US20070034766A1

US20070034766A1 - Epoxy rock coaster

Info

Publication number: US20070034766A1
Application number: US11/203,709
Authority: US
Inventors: Timothy Thompson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-15
Filing date: 2005-08-15
Publication date: 2007-02-15

Abstract

An epoxy rock coaster is provided that absorbs and contains the condensation from drinking glasses, bottles and cans and excess water from plant pots. The epoxy coaster includes a composition of different sized stone aggregates mixed with an epoxy resin system. The composition is added to an open top plastic vessel having a flat bottom and upwardly extending side wall, completely filling the vessel wherein the composition surface is tooled to a flat exterior finish and cured. The composition solidifies, bonding to the interior bottom and side of the vessel forming a porous structure therein which creates voids and pockets within the structure providing openings to contain condensation and excess water from the drinking containers and plant pots.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to coasters, and in particular, to an epoxy rock coaster composition of stone aggregate with an a epoxy resin system cured within plastic vessel which absorbs and contains condensation from the exterior of containers such as glasses, bottles and cans, and also catches and contains excess water from plant and flower pots.
Coasters for liquid containers such as glasses, bottles and cans are well known in protecting the surfaces of furniture and other surfaces upon which the containers have been placed. Generally, most coasters are adequate in protecting the support surfaces for a period of time but eventually the coasters become saturated with the buildup of condensation and spillage which then overflow onto and soak the supporting surfaces. Many of these known coasters include soft absorbent material, such as a fabric or other absorbent material, or other supporting material in direct contact with the container which initially often adheres to, and then, separates from the container when picked-up resulting in spillage and splashing of the drink. There are also known coasters of open top trays having hard surfaces which collect and contain the condensation in order to overcome the adhering of the drinking container to the coaster but in many situations the tray remains wet resulting in dripping from the pool of condensation remaining on the surface of the tray. A similar situation of overflowing water exists with plant and flower pots where watering of the plants and flowers overflows onto and soaks the supporting surface unless there is a container present to catch and contain the overflowing water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention an epoxy rock coaster is provided that overcomes the deficiencies of prior art coasters for absorbing and containing the condensation formed on the exterior of glasses, bottles and cans and scaled up in size to absorb and contain the excess water when placed under flower and plant pots. The epoxy rock coasters of the invention are a composition of different sized small particles of stone aggregate mixed with an epoxy resin system. The composition is added to an open top plastic vessel having a flat bottom and an upwardly extending side thereby completely filling the vessel where it is then tooled with a mason's trowel to a flat exterior finish and cured. The composition solidifies to bond the composition to the interior bottom and side of the vessel and to bond the aggregates to one another forming a porous structure. The porous structure creates air voids between the aggregates which provide openings to contain the excess liquid from the drinking container or plant pot. As this liquid is drawn down through the voids into the epoxy rock, it is then trapped and held by the plastic vessel. The damaging liquid is contained in the coaster preventing it from contacting the furniture or other surface and the plastic vessel protects delicate surfaces from abrasive damage. Since every aggregate is coated with epoxy during the mixing process, the epoxy rock coaster surface is extremely hard and stain resistant. The hard surface provides a solid and non-adhering support for large and small drink containers and heavy plant pots and the plastic vessel protects delicate surfaces from abrasive damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described by the appended claims in relation to description of preferred embodiments with reference in the following drawings which are explained briefly as follows:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the epoxy rock coaster of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the coaster of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the coaster of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a porous structured solid rock coaster 10 designed to absorb and contain condensation that forms from drinking containers such as beverage bottles, glasses and metal cans. In addition, the present coasters can be scaled up in size to catch and contain excess water when placed under plant and flower pots.
