Abstract:
In accordance with one of the embodiments, the subject matter of this invention includes an apparatus designed to hang small beverage bottles, typically known as nipper bottles for ornamentation such as on a holiday tree. The preferred embodiment has the ornamental form of a “Santa&#39;s hat.”

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The bottle hanger of the instant invention pertains to ornamentation such as can be hung from a tree or for other decorative purposes. 
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The subject matter of this application pertains to bottle hangers. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. 
         [0005]    CN 201296408 Y has a string that passes through a hole in the bottle. U.S. Pat. No. 1,185,509 discloses a holder for a single milk bottle. The device has rigid metal flanges for receiving the bead of the bottle, which can slide laterally into the open end of the holder. U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,747 B1 bottles horizontally held in keyways of a hub. U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,949 discloses a rack that holds cans. U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,333 discloses a bottle connector with an O-ring in which the bottle neck is received. U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,053 discloses a bottle holder comprised of a yolk and clip wherein the yolk slides under the prongs of the yolk and is fixed in place by a movable clip. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with one embodiment, the subject matter of this application includes an apparatus designed to hang small beverage bottles, typically known as “nipper bottles” for ornamentation resembling a “Santa&#39;s hat” which can be hung as a holiday ornament. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0007]      FIG. 1A . Front view of Press-Fit Ornamental Bottle Hanger 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B . Bottom view of Press-Fit Ornamental Bottle Hanger 
           [0009]      FIG. 2A  Front view of Ornamental Bottle Hanger with Spring Clip 
           [0010]      FIG. 2B  Preferred Dimensions of Ornamental Bottle Hanger Body 
           [0011]      FIG. 2C  Preferred Spring Clip Dimensions 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  Front view of Ornamental Bottle Hanger with Tassel and Spring Clip 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  Bottom view of Tubular Body without Clip. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3C  Clip 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  Ornamental Bottle Hanger with Flexible Chord 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  Bottom view of Tubular Body with O-ring 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The bottle holders known in the related art typically are designed for point of sale dispensing of beverage bottles in a retail setting.  FIG. 1A  depicts an apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention. The apparatus comprises a tubular or cylindrical body ( 1 ) which can be suspended by a conical section ( 3 ) which is attached to an annular member ( 5 ) or ring, or to a hook or other suitable fastener. The bottom of the tubular body is knurled or with retaining tabs ( 7 ) and is configured to engage and grip the bottle cap or the tabs can be positioned below the cap to hold the bottle. Preferably the bottom of the hanger body is configured to grip caps with diameters of ⅞ inch or ¾ inch. Alternatively, according to  FIG. 2 , the bottom of the tubular body can be attached to a spring clip ( 9 ) or a retaining ring or O-ring ( 23 ) per  FIG. 5  which can be disposed near the bottom of the tubular body as shown. The spring clip may have tabs ( 13 ) such that the clip can be manually expanded to an open position. When the cap of a nipper bottle is inserted into tubular body, the spring clip or retaining ring engages the bottle when the clip is released immediately below the cap thereby securely holding the bottle. If there is a space between the bottom of the cap and a collar, the clip or retaining ring can either engage the bottle below the cap in the space between cap and collar or it can engage the neck of the bottle below the bottle collar or it can be configured to grip the cap directly. The conical section is preferably comprised of a red colored fabric but other colors or materials, either flexible or non-flexible may be used. The tubular portion of the hanger is preferably white. The dimensions shown in figures and in this written description are suggested but should not be considered as limiting the embodiments to any particular size. 
         [0018]    Another embodiment,  FIG. 3 , is also depicted in the form of a night cap or “Santa&#39;s hat” which has its upper portion of the conical section “flopped over” when it is hung. It is comprised of a tubular body ( 1 ) attached to a conical section ( 3 ), the conical section having a hole or aperture ( 15 ) for hanging on a hook or holder and a decorative tassel ( 11 ) at the tip or apex of the conical section. The conical section is preferably comprised of a red colored fabric but other colors or materials, either flexible or non-flexible may be used. The tubular body of the hanger is preferably white. The inner diameter of the bottom end of the tubular body preferably may have a diameter of 1 in, with the inner diameter of the clip, 0.625 in and outer diameter of spring clip ( 9 ) 0.875 inch and with the tubular hanger body having a height of 0.75 in, and annular ring with diameter of about 0.25 in. The hanger could thereby accommodate a variety of cap sizes including those ranging from % in diameter to ⅞ in diameter with cap heights ranging from ½ in to % in and neck diameters of about ⅝ in. The tubular body could be affixed to a spring clip ( 9 ) as shown in  FIG. 3  or the bottom of the body could have retaining tabs as the press-fit embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  or it could be knurled as described above. The dimensions shown in  FIG. 3  and described above should not be construed as limiting this or any other embodiment to any particular size. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows yet another embodiment wherein a flexible cord is inserted through an aperture ( 15 ) in the conical section ( 3 ). An upper loop ( 19 ) of the flexible cord ( 17 ) protrudes through the aperture can be attached to a hook for hanging from a tree or other object and a lower loop ( 21 ) near the bottom of the hanger can loop around a bottle neck below the cap thereby suspending the bottle. The tip of the conical section has a tassel ( 11 ) which is preferably white as is the tubular body ( 1 ). Alternatively, the ornamental hanger could be fabricated from a conical piece of material wherein the base of the cone is embellished with a band of white trim rather than attaching the cone to a white tubular section. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment, the ornamental “Santa&#39;s hat” hanger s integrally incorporated into the bottle cap so that the bottled beverage product essentially forms a hangable ornament. 
         [0021]    Alternatively, the tubular body can be suspended from an annular member, or hook by means of a lanyard, the chords of the lanyard substituting for the conical section. The tubular section would preferably be closed at its top end and could bear holiday or party indicia which could be painted, imprinted, inscribed, or on a decal etc. 
         [0022]    The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It thus will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous alternative arrangements that, while not shown or described herein, embody the principles of the invention and thus are within its spirit and scope.