Patent Publication Number: US-2010122919-A1

Title: Beverage glass with internal decanting, filtering,mixing and aerating cell

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to beverage glasses, particularly, wine glasses, containing an internal cell for decanting, filtering, mixing and/or aerating the beverage as it is poured into the glass. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A wine glass is generally composed of three parts: the bowl, stem, and foot. Glasses for red wine are characterized by a rounder, wider bowl with a larger opening, which permits the wine to breathe. The shape of the bowl concentrates the flavor and aroma to emphasize particular characteristics of the wine. 
     Beverages made from fruit often contain small solid particles from the skin or seeds of the fruit which may settle to the bottom of the beverage container. Wine, in particular, often contains these particles which may be transferred with the wine to the wine glass. 
     Wine glasses have been made with internal structures to enhance the swirling and mixing of the wine with air after it has been poured into the glass, for example, as shown in U.S. Patent Publication No. US2006/0032855. Other devices for decanting wine as it is poured are disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. US2007/0256568. None of these devices provide a structure within the wine glass itself to permit the decanting, filtering, mixing and aerating of the wine as it is poured. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a beverage glass for aerating a beverage upon pouring the beverage into the beverage glass. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a beverage glass having internal means for decanting, filtering, mixing and/or aerating a beverage upon pouring the beverage into the beverage glass. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a beverage glass for changing or maintaining the temperature of a beverage. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a beverage glass having an interior cell for holding and mixing a flavored liquid with a beverage. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification. 
     The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to a drinking container for decanting, filtering, mixing and/or aerating a beverage. The drinking container comprises a bowl having an upper opening and an aerating cell having a wall, an upper opening along the top of the cell and at least one perforation through the wall. The cell is attached to and within the bowl, to decant, filter, mix and/or aerate a beverage that is poured through the bowl upper opening and into the cell upper opening, and subsequently flows through the at least one perforation into the bowl. 
     Preferably, the cell includes a plurality of cell perforations in at least a portion of the cell wall and more preferably the cell perforations are all located a distance above a bottom of the bowl a distance sufficient to permit a desired volume of the beverage to flow therethrough and into the bowl. Alternately, the cell perforations extend to a bottom of the bowl. 
     The drinking container may include a plurality of perforations in only a portion of the cell wall and may include a lower end supported above a bottom of the bowl a distance designating a desired volume of the beverage to be held in the bowl. The cell may be supported above a bottom of the bowl. Preferably, the drinking container is a wine glass having a base and stem supporting the bowl. 
     The drinking container may include a cell which is removably attached to the bowl. Alternately, the cell may have a lip supported by a rim along the bowl upper opening. 
     The drinking container may include a cell having an upper opening with a width less than half that of the bowl upper opening. Alternately, the cell upper opening may have a width greater than half that of the bowl upper opening. 
     The drinking container may include a cell having a separate, removable filter basket. The drinking container may have the bowl opening larger than the user&#39;s mouth. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of using a drinking container for decanting, filtering, mixing and/or aerating a beverage. The method includes providing a drinking container having a bowl with an upper opening and, within the bowl, an aerating cell having a wall, an upper opening along the top of the cell and at least one perforation through the wall. The method includes providing a beverage, pouring the beverage through the bowl upper opening into the cell upper opening and permitting the beverage to flow through the at least one perforation and into the bowl, thereby decanting, filtering, mixing and/or aerating the beverage. 
     Preferably, the method includes the cell having a plurality of cell perforations in at least a portion of the cell wall and more preferably the cell perforations are all located a distance above a bottom of the bowl a distance sufficient to permit a desired volume of the beverage to flow therethrough and into the bowl. The method includes, in the step of permitting the beverage to flow through the at least one perforation and into the bowl, terminating the pouring upon the beverage level reaching about the level of the cell perforations. Alternately, the cell perforations extend to a bottom of the bowl whereby a first beverage is poured into the cell and a second beverage is then poured into the bowl, initiating mixing of the first and second beverages and the step of permitting the beverage to flow through the at least one perforation and into the bowl includes terminating the pouring upon the beverage level reaching about the level of the cell lower end. 
     The method may include providing a plurality of perforations in only a portion of the cell wall and the cell may include a lower end supported above a bottom of the bowl a distance designating a desired volume of the beverage to be held in the bowl. The cell may be supported above a bottom of the bowl. Preferably, the drinking container is a wine glass having a base and stem supporting the bowl and the beverage is a wine. 
