GB2310588A

GB2310588A - Drinking vessel with a hollow stem extending from its base to a mouthpiece

Info

Publication number: GB2310588A
Application number: GB9707007A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stanley Vincent Hackett; Richard Brian James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-05-02
Filing date: 1997-04-07
Publication date: 1997-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-07
Also published as: GB9707007D0; GB2310588B

Abstract

A drinking vessel comprises an open topped reservoir 11, preferably brandy-glass shaped, and a hollow stem or outlet conduit 15 rising from below the base of the reservoir 11 to a point above the base. In use, the contents of the reservoir 11, warmed by heat from the hand, can be drawn off by the drinker through the outlet conduit 15 with the size of the open top 14 of the reservoir 11 being irrelevant to the convenience of use. The outlet conduit 15 may rise above the open top 14. A foot may be formed on the outlet conduit 15 to support the vessel in an upright position. Alternatively, there may be a separate support base 21 whose mouth engages the exterior of the reservoir 11 and/or the outlet conduit 15 to prevent the vessel tipping. A mouth portion 23 of the support base 21 engaging the reservoir 11 may be lower than another mouth portion 24 for the outlet conduit 15.

Description

DRINKING VESSEL The conventional drinking glass used for brandy has an approximately hemispherical lower portion and a frustoconical upper portion, the lower portion being mounted on a solid stem and foot. Depending on the size of the opening at the top of the frusto-conical portion, difficulty is sometimes encountered when drinking from the glass when the nose of the drinker engages the rim.

The present invention provides a drinking vessel comprising a reservoir with an open top and a hollow stem in communication with the reservoir leading from the base of the reservoir and rising to an outlet above the level of the base of the reservoir and preferably above the level of the top of the reservoir.

The drinking vessel is preferably provided with means for supporting the reservoir in an upright position and such means could comprise a foot formed on the outlet conduit but most preferably is provided by a separate support device arranged to engage the exterior of the reservoir and/or the outlet conduit. The separate device may comprise a generally cylindrical device arranged to stand on a surface with its axis vertical and whose upper mouth is formed to receive on one side the exterior of the reservoir and on the other side the exterior of the outlet conduit in such a way as to prevent the drinking vessel tipping. The portion of the mouth arranged to engage the reservoir is preferably lower than the portion of the mouth arranged to engage the outlet conduit.

An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drinking vessel, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stand for use with the drinking vessel, and Figure 3 is a side view of the components of Figures 1 and 2 placed together.

In Figure 1, a drinking vessel has a brandy-glass shaped reservoir 11 comprising a generally hemispherical lower portion 12 and a generally frusto-conical upper portion 13 ending in an open mouth 14 at the top. In communication with the bottom of the reservoir an outlet conduit 15 extends first downwardly, then bending through a right-angle to form a generally horizontal portion 16 and then bending through a further 60 degrees to provide an inclined portion 17 with a final end portion 18 extending approximately horizontally to an open end. The crosssection of the outlet conduit 15 decreases generally along its length starting from the reservoir and in particular the horizontal end portion 18 is of generally tapering shape. The drinking vessel is made of glass material, preferably crystal, and may be plain although various patterns can be engraved, etched or otherwise formed on it, for example by the deposition of metallic films.

Figure 2 illustrates a base 21 on which the vessel of Figure 1 may be stood to be supported in an upright position. The base is a generally hollow cylinder with a vertical axis, open at the top and bottom. The upper lip 22 of the base has its left-hand portion 23 distorted downwardly in order to fit snugly around the base of the reservoir surrounding the junction with the outlet conduit.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the drinking vessel fits into the base with the lowest portion 16 of the outlet conduit slightly above the supporting surface and with the lefthand portion 23 of the lip following the exterior of the base of the reservoir. The inclined portion 17 of the outlet conduit rests against the right-hand portion 24 of the lip of the base.

The drinking vessel can be held snugly in the hand and the contents of the vessel warmed from the heat of the hand. The contents are drawn off by the drinker through the outlet conduit, so the size of the open top of the vessel is irrelevant to its convenience of use.

Claims

CLAINS

1. A drinking vessel comprising a reservoir with an open top and a hollow stem in communication with the reservoir leading from the base of the reservoir and rising to an outlet above the level of the base of the reservoir.

2. A vessel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hollow stem rises above the level of the top of the reservoir.

3. A vessel as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising means for supporting the reservoir in an upright position.

4. A drinking vessel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4. A vessel as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means comprises a foot formed on the outlet conduit.

5. A vessel as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means comprises a separate support device arranged to engage the exterior of the reservoir and/or the outlet conduit.

6. A vessel as claimed in claim 5 wherein the separate device comprises a generally cylindrical device arranged to stand on a surface with its axis vertical and whose upper mouth is formed to receive on one side the exterior of the reservoir and on the other side the exterior of the outlet conduit in such a way as to prevent the drinking vessel tipping.

7. A vessel as claimed in claim 6 wherein the portion of the mouth arranged to engage the reservoir is lower than the portion of the mouth arranged to engage the outlet conduit.

8. A drinking vessel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A drinking vessel comprising a reservoir with an open top and a hollow stem in communication with the reservoir leading from the base of the reservoir and rising to an outlet above the level of the base of the reservoir, the vessel further comprising a separate support device for supporting the reservoir in an upright position and arranged to engage the exterior of the reservoir and/or the outlet conduit.

2. A vessel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the separate device comprises a generally cylindrical device arranged to stand on a surface with its axis vertical and whose upper mouth is formed to receive on one side the exterior of the reservoir and on the other side the exterior of the outlet conduit in such a way as to prevent the drinking vessel tipping.

3. A vessel as claimed in claim 2 wherein the portion of the mouth arranged to engage the reservoir is lower than the portion of the mouth arranged to engage the outlet conduit.