Shot Glass Top

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a shot glass that can quickly and easily be secured and removed from another container such as a bottle or a serving stand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the restaurant industry and the general handling of beverages, carrying multiple beverages can be challenging and prone to spillage. For example, a person carrying multiple beer bottles and shot glasses all filled with liquid may drop, slip, spill, or otherwise be unable to handle carrying all these containers and their liquid contents with only two hands. The present invention solves this problem, allowing servers to be more productive and parties and events to be more enjoyable.

With the shot glass top, anyone who serves or enjoys beverages will have the ability to carry more beverages in a hand, on a serving stand, or any other means. Additionally, the shot glass top can easily help pair one drink with another drink. For example, a flavored shot drink can be paired with a beer, mixer, or other drink by placing the flavored shot drink on the paired beer, mixer, or other drink.

The shot glass top not only allows individuals who serve or enjoy beverages to handle multiple drinks more easily, but embodiments of the present invention are fast and easy to insert, use, and re-use. The shot glass top can be filled with a liquid of choice before or after the shot glass top is inserted within or placed on top of another container such as a bottle or a serving stand. The structure of the shot glass top can support itself and its contents on the other container without additional adjustments. The shot glass top can be quickly inserted within the other container and quickly removed from the other container for fun, fast, and convenient enjoyment of the contents of the shot glass top and the other container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a shot glass top configured to be quickly and easily secured and removed from another beverage container. Generally, the shot glass top includes an open top, a sidewall, a bottom, a rim, and a stem. The sidewall extends from the open top to the bottom, and the stem extends downward from the bottom of the shot glass top. The rim extends around the circumference of the bottom of the shot glass top and is of greater circumference than the bottom of the shot glass top.

This general configuration of the shot glass top allows the shot glass top to be placed on a beverage container, such as beer bottle, or on a serving stand, such as the tray shown in FIG. 5. The rim is configured to be placed on top of another beverage container at the mouth of the other beverage container. As such, the rim may be configured to be larger in circumference than the mouth of the beverage container, such that the rim sits on the mouth of the beverage container. The stem may be configured to be of a smaller circumference than the mouth of the beverage container, such that the stem is able to be inserted into the other beverage container through the mouth of the beverage container, providing further support for the shot glass top.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become appreciated, as the same becomes better understood with reference to the specification, claims and drawings herein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shot glass top in accordance with a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a vertical cross-section of the shot glass top of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shot glass top of FIG. 1 placed on a beverage container.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shot glass top of FIG. 1 removed from the beverage container of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of multiple shot glass tops as disclosed in FIG. 1 placed on a serving stand.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shot glass top in accordance with a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shot glass top in accordance with a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the shot glass top in accordance with a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the shot glass top of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a vertical cross-section of the shot glass top of FIG. 8 placed on a beverage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present there between. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” and “have” and/or “having,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom,” and “upper” or “top,” and “inner” or “outer,” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another elements as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

A shot glass top that can be quickly and easily secured and removed from a beverage container is provided. FIGS. 1-5 depict a first embodiment of the shot glass top 100. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the shot glass top 100 includes an open top 102, a sidewall 104, a bottom 106, a rim 108, and a stem 110. In this embodiment, the shot glass portion of the shot glass top 100 is defined by the open top 102, the sidewall 104, and the bottom 106, where the sidewall 104 extends downward from the open top 102 to the bottom 106 and includes an open space 114. The bottom 106 is solid, thus defining the bottom 106 of the shot glass portion of the shot glass top 100.

In this first embodiment, the shot glass portion of the shot glass top 100 is configured to be conical, with the sidewall 104 extending downward and inward from the larger circumference open top 102 to the smaller circumference bottom 106. The open space 114 contained between the sidewall 104 and bottom 106 defines the area in which the liquid is contained. The open space 114 of the shot glass top 100 may have a liquid capacity of between 1.5 ounces to 2.0 ounces. While this liquid capacity is utilized for the first embodiment described herein, other capacities of liquid may be used without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. For example, while the 1.5 ounce to 2.0 ounce capacity reflects the general size of a shot, a double shot having a 3.0 to 4.0 ounce capacity may also be used, and so forth.

