FR2817135A1 - Holder for drinking glass, for use e.g. at wine tasting's, hangs around neck and has upper section with central aperture which fits around body of glass and smaller, lower section with circular slot which fits around its stem - Google Patents

Abstract

The holder for a drinking glass hangs around the neck and consists of a flat plate folded at right angles to form two sections. The larger, upper section (9) has a central aperture which fits around the body of the glass to keep it upright. The smaller, lower section has a circular slot (6) which fits around its stem (40), under the body, to support it.

Description

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 The present invention relates to a container support such as stemware, in particular for wine tasting for example, said support being able to be worn suspended around the user's neck.

 The present invention relates in particular to the field of wine-making equipment, and is intended to be marketed to customers such as, for example, organizers of events relating to wine, wine merchants, or even the wine-growers themselves, as well than glass manufacturers.

 The object of this type of container support is to allow its user to taste the drink in question, while retaining a certain freedom of movement and the use of both hands.

 Indeed, wine tasting sessions, during official events, such as fairs, or salons, as well as meetings of a more limited nature such as cocktails, are generally carried out standing and with few occasions. to put down his glass, if necessary.

 The latter can then quickly become cumbersome, especially if you wish at the same time to be able, for example, to nibble appetizers or other sweets, or even to take notes relating to the beverage tested.

 A container support for tasting drinks, suitable for hanging around the user's neck, is therefore particularly suitable for this type of occasion, since it very advantageously allows you to keep your glass with you, while with your hands free, and without risking confusing it with that of a third party, by wanting to take it back after having put it down.

 Some container supports of this type are already known today.

 Thus, a first example of a support of this type comprises means, as the case may be adhesive or rigid, for holding the glass at the level of the user's chest.

 The support also comprises a cord intended to be passed around the user's neck.

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 This type of support is however not without presenting some drawbacks, due in particular to the structure of the means which compose it.

 Indeed, in the case where the holding means are of the rigid type, the container to be supported will be positioned vertically, by gravity, without however being integral with said holding means.

 This therefore results in a significant risk of the container falling or overturning.

 In the case where said support comprises holding means of the adhesive type, the latter are indeed integral with the container, but only on a given portion of the latter.

 Thus, this results not only in a non-vertical holding of the container, but also the need, for drinking, to turn the glass side opposite to the adhesive, without being able to avoid the discomfort of the bead which is then between the container and the mouth. of the user.

 On the other hand, due to the use of holding means of the adhesive type, the solidarity between the container and the support is relatively fragile, and even reduced to nothing in the event of humidity on said container.

 Therefore, the support is completely unusable outdoors, in wet weather.

 Furthermore, this type of support is in no way reusable.

 Another known example of container support intended to be worn around the user's neck consists of an elastic bracelet, connected to a cord or a chain intended to be passed around the neck, said bracelet being able to be threaded around the body of the container, and now the latter simply by elastic pressure.

 However, although having superior performance to the supports described above, the latter is still not entirely satisfactory, and the risks of the container overturning persist.

 The present invention therefore proposes to overcome these various drawbacks, with a container support with characteristics that are both original, simple, and not very complex to implement.

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To this end, the present invention relates to a container support for tasting drinks, capable of being worn suspended around the neck, characterized in that it is in the form of a rigid or semi-rigid flat element comprising means for holding the container, which consist of at least one part having a cutout so as to be able to surround the upper part of said container, and at least one support or hooking means capable of holding the lower part of said container.

 According to an additional characteristic of the support according to the invention, the part having a cut makes an angle with the rest of the flat element.

 According to another additional characteristic of the support according to the invention, the support or attachment means able to hold the lower part of the container makes a right angle with the rest of the flat element.

 According to another additional characteristic of the support according to the invention, the attachment means capable of holding the lower part of the container consists of a part having a cutout so as to be able to partially surround and retain said lower part.

 According to another additional characteristic of the support according to the invention, the support means capable of holding the lower part of the container consists of a part folded at right angles on which said container rests.

 Advantageously, the support according to the invention is produced in a sheet of semi-rigid material able to be cold folded by the user. This embodiment facilitates packaging.

 According to another additional characteristic of the support according to the invention, it includes a zone provided capable of serving as a communication support.

