[0001] This application is being filed on January 17, 2018, as a PCT International Patent application and claims priority to U.S. Utility patent application Serial No.

15,409,061, filed January 18, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Single-use or disposable wine glasses are used to save costs in manufacturing and shipping. Such wine glasses are commonly used for functions involving a large number of people, functions taking place in public or open spaces, and functions at which there is a tendency for more expensive wine glasses to break, get lost, or get stolen.

SUMMARY

[0003] The present disclosure is directed to improvements in wine glasses.

[0004] Certain aspects of the present disclosure are described in connection with single-use wine glasses. By "single-use" is not meant that the wine glass may be used only once, but rather that the intended life cycle is for the wine glass to be used once or a small number of times (e.g., fewer than thirty times) and then discarded. Single-use wine glasses can alternatively be thought of as disposable wine glasses, but again that term is somewhat of a misnomer, since any wine glass is technically disposable. Rather, the purpose of a single use/disposable wine glass is its relatively low cost to

manufacture and ship, an attribute that makes it more amenable to disposal after only a small amount of use. To keep costs low for both manufacturing and shipping, single- use wine glasses typically are not made out of glass, but rather out of less expensive and lighter materials, such as polymeric materials or paper based materials.

[0005] Although aspects and features of the wine glasses disclosed herein will be described in the context of disposable wine glasses specifically, it should be

appreciated that certain aspects disclosed are readily applicable to conventional (non- disposable) wine glasses, as well as other beverage containers.

[0006] Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a wine glass assembly, the assembly including a liquid vessel, a stem, and a base, the liquid vessel having a first mating feature, the base having a second mating feature, and the stem having a vertical axis, a first end having a third mating feature, and a second end opposite the first end on the vertical axis and having a fourth mating feature, the third and fourth mating features having identical configurations such that each of the third and fourth mating features is complementary to the first and second mating features. In some examples, the first and second mating features are female features, and the third and fourth mating features are male features. In some examples the first mating feature is an upward projecting recess in a bottom wall of the vessel. In some examples, the second mating feature is a downward projecting recess in a top surface of the base. In some examples, the stem is symmetrical about a horizontal axis of the stem that bisects the stem and is perpendicular to the vertical axis.

[0007] Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a wine glass having a wall defining a liquid vessel, the liquid vessel having an open top and a closed bottom, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface projecting outwardly in at least one rib around a horizontal cross-section of the vessel between the top of the vessel and the bottom of the vessel. In some examples, the outer wall projects outwardly in at least two annular ribs, each around a horizontal cross-section of the vessel between the top of the vessel and the bottom of the vessel. In some examples, a first portion of the wall is thicker than a second portion of the wall, the first portion of the wall being above the second portion of the wall, and the second portion of the wall being above or below the at least one rib. In some examples, a width of the vessel narrows from the open top to the closed bottom.

[0008] Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a wine glass having a wall defining a liquid vessel, the liquid vessel having an open top, a closed bottom, and a round horizontal cross-section that varies in diameter from the open top to the closed bottom, a horizontal cross-section of largest diameter being disposed between the open top and the closed bottom, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface projecting outwardly in at least one annular rib around a horizontal circumference of the vessel at a vertical position selected from: a horizontal

circumference between the open top and the horizontal cross-section of largest diameter; a horizontal circumference between the closed bottom and the horizontal cross-section of largest diameter; and the horizontal cross-section of largest diameter. In some examples, the outer surface projects outwardly in at least two annular ribs, each rib being disposed around a horizontal circumference of the vessel at a vertical position selected from: a horizontal circumference between the open top and the horizontal cross-section of largest diameter; and a horizontal circumference between the closed bottom and the horizontal cross-section of largest diameter.

[0009] Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a wine glass, the wine glass having a vertical height, an empty weight, and a material density and comprising a wall defining a liquid vessel, the liquid vessel being defined by an inner volume and a break resistance and having an open top and a closed bottom, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface projecting outwardly in at least one rib around a horizontal cross-section of the vessel between the top of the vessel and the bottom of the vessel, wherein the vertical height is greater than or equal to a vertical height of a reference wine glass and/or wherein the empty weight is less than an empty weight of the reference wine glass, and wherein the break resistance is greater than or equal to a break resistance of a liquid vessel of the reference wine glass, and wherein the material density is greater than or equal to a material density of the reference wine glass, and/or wherein the inner volume is greater than or equal to an inner volume of the liquid vessel of the reference wine glass. In some examples, the material density is determined by excluding the at least one annular rib; that is, the at least one annular rib can have a different material density than the rest of the vessel. In some examples, one or more of the foregoing parameter comparisons is true more generally as between one or more components of a wine glass assembly in accordance with the present disclosure, and the corresponding component or components of a reference wine glass assembly. For example, the "vertical height" as used above can alternatively refer to the vertical height of an entire wine glass assembly including a vessel, stem and base, with that vertical height, in some examples, being greater than or equal to the corresponding vertical height of a reference wine glass assembly having a liquid vessel, stem and base.

