Patent Publication Number: US-7717385-B2

Title: Device comprising a container for bottles

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices comprising receptacles for bottles, which devices are intended to present and/or cool, at the table, beverages served in bottles. 
     More specifically, the invention relates to a device comprising a receptacle for bottles, this receptacle having an opening and a bottom, this device further comprising a support designed to hook the receptacle onto the edge of a table. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,318 describes an example of such a device, in which the receptacle is simply stood on the support when the said receptacle is to be hooked onto the edge of a table. By contrast, if the receptacle is to be stood on a table, it is detached from its support which then, in this mode of use, is no longer of any service. 
     This device in particular exhibits the following disadvantages:
         the support is relatively bulky, while the device is being used and/or stored;   and there is a risk that the support will be mislaid by the user, in which case its support is no longer available when the said user wishes to hook the device onto the edge of a table.       

     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a particular object of the present invention to alleviate these disadvantages. 
     To this end, according to the invention, a device of the kind in question is characterized in that the support comprises a pedestal, and in that the support and the receptacle comprise means to be joined together between:
         a first position in which the pedestal of the support is positioned towards the opening of the receptacle and in which the support is designed to hook the device onto the edge of a table with the opening of the receptacle facing upwards,   and a second position in which the pedestal of the support is arranged towards the bottom and is designed to be stood on a table supporting the receptacle in a stable manner.       

     By virtue of these measures, the device according to the invention may be relatively compact and also avoids mislaying the support. As the support is fixed to the receptacle, it may also make it easier for a user to take hold of the device. 
     In various embodiments of the invention, recourse may further be had to one and/or other of the following measures:
         the support is mounted to pivot with respect to the receptacle between the said first and second positions;   the support is mounted to pivot with respect to the receptacle around an axis of inversion more or less perpendicular to the overall axis of the device;   the support comprises a groove hollowed into the support on the opposite side to the receptacle, the said groove being designed for hooking the device onto the edge of a table when the support is in its first position;   the groove is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the overall axis of the device;   the groove has an upper face equipped with an upper lip designed to press, in the first position, against a top surface of a table, and a lower face equipped with a lower lip designed to press, in the first position, against an underside of the table, the opposite side to the top surface;   one and/or other of the lips is equipped with a non-slip surface;   the upper lip is formed of an attached insert fixed to the said support on the same side as the upper face of the groove;   the receptacle and the support have sidewalls which, in the first position, run in the continuation of one another;   in the first position, the device has a truncated ovoid shape;   in the first position, the pedestal of the support and the opening of the receptacle run in the same plane;   the receptacle comprises a flat exterior wall on which the support is mounted to rotate;   the said flat exterior wall is perpendicular to the said axis of inversion of the support and offset with respect to the overall axis of the device, such that the said overall axis passes through the receptacle;   the pedestal runs in a plane and the bottom of the receptacle ends in an apex which, when the support is in the second position, is contained in this plane;   the plane of the pedestal forms, with the said axis of inversion, a non-zero angle such that this axis approaches the plane of the pedestal in the direction away from the direction of the receptacle;   the said angle is chosen such that the projection of the center of gravity of the said device onto the said plane of the pedestal lies in the region consisting of the pedestal and of the space between the said pedestal and the apex of the receptacle;   the said angle lies between 3° and 10° inclusive;   a system is provided for fixing the receptacle to the support, this system comprising hooks projecting from the flat exterior wall of the receptacle and able to clip onto a ring mounted facing them on the support;   this fixing system comprises a circular rib projecting from the flat exterior wall of the receptacle, able to slip over an internal circular edge of the said ring;   this fixing system further comprises tabs projecting radially from a free edge of the said circular rib and able to be introduced into cut-outs formed radially in the internal edge of the said ring;   the fixing system comprises at least one washer interposed between the said circular rib and the said ring;   a locking mechanism is provided for maintaining the orientation of the support, with respect to the receptacle, in either one of the said positions;   this locking mechanism comprises a moving lock bolt mounted to slide with respect to the support between a locking position in which the lock bolt is engaged in a housing with which the receptacle is equipped, and a release position in which the lock bolt is clear of the said housing;   the locking mechanism comprises a return spring which urges the lock bolt into its locking position;   the lock bolt forms a push-button able to be operated manually from outside the support;   the flat exterior wall of the receptacle has, projecting from it, a rib comprising two semicircular portions connected by two setbacks which are diametrically opposed and each form a housing able to accommodate the lock bolt of the locking mechanism.