WO2016156820A1

WO2016156820A1 - System for holding a bottle and one or more drinks vessels

Info

Publication number: WO2016156820A1
Application number: PCT/GB2016/050865
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicholas Gilley
Original assignee: Nicholas Gilley
Priority date: 2015-03-30
Filing date: 2016-03-29
Publication date: 2016-10-06
Also published as: GB2536897B; GB201505426D0; GB2536897A

Abstract

A system (1) for holding a bottle and one or more drinks vessels (36) comprising a bottle holder (2) configured to hold the bottle, and a drinks vessel holder (4). The bottle holder (2) comprises a first portion (16), a second portion (22), and one or more side walls disposed between the portions (16, 22). The side walls of the bottle holder (2) are tapered such that an external diameter of the first portion (16) is smaller than an external diameter of the second portion (22). The drinks vessel holder (4) comprises means for holding one or more drinks vessels (36), and an aperture (26) through at least part of a body of the drinks vessel holder (4). A diameter of the aperture (26) is greater than the external diameter of the first portion (16) and less than the external diameter of the second portion (22).

Description

SYSTEM FOR HOLDING A BOTTLE AND ONE OR MORE DRINKS

VESSELS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems for holding bottles and drinks vessels.

BACKGROUND

Bottle holders, including wine coolers, are used to retain bottles, for example, to thermally insulate the bottles.

In a separate field to bottle holders, drinks trays are used to carry drinks vessels, such as wine glasses. Drinks vessels carried on drinks trays tend to be prone to spilling the contents of the drinks vessels. Also, drinks vessels carried on drinks trays tend to be prone to falling from the drinks tray as the drinks tray is carried.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventor has realised that conventional bottle holders, such as wine coolers, tend to be prone to sliding and tipping, for example when the bottle holder is on a moving vehicle such as a boat. The present inventor has realised that it is beneficial to provide attachment means for securing a bottle holder to a surface so as to prevent or oppose sliding and tipping of the bottle holder.

The present inventor has further realised that drinks vessels carried on conventional drinks trays tend to be prone to sliding and tipping, for example when the drinks tray is carried on a moving vehicle such as a boat. The present inventor has realised that it is beneficial to provide a drinks tray that grips the transported drinks vessels. In a first aspect, the present invention provides a system for holding a bottle and one or more drinks vessels. The system comprises a bottle holder configured to hold the bottle, and a drinks vessel holder. The bottle holder comprises a first portion, a second portion, and one or more side walls disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The side walls of the bottle holder are tapered such that an external diameter of the first portion of the bottle holder is smaller than an external diameter of the second portion of the bottle holder. The drinks vessel holder comprises means for holding one or more drinks vessels, and an aperture through at least part of a body of the drinks vessel holder. A diameter of the aperture is greater than the external diameter of the first portion of the bottle holder. The diameter of the aperture is less than the external diameter of the second portion of the bottle holder.

The bottle holder may comprise a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the bottle. The bottle holder may comprise an opening to the cavity.

The opening may be located at the first portion.

The first portion may be located at or proximate to an end of the bottle holder.

The bottle holder may be positioned through the aperture of the drinks vessel holder such that the drinks vessel holder rests on the sides of the bottle holder.

The bottle holder may be positioned through the aperture of the drinks vessel holder such that the drinks vessel holder is held by the sides of the bottle holder. The bottle holder may be positioned through the aperture of the drinks vessel holder such that the drinks vessel holder is removable from the bottle holder.

The bottle holder may be positioned through the first aperture of the drinks vessel holder such that the first aperture is positioned around at least a portion of an intermediate portion of the bottle holder. The intermediate portion may be between a first end of the bottle holder and a second end of the bottle holder. The second end may be opposite to the first end.

An external diameter of the intermediate portion may be substantially equal to the diameter of the aperture. A cross section of the bottle holder may be substantially the same shape as the aperture.

The aperture may be a hole through a body of the drinks vessel holder from an upper surface of the drinks vessel holder to a lower surface of the drinks vessel holder. An axis of the aperture may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drinks vessel holder.

The aperture may be a hole that passes along a longitudinal axis of the drinks vessel.

The drinks vessel holder may comprise a tray in which the aperture is formed.

