GB2436677A

GB2436677A - Sleeve for a drinking vessel

Info

Publication number: GB2436677A
Application number: GB0606328A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carolyn Bowe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-30
Filing date: 2006-03-30
Publication date: 2007-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-30
Also published as: GB0606328D0; GB2436677B

Abstract

A sleeve 20 for decorating a drinking vessel 30 comprises a tubular wall member formed of a woven or knitted fabric material which can stretch to conform to fit a variety of shapes of drinking vessels 30. The sleeve 20 may incorporate means for cooling the beverage such as liquid or gel which can be chilled or frozen. The sleeve may be formed by wrapping a sheet member around the vessel and bringing its ends together. Tie means may be used to tighten and retain it around the vessel.

Description

Sleeve for a drinking vess This invention relates to a sleeve which can

be fitted around a drinking vessel, such as a glass, to decorate and/or call the latter.

Sleeves for drinking vessels are known. Australian patent application AU20031 00960 discloses one such sleeve comprising a shaped sheet or neoprene or other insulative material, which can be wrapped around the bowl portion of the glass and interconnected end-to-end zip fastener or like.

It will be appreciated that drinking vessels come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and the disadvantage of the above-mentioned arrangement is that the insulative material is relatively thick and thus does not readily conform to the shape of a drinking vessel which is much different from that for which it was intended.

Accordingly, a large number of different shapes of sleeve would need to be provided to fit a range of drinking vessels.

A further disadvantage of the above-mentioned sleeves is that neoprene and other like insulative material is relatively thick and thus makes the glass unsightely in appearance and uncomfortable to hold.

I have now devised a sleeve for a drinking vessel which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a sleeve for a drinking vessel comprising a tubular wall member formed of a woven or knitted fabric material.

In use, the tubular sleeve of woven or knitted material can stretch to conform to a variety of shapes of drinking vessels.

In one embodiment, an opening extends axially of the wall of the sleeve, means being provided fastening the edges of the wall together on opposite sides of said opening.

Preferably the diameter of the tubular sleeve varies along its length, so that one end can fit around the bowl portion of a drinking vessel and the other can fit around the stem portion of the drinking vessel.

Preferably tie means such as a draw string, are provided at one end of the tubular sleeve for tightening the sleeve around the stem of a drinking vessel.

Preferably the sleeve is at least partially knitted or woven from threads or yarns of a resiliently extendable material, such as an elasticated material.

Preferably the external surface of the material of the sleeve is printed to add decoration.

Alternatively, the sleeve may be knitted or woven from materials of a different colour to produce a pattern.

Preferably means are provided on the internal surface of the sleeve for engaging the drinking vessel in order to prevent the sleeve from slipping.

Preferably said engagement means extends circumferentially around one axial end of the sleeve.

The engagement means may comprise one or more patterns, zones or strips of a material which is arranged to adhere to or frictionally engage the external surface of the drinking vessel.

Preferably the sleeve comprises means for cooling the drinking vessel.

Preferably said cooling means is attached to the internal surface of the sleeve.

Preferably the cooling means comprises one or more members comprising a housing containing a liquid or gel which can be chilled or frozen prior to fitting the sleeve to a drinking vessel.

Preferably the liquid or gel comprises a material such as ethylene or propylene glycol, which turns from its solid to liquid phase at a temperature below the freezing temperature of water: the latent heat absorbed by such materials as they change from their solid to liquid phases acts to disproportionately cool the beverage.

In an alternative embodiment, the cooling means may comprise materials, such as water and ammonium chloride which are arranged to endothermically react and absorb heat. Such devices may be single use or it may be possible to reverse the endothermic reaction, so that they can be used again.

Preferably the cooling means comprises elongate strips, which extend axially of the sleeve, a plurality of strips being arranged circumferentially around the wall of the sleeve.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of sleeve for a drinking vessel in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of sleeve for a drinking vessel in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the sleeve of Figure 2 when fitted to a drinking vessel.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a sleeve 10 for fitting to a so-called champagne glass of the type comprising a stem and an elongated narrow bowl supported by the stem. The sleeve comprises a knitted or woven panel 11 of elasticated fabric material having upper and lower end edges and opposite side edges.

The panel 11 may be knitted or woven as a rectangular or square panel.

