Inverted bottle holder

An inverted bottle holder is described for holding a bottle with a neck upside down inside a container having an exterior wall. The bottle holder includes a first clip that is intended to fit glasses with a first range of angles of exterior wall, and a second clip that is intended to fit glasses with a second range of angles of exterior wall, wherein each clip is formed having an arc corresponding to the arc of the container, and a deck integrally formed with the first and second clips and extending into the container, the deck including an aperture sized to accept the neck of the bottle, such that the bottle is held upside down in the container when inserted into the aperture.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to clips for holding a bottle inverted in a drinking glass or pitcher.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While beer and margaritas have always been popular drinks, a recent phenomenon has occurred where frozen margaritas have been combined with beer. The “beer rita” is typically made by inverting a bottle of beer into a glass or pitcher of frozen margaritas. This allows the beer to slowly combine with the margarita as it is being consumed. The popularity of the beer rita has been increasing as it has been shown on various reality televisions shows. While simply inverting a beer bottle into a drink glass is effective, it is not always stable and the beer bottle can fall or be easily knocked out of the glass.

It would be helpful to have an inexpensive device that would hold a beer bottle more securely in a glass or pitcher. Further it would be advantageous if such a device could be used for promotions or advertising for beer or alcohol companies or restaurants or bars.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the concepts described herein, an embodiment of a universal inverted bottle holder is described for holding a bottle with a neck upside down inside a container having an exterior wall. The universal inverted bottle holder including a first clip sized to accept the exterior wall of the container in between. The first clip is formed at an arc corresponding to the arc of the exterior wall of the container, and the first clip is oriented to fit onto containers having a first range of angles of exterior walls. The universal inverted bottle holder also includes a second clip also sized to accept the exterior wall of the container in between, wherein the second clip is formed at the arc corresponding to the arc of the exterior wall of the container, and the second clip is oriented to fit onto containers having a second range of angles of exterior walls. A deck is connected in a permanently fixed relationship to the first clip and the second clip and extends into the container, the deck including an aperture sized to accept the neck of the bottle, such that the bottle is held upside down in the container when inserted into the aperture.

In another embodiment, a universal bottle holder intended to hold a beer bottle having a neck inverted in a margarita glass is described where the margarita glass has an arc and an exterior wall oriented at an angle with respect to the vertical orientation of the margarita glass. The universal bottle holder including a deck extending into the interior of the margarita glass, the deck including an aperture sized to receive the neck of the beer bottle. A first clip is integrally formed in a permanently fixed relationship with the deck and is sized to receive the exterior wall of the margarita glass. The first clip is curved at the same arc as the margarita glass and is formed at an angle to the deck corresponding to the angle of the exterior wall of the margarita glass. A second clip is also integrally formed in a permanently fixed relationship with the deck and is sized to receive the exterior wall of the margarita glass. The second clip is curved at the same arc as the margarita glass and is formed at an angle to the deck different than the angle of the first clip, such that the second clip allows the bottle holder to fit on a glass having a different angle of exterior wall from the margarita glass.

Further in accordance with the concepts described herein, an embodiment of a method for holding a beer bottle inverted in an interior of a margarita glass is described, the method including sliding a bottle holder having a first clip and a second clip onto the rim of the margarita glass where the bottle holder includes a deck extending into the interior of the margarita glass, the deck including an aperture sized to receive the neck of the beer bottle. The bottle holder also includes a first clip integrally formed in a permanently fixed relationship with the deck, and a second clip integrally formed in a permanently fixed relationship with the deck. The first clip fits glasses having an exterior wall at a first range of angles with respect to the vertical and the second clip fits glasses having an exterior wall at a second range of angles with respect to the vertical. The method then includes inserting a neck of the beer bottle into aperture of the deck such that the bottle holder holds the beer bottle inverted in the interior of the margarita glass.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIG. 1, an embodiment of a bottle holder according to the concepts described herein is shown. As described above, it has become popular to invert a bottle of beer into a frozen mixed drink to form a new type of cocktail. Most commonly a bottle of beer is inserted upside down into a frozen margarita to create a “beer rita.” While this is the most popular example of such a drink, any types of beverages could be used, alcoholic or non-alcoholic. Typically, the bottle is set into the glass or pitcher and rests against the edge of the glass or pitcher. Unfortunately, a bottle in that position can be prone to falling or being knocked out of the glass or pitcher. The present invention describes a bottle holder that can be used to hold a bottle inverted in glass in a more stable manner.