     The method may include providing a drinking container having a cell which is removably attached to the bowl wherein the cell is removed after permitting the beverage to flow through the at least one perforation and into the bowl. Alternately, the cell may have a lip supported by a rim along the bowl upper opening wherein the cell lip is placed in contact with the bowl rim prior to pouring the beverage through the bowl upper opening into the cell upper opening 
     The drinking container may include a cell having an upper opening with a width less than half that of the bowl upper opening. Alternately, the cell upper opening may have a width greater than half that of the bowl upper opening. 
     The drinking container may include a cell having a separate, removable filter basket and the filter basket may be removed after permitting the beverage to flow through the at least one perforation and into the bowl. The drinking container preferably has the bowl opening larger than the user&#39;s mouth. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a drinking container for changing or maintaining beverage temperature. The drinking container comprises a bowl having an upper opening and a sealed cell within the bowl containing a substance for cooling or heating the beverage in the glass without diluting the beverage. The cell has an upper end marking a desired volume of beverage within the bowl. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a beverage glass according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a beverage glass showing the flow of the beverage through an integrated internal cell according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a beverage glass having a removable perforated cell and volume indicator. 
         FIG. 4  is a second embodiment of the beverage glass according to the present invention 
         FIG. 5  is a third embodiment of the beverage glass according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a fourth embodiment of the beverage glass according to the present invention 
         FIG. 7  is a beverage glass having a removable screen filter in the internal cell. 
         FIG. 8A  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the beverage glass having a removable decanting cell according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8B  is a collapsed view of the beverage glass shown in  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9  is a beverage glass having an integrated internal cooling cell according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a beverage glass having an integrated internal cell for a flavoring liquid according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference will be made herein to  FIGS. 1-10  of the drawings in which like numerals refer to like features of the invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a beverage drinking container or glass  10  includes a bowl  20  having a wide opening  24  at the top, preferably a glass bowl similar to that of an ordinary wine glass, an elongated lower stem  50  and a foot or base  52  for supporting the beverage glass on a flat horizontal surface. The beverage glass includes within the bowl a smaller internal cell or compartment  30  of cylindrical configuration having a side surface or wall  31 , an upper opening  32  and at least one, and preferably multiple, perforations  34  distributed evenly on and extending through the side wall(s) thereof. The perforated internal cell provides decanting, filtering, mixing and/or aerating of a beverage upon pouring the beverage into the bowl beverage glass through the opening of the bowl. The internal cell or pod  30  is supported within the interior of bowl  20  by a support structure or stem  36  such that the top of the cell is no higher than the top opening  24  of the bowl, and the bottom of the cell is above the bottom of the bowl. 
     A method of using the beverage glass  10  for decanting, filtering, mixing and/or aerating of a beverage is shown in  FIG. 2 . The wine  62  is poured from a wine bottle  80  through bowl opening  24  into the upper opening  32  of cell  30 . As the cell fills with the wine, gravity forces the wine to flow through the plurality of perforations  34  and into the bowl  20 , filtering any particle present in the wine which drops below the perforations or is too large to pass through the perforations. As wine stream  62 ′ exits the perforations, the surface area of the wine exposed to the atmosphere is increased and allows for more efficient aeration of the wine than would be provided by pouring the wine directly into the wine glass bowl. 
     Preferably, the method includes providing the beverage glass having a bowl, an aerating cell having an exterior surface, an upper opening along the top of the surface and a plurality of perforations on the surface integrated within the bowl of the beverage glass. The method includes pouring the beverage into the upper opening  32  of the aerating cell  30  and allowing the beverage to permeate through the perforations of the exterior surface  31 . The method decants, mixes, aerates and/or filters the beverage  62  flowing through the cell  30  and into the glass bowl  20  outside of and below the cell. 
       FIG. 3  shows additional features of the self decanting beverage glass  10 ′ which includes a removable aerating portion  30  which is attached and connected to the support structure  36 . The support structure  36  may be removably or permanently integrally attached to the lower surface of bowl  20  or to a top end of stem  50 . Preferably the support structure  36  fits slidingly in a support socket  38  whereby cell  30  may be easily inserted or removed from the socket. Volume indication line  22 , which is etched in or otherwise applied to the bowl to indicate a standard portion or pour of wine or beverage, is at the same level and coincides with the lower end  33  of cell  30 . A specific volume value may additionally be indicated along line  22 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the perforations  34  extend vertically all along the side of cell  30  between the bottom  33  and top  32 .  FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of the beverage glass wherein the perforations  34  are disposed only on the upper half of cell  30 ′, with the lower half of the cell being solid and free of perforations. In this embodiment, cell  30 ′ provides a decanting feature to prevent sediment from flowing from cell  30 ′ to glass bowl  20 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  include perforations  34  disposed only on the lower 20% of the cell  30 ″, with the upper 80% of the cell side walls being solid and free of perforations. The internal cell may be made with any desired vertical portion of the side walls having perforations therein, with the remainder of the side walls being solid. The perforations may be located in the bottom wall of the cell, in addition to or as an alternative to perforations in the side walls. In the embodiment where the glass is used for aeration and/or filtration of the beverage, the lowermost perforations should be above the bottom of the bowl a sufficient distance for the desired volume of the aerated or filtered beverage to be contained within the bowl. 
