GB2085061A - Improvements in or relating to a device for suspending a glass - Google Patents

Abstract

A clip or clamp having jaws as 3, 4 for gripping the edge portion of a plate, has a seating or arms 6,7 for supporting a stemmed glass or goblet from the plate. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to a device for suspending a glass This invention relates to a device adapted to suspend an item such as a glass or goblet on another item such as a plate or a saucer.

At many social functions, such as receptions or buffets, people are expected to hold, a plate on which they may place items of foods to be eaten in one hand, and also to hold a glass or goblet to contain drink in the other hand. Whilst, with both hands impeded in this way it is possible to drink readily from the glass or goblet, it is difficult to eat the food. Also, no hand is left free to enable the person to shake hands with anyone that he may meet or be introduced to at the social function in question. If the glass or goblet is merely placed upon the plate the base of the glass or goblet may slide under an item of food present on the plate, and then when the glass or goblet is subsequently raised the item of food may fall from the plate.

The present invention seeks to provide a support device which, when utilised, may reduce or obviate the above described problems.

According to this invention there is provided a device for suspending a stemmed glass, goblet or the like in a substantially upright position from a substantially horizontal plate, saucer or the like, said device including at least two elements adapted clampingly to engage a peripheral portion of the plate, saucer or the like therebetween, and including means adapted partially to embrace the stem of the glass or goblet and to engage the undersurface of the bowl of the glass or goblet to suspend the glass or goblet, said means being formed integrally with at least one of said elements.

Preferably said means are formed integrally with an element adapted to engage the upper surface of the plate, saucer or the like, the other element or elements being adapted to engage the undersurface of the plate, saucer or the like.

Advantageously said elements comprise two elements that are biassed towards one another, In one preferred embodiment all said elements are formed integrally with said means. Said elements may comprise three protruding fingers, the central finger being adapted to be deflected to engage one surface of the plate, saucer or the like, and the two outer fingers being adapted to be deflected to engage the other surface of the plate, saucer or the like. The said means may include a substantially planar portion, and when said planar portion is located substantially horizontally said fingers are inclined downwardly to engage an upwardly inclined lip of a plate, saucer or the like.

An alternative embodiment of the device comprises two interconnected components, the components defining said elements. One component may be deformed as it is connected to the other component so that part of the said one component comprising one of said elements is biassed towards part of the other component comprising the other of said elements.

Preferably the device comprises two interconnected components, the first component comprising a member having a substantially planar portion defining said means, and a tab formed integrally therewith, there being lugs formed on the first member, the second component comprising a tab substantially coaligned with the tab of the first member and resiliently biassed there towards by fingers which engage the said substantially planar portion, the second member including lugs located between the said tab and the said fingers, the two members being pivotally interconnected by means of the lugs, the tabs constituting said elements. The lugs provided on one member may be provided with recesses therein or bores therethrough, and the lugs of the other member may be provided with protruding members adapted to be inserted into said recesses or bores pivotally to interconnect the members.

Conveniently said means may comprise two arcuate arms defining an open recess or aperture therebetween, and said arms may be provided with an upstanding rib, the upper surface of the rib being upwardly inclined towards the free ends of said arcuate arms. However, said means may including a membrane extending between the parts of said means which actually engage the undersurface of said bowl, said membrane being adapted to engage and retain the stem of the glass, goblet or the like. Said membrane may have a slot formed therein to receive the stem of the glass, goblet or the like, and preferably said membrane is of dished configuration and is adapted to grip the stem of the stemmed glass or goblet, or the like.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, 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 embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention, a plate to which the device is clipped being shown in phantom, and a stemmed glass suspended by the device also being shown in phantom; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention; and Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 5.