Alternatively, it may be woven in a trapezoidal shape, such that the upper end edge thereof is longer than the lower end edge. A draw string 12 extends parallel to the lower end edge. The or each opposite side edge is provided with fastening means, such that the opposite side edges can be brought together and fastened to secure the panel around the glass. The draw string 12 may be tightened to pull the lower end edge against the stem of the glass.

A strip 13 of an adherent material, such as latex, extends parallel to the upper end edge of the panel 11 on one surface thereof, the other surface being printed with a pattern or image, perhaps containing text and/or graphics. The panel 11 is arranged to be wrapped around the glass, such that the printed surface thereof faces outwardly, the strip 13 engaging the external surface of the glass adjacent its rim.

A plurality of strips 14 containing a gel or liquid extend between the upper and lower end edges of the panel 11 on the same surface thereof as the adherent strip 13. The gel or liquid comprises a mixture of water and propylene glycol, being a material which freezes at a temperature below that of water.

In use, the sleeve 10 can be frozen to a temperature of -15 to 300C. The sleeve can then be fitted to a glass, such that the strips 14 absorb heat from the glass, thereby cooling the drink contained therein.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown an alternative embodiment of a sleeve for a drinking vessel, which is similar to the sleeve of Figure 1 and like parts are given like reference numerals. In this embodiment, the wall of the sleeve 20 is knitted or woven to define a tube 21. The tube 21 may be of uniform diameter,.

Alternatively, the lower axial end of the tube 21 may be a smaller diameter than the upper axial end.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, the sleeve 20 can be fitted to a conventional wine glass 30 by expanding the diameter of the tube 21 and pulling it on to the glass 30. The tube 21 is then released to cause the material to recover its shape, thereby causing the sleeve to substantially conform to the shape of the glass 30. If necessary, the draw string 12 may be tightened around the stem of the glass 30.

A sleeve in accordance with the present invention is simple and inexpensive in construction, yet effectively serves to decorate a drinking vessel, perhaps for aesthetic purposes or for advertising purposes. Optionally, the sleeve may also serve to cool the drinking vessel. Following use, the sleeve can be removed and washed for re-use.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A sleeve for a drinking vessel, the sleeve comprising a tubular wall member formed of a woven or knitted fabric material.

2. A sleeve as claimed in claim 1, in which an opening extends axially of the wall of the sleeve, means being provided fastening the edges of the wall together on opposite sides of said opening.

3. A sleeve as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the diameter of the tubular sleeve varies along its length, so that one end can fit around the bowl portion of a drinking vessel and the other can fit around the stem portion of the drinking vessel.

4. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, in which tie means are provided at one end of the tubular sleeve for tightening the sleeve around the stem of a drinking vessel.

5. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sleeve is at least partially knitted or woven from threads or yarns of a resiliently extendable material, such as an elasticated material.

6. A sleeve as claimed in claim 5, in which the sleeve is at least partially knitted or woven from threads or yarns of an elasticated material.

7. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the external surface of the material of the sleeve is printed to add decoration.

8. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sleeve is knitted or woven from materials of a different colour to produce a pattern.

9. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, in which means are provided on the internal surface of the sleeve for engaging the drinking vessel in order to prevent the sleeve from slipping.

10. A sleeve as claimed in claim 9, in which said engagement means extends circumferentially around one axial end of the sleeve.

11.A sleeve as claimed in claims 9 or 10, in which said engagement means comprises one or more patterns, zones or strips of a material which is arranged to adhere to or frictionally engage the external surface of the drinking vessel.

12. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means for cooling the drinking vessel.

13. A sleeve as claimed in claim 12, in which said cooling means is attached to the internal surface of the sleeve.

14. A sleeve as claimed in claims 12 or 13, in which the cooling means comprises one or more members comprising a housing containing a liquid or gel which can be chilled or frozen.

15. A sleeve as claimed in claim 14, in which the liquid or gel comprises a material which turns from its solid to liquid phase at a temperature below the freezing temperature of water.

16. A sleeve as claimed in claims 12 or 13, in which the cooling means comprises materials which are arranged to endothermically react and absorb heat.

17. A sleeve as claimed in any of claims 12 to 16, in which the cooling means comprises elongate strips, which extend axially of the sleeve, a plurality of strips being arranged circumferentially around the wall of the sleeve.

18. A sleeve for a drinking vessel, the sleeve being substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A drinking vessel comprising a sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim.

20. A drinking vessel substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.