TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to stemmed vessels for beverages or 5 food-stuffs and especially stemmed wine glasses. BACKGROUND ART

The common wine glass comprises a cup portion, a stem and a supporting base. The shape, size or length of each part varies for different styles of wine glass and the glass itself can be made of, among other things, 10 plastics, glass, metal, wood or combinations of those materials.

Nevertheless, the common wine glass has one intrinsic characteristic that makes it particularly ill suited for uneven, soft or even liquid surfaces. This is that they all have a high centre of gravity, especially when holding liquid in the cup portion, which makes them prone to overturning when placed on any of 15 those surfaces.

This invention is directed to reducing the propensity of a stemmed wine glass to overturn on uneven, soft or liquid surfaces. These surfaces are commonly encountered by people wishing to picnic or entertain in gardens, parks, picnic spots, at the beach or in swimming pools, for example. 20 In addition to meeting a need for a vessel that is resistant to upsetting on uneven and soft surfaces, the invention further provides additional choice in the market for novelty items.

The invention is also applicable to stemmed vessels used for beverages other than wines and even to foodstuffs. Indeed, a vessel may be 25. made in stemmed form specifically to obtain the advantages of the invention, DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The invention provides a vessel comprising: a cup section for containment of a beverage or foodstuff; a stem depending from a lower part of the cup section; and 30 a base on the stem, wherein the base is movable along the stem by a user. Preferably, a lower end of the stem is adapted to be entered into a . penetrable substrate (such as a ground surface) whereby engagement of the

stem in the substrate provides resistance to overturning of the vessel. The substrate may be for example a ground surface.

The vessel may in particular be a vessel adapted for use as a drinking vessel, in particular the vessel may be a wine glass. It is also preferred that the base when moved to at least one selected position along the stem is sufficiently resistant to free sliding movement along the stem to remain in the selected position until moved from that position by a user, in particular, it is preferred that the or a said selected position of the base is such that the vessel is able to be placed and to remain upright on a flat surfaced

In one embodiment,. the stem passes through an opening in the base; and the stem has at least one helical surface that bears slidingly on a cooperating surface of the base within the opening, . so that movement of the base along the stem requires relative rotation of the base and the stem.

In this embodiment, it is preferred that the base is threadably engaged on the stem.

In another embodiment of the invention, the base is slidingly movable along the stem and grips the stem so as to require a specified minimum force, to be applied to the base for sliding movement along the stem. The stem may pass through an opening in a resilient portion of the base with the base gripping the stem by virtue of deformation of the resilient portion.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the vessel further comprises means for releasably securing the base in any one of a plurality of positions along the stem.

The penetrable substrate may even be a body of liquid such as water. In this case preferably the base is so proportioned and of such weight that the vessel with contents thereof floats in the liquid with the cup section uppermost A lower portion of the stem may be weighted sufficiently to enhance stability against capsizing of the vessel by comparison to the vessel in the absence of such weighting.

In all embodiments of the invention, it is preferred that the base is separable from the stem. This facilitates cleaning, storage and the use of alternate base types.

Reference is made in this specification to the term "glass" as well as to the more general term "vessel". It is to be understood that the term "glass ^* herein is used in the sense of a vessel able to contain a beverage and to be held in a user's hand, with no intention to limit the scope of the invention to articles made wholly or partly of glass. The invention is applicable generally to vessels of the type having an open-topped cup section for holding a beverage or foodstuff and a stem with a base. Such vessels are particularly popular for use with wines, and a vessel in any of the embodiments described that is a wine glass is within the scope of the invention.

In order that the invention can be better understood it will now be described non-limitingly by reference to preferred embodiments as shown in the attached Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wine glass being a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the wine glass shown in Figure 1 , now in a different operative condition;

Figure 3 is an exploded side elevation of the wine glass as shown in Figure 1 , with a base shown half-sectioned;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of an alternative base for the glass shown in Figure 3; . Figure 5 is a side elevation of a glass that is a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the base only of the glass shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side elevation, partially exploded, of an alternative glass according to the invention; Figure 8 is a side elevation of a further alternative glass according to the invention;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the base of the glass shown in Figure 8, the section being taken on a diameter of the base;

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a still further alternative glass according to the invention. BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows a drinking glass 1 according to the invention. Glass 1 is a "glass" (in the sense discussed above) of a type used for wine, having a cup section 2, an elongate stem 3 and a base 4. Cup section 2 is shown as having a comparatively tall and narrow shape and would conventionally contain champagne-style wines. However, this is not intended to imply any limitation to the scope of the invention. Stemmed glasses are available with cup sections (analogous to cup section 2 of glass 1) having a range of shapes and the invention is applicable to such stemmed glasses.

