WO2011067528A1

WO2011067528A1 - Table utensil and method for discreetly disposing of a liquid taken in the mouth

Info

Publication number: WO2011067528A1
Application number: PCT/FR2010/052567
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernard Nivelet
Original assignee: Bernard Nivelet
Priority date: 2009-12-01
Filing date: 2010-11-30
Publication date: 2011-06-09
Also published as: FR2953110B1; FR2953110A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a table utensil (10) comprising: a body (2) defining a container for a liquid, the body (2) being made of an opaque material; a cover (8) adapting to the body (2); at least one means (5b) for disposing into the container of a liquid that was taken in the mouth but not ingested, such as to dispose of the liquid in a discreet manner. The invention also relates to a method for discreetly disposing of a liquid that was taken in the mouth but not ingested.

Description

USTENSILE TABLE AND METHOD FOR REJECTING WITHOUT DISCRETION A LIQUID TAKEN IN THE MOUTH.

The invention relates to the field of tableware, including utensils for liquids, such as glasses, cups or the like. The invention also relates to a method for using such an utensil.

Depending on the circumstances, some people may be subject to a strong restriction on their consumption of alcoholic beverages, for example those who have to drive a vehicle or a construction machine. In some cases, this restriction may go as far as a total ban, for example for people who take drugs that are incompatible with alcohol. The only solution recommended in this case is the abstinence of any alcoholic drink, ie drink only water or fruit juice. This radical solution is not free of drawbacks. On the one hand the very different taste result can be very frustrating, and can lead the person concerned to get rid of this discipline. On the other hand, this abstinence is sometimes socially difficult to accept, and the person is subjected to a social pressure, which can be strong, to consume alcohol. In any case, it leads to an alcohol consumption or excessive consumption, in contradiction with the prescription to which the person is subjected.

However, everyone knows that the aromas of a product develop in the mouth but also in the nose. It is known, for example, that professional wine tasters do not actually eat: the drink, for example wine, is rejected after being "tasted". This does not prevent the taster to have enjoyed all the aromas of wine and to make a detailed appreciation on this wine. Unfortunately, rejecting a drink that has been carried in one's mouth is unacceptable behavior in society, whether in a container such as a glass or a fortiori on the ground. There is therefore a need for a device that allows to enjoy the aromas of a drink, or more generally a liquid, without ingesting it.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a table utensil comprising:

a body defining a container for a liquid, the body being made of an opaque material,

a lid adapted to the body, the lid comprising a vent,

at least one means for rejecting in the container a liquid which has been brought into the mouth without being ingested, so that the rejection of the liquid is discreet.

The container is not intended to drink but rather to collect the rejected liquid, after the user has brought to his mouth and tasted all the flavors. It may be for example a utensil type glass, cup, cup or mug, without or with one or more handle or handle. The fact that it is made of an opaque material, as well as the presence of a means for rejecting the liquid and a lid allow to reject the liquid absorbed but not ingested in any discretion. It is advantageous for this lid to include an opening for the evacuation of air, or vent, the rejected liquid gradually taking the place of the air present in the container.

It should be noted that the utensil according to the invention is applicable to a liquid which is not usually a beverage, for example olive oil, during a test operation by tasters.

Advantageously, the means for rejecting the liquid may comprise a channel protruding on the outer surface of the wall of the container and communicating with the interior of the container.

The conduit is a way to pass the liquid from the mouth to the container in any discretion. This conduit may take an ergonomic shape, for example in the form of "duck bill". So also to promote the discretion, this conduit may be of a limited length, for example between 0.5 and 2 cm, preferably close to 1 cm, or even between 0.5 and 3 cm, preferably close to 2, 5 cm.

Advantageously, the means for rejecting the liquid comprises a channel protruding on the outer surface of the lid.

Thanks to these provisions, the function "discreet discharge of liquid" can be dissociated from the utensil, the utensil without its cover can take any customary use.

Advantageously, the utensil may comprise at least one seal between the container and the lid, for example a seal around the container alone, the lid alone, or two cooperating joints.

The invention also relates to a table glass comprising two containers separated by a partition and not communicating together:

- a first container for receiving a liquid and bring it to the mouth, - a second container made of an opaque material to receive a liquid that has been brought to the mouth without being ingested,

and comprising means for rejecting in the second container the non-ingested liquid.

This glass, in addition to the usual function of allowing to bring a drink to the mouth, also fulfills the same function as the utensil described above and has the same provisions: an opaque container for collecting a liquid rejected by the user and a medium to allow discrete rejection.