 According to a particular embodiment of the support according to the invention, it consists of a sheet of semi-ridid material of elongated shape comprising at one end a cutout giving to the latter a shape of ring capable of surrounding the container part of a stemmed glass, and at its other end a cut forming a ring

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 open allowing snap-fastening on the base of said stem glass, said two ends being connected by a middle part able to be bent or to be folded.

 According to another embodiment of the support according to the invention, it consists of a rigid plastic injection molded element of elongated shape having at one end a cutout giving to the latter a form of ring capable of surrounding the container part of a stemmed glass, and at its other end a cutout forming an open ring allowing the latching on the stem of said stemmed glass, said two ends making an angle with a median junction part.

 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will emerge during the description which follows, relating to an embodiment which is given only by way of indicative and nonlimiting example.

 The understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view corresponding to a first embodiment of the support according to the invention, in the unfolded situation, FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the same first embodiment of the support according to the invention, supporting a glass, FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the support according to the invention, in the unfolded situation, FIG. 4 is a schematic view in three quarter profile of the same second embodiment of the support according to the invention, in a folded situation, FIG. 5 is a schematic profile view of the same second embodiment of the support according to the invention, supporting a glass, FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the support according to the invention, supporting a can,

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 FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the support according to the invention, in the unfolded position, FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the same third embodiment of the support according to the invention, supporting a glass, the Figures 9, 10 and 11 show different views of parts of the same support according to the invention.

 The present invention relates to a container support for tasting drinks, capable of being worn suspended around the neck of the user.

 A first embodiment of a support 1 according to the invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

 The support 1 here consists of a sheet 2 of a semi-rigid material, such as PET, in which a first cut 3 has been made.

 This cutout 3 defines a substantially ring-shaped end 30, and preferably has a shape and dimensions corresponding to those of the body of the container to be supported, such as, for example, a stemmed glass 4.

 The sheet 2 of semi-rigid material further comprises a fold 5, in the unfolded position of the support 1, according to the manufacturing method, in the form of a preformed groove during the manufacture of the latter, so that the user can easily form it, cold, at the time of implementation of the support 1.

 When the support 1 is in the folded position, the fold 5 forms an angle of approximately 900 on the sheet 2.

 In this exemplary embodiment, the support 1 according to the invention also includes a second cutout 6, provided here for holding the base 40 of the glass 4, being able to snap onto it, for this purpose it presents itself in the form of an open ring, the flexibility of the material used allowing its engagement around the foot.

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 Of course, this second cut 6 could also be adapted to any other type of glass, by choosing an appropriate shape and dimensions.

 Finally, the support 1 according to the invention also comprises, in a conventional manner, orifices 7 for the passage of a cord 8 intended to be passed around the neck of the user.

 Referring to Figure 2, we will see that the support 1 allows to support a container such as a stemware, without risk of overturning.

 Indeed, after positioning the body of the glass inside the cutout 3, then the foot in the cutout 6, a perfectly stable support 1 is obtained, making it possible to support the glass vertically against the user's chest, which will have passed the cord 8 around his neck.

 On the other hand, in order to optimize the use of the support 1, the intermediate zone 9 with which the ring 30 forms a right angle, can serve as a communication support, and includes, for example, indications relating to the drink. tasted, or why not, advertising slogans.

 Note that in a variant not shown, the sheet 2 does not have a fold 5, it is simply bent, the elasticity of the material used being sufficient to ensure the maintenance.

 Another embodiment of the support 1, shown in Figures 3 to 6, also includes a first cutout 3, further defining an end substantially in the form of a ring 30 and whose shape and size correspond to those of the container to be supported.

 Here, the cutout 3 also makes it possible to define a tongue 10 integral with a strip, which can serve as previously as a communication area 9.

 This tab 10 is itself capable of representing an additional communication medium. Preferably, the tongue 10 is attached to the support 1 by a flexible zone allowing the tongue 10 to be retracted to release the rim.

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The support 1 also comprises, in addition to the fold 5, a second and a third fold 11 and 12, each forming another angle of approximately 900 on the sheet 2.

 We also find, in this embodiment of the support 1, the second cutout 6, making it possible to hold the base of the container, and to further reduce the possible risks of overturning.