The rim 108 of the shot glass top 100 extends around the circumference of the bottom 106 of the shot glass top 100. In this first embodiment, the rim 108 is shaped as a torus horizontally cut in half, creating a concave area for which a beverage container mouth 202 may be inserted. The cross-section of the shot glass top 100 of FIG. 2 depicts this horizontal half torus shape. The rim 108 is configured to extend around the bottom 106 of the shot glass top 100 and be of a greater circumference than the bottom 106, thereby creating the rim 108 to sit on a beverage container mouth 202. While the first embodiment utilizes a horizontal half torus shape for the rim 108, other shapes may be utilized as well without departing from the concepts disclosed herein.

The stem 110 of the shot glass top 100 is positioned below the bottom 106 and rim 108 of the shot glass top 100, extending downward to the stem base 112. The stem 110 is configured to be inserted into a beverage container 200 through the beverage container mouth 202 or serving stand opening 302 to provide further support to the shot glass top 100 when placed on a beverage container 200, as depicted in FIGS. 3-5.

The stem 110 may be of a plurality of designs and shapes without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Preferably, the stem 110 may be a tapered design, with the circumference of the stem 110 being larger at the bottom 106 than the stem base 112. This tapered design allows for easy insertion into a variety of containers and a variety of container mouth sizes. The stem has an outer diameter 111 and the beverage container 200 has a neck 201 having an inner diameter 203. The outer diameter 111 of the stem 110 should be less than the inner diameter 203 of the neck 201 of the beverage container 200 so that the stem 110 may be easily placed inside the neck 201, but also close enough in size so that the neck 201 may limit movement of the stem 110 to assist in limiting wobbling of the stem 110. However, additional designs for the stem 110 may be utilized.

In one alternative embodiment, the stem 110 may be of a substantially flat design, where the circumference of the stem 110 is equal from the bottom 106 to the stem base 112. In another alternative embodiment, the stem 110 may be substantially pointed, wherein the stem 110 tapers from the bottom 106 to a point at the stem base 112. In another alternative embodiment, the stem 110 may be substantially round shape. Numerous designs and shapes of the stem 110 may be utilized without departing from the concepts disclosed herein, so long as the stem 110 is configured to be capable of insertion into a container or stand, such as the beverage container 200 or serving stand 300.

In this first embodiment, the shot glass top 100, including the rim 108, sidewall 104, bottom 106, and stem 110, may be formed of a single piece of material, as depicted in FIG. 2. The shot glass top 100 may be made of any suitable material for holding and containing liquids. For example, the shot glass top 100 may be made from plastic, glass, aluminum, or any other durable material.

In alternative embodiments, the shot glass top 100 may be formed of multiple pieces attached together. In these embodiments, the shot glass portion of the shot glass top 100 may be constructed of a single piece of material. The rim 108 may then be attached to the outer circumference of the bottom 106 of the shot glass portion extending outward, and the stem 110 may be attached at the base of the bottom 106 of the shot glass top 100, extending downward.

In an alternative first embodiment, the shot glass top 100 may not have a bottom 106. In this alternative embodiment, the open space 114 extends from the open top 102 to the stem base 112, creating a larger volume of the open space 114. In these embodiments, the liquid capacity may be greater than 2.0 ounces.

FIGS. 3-4 depict the shot glass top 100 in use with a beverage container 200. As shown in FIGS. 3-4, the shot glass top 100 is configured to securely sit on top of the beverage container mouth 202. To place the shot glass top 100 on the beverage container 200, the stem 112 of the shot glass top 100 is inserted into the beverage container 200 through the beverage container mouth 202 such that the rim 108 contacts and sits on the beverage container mouth 202. The beverage container mouth 202 supports the rim 108 of the shot glass top 100, thereby removably securing the shot glass top 100 to the beverage container 200. Due to the horizontal half torus shape of the rim 108 in the first embodiment, the beverage container mouth 202 will sit in the concave area of the rim 108 providing further support for the shot glass top 100 placed on the beverage container 200. Due to the configuration of the rim 108 and the stem 110 of the shot glass top 100 and the placement of the stem 110 inside the beverage container 200, the shot glass top 100 will be stabilized on top of the beverage container 200 while the beverage container 200 is being transported, handled, or at rest.

