US20160143465A1

US20160143465A1 - Stemware marking system

Info

Publication number: US20160143465A1
Application number: US14/949,507
Authority: US
Inventors: Jodi Ann ANDERSON
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-11-21
Filing date: 2015-11-23
Publication date: 2016-05-26

Abstract

A marking system emboding a removable stemware marking apparatus is provided. The marking apparatus may include a wire frame having a linear body portion extending from an upper section to an opposing lower section. The upper portion may form an arcuate hook defining an upper loop, while the lower portion may form a helical shape defining a lower and a base loop, wherein the loops are concentrically disposed orthogonal of the body portion. Each loop is adapted to securely engage the stem of a stemware glass so that the body portion is disposed along but offset from the stem.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/082,645, filed 21 Nov. 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to beverage accessories and, more particularly, to a removable stemware marking system that is adapted to extend along the stem of the stemware so as to be easily identifiable and enable sufficient access to handle the stem during use.
Social events, parties, and large gatherings are often planned around a decorated theme or color scheme. The participants are offered refreshments in non disposable glasses; most often stemmed glasses or stemware such as wine, martini, champagne, or margarita glasses. Glass stemware is problematic to decorate because cleaning and sanitizing the glass involves temperature requirements and hot water that can damage the decor, or compromise the adhesive used to affix the decoration to the glass. As a result, existing solutions that use painted or decorated glasses require hand washing as well as large amounts of storage for multiple design concepts, both of which are costly in time and money. Use of plastic glassware may be socially unaccepted, costly to continually replace, and environmentally unfriendly to dispose of.
Furthermore, in large gatherings people often confuse their glass with others. This is important as one may not be willing to inadvertently drink from another's glass in the prevention of the spread of disease. Existing glass markers are rings that sit on the bottom of the glass and are difficult to see under the main body of the glass and on a table when the glass rests under the edge of dishware or otherwise obscured by party paraphernalia. Moreover, current stemware product designs wrap around the stem in one small area which limits and often restricts use of the stem, which obviously serves a necessary function in the consumption of the beverage, especially for wine glasses stems.
As can be seen, there is a need for a removable stemware marking system that is adapted to extend along the stem of the stemware so as to be easily identifiable and enable sufficient access to handle the stem during use. Being removable, the present invention enables storage and the recommended washing temperature of glass stemware that subsequently can be adorned with the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, stemware marking apparatus adapted to secure along and substantially offset from a stem of a stemware glass includes a wire frame of flexible material extending from an upper end to a lower end, wherein the wire frame has a body portion extending along a longitudinal axis from an upper transition to a lower transition; an upper section extending from the upper transition to the upper end so as to be orthogonal from the longitudinal axis; and a lower section extending from the lower transition to the lower end; an upper loop defined by the upper section; and a lower loop defined by the lower section, wherein the upper loop and the lower loop are generally concentric.
In another aspect of the present invention, stemware marking apparatus adapted to secure along and substantially offset from a stem of a stemware glass includes a wire frame of flexible material extending from an upper end to a lower end, wherein the upper and lower ends are each formed into a closing loop, and wherein the wire frame has a body portion extending along a longitudinal axis from an upper transition to a lower transition; an upper section extending from the upper transition to the upper end so as to be orthogonal from the longitudinal axis; and a lower section extending from the lower transition to the lower end; an upper loop defined by the upper section formed into an arcuate shape; a lower loop and a base loop defined by the lower section, wherein the lower loop and the base loop form a helical shape having at least one and a half turns from the lower transition to a distal end of the helical shape; a leg portion joined at an angle to the distal end of the helical shape and extending to the lower end; and at least one decorative bead threaded onto the wire frame, wherein the upper loop, the lower loop and the base loop are generally concentric, whereby the at least one decorative bead indentifies a user of the stemware glass.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the engagement of a base stem loop 16 against the base of a stem 34;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the engagement of lower stem loop 18 around the stem 34; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the engagement of a upper loop 20 around the stem 34.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a removable stemware marking system that is adapted to extend along the stem of the stemware so as to be easily identifiable and enable sufficient access to handle the stem during use. The marking system embodies a removable stemware marking apparatus and a method of using the same. The marking apparatus may include a wire frame having a linear body portion extending from an upper section to an opposing lower section. The upper portion may form an arcuate hook defining an upper loop, while the lower portion may form a helical shape defining a lower and a base loop, wherein the loops are concentrically disposed orthogonal of the body portion. Each loop is adapted to securely engage the stem of a stemware glass so that the body portion is disposed along but offset from the stem.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention may include a removable stemware marking apparatus 50 including a wire frame 10. The wire frame 10 may be any flexible strand or rod of metal or other suitable material, such as copper or the like. The wire frame 10 may be dimensioned and adapted to be threaded through a plurality of crimp beads 24 and decorative beads 26, 28 and 30. The wire frame 10 may extend from a lower end 12 to an upper end 22. Each end 12, 22 may be bent onto or toward itself so as to form a closing loop, as illustrated in the figures, for preventing the decorative beads 26, 28 and 30 from sliding off the wire frame 10.
The wire frame 10 may provide a body portion 40 that extends from an upper transition 36 to a lower transition 38, wherein the body portion 40 may be substantially linear extending along a longitudinal axis. The transitions 36 and 38 may include discontinuities, bends, joints and the like along the wire frame 10. Though in some embodiments, the body portion 40 may have discontinuities, bends and the like. Along the body portion 40, between the upper transition 36 and the lower transition 38, may be at least one of the plurality of decorative beads 26, 28 and 30 sandwiched between opposing crimp beads 24, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
An upper section 21 of the wire frame 10 may extend from the upper transition 36 to the upper end 22. The upper section 21 may form a planar arc shape that defines an upper stem loop 20, or in other words an arcuate hook is formed by the upper section 21, defining the upper stem loop 20. The upper section 21 may be less than a full turn, though in certain embodiments, the arc shape may include more than a full turn from the upper transition 36 to the upper end 22. The entire upper stem loop 20 may occupy a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the body portion 40. Along the upper section 21, between the closing loop of the upper end 22 and a crimp bead 24 may be at least one of the plurality of decorative beads 26, 28 and 30, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
A lower section 11 of the wire frame 10 may extend from the lower transition 38 to the lower end 12. The lower section 11 may form a helical shape that defines a lower stem loop 18 and a base stem loop 16, wherein the base stem loop 16 terminates at or near a leg joint 14. The lower stem loop 18 may start to be defined at the lower transition 38 as the helical shape extends downward and transitions into the base stem loop 16. The lower section 11 may be more than a full turn from the lower transition 38 to the leg joint 14, and in certain embodiments be at least one and a half turns.
The entire upper stem loop 20 may define a center that generally aligns with a center of the lower stem loop 18 and a center of the base stem loop 16, or in other words the loops 20, 18 and 16 may be concentric yet non-coplanar. Whereby, the upper and lower transitions 36, 38 are an equal distance from the above mentioned centers. The loops 20, 18 and 16 may have diameters sufficient to engage a stem 34 of a stemware glass 32. The stem 34 may extend from a lower base portion to an upper cup portion, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Between the leg joint 14 and the lower end 12 may be a leg portion. Along the leg portion, between the closing loop of the lower end 12 and a crimp bead 24 may be at least one of the plurality of decorative beads 26, 28 and 30, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
A method of using the present invention may include the following. The stemware marking apparatus 50 as disclosed and described above may be provided. The stemware marking apparatus 50 may be urged against the stem 34 so that the base loop 16 circumscribes the stem 34 by sliding the stem 34 therein at an open portion of the helical shape near the leg joint 14, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Then by rotating the stemware marking apparatus 50 about the stem 34 the lower loop 18 may engage the stem 34, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The body portion 40 may be pulled upright and approximately parallel to the stem 34. The upper loop 20 may be maneuvered so that the arcuate hook securely engages the stem 34 near the upper cup portion while the helical shape securely engages near the lower base portion of the step 34, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The upper and lower sections 21 and 11 may be manipulated and/or further bent around the stem 34 to further enable forming a secure engagement thereto.
The disposition of the body portion 40 offset from the stem 34 enables a user to hold the stem 34 properly without interference by the body portion 40 (and thereby not obscure the identification-aspect of the body portion 40 during use) when consuming the beverage contained in the stemware glass 32.
In certain embodiments, the wire frame 10 may be approximately eight inches in length. However the length of the body portion 40 will be adjustable as desired by increasing or decreasing the turns in the helical shape (upper section 21) and/or the arc shape (lower section 11).
Each stemware marking apparatus 50 provides a distinctive marking system for distinguishing different stemware glasses 32 from each other. Such differentiation may be through shape, color, size, ornamentation or indicia of the plurality of decorative beads 26, 28, 30 and/or their overall arrangement. The structural component of the stemware marking apparatus 50 that substantially extends vertically along the stem 34, the body portion 40, enables such distinctions to be made even when the lower base portion of the stem 34 is obscured by party paraphernalia, such as tablecloth, presents, party favors and the like. Moreover, the stemware glass 32 can be distinguished while the stem 34 is being handled.
Being removable, the present invention enables storage and the recommended washing temperature of glass stemware that subsequently can be adorned with the present invention.
Moreover, the present invention may be secured to other objects for decorative and identification purposes, such as flowers, candle sticks, silverware and the like.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A stemware marking apparatus adapted to secure along and substantially offset from a stem of a stemware glass, comprising:

