GB2457754A

GB2457754A - Vessel holding apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2457754A
Application number: GB0902878A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Cardno
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-23
Filing date: 2009-02-20
Publication date: 2009-08-26
Also published as: GB0902878D0; GB0803311D0

Abstract

A vessel holding apparatus 10 comprising a support member 12 on which a vessel 14 can be mounted. The support member is capable of supporting the vessel in a tilted condition. The apparatus further comprises securing means 16 to secure the vessel in said tilted condition. Illumination means 50 may be provided to illuminate contents of the vessel. There are also further independent claims for a vessel holding apparatus with illumination means and for illumination means comprising a mounting member and a stop means. The apparatus is designed to be used in wine making to aid siphoning of sediment free liquid.

Description

Vessel Holding ADparatus This invention relates to vessel holding apparatus. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to vessel holding apparatus for use in siphoning sediment free liquid from sediment in a vessel. Embodiments of the invention relate to vessel holding apparatus for use in winemaking.

During home winemaking, and other methods for making beverages at home, it is often necessary to remove the liquid contents of a winemaking bottle in order to dispose of the sediment in the bottle. It can be difficult to remove the liquid without removing some of the sediment.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a vessel holding apparatus comprising a support member on which a vessel can be mounted, the support member being capable of supporting the vessel in a tilted condition, and the apparatus further comprising securing means to secure the vessel in said tilted condition.

Illumination means may be provided to illuminate contents of the vessel.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a vessel holding apparatus comprising a support member on which a vessel can be mounted, and illumination means for illuminating the contents of the vessel.

The support member may be arranged to support the vessel in a tilted condition.

The apparatus may include securing means to secure the vessel on the support member.

An embodiment of the invention provides an advantage that it allows siphoning of liquid from sediment without any need for the user to hold the vessel with his or her hands.

In a first embodiment, the support member may comprise a platform.

In the first embodiment, the support member may be arrangeable in a selected one of a tilted condition and a non-tilted condition. The support member may be movable between the aforesaid tilted and non-tilted conditions.

The vessel holding apparatus may comprise a base and the support member may be attached to the base for movement relative thereto between the tilted and non-tilted conditions.

The support member may be pivotally attached to the base. Desirably, the support member is pivotally attached to the base at one end region thereof.

A hinge may be provided to attach the support member to the base. A pair of hinges may be provided to attach the support member to the base.

The vessel holding apparatus may further include a support means to support the support member. The support means may be selectively arrangeable in a support position to support the support member, and a non-support position in which the support member is not supported by the support means.

When the support means is in the support position, the support means may extend generally transverse from the support member to the base.

The support means may be elongate. The support means may be mounted on the support member. The support means may be pivotally mounted on the support member. Desirably, the support means is pivotally mounted on the support member at the opposite end region thereof to the pivotal attachment of the support member to the base.

The support means may comprise a lower elongate member extending across the base. Pivot connecting members may be provided to connect the support means to the support member. The support means may comprise a support member, which may be elongate.

The lower elongate member may extend transverse to the support member. The support means may comprise a pair of the aforesaid support members, wherein the lower elongate member may extends between the pair of support members.

The support means may include an upper elongate member, which may co-operate with the pivot connecting members. The upper elongate member may extend through the pivot connecting members.

The upper elongate member may extend transverse to the support member. Where the support means comprises a pair of support members, the upper elongate member may extend between the support members.

A guide means may be provided to guide movement of the support means between the non-support position and the support position. The guide means may extend across the lower elongate member.

The guide means may be provided to move the support means from the non-support position to the support position when the support member moves from the non-tilted condition to the tilted condition. The guide means may be mounted on the base.

The securing means may comprise a plurality of securing members, each securing member being arranged to engage the vessel. The securing members may be arranged to engage the vessel at a lower region of the vessel.

One of the securing members may be a movable securing member. The movable securing member may be movable between an engagement position in which the securing member can engage the vessel and a non-engagement position in which the vessel can be removed from the secunng means.

