GB2468350A - Support for holding a drinks vessel at an angle - Google Patents

Abstract

A support 9 for a glass 10 is arranged to slot over a drip tray 3, and has holes (11, figure 4) therein so spillages can pass through to the drip tray 3. The support 9 holds the glass 10 at an angle so that an optimum quality drink is poured. A lip (7, figure 5) supports the bottom of the glass 10. Preferably, the angle is 45°. An LED light source 11 may be provided, and weight sensors can detect when a glass is filled a sufficient amount and trigger the illumination of the LED 11. This prompts a bar person to complete the dispensing process.

Description

Background

Time and time again I sit down with a poorly poured pint in my hand. Various bars and pubs across the globe adopt dubious techniques to pour a pint, despite this being a very simple task. However, numerous constraints exacerbate the situation. Time is money, hundreds of pints need to be poured over a short period of time and all of this within the ever-tightening health and safety regulations.

The techniques differ but the results, ironically remain poor. Often, the bar staff leave the pint glass unattended on the drip tray or bar whilst cash is exchanged, This results in too much froth and often extra beer is poured, with glass in hand and the excess dribbles down the sides of the glass resulting in costly waste of potential profit.

Time taken for completion increases. Another technique is balancing the glass on top of a precariously-looking upside-down glass. This is dangerous and results in a very flat pint due to the glass being too near the nozzle of the tap. Finally, the third endeavours to pour the perfect pint but results in too much manual labour. Bar staff stand with glass in hand when they could be multi-tasking. This also compromises the degree angle and this is not to mention that the human eye does not suffice.

General distractions in a busy bar can also affect results.

Statement of Invention

The beer holder overcomes all of these problems and results in a cheap, moneysaving option to all of the problems highlighted above. The holder is a cheap, eye-catching contraption which slots onto drip-trays and bars. It is formed of a base unit and sculpted plastic neck and head. The top is angled to hold any type of pint glass.

The curved bottom or glass bed' which hugs' the glass allows bar staff to rest an empty glass and pour the beer direct. The height arid the angle of the beer holder ensures the poured pint is neither too gaseous or too flat. The contraption also saves time as it allows bar staff hands free' to attend other matters at hand. The device also maximizes profit margins as it safeguards against spillage, excess pouring and multi-tasking. The device also allows the perfect pint to be made. The plastic or cheap to manufacture components and lack of bar modifications required to install should enhance appeal. The beer holder will be a must have'. As page 3 of Drawings shows, * : * the device slots onto the drip tray or bar and is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The base unit has eyelets cut through in the event of spillage, however unlikely. From the * bottom to the top the base unit narrows towards the neck. Ideally, an LED with sensor will light up as the holder fills up to a certain volume or weight. Page 4 of Drawings :. provides a few views for the base of the beer holder.

* Hidden in the neck, concealed behind the outer casing are weight sensors which will ensure the LED lights up at a certain volume during the pint pouring process. The pint is then removed and the very last part of the pouring is completed manually. The * . * brightly lit LED ensures the bar staff attending to it are promptly alerted. Page 5 of Drawings displays the top 50 per cent of the device. The beer holder is crucially * angled at a 45 degree angle. The angle is widely regarded as the mainstay of any pint pouring process. Important also to note that the pint will not be fastened in any way.

Overly secured pints will result in spillages and thus would render the beer holder an impractical tool.

Statement of Invention (Continued...)

Instead the glass will sit snugly and be easily removed too. Nature's natural gravity and a lip at the foot of the glass holder will cradle the bottom of the glass. Please refer to pages 5 and 6 of Drawings. These illustrate the curved angular holder which contours to all pint glasses in use today. This lip and the glass bed both ensure the risk of the glass being knocked over is minimized.

Advantages The beer holder ticks all of the boxes. It can be used globally in a massive market.

No alterations to existing bars are required and the beer holder's cheap, easy to manufacture components will appeal to potential consumers. It should be easily portable thus enable in-situ demonstrations. Sculpted to appeal to a modem marketplace.

The holder should also increase profit margins because it tackles two factors.

Spillage is minimized as it should hold the glass at the optimum height and angle.

End-users will return to bars as they will be happy about the superior quality of their pints, bar staff breakages will fall and the device should enable multi-tasking.

Increased efficiency.

A desirable feature is the sensor with LED to alert bar staff and minimize risk of spillage. The curved, sculpted design is requisite as it will be more likely to pass health and safety scrutiny. It will also enhance the wow' factor.

Foot or base of unit will slot over bar or clamp on bar so no physical bar alterations are required. Semi-cylindrical hug' at 45 degree angle will hug a half of glass like a mother holding a baby.

Advantagçs -Single Sentence The lightweight device's base will slot over existing drip trays and need to be removable.

The base will have eyelets' or holes to ensure any minor spillages seep through * : : : and into the drip tray beneath.

The entire unit will need to be a singular manufactured mould so it is cheap and easytoproduce.

The top half will have a 45 degree cradle' or hug' for the glass to ensure optimum performance.