For this purpose, this glass comprises two containers or compartments not communicating together, a first container to fulfill the function of glass, and a second container to contribute to the discrete rejection function, the two containers being separated by a partition.

It is advantageous if the volume of the first container is less than or equal to that of the second container, since at least the second container is opaque, the user does not see its filling level and may therefore overflow it by rejecting too much. liquid. One way to avoid this The disadvantage is to ensure that the volume of the first container, intended to receive the liquid to be tasted, is less than or equal to that of the second container. The user knows, when the first container is empty, that he must empty the second container.

The partition may be substantially vertical or substantially horizontal, other arrangements not being excluded. In the case of a substantially horizontal partition, the first container is the upper container and the second container is the lower container, the glass may further comprise a first conduit communicating the lower container and the outside, so as to evacuate the air from the lower container.

This glass then has two superimposed compartments, an upper compartment to fulfill the glass function and a lower compartment to contribute to the rejection function. This compartment is made to fill, so it must communicate with the atmosphere so as to allow the air to fade as it fills.

Advantageously, the means for rejecting in the second container the liquid that has been brought to the mouth comprises a second conduit placing the lower container in communication with the outside, so as to reject the liquid therein.

Advantageously, the means for rejecting in the second container the liquid which has been brought to the mouth further comprises a conduit projecting on the outer surface of the glass and communicating with the second conduit.

Advantageously, this means may comprise a pipe arranged in a hollow handle of the glass, this pipe communicating with the second container, so as to reject the liquid therein.

In this case, the glass comprises a hollow handle which encloses a conduit communicating, in its lower part, with the lower compartment of the glass and can thus constitute a means of rejecting the liquid. The upper part of this hollow handle may also enclose the means of communication between the lower container and the outside. Advantageously, the first and second containers are detachable for example by screwing or interlocking, so as to facilitate their cleaning. It should be noted that other arrangements are possible for the glass partition according to the invention. For example, the table glass may comprise a double wall, an inner wall defining a first container, the space between the inner wall and the outer wall defining a second container, the two walls being joined at the edge of the glass, said flange having at least two openings communicating the second container with the outside. One of the openings can be used to reject the liquid in the second container, the other opening acting as a vent to evacuate the air from the second container. With these provisions, a protruding conduit on the outer surface of the glass is not necessary.

The invention also relates to a method for tasting the flavors of a liquid without ingesting it, using a table utensil according to the invention, comprising the following steps:

- bring the liquid into the mouth,

- to bring to the mouth a means that includes this utensil for rejecting a liquid,

- reject the liquid in the utensil.

The liquid to taste will have been carried in the mouth by any means, such as a glass, a cup ...

Advantageously, the liquid is an alcoholic beverage.

In this way, the user of the utensil can taste any alcoholic beverage even if it is subject to a restriction of alcohol consumption. Advantageously, the method comprises the prior step of:

- Deposit in the utensil an anti-foam product. Many alcoholic beverages contain dissolved carbon dioxide: beer, champagne, sparkling wine ... In this case, the rejection of the drink in the utensil may result in an abnormal increase in the volume of the rejected liquid and a release of foam little compatible with the discretion sought. It is therefore advantageous to introduce into the utensil, before use, a product such as an antifoam tablet which absorbs the carbon dioxide released from the rejected beverage.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A diagrammatically shows in perspective a table utensil comprising a channel projecting on its external surface and a cover,

FIG. 1B represents the same table utensil in which the duct protrudes on the external surface of the lid,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a table glass comprising two containers separated by a horizontal partition,

FIG. 3 schematically represents in section another variant of table glass comprising two containers separated by a horizontal partition,

Figures 4A and 4B show schematically a table glass having a double wall respectively in section and in plan view. The table utensil 10 illustrated in FIG. 1A comprises a body 2 comprising a wall and a bottom 4, constituting a container for a liquid, for example a glass or a cup, and a removable cover 8 which fits the rim 6 of the container. The lid 8 has a vent 9 which allows the air contained in the container to escape as and when the utensil 10 is used.

The wall of the body 2 has an inner surface and an outer surface

3. A duct 5a which has an ergonomic shape of "duckbill", protrudes on the outer surface 3, near the rim 6 of the utensil 1. The duct 5a has a length close to 1 cm; it has an opening 7 facing outwards and a corresponding opening (not visible) on the inner surface of the wall, putting the inside and outside of the body 2 into communication with each other.

The body 2 and its cover 8 are made of opaque material, for example a colored plastic material, a terracotta, a porcelain ...