The drinks vessel holder may be substantially cylindrical in shape.

The drinks vessel holder may have a circular or oval cross section.

The drinks vessel holder may comprise a plate of uniform thickness.

The drinks vessel holder may comprise a substantially planar surface. The drinks vessel holder may be made of plastic.

The drinks vessel holder may be formed by laser cutting a plastic plate.

The drinks vessel holder may be formed by injection moulding.

The means for holding one or more drinks vessels may comprise one or more further apertures through at least part of the body of the drinks vessel holder. Each further aperture may be a hole through the body of the drinks vessel holder from an upper surface of the drinks vessel holder to a lower surface of the drinks vessel holder.

An axis of each further aperture may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drinks vessel holder.

The drinks vessel holder may further comprise one or more passages. Each passage may connect a respective further aperture to a side wall of the drinks vessel holder such that an object may be moved from outside the drinks vessel holder, through a passage, and into a further aperture. The drinks vessel holder may be configured to hold between one and ten drinks vessels.

The drinks vessel holder may be configured to hold between two and six drinks vessels.

The drinks vessel holder may be configured to hold between two and four drinks vessels.

The system may further comprise attachment means configured to attach the bottle holder to a surface onto which the bottle holder is placed.

The attachment means may be configured to attach the bottle holder to a planar surface such that a longitudinal axis of the bottle holder is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface.

The bottle holder may be positioned on the surface. When the bottle holder is positioned through the aperture of the drinks vessel holder, a longitudinal axis of the drinks vessel holder is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface. The attachment means may comprise one or more suction cups.

The system may further comprise one or more drinks vessels adapted to be received by the means for holding one or more drinks vessels. Each drinks vessel may have a tapered profile. Each drinks vessel may comprise a first portion having a diameter that exceeds the diameter of a further aperture, and a second portion having a diameter that is less than or equal to the diameter of a further aperture. The system may further comprise one or more further bottle holders. The drinks vessel holder may further comprise one or more second further apertures. Each second further aperture may be for receiving a respective further bottle holder.

The system may further comprise one or more further drinks vessel holders. Each further drinks vessel holder may comprise an aperture through at least part of a body of the further drinks vessel holder. A diameter of that aperture may be greater than the external diameter of the first portion of the bottle holder. The diameter of that aperture may be less than the external diameter of the second portion of the bottle holder. For at least one further drinks vessel holder, the diameter of the aperture through at least part of the body of the further drinks vessel holder may be a different size to the diameter of the aperture through the at least part of the body of the drinks vessel holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing an exploded view a system for holding a bottle and one or more drinks vessels;

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing the system holding a plurality of drinks vessels;

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing an example further embodiment of the system for holding a bottle and one or more drinks vessels;

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing an example use of the system shown in Figure 3; Figures 5 and 6 are schematic illustrations (not to scale) showing a further example use of the system shown in Figure 3, in which multiple bottle holders are coupled together;

Figures 7 and 8 are schematic illustrations (not to scale) showing an embodiment in which multiple systems are coupled together;

Figure 9 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing a further embodiment of a drinks vessel holder; and

Figures 10 to 12 are schematic illustrations (not to scale) showing a further embodiment of the system for holding a bottle and one or more drinks vessels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like reference numerals refer to like elements. The following description is based on embodiments of the invention and should not be taken as limiting the invention with regard to alternative embodiments that are not explicitly described herein.

It will be appreciated that relative terms such as horizontal and vertical, top and bottom/ base, above and below, upper and lower, front and back, and so on, are used above merely for ease of reference to the Figures, and these terms are not limiting as such, and any two differing directions or positions and so on may be implemented rather than truly horizontal and vertical, top and bottom, and so on.

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing an exploded view of a system 1 for holding a bottle and one or more drinks vessels. The system 1 comprises a bottle holder 2, a drinks vessel holder 4, and a base 6.

In this embodiment, the bottle holder 2 comprises an inner container 8, and an outer container 10.

The inner container 8 defines a cavity 12 for receiving a bottle, for example a wine bottle such as a champagne bottle. An opening 14 to the cavity 12 is located at the top end 16 of the bottle holder 2. In this embodiment, the opening 14 is circular. The opening 14 is for receiving a bottle. In this embodiment, the diameter of the opening 14 is 10cm.