Bottle holder10is an embodiment of a device to hold an inverted bottle in a glass or pitcher according to the concepts described herein. Bottle holder10is positioned on glass11by sliding it onto the rim12, such that it is held securely on the glass. A bottle13can then be inserted upside down into an aperture sized to receive the neck15of the bottle in bottle holder10such that the bottle is held inverted in the glass11.

Referring now toFIGS. 2-3, the embodiment of bottle holder10is described in more detail. Bottle holder10is formed by deck24and clip22. Deck24is attached to, or formed integrally with, clip22and includes aperture21. Aperture21, shown in this embodiment as a circular cutout in deck24, is sized to receive neck of a typical beer or soda bottle, but is smaller than the main diameter of the bottle such that the neck of the bottle will extend through aperture21but the remainder of the bottle will be held in place by the surface of deck24as the shoulders of the bottle, where the bottle transitions from the neck to the main portion, rest against the edges of the aperture and the upper surface of deck24.

Clip25of bottle holder10includes outer wall22and inner wall23. Bottle holder10is held in place on rim12of glass11by positioning the wall of the glass between outer wall22and inner wall23. Outer wall22and inner wall23preferably are formed in a curve having the same diameter as the glass or pitcher so that bottle holder10fits easily over the glass. While an identical diameter is ideal, small variations between the glass diameter and the clip diameter can occur without substantially affecting the fit of bottle holder10on glass11.

Referring now toFIGS. 4-8, a preferred embodiment of bottle holder10is described in greater detail. As described above, bottle holder10is formed by a deck24, having an aperture21to accept the neck of a bottle, and clip25. Edge42of deck24can be beveled to provide a pleasing appearance to bottle holder10. Clip25includes outer wall22and inner wall23which hold the wall of a glass or pitcher between them when the bottle holder is in use. An upper wall52of clip25, adjacent to deck24, comes to rest on the rim of the glass when inserted. Though inner wall23can be of any suitable shape, in a preferred embodiment inner wall tapers into tongue41. The taper in inner wall23allows for easier fit onto the rim of the glass. Also, in a preferred embodiment inner wall23is thinner than outer wall22and can be slightly flexible also to aid in proper placement.

Clip25is also preferably formed at an angle to deck24, the angle corresponding to an angle of the glass, as shown inFIGS. 1-3. While a slightly acute angle is shown inFIGS. 4-8, clip25can be formed at any angle required by the glass or pitcher on which it is to be installed. Clip25also has a diameter, again to match the glass or pitcher onto which it is intended to be applied. In certain embodiments, support ridges51can be formed on the inner wall23providing additional structural support. As shown inFIG. 7, aperture21can be formed with a ring wall72extending below bottom surface71of deck24. Ring wall72provides additional strength to deck24and additional support for the neck of a bottle inserted into aperture21.

As an additional feature in certain embodiments of bottle holder10, there is space on both deck24between aperture21and clip25for promotional or advertising material to be added to clip10. Additional space for promotional or advertising material can be found on the exterior surface of outer wall22of clip25. Clip25can be formed from any suitable material, but is preferably a plastic having enough strength to support a full bottle inserted into aperture21while bottle holder10is sitting on the rim of a glass or pitcher.

Referring now toFIG. 9, an embodiment of a multi-glass bottle holder according to the concepts described herein is shown. As noted above, glasses come in a variety of shapes and configurations with the body of different glasses having different angles relative to the vertical orientation of the glass. The embodiment of the bottle holder shown inFIGS. 1-8can be made to accommodate various orientations of glasses by making the holder with different angles for the clip mechanism. This requires different clips be used for a very angled glass, like a martini type glass, as opposed to a more vertical glass, like a goblet or mug. Multi-glass, or universal, bottle holder200can accommodate different glass orientations with a single device.

