GB2341079A - Non-stick drinks coaster - Google Patents

Abstract

A coaster (drinks mat) includes concentric grooves or other patterns of grooves on the top surface of the coaster within the rim therof arranged so that any liquid running down the sides of a glass placed on the coaster would run down the sides of the grooves to spread evenly over the lower top surface of the coaster and out of contact with the bottom of the glass. The coaster may include a rim with an inside diameter capable of receiving the diameter of the base for stacking purposes. At least two further grooves may extend diametrically across the array of concentric grooves. The coaster may be made of wood, metal or plastics material. The concentric grooves and ribs there between may have a saw-tooth shape in cross-section. The coaster may have a central recess in its top surface.

Description

2341079 Page 1 Coasters(Drink glassmat) designed to avoid capilliary

action of condensation on outside of glass or spillage causing mat to stick to base of glass when raised. Design also facilitates stacking of the coasters.

P & C references in text are to the drawings on the attached sheet(Page 3) General description and function

The co.asters (P) would have a central flat area (P2)of approximately 25 mm diameter for sales motif or maker's or Qutlet name. The coasters would have saw-tooth contour grooves over the face between the rim (p3)and (P2) in a choice of patterns, e.g. approximately 5 concentric grooves and two or more grooves crossing the circles diagonally, each 3 mm deep.

Groove Pattern.

Any pattern of grooves would be effective which provided support for a glass or cup only on the top edges of the grooves.

Stacking facility.

The recommended overall diameter is 100 mm with a rim (P3) of inside diameter lmm less than the base outside diameter (C4) to facilitate stacking. Materials Wood, Moulded Plastic Pressings of Metal,Plastic or Ceramics Manufacture 1.Hand turned or carved wood. Cost would rule out large demand for these methods. 2-Pressure or injection moulding of plastic, metal or ceramics. 3.Automated lathe.

Page 2. Drawings The attached Page 3 shows a Plan view (P) and a cross section view (C) of the subject coasters. Drawing (S) shows one coaster stacked on another.

Page 3

Claims (4)

1. A drinks coaster including a glass supporting surface which reduces the area of contact between the glass and the coaster compared with a flat glass supporting surface.

2. A drinks coaster as claimed in claim 1 where the base is of a diameter which is smaller than the inside diameter of the rim of the coaster by an amount sufficient to enable another coaster to be stacked on top of it with prevention of sliding horizontally.

3. A drinks coaster as claimed in any proceeding claim which is made from metal, plastic material or wood or from a combination of these materials.

4. A drinks coaster substantially as herein described and illustrated in the. accompanying drawings.

4. A drinks coaster substantially as herein described and illustrated in the. accompanying drawings.

4Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1 A drinks coaster including a grooved glass supporting surface which reduces the area of contact between the glass and the coaster compared with a flat glass supporting surface, wherein the grooved surface comprises an array of concentric grooves and at least two grooves extending diametrically across the array.

2. A drinks coaster as claimed in claim 1 where the coaster has an upstanding rim around its outer periphery and the base is of a diameter which is smaller than the inside diameter of the rim of the coaster by an amount sufficient to enable another coaster to be stacked on top of it with prevention of sliding horizontally.

3. A drinks coaster as claimed in any proceeding claim which is made from metal, plastic material or wood.