 The same type of support 1 can also be used to support receptacles of the can type 41, as shown in FIG. 6, by adapting the cutout 6, or simply by removing the latter.

 In addition, in this case, the support 1 also includes a series of orifices 7, for the passage of a cord 8.

 According to a third embodiment of the support 1, the latter comprises a first cutout 3, making it possible to define a ring 30 whose dimensions correspond to those of the container to be supported.

 The support 1 comprises a second cutout 6 associated with a third and a fourth cutout 13 and 14, for maintaining the base of the glass, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8.

 It is clearly seen here that the glass is perfectly supported, since it is not only firmly held by the foot at the cutout 6, but also by the body, at the cutout 3.

 It rests, on the other hand, on a base 18 obtained using the fold 5, and another fold 15, which further increases its stability.

 The base of the glass is also still wedged at the level of the cutouts 13 and 14.

 The support 1 also includes a communication area 9 as well as a series of orifices 7.

 Folds 16 and 17 make it possible to form a strip situated at the upper end of the support 1 in its folded position, at the level of which the cord 8 can be fixed.

 In FIGS. 9 to 11, there is shown diagrammatically an embodiment of a means for locking the various folds produced on the support 1.

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Figure 9 corresponds to a top view of an area of the support 1, crossed by a fold, the latter being flat.

 The locking means shown here consist of two elements 19,20 positioned on one side of the central axis Y of the fold, in the extension of one another, and intended to cooperate, at the time of formation of the fold, with a stop 21 located on the other side of the central axis Y.

 FIG. 10 is a side view of FIG. 9.

 FIG. 11 is a profile view of the same zone, the fold being formed, and locked by means 19, 20, and 21.

 It is understood that any other locking means of the same type could be envisaged to block any fold formed in the support 1.

 As we have just described, the various embodiments of a container support according to the invention have multiple advantages over the supports known hitherto.

 Indeed, they present in particular perfect security, since the container containing the drink to be tasted remains maintained in an upright position both during a movement of the user and if he remains stationary.

 The container cannot therefore fall or tip over.

 On the other hand, any risk of staining is excluded, since no contact is possible between the outside of the container and the clothes.

 Finally, the support also allows wine tasting with a good understanding of the nuances of the color of the latter, and allows a good grip of the glass, by the base, or the chalice.

 Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is in no way limited thereto and that it is possible to make various modifications to it in form, materials and combinations of these. various elements, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (9)

 CLAIMS 1) Container support for tasting drinks, suitable for hanging around the neck, characterized in that it is in the form of a rigid or semi-rigid flat element (2) comprising means allowing the holding the container, which consist of at least one part (30) having a cutout (3) so as to be able to surround the upper part of said container (4; 41), and at least one means (6; 18) for supporting or attachment capable of holding the lower part (40) of said container (4; 41).  2) Support according to claim 1, characterized in that the part (30) having a cutout (3) makes an angle with the rest of the flat element (2).  3) Support according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the means (6; 18) of support or attachment capable of holding the lower part (40) of the container (4; 41) makes a right angle with the rest of the flat element (2).  4) Support according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment means capable of holding the lower part (40) of the container (4) consists of a part having a cutout (6) so as to be able to surround partially and retain said lower part (40).  5) Support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support means able to maintain the lower part of the container (4; 41) consists of a part (18) folded at right angles on which rests said container (4; 41).  6) Support according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of a sheet of semi-rigid material capable of being folded cold by the user.  7) Support according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a zone (10) provided capable of serving as a communication support. <Desc / Clms Page number 10>  8) Support according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of a sheet of semi-ridid material of elongated shape having at one end (30) a cutout (3) giving it a ring shape suitable for surround the container part with a stemmed glass (4), and at its other end a cutout (6) forming an open ring allowing the latching on the stem (40) of said stemmed glass (4), said two ends being connected by a middle part (9) able to be bent or to be folded.  9) Support according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of a rigid plastic injection molded element of elongated shape having at one end (30) a cutout (3) giving the latter a shape of suitable ring surrounding the container part with a stemmed glass (4), and at its other end a cutout (6) forming an open ring allowing the latching on the stem (40) of said stemmed glass (4), said two ends forming an angle with a central junction part (9).