The essence of the present invention as embodied in glass 1 is that the base 4 is movable on stem 3 and when moved to a selected position on stem 3 will remain in that position until moved again by a user. Figure 2 shows glass 1 with base 4 now moved to a position partway along stem 3. When base 4 is positioned at the lower end 5 of stem 3, as shown in Figure 1 , glass 1 functions as a standard wine glass and can be placed on and rest in stable upright manner on a typical, hard, flat surface such as a table.

When base 4 is some way along stem 3, as shown in Figure 2, it defines upper and lower portions 6 and 7 respectively of stem 3. Upper portion 6, closest to cup section 2, provides the typical wine glass appearance allowing a user to hold the upper portion of stem 3 and/or cup section 2. However, the lower portion 7 of the stem is adapted to be pushed into a penetrable supporting surface such as a ground surface, up to the base 4. Such a surface is represented by line 8 in Figure 2. While base 4 in this operative condition of glass 1 provides resistance against glass 1 sinking into the surface 8 and in the normal way some resistance to overturning, it is the engagement of lower portion 7 of stem 3 in conjunction with base 4 with supporting surface 8 which provides the predominant resistance to upsetting of glass 1 and resulting spillage of its contents. This occurs in several ways. Reactions of the material below the supporting surface against stem 3 resist lateral movement of stem 3, and reactions against stem 3, and base 4 where applicable, resist any rotation of stem 3 away from an upright position (i.e. overturning). Some ground surfaces can also provide resistance to

excessively rapid upward withdrawal of stem 3 from the hole created by pushing of the lower portion 7 of stem 3 into the ground. Additionally, the centre of gravity of the stemmed glass 1 is lowered In relation to the supporting surface. The adjustability of the height of the base 4 on stem 3 allows the depth of piercing of lower portion 7 of the stem 3 into the supporting surface 8 to be chosen according to either the comfortably penetrable depth of the material below surface 8. This way, adequate resistance to overturning of the glass 1 can be obtained while allowing the user to keep as much of the stem 3 as possible above base 4 to provide the traditional stemmed glass appearance. As stated above, it also enables glass 1 to be used in a conventional manner on hard flat surfaces when the base is fixed at the lower end 5 of stem S. The ability to select the position of base 4 on stem 3' is provided as follows. Stem 3 is externally threaded along its length, and base 4 is internally threaded so that a user can screw base 4 up and down the stern 3 to any desired position. Base 4 then resists movement up and down the stem when pressure is exerted to it in the direction of the stem, in the same way that a nut on a bolt (not shown) can be moved along the bolt by rotation, but resists lengthwise movement when simply pushed lengthways along the bolt. • Figure 3 shows the glass 1 with base 4 now completely detached from stem 3 for cleaning or storage.

The helical groove 30 of stem 3 is made sufficiently large so as to limit the chance of base 4 becoming jammed on stem 3 due to ingress therebetween of loose material from the supporting surface 8 such as particles of dirt or sand, and to be cleaned easily in the event of this occurring. Preferably, the groove 30 on stem 3 has a rectangular cross section. However, other thread profiles may be used if desired. The threading of base 4 can be enhanced so as to clear debris from the groove 30 as base 4 rotates around stem 3. To illustrate this possibility, Figure 4 shows a modified base 44 the same as base 4 but with a spade-like element 32 on an upper surface 45. Element 32 is simply a continuation upwardly above the surface 45 of that part of the thread in base 4 that slides in groove 30, with an outwardly angled face 33 to direct matter from groove 30 outward before it can enter base 44 during screwing of stem 3 downwardly intra base 4. A modified version of

base 44 could if required be provided with elements the same as or similar to element 32 at both ends of its threaded section.

Apart from ease of cleaning, there is a further reason why it is desirable that the base (such as base 4) be detachable from stem 3 rather than permanently captive on stem 3. This is that it is then possible for different bases suitable for different supporting surfaces 8 to be used on glass 1.

For example, Figure 5 shows a glass 11 having a cup section 12 and stem 13 identical to cup section 2 and stem 3 respectively of glass 1, but with a different base 14. Base 14 is shown in plan view in Figure 6. Base 14 has a central internally threaded boss 15 and four radially extending arms 16, with somewhat sharpened outer ends. Where a supporting surface (represented by line 18 in Figure 5) is sloping or uneven, or difficult to penetrate comfortably, the use. of a base such as base 14 instead of round base 4 may increase the stability of glass 11 against overturning by providing only selected points for contact with the supporting surface 18 as well as by penetration below surface 18 in the manner described above.

