Description

The present invention refers, in general, to a receptacle. More particularly, the present invention refers to a glass with particular characteristics of resistance in case of unintentional bumps and falls which are typically accidental.

As it is known, one of the major problems encountered when using glasses in frangible material, such as glass and ceramics, is the possible and easy break due to shocks or falls.

In order to try to avoid easy breakage, the most commonly used glass beakers, such as the classic table glasses, are basically made with an important thickness, with aesthetic results that are not always pleasant.

Consequently, glasses made of unbreakable glass have been introduced, and they have a greater resistance to breakage, but they can still break.

In order to avoid accidental breaking of the glasses as much as possible, different materials such as plastic or other unbreakable materials are used.

While on one hand the random breaks of glasses made in this way are practically zeroed, the same materials do not guarantee the incorruptibility of the glass which ensures hygiene and cleaning even after numerous uses and washes, keeping the taste of the beverage contained in the glass unaltered.

An object of the invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and others by making a glass which cannot be subject to easy breakage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a glass that guarantees excellent hygiene and cleanliness standards also following numerous uses and consequent washing, while maintaining the taste of the beverage contained in the glass unaltered. A further object of the invention is to provide a glass which is pleasant from an aesthetic point of view, regardless of the thickness and shape of the containment walls.

The above-mentioned objects and still others are reached according to the invention through a container made of glass or ceramic and a cover made of hard and unbreakable material, e.g. plastic, wood or metal.

The glass according to the invention is characterized by the fact of further comprising an intermediate insert inserted between the container and the cover. In particular, said intermediate insert is made of a material having elastic properties, for example, in silicone or soft elastic rubber, so as to cushion any impulses suffered by the outer casing due to impacts or falls of the same glass, impulses that, without the intermediate insert, would have passed to the glass or ceramic container, more internal, so as to avoid breakage.

In particular, at least one part of the outer surface of the container is in contact with the intermediate insert, and at least one part of the outer surface of the intermediate insert is in contact with the cover. Advantageously, the glass according to the invention may provide that the entire outer surface of the container is in contact with the intermediate insert. In this way, the intermediate insert cushions the impulses, essentially cancelling them out against the container.

In order to have an optimal yield in terms of cushioning, the entire outer surface of the intermediate insert may be in contact with the cover.

In order to avoid breakage of the upper edge of the container, the cover may comprise an upper terminal portion which protrudes above with respect to the upper edge of the container and to the end of the intermediate insert.

Advantageously, the cover may comprise an upper terminal portion in which a recess is formed in correspondence of which the corresponding portion of intermediate insert is missing so as to let free and accessible a portion of the container.

Said portion of the container may be flat, in order to make drinking easier for the user.

The glass according to the invention may have a hollow conical shape with a base bottom, so as to conform as a classic type table glass.

Alternatively, the glass according to the invention is shaped like a goblet and comprises a foot, a step connected to the foot, and a truncated spherical shell joined to the stem and hollow for receiving the intermediate insert and the container.

A cone trunk may be joined to the truncated spherical shell, in order to increase the volume of the glass.

The several parts, i.e. the foot, the stem and the truncated spherical shell may be attachable to each other and detachable from each other, in order to have a detachable glass, which can be used without foot or stem, depending on requirements.

In order to obtain a robust and difficult to corrupt cover, the same cover may be made of plastic or other unbreakable materials.

Further features and details of the invention will be better understood from the following specification which is provided by way of a non-restricting example as well as from the annexed drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic top axonometric view of a glass according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the glass of figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the glass of figure 1 , sectioned according to plane A-A as shown in figure 2;

Figure 4 is the view of a part of figure 3, indicated by C in the same figure 3;

Figure 5 is a schematic top axonometric view of a glass according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic side view of the glass of figure 5;

Figure 7 is a schematic side view of the glass of figure 5, sectioned according to plane B-B as shown in figure 6;

Figure 8 is the view of a part of figure 7, indicated by D in the same figure 7. With reference to the annexed Figures, in particular to Figures from 1 to 4, reference number 10 denotes a glass, usable as the classic table cup, comprising a glass inner container 12 and an outer plastic casing 14, separated from each other by an intermediate silicone insert 16.

