Two piece wine glass and protective case

Abstract

The present application relates to a two-piece wine glass comprising a glass cup, a separate stem receiver part permanently adhered to the bottom of the glass cup, and a separate stem part that has a typical stemware base. The stem receiver part has a hole in its bottom incorporating fastening details to receive the end of the separate stem part, which has mating fastening details. The fastening details in the stem receiver and the stem allow for easy assembly and disassembly of the wine glass. When disassembled, the two-piece wine glass can be nested for compact storage inside the protective case of the present invention.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the technical field of glass drinking vessels. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of stemware. More particularly the present invention is in the technical field of stemware that can be taken apart and stored in a protective case.

Commonly available two-piece stemware is typically made of plastic and in most cases is considered disposable, as seen in patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,590. These two-piece plastic wine glasses are both inexpensive and not prone to breakage. However, they are not ideal for full appreciation of wine because, compared to glass stemware, the tactile qualities are poor and there is a perception that the flavor of the wine can be tainted by the smell or taste of the plastic. Many decades ago several types of two-piece wine glasses incorporating glass cups were designed and patented, but because of their direct glass to metal attachment methods appear impractical because of either a lack of a secure joint or high risk of breakage, as seen in patents U.S. Pat. No. 809,567, No. 600,427, No. 131,141, and No. 2,169,426.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Glass stemware is both traditional and ideal for the consumption and enjoyment of wine and champagne, but because of its fragile nature compounded by its tall configuration, it is prone to breakage. Many people like to bring wine and wine glasses with them while travelling, and while stemware breakage is a concern even when simply stored in the home, it is especially likely while traveling. Normal wine glasses are also large to pack in luggage for travelling, especially if wrapped in protective material.

The present invention is a wine glass consisting of a glass cup removably attached to a stem part that has a standard shaped base. The glass cup can be assembled and disassembled from the stem part for compact storage or travel. This invention incorporates a high quality glass cup to allow for full enjoyment of wine and to preserve the traditional tactile and sensory qualities of good glass stemware. The key to this two-piece configuration is a third separate stem receiver part that is permanently attached to the bottom of the glass cup with modern UV curing or similar adhesive that can effectively join metal to glass. Previous two-piece wine glasses have not used an adhesive to attach a glass cup part to a stem receiver part. This method of construction provides for an assembling of the wine glass that minimizes the risk of breakage, is secure when joined and then easily disassembled.

The stem receiver part can be made of the same metal or unbreakable material as the stem. When disassembled, the stem part can be stored either inside or near the glass cup part to save space and reduce the overall fragility of the wine glass.

A protective case combined with shock absorbing cushion parts can be used to secure the glass cup and stem and base parts to avoid breakage of the glass cup when not in use or when travelling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled wine glass.

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of the assembled wine glass.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the disassembled wine glass.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the disassembled wine glass.

FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the dissembled wine glass, nested for storage.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the disassembled wine glass, nested for storage.

FIG. 7 is a cross section view of the disassembled wine glass, nested for storage incorporating a protective cushion part

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the disassembled wine glass, nested for storage incorporating a protective cushion part,

FIG. 9 is a cross section view of the disassembled wine glass, nested for storage incorporating a protective cushion part, and stored in a protective case.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the disassembled wine glass, nested for storage incorporating a protective cushion part, and shown with the upper and lower protective case parts.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the disassembled wine glass, nested for storage incorporating a protective cushion part, and shown with the upper and lower protective case parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the assembled wine glass 10 with the glass cup 12 fixed to the stem receiver part 14 removably attached to the stem part 16.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section view of the assembled wine glass 10 with the glass cup 12 permanently fixed to the stem receiver part 14 with high-strength UV curing or similar adhesive 30 making the glass cup 12 and stem receiver part 14 removably attached to the stem part 16.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the wine glass 10 with the glass cup 12 fixed to the stem receiver part 14 disassembled from the stem part 16.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section view of the disassembled wine glass 10 with the glass cup 12 fixed to the stem receiver part 14 disassembled from the stem part 16.