The inner container 8 is located wholly within the outer container 10. The outer container 10 is connected to the inner container 8 at a top end 16 of the bottle holder 2 by an annular wall 18 surrounding the opening 14.

The outer container 10 is spaced apart from the inner container 8, thereby defining a chamber 20 between the inner container 8 and the outer container 10. In this embodiment, the chamber 20 is filled with air. However, in other embodiments, the chamber 20 is filled with a different material such as a different fluid. In some embodiments, the chamber 20 contains a vacuum or partial vacuum.

In this embodiment, the inner container 8 is substantially cylindrical in shape. In this embodiment, the shape of the outer container 10 is substantially a conical frustum. In other words, the diameter of the outer container 10 at the top end 16 of the bottle holder 2 (i.e. at or proximate to the opening 14) is less than a diameter of the outer container 10 at a bottom end 22 of the bottle holder 2, the bottom end 22 of the bottle holder 2 being an opposite end to the top end 16 of the outer container 10. Thus, the side walls of the outer container 10 taper inwardly from the bottom end 22 of the outer container 10 to the top end 16 of the outer container 10.

In this embodiment, the walls of the inner container 8 and the outer container 10 are substantially rigid. The inner container 8 and the outer container 10 are made of plastic, for example polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

In this embodiment, the height of the outer container 10 (i.e. the distance between the top end 16 of the outer container 10 and the bottom end 22 of the outer container 10) is 23cm. The height of the inner container 8 is 20.5cm.

In this embodiment, drinks vessel holder 4 comprises a tray 24, an aperture through the tray 24 for receiving the bottle holder 2 (hereinafter referred to as the "first aperture" and indicated in the Figures by the reference numeral 26), and a plurality of further apertures through the tray 24 for receiving drinks vessels (hereafter referred to as the "second apertures" and indicated in the Figures by the reference numerals 28). In this embodiment, tray 24 is a substantially flat plate of uniform thickness. The tray 24 is made of plastic. The shape of the tray 24 is substantially a cylinder having an elliptical base or cross section. The length of the major axis of the elliptical cross section of the tray 24 is 24cm. The length of the minor axis of the elliptical cross section of the tray 24 is 19.7cm. The thickness of the tray 24 (i.e. the length, or height, of the cylindrical tray 24 between an upper surface of the tray 24 and a lower surface of the tray 24) is 4mm.

In this embodiment, the first aperture 26 is a cylindrical hole through the tray 24. The first aperture 26 has a circular cross section. A longitudinal axis of the first aperture 26 is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the tray 24. A diameter of the first aperture 26 is 12cm. The first aperture 26 is located at or proximate to a central portion of the tray 24 that is remote from an edge of the tray 24.

The diameter of the first aperture 26 is greater than the external diameter of the top end 16 of the outer container 10. Also, the diameter of the first aperture 26 is less than the external diameter of the bottom end 22 of the outer container 10. In this embodiment, the diameter of the first aperture 26 is substantially equal to an external diameter of the outer container 10 at a position along the length of the outer container 10 between the top end 16 of the outer container 10 and the bottom end 22 of the outer container 10, for example, a position that is approximately 6cm from the top end 16 of the outer container 10 in the direction of the bottom end 22 of the outer container 10.

In this embodiment, each of the second apertures 28 is a cylindrical hole through the tray 24. Each second aperture 28 has a substantially circular cross section. A longitudinal axis of each cylindrical second aperture 28 is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the tray 24. A diameter of each of the second apertures 28 is 4cm. The second apertures 28 are located at or proximate to the edge of the tray 24.

In this embodiment, the side wall of the tray 24 comprises a plurality of passages 30 or gaps. Each passage 30 connects an outside of the tray 24 to a respective second aperture 28 such that an object may be passed from outside the tray 24, through the side wall of the tray 24, and into a second aperture 28.

The base 6 comprises a base plate 32, and a plurality of suction cups 34.

An upper surface of the base plate 32 is fixed to the bottom end 22 of the outer cylinder 10, for example, by an adhesive. The base plate 32 is made of plastic.

