Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02845452 2014-03-11
Docket No.: 06322-00012
INVERTED BOTTLE HOLDER
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED INFORMATION
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Patent
Application No.
13/051,785, filed March 18, 2011, now U.S. Patent No. __
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure is directed to clips for holding a
bottle inverted in a
drinking glass or pitcher.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] While beer and margaritas have always been popular drinks, a
recent
phenomenon has occurred where frozen margaritas have been combined with beer.
The "beer
rita" is typically made by inverting a bottle of beer into a glass or pitcher
of frozen margaritas.
This allows the beer to slowly combine with the margarita as it is being
consumed. The
popularity of the beer rita has been increasing as it has been shown on
various reality televisions
shows. While simply inverting a beer bottle into a drink glass is effective,
it is not always stable
and the beer bottle can fall or be easily knocked out of the glass.
[0004] It would be helpful to have an inexpensive device that would
hold a beer
bottle more securely in a glass or pitcher. Further it would be advantageous
if such a device
could be used for promotions or advertising for beer or alcohol companies or
restaurants or bars.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the concepts described herein, an
embodiment of a
universal inverted bottle holder is described for holding a bottle with a neck
upside down inside a
container having an exterior wall. The universal inverted bottle holder
including a first clip sized
to accept the exterior wall of the container in between. The first clip is
formed at an arc
corresponding to the arc of the exterior wall of the container, and the first
clip is oriented to fit
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onto containers having a first range of angles of exterior walls. The
universal inverted bottle
holder also includes a second clip also sized to accept the exterior wall of
the container in
between, wherein the second clip is formed at the arc corresponding to the arc
of the exterior
wall of the container, and the second clip is oriented to fit onto containers
having a second range
of angles of exterior walls. A deck is connected in a permanently fixed
relationship to the first
clip and the second clip and extends into the container, the deck including an
aperture sized to
accept the neck of the bottle, such that the bottle is held upside down in the
container when
inserted into the aperture.
[0006] In another embodiment, a universal bottle holder intended to
hold a beer
bottle having a neck inverted in a margarita glass is described where the
margarita glass has an
arc and an exterior wall oriented at an angle with respect to the vertical
orientation of the
margarita glass. The universal bottle holder including a deck extending into
the interior of the
margarita glass, the deck including an aperture sized to receive the neck of
the beer bottle. A
first clip is integrally formed in a permanently fixed relationship with the
deck and is sized to
receive the exterior wall of the margarita glass. The first clip is curved at
the same arc as the
margarita glass and is formed at an angle to the deck corresponding to the
angle of the exterior
wall of the margarita glass. A second clip is also integrally formed in a
permanently fixed
relationship with the deck and is sized to receive the exterior wall of the
margarita glass. The
second clip is curved at the same arc as the margarita glass and is formed at
an angle to the deck
different than the angle of the first clip, such that the second clip allows
the bottle holder to fit on
a glass having a different angle of exterior wall from the margarita glass.
[0007] Further in accordance with the concepts described herein, an
embodiment
of a method for holding a beer bottle inverted in an interior of a margarita
glass is described, the
method including sliding a bottle holder having a first clip and a second clip
onto the rim of the
margarita glass where the bottle holder includes a deck extending into the
interior of the
margarita glass, the deck including an aperture sized to receive the neck of
the beer bottle. The
bottle holder also includes a first clip integrally formed in a permanently
fixed relationship with
the deck, and a second clip integrally formed in a permanently fixed
relationship with the deck.
The first clip fits glasses having an exterior wall at a first range of angles
with respect to the
vertical and the second clip fits glasses having an exterior wall at a second
range of angles with
Specification CIP - Inverted Bottle Holder
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respect to the vertical. The method then includes inserting a neck of the beer
bottle into aperture
of the deck such that the bottle holder holds the beer bottle inverted in the
interior of the
margarita glass.
[0008] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and
technical
advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of
the invention that
follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the
invention will be
described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.
