Multifunctional portable dry bar and beverage preparation station for boats

A beverage station includes a tray having holes for supporting containers of various sizes. The largest holes on the outside of the bar are designed to hold larger bottles of liquor or mixers and other non-alcoholic beverages. Each hole can be adjusted down in size using insert reducers to accommodate smaller bottles so they fit snuggly and don't tip over or spill on a rocking boat. This is accomplished by using the different sized inserts to fit different sized liquor and wine bottles or other non-alcoholic mixers. A cutting board or serving tray can be used to support the beverage station. When the bar is in use it sits atop the serving tray and locks into place with small latches on the right, left and front of the serving tray surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a portable receptacle for providing a stable, level, adjustable, temporary and removable station for use as a dry bar and beverage preparation in conjunction with a fillet/serving station for fish and/or food.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

On boats of all sizes space is at a premium. Many boats have a galley below deck, but it is more convenient to locate a stable, compact, and fixedly mounted beverage station in the open on deck. While there are many cup holder arrangements on the market, these are not actual bar set ups to accommodate larger liquor bottles, garnishes, and mixers. Currently, many boaters use coolers and buckets strewn out around the open decks and cockpits of boats to hold their liquor bottles and mixers. This makes locating your beverage of choice difficult when searching in closed hatches, coolers and buckets. Furthermore, liquor, mixers and beverages of all types are spilled on the deck of rocking boats, and bottles get dirty from fishing or other activities rendering the beverages disorganized and unappetizing. Having a temporary, stable and organized beverage station topside allows for easy visibility and access, so boaters and fishermen can easily find and pour their beverages including liquor bottles, accompanying mixers, non alcoholic beverages, garnishes and other bar accoutrements. It is also important to have a place to mix drinks so they won't spill on a moving boat, or while at the dock, or sandbar, or cruising slowly as slippery decks can cause boaters to slip and fall. It is also important to have a station that is readily removable when the boat will be travelling at high speed or when large waves are expected. In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that there is a need for a new beverage and serving station which provides a secure, stable, compact and removable location for drink preparation that has the ability to be attached and mounted in a variety of locations on a variety of boat types.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a portable and removable beverage station that can be used to hold a variety of different sized beverage containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a beverage station having removable inserts so that openings for holding beverage containers can be adjusted.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a support for the beverage station that can be inserted into a rod holder.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a beverage station that can be supported by a pipe clamp on either round or square shaped rails.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a beverage station that can be supported by a cutting board mounted in a rod holder.

It must be understood that no one embodiment of the present invention need include all of the aforementioned objects of the present invention. Rather, a given embodiment may include one or none of the aforementioned objects. Accordingly, these objects are not to be used to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention. Other objects, uses and advantages will be apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In summary, the present invention is designed to have the flexibility to be temporarily mounted and leveled. The beverage station organizes and enhances the party and cocktail experience while on the water by keeping all the cocktail needs in one organized and secure location.

The beverage station includes a tray having holes for supporting containers of various sizes. The largest holes on the outside of the bar are designed to hold larger bottles of liquor or mixers and other non-alcoholic beverages. Each hole can be adjusted down in size using insert reducers to accommodate smaller bottles so they fit snuggly and don't tip over or spill on a rocking boat. This is accomplished by using the different sized inserts to fit different sized liquor and wine bottles or other non-alcoholic mixers. Smaller holes in the center of the bar can be used to hold smaller cans and bottles to be further used as mixers or they can also act as holders for beer bottles and cans of the twelve ounce variety or they can be used as garnish, straw or napkin holders when fit with small plastic cups that act as disposable containers for the aforementioned items. The center and front of the bar can have cup holes. These can be medium sized holes that is designed to hold a cup or glass that a user will drink out of and allows free use of both hands to mix their drink in so it doesn't slide around and spill as opposed to holding the cup in one hand and trying to pour and balance everything else with their other hand. The mix cup hole can also be further reduced in size with an insert to a smaller sized hole to act as a traditional bottle, cup or can holder. Another insert reducer can be placed into the larger holes in the top tray to form a small dicing surface to cut your lemons, limes and other garnishes on in effect creating a mini cutting board surface that can be moved from side to side to accommodate right and left handed users equally.

The beverage station can conveniently be supported by a rod holder insert, a bar clamp or suction cups. In an alternate embodiment, a cutting board/serving tray can be used to support the beverage station. When the bar is in use it sits atop the cutting board/serving tray and locks into place with small latches on the right, left and front of the cutting board/serving tray surface. When you want to use the cutting board/serving tray you simply undo the latches, remove the bar surface and now you can fillet fish, cut bait, or serve food from the newly revealed flat cutting board/serving tray surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown inFIG. 1, the beverage station10holding a plurality of beverage containers including cups, bottles and cans.

Now with reference toFIG. 2, the beverage station10includes a bottom12, a top14and front spacers16and side spacers18. Each of the bottom12, top14and spacers16and18can be made of any strong and rigid material such as wood or plastic or metal. However, since the beverage station10is designed to be used in an outdoor marine environment, it is preferable to employ materials that are resistant to water, particularly salt water, as well as resistant to sun and heat. It has been found that wood such as teak or weather resistant plastics such as King Starboard® are suitable for use in manufacturing the beverage station10.