The suction cups 34 are fixed to a lower surface of the base plate 32 such that a cup portion of each suction cup 34 is directed away from the base plate 32. The suction cups 34 may be attached to the base plate 32 by any appropriate attachment means, for example, an adhesive. In some embodiments, the suction cups 34 are attached to the base plate 32 by a key and key hole arrangement. For example, a suction cup 34 may comprise a key portion opposite to the cup portion of that suction cup 34, and the base plate 32 may include a key hole for receiving the key portion of the suction cup 34. The key portion of the suction cup 34 may be inserted into the key hole of the base plate 32, and the suction cup 34 may be locked in place.

In this embodiment, the suction cups 34 are made of a flexible synthetic material such as PVC plastic. The suction cups 34 are configured to securely fix the bottle holder 2 to a surface, as described in more details later below with reference to Figure 2. In this embodiment, there are eight suction cups 34. Figure 2 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing the system 1 in use.

In this embodiment, the system 1 is holding a plurality of drinks vessels 36. The drinks vessels 36 may be any appropriate type of drinks vessels such wine glasses, for example, champagne flutes. The drinks vessels 36 may be made of any appropriate material, for example, plastic or glass. The bottle holder 2 of the system 1 may also hold a bottle. The bottle may be placed in the cavity 12 of the inner container 8, through the opening 14. A portion of the bottle may extend from the opening 14 at the top end 16 of the bottle holder 2. Advantageously, the inner container 8 and outer container 10 and the chamber 20 therebetween tend to provide thermal insulation to a bottle within the inner container 8.

In this example of use, the suction cups 34 of the base of are fixed to a flat surface 38, for example the ground or a table. This advantageously tends to provide that the position of the system 1 is fixed relative to the surface 38. Thus, bottles and/or drinks vessels 36 held by the system 1 tend to be held stationary with respect to the surface 38. This tends to reduce the likelihood of breakage of the bottle and/or drinks vessels. Also, this tends to reduce the likelihood of spillage of a liquid contained in the bottle and/or the drinks vessels.

In example of use, the drinks vessel holder 4 is removably fixed or coupled to the bottle holder 2. This attachment of the drinks vessel holder 4 to the bottle holder 2 is provided by positioning the bottle holder 2 through the first aperture 26 such that internal side walls of the first aperture 26 are in contact with external side walls of the outer container 10.

Fixing the drinks vessel holder 4 to the bottle holder 2 may be performed as follows. Firstly, the top end 16 of the bottle holder 2 is moved through the first aperture 26. The drinks vessel holder 4 is then moved along the length of the bottle holder 2 until the internal side walls of the first aperture 26 are in contact with external side walls of the outer container 10, for example, at a position along the length of the outer container 10 at which the external diameter of the outer container 10 is substantially equal to the diameter of the first aperture 26. The drinks vessel holder 4 is then held in place relative to the outer container 10 by friction between the outer container 10 and the drinks vessel holder 4.

In this embodiment, the drinks vessel holder 4 is held by the bottle holder 2 such that it is substantially parallel to the surface 38 to which the bottle holder 2 is fixed. In this embodiment, each drinks vessel 36 comprises a bowl portion 40, a stem portion 42, and a base portion 44.

The bowl portions 40 of the drinks vessels 36 comprise tapered walls. Each bowl portion 40 tapers inwardly from a distal open end 46 of that bowl portion 40 to a proximal end of that bowl portion 40. The proximal end of the bowl portion 40 is attached to a first end of the stem portion 42 of that drinks vessel 36. A second end of the stem portion 42 of each drinks vessel 36 (the second end being opposite to the first end of that stem portion 42) is attached to the base portion 44 of that drinks vessel 36. In this embodiment, the diameters of the second apertures 28 are less than the diameters of the open ends 46 of the bowl portions 40. Also, the diameters of the second apertures 28 are greater than the diameters of the proximal ends of the bowl portions 40.

In this embodiment, a width of each of the passages 30 is greater than a diameter of the stem portions 42 of the drinks vessels 36.

In use, each drinks vessel 36 is removably held by the drinks vessel holder 4. The attachment of a drinks vessel 36 to the drinks vessel holder 4 is provided by positioning the bowl portion 40 of that drinks vessel 36 through a second aperture 28 such that internal side walls of the second aperture 28 are in contact with external side walls of the bowl portion 40.