The movable securing member may be rotatably mounted on the support member for rotation about an axis between the engagement and non-engagement positions.

The securing means may comprise a pair of movable securing members, each being movable between the aforesaid engagement and non-engagement positions. Each movable securing member may be rotatably mounted on the support member for rotation ebout respective axes between the engagement and non-engagement positions.

Each securing member may comprise a generally cylindrical, or frustoconical, member which may be formed of a material capable of providing a high degree of friction engagement of a surface, for example a resilient elastomeric, or rubberlike, material.

The, or each, axis of rotation of the respective movable securing member may be offset from the central axis of the respective movable securing member.

In a second embodiment, the holding apparatus may comprise a base, and the support member may be fixed relative to the base. The base and the support member may be integral with each other, and may be formed as a one piece moulding.

The support member may define an illumination aperture through which light from the illumination means can shine. The support member may comprise a ledge extending around the illumination aperture.

The holding apparatus may comprise a holding means to hold the vessel, which may be a main body. The holding means may comprise the base and the support member.

The securing means may extend transverse relative to the support member. The securing means may comprise a securing member extending generally upwardly from the support member, and may comprise a wall member.

The wall member may extend around a major proportion of the support member.

The ledge may extend inwardly of the wall member.

The holding means may include the securing means. The securing means may comprise at least one inwardly extending lip.

The wall member may have end regions defining therebetween an opening. The securing means may comprise two inwardly extending lips, which may be provided at respective end regions of the wall member.

In the first embodiment, the holding apparatus may comprise a web extending between the base and the securing means. The web may extend substantially wholly around the support member. The holding means may include the web.

In a first embodiment, the illumination means may be elongate, and may comprise a lighting element. The illumination means may further comprise an elongate support to support the lighting element.

The provision of the illumination means provides the advantage in the preferred embodiment that the apparatus can be used to siphon coloured or opaque liquids from sediment. Examples of such liquids are coloured alcoholic beverages, such as red wine.

The illumination means may be mountable on the support member, to extend outwardly from the support member. The illumination means may extend generally orthogonally to the support member. The support member may define a receiving aperture to receive the elongate support therein, thereby allowing the illumination means to extend generally orthogonally from the support member.

In the second embodiment, the holding means may define an aperture to receive the illumination means. The aperture may be defined by the web. The illumination means may be receivable in the aperture to extend beneath the support member.

The illumination means may comprise a mounting member to mount the illumination means on the holding means. The mounting member may constitute a bulb holder to hold an illumination element. The illumination element may comprise a light bulb, such as a fluorescent bulb.

A stop portion may be provided on the mounting member to engage the holding means. The stop portion may engage the holding means around the aperture, thereby preventing further insertion of the mounting member through the aperture.

The stop portion may comprise a flange, which may extend around the mounting member..

An ancillary securing arrangement may be provided to further hold the vessel when the vessel is held by the securing means. The ancillary securing arrangement may comprise a strap extending from the illumination means to the vessel.

Embodiments of the invention will now be descnbed by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a vessel holding apparatus in a tilted condition; Figure 2 is a side view of the vessel holding apparatus shown in Figure 1 in a tilted condition; Figure 3 is a top plan view of a support member forming part of the holding apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view along the lines IV-IV in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a side view of the region marked V in the Figure 2 with the support member in a tilted condition; Figure 6 is a side view of the same region shown in Figure 5, but with the support member in a non-tilted condition; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a holding apparatus; Figure 8 is a sectional side view of the holding apparatus shown in Figure 7; Figure 9A shows an illumination means with a cap thereon; Figure 9B shows the illumination means shown in Figure 9A, with the cap removed; and Figure 10 is a top perspective view of a main body of a the embodiment shown in Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 to 6 show a first embodiment of a vessel holding apparatus 10. Figures 1 and 2 show a perspective view of the vessel holding apparatus 10, which comprises a support member in the form of a platform 12 for supporting a winemaking vessel 14, as shown in broken lines in Figure 2. The winemaking vessel 14 shown in the drawings is a demijohn.