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of the description given hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a device according to the invention, depicted in a position for hooking; 
         FIG. 2  is a face-on view, on II, of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation, in section on III-III, of the device of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view from above of the device of the preceding figures; 
         FIG. 5  is an elevation, in section, of a detail of the device of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are views similar to  FIGS. 1 and 3  respectively, in which the device is hung from the edge of a table; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a device according to the invention, depicted in a position of rest in which it is stood on a table; 
         FIG. 10  is a face-on view, on X, of the device of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an elevation, in section on XI-XI, of the device of  FIG. 10 , stood on a table; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of the device of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  of a device according to the invention, according to an alternative form of embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is an elevation, in section, of the device of  FIG. 13 , on the plane of section XIV-XIV; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a receptacle for the device of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a ring with which the support of the device of  FIG. 14  is equipped, forming part of the system for fixing the receptacle to the support of the device; 
         FIGS. 17 and 18  are perspective views of washers intended to be mounted on the ring of  FIG. 16 ; and 
         FIG. 19  is an isolated view of a lock bolt that forms part of a locking mechanism with which the device of  FIG. 14  is equipped. 
     
    
    
     MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  depicts a device  1  comprising a receptacle for bottles, more commonly known as a “champagne bucket” (which is what the device  1  will be called hereinafter). 
     The bucket  1  comprises, on the one hand, a hollow receptacle  2  into which a bottle  3  (generally a bottle of champagne) can be introduced, in order in particular to chill it and, on the other hand, a support  4  able to allow either the bucket  1  to be rested on a table  5  or it to be hung from an edge  6  of this table. 
     The receptacle  2  has an opening  7 , formed by an edge with a circular outline, via which the bottle  3  is introduced, and a bottom  8  against which the bottle  3  then rests. 
     The support  4  comprises hooking means  9 , in the example in the form of a groove, to allow the bucket  1  to be hung from the edge  6  of the table  5 , and a pedestal  10  to allow the bucket  1  to rest stably on the table  5 . 
     The support  4  is fixed to the receptacle  2  while at the same time being able to move with respect to the latter so that it can be inverted about an axis Y of inversion. In this instance, the support  4  is mounted to rotate with respect to the receptacle  2  about the axis Y between a first position, known as the hooking position, illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ,  7  and  8 , and a second position, termed the standing position, illustrated in  FIGS. 9 to 12 , in which the support  4  has been rotated through 180° with respect to its hooking position, in other words has been inverted. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 to 3  in particular, the bucket  1 , in the hooking position, has a truncated ovoid overall shape, the receptacle  2  and the support  4  having external sidewalls  11 ,  12  which run in the continuation of one another so that in this configuration the bucket  1  has an external surface  13  with a smooth appearance. As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the receptacle  2  ends, at the opposite end to the opening  7 , in an apex  14 . 
     In addition, in the hooking position, the shape of the bucket  1  is symmetric with respect to a plane containing the axis Y of inversion and passing through the apex  14 . This plane of symmetry coincides, in  FIG. 2 , with the plane of section III-III and, in  FIG. 3 , with the plane of the page. In this instance, the bucket  1  has practically an exterior shape that exhibits symmetry of revolution about the main axis X contained in the plane of symmetry defined hereinabove, which axis intersects the rounded bottom  8  of the receptacle  2  at the apex  14 . 
     The pedestal  10  is formed of a flat surface which, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, and as is more particularly apparent from  FIG. 3 , runs in the same plane P 1  as the opening  7  of the receptacle. 