Referring to the accompanying drawings a device 1 which is adapted to be clipped releasably to the edge of a plate or saucer, has a portion 2 adapted supportingly to receive a part of a stemmed glass or goblet. Thus, in use of the device a person may hold a plate in one hand, may temporarily locate the glass of goblet within the described device, thus leaving one hand free to pick up an item of food from the plate to enable that item of food to be eaten, or to shake hands with any appropriate person.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail a support device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises two main components formed as mouldings of plastics material. The first component 3, which is the upper component when the mounting device is mounted in position on the lip of a plate comprises a first substantially horizontal generally planar portion 4, the planar portion being of substantially "C" configuration and thus comprising two arcuate arms, the arcuate arms partially surrounding an aperture 5 or recess that is defined therebetween. An upstanding rib 6 is formed on the planar portion at the edge thereof bounding the aperture 5, the rib having upwardly inclined portions 7 at the free ends of the arms 5.A substantially planar downwardly inclined portion or tab 8 is provided which extends downwardly away from said open recess 5, the downwardly inclined portion or tab 8 extending from the periphery of the recess 5 that is diammetrically opposed the open mouth 9 thereof. At the junction between said downwardly inclined portion 8 and said horizontal portion 4 two lugs 10, 11 are provided, the lugs protruding downwardly from the underside of said junction portion. The lugs 10, 11 are located one at each side of the recess 5. Each lug 10, 11 is of planar configuration, and the lugs are inclined and are provided with bores extending respectively perpendicularly therethrough, the axes of the bores intersecting in the area of the recess 5.An upstanding flange 12, of lesser height than rib 8 is provided which extends around the remaining part of the periphery of each of said arcuate fingers, this upstanding flange terminating in downwardly chamfered portions 13 which are flush with the upper surface of the downwardly inclined portion or the tab 8 of said member It will be appreciated that the upper surface of the rib 6, especially when the inclined portions 7 are considered, defined a surface that slopes towards the closed end of recess 5 when the planar portion 4 is horizontal.

The second member 14 of the support device, comprises a tab 1 5 which has substantially the same outer shape or configuration as the downwardly inclined portion or tab 8 of the first member, the tab 1 5 being formed with transverse ribs or serrations 1 6 which are apparent on both sides of the tab so that alternate zones of the tab are of greater and lesser thickness. The tab terminates in a bufurcated planar portion 1 7 having two arms 18, 19, the two arms defining therebetween an open mouthed recess aligned with the recess 5. The base 20 of the recess is curved, the radius of curvature of the recess being substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the recess 5 formed in said first described member 2.Two lugs 21, 22 are provided on the second member, the lugs being located on said arms 18, 19 and each being provided with an outwardly protruding element, the axes of said elements intersecting within the area of the recess 5.

A circular grip pad 23 of polyvinyl chloride is cemented in position on the under surface of the inclined portion 8 of the first member 3.

The two above described members are located in juxtaposition with the serrated tab 1 5 of the second member 14 in contact with the grip pad 23 of the downwardly inclined portion 8 of the first member 3, the lugs 8, 9, 21,22 on the first and second members then being co-aligned in adjacent pairs. The adjacent pairs of lugs are interconnected by inserting the outwardly protruding elements on the lugs 21, 22 into the co-aligned bores of the respective lugs.

Both the above described components are formed of moulded plastics material and the second member 14 when initially moulded, is of a planar configuration. Thus when the member 1 4 is assembled to the first described member 3, the member 14 is placed under a strain since the serrated tab 1 5 will be inclined at an angle to the plane containing the fingers 18, 1 9 of the second member. Thus the tab 1 5 will be resiliently biassed towards the corresponding tab 8 of the first described member 3.

It is envisaged that the above described device 1 may be mounted on the edge or lip of a plate or saucer by engaging the downwardly inclined portion 8 of the first member 4 with the uppermost surface of the lip of the plate or saucer and pressing the described device 1 downwardly and inwardly. The serrated tab 1 5 of the second member 14 will then clampingly and resiliently engage the undersurface of the plate or saucer, whilst the grip pad 23 will engage the upper surface of the plate or saucer thus mounting the device securely in position on the lip or periphery of the plate or saucer. Since the lip or periphery of a plate or saucer is usually upwardly inclined, when the plate or saucer is held substantially horizontally, the portion 3 of the first member defining said arcuate aperture 5 or recess will be substantially horizontal.A stemmed glass or goblet may then be mounted on the device by inserting the stem of the stemmed glass or goblet in the aperture 5 or recess so that the arcuate arms partially embrace the stem of the stemmed glass or goblet, and by gently lowering the stemmed glass or goblet until the undersurface of the bowl thereof engages the upstanding rib 6 provided around said arcuate recess 5 or opening.

The stemmed glass or goblet will then be suspended in a substantially vertical position. The downwardly sloping upper surface of the rib 6 ensures that the glass or goblet is retained in position suspended by the device.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention, and this second embodiment operates in a manner which is very similar to that described above with reference to the first embodiment, but this second embodiment is of one-piece construction.

