GB2042330A

GB2042330A - Racks for vessels

Info

Publication number: GB2042330A
Application number: GB7941049A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HASSAN I
Current assignee: HASSAN I
Priority date: 1978-11-28
Filing date: 1979-11-28
Publication date: 1980-09-24
Also published as: GB2042330B

Abstract

A rack for vessels comprises a support (13) for engaging a point on the rim R of an inverted vessel, and abutments (12, 15) for respectively engaging the interior and exterior surfaces of the vessel. Several distinct embodiments using this principle are described and shown. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Holder for storing drinking vessels and other receptacles This invention is concerned with a holder for storing drinking vessels, for example glasses and mugs, and other receptacles such as holloware, for example saucepans, all of which (hereinafter referred to generically as vessels) have an opening defined by a rim of a side wall.

According to the invention I provide a holder for a vessel, which comprises a support to engage the rim of a vessel and two spaced abutments to engage, respectively, portions of the inner and outer side faces of the side wall of the vessel, the support and abutments being arranged so that a major portion of the rim of the vessel extends beyond the support away from the abutments whereby the vessel is maintained in engagement with the abutments and supported by the holder by its tendency to tilt under its weight about the support.

Preferably the support is provided by two aligned edges to engage respectively two opposed portions of the rim of a vessel. Thus, for example, when the holder supports a vessel having a circular rim, the edges extend on a chord of the rim.

The two edges may be provided by a single straight edge or two spaced straight edge portions of a support member forming part of the holder.

The abutments may be provided by two projections extending from the support member or from another member carried by the support member.

It is intended that the holder shall have a number of supports and associated abutments to hold a number of vessels. Thus, the holder may be in the form of a rack arranged to support a number of vessels in one or more horizontal or vertical rows. The rack may be provided with wheels so as to be mobile.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of holder embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of part of the holder shown in Fig. 1; Figures 3 and 4 are views of two further forms of holder embodying the invention; Figures 5 and 6 are perspective view of parts of two further forms of holder embodying the invention; and Figure 7 is an end view of yet another form of holder embodying the invention.

The holders illustrated in the drawings will all be described as being used to hold drinking glasses 'G' of the form having a side wall 'W' of circular cross-section which diverges towards a circular rim 'R' defining the mouth of the glass. However, the holders may be used to support drinking glasses of other forms and indeed other vessels.

The holder shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is designed to support two drinking glasses and comprises a support member 10'of L-shape in cross-section which is arranged with one limb 11 horizontal and the other limb 1 2 vertical.

The limb 11 is formed with a straight support edge 1 3 parallel to the limb 1 2 and is pro vided with two upstanding projections 14 and 1 5 in the form of pegs which are adjacent the support edge and spaced from the vertical limb 1 2. The portions af the limb 1 2 lying opposite the projections 14 and 1 5 constitute two further projections associated with the respective projections 14 and 15, each pair of associated projections being arranged to hold a glass.

In use, a drinking glass is inverted and placed on the holder so that two associated projections engage, respectively, portions of the inner and outer side faces of the side wall 'W' of the glass and the support edge 1 3 I contacts two opposed portions of the rim 'R' of the glass, a major portion of the rim extending beyond the support edge away from the projections. Thus, the support edge 1 3 extends on a chord of the circular rim.

Preferably, the holder is used for glasses of a size such that about 5/6ths or 6/7ths of the diameter of the mouth of the glass extends beyond the support edge.

In this position, the glass tends to tilt under its weight about the support edge 1 3 but it is maintained in position by the engagement of the projections with the inner and outer faces of its side wall.

The projections 14 and 1 5 are higher than the the projections provided by the vertical limb 1 2 to cater for the inclination of the side walls of the glasses. In a modification, however, each projection provided by the vertical limb has an upstanding extension 1 2a (shown in dotted lines) which is higher than the associ ated projection 14, 1 5 and carries a resiliently deformable element 1 2b arranged to engage a glass supported by the two projections so that the side wall of the glass is gripped lightly by the projections.