     The receptacle  2  further comprises a flat exterior wall  15  which runs in a plane perpendicular to the axis Y of inversion of the support  4  and is offset with respect to the main axis X, and on which the support  4  is mounted to rotate about the axis Y of inversion. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the support  4  in this example is in the form of a one-piece shell mounted on the flat exterior wall  15  of the receptacle  2  by way of a mounting plate  16  equipped with a circular hole  17  that fits over a complementary peg  18  projecting from the flat wall  15 , clearly visible in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  8  and  11 , which embodies the axis Y of inversion of the support  4 . 
     It will be readily understood that, in the hooking position ( FIG. 3  in particular), the ovoid shape of the bucket  1  means that it is impossible to make it remain in a stable position on the table  5  by standing it on its apex  14 . In this position, the bucket  1  is in fact intended to be hung off the edge  6  of the table  5 , as depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     The hooking means  9  allow this hanging to be done simply and reliably. 
     The hooking means  9  in effect are in the form of a groove, formed as a recess in the support  4  near the pedestal  10  and comprising an upper face  19  which, when the support  4  is in the hooking position, faces the bottom  8  so that it can press against a top surface  20  of a table  5  ( FIG. 8 ), and an lower face  21  which, when the support  4  is in the hooking position, by contrast faces towards the pedestal  10  so that it can press against an underside  22  of the table  5 , the opposite side to the top surface  20  ( FIG. 8 ). 
     The groove  9  ends, on the same side as the receptacle  2 , in a bottom  23  which, connecting the faces  19  and  21 , is in the form of a more or less toric surface, the concave side of which faces away from the axis X of symmetry of the bucket ( FIG. 4 ). 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the groove  9  is hollowed obliquely into the support  4  towards the geometric center of the bucket  1 , that is to say that the faces  19  and  21 , which are more or less parallel, are inclined with respect to a plane P 2  perpendicular to the axis X of symmetry of the bucket, for example at an angle B, marked in  FIG. 5 , of between 20° and 40° inclusive (of about 25° in the example illustrated) the groove  9  being situated above the center of gravity of the bucket  1  when the bucket is considered in its hooking position ( FIG. 3 ). 
     The upper face  19  is domed towards the lower face  21  to form, near the bottom  23 , an upper lip  24  which, intended to form the area of contact between the upper face  21  and the top surface  20  of the table  5  ( FIG. 8 ), runs in an arc of a circle concentric with the arc of the circle formed by the bottom of the groove  23 , and does so, preferably, such that it is more or less parallel to the plane P 2  ( FIGS. 4 and 8 ). 
     As for the lower face  21 , it has, on the edge of the groove  9 , a lower lip  25  offset towards the outside of the bucket  1  with respect to the upper lip  24  and which, running parallel to the plane P 2 , is intended to form the area of contact between the lower face  21  and the underside  22  of the table  5  in the hooking position ( FIG. 8 ). 
     Thus, in order to hang the bucket  1  from the edge  6  of a table  5 , the procedure is as follows. 
     Holding the bucket  1  at a slight angle, the groove  9  is fitted over the edge  6  of the table  5 , more or less parallel to the faces  19 ,  21 , until the edge  6  butts up against the bottom  23  of the groove  9 . 
     The bucket  1  is then allowed to pivot under its own weight, the edge  6  of the table  5  then finding itself clamped by a lever effect between the upper lip  24  and the lower lip  25 . Because it is positioned in a cantilever fashion, the bucket grips the edge  6  of the table  5  by itself. 
     The shape of the groove  9 , particularly the bowed shape and the length of the upper lip  24  for its part guarantees the stability of this hooking. 
     In this position, the axis of the bucket is more or less perpendicular to the plane of the table, the opening  7  being directed upwards. Slight angular variations are of course permitted, these all depending on the thickness of the table with respect to the width of the groove  9 . 