It should be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific
embodiment disclosed
may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures
for carrying out the
same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those
skilled in the art that
such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the
invention as set forth
in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be
characteristic of the
invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with
further objects and
advantages will be better understood from the following description when
considered in
connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood,
however, that each
of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description
only and is not intended
as a definition of the limits of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
reference is
now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings,
in which:
[00010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bottle
holder
according to the concepts described herein holding a bottle inverted in a
drinking glass;
[00011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bottle
holder
according to the concepts described herein on a drinking glass without the
inverted bottle;
[00012] FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of a bottle holder
according to the
concepts described herein shown on a cutaway of a drinking glass;
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[00013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bottle
holder
according to the concepts described herein;
[00014] FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment of the bottle holder
shown in FIG.
4;
[00015] FIG. 6 is a front view of the embodiment of the bottle
holder shown in
FIG. 4;
[00016] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the bottle
holder shown in
FIG. 4;
[00017] FIG. 8 is a top view of the embodiment of the bottle holder
shown in FIG.
4;
[00018] FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a
multi-glass
bottle holder according to the concepts described herein;
[00019] FIG. 10 is a front view of the embodiment of the multi-glass
bottle holder
shown in FIG.9;
[00020] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the multi-
glass bottle
holder shown in FIG. 9;
[00021] FIG. 12 is a top view of the embodiment of the multi-glass
bottle holder
shown in FIG. 9;
[00022] FIG. 13 is a side view of the embodiment of the multi-glass
bottle holder
shown in FIG. 9; and
[00023] FIG. 14 is a detail view of the secondary glass attachment
mechanism in
the embodiment of the multi-glass bottle holder shown in FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[00024] Referring now to Figure 1, an embodiment of a bottle holder
according to
the concepts described herein is shown. As described above, it has become
popular to invert a
bottle of beer into a frozen mixed drink to form a new type of cocktail. Most
commonly a bottle
of beer is inserted upside down into a frozen margarita to create a "beer
rita." While this is the
most popular example of such a drink, any types of beverages could be used,
alcoholic or non-
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alcoholic. Typically, the bottle is set into the glass or pitcher and rests
against the edge of the
glass or pitcher. Unfortunately, a bottle in that position can be prone to
falling or being knocked
out of the glass or pitcher. The present invention describes a bottle holder
that can be used to
hold a bottle inverted in glass in a more stable manner.
[00025] Bottle holder 10 is an embodiment of a device to hold an
inverted bottle in
a glass or pitcher according to the concepts described herein. Bottle holder
10 is positioned on
glass 11 by sliding it onto the rim 12, such that it is held securely on the
glass. A bottle 13 can
then be inserted upside down into an aperture sized to receive the neck 15 of
the bottle in bottle
holder 10 such that the bottle is held inverted in the glass 11.
[00026] Referring now to Figures 2-3, the embodiment of bottle
holder 10 is
described in more detail. Bottle holder 10 is formed by deck 24 and clip 22.
Deck 24 is attached
to, or formed integrally with, clip 22 and includes aperture 21. Aperture 21,
shown in this
embodiment as a circular cutout in deck 24, is sized to receive neck of a
typical beer or soda
bottle, but is smaller than the main diameter of the bottle such that the neck
of the bottle will
extend through aperture 21 but the remainder of the bottle will be held in
place by the surface of
deck 24 as the shoulders of the bottle, where the bottle transitions from the
neck to the main
portion, rest against the edges of the aperture and the upper surface of deck
24.
[00027] Clip 25 of bottle holder 10 includes outer wall 22 and inner
wall 23.
Bottle holder 10 is held in place on rim 12 of glass 11 by positioning the
wall of the glass
between outer wall 22 and inner wall 23. Outer wall 22 and inner wall 23
preferably are formed
in a curve having the same diameter as the glass or pitcher so that bottle
holder 10 fits easily over
the glass. While an identical diameter is ideal, small variations between the
glass diameter and
the clip diameter can occur without substantially affecting the fit of bottle
holder 10 on glass 11.