The top14is joined to the bottom12by spacers16and18and are preferably connected by stainless steel screws19. It should be understood that the top14, bottom12and spacers16and18could be welded or glued together or they could molded as a single unit such as by injection molding. As an example, typical dimension for the beverage station10would be about fourteen inches wide and twenty inches long and about four inches tall. The actual dimensions could vary as desired. Likewise, the thickness of material is preferably three-eighths inch thick and the spacers16are preferably three and one-eighth inches tall and three and one-half inches long, whereas the spacers18are preferably three and one-eighth inches tall and seven inches long.

The top14includes holes or openings20,22,24,26,28,30,32,34and36for receiving and retaining beverage containers as shown inFIG. 1. It should be understood that more or less openings could be created as desired. Furthermore, the openings are of various sizes for illustrative purposes, but could be all the same size. The bottom12includes attachment holes40, for connecting the beverage station to a support42. As shown inFIG. 2, the support42is a fishing rod holder mount that can be bolted to the bottom12. The support preferably includes a swivel supporting head44that is bolted to base12at holes40and includes a locking arm46.

Reducers50,52,54and56which facilitate changing the size of holes20,22,24and32respectively, are shown inFIG. 2. As shown, the reducers50,52,54and56can change the hole sizes different amounts to accommodate different sizes of beverage containers. In practice, it preferred that the size of reducer used corresponds to the beverage container to prevent tipping of the beverage container when the boat is rocking. A small cutting board58can also be fitted into one of the openings such as opening36as shown.

As shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, a reducer50, for example, includes a flange60and preferably a depending wall62that is preferably angled to frictionally engage the opening20. The flange60supports the reducer50on the top14so that the reducer50does not slip into the opening20and the flange60also extends over a portion of the opening20to reduce the size of the opening20. The angled wall62preferably frictionally engages the interior wall64of the opening20so that the reducer50does not easily come out when beverage containers are lifted from the beverage station10or when the boat is rocking due to waves or movement of people on the boat.

Additionally, as shown inFIG. 3, spacers16and18may be connected to the bottom12and top14by a tongue and groove connection where each of spacers16and18are formed with tongues65on their top side edges66and bottom side edges67which engage with grooves68on the bottom12and grooves69on the top14. The tongue and groove connection can provide greater stability to the beverage station10.

Preferably, the beverage station also includes a knife slot70and holes72for attachment of other accessories including but not limited to bottle openers, hand towel and trash bags.

FIG. 5illustrates an alternate clamping mechanism90which can be bolted to the bottom12using holes40and can clamp to a rail92.

FIG. 6shows a cutting board/serving table100preferably formed of the same materials as the beverage station10. The table100can be used by itself as a cleaning station for cleaning fish or it can be used a serving table. The table100includes a flat base102and preferably has side walls104,106and108on three sides to prevent items placed thereon from sliding into the water. The walls104,106and108may be joined to the edges110,112and114of the base102, respectively by stainless steel screws116. Alternatively, the walls104,106and108may be glued or welded to edges110,112and114or the entire table100could be molded as a single unit. Preferably, the walls104,106and108extend above the surface117of the base102by an inch, but the height of the walls104,106and108may vary as desired. Wall106preferably has drain slots118formed therein to permit fluids to flow off the surface117.

The side walls104and108each include a slot120and122, respectively extending downwardly from their top edges124and126, respectively. The bottoms128and130, respectively of each slot120and122extend upwardly about the thickness of the bottom12of the beverage station10. Pivoting keepers or swivel pins132and134are mounted to the each of the bottoms128and130of the slots120and122. A third pivoting keeper136is mounted to a front edge136of the base102and can be pivoted upwardly for preventing the beverage station10from sliding forward.

Now with reference toFIG. 6andFIG. 7, the distance between side walls104and108corresponds to the side to side length of the bottom12and the distance between wall106and front edge136corresponds to the front to back width of bottom12. As shown inFIG. 7, the beverage station10can be placed onto the surface117of the table100and locked in place by pivoting keepers132,134and136.

FIG. 8shows a pivoting keeper134retaining the bottom12of the beverage station10from lifting off of the table100. Pivoting keeper132would function in the same way. It is preferable that the pivoting keepers132and134frictionally engage the surface138of the bottom12of the beverage station10so that the beverage station10does not move or bounce relative to the table100when the boat rocks.FIG. 9shows the pivoting keeper136retaining the bottom12of the beverage station10from sliding forward. The beverage station10would be prevented from sliding sideways and backward by the walls104,106and108.

The table100includes attachment holes140for attachment of other accessories including, but not limited to, bottle openers, hand towel and trash bags. When the beverage station10is locked in place on the table100, attachment holes72align with holes140so that both sets of holes remain functional.

The table100includes attachment holes142for connecting the beverage station to a support144. As shown inFIG. 6, the support144is a fishing rod holder mount that can be bolted to the base102. Furthermore, the table100could be mounted to a rail or other surface by a suitable mounting device bolted the table using the attachment holes142.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, uses and/or adaptions of the invention following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as maybe applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claims.