Abstract:
The device fits over the outer surface of a beverage container at a first surface, and a structural member extends between the first surface and a second surface which contacts a second container stacked on the first. The structural member serves to support the separation between the inner surface of the second container and the outer surface of the first container. The related process involves the stacking of beverage containers one upon another employing one device between two containers to create stacks of containers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/242,305 filed on Sep. 14, 2009. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for storing beverage containers. More specifically, it discloses a device which aids in spacing stacked beverage containers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In bar establishments as well as within households and other locations having a number of similarly-shaped beverage containers, it is common for the handlers of such containers to have difficulty efficiently storing them in a manner which allows them to be easily separated from each other at a later time. Traditional stacking, while allowing for the efficient usage of space, will often lead to containers “sticking” to each other, and can lead not only to more difficult separation of containers but also to glass breakage and handler injury, not including the downtime or lost time due to the cleaning, washing and restacking. Where storage occurs simultaneously with cooling or heating, containers which sit flush against each other may expand and contract, also, causing container breakage. Additionally, where moisture is present and containers are cooled, containers may freeze together making separation even more difficult. And finally, stacking can isolate significant portions of the containers from the atmosphere, thus slowing drying processes. 
         [0004]    Generally speaking, the storage of beverage containers as well as their secure attachment to various objects has been the subject of a number of inventions. These inventions have had objectives such as properly securing a container to a car seat or other object or distribution of cooled containers. Other inventions include apparatuses which enclose a beverage container and help to regulate its temperature. However, there have been few, if any, inventions which relate to storing containers in a stacked formation in a manner which maintains separation between them. Despite this fact, stacking remains a common method of storing beverage containers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The apparatus and method disclosed herein involve the stacking of beverage containers. The apparatus, referred to herein as a device, has first and second receiving surfaces for receiving contact with containers, and has a structural member which separates them. The device is shaped and of such dimensions that when positioned along an outer surface of a first beverage container, portions of the device will be adjacent to the first container&#39;s outer surface thus forming the device&#39;s first receiving surface. From the first receiving surface extends a structural member toward a second receiving surface positioned adjacent to an inner surface or top of a second beverage container. The device serves to separate the sidewalls of the two containers. The method employs one such device between each container and the container stacked below or above it and may be employed to stack a number of consecutive containers upon each other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the method and of the device and depicts two stacked containers. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the device including passages which allow for fluid communication between containers. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top perspective of an embodiment of the device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top perspective of another embodiment of the device employing a different configuration of passages. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top perspective of another embodiment of the device having a number of structural members between the receiving surfaces and a number of passages. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is adapted for use with multiple containers. However, the disclosure will refer to two exemplary containers depicted in  FIG. 1 . A first container  10  and a second container  14 , each having sidewalls  20  with an outer surface  22  and an inner surface  24 , as well a top  26  presenting an open end. The depicted containers are fluid-bearing and thus terminate in a closed end generally referred to herein as a bottom  28 . The containers  10  and  14  are depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the invention, a beverage container spacing device generally referred to by the reference numeral  30  in association with the first and second containers  10 ,  14 . The device  30  includes a first receiving surface  38 , a second receiving surface  42 , and a structural member  46  extending between them. In addition, an axial plane  50  is generally oriented perpendicular to a central vertical axis extending between the stacked containers  10 ,  14 . 
         [0014]    The device  30  separates the inner surface  24  of the second container  14  from the outer surface  22  of the first container  10 . Typically, one of the containers  10 ,  14  is supported by the device  30  in a vertical stack. Which container is referred to as “supported” depends upon whether the first  10  or second  14  container ends up “on top” in a vertical stack. However, horizontal or angular stacking may also be employed, thus it is not imperative that one of the containers  10 ,  14  be “supported” because the device is merely intended to maintain separation. Usage of the term “support” is intended merely as a guide in understanding the figures and the positioning of their elements and is not intended to limit the breadth of the claims. 
         [0015]    It should also be noted that it is possible for portion(s) of the containers  10 ,  14  to directly contact each other without defeating the operation of the device  30 . For example, in  FIG. 1  the second container  14  could be positioned further to the left or right relative to the first container  10  such that one portion of the second container&#39;s  14  sidewall  20  is adjacent to the first container  10  and the opposing portion is separated further from the first container  10  than is depicted in  FIG. 1 . In this case, the device  30  would still create separation between the containers  10 ,  14 . 