[00028] Referring now to Figures 4-8, a preferred embodiment of
bottle holder 10
is described in greater detail. As described above, bottle holder 10 is formed
by a deck 24,
having an aperture 21 to accept the neck of a bottle, and clip 25. Edge 42 of
deck 24 can be
beveled to provide a pleasing appearance to bottle holder 10. Clip 25 includes
outer wall 22 and
inner wall 23 which hold the wall of a glass or pitcher between them when the
bottle holder is in
use. An upper wall 52 of clip 25, adjacent to deck 24, comes to rest on the
rim of the glass when
inserted. Though inner wall 23 can be of any suitable shape, in a preferred
embodiment inner
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wall tapers into tongue 41. The taper in inner wall 23 allows for easier fit
onto the rim of the
glass. Also, in a preferred embodiment inner wall 23 is thinner than outer
wall 22 and can be
slightly flexible also to aid in proper placement.
[00029] Clip 25 is also preferably formed at an angle to deck 24,
the angle
corresponding to an angle of the glass, as shown in Figures 1-3. While a
slightly acute angle is
shown in Figures 4-8, clip 25 can be formed at any angle required by the glass
or pitcher on
which it is to be installed. Clip 25 also has a diameter, again to match the
glass or pitcher onto
which it is intended to be applied. In certain embodiments, support ridges 51
can be formed on
the inner wall 23 providing additional structural support. As shown in Figure
7, aperture 21 can
be formed with a ring wall 72 extending below bottom surface 71 of deck 24.
Ring wall 72
provides additional strength to deck 24 and additional support for the neck of
a bottle inserted
into aperture 21.
[00030] As an additional feature in certain embodiments of bottle
holder 10, there
is space on both deck 24 between aperture 21 and clip 25 for promotional or
advertising material
to be added to clip 10. Additional space for promotional or advertising
material can be found on
the exterior surface of outer wall 22 of clip 25. Clip 25 can be formed from
any suitable
material, but is preferably a plastic having enough strength to support a full
bottle inserted into
aperture 21 while bottle holder 10 is sitting on the rim of a glass or
pitcher.
[00031] Referring now to Figure 9, an embodiment of a multi-glass
bottle holder
according to the concepts described herein is shown. As noted above, glasses
come in a variety
of shapes and configurations with the body of different glasses having
different angles relative to
the vertical orientation of the glass. The embodiment of the bottle holder
shown in Figures 1-8
can be made to accommodate various orientations of glasses by making the
holder with different
angles for the clip mechanism. This requires different clips be used for a
very angled glass, like
a martini type glass, as opposed to a more vertical glass, like a goblet or
mug. Multi-glass, or
universal, bottle holder 200 can accommodate different glass orientations with
a single device.
[00032] As with bottle holder 10 from Figure 1, multi-glass bottle
holder 200 is an
embodiment of a device to hold an inverted bottle in a glass or pitcher
according to the concepts
described herein. Bottle holder 200 is positioned on glass by sliding it onto
the rim, such that it
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is held securely on the glass. A bottle can then be inserted upside down into
an aperture sized to
receive the neck of the bottle in bottle holder such that the bottle is held
inverted in the glass.
[00033] Bottle holder 200 is formed by deck 224 and outer clip 225
and inner clip
260. Deck 224 is attached to, or formed integrally with clips 225 and 260 and
includes aperture
221. Aperture 221, shown in this embodiment as a circular cutout in deck 224,
is sized to
receive neck of a typical beer or soda bottle, but is smaller than the main
diameter of the bottle
such that the neck of the bottle will extend through aperture 221 but the
remainder of the bottle
will be held in place by the surface of deck 224 as the shoulders of the
bottle, where the bottle
transitions from the neck to the main portion, rest against the edges of the
aperture and the upper
surface of deck 224.