Fixing a drinks vessel 36 to the drinks vessel holder 4 may be performed as follows. Firstly, the stem portion 42 of the drinks vessel 36 is moved through a passage 30 and into a second aperture 28, such that the drinks vessel 36 is positioned through the second aperture 28. The drinks vessel 36 is then moved downwards (so that the bowl portion 40 of that drinks vessel 36 is positioned through the second aperture 28) until the internal side walls of the second aperture 28 are in contact with external side walls of the bowl portion 40, for example, at a position along the length of the bowl portion 40 at which the external diameter of the bowl portion 40 is substantially equal to the diameter of the second aperture 28. The drinks vessel 36 is then held in place relative to the drinks vessel holder 4 by friction between the drinks vessel 36 and the drinks vessel holder 4.

In this embodiment, the drinks vessels 36 are held upright by the drinks vessel holder 4. Thus, an embodiment of system 1 for holding a bottle and one or more drinks vessels 36 is provided.

The tapered side walls of the outer container tend to provide for stable coupling between the bottle holder and the drinks vessel holder. This tends to reduce the likelihood of spillage and/or breakage of the bottle and or drinks vessels.

Advantageously, the drinks vessel holder is removable from the bottle holder, for example, by lifting the drinks vessel holder upwards until the top end of the bottle holder is clear of the first aperture, and moving the drinks vessel holder away from the bottle holder. This detachability of the drinks vessels holder tends to provide that the drinks vessel holder may be used as a tray for carrying and serving drinks. Also, this detachability of the drinks vessel holder tends to provide that the drinks vessel holder may be removed from the bottle holder and replaced with a different drinks vessel holder, for example a drinks vessel holder that is configured to hold a different number of drinks vessels. Thus, the system is advantageously modular.

Advantageously, the system tends to be lightweight, portable, and relatively easy to manufacture.

In the above embodiments, the base is a separate component to the bottle holder. However, in other embodiments, the base and the bottle holder are integrally formed.

In the above embodiments, the shape of the bottle holder is substantially a conical frustum. However, in other embodiments, the bottle holder has a different appropriate shape having tapered side walls. For example, the bottle holder may have a different shape cross section other than a circle, for example, an oval or a square. In some embodiments, the shape of the bottle holder is substantially a frustum of a cone or pyramid.

In the above embodiments, the bottle holder comprises an inner container and an outer container. However, in other embodiments, the inner container may be omitted.

In the above embodiments, the side walls of the bottle holder taper inwardly from the bottom end of the bottle holder to the top end on the bottle holder. However, in other embodiments, only a portion of the side walls of the bottle holder is tapered. For example, in some embodiments, the side walls of the bottle holder taper outwards from a top of the bottle holder to an intermediate portion of the bottle holder, the intermediate portion of the bottle holder being a portion of the bottle holder between the top and bottom ends of the bottle holder. The side walls of the bottle holder may then taper inwards or be substantially parallel from the intermediate portion to the bottom of the bottle holder

In the above embodiments, the bottle holder comprises a cavity for containing a bottle. However, in other embodiments, the bottle holder does not include a cavity. Thus, in effect, the bottle holder may be a stand or platform upon which a bottle may be placed. In some embodiments the system further comprises a removable lid or closure for sealing the opening of the bottle holder.

In the above embodiments, the system has the shape and dimensions described in more detail earlier above. However, in other embodiments, the system has a different shape and/or different dimensions to those provided above.

In the above embodiments, components of the system are made of the materials (for example plastic) described in more detail earlier above. However, one or more components of the system is made of a different material to that provided above, for example, stainless steel. ln the above embodiments, the drinks vessel holder comprises a tray. In some embodiments, the tray comprises a lip or rim which may be, for example, around or proximate to the tray's edge. This lip or rim may facilitate use of the tray to carry items other than drinks vessel, i.e. the lip may prevent or oppose other items carried on the tray from sliding off the tray.

In the above embodiments, the drinks vessel holder comprises a single first aperture. However, in other embodiments, the drinks vessel holder comprises multiple first apertures.

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing an example further embodiment of the system 1 in which the drinks vessel holder 4 comprises a plurality of first apertures. In particular, in this embodiment, the drinks the drinks vessel holder comprises three first apertures 26a, 26b, 26c.

