WO2001084990A1

WO2001084990A1 - Beverage vessel

Info

Publication number: WO2001084990A1
Application number: PCT/CZ2001/000026
Authority: WO
Inventors: Miroslav Bilek
Original assignee: Miroslav Bilek
Priority date: 2000-05-10
Filing date: 2001-05-10
Publication date: 2001-11-15
Also published as: CZ10107U1; AU5459501A

Abstract

The beverage vessel, especially for the spirits and liquors, has a form of a glass with a bottom (2) and side wall (5) whereas the inner and outer surfaces (7, 6) of the side wall (5) pass into the inner and outer surfaces (4, 3) of the bottom (2), while according to the invention the outer surface (3) of the bottom (2) of the vessel (1) at least in its central section has a rounded shape symmetric to the axis of the vessel (1), whereas the center of gravity of the vessel (1) lies between the outer surface (3) of the bottom (2) and the center of curvature of the outer surface (3) of the central section of the bottom (2). With advantage the outer surface (3) of the bottom (2) of the vessel (1) at least at its central section can have a spherical shape, the inner surface (4) of the bottom (2) can be flat or convex shaped, the inner surface (4) of the bottom (2) can be crude or matte, the thickness of the bottom (2) of the vessel (1) can grow in the direction from the wall (5) toward the center of the bottom (2), a balance weight (9) can be fitted in the middle point of the bottom (2), the wall (5) of the vessel (1) shaped as cylinder or polygon, can narrow away from the bottom (2).

Description

Beverage vessel

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a beverage vessel, especially for spirits and liquors, having form of a glass with a bottom and a sidewall whereas the inner and outer surfaces of the sidewall pass into the inner and outer surfaces of the bottom.

Known are countless designs of glasses for alcoholic drinks and liquors, with diverse shaping of walls. These, apart from others, are to help enhance the aroma of the beverage contained inside. In order to boost the aroma of their contents, the hard-drink and liquor glasses tend to have their walls getting closer to each other upward from their bottoms as then the opening letting the aroma out is small and makes it possible to inhale the aromatic vapors. For better scent of the beverage the glass bottom is usually larger than the opening because the evaporation surface must be as large as possible. It is known, that the beverage can be set in motion by grasping the glass in hand and moving it slightly round. In this way even the glass walls get wet on inside surface, accelerating the evaporation further on. In order that they can be set in motion even easier, the glasses tend to have a trunk between their bases and bottoms, used as a handle for easy grip. Once the glass is put back on the table, the beverage inside will stop moving. To set it back in motion, you have to raise the glass once again, making slight circles with it. It happens frequently that a flat-based glass turns over while landed on the table. Because of a certain level of skill needed in handling the glass the above aroma assessment is being done prior to the initial tasting of the beverage. The aim of the invention is to avoid the drawbacks of the up-to-date state of technology and to provide a glass- shaped beverage vessel which would allow an increase in aromatic effect of the beverage, easier handling, and safe return back on the table and whose production would be easy and price effective.

Summary of the invention

The disadvantages of the prior art are avoided substantially and the aim of the invention is reached by a beverage vessel, especially for the spirits and liquors, having a form of a glass with a bottom and side wall whereas the inner and outer surfaces of the side wall pass into the inner and outer surfaces of the bottom according to the invention the matter of which consists in that the outer surface of the bottom of the vessel at least in its central section has a rounded shape symmetric to the axis of the vessel, whereas the center of gravity of the vessel lies between the outer surface of the bottom and the center of curvature of the outer surface of the central section of the bottom. According to an advantageous execution the outer surface of the bottom of the vessel can have at least at its central section a spherical shape, the inner surface of the bottom can be flat or convex shaped, the inner surface of the bottom can be crude or matte. With advantage the thickness of the bottom of the vessel can be growing in the direction from the wall toward the center of the bottom, a balance weight can be fitted in the middle point of the bottom. With advantage the wall of the vessel shaped as cylinder or polygon, can narrow away from the bottom. Depending on its technical design, the vessel can be made from glass, plastics, wood, etc. A rounded or spherical shaping of the bottom's outer surface and the positioning of the beverage vessel's center of gravity will prevent any spontaneous overturns, regardless of whether the vessel is empty or containing a beverage. Depending on its design the beverage vessel will spontaneously return from a tilted position back to its upright position. The center of gravity in the vessel's axis will make sure that the beverage vessel shall remain stationary and upright without any kinetic energy conveyed on it. In addition to the claimed forms of its invention the beverage vessel's inner surface can be shaped variously, e.g. as a parabolic curve. The weight arranged at the bottom of the vessel can conveniently be configured just beneath the bottom's outer surface, made of diverse objects fitted into the bottom, which - in the case of a glass vessel, will enhance its attractiveness. The weight may have a form of bubbles filled with a material with higher specific weight than the one of the bottom and wall. The advantages of a beverage vessel in line with the invention rest in the vessel's ability of being handled easier, that it can be put back on the table safely, that it can be swung easily to set the beverage inside in motion, that it, in this way, enhances the aromatic effect of the beverage, that its hold safely the upright position on the tabletop, that it stable position is restored spontaneously, that it can be manufactured cost-efficiently, from various materials, including glass, plastics, wood, etc. Brief description of the drawings

The beverage vessel according to the invention is illustrated in more details by means of the drawings showing on the Figure 1 a longitudinal vertical section of a vessel with a bottom having a flat inner surface, on the Figure 2 a longitudinal vertical section of a vessel having a convex bottom, on the Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 giving examples of the shapes of the wall of the beverage vessel.