The simple installation, taking minutes, ensures no modifications to bars or pubs are required. *S* * *

Preferably, the neck will contain an LED and sensor (for weight) which lights up to alert the staff when manual completion of pouring is required.

Preferably, the foot of the top half of the unit will be semi-cylindrical to accommodate all main pint glass variations in use today.

Preferably, the contraption will contain sensors which trigger the LED once the glass fills and reaches a certain weight or volume. * * * S. * S... * S S... * . * S.. *** *.. a

*. ..* S * side to hold the bottom of the glass. 15 from an underneath' view of 16 the top half of the device. 17 the hollow cylinder to slot onto Figure 4. 18 and 19 show an alternate variation of the contraption. It essentially has the same DNA' as Figure 3, 4 and 5 but minus the weight sensors and LED. This will be a purely hollow contraption which will be cheaper to produce.

Figure 6 is a close-up of the device as seen in Figure 3, but in its entirety.

1 the semi-cylindrical holder and 2 the main body. 3 the secured base and 4 the foot to hold the bottom of the pint glass. 5 is the LED. Note the weight sensor is concealed for health and safety reasons. * * * ** . *1a* * I S..,. "I * . * ISI Is.. U...

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Introduction to Drawings

Figure 1 shows a conventional pour in a typical bar.

Figure 2 shows another poor method with a glass balanced on top of another to minimize gassiness of beer.

Figure 3 shows contraption in use from easy to install system over the drip tray to the completion of the manual process.

Figure 4 shows the bottom half of the contraption in all views.

Figure 5 is the top half in various views.

Figure 6 shows the contraption in its entirety (for use with Abstract). *..* * . * S. S * S . S. * .*. I...

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Detailed Description

Figure 1 illustrates one typical pouring method.

From I the beer tap and 2 the fixed pump. 3 shows a large drop to 4 resulting in an over-gassy pint. 5 is the spillage tray and 6 the bar.

Figure 2 illustrates another pouring method.

1 and 2 the beer tap and pump again. 3 attempts to resolve a large drop witnessed in Figure 1. 4 and 5 depict resulting health and safety implications.

6 is the tray again and 7 the bar.

Figure 3 storyboards my contraption in operation.

I is the nozzle of the tap, 2 the pump and 3 the spillage tray. 3 (II) is the floor. 4 shows the contraption's base which 5 is attached to the existing tray, 6 is the top half slotted onto base and 7 the LED. Figure 3 also shows 8 a pint glass angled at 45 degrees and partially submerged' into 9, the holder. 10 highlights the partially full pint and lithe LED lighting as the weight sensor triggers the light switch. 12 shows manual completion of the pouring process and 13 the light is off now as the weight is removed.

Figure 4 is the bottom half of the device.

1 is the LED from a bird's eye view. 2 shows the sensor covered from liquids. The base is essentially capped'. 3 the square foot of the base with 4 the drainage slots to feed liquids onto spillage tray. 5 is the LED, 6 the neck which the top half slots onto.7 the side elevation with 8, the spillage slots and 9 the base to slot over a bar's spillage tray. 10 the hidden neck and 11 the spillage slots from 12 an upside-down perspective. 13 the lip to cover the spillage tray, again 14 the LED and 15 our first glimpse of the weight sensor and how it will sit under the LED. 16 is a cross-section of how 17 the light base is almost entirely hollow. 18 the foot and 19 the spillage slots. Figure 4 also shows 20 the holder slotting onto base. 21, this view of the neck and 22 the LED. 23 the close slotting feature thus enabling the device easy to clean.

a 24 the side elevation of 25 how it rests over the tray and 26, the same slotting easy to remove device.

Figure 5 shows the top half of the device.

1 the bird's eye view of 2, the wider base with spillage slots. 3 the bespoke *.*. . *: holder and 4, the opposmg angle to hold the bottom of the glass. 5, a side * a. . a elevation and 6 the LED. 7 is the same opposing angle described in 4. 8 is the * * glass angled at the 45 degree angle and 9 the bespoke design. 10 the LED from this side elevation and 11 the metaphorical dotted lines to emphasize that the glass must be partially submerged'. 12 the requisite curve to contour the glass and 13 the LED from this bird's eye view (excluding base). 14 the opposing

Claims (8)

1. Claims 1) The stand to support a glass and gripping onto a drip tray or bar.
2. 2) The holder to have eyelets or holes on the base of the unit to capture spillages.
3. 3) The holder to have a lip to support the foot or bottom of the glass.
4. 4) The holder to be set at an angle to ensure optimum quality control.
5. Dependent Claims 5) A stand to support a glass according to Claim 1, in which the holder is set at a degree angle.
6. 6) The stand according to Claim 2 which has a clamp to adjust to any bar.
7. 7) The stand according to Claim 5 fitted with an LED to light up once glass has reached a certain weight.
8. 8) The stand according to Claim 7, in which a sensor detects weight and triggers the illumination of the LED. * * * S. * **.* * * *.*. S. * S * S** *SS* 0*S*SS.5 SS. * .