     In order to place the support  4  in the standing position, all that is required is for it to be inverted, by rotating it through 180° about the axis Y of its inversion, the pedestal  10  then becoming positioned at the same end as the bottom  8  of the receptacle  2 . In other words, the receptacle  2  and the support  4  are orientated top-to-tail one with respect to the other. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 11 , the apex  14  of the receptacle  2  lies in the plane P 1  of the pedestal  10 , which means that the bucket  1  stood on a table  5  rests on both the pedestal  10  and the apex  14 . 
     Furthermore, as can be seen in  FIG. 11 , the axis Y of inversion of the support  4  is inclined towards the plane P 1  of the pedestal  10 , in the opposite direction from the receptacle  2 , forming with the said plane P 1  an angle A of between 3° and 10° inclusive (of about 4° in the example depicted). Given this inclination, the flat exterior wall  15  of the receptacle  2 , perpendicular to the axis Y, is, when the bucket  1  is resting on the table  5 , inclined with respect to the top surface  20  of the table  5  (the opening  7  being, whatever the circumstances, always facing upwards). This results in an offset, in the direction of the pedestal  10 , of the projection of the center of gravity of the bucket  1  onto the plane P 1 , but coincides with the top surface  20  of the table, and this improves the stability of this bucket. Advantageously, the angle A will be chosen such that the said projection lies in the region consisting of the pedestal  10  and of the space between the said pedestal  10  and the apex  14  of the receptacle  2 . 
     As far as the choice of materials is concerned, this depends on the context for which the bucket  1  is intended. The bucket may be made entirely out of plastic, which will benefit its weight and the convenience of manufacturing it. 
     It is also possible to make the receptacle  2  and the support  4  from different materials. 
     Thus, according to one embodiment, the receptacle is made of a plastic, such as PVC (which may be transparent or translucent) or polycarbonate, while the support  2  for its part is made of a metallic material, such as an aluminium. This results, on the one hand, in a high-value look and, on the other hand, in the standing position, in improved stability of the bucket  1  the center of gravity of which is actually offset towards the support  4 . 
     It should be noted that the presence of the groove  9  allows the bucket  1  to be held in just one hand, which makes it easier to handle. 
     Furthermore, in order to improve the grip of the bucket  1  in the hooked position, it is possible to anticipate equipping the groove  9  with a non-slip surface  28 . 
     This non-slip surface  28  covers, for example, at least partially, the upper  19  and lower  21  faces of the groove  9 , preferably at the upper  24  and lower  25  lips. 
     In concrete terms, it is possible to form such a non-slip surface by sand-blasting the upper  19  and lower  21  faces so as to increase their roughness and therefore their coefficient of friction against the top surface  20  and underside  22  of the table  5 . 
     As an alternative, it is conceivable to equip the groove  9 , at its regions intended to press against the table  5 , with attached pads, made of a material that has a high coefficient of friction, such as a rubber. These buffers are, for example, secured by bonding or by overmoulding. 
     An alternative form of embodiment of the bucket  1 , which is illustrated in  FIGS. 13 to 19 , will now be described. This alternative form has a great many points in common with the embodiment which has just been described. Hence, only the differences will be tackled. The elements that are common retain the references used previously. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 14 , the upper lip  24  here is formed of an attached insert  29 , fixed to the support  4  on the same side as the upper face  19  of the groove  9  by nesting it in a complementary housing  30  hollowed into the mass of the support  4 . 
     This insert  29  is preferably made of an elastic material exhibiting a high coefficient of friction with respect to the materials of which tabletops are conventionally made (wood, glass, metal, but also fabric). In this instance, the material chosen is an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), the support  4  itself being made of aluminium. The insert  29 , by virtue of its elastic material with a high coefficient of friction, prevents the bucket  1  from slipping with respect to the table on which it is hooked, while the support, because of its metallic material, gives the bucket  1  a reasonable weight which improves its stability, both when it is hooked onto a table and when it is standing on this table. 