a wire frame of flexible material extending from an upper end to a lower end, wherein the wire frame further comprises:

a body portion extending along a longitudinal axis from an upper transition to a lower transition;

an upper section extending from the upper transition to the upper end so as to be orthogonal from the longitudinal axis; and

a lower section extending from the lower transition to the lower end;

an upper loop defined by the upper section; and

a lower loop defined by the lower section,

wherein the upper loop and the lower loop are generally concentric.

2. The stemware marking apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a base loop defined by the lower section, wherein the base loop is concentric with the lower loop.

3. The stemware marking apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lower loop and the base loop forms a helical shape.

4. The stemware marking apparatus of claim 3, wherein the helical shape comprises at least one and a half turns from the lower transition to a distal end of the helical shape.

5. The stemware marking apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a leg portion joined at an angle to the distal end of the helical shape and extending to the lower end.

6. The stemware marking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper section forms an arcuate shape.

7. The stemware marking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower ends are each formed into a closing loop.

8. The stemware marking apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one decorative bead threaded onto the wire frame.

9. The stemware marking apparatus of claim 8, further comprising at least two crimp beads bookending the at least one decorative bead.

10. A stemware marking apparatus adapted to secure along and substantially offset from a stem of a stemware glass, comprising:

a wire frame of flexible material extending from an upper end to a lower end, wherein the upper and lower ends are each formed into a closing loop, and wherein the wire frame further comprises:

a lower section extending from the lower transition to the lower end;

an upper loop defined by the upper section formed into an arcuate shape;

a lower loop and a base loop defined by the lower section, wherein the lower loop and the base loop form a helical shape having at least one and a half turns from the lower transition to a distal end of the helical shape;

a leg portion joined at an angle to the distal end of the helical shape and extending to the lower end; and

at least one decorative bead threaded onto the wire frame,

wherein the upper loop, the lower loop and the base loop are generally concentric,

whereby the at least one decorative bead indentifies a user of the stemware glass.