In the table utensil 10 illustrated in FIG. 1B, the duct 5b is positioned on the cover 8.

The glass 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises a body 11 whose wall comprises an outer surface 11a and an inner surface 11b, two containers or compartments, a lower compartment 12 and an upper compartment 13, separated by a partition 14. The upper compartment 13 is intended to receive the liquid to be tasted, the lower compartment 12 to receive the rejected liquid.

The glass 20 has on its flange 17 a vent opening 18a. The vent 18a communicates the lower compartment 12 and the outside through a first pipe 19 contiguous to the inner surface 1 lb of the wall of the body 11, at the upper compartment 13 (enlargement B).

A duct 15 protrudes on the outer surface 11a of the wall of the glass 20 at a position substantially diametrically opposed to that of P vent 18a. This conduit 15 communicates the lower compartment 12 and the outside via a second pipe 16 contiguous to the surface 11b of the wall of the body 11, at the upper compartment 13 (enlargement A).

Alternatively, the glass 20 may have on its flange 17 a second vent opening 18b (not shown) communicating with the second conduit 16. In this way, the conduit 15 is not necessary, the user rejecting the liquid by one of the vents 18a or 18b, the air being evacuated by the other vent.

The glass 30 illustrated in FIG. 3 represents a variant of the glass 20. It is distinguished by a loop 31, this loop being hollow and enclosing a lower pipe 32a and an upper pipe 32b, separated by a partition 35. The lower pipe 32a of this handle 31 communicates through the wall with the lower container 12 of the glass. In the upper part, the handle 31 has a projecting portion 33, also hollow and communicating with the lower conduit 32a. This projecting portion 33 can be taken in the mouth to reject a liquid in the lower container 12.

Furthermore, a pipe 34 is contiguous to the inner surface 11b of the wall of the glass; it communicates on the one hand with the lower container 12 and, through this wall, with the upper pipe 32b of the handle 31. In its upper part, the hollow handle 31 has an opening 34 placing in communication the upper pipe 32b and the outside.

Thanks to these provisions, the user can reject the liquid in the lower container 12 via the conduit 33 and the pipe 32a, the air being discharged through the pipes 34 and 32b and the opening 34.

The glass 40 illustrated in FIG. 4A comprises a body 21 comprising a double wall, an outer wall 21a and an inner wall 21b. The inner wall 21b and the bottom 22 define a first container 23, and the annular space between the two walls define a second container 24. The two walls meet at the rim 25 of the glass. The first containing 23 is intended to receive the liquid to be tasted, the second containing 24 to receive the rejected liquid.

Along the flange 25, openings 26 are formed between the outer wall 21a and the inner wall 21b, so as to put in communication the second container 24 and the outside (enlargement C). The rim 25 may take an ergonomic shape so as to facilitate its grip between the lips and the rejection of the liquid.

A minimum of two openings 26 substantially spaced from each other is required, one for rejecting the liquid, the other constituting a vent for the second container 24. However, a plurality of openings 26 may be disposed on a part 25a of the flange, as shown in Figure 4B, the other portion 25b of the rim remaining free openings to facilitate the intake of liquid for the user. In this way, the lens 20 can be used in a large number of orientations, it is not necessary for the user to search for a specific orientation.

Claims

claims

A table utensil (10) comprising:

a body (2) defining a container for a liquid, the body (2) being made of an opaque material,

a cover (8) adapted to the body (2),

2. Utensil according to claim 1,

characterized in that the cover (8) has a vent (9).

3. Utensil according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that the means for rejecting the liquid comprises a duct (5a) projecting on the outer surface of the wall of said body (2) and communicating with the interior of the container.

4. Utensil according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that the means for rejecting the liquid comprises a duct (5b) projecting on the outer surface of the lid (8).

5. Utensil according to one of claims 1 to 4,

characterized in that it comprises at least one seal between the container and the lid.

A method for tasting the flavors of a liquid without ingesting it, using a table utensil (10) comprising a body defining a container for the liquid, said body being made of an opaque material, a lid fitting the body , a protruding conduit on the outer surface of the wall of said body and communicating with the interior of the container, said method comprising the steps of:

- bring the liquid into the mouth,

- bring to the mouth said projecting conduit to reject the liquid,

- reject the liquid in the utensil.

7. Process for tasting the flavors of a liquid without ingesting it according to claim 6,

characterized in that the liquid is an alcoholic beverage.

8. Process for tasting the flavors of a liquid without ingesting it according to claim 7,

characterized in that it comprises the prior step of:

- Deposit in the utensil an anti-foam product.