The device 30 illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is integrally moulded of a slightly resilient plastics material and comprises a substantially planar portion 31 which is of substantially "C" configuration, thus defining a space corresponding to the aperture 5 of the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The portion 31 can be considered to define two arcuate arms 32, 33. Also this planar portion 31 supports a dished web 34 that substantially spans the space defined by the planar portion 31. The dished web defines a central aperture 35 and various radially extending slots 34 which extend outwardly from the aperture 23 and a wider slot 35 of keyhole configuration opening towards the space between the free ends of the two arcuate arms 32, 33.

Integrally formed with the planar portion 31 are three fingers 36, 37, 38 which are adapted to enable the device 30 to be clipped to the edge of a plate, saucer or the like. The central finger 37 inclines downwardly from the said planar portion 31, and thus corresponds with the tab 8 of the first described embodiment. The two outer fingers 36, 38 however, have initial portions 39, 40 which depend downwardly from the said planar portion 31, and then each have an inclined terminal portion 41,42 these portions being located underneath the central finger.

It will be appreciated that the device 30 can be clipped to the edge of a plate with the central finger 37 located on top of the lip of the plate and the outer fingers 36, 38 located underneath the lip of the plate merely by locating the device appropriately and firmly urging it onto the plate.

The configuration of the fingers 36, 37, 38 is such that when the device 30 is clipped to the edge of a plate in this way the fingers 36, 37, 38 are resiliently deformed clampingly to engage a peripheral portion of the plate so that the device is securely mounted in position.

When the second embodiment is utilised for example with a stemmed glass, the stem of the stemmed glass can be located within the central aperture defined in the web. The arrangement may be such that as the stemmed glass is suspended from the device the web will be resiliently deformed, thus gripping the stem of the stemmed glass to minimise any risk that the stemmed glass may be inadvertently knocked from the device 30.

The stemmed glass is thus firmly retained in an upright position when the plate is horizontal.

Whilst various embodiments have been described, many modifications may be made without departing from the invention. In particular, various parts of the second embodiment can be reinforced with appropriate stiffening ribs or flanges.

Claims (16)

1. A device for suspending a stemmed glass, goblet or the like in a substantially upright position from a substantially horizontal plate, saucer or the like, said device including at least two elements adapted clampingly to engage a peripheral portion of the plate, saucer or the like therebetween, and including means adapted partially to embrace the stem of the glass or goblet and to engage the undersurface of the bowl of the glass or goblet, said means being formed integrally with at least one of said elements.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said means are formed integrally with an element adapted to engage the upper surface of the plate, saucer or the like, the other element or elements being adapted to engage the undersurface of the plate, saucer or the like.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said elements comprise two elements that are biassed towards one another.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein all said elements are formed integrally with said means.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said elements comprise three protruding fingers, the central finger being adapted to be deflected to engage one surface of the plate, saucer or the like, and the two outer fingers being adapted to be deflected to engage the other surface of the plate, saucer or the like.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said means include a substantially planar portion, and when said planar portion is located substantially horizontally said fingers are inclined downwardly to engage an upwardly inclined lip of a plate, saucer or the like.

7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said device comprises two interconnected components, the components defining said elements.

8. A device according to claim wherein one component is deformed as it is connected to the other component so that part of the said one component comprising one of said elements is biassed towards part of the other component comprising the other of said elements.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the device comprises two interconnected components, the first component comprising a member having a substantially planar portion defining said means, and a tab formed integrally therewith, there being lugs formed on the first member, the second component comprising a tab substantially coaligned with the tab of the first member and resiliently biassed there towards by fingers which engage the said substantially planar portion, the second member including lugs located between the said tab and the said fingers, the two members being pivotally interconnected by means of the lugs, the tabs constituting said elements.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the lugs provided on one member are provided with recesses therein or bores therethrough, and the lugs of the other member are provided with protruding members adapted to be inserted into said recesses or bores pivotally to interconnect the members.

11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said means comprise two arcuate arms defining an open recess or aperture therebetween.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein said arms are provided with an upstanding rib, the upper surface of the rib being upwardly inclined towards the free ends of said arcuate arms.

13. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said means include a membrane extending between the parts of said means which actually engage the undersurface of said bowl said membrane being adapted to engage and retain the stem of the glass, goblet or the like,

14. A device according to claim 12 wherein said membrane has a slot formed therein to receive the stem of the glass, goblet or the like.

1 5. A device according to claim 14 wherein said membrane is of dished configuration.

16. A device according to claim 14 or 1 5 wherein the membrane is adapted to grip the stem of the stemmed glass or goblet, or the like.

1 7. A device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

1 8. A device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

.19. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.