Abstract:
An elongated bar rail mat having a plurality of spaced-apart, elongated, resilient members that cooperate with each other to form fluid damping chambers therebetween while supporting a wet glass thereon with the spaced-apart, elongated, resilient members cooperating with each other to provide a longitudinal stability to the bar rail mat to enable one to empty the contents of the bar rail mat without the bar rail mat collapsing and accidentally spilling the contents.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to bar equipment and more specifically, to improvements in bar rail mats.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The concept of bar rail mats for holding a wet glass is known in the art. Typically, the bar rail mat includes a compartment with pegs therein to support a wet glass thereon so that moisture on the glass or spillage can be captured for later emptying. One of the difficulties with bar rail mats is that it is difficult to empty the bar rail mats without spilling as the bar rail mat tends to buckle allowing fluids to spill out. Another difficulty with bar rail mats is that accidentally bumping of the bar rail is likely to spill the fluids out of the bar rail mat. The present invention provides an improvement to the bar rail mats that allows for easy emptying of the bar rail mat as well as better retention of fluids in the bar rail mat.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Briefly, the invention comprises an elongated bar rail mat having a plurality of spaced-apart, elongated, resilient members that cooperate with each other to form a continuous shelf for supporting a wet glass thereon with the spaced-apart, elongated, resilient members cooperating with each other to damp the fluids therein and to provide a longitudinal stability to the bar rail mat to enable one to easily empty the contents of the bar rail mat without collapsing of the bar rail mat. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 shows a top view of a bar rail mat;  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 2 shows a partial sectional elevational view of the bar rail mat of FIG. 1;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 3 shows an enlarged top view of a portion of one end of the bar rail mat of FIG. 1;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3A shows an enlarged top view of a portion of the opposite end of the bar rail mat of FIG. 1;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 shows a partial elevational front view of one end of bar rail mat of FIG. 1 with an elongated resilient member in the bar rail mat;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 shows a partial elevational front view of the opposite end of in the bar rail mat of FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 6 shows a section view taken along lines  6 - 6  of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 a  shows the sectional view of FIG. 6 with a wet glass supported on the top of the elongated resilient members; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 shows how the bar rail mat can be tipped to allow one to empty the contents of the bar rail mat. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 shows a top view of a bar rail mat  10  for holding a wet glass thereon and FIG. 2 shows a partial sectional elevational view of the bar rail mat  10  of FIG. 1. Bar rail mat  10  includes an elongated trough  11  that has a fluid retention compartment  11   f  of length L 1  with trough  11  having a first end  11   a  and a second end  11   b.  A bottom  11   c  cooperates with a side wall  11   d  of a first height that extends around the bottom  11   c  to form a fluid retention compartment  11 . A second fluid retention compartment  12  of length L 2  is located adjacent the second end  11   b  and is separated from fluid retention compartment  11   f  by a shared end wall  11   b.  Typically, compartment  12  can be used for holding a single glass in isolation from other glasses located in fluid retention compartment  11 ; however, compartment  12  is optional.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 shows an enlarged top view of a portion on one end of the bar rail mat  10  showing fluid retention compartment  11   f  includes fifteen spaced-apart, elongated, resilient members  14  with the elongated members located in a parallel spaced condition with an elongated chamber  15  located between each of plurality of spaced apart elongated members  14 . Each of the elongated chambers are parallel to each other. Also, each of the spaced-apart, elongated, resilient members  14  extend upward from the bottom  11   c  and are integral to the bar mat  10  to form a one-piece bar rail mat  10 . Spaced-apart, elongated, resilient members  14  are shown as being continuous each which a top surface  14   a  that cooperates with a top surface  14   a  on adjacent resilient members to form a support for a glass or the like thereon. In addition to supporting a glass thereon, the members  14  provide a fluid damping effect by providing elongated chambers that confine the fluid to narrow chambers  15 . Consequently, accidentally bumping the bar rail mat  10  of the present invention is less likely to cause spillage then if a single large chamber extended across the entire bar rail mat.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3A shows a partial top view the optional second compartment  12  that includes a plurality of ridges  18  located within side walls  11   b,    12   c    12   b,  and  12   a  which are connected together by a bottom member  17  to form the fluid retention compartment  12 . The top surface  18   a  of ridges  18  coact to form a larger surface to support a glass or the like thereon in an upright and stable condition. Ridges  18  are similarly to elongated members  14  in that they are spaced apart to allow fluid to run between the ridges.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 shows a partial elevation front view of one end of bar rail mat  10  revealing an elongated, resilient member  14  with a curved end  14   a  that is spaced from the end member  11   d  a distance “w” to form a channel  20  that extends cross wise along the end wall  11   d . Channel  20  permits cross flow of fluid so that fluids can flow in and out of each of the chambers located between the members  14  to enable the fluid to self level within the chambers between each of the members  14 .  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 shows a similar partial front end view of the compartment  12  with the ridges therein for supporting a glass thereon. In the embodiment shown the ridges  18  protrude slightly above the bottom of the bar rail mat to keep the bottom of the glass off the bottom member  17  of the bar rail mat.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  to show the spaced-apart, elongated, resilient members  14  in cross section with the elongated fluid damping chambers  15  located therebetween. The bar rail mat  10  and the members  14  are integral with bottom  11  to form a one-piece bar rail mat  10  and preferably made of a polymer plastic such as vinyl plastisol. The members  14  are shown having a thickness “t” which in the preferred embodiment is at least {fraction (1/16 )} of an inch. The height of the members  14  is designated by h 2  and is less than the height of the outer walls  11   d  to outline a region for glass placement. In order to maintain the glass off the bottom  11   c  and out of the spilled fluids in the chambers  15  it is preferred that in most instances the height of the elongated resilient members  14  in trough be at about at least {fraction (1/4 )} of an inch.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6A is an identical view to FIG. 6 and shows a glass  25  placed on the bar rail mat  10  with fluids  22  and  26  running down the side of glass  25  and into compartments  15  between each of the members  14 . As each of the members  14  have a relief in form of a curved end  14   a  the bar rail mat  10  allows for cross flow of fluids between and along each of the compartments  15  until the fluid  27  seeks its own level as illustrated in FIG. 6A. The bottom of glass  25  is shown supported by the coaction of the top surfaces  14   a  of the resilient members  14  to support the glass above the fluid  27  located in the chambers  15 . This allows fluids  22  and  26  on the side of the glass to drain into the bar rail mat chambers  15  for later disposal. FIG. 6A thus illustrates the spaced apart resilient members cooperating with each other to form a top surface for supporting a glass  25  in a stable upright position thereon.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 shows the emptying of the bar rail mat  10 . Even though the bar rail mat  10  is made of a resilient material that is sufficiently soft to absorb the shock of placing a glass thereon without breaking glass the bar rail mat can be easily emptied. That is the plurality of spaced apart resilient members  14  introduce a physical rigidity to the bar rail mat  10 . The rigidity introduced by the plurality of resilient members allows the bar rail mat to be lifted upward as indicated by force arrow F 1  and tipped on its end to empty the fluids  30  therein without concern that the bar rail mat will buckle or twist and spill fluids  30  out the sides as the bar rail mat  10  is emptied. That is, although the resiliency of members  14  provides a cushion for receiving the glass the use of a plurality of spaced-apart, elongated, resilient members  14  provides an internal support to provide a stiffness to the bar rail mat so that the bar rail mat can be easily emptied.