VAN HERP MIKE WILHELMUS CHRISTIAAN (NL)
| WO1990003754A1 | 1990-04-19 |
| GB2484665A | 2012-04-25 | |||
| US2688858A | 1954-09-14 | |||
| NL1019559C1 | 2002-01-24 | |||
| JPS6345679U | 1988-03-28 | |||
| JPS5717570U | 1982-01-29 | |||
| JPS53148076U | 1978-11-21 | |||
| JPS6352476U | 1988-04-08 | |||
| FR709652A | 1931-08-12 | |||
| US2955722A | 1960-10-11 |
| CLAIMS 1. Beer mat (1 ) with an upper surface (2) provided with a relief pattern (3). 2. Beer mat (1 ), made of cardboard or similar absorbing material, of which at least one surface (2) is provided with a relief pattern (3). 3. Beer mat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein both surfaces are provided with a relief pattern. 4. Beer mat according to any of the previous claims, wherein the relief pattern at least partially is implemented in the form of ribs (4). 5. Beer mat according to claim 4, wherein the ribs are straight. 6. Beer mat according to any of the previous claims 4-5, wherein the ribs are curved. 7. Beer mat according to any of the previous claims 4-5, wherein the ribs are mutually parallel. 8. Beer mat according to any of the previous claims 4-7, wherein the ribs cross each other. 9. Beer mat according to any of the previous claims 4-8, wherein the ribs are radially directed. 10. Beer mat according to any of the previous claims 4-9, wherein the ribs are continuous. 11. Beer mat according to any of the previous claims 4-9, wherein the ribs are interrupted. 12. Beer mat according to any of the previous claims, wherein the relief pattern at least partially is implemented in the form of a multitude of elevations. 13. Beer mat according to claim 12, wherein the elevations at least partially are implemented in the form of a cylinder. 14. Beer mat according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the elevations at least partially are implemented in the form of a pointed or truncated cone. 15. Beer mat according to any of the previous claims 12-14, wherein the elevations at least partially are implemented in the form a pointed or truncated pyramid. |
The present invention relates in general to a coaster for application under drinking glasses, more particularly a beer mat.
A problem with coasters is that liquid may come between the coaster and the glass standing on the coaster. This is for instance condensation water, or overflowing beer/foam, or a combination thereof. When then the glass is lifted, the coaster sticks to the glass. This is a nuisance.
The problem occurs with solid coasters of a hard material, but also in the case of the traditional beer mats, made of cardboard or similar absorbing material. The problem as such is generally known, but an adequate solution has not been found yet.
The present invention aims to provide a solution to the said problem.
The invention is based on the insight that the problem is caused by the fact that the liquid present between the glass and the beer mat exerts an attractive force on both the glass and the beer mat, caused by adhesion. In order to release from the glass, the beer mat would need to move downwards with respect to the glass, but then a subatmospheric pressure is caused between the glass and the beer mat, and the beer mat is pressed against the glass by the surrounding atmospheric pressure.
Based on this insight, the present invention proposes to provide at least the upper surface of the beer mat with a relief pattern. In order for the beer mat to be applicable at both sides, preferably both surfaces of the beer mat are provided with relief pattern.
In a suitable embodiment, the relief pattern is implemented in the shape of ribs. These ribs may be straight, but they may also for instance be curved. The ribs may be mutually parallel, and/or they may cross each other. The ribs may be radially directed. The ribs may be continuous, or interrupted. In another suitable embodiment the relief pattern is implemented in the shape of a multitude of elevations in the form of for instance a cylinder, pointed or truncated cone, pointed or truncated pyramid. By the features proposed by the present invention, it is achieved that air can flow more easy between the glass and the beer mat and can thus break the sealing caused by the liquid (water, beer).
Figure 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a beer mat 1 according to the present invention, in this embodiment the beer mat 1 has a traditional circular round contour with an upper surface 2. The upper surface 2 is provided with a relief pattern 3, in this case implemented as parallel ribs 4.
Figure 2 schematically shows (not to scale) a cross-section of the beer mat 1 of figure 1 . Because of the ribs 4, the upper surface 2 successively has higher parts 5 (mountains) and lower parts 6 (valleys). In practice, a glass (not shown in this figure) will be carried by the mountains 5. Water or beer may be sucked in between the lower surface of the glass and the tops of the mountains 5 in a capillair manner, but to a lesser extent between the lower surface of the glass and the valleys 6. Thus, the valleys 6 offer opportunity for air to flow in between the lower surface of the glass and the beer mat 1.
It is noted that the dimensions of the ribs or elevations are not critical. For instance, for the ribs a pitch of 5 mm is adequate, with a height of about 1 mm.