In this embodiment, the three first apertures 26a-c are spaced apart and aligned along the major axis of the elliptical drinks vessel holder 4. The solid arrows in Figure 3 indicate an example assembly of the system

1 of this embodiment in which the bottle holder 2 is moved through the central first aperture 26b of the drinks vessel holder 4 to couple the drinks vessel holder 4 to the bottle holder 2 in the same way as described earlier above with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Advantageously, having multiple first apertures 26a-c allows for one or more of the first apertures 26a-c to be used for a purpose other than coupling the drinks vessel holder 4 to the bottle holder 2.

For example, as shown in Figure 4, the first apertures 26a and 26c that are not used to couple the drinks vessel holder 4 to the bottle holder 2 may be used to hold containers or bowls 50 which may be used to store, for example, snack foods or waste.

Advantageously, having multiple first apertures 26a-c allows for a drinks vessel holder to be fixed to multiple bottle holders. For example, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, each first aperture 26a-c of the drinks vessel holder 4 may receive and couple to a respective bottle holder 2.

In some embodiments, multiple drinks vessel holders each having multiple first apertures are used to couple together multiple bottle holders in a chain-like arrangement.

For example, Figures 7 and 8 are schematic illustrations (not to scale) showing multiple systems 1 coupled together.

In Figure 7, three drinks vessels holders 4, each having three first apertures 26a-c couple together four bottle holders 2 by forming a chain in which intermediate bottle holders 2 couple to two different drinks vessel holders 4. In this embodiment, the first apertures 26b that are not coupled with bottle holders 2 are used to hold bowls 50 which may be used as containers, e.g. for snack food or waste. In Figure 8, three drinks vessels holders 4, each having three first apertures 26a-c couple together seven bottle holders 2 by forming a chain in which intermediate bottle holders 2 couple to two different drinks vessel holders 4. In this embodiment, each of the first apertures 26a-c of each drinks vessel holder 4 receives a bottle holder 2. In the above embodiment, the drinks vessel holder comprises four second apertures for holding drinks vessels. However, in other embodiments, the drinks vessel holder comprises a different number of second apertures for holding a different number of drinks vessels, for example, two second apertures. In some embodiments, a drinks vessel holder may have no second apertures. In such cases the drinks vessel holder may provide a surface upon which drinks vessels may be placed.

Preferably, the second apertures a distributed symmetrically about a line of symmetry or an axis of the tray. This tends to provide for increased stability of the system in use. In some embodiments, one or more different devices for holding a drink vessel may be used instead of or in addition to one or more or the second apertures. For example, in some embodiments, the drinks vessel holder may include clamps, clasps, hooks, racks, bars etc. for holding a drinks vessel. In some embodiments, each of the second apertures is configured to hold more than one item, for example, more than one drinks glass.

Figure 9 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing a further embodiment of a drinks vessel holder 4.

In this embodiment, the drinks vessel holder comprises multiple first apertures 26, and multiple second apertures 28 spaced around its peripheral edge.

Each second aperture 28 comprises a first cylindrical hole 28a through the tray 24 and a second cylindrical hole 28b through the tray 24.

Each first cylindrical hole 28a is connected to the outside of the tray 24 by a respective passage 30 such that an object (e.g. a drinks glass) may be passed from outside the tray 24, through the side wall of the tray 24, and into the first cylindrical hole 28a.

Each first cylindrical hole 28a is connected to a respective second cylindrical hole 28b by a further passage 52 such that an object (e.g. a drinks glass) may be passed from the first cylindrical hole 28a, through the further passage 52, and into the second cylindrical hole 28b. The further passage 52 may be substantially the same width as the passage 30.

Thus, in this embodiment, each second aperture 28 can hold two different drinks vessels, one drinks vessel being held in the first cylindrical hole 28a and the other being held in the second cylindrical hole 28b.

In the above embodiments, the diameters of the first apertures of the drinks vessel holders may be substantially equal. However, in other embodiments, a first aperture may have a different diameter to a different first aperture. For example, a drinks vessel holder may have multiple first apertures which may have different diameters from each other.

Also for example, in some embodiments, the system may comprise multiple different drinks vessel holders. One or more of the drinks vessel holders may have a first aperture that has a different diameter to that of a first aperture of a different drinks vessel holder.