The support member 10 may be longer and provided with one or more further projections similar to the projections 14 and 1 5 so that the holder can support a row of three or more glasses. The holder may be mounted on a wall, for example in a kitchen.

The holder shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be used with the limb 11 of the support member at any angle between the horizontal and the vertical provided that a glass placed on the holder tends to tilt about the support edge 1 3 and is thereby urged into engagement with, and held by the two projections concerned.

The holder shown in Fig. 3 comprises a support member 1 6 of triangular cross-section providing two support surfaces 1 7 and 1 8 at about 45 to the vertical and two straight support edges 1 9 and 20. Each support surface 1 7, 1 8 has extending therefrom two spaced projections 21 and 22 to engage portions of the inner and outer faces of the side wall 'W' of a glass 'G' placed on the holder so that a major portion of its rim extends beyond the support edge 19, 20 away from the projections. The projections comprise pegs, the projections 22 which engages the inner face of the inclined side wall of the glass being longer than the projection 21.

The support member 1 6 may have a row of projections 21, 22, along each of its support surfaces 17, 1 8 so that the holder can support two rows of glasses at opposite sides thereof.

The holder illustrated in Fig. 4 comprises a support member 23 having a support surface 24 at less than 45" to the vertical and a support edge 25. A pair of spaced projections 26 and 27, or a row of such pairs of projections, extend from the support surface 24 to engage and support one or more glasses placed on the holder so that a major portion of the rim of the or each glass projects downwardly beyond the support edge 25. The projection 27 is longer than the projection 26 to engage the inner face of the inclined wall 'W' of the glass 'G'.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each glass is maintained in engagement with, and supported by the projections by its tendency to tilt under its weight about the support edge of the support member.

In other embodiments of the invention, similar to those shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the support surface from which the projections extend may be at any angle between the horizontal and the vertical.

Fig. 5 shows a holder comprising a vertical post 28 with a laterally projecting horizontal member 29 carrying a horizontal support member 30 disposed at right angles thereto.

The member 30 is of circular cross-section and provides two aligned support edges 31 and 32. The member 29 also carries an upstanding projection 33 spaced from the post 28, the portion of the post opposite the projection 33 constituting further projection associated with the projection 33.

In use, an inverted glass is placed on the holder so that the two projections engage portions of the inner and outer faces of the side wall pf the glass and portions of the rim of the glass are engaged with the support edges 31 and 32 of the member 30 and the part of the member 29 between the two projections, a major portion of the rim of the glass extending beyond the support edges away from the projections.

The post 28 may have a number of supports 29 to 33 at intervals along it so that the holder can support a number of glasses in a vertical row.

The holder illustrated in Fig. 6 comprises a support member 34 generally of rectangular shape in cross-section and formed with a partcircular groove 35 open at one side of the member thereby to provide a first projection 36. The outer side of the projection is partially cut away so that the projection is part-circular in shape. The portion of the member 34 extending around the projection 36 provides a second projection. The ends of the bottom of the groove 35 provide aligned straight support edges 37 and 38.

In this embodiment, a drinking glass is placed on the holder in an inverted position with a minor portion of its rim located in the groove 35 and a major portion of the rim extending laterally beyond the support edges 37 and 38. The two projections engage the inner and outer faces of the side wall of the glass and the glass is maintained in engagement with the projections and hence supported by the holder by its tendency to tilt under its weight about the support edges 37 and 38.

It is intended that this embodiment shall be used with glasses whose side walls have a curvature corresponding substantially to the curvature of the groove 35. To cater for the inclination of the side wall of the glass, the first projection 36 which engages the inner face of the wall is higher than the second projection.