Optionally, it is possible to provide a removable stop 20 at the lower end of stem 3 (or 13) to prevent inadvertent detachment of base 4 (or 14). One way of doing this is shown in Figure 7. Figure 7 shows a view of a glass 21 similar to glass 1, having a cup section 22, stem 23 and a base 24 threadably engaged on stem 23, but with a detachable stop 20 at the lower end 25 of stem 23. Stop 20 prevents base 24 from being unscrewed from stem 23 until stop 20 is itself removed. Stop 20 is in the form of a screw and engages with stem 23 by screwing into an internally threaded hole (not shown) coaxial with and extending upward from the base 25 of stem 23. Stem 3 is shown as being right-hand threaded and in this case stop 20 preferably has a left-handed thread.

The use of a base (such as base 4) that engages threadably with a mating stem (such as stem 3) Is but one way of providing the ability to vary and then maintain the position of a base along a stem of a stemmed glass according to the invention. Figure 8 shows a glass 51 that is an alternative embodiment of the invention. Glass 51 has a cup section 52 _r a stem 53 and a base 54 which can be moved up and down stem 53 by sliding and retained in any selected position therealong. Figure 9 shows base 54 at a larger scale. All

parts of glass 51 are of circular cross-section along vertical axis 55 of glass 51. Base 54 comprises an outer main section 56 and a grommet-like sleeve 57 retained in a hole 60 in main section 56. Sleeve 57 is retained in hole 60 by integral flanges 58 that bear on upper and lower surfaces 59 and 61 of section 56. Optionally, flanges 58 could be omitted and sleeve 57 retained in section 56 by a suitable adhesive or by simply being a suitably tight fit in hole 60. Sleeve 57 is proportioned, and its material chosen, to be a sufficiently tight fit on stem 53 so that stem 53 is gripped loosely enough for sliding by a user in sleeve 57, but tightly enough to be held in any chosen position in base 54 once moved to that position. Sleeve 57 may be formed from rubber or a similarly resilient material or may be formed of a less resilient material such as a suitable plastics material with a lesser degree of interference. With a suitable choice of material and proportions, it is also possible to provide a one-piece base (not shown) having one or more holes therein that are a slight interference fit on a stem such as stem 53, and that therefore function in essentially the same way as base 54.

Still another possibility (not shown) for providing a stemmed glass with a base movable along the stem is to provide a base that can slide on a stem (like stem 53) but that can be retained in any one of several specific positions therealong by a suitable latch or locking mechanism that engages with projections or recesses in the stem.

When provided with a suitable base, the invention can provide a glass capable of being supported on a different form of supporting surface, namely a water surface. Figure 10 shows a glass 71 similar to glass 1 in having a cup section 72 and a threaded stem 73. Glass 71 has a base 74 that is large enough and fight enough to provide positive buoyancy and stability against overturning for both glass 71 and its contents (not shown) when placed in water (of which a surface is represented by line 76 in Figμre 10). Base 74 engages threadably with stem 73 and is detachable therefrom for cleaning and storage, as in the embodiments described above. It is desirable in the interests of stability and of keeping the base 74 reasonably compact to weight the lower end 75 of stem 73 and so lower the combined centre of gravity of glass 71 and its contents. This may be done using a suitable weight (not shown) secured on stem 73 (for example threadably engaging stem 73) or by

adding a suitably dense material (for example lead) at the lower end 76 of stem 73. Of course, the alternative means discussed above of providing for adjustability of the position of a base on a stem of a glass intended to float are applicable here also. Components of a glass according to the invention may be of glass, plastics, metal, wood or any other suitable materials. Different parts may be made of different materials as required or to achieve satisfactory performance and appearance. For example only, stem 63 of glass 61 may be formed from a metal and the cup section formed of plastics or glass, with the base 64 being formed from polystyrene or as a closed plastics container filled with air.

Glass 1 as described above has a threaded stem 3 so that rotating base 4 causes movement of base 4 along the stem 3 and movement of base 4 by mere pushing along the length of the stem 3 is prevented. In a possible variation of the invention, not shown, a base and stem combination may be used that works in the same way, but in which the stem is not simply a threaded shaft. For example, Hie stem may have virtually any cross-sectional shape (eg a rectangle) but helically twisted along its length, with the base having an opening that mates with the cross-sectional shape of the shaft. The cross-sectional shape of the shaft may have the longitudinal axis of the stem within its boundary or outside, as in the case of a corkscrew. The use of a stem and base combination in accordance with this variation is within the scope of the invention.

Further variations may be made without exceeding the scope of the present invention. In this specification, the word "comprise" (or any of its derivatives, e.g.

"comprising") when used in relation to specified integers elements or items of a system method apparatus or device is to be taken not to preclude the possibility that other integers elements or items than those specified are present in the device method or system being described.