Versatile stemware holder

• US 6,244,554 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2000
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rachman Scientific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rachman Scientific, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US09/490,746
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 248/311.2, 248/312, 248/315, 248/213.2, 215/396, 294/87.22, 294/87.28, 294/165, 220/737, 220/23.23, D 7/708
• US Class Current: 248/312
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/28 for containers, e.g. flasks, bottles , tins, milk packs racks or containers with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04; for lipsticks or markers A47F7/0021; for audio/video cassettes or booklike articles A47F7/14
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0208 for drinking-glasses, plastic cups, or the like

Abstract

A versatile stemware holder includes a vertically extending center sleeve, stemware holding arms extending from the exterior wall of the center sleeve, and split ring stemware holders at the distal ends of the stemware holding arms. The center sleeve of the stemware holder is sized to fit over the neck of a bottle-shaped container such as a wine or champagne bottle. A resilient liner is provided for the sleeve for bracing the sleeve to the bottle neck such that the stemware holder stays firmly in place when the bottle-shaped container is moved or jostled. The stemware holder additionally includes billboard platform structures and openings in the extension section of the stemware holding arms for displaying additional celebration and special occasion related articles such as flowers, note cards, valentines, bows, and the like. Risers attachable to the stemware holder and a display platform attachable to the risers are additionally provided for additional display versatility.

Claims

1. A versatile stemware holder capable of displaying stemware on a bottle-shaped beverage container having a neck, said stemware holder comprising

a vertically extending center sleeve having a top end, a bottom end, and an exterior wall, and being sized to fit onto the neck of a bottle-shaped beverage container to hold the stemware holder to the neck of the container, and

at least one stemware holding arm extending from said center sleeve, said stemware holding arm having a distal end and a split ring holder at said distal end for receiving and holding stemware.

2. The stemware holder of claim 1 wherein said center sleeve has a cylindrical interior wall and wherein a resilient liner element is provided for insertion between the interior wall of said center sleeve and the neck of a bottle shaped container for bracing said holder to the container.

3. The stemware holder of claim of claim 2 wherein said liner element is fabricated of a foam material.

4. The stemware holder of claim 1 wherein at least two stemware holding arms symmetrically extend from said center sleeve.

5. The stemware holder of claim 1 wherein the split ring holder of said stemware holding arm has a top interior edge portion and wherein a stemware buffer is provided around said top interior edge portion for engaging and vertically stabilizing stemware placed in the split ring holder of said arm.

6. The stemware holder of claim 5 wherein said stemware buffer includes at least three bumper points vertically projecting from the top interior edge portion of said stemware holder ring.

7. The stemware holder of claim 6 wherein said bumper points are symmetrically distributed about the top interior edge portion of said split ring distal end.

8. The stemware holder of claim 1 wherein at least one billboard platform structure extends from the exterior wall of said center sleeve, said billboard platform structure being formed to hold celebration and special occasion related articles thereto.

9. The stemware holder of claim 8 wherein said billboard platform structure has a substantially vertical adhesive face for adhesively attaching and holding celebration and special occasion related articles thereto.

10. The stemware holder of claim 8 wherein said billboard platform includes a horizontal extension leg on which celebration and special related articles can rest and a vertical member at the end of said extension leg for holding celebration and special occasion related articles upright on said extension leg.

11. The stemware holder of claim 10 wherein at least two billboard platforms symmetrically extend from said center sleeve.

12. The stemware holder of claim 1 wherein at least one anchoring hole provided at the top end of said center sleeve for selectively anchoring celebration and special occasion related articles thereto.

13. The stemware holder of claim 12 wherein a plurality of anchoring holes are distributed about the top end of said center sleeve.

14. The stemware holder of claim 1 wherein said stemware holding arm includes an extension section having an opening therein for receiving and holding celebration and special occasion related articles.

15. The stemware holder of claim 1 further comprising at least one vertical riser member having a base end and a distal end, said stemware holding arm having a riser fastening structure for receiving and detachably fastening the base end of said riser member to said holding arm to form a stemware holder assembly whereby celebration and special occasion related articles can be attached to the vertical riser member of said stemware holder assembly.

16. The stemware holder of claim 15 further comprising a display platform fixed to the distal end of said riser member.

17. The stemware holder of claim 16 wherein said display platform is detachable from the distal end of said riser.

18. The stemware holder of claim 15 wherein said stemware holding arm includes an extension section and wherein the riser fastening structure on said stemware holding arm includes a longitudinally extending channel in the extension section thereof for receiving holding the base end of said riser.

19. A versatile stemware holder capable of displaying stemware on a bottle-shaped beverage container having a neck, said stemware holder comprising

a vertically extending center sleeve having a top end, a bottom end, an interior wall, and an exterior wall, and being sized to fit over the neck of a bottle-shaped beverage container to hold the stemware holder to the neck of the container,

a resilient liner element insertable between the interior wall of said center sleeve and the neck of a bottle shaped container for bracing said holder to the container,

at least two stemware holding arm extending from said center sleeve, each said stemware holding arm having a distal end and a split ring holder at said distal end for receiving and holding stemware, and

at least one billboard platform structure extending from the exterior wall of said center sleeve between said stemware holding arms, said billboard platform structure being formed to hold celebration and special occasion related articles thereto.

20. The stemware holder of claim 19 wherein the split ring holder of said stemware holding arm has a top interior edge portion and wherein a stemware buffer is provided around said top interior edge portion for engaging and vertically stabilizing stemware placed in the split ring holder of said arm.

21. The stemware holder of claim 20 wherein said stemware buffer includes at least three bumper points vertically projecting from the top interior edge portion of said stemware holder ring.

22. The stemware holder of claim 19 further comprising at least two vertical riser members having a base end and a distal end, said stemware holding arms each having a riser fastening structure for receiving and detachably fastening the base end of one of said riser members to said holding arms to form a stemware holder assembly whereby celebration and special occasion related articles can be attached to the vertical riser members of said stemware holder assembly.

23. The stemware holder of claim 22 further comprising a display platform detachably fixed to the distal end of said riser member for supporting further celebration and special occasion related articles on said stemware holder assembly.