Abstract:
A support, such as a coaster, for a beverage container, having a resilient lip for use in attaching the support to the beverage container. The lip can have ribs for maintaining separation between the lip and the beverage container for catching condensate within the support. Recessed channels can also be provided on an inside surface of the support for directing condensate flow to a bottom portion of the support. Methods of supporting beverage containers and collecting condensate are also provided.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/351,265, filed Jun. 3, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates generally to a beverage container support structure, and in particular, to a coaster that is attachable to the base of a glass, cup or other beverage container. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,705 discloses a stemware coaster that is generally circular, made of a material that can absorb and/or prevent transmission of moisture. The coaster has shaped slots or cuts on a top surface so that the base of stemware can be inserted through a top portion of the coaster and into a hollow cavity. The coaster is generally limited to use with stemware because the disk-shaped based of stemware allows it to be inserted through the slots or cuts to attach it to the coaster. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,926 discloses a coaster that is attachable to a mug. However, the coaster and mug form an assembly, with the coaster being configured for use with a particular mug. The coaster has a resilient and flexible annular side wall and an annular lip extending radially inwardly from the side wall. The mug is snugly fitted inside the coaster with the annular lip of the coaster resiliently gripping a bend of the mug to hold the coaster securely to the mug. The coaster may be removed from the mug by lifting the resilient annular lip of the coaster and peeling it from the mug. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In some embodiments, a support of for a beverage container, such as a coaster, is provided having a base portion, circumferential sidewall, and circumferential lip. The support or the circumferential lip thereof, can be made of resilient material having elastic properties, capable of providing a biasing force against a beverage container (e.g., glass, stemware, tumbler, shot glass, etc) for gripping the beverage container and attaching the coaster to the beverage container. The support can be attached to a variety of beverage container shapes due to its configuration, flexibility and resiliency 
         [0008]    In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the circumferential lip is formed with a plurality of spaced apart ribs on an inside wall surface thereof. The ribs can maintain separation between the inside wall surface and a beverage container. This can help provide ease of removal of the support from the beverage container and provide gaps between the inside wall surface of the circumferential lip and beverage container to allow condensate to collect within the support, 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, channels are formed on an inside surface of the support, to allow condensate to flow through the channels and collect at a top surface of the base portion of the support beneath the beverage container. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments of the present disclosure, methods of supporting beverage containers and collecting condensate are also provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top plan view for an example embodiment of the coaster of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the coaster illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with ribs and channels beneath the circumferential lip of the coaster being reflected in dot-line. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows the perspective view of coaster  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the coaster of  FIG. 1 , as viewed from line  FIG. 4-FIG .  4  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4   a  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the coaster as shown in  FIG. 4 , showing a close up view of the circumferential lip. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the coaster of the present disclosure, as viewed from line  FIG. 5-FIG .  5  of  FIG. 7 , with the base of a stem for a glass being held within the coaster. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5   a  is a partial cross sectional view as viewed from line  FIG. 5A-FIG .  5 A of  FIG. 5 , showing a plurality of ribs of the circumferential lip of the coaster and the gap maintained by the ribs between an inside wall of the circumferential lip and a base of a stem glass. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of an embodiment of a graphic circular insert for use with the coaster of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a wine glass having a stem, with the stem base attached to the coaster of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of an example glass coupled to the coaster of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8   a  shows a cross sectional view the glass and coaster of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure. However, upon reviewing this disclosure one skilled in the art will understand that the various embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without many of these details and that other types and sizes of beverage containers (including, for example, without limitations, glasses, stem glasses, tumblers, cups, etc.), other than those specifically illustrated, may be usable with various embodiments of the coaster of the present disclosure. In other instances, some well-known structures and materials associated with coasters and beverage containers have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the descriptions of the embodiments of the disclosure. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1-3  show an embodiment of the coaster  2  of the present disclosure. The coaster  2  can be generally circular in shape having an outer perimeter  4  defined by a base portion  8 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a bottom surface  10  of the base portion  8  can be generally flat for resting on a flat surface, such as a table (not illustrated). A circumferential side wall  6  with an outer surface  6 ′, and an inner surface  6 ″, can rise from the base portion  8  near the outer perimeter  4  of the coaster  2 . In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the thickness of the circumferential sidewall  6  is thicker near a bottom portion thereof, and thinner near an upper portion thereof, with the thickness of the upper portion being approximately similar to an average thickness of the base portion  8 . 