The epoxy rock coaster is composed of a composition of mixed stone aggregate cured with an epoxy resin system within a plastic vessel. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the epoxy rock coaster 10 is illustrated. The vessel 12 is made of plastic, preferably polyethylene or other suitable plastic material. Although the vessel is shown to be round, it can be of any desired shape. Plastic vessel 12 has a flat bottom 14 and upward extending side wall 16. The exterior diameter of vessel 12 is about four inches with an effective depth of wall 16 of about 0.25 inch to 0.35 inch, preferably about 0.31 inch. The thickness of the plastic is about 0.06 inch. The dimensions of the plastic vessels for plant and flower coasters can be proportionally increased in size as required.
The epoxy rock composition 18 is composed of small particles of stone aggregate 20 mixed with an epoxy system. The stone aggregate 20 preferably comprises seashell, synthetic or natural aggregates mixture of about 1/16 inch to 3/16 inch in size. The epoxy system is a two part system containing equal amounts of epoxy resin and catalyst. Preferably, the epoxy resin contains the reaction product of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol A and the catalyst contains monononphenol, polyoxypropylenediamine and n-aminoethylpiperazine.
In preparation of the epoxy rock coaster of FIG. 1, 0.05 ounce of epoxy resin and 0.05 ounce of catalyst were combined in a mixing pail and stirred for about three minutes. Next, 2.75 ounces of fine aggregate having an individual stone diameter of 1/16 inch to 3/16 inch were added and continued to mix for one minute. This mixture was then placed in the vessel 12 where its surface was tooled with a mason's trowel to a flat plane. The epoxy rock coaster was then allowed to set for twenty-four hours to allow the composition to completely cure.
The epoxy rock composition solidifies bonding the composition to the interior bottom 14 and side wall 16 of the vessel 12. The stone aggregates 20 are bonded to one another and forming the porous structure shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 by creating air voids between the aggregates. The condensation and liquid is then trapped and held within the plastic vessel. The condensation and liquid is contained in the coaster and is thereby prevented from contacting the underlying surface of furniture or other underlying support. The plastic vessel protects the underlying surface from abrasive damage. Having every stone aggregate coated with the epoxy during the mixing and curing process provides an extremely hard coaster surface with excellent stain resistance. The hard surface provides a solid and non-adhering coaster for supporting large and drink containers and heavy plant pots. The plastic vessel 12 protects delicate surfaces from abrasive damage.
In a field test in showing its efficiency, the four inch diameter epoxy rock coaster of the invention was able to absorb one half of one ounce of water before containment was breached which is excellent containment for a hard surface non-adhering coaster of that size.
Although the present coaster has excellent stain resistance due to each stone aggregate coated with cured epoxy, stains which occur can be removed by immersing the coaster in a solution of fifty percent chlorine bleach and fifty percent water. For grease and petroleum stains, a small amount of dish washing detergent removes the foreign matter. After rinsing the epoxy rock coaster drains quickly and dries at room temperature.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various substitutions, omissions, and modifications and changes may be made in the epoxy rock coaster of the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

Claims

1. An epoxy rock coaster comprising;

a composition of stone aggregate and epoxy system mixed, cured and adhered together, contained within an open top plastic vessel having an upward extending side wall, completely filling the vessel and forming an upper hard flat surface porous composition structure adhered to the bottom and side wall of the vessel.

2. The epoxy rock coaster according to claim 1 wherein the stone aggregate comprises seashell, synthetic or natural stone particles.

3. The epoxy rock coaster according to claim 2 wherein the stone particles are about 1/16 to 3/16 inch in diameter.

4. The epoxy rock coaster of claim 1 wherein the epoxy system comprises a two part system of epoxy resin and catalyst hardener.

5. The epoxy rock coaster of claim 4 wherein the epoxy resin is the reaction product of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol A and the catalyst hardener includes mononophenol, polypropyllenediamine and N-aminoethylpirperzine.

6. The epoxy rock coaster of claim 1 wherein the open top plastic vessel is about four inches in diameter and the upward extending side wall is about five sixteenth of an inch in height.

7. The epoxy rock coaster according to claim 6 wherein the plastic vessel is made of polyethylene.