US3588275A

US3588275A - Cocktail accessory

Info

Publication number: US3588275A
Application number: US859917A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gian Carlo Frassoldati
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-09-22
Filing date: 1969-09-22
Publication date: 1971-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-28

Abstract

A COCKTAIL ACCESSORY HAVING A FIRST FUNCTION SUCH AS FOR STIRRING A COCKTAIL COMPRISING A FIRST AND SECOND SECTION. THE FIRST FUNCTION CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED ONLY WHEN BOTH SECTIONS ARE JOINED AT A FRACTURE SECTION. AND THE FIRST SECTION HAS A SECOND FUNCTION WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED ONLY BE BREAKING OF THE DEVICE AT THE FRACTURE SECTION WHICH CONCURRENTLY DESTROYS THE FUNCTION OF THE ASSEMBLED DEVICE SO THAT IT CANNOT BE REUSED FOR ITS ORIGINALLY INTENDED PURPOSE. IF DESIRED, THE SECOND SECTION MAY ALSO HAVE A FUNCTION WHICH CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHILE THE DEVICE IS UNITARY JOINED AND WHICH IS DESTROYED WHEN THE SECTIONS ARE SEPARATED.

Description

United States Patent [72] ln\'entor Gian Carlo Frassoldati 57 Manchester Place. Goleta, Calif. 93017 [21] ApplNo. 859,917 [22] Filed Sept. 22.1969 (45] Patented June 28,1971

[54] COCKTAIL ACCESSORY 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1. 416/71, 416/146 [51] Int. Cl A47j 43/27 [50] Field oiSearch 4l6/70.7l. 146;146/203, 204. 56; 259/(Single Stirrer Digest); 137/797 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,723.111 11/1955 Lawrence 416/71 2.793.842 5/1957 Bacon 416/71 FOREIGN PATENT 1,136,104 12/1956 France .1 259/144 Primary E.raminerMartin P. Schwadron Assistant Examiner-C. F. Schimikowski Attorney-Angus and Mon ABSTRACT: A cocktail accessory having a first function such as for stirring a cocktail comprising a first and second section. The first function can be accomplished only when both sections are joined at a fracture section, and the first section has a second function which can be obtained only be breaking of the device at the fracture section which concurrently destroys the function of the assembled device so that it cannot be reused for its originally intended purpose. If desired, the second section may also have a function which can be accomplished while the device is unitary joined and which is destroyed when the sections are separated.

PATENTED JUN28 IS?! I A F/6.2

F I 1 B Fla. 4

INVENTOR. G/A/V 64km FRASSOLDAT/ BY /4 b- 1 7 mow ATTOR/VEKS.

COCKTAIL ACCESSORY This invention relates to a cocktail accessory of the type which is customarily at least partially immersed in a cocktail, and which is handled by the hands and may be touched by the mouth of the user.

It is a common failing in cocktail lounges that devices such as stirring sticks, olive picks, and the like that are made of plastic and intended to be thrown away after a single use are frequently collected and reused after only the most cursory of washings. The materials of which they are made are poorly adapted for sanitary cleanup. These devices therefore comprise a threat of infection from patron to patron.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cocktail accessory suitable for its intended use and which includes a first section which has a use which is attractive to the consumer but is obtainable only by destroying the accessory itself. The remaining portion of the accessory is disabled from accomplishing the original function and it is thereby impossible to reuse the device.

A cocktail accessory according to this invention includes a first and second section joined together at a fracture section, which fracture section has the least resistance to bending fracture between the two ends of the device. The assembled unitary device possesses a first function such as a stirring rod, an olive pick, or the like, while the first section has a second function which might be such as a golf tee, the attainment of which is disabled by the attached second section, and is obtainable only by breaking the accessory at the fracture section.

As an optional feature of the invention, the second section may have a third function such as modified olive pick or the like whose function is attainable in the unitary device, and is effectively destroyed by breaking at the fracture section.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 and 3 are cross sections taken at 2-2 and 3-3 respectively ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the first section of the invention after being separated from the unitary device;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken at 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross section of another embodiment ofthe invention; and

FIG. 8 is a axial cross section of still another embodiment of the invention.