         [0025]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  4   a , in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a circumferential lip  12  extends radially and laterally inward from a top portion  14  of the circumferential sidewall  6 . That is, for example, an outer perimeter of the circumferential lip  12  can be attached to, or integrally formed with a top portion  14  of the circumferential sidewall  6 , and the circumferential lip  12  can extend radially inward from the top portion  14  to form an overhanging wall that circles about the full circumference of the coaster. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the circumferential lip  12  can have a radial width “w” that is approximately ⅓ (one third) to ½ (one half) the radius “r” of the coaster  2 . The radius of the coaster  2  can be measured from the center of the coaster  2  to an outer perimeter of a top surface  7  of the base portion  8 , the top surface  7  being the top of the base portion  8  that is exposed within the coaster  2 . The width “w” of the circumferential lip  12  can be measured along a radial line of the coaster  2  starting above the outer perimeter of the top surface  7  and extending inward until the inner edge of the circumferential lip  12 . In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the width “w” of the circumferential lip  12  can be larger or smaller in relation to the radius “r” of the coaster. In some embodiments, the width “w” of the circumferential lip is measured from the outer perimeter  4  of the coaster  2  to an inward edge of the circumferential lip  12 , as can be seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0027]    In some embodiments of the coaster  2 , such as that shown in  FIG. 3 , the circumferential lip  12  can be angled downward, with an outer lip portion  3  being higher than at least some surface areas of the inner lip portion  5  of the circumferential lip  12 . In addition, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the outer lip portion  3  can comprise a greater wall thickness than an inner lip portion  5 , as best seen in  FIG. 4   a . In further embodiments, the circumferential lip extends horizontally inward and is not angled downward. In other embodiments, the circumferential lip can be angled upward. 
         [0028]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  4   a , the circumferential lip  12  can bear spaced apart ribs  16 , which can be formed on an inside wall  12 ″ of the circumferential lip  12 . The ribs  16  can protrude downward (relative to  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  4   a ) away from the inside wall  12 ″. In some embodiments, the vertical thickness of the ribs  16 , such as illustrated in  FIG. 4   a , can be similar to the thickness of the inner lip portion  5  of the circumferential lip  12 . 
         [0029]    In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the circumferential lip  12  is made of a resilient flexible material (e.g., an elastomer, such as, for example, without limitation Silicone, EVA, or PVC), and has a spring characteristic sufficient to exert a biasing force against an object, such as a glassware, when displaced from its resting, or equilibrium position (the resting position being shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  4   a  for some embodiments). For example, as shown in  FIGS. 5 &amp; 7 , a circular base  32  of a stem glass  30  can be inserted into the coaster  2 , by manually fitting the outer portions of the circular base  32  snuggly beneath the circumferential lip  12  within the cavity  18  defined by the circumferential lip  12 , circumferential sidewall  6  and base portion  8  of the coaster (See, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). The circular base  32  of the stem glass  30  displaces the circumferential lip  12  from its resting position, which is generally horizontal, or angled downward in some embodiments, to a displaced position wherein the circumferential lip  12  is inclined upward with the inner lip portion  5  of the circumferential lip  12  raised in relation to the outer lip portion  3 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The biasing force of the circumferential lip  12  exerts force on the base  32  of the stem glass  30  in a downward direction to grip the base  32  to hold the coaster  2  to the base  32 , while being easily removable by user that can overcome the biasing force of the circumferential lip  12  and pull the base  32  from the coaster  2 . 
         [0030]    Due, in part, to the flexibility the circumferential lip and/or its width, the cavity  18  can be sufficient for accommodating stem glasses having different base shapes and/or diameters or heights. In addition, larger or smaller coasters  2  can be provided to accommodate additional glassware. However, the flexibility of each coaster  2  will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure. For example, the same coaster  2  as shown in  FIG. 7  can accommodate other shapes of glasses in addition to stemware glasses, such as, for example, without limitation, the tumbler  42  shown in  FIGS. 8 &amp; 8   a . The circumferential lip  12  can be bent upward to assume a greater inclined configuration in order to accommodate the upwardly extending outer walls  40 ,  42  of the tumbler and cocktail glass. Nonetheless, the coaster  2  can attach to the tumbler  42  due the biasing force of the circumferential lip  12  that exerts force inward against the walls  40 ,  42  and grips the walls due to friction between the circumferential lip  12  (or rib  16  portions thereof, as described further below) and the surface of the walls  40 ,  42 . 