The platform 12 is movable between a tilted condition, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, and a non-tilted condition, as shown in Figure 6. The holding apparatus 10 is suitable for use in holding the vessel 14 in a tilted position when liquid in the vessel 14 is siphoned from the vessel 14.

The apparatus 10 further includes securing means 16 on the platform 12. The securing means 16 is in the form of a plurality of generally frustoconical members, each being formed of an elastomeric or rubber material. A suitable such frustoconical member is a rubber bung used in winemaking.

In the embodiment shown, there are four frustoconical members, designated respectively 18, 20, 22, 24. The two upper frustoconical members 18, 20 are fixed frustoconical members, being fixed in place on the platform, for example by means of a screw, or by an adhesive. The two lower frustoconical members 20, 24 are movable frustoconical members, each being rotatable relative to the platform 12 about a respective pivoting axis 26 offset from the main central axis of the lower frustoconical members 20, 24.

The two lower frustoconical members 20, 24 are secured to the platform 12 by a respective elongate fastening member extending along the respective pivoting axis 26 of each of the lower frustoconical members 20, 24. Each elongate fastening member may be a bolt, which can be threadably received in a suitably threaded nut embedded in the platform.

The lower frustoconical members 20, 24 are rotatable about the pivoting axes 26, between the position shown in solid lines in Figures 1 and 3 and the position shown in broken lines in Figure 1 and 3. When the lower frustoconical members 20, 24 are moved to the position shown in solid lines in Figures 1 and 3, the lower frustoconical members 20, 24 engage the winemaking vessel 14 on the platform 12.

The provision of the securing means 16 provides the advantage in the present embodiment that it allows hands free operation by the user, i.e. the vessel 14 is held by the apparatus 10 allowing the user to take other action while the liquid is siphoned.

A base 28 is pivotally attached to the plafform 12 by means of a pair of hinges 30, 32. A support means 34 extends between the platform 12 and the base 28, and is pivotally attached to the platform 12 by a pair of pivot connecting members 36. The support means 34 is pivotally movable between a support position, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, and a storage position, as shown in Figure 6.

The support means 36 comprises a pair of opposed downwardly extending elongate support members 38 (see Figure 4), an elongate upper member 40, and an elongate lower member 42.

The pivot members 36 extend around the upper member 40 and allow pivoting movement of the support means 34 between the support position and the storage position. A guide means 44 is provided on the base 28 and extends across the lower member 42.

The guide means 44 comprises a rail member 46 extending transverse to the lower member 42 of the support means 36. An elongate gap 48 is defined between the rail member 46 and the base 28, along which the lower member 42 of the support means 34 can slide between the support position as shown in Figure 5, and a storage position as shown in Figure 6.

The lower member 42 is held by the guide means 44 between the rail member 46 and the base 28, which causes of the support means 34 to move to the support position when the platform 12 is moved to its tilted condition.

An illumination means 50 is provided to illuminate the contents of the winemaking vessel 14. The illumination means 50 compnses an elongate support in the form of a cylindrical tubular member 52, to which is longitudinally attached an elongate lighting element 54. The lighting element 54 is connected by a cable 56, having an electrical plug at its free end, to an appropriate electrical socket (not shown).

The illumination means 50 is inserted into an aperture 57 in the plafform 12. The aperture 57 is of a size to provide a tight fit around the tubular member 52 and, as a result, the tubular member 52 is held fast within the aperture 57.

The purpose of the illumination means 50 is to illuminate the contents of the winemaking vessel 14 after sediment has settled, so that the operator can determine the level of sediment in a coloured or opaque wine, such as red wine. Thus, the operator can see which of the contents of the vessel 14 is sediment free liquid, and which is sediment.

The provision of the illumination means 50 thus provides the advantage in the present embodiment that it can be used to illuminate a home made red wine to allow the user to see the level of sediment in the vessel 14.