As with bottle holder10fromFIG. 1, multi-glass bottle holder200is an embodiment of a device to hold an inverted bottle in a glass or pitcher according to the concepts described herein. Bottle holder200is positioned on glass by sliding it onto the rim, such that it is held securely on the glass. A bottle can then be inserted upside down into an aperture sized to receive the neck of the bottle in bottle holder such that the bottle is held inverted in the glass.

Bottle holder200is formed by deck224and outer clip225and inner clip260. Deck224is attached to, or formed integrally with clips225and260and includes aperture221. Aperture221, shown in this embodiment as a circular cutout in deck224, is sized to receive neck of a typical beer or soda bottle, but is smaller than the main diameter of the bottle such that the neck of the bottle will extend through aperture221but the remainder of the bottle will be held in place by the surface of deck224as the shoulders of the bottle, where the bottle transitions from the neck to the main portion, rest against the edges of the aperture and the upper surface of deck224.

Outer clip225of bottle holder200, which in this embodiment is oriented to fit glasses of a more vertical orientation, includes outer wall222and inner wall223. Inner clip260, which is oriented to fit glasses with a more angled orientation, includes inner braces261aand261band outer braces262aand262b. Bottle holder200is held in place on the rim of a vertical glass by positioning the wall of the glass between inner surface243of outer wall222and inner wall223, while for an angled glass the rim is positioned between inner braces261a,261band outer braces262a,262b. Notches264aand264balso allow the rim of the glass to fit deeper into clip200providing additional support. Clips225and260are preferably formed in a curve having the same arc as the glass or pitcher so that multi-glass bottle holder200fits easily over the glass using either clip. While an identical diameter is ideal, variations between the glass diameter and the clip diameter can occur without substantially affecting the fit of bottle holder200on the glass.

Brace263is provided along the underside of deck224to provide additional rigidity to multi-glass bottle holder200. Brace263may be included on the multi-glass bottle holder200embodiment as deck224is lengthened to accommodate clip260. Edge242also provides additional rigidity and stability to deck224. Inner wall223can be of any shape, but in preferred embodiments tapers to tongue241.

Referring now toFIGS. 10-14, the preferred embodiment of bottle holder20is further described. As described above, bottle holder200is formed by a deck224, having an aperture221to accept the neck of a bottle, and outer clip225and inner clip260. Edge242of deck224can be beveled to provide a pleasing appearance to bottle holder200. Outer clip225includes outer wall222and inner wall223which hold the wall of a glass or pitcher between them when the bottle holder is in use. Though inner wall223of outer clip225can be of any suitable shape, in a preferred embodiment inner wall tapers into tongue241. The taper in inner wall223allows for easier fit onto the rim of the glass. Also, in a preferred embodiment inner wall223is thinner than outer wall222and can be slightly flexible also to aid in proper placement.

In a preferred embodiment outer clip25is designed to allow multi-glass bottle holder200to fit onto glasses with a more vertical wall and is therefore preferably formed at an angle close to or just less than 90 degrees to deck24. While a slightly acute angle is shown, outer clip225can be formed at any angle required by the glass or pitcher on which it is to be installed. Inner clip260is designed to allow multi-glass bottle holder200to fit onto glasses with a more angled wall and is therefore formed at an acute angle relative to deck224. Inner clip260is formed by inner braces261a,261band inner braces262a,262b. Inner braces261b,261bprotrude from the underside of deck224and are preferably equidistant from the centerline of bottle holder200. Outer braces262a,262bprotrude from inner call223, but could also be formed to extend from deck224. Notches264aand264bin edge242allow the bottle holder200to fit further down onto the rim of the glass when using inner clip. As with outer clip225, inner clip260can be formed at any desired angle to accommodate any type of glass or pitcher. Brace263provides additional support to deck224.

In other respects multi-glass bottle holder200is designed and functions as described above with respect to bottle holder10inFIGS. 1-8.

As with bottle holder10, as an additional feature in certain embodiments of universal bottle holder200, there is space on both deck224between aperture221and clip225for promotional or advertising material to be added to clip200. Additional space for promotional or advertising material can be found on the exterior surface of outer wall222of clip225. Multi-glass bottle holder200can be formed from any suitable material, but is preferably a plastic having enough strength to support a full bottle inserted into aperture221while bottle holder200is sitting on the rim of a glass or pitcher.