A cocktail accessory 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. I. It includes a first section I] having a length A, a second section 12 having a length B, and a fracture section 13 which joins the first and second sections together. As can be noted the fracture section has a reduced area so as to have the least resistance to bending fracture of any portion of the device between its two ends.

The device may conveniently be cast of plastic so as to break neatly at the fracture section.

The assembled accessory as shown in FIG. 1 has a first function namely that of stirring a cocktail and its total length of A +B, may conveniently equal approximately 6 inches. The length of section A is long enough to be a golf tee, about 2 inches, and length B is so short as to make an ineffective stirring rod when separated from the first section, about 4 inches.

FIG. 4 shows the first section separated from the second section at the fracture section and comprises an effective golf tee for the support ofa golf ball. The top of the tee-head had a conventional dimple in it.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the first function is that of retaining edibles such as a slice of orange 15 and a piece of fruit 16 for an Old Fashion or perhaps the fruit 16 might be an olive for a Martini. In this case first section 17 has a length C and second section 18 has a length D. Length C is equal to that of length A while length D is only approximately 1 'rfiinches long which is scarcely more than IS needed for the fruit retention feature. A shoulder 19 is provided to support the edge of the fruit in the second section and a fracture section 20 is formed to join the first and second section. I

As can be seen the length of the device totaling a length C plus length D is sufficient to accomplish the desired purpose in a cocktail (an olive pick, or whatever), but when the function of the first section is desired and the device is broken at the fracture section, the remaining length of the second section is too short for continued effective use because there is insufficient length for the user to get a grip on it. Therefore the device is destroyed for its initial purpose.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modification wherein the lower end 25 of the first section 26 terminates at a fracture section 27 which is shrouded by a skirt 27 attached to a second section 29, the second section being identical to that of second section 18. As to both

second sections

18 and 29 it will be noted that there are lateral protuberances 30 which enter into the fruit and resist its removal from the device to the extent of preventing it from simply falling off. It must be pulled off.

FIG. 8 shows another combination. In this case, what has been referred to as a first section 35 happens to be the lower portion having a point 36 and a tee-head 37. The fracture section 38 lies within dimple 39 of the device. A second section 40 identical to

second sections

18 and 29 joins to the first section at this fracture section.

It will be noted that in FIGS. 1-7, the first section tapers inwardly toward the fracture section so that a sensibly sharp point will be made when the section is fractured.

Only a few suggested functions are shown for the entire device. In FIG. I it is stirring. In FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 it is for the holding of fruit. These are of course the common purposes in cocktail lounges, although others may be devised. As to the second function, namely that of the first section, only a golf tee has been shown. However, other structures such as poker chips, tokens, souvenirs and the like could as readily be provided, it being desired in every case to provide something which is attractive enough that customer will arbitrarily put it in his pocket preferrably but not necessarily destroying the device in so doing. However, it will in general be attractive enough that he will at least break it in two taking the first section with him. The second section is thereby rendered useless for the original purpose of the total device and the reuse of the device is frustrated.

The device is inexpensive to manufacture, simple in concept, readily adaptable to inexpensive advertising, and leads to increased sanitary standards in cocktail lounges.

I claim:

1. An accessory for use in cocktails comprising: an elongated body having a first section, a second section, and a fracture section joining the first and second sections together in a unitary body, the fracture section having the least resistance to bending fracture between the ends of the accessory, the accessory having in its full length a capacity to perform a first, stirring function in a cocktail glass, the first section having a second function not related to the cocktail when separated from the second section, the second section preventing the accomplishment of said second function while joined to the first section, the removal of the first section from the second section destroying as a practical matter the second section to accomplish the said first function of the full length accessory by virtue of the shortening of its length, and retention means carried on the second section for retention of edibles for a cocktail as a third function, the capacity for this third function being destroyed by separation of the first and second sections.

2. An accessory according to claim 1 in which the first section includes a tee-head for supporting a golf ball as said second function.

3. An accessory according to claim 2 in which the first section tapers inwardly toward the fracture section to provide a point when the first and second sections are separated.