       FIG. 6  shows an alternate embodiment of the aerating cell  30 ′″ which may be shallower and wider than those of  FIGS. 1-5 . The aerating portion  30 ′″ is attached and connected to the top of the support structure  36 , includes perforations  34  in the lower wall of the cell, and provides a larger upper opening  32 ′ so the wine poured from the bottle is less likely to bypass the aeration cell. In this embodiment, the width or diameter of cell  30 ′″ is greater than half of the width or diameter of the opening  24  of the bowl  20 . 
     In another embodiment of the beverage glass shown in  FIG. 7 , the aerating cell  30  includes a separate, removable filter basket  70  for improved filtering of the beverage. In addition, the filter basket includes a handle  72  which allows easier insertion and removal into and from the aerating cell  30 . This also allows for easier disposal of any particles or sediment filtered from the wine. 
     In another embodiment of the beverage glass shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 8A , an aeration cell  100  or cup may be disposed on the rim  104  of a beverage glass  20  and supported by a lip  102  on the periphery of the upper opening  106  of the cell. The aeration cell  100  also includes a bottom wall  104  and a side wall  108  extending between the upper opening and the bottom wall. The side wall  108  includes perforations  34 ′ spaced at least distance d from the bottom surface  104 . The perforations are preferably spaced from the bottom surface a distance sufficient to allow particles and sediment in the wine to accumulate on the bottom surface without passing through the perforations  34 ′ and into the bowl  20 . 
       FIG. 8B  shows aeration cell  100  in position on the bowl  20  of the beverage glass and a beverage  62  being poured therein. As the beverage level in the aeration cell reaches the perforations, the beverage begins to flow through the perforations and into the bowl  20 . Lip  102  may be made to fit the rims of a variety of beverage glasses. 
       FIG. 9  shows a wine or beverage glass  12  for changing or maintaining a desired temperature of the beverage. The beverage glass includes a bowl  20 ′, a sealed temperature cell or pod  90 , a stem  50  and a foot  52 . The temperature cell or pod  90  contains a solid, liquid or gel substance for cooling the beverage in the glass without diluting the beverage and is disposed inside the bowl  20 ′. The substance is sealed within the pod  90  so the beverage is not contaminated thereby. Alternatively, the substance may also be used to heat the liquid in the bowl. Preferably, the highest point on the pod marks a specific volume of beverage, such as a standard portion or pour of wine, and is at the same level as volume indicating mark  22  on bowl  20 ′. 
       FIGS. 1-9  include embodiments of beverage glass of the present invention which work particularly well with wine, although they may be used with other beverages as well. The characteristics of red wine improve after the wine has been properly aerated and the features of the above embodiments provides for efficient aeration as well as decanting and filtration of particles which may be present in many bottles of wine. 
       FIG. 10  shows a beverage glass for mixing a beverage with a liquid flavoring. The preferred beverage glass  14  comprises a conical bowl  20 ″, a flavoring pod  96 , an elongated stem  50  and a base  52 . The flavoring cell or pod  96  is preferably a fluted cell having a wider upper opening  98  and a plurality of upper perforations  94  and lower perforations  92  disposed on the side walls. Cell  96  is preferably non-removably integrated within the bowl of the beverage glass, but alternatively may be made to removable therefrom. The perforations alternately may be disposed only on the upper portion of the cell, or only on the lower portion of the cell, rather than on both portions. Beverage glass  14  is particularly useful for martinis, where a flavoring liquid may be introduced into cell  96  and subsequently mixed with the vodka or gin in the bowl. 
     Although the drinking container is described herein as a glass, in the preferred embodiment it also encompasses cups, tumblers and other beverage containers having bowl openings larger than an individual user&#39;s mouth and intended for serving an individual portion of a beverage. The drinking container along with the internal cell may be made of a material other than glass, for example, acrylic or other plastic, and may be transparent, translucent or opaque. 
     Thus, the present invention provides an improved beverage glass having an internal cell for decanting, filtering, mixing and/or aerating a beverage upon pouring the beverage into the beverage glass. The invention also provides an improved beverage glass with an internal cell for changing the temperature of a beverage, or for holding and mixing a flavored liquid within a beverage. 
     While the present invention has been particularly described, in conjunction with specific preferred embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims are not limited to the specific preferred embodiments disclosed herein and will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.