[00034] Outer clip 225 of bottle holder 200, which in this
embodiment is oriented
to fit glasses of a more vertical orientation, includes outer wall 222 and
inner wall 223. Inner clip
260, which is oriented to fit glasses with a more angled orientation, includes
inner braces 261a
and 261b and outer braces 262a and 262b. Bottle holder 200 is held in place on
the rim of a
vertical glass by positioning the wall of the glass between inner surface 243
of outer wall 222
and inner wall 223, while for an angled glass the rim is positioned between
inner braces 261a,
261b and outer braces 262a, 262b. Notches 264a and 264b also allow the rim of
the glass to fit
deeper into clip 200 providing additional support. Clips 225 and 260 are
preferably formed in a
curve having the same arc as the glass or pitcher so that multi-glass bottle
holder 200 fits easily
over the glass using either clip. While an identical diameter is ideal,
variations between the glass
diameter and the clip diameter can occur without substantially affecting the
fit of bottle holder
200 on the glass.
[00035] Brace 263 is provided along the underside of deck 224 to
provide
additional rigidity to multi-glass bottle holder 200. Brace 263 may be
included on the multi-
glass bottle holder 200 embodiment as deck 224 is lengthened to accommodate
clip 260. Edge
242 also provides additional rigidity and stability to deck 224. Inner wall
223 can be of any
shape, but in preferred embodiments tapers to tongue 241.
[00036] Referring now to Figures 10-14, the preferred embodiment of
bottle holder
20 is further described. As described above, bottle holder 200 is formed by a
deck 224, having
an aperture 221 to accept the neck of a bottle, and outer clip 225 and inner
clip 260. Edge 242 of
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deck 224 can be beveled to provide a pleasing appearance to bottle holder 200.
Outer clip 225
includes outer wall 222 and inner wall 223 which hold the wall of a glass or
pitcher between
them when the bottle holder is in use. Though inner wall 223 of outer clip 225
can be of any
suitable shape, in a preferred embodiment inner wall tapers into tongue 241.
The taper in inner
wall 223 allows for easier fit onto the rim of the glass. Also, in a preferred
embodiment inner
wall 223 is thinner than outer wall 222 and can be slightly flexible also to
aid in proper
placement.
[000371 In a preferred embodiment outer clip 25 is designed to allow
multi-glass
bottle holder 200 to fit onto glasses with a more vertical wall and is
therefore preferably formed
at an angle close to or just less than 90 degrees to deck 24. While a slightly
acute angle is
shown, outer clip 225 can be formed at any angle required by the glass or
pitcher on which it is
to be installed. Inner clip 260 is designed to allow multi-glass bottle holder
200 to fit onto
glasses with a more angled wall and is therefore formed at an acute angle
relative to deck 224.
Inner clip 260 is formed by inner braces 261a, 261b and inner braces 262a,
262b. Inner braces
261b, 261b protrude from the underside of deck 224 and are preferably
equidistant from the
centerline of bottle holder 200. Outer braces 262a, 262b protrude from inner
call 223, but could
also be formed to extend from deck 224. Notches 264a and 264b in edge 242
allow the bottle
holder 200 to fit further down onto the rim of the glass when using inner
clip. As with outer clip
225, inner clip 260 can be formed at any desired angle to accommodate any type
of glass or
pitcher. Brace 263 provides additional support to deck 224.
[00038] In other respects multi-glass bottle holder 200 is designed
and functions as
described above with respect to bottle holder 10 in Figures 1-8.
[000391 As with bottle holder 10, as an additional feature in
certain embodiments
of universal bottle holder 200, there is space on both deck 224 between
aperture 221 and clip 225
for promotional or advertising material to be added to clip 200. Additional
space for
promotional or advertising material can be found on the exterior surface of
outer wall 222 of clip
225. Multi-glass bottle holder 200 can be formed from any suitable material,
but is preferably a
plastic having enough strength to support a full bottle inserted into aperture
221 while bottle
holder 200 is sitting on the rim of a glass or pitcher.
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[00040] Although the present invention and its advantages have been
described in
detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and
alterations can be made
herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined
by the appended
claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be
limited to the
particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of
matter, means,
methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in
the art will readily
appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines,
manufacture,
compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later
to be developed that
perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same
result as the
corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the
present invention.
Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope
such processes,
machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
Specification CIP - Inverted Bottle Holder 9
