US20040134918A1

US20040134918A1 - Multi-piece vessel

Info

Publication number: US20040134918A1
Application number: US10/340,470
Authority: US
Inventors: Lynn Irwin
Original assignee: Maryland Plastics Inc
Current assignee: Maryland Plastics Inc
Priority date: 2003-01-10
Filing date: 2003-01-10
Publication date: 2004-07-15

Abstract

A multi-piece vessel includes a receptacle and a base. The securing of the receptacle to the base can be facilitated by a rib and displaceable fingers such that the receptacle and the base, once secured to each other, tend not to become inadvertently separated. The vessel may include a base having a receiving portion having one or more displaceable fingers defining a receiving aperture. The vessel may also include a receptacle having an upper portion and an insertion portion, the insertion portion including a rib. The displaceable fingers are adapted to secure the insertion portion to the base when the insertion portion is inserted into the base.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to tableware and, more particularly, to vessels.

2. Description of Related Art

Increasingly, the use of disposable tableware has become a popular alternative to standard tableware. For example, the use of disposable vessels, such as, for example, disposable wine glasses and champagne flutes, has become prevalent, especially for entertaining large groups of people. These disposable vessels are typically formed of a plastic having suitable properties of rigidity, lightness of weight and relatively low cost of manufacturing.

A benefit of presently available disposable tableware is that, after use, there is no need for washing and storing of the tableware, as is typically needed with standard tableware. Another benefit is that, because of the relatively lower cost of the disposable tableware, the user need not be concerned with possible damage or breakage as is the case with standard tableware, which is typically relatively fragile. Another benefit of presently available disposable tableware is that, because it is generally relatively inexpensive, it facilitates hosting of large parties at relatively low costs. The presently available disposable tableware, however, also has certain deficiencies.

One style of disposable tableware is a drinking container, or glass, formed as a single integral piece in the shape of a champagne or wine glass. Typically, this style of disposable glass includes a cup portion, a stem and a base. This style of glass provides the benefits of low cost and elimination of the need for washing the glasses after use. A deficiency, however, of this style of disposable glass is that its shape typically does not facilitate stacking during storage and/or shipping. In addition, also due in part to its shape, there is a relatively large risk of the stem breaking during storing and shipping.

Another related style of disposable glass is formed as two components which are friction fit together to form a complete glass. The cup is attached to the stem, which fits into the base, and these components are held together by a friction fit. Because this type of disposable glass may be stored and/or shipped as two separate components, stacking, storing and shipping of the disposable glasses is consequently made relatively easier. A deficiency with this type of glass, however, is that the friction fit between components tends to be easily releasable and, at the slightest tug, the base and the cup with stem may be inadvertently detached. A user therefore must make an effort to keep the individual components from separating. If the base detaches, the drinker must reassemble the cup and base before being able to put the drink down, since the cup portion cannot stand independently. As such, a need exists for an improved disposable glass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies this need. Various embodiments of the present invention provide for a multi-piece vessel. In an embodiment of the invention, a multi-piece vessel includes a receptacle and a base. The securing of the receptacle to the base can be facilitated by a rib and displaceable fingers such that the receptacle and the base, once secured to each other, tend not to become inadvertently separated.

Generally, in an embodiment of the invention, the vessel may include a base having a receiving portion having one or more displaceable fingers defining a receiving aperture. The vessel may also include a receptacle having an upper portion and an insertion portion, the insertion portion including a rib. The displaceable fingers are adapted to secure the insertion portion to the base when the insertion portion is inserted into the receiving portion of the base.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. It is understood, however, that the drawings are provided solely for the purpose of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In the drawing figures, which are merely illustrative, and wherein like reference numerals depict like elements throughout the several views: [0011]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a multi-piece vessel formed in accordance with the present invention; [0012]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a multi-piece vessel formed in accordance with the present invention; [0013]
FIG. 3 is a is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle of FIG. 2; [0014]
FIG. 4 is a is a cross-sectional view of the base of FIG. 2; [0015]
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the insertion portion of FIG. 3; [0016]
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the receiving portion of FIG. 4; [0017]
FIGS. 7 and 8 are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of the base of FIG. 2; and [0018]
FIGS. 9 and 10 are top and bottom views, respectively, of the base of FIG. 2.[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

