DEVICE FOR HOLDING A CONSUMABLE PRODUCT, IN PARTICULAR A BEVERAGE

Abstract: A device (10) for holding a consumable product, in particular a liquid such as a spirit beverage, is provided with a bottom attachment means which enables it to be mounted, optionally, on the rim (16) of a drinking vessel (11), whereby a pint of beer, for example, may be served together with a shot of whisky.

Description: DEVICE FOR HOLDING A CONSUMABLE PRODUCT, IN PARTICULAR A BEVERAGE This invention relates to devices for holding consumables. The invention provides a device for holding something consumable such as a beverage, characterised in that the device comprises mounting means for enabling it to be releasably mounted on a container in such a way that the device will be carried thereby in a relatively stable manner whilst holding its contents and substantially without interfering with the interior of the container or the container's contents. Such a device may be used to hold a spirit measure, for example a shot of whisky, and be designed to be mountable on a drinking vessel, such as a beer glass, in which case the device may be used for serving a pint of beer with an accompanying "chaser". The invention also provides a device for holding a consumable product, characterised by its having two spaced apart elements which in use enable the device to be mounted on an upstanding wall portion such as the rim of a drinking vessel or an upturned edge of a tray, with the elements straddling the wall portion whereby the device is able to be carried on said wall portion in a relatively stable manner. By way of example, some embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention mounted on a drinking vessel, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device mounted on a bottle, Figures 3 a and 3b are perspective views showing the underside of the device, Figure 4 is a sectional view through the device , and Figures 5 and 6 are views showing the device with alternative closures. A device 10 according to the invention is shown in the drawings. The device 10 is designed to hold a consumable product, in particular a liquid such as a spirit beverage. The device 10 is designed to be mounted on a container, such as the drinking vessel 11 of Figure 1 or the bottle 12 of Figure 2. The means by which the device 10 is mountable on a container is designed to ensure that the device will be carried in a relatively stable manner whilst holding its contents and substantially without interfering with the interior of the container or its contents. As will be seen, the device 10 is of an elongate, generally cylindrical shape. The upper section 13 of the device holds the consumable product and will typically have a carrying capacity of around 30cc. The means for mounting the device 10 on a container is provided on the lower section 14 of the device. As will be seen, the lower section 14 is in the form of a generally cylindrical skirt extending from the upper section 13. Provided in the lower section 14 are a pair of diametrically opposed, open-ended slots 15. Each slot 15 is of a width which is just sufficient to fit over the rim portion 16 of a drinking vessel 11. The length of the slots is sufficient to ensure that, once engaged on the rim 16 in this way, the device will be relatively stable. That is to say, the device will be prevented from toppling or spilling its contents when it is mounted on a container which is itself resting in a normal upright position on a substantially level surface. This same state of affairs is designed to be maintained even when the container is lifted off such a surface, providing this is done with a reasonable amount of care, and the container is kept in a substantially upright position. It will be noted that the device is so shaped that it can be placed and rest stably on such a surface by itself. Where the device and container both hold liquids, the device will normally be removed from the container before either of the contents are consumed. The lower section 14 is designed so that the device 10 can also be mounted, optionally, on a bottle 12. For this purpose, the internal diameter of the lower section 14 is just sufficient to enable it to fit over the upper neck portion 17 of the bottle 12, with the lower section being of a length sufficient to give the device relative stability once mounted in this way. As a further aid to stability, the lower section 14 of the device 10 is further provided with a centrally disposed projection 18, which is designed to extend into the interior of the neck of the bottle. In this case, the projection 18 is of cruciform shape, as will be seen most clearly in Figure 3b. The device 10 has an outwardly directed flange or lip 19 at the top of its upper section 13. The device 10 will also typically be provided with a removable closure for initially sealing off its contents. This closure may take the form of a metallic foil 20 with a ring-pull opener 21, as seen Figure 5. Such a closure would initially be crimped over the flange 19 of the device 10 in known manner. Alternatively, the closure may take the form of a plastics cap 22 with a tear-away strip 23, as seen in Figure 6. Such a closure would be initially snap-fitted over the flange 19 of the device 10, again in known manner. The closure may of course be designed to be replacable on the device. The device 10 itself can conveniently be made from moulded plastics material. It will be understood that the basic idea of providing a device for holding a consumable product with specially designed means to enable it to be mounted on and carried by another container can be adapted to a number of different applications. For example, if the container is in the form of a tray, the device could be designed to be mounted on an upstanding edge or wall portion of the tray, in which case the device could conveniently be used to hold a sauce or a drink whilst the tray carries food items. This could have advantages in the design of in-flight catering equipment for aircraft, for example.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A device for holding something consumable, characterised in that the device comprises mounting means for enabling it to be releasably mounted on a container in such a way that the device will be carried thereby in a relatively stable manner whilst holding its contents and substantially without interfering with the interior of said container or the container's contents. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container is a drinking vessel and the mounting means is adapted to mount the device on a rim portion of said vessel. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said mounting means is formed by a slotted portion of the device, with said slotted portion being adapted to straddle the rim portion of the vessel in use. 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container is a bottle and the mounting means is adapted to mount the device on a neck portion of the bottle. 5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said mounting means is formed by an extended skirt portion of the device, with the skirt portion being adapted to fit over the neck portion of the bottle in use. 6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said mounting means further includes a projecting portion which is adapted to extend into the interior of the neck portion of the bottle in use. 7. A device as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said slotted portion is provided in said extended skirt portion, whereby the device is mountable optionally on a range of different containers. 8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device is adapted to be able to rest stably when placed by itself on a generally level surface. 9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim and further comprising removable closure means for initially sealing off the contents of the device. 10. A device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 11. The combination of a device as claimed in any preceding claim and a container such as a drinking vessel or bottle on which said device is mounted.. 12. A device for holding a consumable product, characterised by its having two spaced apart elements which in use enable the device to be mounted on an upstanding wall portion such as the rim of a drinking vessel or an upturned edge of a tray, with the elements straddling said wall portion whereby the device is able to be carried on said wall portion in a relatively stable manner. 13. The combination of a device as claimed in claim 12 and an upstanding wall portion on which said device is mounted.

Inventors: VINER PETER, VINER, PETER
Applicants: H P BULMER LTD, VINER PETER, H.P. BULMER LIMITED, VINER, PETER
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A47G19
IPC codes: A47G19