         [0016]    In  FIG. 1 , the device  30  is depicted positioned around the outer surface  22  of the first container  10 . The device&#39;s  30  first receiving surface  38 , which forms the shape of a circle with an intermittent perimeter, has a sufficient diameter such that it is positioned near to the first container&#39;s  10  top  26 , and is substantially parallel to the axial plane  50 . The device  30  supports the second container  14  and contacts the second container  14  along the device&#39;s  30  upper, planar surface. The area of contact is the device&#39;s  30  second receiving surface  42 . In this arrangement, the first container  10  is spaced from the second container  14 . In addition to separating the containers  10 ,  14 , the device  30  depicted in  FIG. 1  allows for fluids like air and water to move along the inner surface  24  of the second container  14  and the outer surface  22  of the first container  10  via a series of passages  54  positioned near the outer surface  22  of the first container  10 . Increasing fluid communication helps decrease the presence of fluid and its accumulation by exposing fluids which may exist on container  10 ,  14  surfaces to external conditions. Such fluids may be present due to condensation or washing processes, for example, and passages may provide for air movement, evaporation of fluids or drainage by gravitational forces. 
         [0017]    Generally, the first receiving surface  38  is adjacent to the outer surface  22  of the first container  10 . The second receiving surface  42  is adjacent to the second container  14 , for example but not as a limitation, at the inner surface  24  or top  26 .  FIG. 1  also depicts support of the second container  14  along the top  26 . The device  30  spaces the second container  14  from the first container  10  along the structural member  46  extending between the first and second receiving surfaces  38 ,  42 . Generally speaking, the first container  10  sits partially inside of and is at least partially surrounded by the inner surface  24  of the second container  14 . 
         [0018]    In  FIG. 1 , the device  30  is positioned nearer the top  26  of the first container  10 . In other embodiments, the diameter of the intermittent perimeter circle formed by the first receiving surface  38  may be smaller, thus the device  30  may be positioned nearer to the bottom  28  of the first container  10 . Such an arrangement could provide for a greater degree of separation between the sidewalls  20  of the containers  10 ,  14 . 
         [0019]    The device  30  of  FIG. 1  is also depicted with the second receiving surface  42  positioned adjacent to the top  26  of the second container  14 . If the device  30  in  FIG. 1  was of smaller outer diameter, it might present a second receiving surface  42  positioned adjacent to the inner surface  24  of the second container  14  rather than the top  26 . In that case, increasing the outer diameter of the device  30  could also increase separation between the sidewalls  20  of the containers  10 ,  14 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  also illustrates a method consistent with the invention, including employing the device  30  to stack containers  10 ,  14 . The method involves positioning the first receiving surface  38  adjacent to the outer surface  22  of the first container  10  and telescoping the second container  14  toward the first container  10  such that the second receiving surface  42  becomes engaged with the inner surface  24  or the top  26  of the second container  14 . It is not imperative that the first receiving surface  38  be associated first with the first container  10 —the second receiving surface  42  may be associated as a first step with the second container  14  without affecting the operability of the method. Telescoping, wherein the containers are oriented relative to each other and moved into sufficient proximity to facilitate the contact between the device  30  and the containers  10 ,  14 , may be achieved regardless of which receiving surface  38 ,  42  makes contact first. It should also be noted that even though  FIG. 1  shows a vertical stack of containers, the device  30  and method may be employed angularly or horizontally while still maintaining separation between container sidewalls  20 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the device  30  of  FIG. 1 . The first receiving surface  38  depicted in  FIG. 2  forms the shape of a circle with an intermittent perimeter due to periodic breaks in contact with the outer surface  22  of the first container  10 . These breaks form passages  54  which allow for fluids to move across the device  30 , creating fluidic communication between the containers  10  and  14 . However, the first receiving surface  38  may take a variety of shapes. The first receiving surface  38  need only be positioned against the outer surface  22  of the first container  10  such that the device  30  spaces the containers  10 ,  14  when stacked together. Similarly, the second receiving surface  42  may take any number of shapes so long as it is positioned adjacent to the second container  14  and helps space the stacked containers  10 ,  14 . 
