Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6308859
-
Patent Number
6,308,859
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, March 21, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 30, 200122 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 220 737
- 220 738
- 220 743
- 220 769
- 220 771
- 220 755
- 220 756
- 220 758
- 229 402
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A communion cup for religious communion services includes a body defining a top rim. A handle member is connected to the body and extends upwards from a plane through the rim. The handle member includes a manual grasping section such that a person can manually lift the communion cup from a serving tray by grasping the handle member at the grasping section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communion cup for religious services.
Relatively small communion cups held in a serving tray are used by various religious denominations in their communion services. These conventional cups are typically cylindrical or truncated and fit into holes in a top surface of the serving tray. A relatively small portion of the cup extends above the tray for manual grasping. This conventional arrangement presents problems for many individuals.
For example, individuals suffering from arthritis or other physical ailments that impair the mobility of the fingers and joints have an extremely difficult time grasping and withdrawing the communion cups from the service tray. Elderly individuals have a particularly difficult time. Even if the communion cups are successfully withdrawn from the tray, it is a relatively difficult task to manipulate the small cup to a drinking position, particularly if the individual's grasp must somehow be changed in the process. The communion service tends to be an unnecessarily anxious moment for many individuals due simply to the conventional communion cup and tray apparatus. The present invention provides an improvement to conventional communion cups.
SUMMARY
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a communion cup for religious communion services that is relatively easy for an individual to grasp and remove from a service tray and to raise the cup for drinking.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In accordance with the invention, a communion cup is provided for religious communion services. The cup includes a body that defines a top open rim. The body may take on various configurations, including a truncated body, cylindrical body, etc. The body may include a flange portion at the top thereof that defines the position of the cup within a communal service tray.
A handle member is connected to the body and extends upwards from a plane through the rim. The handle member comprises a manual grasping section such that a person can manually lift the cup from the service tray by grasping the handle at its grasping section. In a preferred embodiment, the handle member also extends laterally from the rim. For example, the handle member may comprise a first vertical section connected to a second horizontal section. The horizontal section is connected to the body, for example at the rim of the body.
It should be appreciated that the communion cup according to the invention is not limited in any way to the material or process by which it is formed. For example, the communion cup may be formed of a single integrally molded plastic component. The communion cup may also be formed from metal, or any other conventional material.
In a preferred embodiment, the handle member may be formed integral with the body of the communion cup so that the two components are defined by a single integral piece.
In an alternative preferred embodiment, the handle member may comprise a component that is separate from the body member. In this embodiment, the handle member is connectable to or engaged with the body and is reusable with other body members. For example, a handle member may comprise a holder in which the body is inserted and seated. For example, the holder may comprise a closed circumferential member, such as a closed loop or circle, into which the body fits. The flange section at the top of the body will define the position of the body within the holder. The holder includes an upstanding vertical section, as well as the grasping section discussed above. The holder may also include a horizontally extending section.
The invention will be described below in greater detail through use of the figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an embodiment of a communion cup according to the invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the communion cup according to the invention being manually grasped by an individual;
FIG. 3
is a top view of the communion cup illustrated in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of a service tray holding communion cups according to the invention;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of an embodiment of the handle member according to the invention; and
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of the communion cup incorporating the handle member of FIG.
5
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. It is intended that the present application include such modifications and variations as come within the scope and spirit of the invention.
A communion cup
10
according to the invention is illustrated in the figures. Cup
10
includes a body
12
having a longitudinally extending circumferential side
14
, a bottom
16
, and an upper rim
18
. Body
12
is illustrated in the figures as a generally truncated member having an upper flange portion
20
. It should be appreciated, however, that body
12
can have any general configuration, including a cylindrical body, or any conventional communion cup configuration. Generally, conventional communion cups include some sort of flange or radially extending member or section at the top portion so that the cups do not slide completely through the holes or recesses defined in the service tray. For example,
FIG. 4
illustrates communion cups
10
according to the invention inserted into a conventional service tray
34
. It can be seen that the height of the cups
10
above the top surface of the service tray
34
is defined by the upper flange portion
20
of the cup bodies.