There will now be shown and described in connection with the attached drawing figures several exemplary embodiments of a multi-piece vessel. [0020]
With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of a [0021] multi-piece vessel 10 in its assembled form. The vessel 10 includes a receptacle 20 that is generally cylindrical, and a base 50. Receptacle 20 may have a generally parabolic shape with a wide top that becomes narrow toward the bottom, in the general style commonly referred to as a champagne flute. In alternative embodiments, receptacle 20 may be formed in other shapes, such as that of a wine glass, or any other suitable shape as a matter of application specific design choice, as determined by one skilled in the art.
[0022] Base 50 and receptacle 20 may be formed of plastic suitable for use as a vessel. Preferably, base 50 and receptacle 20 may be formed of a light weight, relatively low cost plastic or other material having a suitable combination of rigidity and flexibility for the purposes described herein, as is known to those skilled in the art. An embodiment of the invention may be formed of polystyrene. Base 50 and receptacle 20 may be formed of transparent plastic, a clear or tinted translucent plastic, or an opaque plastic, as determined as a matter of design choice. Also, base 50 and receptacle 20 need not be formed of the same material. In addition, while embodiments of the present invention may be formed of plastic, other materials may be used in accordance with the present invention as would be known to one skilled in the art.
With reference to FIGS. [0023] 2-4, receptacle 20 includes an upper portion 22 and a lower portion 24. Upper portion 22 includes an outer surface 28 and an inner surface 27 and defines aperture 26, into which a liquid may be poured. Lower portion 24 of receptacle 20 includes an insertion portion 30, which is designed and dimensioned such that it is adapted to be inserted into a receiving portion 60 of base 50, as is discussed in further detail below.
[0024] Base 50 includes a body 52 having an upper surface 54 and a lower surface 56. Base 50 may be formed in a generally circular shape as viewed from the top (see FIGS. 7-10), or may be formed in other shapes as a matter of application specific design choice, so long as base 50 is suitably dimensioned to provide support for vessel 10 when placed on a table top or other supporting surface. A peripheral contact surface 58 is designed and dimensioned such that base 50 and receptacle 20 may be sufficiently supported in a stable manner on a surface such as a table top when liquid is contained within aperture 26. Base 50 may be formed such that lower surface 56 is spaced apart from, and does not contact the table top or other surface as may be contacted by the peripheral contact surface 58. By way of non-limiting example, base 50 may be formed in a substantially dome-shaped form. Base 50 also can include shoulder stop 68, which may facilitate the securing of receptacle 20 to base 50, as is described in further detail below.
With reference to FIG. 5, [0025] insertion portion 30 of receptacle 20 may have an insertion wall 33 having a peripheral rib 31 positioned at the bottom thereof, proximate a bottom wall 34. Bottom wall 34 may be oriented substantially perpendicularly to insertion wall 33. Insertion portion 30 may also have shoulder wall 32 extending outwardly in a substantially perpendicular direction from insertion wall 33.
With reference to FIG. 6, receiving [0026] portion 60 of base 50 may define a receiving aperture 65 therein. Displaceable fingers 61 may have an outer wall 62 and an inner wall 63, further defining, in part, receiving aperture 65. Receiving portion 60 may have one or more fingers 61 as a matter of application specific design choice as determined by one skilled in the art, as instructed by the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, receiving portion 60 may have four fingers 61. A retention wall 64 is located at the bottom portion of each of fingers 61. Displaceable fingers 61 are designed and dimensioned such that they may be pivoted or flexed outwardly in direction A about connection portion 66 of the fingers 61. Fingers 61 are formed such that they tend to retain their original position, springingly flexing inwardly in direction B about connection portion 66. Gaps 67 may be defined between fingers 61, to facilitate independent flexing movement of the individual fingers 61 with respect to each other.
In use, with further reference to FIGS. [0027] 2-6, vessel 10 may be stored and/or shipped as separate components receptacle 20 and base 50. In embodiments of the invention, the receptacles 20 and bases 50 of multiple vessels 10 may be nested and/or stacked to facilitate efficient use of space and/or to facilitate shipping and storage of the components with a minimum of damage.
In use, with continued reference to FIGS. [0028] 2-6, receptacle 20 may subsequently be connected to base 50 by way of positioning insertion portion 30 downward in direction C (see FIG. 5) such that insertion portion 30 is positioned at least partially within receiving aperture 65 of receiving portion 60. As insertion portion 30 is moved further downward in direction C, insertion wall 33 and rib 31 of insertion portion 30 come in contact with inner walls 63 of fingers 61 of receiving portion 60, causing fingers 61 to be displaced outwardly in direction A (see FIG. 6). As the ribs 31 clear the retention wall 64 of fingers 61, fingers 61 flex inwardly in direction B such that ribs 31 abut retention wall 64 of fingers 61 (see FIG. 2). With fingers 61 positioned as such, the ribs 31 engage retention wall 64 such that the receptacle 20 will be secured to base 50, and will tend not to separate if receptacle 20 is moved upward in direction D (see FIG. 5).
In addition, [0029] shoulder wall 32 of receiving portion 32 may abut shoulder stop 68 of receiving portion 60 to facilitate a stable positioning of receptacle 20 within base 50 such that vessel 10 may contain a liquid and be placed on a surface such as a table top.
A benefit of a vessel made in accordance with the present invention is that once the receptacle is secured to the base, the base will tend not to inadvertently fall from the receptacle as the vessel is picked up and used. In addition, a vessel made in accordance with the present invention may be stored and/or shipped as [0030] separate base 50 and receptacle 20 components, thus facilitating safe storage and ease of shipping. Furthermore, assembly of the vessel is relatively easy as a simple downward insertion motion is all that need be performed.
In embodiments of the present invention, [0031] receptacle 20 may be formed in a variety of shapes, and having a variety of different textures. By way of non-limiting example, it can have a hexagonal, square or oval aperture, have or not have a stem, and/or have a lower portion that is wider than the upper portion. Similarly, base 50 may be formed in a variety of different shapes, and have different textures as described above.
Furthermore, while embodiments of the present invention have been described in which receiving [0032] portion 60 is part of base 50 and insertion portion 30 is part of receptacle 20, embodiments of the invention may also be formed in which receiving portion 60 is part of receptacle 20 and insertion portion 30 is part of base 50.
Still further, while embodiments of the invention of been described with reference to disposable tableware, embodiments of the invention may also be made in which the vessel is not disposable. Indeed, as discussed above, while exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described as being formed of plastic, embodiments of the present invention may be formed of other materials, such as glass, metal, or other materials. In addition, while embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to drinking glasses and champagne flutes, the invention may also be formed as other types of tableware such as, by way of non-limiting example, bowls, goblets, glasses, serving trays, and the like. [0033]
While the invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, it will be understood that modifications thereof within the principles outlined above will be evident to those skilled in the art and thus, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments but is intended to encompass such modifications. [0034]