Fig. 7 shows a holder comprising a support member 39 having two upstanding projections 40 and 41 and a straight support edge 42, whereby a glass 'G' can be placed on the holder with a portion of its side wall 'W' disposed between the two projections and a major portion of its rim extending beyond the support edge 42.

In this case, the projection 41, to engage the inner face of the side wall of the glass, is shorter than the projection 40 and the latter carries a ball 43 of a resiliently deformable material such as rubber which engages the outer face of the side wall of the glass so that the side wall is held by a light pressure between the two projections.

This arrangement, and the similar modification shown in Fig. 1, are particularly suitable for a holder which is mounted on wheels so as to be mobile and a holder which is mounted on a cupboard door, the ball 33 and the element 1 2b preventing the glasses from rattling and becoming disengaged on movement of the holder.

In another embodiment (not shown in the drawings) a number of pairs of upstanding projections are provided around a circular disc which is suspended from a mounting, the edge of the disc providing the support edge.

The various embodiments may be incorporated, in different combinations thereof, in racks for use, for example, in public houses, the racks being, if desired, mobile.

The holders may be made of wood and/or plastic and can be produced comparatively inexpensively. They are compact and enable a large number of glasses to be stored in a relatively small space.

Claims

1. A holder for a vessel, which comprises a support to engage the rim of a vessel and two spaced abutments to engage, respectively, portions of the inner and outer side faces of the side wall of the vessel, the support and abutments being arranged so that a major portion of the rim of the vessel extends beyond the support way from the abutments whereby the vessel is maintained in engagement with the abutments and supported by the the holder by its tendency to tilt under its weight about the support.

2. A holder as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the support is provided by two aligned edges to engage respectively two opposed portions of the rim of a vessel.

3. A holder as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the two edges are provided by a single straight edge or two spaced straight edges of a support member forming part of the holder.

4. A holder as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the abutments are provided by two projections extending from the support member or from another member connected to the support member.

5. A holder as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the support member comprises a member of L-shape in section, the longitudinal edge of one limb of which provides the support edges and the other limb of which provides at least one projection associated with a projection carried by said one limb.

6. A holder as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the or each projection carried by said one limb is a peg projecting from said limb.

7. A holder as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the support member is arranged with its said one limb horizontal, vertical or to any angle between the horizontal and vertical.

8. A holder as claimed in Claims 5, 6 or 7 wherein the or each projection carried by said one limb is longer than the projection or projections constituted by said other limb.

9. A holder as claimed in Claims 5, 6 or 7, wherein the or each projection constituted by said other limb has an extension carrying a resiliently deformable element to engage the outer face of the side wall of a vessel supported by the projection and the associated projection on said one limb.

1 0. A holder as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the support member comprises a member of triangular cross-section, two faces of which, inclined to the vertical, each have lower support edges and at least two associated projections.

11. A holder as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the support member has a face which is vertical, horizontal or at any angle therebetween and has support edges and at least two associated projections projecting from said face.

1 2. A holder as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the support member comprises a horizontal elongate member which is formed to provide said support edges and is carried by, and extends at right angles to, a horizontal member projecting laterally from a vertical post, the latter member carrying an upstanding projection spaced from the post and associated with a projection constituted by the post.

1 3. A holder as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the support member comprises a member of rectangular shape in cross-section formed with a part-circular groove opening at one side of the member, the ends of the bottom of the groove constituting the support edges and the portions of the member at opposite sides of the groove constituting the two projections.

14. A holder as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the projection for engagement with the inner face of the side wall of a vessel is longer than the projection for engagement with the outer face of said wall.

1 5. A holder as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the projection for engagement with the outer face of the side wall of a vessel is longer than the projection for engagement with the inner face of said wall and carries a resiliently deformable element to contact said outer face.

1 6. A holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is incorporated in a rack.

1 7. A holder as claimed in Claim 16 wherein the rack is mounted on wheels so as to be mobile.

1 8. A holder for storing one or more vessels, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or any one of Figs. 3 to 7.