Description of the preferred embodiments

Pursuant to Figure 1 the vessel 1_ is made of a glass with a bottom 2_ having an inner surface 4_ and an outer surface 3_ and with a sidewall 5_ having an inner surface 7_ and an outer surface 8_. According to the figure 1 the outer surface 3_ of the bottom 2 is shaped as a spherical surface turning smoothly into the outer surface 8 of the cylinder-shaped wall _5. The sphere-shaped outer surface 3_ of the bottom 2 is optimal, but may also be round-shaped otherwise, symmetric to the vessel's axis, such as oval. Thanks to the placing of the center of gravity of the vessel 1 in the space between the outer surface 3 of the bottom 2 and the center of curvature of the outer surface 3_ of the bottom 2 central section the vessel is stable, i.e. it returns back to its initial equilibrium position, after being tilted aside. For better stability of the vessel 1 in its equilibrium position the bottom 2 of the vessel 1 grows in thickness in the direction from the wall 5 toward the center of the bottom 2. In the central section of the outer surface 3 of the bottom 2 there is a balance weight _9 enhancing further the stability of the vessel 1 in its equilibrium position. This balance weight _9 can be composed of metal shaped pieces imbedded inside the glass, can consist even of a glass ice of various thickness, etc. The wall 5 of the vessel 1 according to the Figure 1 can be shaped as a cylinder, turning smoothly into a spherical bottom 2 . The wall .5 of the vessel 1 may have other advantageous shaping, such as polygonal one, see Figures 4, 5, 6, 7. The wall 5_ of the vessel 1_ may conveniently narrow in the direction away from the bottom 2 . Pursuant to the Figure 2 the vessel 1 has its wall 5_ with its inner surface 1_ turning via the arch 10 with a diameter D into the inner surface _ of the bottom 2 . The inner surface 4 of the bottom 2 is convex, making thus a section 1_1 with its curvature radius C. Between the convex section 1_1 with the convex surface 4_ of the bottom 2_ and between the inner surface _7 of the wall 5_, there is a annular slot 12. In the convex section 1_1, the weight of the bottom 2_ is conveniently concentrated there, enhancing the stability of the glass against tilting. Because of the annular slot 12_ the liquid in the vessel cannot ^'reach far away from the center of the glass, but shall remain in the annular slot V2_, pouring from one part of the annular slot 12, to the other, not increasing the moment that tends to swing the vessel _1 aside. The given form of the body shall substantially increase the stability of the vessel and makes it possible to select the optimal relative dimensions and shaping of the vessel 1 and its bottom 2 , when the glass will notably return to its equilibrium position. As in to the Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 the wall 5 of the vessel 1 may be shaped as pentagon, hexagon, octagon, dodecagon or an n-vertex polygon not shown here. List of reference signs

1 vessel

2 bottom

3 outer surface (of the bottom)

4 inner surface (of the bottom)

5 wall

6 outer surface (of the wall)

7 inner surface (of the wall)

8 central section

9 balance weight

10 arch

11 slot

12 convex part

Claims

Patent claims

1. The beverage vessel, especially for the spirits and liquors, having a form of a glass with a bottom and sidewall whereas the inner and outer surfaces of the sidewall pass into the inner and outer surfaces of the bottom, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y t h a t, the outer surface (3) of the bottom (2) of the vessel (1) at least in its central section has a rounded shape symmetric to the axis of the vessel (1) , whereas the center of gravity of the vessel (1) lies between the outer surface (3) of the bottom (2) and the center of curvature of the outer surface (3) of the central section of the bottom (2) .

2. Beverage vessel according to the claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y t h a t, the outer surface (3) of the bottom (2) of the vessel (1) at least at its central section has a .spherical shape.

3. Beverage vessel according to the claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y t h a t, the inner surface (4) of the bottom (2) is flat or convex shaped.

4. Beverage vessel according to one of the claims 1 - 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y t h a t, the inner surface (4) of the bottom (2) is crude or matte.

5. Beverage Vessel according to one of the claims 1 - 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y t h a t, the thickness of the bottom (2) of the vessel (1) is growing in the direction from the wall (5) toward the center of the bottom (2) .

6. Beverage vessel according to one of the claims 1 - 5, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y t h a t, a balance weight (9) is fitted in the middle point of the bottom (2) .

7. Beverage vessel per the demand 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y t h a t, the wall (5) of the vessel (1) shaped as cylinder or polygon, narrows away from the bottom (2) .