GB2374586A

GB2374586A - Holder/pourer for a bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2374586A
Application number: GB0109599A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Dean
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-19
Filing date: 2001-04-19
Publication date: 2002-10-23
Also published as: GB0109599D0

Abstract

A holder/pourer for a bottle comprises a generally upright cylindrical casing (1) having a closed bottom (3) and an open top (4). A radially inwardly extending flexible retaining flange (5) adjacent the open top of the casing deflects to allow a bottle to be pushed into and withdrawn from the casing but retains the bottle within the casing when the casing is tipped up for pouring from the bottle.

Description

HOLDER/POURER FOR A BOTTLE The invention relates to a holder/pourer for a bottle. Whilst the holder/pourer can be used with any bottle, it has particular application to bottles of vodka or other spirits.

Certain drinks such as neat spirit"shots"are ideally served at very low temperatures such as-22 to 25 C. Special freezer cabinets are required to achieve these temperatures. In the environment of public houses and clubs, etc it is clearly inconvenient for the bartender to need to collect the appropriate spirit bottle from a freezer cabinet and return it thereto each time he serves a shot of the spirit. Bottles at these temperatures are also uncomfortable to hold and can cause damage to the skin.

The invention proposes a device which can hold a cold or very cold bottle with reasonable insulation against temperature increases in which the bottle can be easily replaced and in which the bottle is retained when the device is tipped up for pouring from the bottle.

Accordingly the invention provides a holder/pourer for a bottle comprising: a generally upright cylindrical casing having a closed bottom and an open top; and a radially inwardly extending flexible retaining flange adjacent the open top of the casing; wherein the size and flexibility of the retaining flange are selected such that a bottle can be pushed into and withdrawn from the casing past the retaining flange and such that the retaining flange will retain the bottle within the casing when the casing is tipped up for pouring from

the bottle.

The holder/pourer of the present invention enables a pre-chilled bottle to be held at low or very low temperatures outside of a freezer or chiller cabinet for up to several hours.

It is particularly useful as a holder/pourer for very cold spirits but can also be used for other drinks such as white wine.

Embodiments of the invention are described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a holder/pourer with a bottle therein; Figure 2 is a partial view showing the retaining flange of a holder/pourer in engagement with the shoulder of a bottle; and Figure 3 is a top plan view a holder/pourer.

The holder/pourer shown in Figure 1 comprises a generally upright rigid cylindrical casing 1 and a lid 2. The casing is rebated at its upper end so that the similarly rebated lid 2 can fit flush with it. The casing 1 has a closed bottom 3 and an open top 4. In another embodiment (not shown), the lid is omitted.

A flexible retaining flange 5 is supported on the inside of the casing adjacent its open top 5. The retaining flange is held between a support flange 6 and a holding ring 7 and extends radially inwardly of the casing.

As shown, the casing 1 is sized to receive the body 8 and shoulder 9 of a bottle B.

The neck 10 of the bottle extends above the casing and is covered only when the lid is in place.

The size and flexibility of the retaining flange 5 are selected such that a bottle can be pushed into the casing and withdrawn from the casing past the retaining flange. The size and flexibility of the retaining flange is also selected such that it will retain the bottle within the casing when the casing is tipped up for pouring liquid from the bottle.

The retaining flange is resiliently deflected by the bottle as it is pushed into and withdrawn from the casing. The inner edge of the retaining flange has a diameter which is less than the outer diameter of the bottle and is roughly equal to the diameter of the bottle at the height of the flange. In this way the gap between the flange and the bottle is nil or very slight so that air flow past the flange is minimise. In order to facilitate deflection of the flange 5 it may be provided with a number of radial slits spaced around its inner edge.

The casing closely surrounds the body of the bottle so that the volume of air surrounding the bottle is low. The bottom 3 is formed with pegs 30 which minimise contact between the bottom of the bottle.

The casing and lid are made from hard rigid clear colourless plastic material capable

of withstanding temperatures as low as-40 C and up to at least 100 C. One such material < fWt) is Na/30 marketed by Nova Chemicals, Inc. This material provides good heat insulation.

The retaining flange 5 is made from an elastomer such as Hystrel Efant from Dupont. As shown, the flange 5 is formed as a flat ring and is reduced in thickness towards its inner edge. As shown in Figure 2, the inner edge of the flange 5 may engage the shoulder of the bottle and be inclined slightly upwardly when a bottle is located in the casing. The flange has a nominal thickness of about 2. 5mm, an outer diameter of about 85mm and an inner diameter of about 50-55mm. Casings and associated retaining flanges will be designed for use with particular bottle types.

When the bartender wishes to serve a shot from the bottle, he simply grasps the casing 2 and tips it up. The bottle is held in the casing during pouring by the retaining flange.

Claims

1. A holder/pourer for a bottle comprising: a generally upright cylindrical casing having a closed bottom and an open top; and a radially inwardly extending flexible retaining flange adjacent the open top of the casing; wherein the size and flexibility of the retaining flange are selected such that a bottle can be pushed into and withdrawn from the casing past the retaining flange and such that the retaining flange will retain the bottle within the casing when the casing is tipped up for pouring from the bottle.

2. A holder/pourer for a bottle according to Claim 1, wherein the retaining flange is formed as a flat ring of elastomeric material.

3. A holder/pourer for a bottle according to Claim 2, wherein the thickness of the flange is reduced towards its inner edge.

4. A holder/pourer for a bottle according to any preceding claim, wherein the casing is made of a clear plastic material.

5. A holder/pourer for a bottle according to any preceding claim, further comprising a lid adapted to be fitted to the open end of the casing.

6. A holder/pourer for a bottle substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.