As shown in FIG. 5, the shot glass top 100 may also be used as a general liquid container along with a serving stand 300. The serving stand 300 depicted in FIG. 5 is a hollow box-style serving stand having at least one serving stand opening 302 configured to accept the shot glass top 100. In this configuration, the stem 110 of the shot glass top 100 is configured to be inserted into the serving stand opening 302 until the rim 108 contacts the serving stand 300. Thus, the rim 108 and stem 110 will support the shot glass top 100 on the serving stand 300, similar to the shot glass top 100 being supported on the beverage container 200, as depicted by FIGS. 3-4. This configuration of the shot glass top 100 will allow the shot glass top 100 to be placed into any serving stand 300 having a serving stand opening 302 that the stem 110 may be inserted in. The serving stand 300 may be of any configuration having at least one serving stand opening 302 and a sufficient depth to accommodate the length of the stem 110. To illustrate, the serving stand 300 may be a table-style with open side walls, where the legs of the serving stand are equal to or longer than the stem 110 of the shot glass top 100. Further, the serving stand 300 may have any number of serving stand openings 302 to accommodate any number of shot glass tops 100.

Once liquid is added to the shot glass top 100, the weight of the liquid will provide further stability to the shot glass top 100 on the beverage container 200 or serving stand 300, as the weight of the liquid in the shot glass top 100 will provide gravitational support. This gravitational support keeps the stem 110 of the shot glass top 100 in the neck of the beverage container 200 or serving stand opening 302 and the rim 108 placed on the beverage container mouth 202 or serving stand opening 302. This configuration allows the shot glass top 100 and either beverage container 200 or serving stand 300 to be easily transported and handled with a lower risk of spillage. In the alternative first embodiment not having a bottom 106, in which the open space 114 extends all the way to the stem base 112, the liquid poured into the shot glass top 100 will fill the volume of the stem 110 as well as the open space 114. In these embodiments, the additional weight of the liquid contained in the stem 110 provides additional gravitational support to the shot glass top 100 placed on the beverage bottle 200 or serving stand 300, thereby having a greater stabilizing effect. This additional stabilizing effect created by the weight of the liquid contained in the stem 110 can complement the other stabilizing features of the shot glass top 100, such as the rim 108 sitting on the beverage container mouth 202 or serving stand opening 302.

While the first embodiment is shown and described in FIGS. 1-5, other embodiments utilizing the same concepts disclosed herein may be formed as well. FIGS. 6-10 depict three alternative embodiments of the shot glass top 100 utilizing the same inventive concepts disclosed herein. These additional embodiments are intended to reflect additional exemplary structures of the shot glass top 100 and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of alternative embodiments using the concepts and structure disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 depicts a second embodiment of the shot glass top 600 having a step-like design. In this second embodiment, the shot glass top 600 has an open top 602, a first step 604, a second step 605, a third step 606, a bottom 608, a stem 610, and a stem base 612. The open space 614 of the shot glass top 600 may be defined as the space between the bottom 608 and each of the three steps 604, 605, 606. In this embodiment, the three steps 604, 605, 606 are of a cylindrical shape to provide a circular base 604, 605, 606 to sit on a beverage container mouth 202. While the cylindrical shape is preferred for each step, other shapes may be similarly utilized without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. In another alternative embodiment of the shot glass top 600, the bottom 608 may not be used. In this alternative embodiment, the stem base 612 becomes the bottom, such that the stem 610 is configured to hollow, further defining the open space 614.