     Furthermore, the bucket  1  comprises a fixing system  31  for fixing the receptacle  2  to the support  4 , which system, at the same time, allows the support  4  to be rotated with respect to the receptacle  2  about the axis Y of inversion. 
     The fixing system  31  comprises hooks  32  projecting from the flat exterior wall  15  of the receptacle  2  and able to clip onto a circular ring  33  mounted, facing them, on the support  4 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 15 , there are, in the example illustrated, three hooks  32  distributed at 120° about the geometric axis Y of rotation. 
     A circular rib  34  termed the primary rib projecting from the flat wall  15  joins the hooks  32 . This primary rib  34  is equipped with tabs  35  which project radially from a free edge  36  of the primary rib  34 . 
     As for the zing  33 , it is intended to fit into a complementary housing  37  formed in the support  4  facing the flat wall  15 , and has an external portion  38  pierced with holes  39  in which positioning pegs  40  projecting from the support  4  in the bottom of the housing  37  engage. When the ring  33  is thus fitted into its housing  37 , its axis of revolution coincides with the axis Y of inversion of the support  4  with respect to the receptacle  2 . 
     The ring  33  also has an internal portion  41  which radially extends the external portion  38  towards the axis of revolution of the ring  33 . The internal portion  41  has a lesser thickness than the external portion  38 , so as to form, on each side, two counterbores  42 ,  43 , termed the internal counterbore  42  and the external counterbore  43 , respectively, and the purpose of which will become apparent in that which follows. 
     The internal portion  41  is pierced, on its circumference, with a series of holes  44 ; it has a circular internal edge  45  equipped on its periphery with a chamfer  46 , cut-outs  47  being formed radially in the edge  45 . As can be seen in  FIG. 16 , the cut-outs  47  are three in number and are distributed at 120° about the axis of revolution of the ring  33 . 
     The ring  33  here is made of a metallic material, preferably of aluminium. 
     Furthermore, as depicted in  FIG. 14 , the fixing system  31  comprises an internal washer  48  intended to be interposed between the ring  33  and the support  4 , and an external washer  49  intended to be interposed between the ring  33  and the flat exterior wall  15  of the receptacle  2 . 
     The internal washer  48  has a radial portion  50  fitting onto the internal portion  41  of the ring  33  on the same side as the internal counterbore  42 , extended by an axial portion  51  which fits onto the internal edge  45  of the ring  33 . 
     The external washer  49 , like the internal washer  48 , has a radial portion  52  that fits over the internal portion  41  of the ring  33  on the same side as the external counterbore  43 , extended by an axial portion  53  which fits over the internal edge  45  of the ring  33  in the continuation of the axial portion  51  of the internal washer  48 . 
     The external washer  49  comprises, on its circumference, a series of bushings  54  projecting from its radial portion  52  and which fit into the holes  44  while the internal washer  48  comprises, on its circumference, a series of pegs  55  which, introduced into the holes  44 , clip into the bushings  54  so that the washers  48 ,  49  together sandwich the internal portion  41  of the ring  33 . 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the washers  48 ,  49  are equipped with cut-outs  56 ,  57  formed radially in their respective radial portions  50 ,  52 . 
     The cut-outs  56 ,  57  of which there are three for each washer  48 ,  49 , distributed at 120°, are positioned on each side of and in alignment with the cut-outs  47  formed in the ring  33 . 
     Thus, the receptacle  2  is fixed to the support  4  as follows. 
     To begin with, the washers  48 ,  49  are assembled on the ring  33  by fitting them onto each side of this ring, the pegs  55  clipping into the bushings  54  through the holes  39 . 
     The ring  33  is then fitted into its housing  37 , the ring  33  being fixed to the support by screw-fastening fox example. 
     The receptacle  2  is then fitted onto the support  4 , by placing the tabs  35  in line with the cut-outs  47 ,  56 ,  57  then by pressing the receptacle  2  against the ring  33 . The tabs  35  are then introduced into the cut-outs  47 ,  56 ,  57 , while the hooks  32  slide, flexing, against the axial portion  53  of the external washer  49  before clipping onto the axial portion  51  of the internal washer  48 . 
