned with the glass bowl in the normal
maintenance procedures thereof. Should the decanter break or become
chipped, warranting the disposal thereof, the handle structure may
be readily removed by an operation reverse to that described above
relative to the installation thereof on the decanter, i.e., by
tilting the handle structure rearwardly to withdraw gripping
elements 18 from embracing relationship from the decanter neck 14
and bringing the annular band upwardly over neck 14 to fully
release the handle structure from the decanter. The handle
structure may then be installed on a different decanter, as
desired.
Referring now to the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6, a modified form
of handle structure embodying the invention generally designated
110 is shown to comprise a handle structure generally similar to
handle structure 10 but having a modified form of gripping means
118 wherein the gap 121 is disposed at the side of the gripping
means, i.e., intermediate the handle 117 and the portion 129 of the
gripping means most remote from the handle. Thus, portion 129
extends under the lowermost portion of the decanter neck when the
beverage dispensing decanter structure is disposed in the pouring
arrangement, as shown in FIG. 5.
Installation of handle structure 110 on the decanter bowl 113 is
generally similar to the installation of handle structure 10
thereon except that the handle is turned sideways as the band
portion 119 is brought downwardly onto the bowl and urged about the
decanter neck from the side when the band reaches the approximate
final position of the bowl. In all other respects, handle structure
110 is similar to and functions similarly to handle structure 10 as
discussed above.
A further modified form of handle structure generally designated
210 is shown in FIG. 7 to comprise a handle structure generally
similar to handle structure 10 but having a gripping means
generally designated 218 adapted to cooperate with a modified form
of decanter bowl 213 having a flared distal upper end 215 defining
the spout connected substantially directly to the bowl portion 213
so that decanter 211 effectively eliminates a neck structure such
as neck structure 14 of decanter 11. Gripping means 218 may
comprise cooperating gripping elements adapted to engage the upper
portion 230 of the decanter bowl subjacent the flared upper end 215
and may comprise any suitable arrangement of gripping means such as
end opening gripping means 18 of handle structure 10, or side
opening gripping means 118 of handle structure 110.
Handle structure 210 may be installed on decanter bowl 213
similarly as handle structures 10 and 110 as discussed above. In
all other respects, handle structure 210 is similar to and
functions similar to handle structures 10 and 110.
The invention comprehends a disposition of the annular band 19
suitably to encircle the decanter bowl portion 213 adjacent the
maximum diameter thereof in the different embodiments. Further, the
band may be arranged to encircle the bowl directly at or subjacent
the maximum diameter, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 8, respectively,
within the scope of the invention. Where the band is adapted to
engage the bowl below the maximum diameter thereof, such as band
319 as shown in FIG. 8, the band may be brought upwardly from the
bottom of the bowl and the gripping means engaged with the upper
portion of the decanter after the band is disposed substantially at
the desired position. During such mounting, the gripping means or
handle may be flexed backwardly to clear the bowl. Where the band
comprises a band such as band 419 in FIG. 9, having a diameter
substantially equal to the diameter of the maximum diameter of the
bowl, the band may be brought either downwardly or upwardly to the
maximum diameter portion of the bowl as desired. In each case, the
band is juxtaposed to the maximum diameter of the bowl so as to
provide a protecting guard thereabout substantially reducing
maintenance of the decanter.
The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiment is illustrative of
the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.
* * * * *