In the second embodiment of the shot glass top 600, the step design of the first step 604, second step 605, and third step 606 create multiple surfaces to sit on a beverage container mouth 202. In the preferred embodiment, the circumference of the first step 604 will be larger than the second step 605 and the third step 606, and the second step will have a larger circumference than the third step 606. Each the first step 604, second step 605, and third step 606 will all have a larger circumference than the stem 610. This configuration creates the step design, such that the volume of each step gets larger moving towards the open top 602 of the shot glass top 600. The base 614 of the first step 604, the base 615 of the second step 605, or the base 616 of the third step 606 can act as the rim to be placed on the beverage container mouth 202. This step design allows the shot glass top 600 to easily fit a variety of different containers which may have different size openings. To illustrate, base 614 of the first step 604 of the shot glass top 600 may sit on the mouth of a wide-mouth container, while the base 616 of the third step 606 of the shot glass top 600 may sit on the mouth of a narrow-mouth container. The remaining features of this embodiment, such as the weight of the liquid and location of the stem 610 providing a stabilizing effect, are similar to the features of the first embodiment.

While this exemplary second embodiment of the shot glass top 600 utilizes three steps to create a three-step pattern, any number of steps may be utilized so long as the circumference of each step is reduced as the shot glass top 600 decends toward the stem 610. It is contemplated that this step configuration may be used with any number of steps, from a single step to n number of steps.

FIG. 7 provides a third embodiment of the shot glass top 700 having a funnel design and not having a rim. In this configuration, the shot glass portion of the shot glass top 700 is defined by the open space 714 contained in the sidewall 704, bottom 706, and the open top 702. In this embodiment, the shot glass portion has a funnel design, with the circumference of the open top 702 greater than the bottom 706, with the sidewall tapering downward from the open top 702 to the bottom 706. Further, the stem 710 extending downward from the bottom 706 to the stem base 712 may be of a V-shape to accommodate different size container mouths and openings. In this third embodiment, when the shot glass top 700 is placed into the beverage container 200, the stem 710 will be inserted until either the stem 710 or sidewall 704 contacts the beverage container mouth 202. As the circumference of the stem 710 and sidewall 704 increases from the stem base 712 to the open top 702, the shot glass top 700 will be unable to be pushed further into the beverage container 200 once the stem 710 or sidewall 704 contacts the beverage container mouth 202, thereby allowing the shot glass top 700 to be securely placed on the beverage container 200.

In embodiments without a rim, the tapered shape of the sidewall 704 and the stem 710 provide the stabilizing effect when the shot glass top 700 is placed on a beverage container 200 or serving stand 300. As with previous embodiments, the shot glass top 700 may not have the bottom 706, such that the open space 714 extends into the stem 710 ending at the stem base 712. As with previous embodiments, the additional liquid contained in the stem 710 provides additional gravitational support, thereby providing a greater stabilizing effect.

FIGS. 8-10 provide a fourth embodiment of the shot glass top 800 having a free-standing design. In the fourth embodiment, the shot glass top 800 has an open top 802, a sidewall 804, a bottom 806, an L-shaped rim 808, and a stem 810. In this embodiment, the shot glass portion of the shot glass top 800 is defined by the open top 802, the sidewall 804, and the bottom 806, where the sidewall 804 extends downward from the open top 802 to the bottom 806 and includes an open space 814. The bottom 806 is solid, thus defining the bottom 806 of the shot glass portion of the shot glass top 800. While a solid bottom 806 is used in this exemplary embodiment, an alternative embodiment having no bottom 806 and a hollow stem 810, where the open space 814 extends from the open top 802 to the stem base 812, is also contemplated. This alternative configuration will have the same stabilizing effects as noted in prior exemplary embodiments.

The rim 808 of the shot glass top 800 is an L-shape, extending first outward from the circumference of the bottom 806 of the shot glass top 800 then making a substantially 90-degree turn down, paralleling the stem 810. The rim 808 is configured to sit on the beverage container mouth 202, as depicted in the cross-section view of FIG. 10. As with the first embodiment, the rim 108 is configured to extend outward from the bottom 806 of the shot glass top 800 and be of a greater circumference than the bottom 806, thereby creating the rim 808 to sit on a beverage container mouth 802. Once the rim 808 extends outward from the bottom 806 for a predetermined length, the rim turns downward at a substantially 90-degree angle and extends parallel to the stem 810 to at least the stem base 812. This configuration of the rim 808 creates the L-shape of the rim 808.