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A multi-piece vessel comprising:

a base having a receiving portion having one or more displaceable fingers;

a receptacle having an upper portion and an insertion portion;

said insertion portion including a rib;

said one or more displaceable fingers being adapted to engage said rib to secure said insertion portion in said base when said insertion portion is inserted into said base.

2. The multi-piece vessel of claim 1, said receiving portion further having a shoulder stop, said insertion portion further having a shoulder wall, wherein said shoulder stop abuts said shoulder wall when said insertion portion is inserted into said base.

3. The multi-piece vessel of claim 1, said base further having a contact surface adapted to support said base when said base is placed upon a flat surface, said base further having a lower surface, said base being formed such that said lower surface is spaced apart from a plane defined by said contact surface.

4. The multi-piece vessel of claim 3, wherein said base is substantially dome-shaped.

5. The multi-piece vessel of claim 1, wherein said rib is a peripheral rib.

6. The multi-piece vessel of claim 1, wherein said base and said receptacle are formed of plastic.

7. The multi-piece vessel of claim 1, wherein said multi-piece vessel is formed in the shape of a champagne flute.

8. The multi-piece vessel of claim 1, wherein said receptacle is adapted to be stacked with other receptacles.

9. The multi-piece vessel of claim 1, wherein said one or more displaceable fingers define one or more gaps therebetween.

10. The multi-piece vessel of claim 1, wherein said one or more displaceable fingers consist of four displaceable fingers.

11. The multi-piece vessel of claim 1, wherein said one or more displaceable fingers consist of one displaceable finger.

12. A base for use with a receptacle having an upper portion and an insertion portion, said insertion portion including a rib, said base comprising:

a receiving portion having one or more displaceable fingers;

said one or more displaceable fingers being adapted to engage the rib of the insertion portion of the receptacle to secure the insertion portion in said base when the insertion portion is inserted into said base, and forming a multi-piece vessel.

13. A receptacle for use with a base having a receiving portion having one or more displaceable fingers, said receptacle comprising:

an upper portion and an insertion portion;

said insertion portion including a rib

said rib being adapted to engage the displaceable fingers of the receiving portion of the base to secure said insertion portion in the base when said insertion portion is inserted into the base, and forming a multi-piece vessel.

14. A method of making a multi-piece vessel for holding a liquid, said method comprising:

providing a base having a receiving portion having one or more displaceable fingers;

providing a receptacle having an upper portion and an insertion portion;

said insertion portion including a rib;

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said receiving portion further has a shoulder stop, said insertion portion further having a shoulder wall, wherein said shoulder stop abuts said shoulder wall when said insertion portion is inserted into said base.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said base further has a contact surface adapted to support said base when said base is placed upon a flat surface, said base further having a lower surface, said base being formed such that said lower surface is spaced apart from a plane defined by said contact surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said base is substantially dome-shaped.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said rib is a peripheral rib.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said base and said receptacle are formed of plastic.