GB2367739A

GB2367739A - Drinking vessel with non-adhesion to coasters

Info

Publication number: GB2367739A
Application number: GB0024882A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Owen Goold
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-11
Filing date: 2000-10-11
Publication date: 2002-04-17
Also published as: GB0024882D0

Abstract

A drinking vessel with a number of protuberances 2 provided on the exterior underside, which prevents the adhesion of a drinks mat or coaster onto which the vessel has been set down. In the preferred embodiment, three protuberances are provided, set at 120{ angular intervals in proximity to the circumference of a circular base.

Description

Drinking Vessel with Non-Adhesion to Drinks Mats This invention relates to a drinking vessel that prevents a drinks mat or coaster on to which it has been set down, adhering to the base of the said vessel, as the vessel is lifted away from a surface.

It is a common occurrence that a drinks mat or coaster becomes wet during use, due to minor spills or run-off of condensation. The presence of liquid between the drinks mat and the vessel typically causes the mat to stick to the bottom of the vessel as the vessel is subsequently raised. An adhesive effect has also been observed when a mug of hot drink is placed onto a coaster coated with a certain plastic material.

If one is fortunate enough to notice an attached drinks mat whilst lifting a drink, the safe removal of the said mat, although at some inconvenience, can be accomplished. The invariable alternative is that whilst lifting or tipping vessel to commence consumption of the beverage, the mat will proceed to slip away from the vessel, inevitably falling onto the floor or into one's meal! It is therefore desirable to provide a drinking vessel that eliminates the inconvenience and/or social embarrassment of having a drinks mat stick to, or fall away from one's drink whilst drinking; along with any consequential retrieval of said mat.

Previous efforts in this field have taken a differing approach in concentrating on the design of novel coasters, as opposed to the drinking vessels themselves. Many of these designs appear to be over complex and expensive to manufacture. The present invention will require relatively minor re-tooling, minimal extra cost over existing designs, and be functional in conjunction with all currently known types of drinks mats.

Hence, it is an object of this invention to prevent the adhesion of a drinks mat to the drinking vessel. An essential feature of the invention is a number of small protuberances or bumps provided on the exterior underside of the vessel. The function of the protuberances is to substantially reduce the area of contact between the mat and the vessel and to allow for an air gap between the two surfaces, thereby avoiding adhesion of the said mat to the vessel.

The protuberances may be of any size or shape. However, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the protuberances are substantially convex, approximating to a flattened hemisphere, or dome shape; and the height of each protuberance is approximately Imm as measured from the base of the vessel at it's periphery.

The protuberances may be arranged in any desired pattern on the underside of the vessel. In the preferred embodiment of the invention however, three protuberances are provided, placed at 1200 intervals around the circumference of a circular base.

A further object of this invention is that in the preferred embodiment, having three protuberances, the drinking vessel is less inclined to wobble or tip when placed on a surface which is not ideally even or flat. A drinking vessel as described herein may be made of any material suitable for holding liquids, common examples being glass, ceramic or plastic. It is furthermore preferable that the protuberances described are made from the same material and in one piece with the main body of the vessel.

The main body of the drinking vessel may be of any design according to the prior art; for example, it may have one or more handles, in which case it may be described as a cup or mug.

An example of a suitable application for this invention would be in the design of mass-produced beer glasses for use in drinking establishments.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation of the vessel, as placed onto a drinks mat or coaster; itself placed on a table or other surface.

FIGURE 2 shows an isometric view of the drinking vessel, as viewed from below.

FIGURE 3 shows a plan view of the base of the vessel, indicating the positioning of the protuberances in the preferred case.

The drinking vessel I is placed on a drinks mat or coaster 3 of any currently known design or material. The protuberances from the vessel 2 prevent the mat from adhering to the vessel when the said vessel is lifted away from a surface 4.

In this embodiment, three protuberances 2 are arranged on the base of the drinking vessel 1, at 1200 intervals around the circumference of the base.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A drinking vessel, on the exterior underside of which are provided a number of small protuberances, such that the vessel rests on the protuberances when set down upright.
2. A drinking vessel as claimed in Claim I, where the base from which the protuberances extend is substantially circular and planar.
3. A drinking vessel as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, where the protuberances are set in close proximity to the circumference of the base.
4. A drinking vessel as claimed in any preceding claim where three protuberances are provided.
5. A drinking vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, where the protuberances are set at equal angular intervals approximating to 1200 around the base.