     The receptacle  2  is thus permanently fixed to the support  4 , the hooks  32  and the tabs  35  being engaged with the axial portion  51  of the internal washer  48  while the primary rib  34  slides against the axial portions  51 ,  53  of the washers  48 ,  49 , the radial portion  52  of the external washer  49  for its part sliding against the flat exterior wall  15  of the receptacle  2 . 
     The material of the washers  48 ,  49  is chosen to minimize friction against the flat exterior wall  15  of the receptacle  2  and against the primary rib  34 . It is preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, also known by the trade name TEFLON®), the non-stick properties of which are well known. 
     Furthermore, as depicted in  FIG. 14 , the bucket  1  comprises a locking mechanism  58  intended to maintain the orientation of the support  4 , with respect to the receptacle  2 , in either one of the hooking or standing positions. 
     This locking mechanism  58  comprises a moving lock bolt  59 , mounted to slide with respect to the support  4  between a locking position ( FIG. 14 ) in which the lock bolt  59  is engaged in a housing  60 ,  61  with which the receptacle  2  is provided, and a release position in which the lock bolt  59  is clear of this housing  60 ,  61 . A return spring  62 , bearing against the support  4 , urges the lock bolt  59  towards its locking position. 
     Furthermore, as can be seen in  FIG. 15 , the flat wall  15  has, projecting from it, a secondary rib  63 , concentric with the primary rib  34  and of a smaller diameter than the latter. This secondary rib  63  comprises two semicircular portions  64 ,  65  connected by two setbacks, namely an upper setback  66  and a lower setback  67  which are diametrically opposed and respectively form an upper housing  60  and a lower housing  61  as mentioned hereinabove, designed to accommodate the lock bolt  59  depending on the position of the support  4  with respect to the receptacle  2 . 
     More specifically, the lock bolt  59  comprises a body  68  exhibiting a bearing surface  69  which, as visible in  FIG. 14 , forms part of the lower face  21  and of the bottom  23  of the groove  9 . The body  68  is equipped, on the same side as the receptacle  2 , with a head  70  which constitutes that part of the lock bolt  59  that is intended to collaborate with the housings  60 ,  61 . 
     The lock bolt  59  forms a push-button that can be operated manually from outside the support  4 : specifically, its bearing surface  69  is accessible to the hands of a user wishing to change the orientation of the support  4  with respect to the receptacle  2 . 
     Thus, starting out from the standing position of the support  4  (in which the head  70  of the lock bolt  59  is engaged with the upper housing  60 ), all the user has to do is introduce his hand into the groove  9  then press on the bearing surface  69  so as to move the lock bolt  59  into its release position until the head  70  is clear of the upper housing  60 . The user then rotates the support  4  with respect to the receptacle  2 . During rotation, there is no need for the user to continue to press on the lock bolt  59  as the latter is kept in its release position by one or other of the semicircular portions  64 ,  65  (depending on the direction of rotation) against which the head  70  presses and slides. 
     When the support  4  has rotated through 180°, the head  70  comes into line with the lower housing  61  into which it clips under the action of the return spring G 2 . 
     As the lock bolt  59  rubs against the flat wall  15  (particularly since the head  70  rubs against the secondary rib  63 ), a material will preferably be chosen for its manufacture that has a low coefficient of friction with respect to plastics (we have seen that the receptacle is made of PVC or of polycarbonate). Thus, in this instance, the lock bolt  59  is made of polyamide. 
     The alternative form of embodiment which has just been described displays the same advantages as the embodiment described hereinabove. However, this alternative form also allows the relative position of the receptacle  2  and of the support  4  to be kept fixed when the support is occupying one of its hooking or standing positions, as long as the user does not do anything to alter this position. This avoids the risks of unwanted pivoting of the receptacle  2  with respect to the support  4 , particularly under the weight of a bottle.