The outer casing 14, as shown in Figures from 1 to 3, has a particular outer shape, comprising a series of cylindrical sections, conical sections and circular developing notches, overlapping one another.

The casing 14, which may be made of a material other than plastic, for example made of wood or metal or other unbreakable material, has an internal form which is homologous to that of the glass container 12.

The intermediate insert 16 is in contact both with the container 12 and with the casing 14 and may possibly also be made of a material other than silicone, namely of rubber or other material with elastic properties.

In the event of accidental fall or impact of the beaker 10, the elastic properties of the intermediate insert 16 allow to reduce and substantially damp the impact pulse immediately and passed from the envelope 14 to the container 2. As shown in Figure 3 and even more clearly in Figure 4, the upper portion, of the beaker 10 provides that the upper terminal portion 18 of the casing 14 protrudes with respect to the edge 20 of the glass container 12 and the end 22 of the intermediate silicone insert 16.

Thanks to this configuration also the edge 20 of the container 12 is protected by the upper end portion 18.

Moreover, in order to comfortably drink and perceive the contact with the smooth surface of the glass, the user of the glass 10 can rest his / her lips directly on the container 12 in correspondence with a flat portion 24.

Indeed, in one part of the upper end portion 18 of the casing 14 a relief 26 is provided at which the corresponding intermediate silicone insert portion 16 is also missing, leaving a part of the container 12 constituting the flat portion 24 free and accessible.

According to a variant of the invention a beaker 110 in the form of a goblet comprises a glass inner container 112 and an outer plastic casing 114, separated from each other by an intermediate silicone insert 1 16.

The outer casing 114, as shown in Figures from 5 to 7, has an external goblet shape, comprising a foot 130 and a stem 132 from which a truncated spherical cap 134 rises, terminating at the top with a truncated cone 136.

The casing 114, namely the truncated spherical cap 134 and the truncated cone 136, has an inner recess with a shape homologous to that of the glass container 112.

The intermediate insert 116 is in contact both with the container 112 and with the casing 114.

Similarly to the beaker 10, also for the beaker 110, in case of accidental fall or bump, the elastic properties of the intermediate insert 116 allow to immediately reduce and substantially damp the impact pulse, passed from the casing 114 to the container 112.

As shown in Figure 7 and even more clearly in Figure 8, the upper portion of the beaker 110 provides that the upper end portion 118 of the casing 114 protrudes with respect to the edge 120 of the glass container 112 and the end 122 of the intermediate insert 116 in silicone.

Thanks to this configuration also the edge 120 of the container 12 is protected by the upper end portion 118.

Also in the case of the glass 110 described here, in order to comfortably drink and perceive the contact with the smooth surface of the glass, the user of the glass 1 10 can rest his / her lips directly on the container 112 in correspondence with a flat portion 124.

In fact, in a part of the upper end portion 118 of the casing 1 14 a relief is provide 126 at which the corresponding intermediate insert portion in silicone 116 is also missing, leaving a part of the container 112 constituting the flat portion 124 free and accessible.

Also for this embodiment, the casing 114 can be made of a material other than plastic, for example made of wood or metal or other unbreakable material.

The intermediate insert 112 may possibly also be made of a material other than silicone, namely of rubber or other material with elastic properties.

A technician of this sector can make changes or variants that are to be considered as included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

The container can, for example, also be made of ceramic or other material which, although brittle, can be easily washed and maintains the taste of the beverage unaltered.

Moreover, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the beaker can conform in the form of a coffee cup or a teacup, for example being made of glass or ceramic as per the foregoing.

A glass similar to the glass 110 previously described may provide that the outer envelope may be formed of several separable pieces, so that it can act both as a goblet and a table glass, by detaching the foot and the stem.

Moreover, the recess in the outer casing may be absent or a different configuration may be provided to allow the user to drink even with the mouth in contact with the same outer casing.