A bracket 56 is provided on the tubular member 52, and a strap 58 extends from the bracket 56 through a handle 14A of the winemaking vessel 14. The strap 58 has only connector in the form of a popper 60 by means of which the opposite ends of the strap 58 can be attached together. This provides an ancillary securing means to secure the winemaking vessel 14 to the illumination means 50.

When it is desired to store the vessel holding apparatus 10, the illumination means can be removed from the aperture 57 and inserted into clips 62 on the platform 16 (see Figures 1 and 3).

In use, the winemaking vessel 14 is arranged between the securing members 18, 20, 22, 24, and the lower securing members 22, 24 are moved to their securing position, as shown in solid lines in Figures 1 and 3. The illumination means 50 can be inserted into the aperture 57, and the strap 58 arranged through the handle 14A of the winemaking vessel 14. The platform 12 can then be moved to the tilted condition, which causes of the support means to move to the support position, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, and the illumination means 50 can then be switched on.

When the illumination means 50 is switched on, it is then possible to see through the liquid in the vessel 14, and the operator will see that the liquid 14 is divided into a first region 15A (Figure 2) which is sediment free liquid, and a second region 15B, which comprises sediment.

Suitable siphoning means can then be used to siphon the sediment free liquid from the winemaking vessel 14 into a clean vessel. When the siphoning is complete, the winemaking vessel 14 can be removed from the platform 12 and cleaned.

The illumination means 50 can be removed from the aperture 57 and reinserted into the clips 62 for storage. The support means 34 can then be moved back to the storage position, thereby moving the platform 12 to the non-tilted condition, as shown in Figure 6.

Referring to Figures 7 to 10, there is shown a second embodiment of a holding apparatus, generally designated 110. As with the first embodiment, the holding apparatus 110 is suitable for holding a winemaking vessel 14 which, in Figures 7 to 98 is a demijohn.

The holding apparatus 110 compnses a main body 112, having a base 114 and a tilted support member 116. Secunng means in the form of an upstanding wall member 118 extends upwardly from the support member 116. As can be seen from Figure 10, the support member 116 comprises a ledge 117 extending inwardly around the wall member 118.

The ledge 117 lies in a plane that is tilted at an angle of substantially 30° to the base 114, but it is envisaged that other angles of tilt can be used.

The ledge 117 is of a size and shape to conform to a lower region of the winemaking vessel 14, and the wall member 118 is a tight fit against the winemaking vessel 14, thereby holding the vessel 14 on the ledge 117, when the vessel 14 is disposed on the ledge 117.

The wall member 118 extends around a major proportion of the main body 112, and has end regions 11 8A and 11 8B. An opening region 119 is defined between the end regions 118A, 118B. Inwardly extending lips 121 are provided on the end regions 118A, 118B of the wall member 118 at the opening region 119. The lips 121 engage the vessel 14 to further hold the vessel on the main body 112.

A web 120 extends between the base 114 and the upper edge 122 of the wall member 118. The web defines an insertion aperture 124 for receiving a portion of an illumination means 126, as described below.

The holding apparatus 110 also includes the illumination means 126, which comprises a mounting member in the form of a bulb holder 128. The illumination means 126 also includes a bulb 130 held by the bulb holder 128. The bulb 130 is a fluorescent bulb, but any other suitable type of bulb can be used.

The illumination means 126 is inserted into the main body 112 through the insertion aperture 124, as indicated by the arrow A in Figure 7, to the position shown in Figure 8. A stop portion in the form of a flange 132 extends around the bulb holder 128.

The flange 132 engages the main body 112 at the insertion aperture 124 to prevent further insertion of the illumination means 126.

The illumination means 126 indudes an electric cable 134 to connect the bulb to a mains supply of electricity. Alternatively, the illumination means 126 may be powered by a battery, which can be held in the bulb holder 128. If desired, the illumination means 126 may include a cap 136. the cap 136 can be disposed on the bulb holder 128 over the bulb 130 when the illumination means 126 is not in use.