Figure 10 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing a further embodiment of the system 1 .

In this embodiment, the system further comprises a further drinks vessel holder 54. The further drinks vessel holder 54 comprises a further first aperture 55. The further drinks vessel holder 54 comprises no second apertures.

In this embodiment, the further first aperture 55 is a cylindrical hole through the body of the further drinks vessel holder 54. The further first aperture 55 has a circular cross section. The diameter of the further first aperture 55 is greater than the diameter of the first aperture 26 of the drinks vessel holder 4. The diameter of the further first aperture 55 is greater than the external diameter of the top end 16 of bottle holder 2. Also, the diameter of the further first aperture 55 is less than the external diameter of the bottom end 22 of the bottle holder 2. The solid arrows in Figure 10 indicate an example assembly of the system 1 of this embodiment in which the bottle holder 2 is moved through the further first aperture 55 of the further drinks vessel holder 54 and subsequently through the first aperture 26 of the drinks vessel holder 4. Thus, the drinks vessel holders 4, 54 are coupled to the bottle holder 2 in the same way as described earlier above with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1 1 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing the bottle holder 2, the drinks vessel holder 4, and the further drinks vessel holder 54 coupled together.

The drinks vessel holders 4, 54 having differently sized respective first apertures 26, 55 advantageously tends to provide that the drinks vessel holder 4 and the further drinks vessel holder 54 couple to the bottle holder 2 at different respective heights above the surface 38. In particular, the further drinks vessel holder 54 is held above the surface 38 by the bottle holder 2 at a position that is directly below the drinks vessel holder 4, and such that the drinks vessel holders 4, 54 are spaced apart.

In this embodiment, the second apertures 28 of the drinks vessel holder 4 may be used to hold items, such as a soda can 56 as shown in Figure 1 1. The soda can 56 may be placed through a second aperture 28 as indicated by the solid arrow in Figure 1 1 . The further drinks vessel holder 54 forms a stop that prevents or opposes the soda can 56 moving completely through the second aperture 28. Thus, as shown in Figure 12, soda cans 56 may be held by the system 1 .

Advantageously, the use of the further drinks vessel holder 54 allows items that do not have tapered sides and/or have external diameters that are less than the diameters of the second apertures 28 (such as the soda cans 56) to be securely held.

In the above embodiments, the drink vessel holder comprises a passages through which the drinks vessels may be moved into the second apertures. However, in other embodiments one or more of the passage may be omitted. In such embodiments, the bases of the drinks vessels may be omitted.

In the above embodiments, the system comprises eight suction cups for fixing the system to a surface. However, in other embodiments, a different number of suction cups is used. In some embodiments, different attachment devices may be used instead of or in addition to suction cups. The terminology "diameter" is used herein to refer to a straight line passing from side to side through a centre of a body or figure. It will be understood by the skilled person that the term "diameter" do not limit the shape of the body of figure, for example, a shape of the body or figure is not limited to being circular.

Claims

1 . A system for holding a bottle and one or more drinks vessels, the system comprising: a bottle holder configured to hold the bottle; and a drinks vessel holder; wherein: the bottle holder comprises: a first portion; a second portion; and one or more side walls disposed between the first portion and the second portion; the side walls of the bottle holder are tapered such that an external diameter of the first portion of the bottle holder is smaller than an external diameter of the second portion of the bottle holder; the drinks vessel holder comprises: means for holding one or more drinks vessels; and an aperture through at least part of a body of the drinks vessel holder; a diameter of the aperture is greater than the external diameter of the first portion of the bottle holder; and the diameter of the aperture is less than the external diameter of the second portion of the bottle holder.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the bottle holder comprises a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the bottle.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottle holder further comprises an opening to the cavity.

4. A system according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the opening is located at the first portion.

5. A system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first portion is located at or proximate to an end of the bottle holder.

6. A system according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bottle holder is positioned through the aperture of the drinks vessel holder such that the drinks vessel holder rests on the sides of the bottle holder.

7. A system according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bottle holder is positioned through the aperture of the drinks vessel holder such that the drinks vessel holder is held by the sides of the bottle holder.

8. A system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the drinks vessel holder is removable from the bottle holder.