         [0031]    As will be appreciate by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure, for each type of glassware illustrated above, and other types of glassware or beverage containers, when the circumferential lip  12  abuts against a surface of the glassware, such as the circular base  32  of stemware or the walls  40  of glasses, the ribs  16  of the circumferential lip  12  can provide the contact surfaces that abut against the surface of the glass or other container. Thus, the inside wall  12 ″ of the circumferential lip  12  can be spaced apart from the surface of the glassware, leaving gaps  20  between the surface of the glass ware and the circumferential lip  12 , as can be seen in  FIG. 5   a . This can allow condensate to flow through the gaps  20  and into the cavity  18  of the coaster  2 , so that the condensate does not flow over an outside surface  12 ′ of circumferential lip  12 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  4   a , and  5   a , some embodiments of the coaster  2  in the present disclosure include recessed channels  11 , formed on an inside surface of the coaster  2 . In some embodiments, a pair of recessed channels  11  are positioned closely together, but separated by ribs  16  formed on the inside surface  12 ″ of the lip  12 , at about each of the following relative positions on the coaster  2  (which define midpoints between each pair of channels  11 ): zero (0) degrees, ninety (90) degrees, one hundred and eighty (180) degrees, two hundred and seventy (270) degrees. In some embodiments, at least one of the spaced apart ribs  16  is located at each of the relative positions, with a channel  11  disposed immediately on either side thereof. In other embodiments, a channel  11  is located at each of the relative positions, and in some embodiments, a single channel  11  is located at each of the relative positions (as opposed to a pair of channels  11 ). In other embodiments, the channels  11  are disposed at different relative positions, and more or less channels  11  can be provided than the number of channels expressly shown herein. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 4   a  and  5   a , a top portion of the channels  11  can recess upward into the circumferential lip  12 , on the inside surface  12 ″ thereof, and continue downward along the circumferential side wall  6 , and then extend inward along the base portion  8  of the coaster  2 . The channels  11  can be exposed to liquid from condensate that runs from the glasses or beverage containers, downward along the walls  42  or stem bases  32 , to a location between the ribs  16 . See, e.g.,  FIG. 5   a . The lower portion of the channels  11  on the base portion  8  can extend inward beneath a bottom surface of a glass  40 , circular base  32 , or other beverage container surface. Condensate can be drawn from any exposed portion of the channels downward along the sidewall  6  portion of the channels  11 , to the lower portion of the channels  11  on the base portion  8 , until the liquid accumulates beneath the glass  40 , circular base  32 , or other beverage container. In some embodiments, the maximum width of the channels  11  can be greater at the base portion  8  than at the top portion of the side walls  6 . The maximum width of the channels  11  on the circumferential lip  12  can be the narrowest portion of the channels  11 . In some embodiments, the maximum width of the channels  11  at the top of the sidewall  6  is similar to the width of the ribs  16 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments of coaster for the present disclosure, a circular flat insert panel  9  is provided, which can be securely but removably disposed on the top surface  7  of the base portion  8  within the coaster  2 . When the insert panel  9  is place over the top surface  7 , the outer edge portions of the insert panel  9  are disposed within the cavity  18  of the coaster  2 . The insert panel  9  can be constructed of, for example, without limitation, Polymer, PVC, PP, PET, or a metal, and can be resilient and flexible. In addition, a surface of the insert panel  9  can be printable for providing graphic displays, such as promotional material like logos, advertisements, etc., as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure. The insert panels  9  can be printed when separated from the coaster  2  and then inserted in the coaster  2  thereafter. The insert panels  9  can also be interchangeably removed and replaced. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments of the present disclosure, multiple insert panels  9  can have different indicia marked thereon, or can be printed with different colors, so as to be distinguishable. Thus, users of the coasters  2  can identify their glasses by a unique color or graphic associated with an insert panel  9  disposed within the user&#39;s coaster  2 . The coaster  2  is attachable to the glass, or other beverage container as described above, so can be used to identify the user&#39;s glass or other beverage container based on the color or indicia of the insert panel  9 . 
         [0036]    Although specific embodiments of the coaster of the present disclosure, and specific embodiments of methods for supporting a beverage container, and examples thereof, have been described supra for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art after reviewing the present disclosure. The various embodiments described can be combined to provide further embodiments. The described structures and methods can omit some elements or acts, can add other elements or acts, or can combine the elements or execute the acts in a different order than that illustrated, to achieve various advantages of the disclosure. These and other changes can be made to the disclosure in light of the above detailed description. 
         [0037]    In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification. Accordingly, the claimed invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is determined entirely by the following claims.