Patent Publication Number: US-11382442-B2

Title: Wine glass float

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     DESCRIPTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This disclosure relates to a wine float for the purpose supporting a beverage container with a base, stem and bowl. The wine float comprises a body, a central hole and a gap such that the gap extends from the central hole, through the body, to the outside edge of the body. The central hole is of a sufficient diameter to allow the bowl of the beverage container to rest in the central hole without allowing the bowl of the beverage container to pass entirely through the central hole. The gap is sufficiently wide to allow the stem of the of the beverage container to pass through the gap but sufficiently narrow so that neither the base of the beverage container nor the bowl of the beverage container can pass through the gap. 
     Background of the Invention 
     Beverage floats have been developed that float in water while suspending cans or glasses. However, no such float has been developed specifically for beverage containers with a stem. The present disclosure reveals a floatation device for a beverage container with a stem, for example, the beverage container could be a wine glass. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure reveals a wine float for the purpose supporting a beverage container with a base, stem and bowl. The wine float comprises a body, a central hole and a gap such that the gap extends from the central hole, through the body and to the outside edge of the body. The central hole is of a sufficient diameter to allow the bowl of the beverage container to rest in the central hole without allowing the bowl of the beverage container to pass entirely through the central hole. The gap is sufficiently wide to allow the stem of the of the beverage container to pass through the gap but sufficiently narrow so that neither the base of the beverage container nor the bowl of the beverage container can pass through the gap. 
     In the first embodiment of the wine float the body is comprised of a material with a specific gravity less than that of water such that when a beverage container with liquid is placed into the wine float the wine float and beverage container would be suspended in the water and not sink below the surface of the water, for example, styrofoam or aerated plastics wherein the porosity and lack of permeability create a material with a density less than that of water. 
     In the second embodiment of the wine float, the body of the wine float is shaped so that when the wine float and beverage container full of liquid is placed in water the combined weight of the wine float plus beverage container displaces less water than the height of the edge of the wine float. In this instance, the shape may have an open top or closed. If closed, the shape may be rigid or inflatable. 
     In either embodiment, ribbing or a covering may be added to supply structural support to the float. 
     In either embodiment the wine float further comprises an inner edge and wherein said inner edge is tapered to fit the shape of the beverage container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a view the wine float supporting a beverage container with a stem; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the first embodiment of the wine float, wherein the wine float comprises a body, central hole and gap and where the body is comprised of a material with a specific gravity less than that of water; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the first embodiment of the wine float, wherein the wine float comprises a body, central hole and gap and where the body is comprised of a material with a specific gravity less than that of water and wherein the body further comprises ribbing to increase the durability of the wine float; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the first embodiment of the wine float, wherein the wine float comprises a body, central hole and gap and where the body is comprised of a material with a specific gravity less than that of water and wherein the body is further covered with a material to increase the durability of the wine float; 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the second embodiment of the wine float, wherein the wine float comprises a body, central hole and gap and wherein the wine float is shaped so that when the wine float and beverage container full of liquid is placed in water the combined weight of the wine float plus beverage container displaces less water than the height of the edge of the wine float; and 
         FIG. 6  is a view of the second embodiment of the wine float, wherein the wine float comprises a body, central hole and gap and wherein the wine float is shaped so that when the wine float and beverage container full of liquid is placed in water the combined weight of the wine float plus beverage container displaces less water than the height of the edge of the wine float and wherein the body of the wine float is enclosed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure reveals a wine float  1  for the purpose supporting a beverage container above water wherein the beverage container  9  is comprised of a base  2 , stem  3 , and bowl  4 . The wine float comprises  1  a body  5 , a central hole  6 , a gap  7 . The body further comprising an outside edge  8 . The gap  7  extends from the central hole  6 , through the body  5  and to the outside edge  8  of the body  5 . The central hole  6  is of a sufficient diameter to allow the bowl  4  of the beverage container  9  to rest in the central hole  6  without allowing the bowl  4  of the beverage container  9  to pass entirely through the central hole  6 . The gap  7  is sufficient width to allow the stem  3  of the of the beverage container  9  to pass through the gap  7  but sufficiently narrow so that neither the base  2  of the beverage container  9  nor the bowl  4  of the beverage container  9  can pass through the gap  7 . 
     In the first embodiment  10  of the wine float  1  the body  5  is comprised of a material with a specific gravity less than that of water such that when a beverage container  9  with liquid is placed into the wine float  1  the wine float  1  and beverage container  9  would be suspended in the water and not sink below the surface of the water. 
     The first embodiment  10  may further comprise ribbing  11  to add structural support to the wine float  1 . 
     The first embodiment  10  may further comprise a covering  12  to add structural support to the wine float. 
     In the second embodiment  13  of the wine float  1 , the body  5  of the wine float  1  is shaped so that when the wine float  1  and beverage container  9  full of liquid is placed in water the combined weight of the wine float  1  plus beverage container  9  displaces less water than the height  14  of the outside edge  8  of the wine float  1 . 
     In the second embodiment  13  of the wine float  1 , the body  5  may further comprise a cover  15  to enclose the body such that the body may be inflatable or a rigid structure. 
     In each of the embodiments of the wine float  1  the inner edge  16  may be straight  17  or tapered  18  to the shape of the beverage container  9 .