In more detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 4, the wine glass as shown includes the glass cup 12 fixed to the stem receiver part 14 with transparent high-strength UV curing or similar adhesive 30. The stem receiver part 14 may be made of metal or a different unbreakable material and has a threaded hole 26 to receive a threaded post 28 on the stem base part 16, or another convenient fastening method. The stem part 16 may be made of metal or a different unbreakable material.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section view of the dissembled and nested for storage wine glass 10 with the glass cup 12 fixed to the stem receiver part 14 inverted and nested over the stem part 16.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the disassembled and nested for storage wine glass 10 with the glass cup 12 fixed to the stem receiver part 14 inverted and nested over the stem part 16.

FIG. 7 shows a cross section view of the disassembled wine glass 10, nested and incorporating the protective cushion part 18.

In more detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 7, the wine glass as shown is nested for storage incorporating a protective cushion part 18 made of rubber or a flexible material for shock absorption. That cushion part 18 may have features to allow the glass cup 12 and the stem and base part 16 to securely snap into the protective cushion part 18 for compact and integrated storage.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the disassembled wine glass 10, nested and incorporating the protective cushion part 18.

FIG. 9 shows a cross section view of the disassembled wine glass 10, nested and incorporating the protective cushion part 18, and stored in the protective case 20, consisting of the canister 22 and the lid 24.

In more detail, still referring to the invention in FIG. 9, the wine glass as shown is nested for storage incorporating the protective cushion part 18, with the protective case 20 consisting of the canister 22 and the lid 24 made of metal or a different unbreakable material for protection of the contents.

FIG. 10 shows a cross section view of the disassembled wine glass 10, nested and incorporating the protective cushion part 18, and stored in the protective case 20, consisting of the canister 22 and the lid 24.

FIG. 11 shows a cross section view of the disassembled wine glass 10, nested, and stored in a second embodiment of the protective case 32, consisting of the lower case part 34, glass rim cushion 36 and the stem receiver cushion 38.

The advantages of the present invention include, that by virtue of the glass cup part, it supports the full enjoyment of wine while reducing the fragility of a wine glass by allowing it to take a more compact configuration for storage or travel. And that breakage risk can be further reduced by protecting the disassembled and nested two-piece wine glass with other parts including shock absorbing cushions and a rigid storage case.

In broad embodiment, the present invention is a two piece wine glass, incorporating a glass cup, permanently attached with modern adhesive to a stem receiver part which allows the stem part to be attached for use drinking and then removed for compact and protected storage. Storage and transport of the disassembled wine glass are further improved by providing protective cushions and a protective case.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A wine glass, comprising: a receptacle having an open top and a closed bottom with a glass sidewall of varying diameter between said open top and said closed bottom;a stem portion for supporting said receptacle, being removably connected to said receptacle;a ferrule permanently attached to the bottom of said receptacle, said ferrule having a male and female type connective means therein;a threaded pin extending from an end of said stem portion for engagement with said mail and female connective means of said ferrule.

2. The wine glass according to claim 1 wherein said male and female connective means is a bayonet fitting.

3. The wine glass according to claim 1 wherein said male and female connective means is a threaded bore within said ferrule and a threaded pin extending from the end of said stem portion.

4. The wine glass according to claim 1 wherein said ferrule is metal.

5. The wine glass according to claim 1 wherein said ferrule is a non-metallic unbreakable material.

6. The wine glass according to claim 1 wherein said ferrule is permanently attached to the bottom of said receptacle with ultraviolet light cured adhesive.

7. The wine glass according to claim 1 wherein said ferrule is permanently attached to the bottom of said receptacle using an adhesive means that can effectively join metal to glass.

6. A protective canister for carrying and storing the wine glass as recited in claim 1, comprising: an enclosure manufactured of plastic having an open top and an open bottom;a lid of unbreakable material fitting removably to said open top of said canister;an ring of elastomeric cushioning material fitting removably between the rim of said receptacle and the base of said canister;said base of cushioning material fitting removably to said open bottom of said canister.

7. The protective canister according to claim 6 wherein the cushioning material is an elastomeric material.

8. A protective canister for carrying and storing the wine glass as recited in claim 1, comprising: a dome-shaped container manufactured of plastic having an open bottom;a stabilizing member attached to the inside of said dome-shaped container to removably engage and stabilize said ferrule;a base of cushioning material fitting removably to said open bottom of said canister.

10. The protective canister according to claim 9 wherein the cushioning material is an elastomeric material.