Preferably, the rim 808 extends down to be level with the stem base 812, thereby forming a flush surface that can freely stand on any substantially flat surface. The space in between the rim 808 and the stem 810 allow the shot glass top 800 to be placed onto a beverage container 200 such that the rim 808 portion that extends from the bottom 806 can contact the beverage container mouth 202, as depicted in FIG. 10. Further, the L-shape of the rim 808 provides an additional stabilizing effect for the shot glass top 800, as the bottom of the rim 808 may contact the side of the beverage container 200.

While the L-shape rim 808 is preferred for this fourth exemplary embodiment, similar shapes may also be utilized without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. For example, the rim 808 may turn downward at an angle greater than 90-degrees, providing a wider flush surface between the rim 808, stem base 812, and surface the shot glass top 800 is sitting on. Alternatively, the rim 808 may turn downward at an angle less than 90-degrees, providing a narrower flush surface between the rim 808, stem base 812, and surface the shot glass top 800 is sitting on.

Also shown in FIG. 10 is the shot glass top 800 filled with shot glass top liquid 120 and the beverage container 200 filled with a beverage 204. As shown, the shot glass top liquid 120 fills the open space 814 from the bottom 806 up to any portion of the open space 814 up to the open top 802. The stem 810 extends downward into the neck of the beverage container 200 until the rim 808 contacts the beverage container mouth 202. The weight of the beverage 200 provides stability to the beverage container 200, while the shot glass top liquid 120 provides the gravitational support to the shot glass top 800, removably securing the shot glass top 800 on top of the beverage container 200. As with previous embodiments, the bottom 806 may not be used. In these alternative embodiments, the open space 814 extends down to the stem base 812, thereby providing additional open space in the hollow section of the stem 810. Thus, the shot glass top liquid 120 will fill the open space 814, providing additional gravitational support from the inside of the neck of the beverage container 200, thereby providing additional stability.

For each of the above embodiments and any other embodiments utilizing the concepts disclosed herein, the shot glass top 100 configuration allows for the easy securing and removal of the shot glass top 100 from the beverage container 200 or serving stand 300. To use the shot glass top 100, the shot glass top 100 is first placed onto the beverage container 200, such that the stem 110 of the shot glass top 100 is inserted through the beverage container mouth 202 into the neck 201 of the beverage container 200, and the rim 108 of the shot glass top 100 is contacting and placed on the beverage container mouth 202. The shot glass top liquid 120 may be poured into the shot glass top 100 through the open top 102 before or after the shot glass top 100 is placed onto the beverage container 200.

Once the shot glass top 100 is full of liquid 120 and placed on the beverage container 200, the shot glass top 100 and beverage container 200 may be easily moved or transported from a first location to a second location together with the shot glass top 100 securely sitting on the beverage container 200. Once the shot glass top 100 and beverage container 200 is moved to its desired location, the shot glass top 100 may be removed from the beverage container 200 by pulling the shot glass top 100 up from the beverage container 200, thereby removing the stem 110 from the inside of the beverage container 200. In embodiments similar to the fourth embodiment depicted by FIGS. 8-10, after the shot glass top 800 is removed from the beverage container 200, the shot glass top 800 may then be placed onto and freely stand on any substantially flat surface prior to consumption of the liquid 120 and beverage 200. The configuration of the fourth embodiment further allows the shot glass top 800 to be placed onto and freely stand on any substantially flat surface after the consumption of the liquid 120 from the shot glass top 100. Once the shot glass top 100 has been removed from the beverage container 200, the liquid 120 and beverage 200 may then be consumed. While the above method of use for the shot glass top 100 utilizes the beverage container 200, the same steps may be used with the serving stand 300 without departing from the concepts disclosed herein.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to idealized embodiments of the present invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.

Shot Glass Top

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CROSS RELATED APPLICATIONS

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