9. A system according to any of claims 6 to 8 wherein the bottle holder is positioned through the first aperture of the drinks vessel holder such that the first aperture is positioned around at least a portion of an intermediate portion of the bottle holder, the intermediate portion being between a first end of the bottle holder and a second end of the bottle holder, the second end being opposite to the first end.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein an external diameter of the intermediate portion is substantially equal to the diameter of the aperture.

1 1 . A system according to any of claims 1 to 10 wherein a cross section of the bottle holder is substantially the same shape as the aperture.

12. A system according to any of claims 1 to 1 1 , wherein the aperture is a hole through a body of the drinks vessel holder from an upper surface of the drinks vessel holder to a lower surface of the drinks vessel holder.

13. A system according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein an axis of the aperture is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drinks vessel holder.

14. A system according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the aperture is a hole that passes along a longitudinal axis of the drinks vessel.

15. A system according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the drinks vessel holder comprises a tray in which the aperture is formed.

16. A system according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the drinks vessel holder is substantially cylindrical in shape.

17. A system according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the drinks vessel holder has a circular or oval cross section.

18. A system according to any of claims 1 to 17 wherein the drinks vessel holder comprises a plate of uniform thickness.

19. A system according to any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the drinks vessel holder comprises a substantially planar surface.

20. A system according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the drinks vessel holder is made of plastic.

21 . A drinks vessel holder according to any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the drinks vessel holder is formed by laser cutting a plastic plate.

22. A drinks vessel holder according to any of claims 1 to 21 , wherein the drinks vessel holder is formed by injection moulding.

23. A system according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the means for holding one or more drinks vessels comprises one or more further apertures through at least part of the body of the drinks vessel holder.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein each further aperture is a hole through the body of the drinks vessel holder from an upper surface of the drinks vessel holder to a lower surface of the drinks vessel holder.

25. A system according to claim 23 or 24, wherein an axis of each further aperture is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drinks vessel holder.

26. A system according to any of claims 23 to 25 wherein the drinks vessel holder further comprises one or more passages, each passage connecting a respective further aperture to a side wall of the drinks vessel holder such that an object may be moved from outside the drinks vessel holder, through a passage, and into a further aperture.

27. A system according to any of claims 1 to 26, wherein the drinks vessel holder is configured to hold between one and ten drinks vessels.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the drinks vessel holder is configured to hold between two and six drinks vessels.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the drinks vessel holder is configured to hold between two and four drinks vessels.

30. A system according to any of claims 1 to 29, further comprising attachment means configured to attach the bottle holder to a surface onto which the bottle holder is placed.

31 . A system according to claim 30, wherein the attachment means is configured to attach the bottle holder to a planar surface such that a longitudinal axis of the bottle holder is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface.

32. A system according to claim 30 or claim 31 , wherein the bottle holder is positioned on the surface, and when the bottle holder is positioned through the aperture of the drinks vessel holder, a longitudinal axis of the drinks vessel holder is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface.

33. A system according to any of claims 30 to 32 wherein the attachment means comprises one or more suction cups.

34. A system according to any of claims 1 to 33, wherein the system further comprises one or more drinks vessels adapted to be received by the means for holding one or more drinks vessels.

35. A system according to claim 34, wherein at least part of each drinks vessel has a tapered profile, each drinks vessel comprising a first portion having a diameter that exceeds the diameter of a further aperture, and a second portion having a diameter that is less than or equal to the diameter of a further aperture.

36. A system according to any of claims 1 to 35, wherein: the system further comprises one or more further bottle holders; and the drinks vessel holder further comprises one or more second further apertures, each second further aperture being for receiving a respective further bottle holder.

37. A system according to any of claims 1 to 36, wherein: the system further comprises one or more further drinks vessel holders; each further drinks vessel holder comprises: an aperture through at least part of a body of the further drinks vessel holder, a diameter of that aperture being greater than the external diameter of the first portion of the bottle holder, and the diameter of that aperture being less than the external diameter of the second portion of the bottle holder; wherein for at least one further drinks vessel holder, the diameter of the aperture through at least part of the body of the further drinks vessel holder is a different size to the diameter of the aperture through the at least part of the body of the drinks vessel holder.

38. A system for holding a bottle and one or more drinks vessels substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.