It should also be appreciated that communion cup
10
, and particularly body
12
, are not limited to any type of material. The cup may be formed from a plastic material according to any conventional forming process. Alternatively, the cup may be formed from glass, crystal, metal, or any other conventional material.
Communion cup
10
according to the invention includes a handle member, generally
22
. Handle member
22
has a configuration so as to extend upwards or vertically from a plane through rim
18
. Handle member
22
includes a manual grasping section
28
so that a person can manually lift cup
10
from the service tray
34
by simply grasping handle member
22
at the grasping section
28
.
Handle member
22
is attached to body member
12
generally near rim
18
. In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1 through 3
, handle member
22
extends generally from rim
18
. Handle member
22
may include a vertically extending section
24
defining grasping section
28
at the top thereof. Vertical section
24
may merge with a horizontally extending section
26
that is connected to body
12
. Horizontal section
26
may be preferred in that it provides greater radial separation between the handles. Thus, referring to
FIG. 4
, the lateral displacement of handle members
22
resulting from horizontal section
26
provides an increased distance or space between the handle members thereby making it easier for an individual to grasp any one handle member.
Handle member
22
is illustrated in
FIGS. 1 through 3
as an ornamental cross. It should be appreciated that this is not a limitation of the invention and that handle member
22
may take on any ornamental shape or configuration. The same applies for grasping section
28
.
In a preferred embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, the handle member
22
is a separate component from body
12
and comprises a cup holder
30
. Cup holder
30
may have a closed or open circumferential member
32
defining an opening through which body
12
of the cup is inserted, as shown in FIG.
6
. The flange section
20
of body
12
ensures that the body does not slide completely through the circumferential loop or member
32
. Holder
30
also includes a vertical section
24
and a grasping section
28
. Although not illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, a horizontal section may also be included between vertical section
24
and the circumferential member
32
. It should also be understood that the vertical section
24
and grasping section
28
can take on any ornamental configuration.
It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made to the embodiments of the invention described herein. It is intended that such modifications and variations be included within the present invention as come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
- 1. A communion cup for religious communion services, said cup comprising a body defining a top rim; and a handle member connected to said body and extending upwards from a plane through said rim, said handle member further comprising a manual grasping section such that a person can manually lift said cup from a serving tray by grasping said handle member at said grasping section, wherein the manual grasping section is vertical in orientation and completely above the top rim.
- 2. The communion cup as in claim 1, wherein said handle member also extends laterally from said rim.
- 3. The communion cup as in claim 2, wherein said handle member comprises a first vertical section connected to a second horizontal section, said horizontal section connected to said body.
- 4. The communion cup as in claim 1, wherein said handle member is formed integral with said body.
- 5. The communion cup as in claim 1, wherein said handle member is connected to said body generally at said rim.
- 6. The communion cup as in claim 1, wherein said handle member comprises a separate component engaged with said body such that said handle is reusable with other said bodies.
- 7. The communion cup as in claim 6, wherein said handle member comprises a holder in which said body is seatable.
- 8. The communion cup as in claim 7, wherein said body comprises a flange portion generally at said rim, and said holder comprises a closed circumferential member, wherein said body fits through said holder and is held in said holder by said flange portion.
- 9. The communion cup as in claim 1, wherein said body and said handle member are molded as a single piece.
- 10. A communion cup for religious communion services, said cup comprising a body defining a top rim; and a handle member connected to said body and extending upwards from a plane through said rim and extending laterally from said rim, said handle member further comprising a manual grasping section such that a person can manually lift said cup from a serving tray by grasping said handle at said grasping section, wherein the manual grasping section is vertical in orientation and completely above the top rim.
- 11. The communion cup as in claim 10, wherein said handle member comprises a first vertical section connected to a second horizontal section, said horizontal section connected to said body.
- 12. The communion cup as in claim 10, wherein said handle member is formed integral with said body.
- 13. The communion cup as in claim 10, wherein said handle member is a separate component removable from said body.
US Referenced Citations (6)