         [0022]    For example, a similar top view of another embodiment of the device  30  could show a first receiving surface  38  forming the shape of an octagon with an incomplete perimeter. In operation with a frusto-conical glass, such an embodiment would have a segment lying in the middle of the length of each of the eight sides which would be tangential and adjacent to the outer surface  22  of the first container  10 . These eight segments of contact would form the first receiving surface  38  of that embodiment and would be separated from the second receiving surface  42  by a structural member  46 , whereby the containers  10 ,  14  would be spaced from each other. The remainder of each of these eight sides would be passages  54 , just like the series of half-circles depicted in  FIG. 2 . In addition to the variety of device  30  shapes which may fit a particular first container  10 , the device  30  may also take different shapes to adapt to the varying shapes the outer surface  22  of the first container  10  may take. 
         [0023]    The device  30  may be comprised of one or more substantially rigid materials. Materials such as plastic, rubber, or steel or aluminum alloys are examples of materials which are capable of supporting the minimal pressure of separating the containers  10 ,  14  from one another. The material may also be solid or include hollow regions depending on the desired shape, characteristic and support necessary to function in separating the containers  10 ,  14 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows the representative embodiment of  FIG. 2  from a side view. In addition to the components discussed above, it shows a length axis  58  defined in the opposite direction of the gravity force vector and the thickness of this device  30  is clearly depicted. The thickness may be adapted based upon the dimensions of the containers  10 ,  14  which are to be stacked and the desired degree of separation between them. The embodiment in  FIG. 3  depicts a small thickness in relation to the axial dimensions of the device  30 . This particular conformation will be discussed at greater length below. Of course, if it were desirable to create additional separation between containers  10 ,  14 , one method by which to achieve that would be to increase the device&#39;s  30  thickness. 
         [0025]    As mentioned above, the first receiving surface  38  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , and most clearly from the top view in  FIG. 2 , forms a circular shape with an intermittent perimeter. The intermittent breaks in the first receiving surface  38  result from the passages  54 . This may be common among the various embodiments of this disclosure, and may also occur in association with the second receiving surface  42  if passages  54  exist nearer that surface, and alternatively elsewhere along the device  30 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3  from a top perspective. This perspective provides a better view of the passages  54  and the device&#39;s  30  outer perimeter. It also provides better perspective regarding the relative dimensions of the device  30 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  depicts a different embodiment of the device  30  in which there are a number of passages  54  of different sizes. Passages  54  may vary in numerosity, dimension, and orientation. Indeed, the device  30  does not require these passages  54  at all to function as a spacing aid. However, these particular passages  54  are circular. Passages  54  in general do, optionally, help to increase the fluid communication across the device  30 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  depicts yet another embodiment of the device  30  having a second receiving surface  42  and a first receiving surface  38  separated by a number of structural members  46 . The second receiving surface  42  may optionally form a circular shape with an intermittent perimeter if the device  30  is positioned adjacent to the top  26  of the second container  14 . The second receiving surface  42  may also form a circular perimeter if it is positioned adjacent to the inner surface  24  of second container  14 . Where the second receiving surface  42  lies on any particular embodiment, as mentioned above, depends on the adaptation of the device  30  to fit particular containers. Between the first and second receiving surfaces  38 ,  42  lie axially radiating structural members  46  which are made of substantially rigid materials capable of separating the stacked containers  10 ,  14 . This embodiment also has passages  54  through which fluids may pass which may optionally aid in drying processes. The passages  54  depicted in  FIG. 6  are elongated and arcuate in shape. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  also demonstrates another aspect of the disclosure in comparison with  FIGS. 1-5 . The structural member  46  may vary in form, dimension, and numerosity so long as it generally spaces the first receiving surface  38  from the second  42 . In this embodiment, there are plural structural members  46  spaced radially around the first receiving surface  38  and extending outward toward the second receiving surface  42 . In the previous Figures, the structural member  46  radially surrounded the first receiving surface  38  forming a disc-like shape. All are exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. 
         [0030]    The present disclosure has described, and  FIGS. 1-6  have depicted, several embodiments of the device  30  which achieve separation between stacked containers. Similarly, several optional embodiments of the disclosure include passages  54  through which fluids may pass. Finally, the disclosure includes a method by which the device  30  may be employed for stacking the containers  10 ,  14 .