In a particular use of this embodiment, the vessel 14 may contain wine in the process of being fermented during a domestic wine making process. During this process, sediment is formed, and it is desirable to decant the liquid from the sediment. This decantation step is usually effected by siphoning the liquid from the vessel 14.

The ledge 117 defines an illumination aperture 136, so that the illumination means 126 can illuminate the vessel 14, and the contents thereof. When the illumination means 126 is positioned as shown in Figure 7, it is at an illumination position, at which the light therefrom can shine through the illumination aperture 136 to illuminate the vessel 14 and the contents thereof. This allows the user to see the sediment S in the vessel 14, thereby making it easier to siphon off the liquid L without removing any sediment.

There are thus described embodiments of a vessel holding apparatus 10, which can be used to arrange a winemaking vessel 14 in a tilted condition to allow sediment free liquid to be removed from the sediment in the vessel. It will be appreciated that, although the above embodiment has been described with reference to the winemaking vessel, the vessel holding apparatus 10 can be used with any suitable vessel.

Claims

Claims 1. A vessel holding apparatus comprising a support member on which a vessel can be mounted, the support member being capable of supporting the vessel in a tilted condition, and the apparatus further comprising securing means to secure the vessel in said tilted condition.
2. A vessel holding apparatus according to Claim 1, comprising illumination means to illuminate contents of the vessel.
3. A vessel holding apparatus comprising a support member on which a vessel can be mounted, and illumination means for illuminating the contents of the vessel.
4. A vessel holding apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the support member is arranged to support the vessel in a tilted condition, and the apparatus further includes securing means to secure the vessel on the support member.
5. A vessel holding apparatus according to any preceding Claim, including a base, wherein the support member is fixed relative to the base.
6. A vessel holding apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the base and the support member are integral with each other, and are formed as a one piece moulding.
7. A vessel holding apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the support member defines an illumination aperture through which light from the illumination means can shine.
8. A vessel holding apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the support member comprises a ledge extending around the illumination aperture.
9. A vessel holding apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the securing means comprises a wall member extending around a major proportion of the support member, and the support member extends inwardly of the wall member.
A vessel holding apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the securing means includes at least one inwardly extending lip.
11. A vessel holding apparatus according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the wall member has end regions defining therebetween an opening, and the securing means includes two inwardly extending lips provided at respective end regions of the wall member.
12. A vessel holding apparatus according to any preceding Claim, comprising a holding means to hold the vessel, the holding means comprising the base and the support member, wherein the holding means constitutes a main body
13. A vessel holding apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the securing means extends transverse relative to the support member, the securing means comprising a securing member extending generally upwardly from the support member.
14. A vessel holding apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the holding means may defines an aperture to receive the illumination means, the illumination means being insertable in the aperture to extend beneath the support member.A vessel holding apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein the illumination means comprises a mounting member to mount the illumination means on the holding means, and an illumination element to emit light.16. A vessel holding apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein the mounting member comprises a bulb holder, and the illumination element comprises a light bulb.17. A vessel holding apparatus according to Claim 15 or 16, wherein a stop portion is provided on the mounting member to engage the holding means, the stop portion being so arranged to engage the holding means around the aperture, thereby preventing further insertion of the mounting member through the aperture.18. A vessel holding apparatus according to Claim 17, wherein the stop portion comprises a flange extending around the mounting member.19. An illumination means for a vessel holding apparatus, the illumination means comprising a mounting member to mount the illumination means on a main body of the vessel holding apparatus, and a stop portion on the mounting member to engage the main body, the stop portion being so arranged to engage the main body.20. An illumination means according to Claim 19, wherein the illumination means is insertable in an aperture in the main body, to extend beneath the support member, the stop portion engaging the main body around the aperture, thereby preventing further insertion of the mounting member through the aperture.21. An illumination means according to Claim 19 or 20, wherein the stop portion comprises a flange extending around the mounting member.22. A vessel holding apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 7, 8 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.23. An illumination means substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 9A and 9B of the accompanying drawings.