[0010] As used herein, the term "break resistance" refers to a minimum amount of force to be applied, under predefined conditions (e.g., predefined temperature, humidity, air pressure, etc.) to a predefined location on the wine glass in order to break the liquid vessel of the wine glass. Thus, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure, a disposable wine glass is provided that is stronger and lighter than a reference disposable wine glass made of the same material (e.g., both the disclosed wine glass and the reference wine glass can be made entirely of one of polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, etc.) and having equal or greater dimensions than the reference wine glass. It should be appreciated, therefore, that some advantages of the disclosed wine glasses include lower manufacturing and shipping costs, due to the wine glasses' relatively lower weight and use of relatively less material, without sacrificing, or with minimally sacrificing, or in some cases improving, the strength of the wine glass.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example liquid vessel of an example wine glass assembly in accordance with this disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 2 is an expanded cross-sectional view of the liquid vessel of FIG. 1 along the line A- A in FIG. 1 in the call-out region of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is an example stem of an example wine glass assembly of the present disclosure, the stem being configured to be assembled with the liquid vessel of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 4 is an example base of an example wine glass assembly of the present disclosure, the base being configured to be assembled with the stem of FIG. 3 and the liquid vessel of FIG. 1 to form an example wine glass assembly in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 5 is an example of a further embodiment of a liquid vessel of a further embodiment of an example wine glass assembly in accordance with this disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 6 is an expanded cross-sectional view of the liquid vessel of FIG. 5 along the line B-B in FIG. 5 in the call-out region of FIG. 5.

[0017] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a portion of a liquid vessel wall in accordance with the wine glass assemblies of the present disclosure. [0018] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a portion of a liquid vessel wall in accordance with the wine glass assemblies of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a portion of a liquid vessel wall in accordance with the wine glass assemblies of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a portion of a liquid vessel wall in accordance with the wine glass assemblies of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a portion of a liquid vessel wall in accordance with the wine glass assemblies of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a complete example wine glass assembly in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In the following Detailed Description, reference is made to the

accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be practiced. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example liquid vessel 100 of an example wine glass assembly in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a an expanded cross-sectional view of the liquid vessel of FIG. 1 along the line A- A in FIG. 1 in the call-out region of FIG. 1.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the liquid vessel 100 includes a top 102, a bottom 104, a bottom wall 106, and a side wall 108 integral with the bottom wall. The top 102 is open and the bottom 104 is closed due to the bottom wall 106. The top 102 and the bottom 104 define a vertical dimension of the vessel 100, with horizontal cross-sections of the vessel 100 being round or substantially round. It should be appreciated that in alternative examples, the vessel 100 need not have a round horizontal cross-section. For example, the horizontal cross section could oblong, square, star-shaped, etc. The bottom wall 106 and the side wall 108 define an interior volume 110 suitable for containing liquid, the liquid being pourable into and out of the interior volume 110 via the open top 102.

[0026] The bottom wall 106 includes a mating feature 112. In this example, the mating feature 112 is an upward projecting recess in the bottom wall 106. In this example, the mating feature 112 has a horizontal cross-section that is circular and radially symmetric with respect to a central vertical axis V of the vessel 100. In this example, the projecting nature of the mating feature 112 upward into the interior volume 110 can also function as a wine aeration mechanism when wine is poured into the vessel and is caused to splash against the mating feature 112. In alternative examples, the mating feature 112 does not project into the interior volume 110, and is simply a recess within the bottom wall 106.

[0027] The side wall 108 has an inner surface 116 abutting the interior volume 110, and an outer surface 118 at the exterior of the vessel 100. The outer surface 118 projects outward, i.e., horizontally away from the interior volume 110, in one or more ribs 114. In the example vessel 100, two ribs 114 are shown. In other examples, one rib, or three, four, five or more ribs can be provided. In the example shown, the ribs 114 are shown as annular ribs continuous about an entire horizontal circumference of the vessel 100; however, in other example, the ribs do not extend around the entire horizontal circumference. The projecting nature of the one or more ribs 114 can provide structural strength to the vessel 100, even if portions or all of the remainder of the side wall 108 and/or the bottom wall 106 are relatively thin. The one or more ribs 114 can be formed (e.g., molded) integrally with the remainder of the vessel 100. Alternatively, the one or more ribs 114 can be attached (e.g., with adhesive) to the side wall 108 after

manufacture of the vessel 100. In some examples, the one or more ribs 114 are made of a different material than the remainder of the vessel 100.

[0028] In the example vessel 100, towards the top 102, the side wall 108 includes a thickened portion 120 about the entire horizontal circumference of the vessel 100. The thickened portion 120 is an optional feature that can be provided in addition to the one or more ribs 114 and can provide further rigidity or structural strength to the vessel 100. [0029] FIG. 3 is an example stem 200 of an example wine glass assembly of the present disclosure, the stem 200 being configured to be assembled with the liquid vessel 100 of FIG. 1.

[0030] The stem 200 includes a shaft 202. At either end of the shaft 202 is a mating feature (204, 206). In this example, the two mating features 204 and 206 are identical tapered projections extending vertically (i.e., along the vertical axis y of the stem) in opposite directions from opposing ends of the shaft. The mating features (204, 206) can be formed integrally with the shaft 202, e.g., from the same material in the same molding process.

[0031] In this example, the stem shaft 202 is symmetrical about the horizontal axis x that bisects the shaft 202. Moreover, because the mating features 204 and 206 are structurally identical, the wine glass assembly can be assembled using either of the two vertical orientations of the shaft 202. The symmetry of the stem 200 can thus simplify assembly of the wine glass, as well as reduce manufacturing costs (e.g., the mold be simpler and therefore less costly) and shipping costs (e.g., symmetrical stems can take up less space and therefore be packed more efficiently in large numbers than asymmetrical stems).

[0032] Each of the mating features (204, 206) can be configured to mate with the mating feature 112 of the liquid vessel 100 in a secure manner, e.g., via an interference fit, a spring-clip grip, etc.

[0033] FIG. 4 is an example base 300 of an example wine glass assembly of the present disclosure, the base 300 being configured to be assembled with the stem 200 of FIG. 3 and the liquid vessel 100 of FIG. 1 to form an example wine glass assembly in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0034] The base 300 includes a horizontally flat or at least partially horizontally flat bottom surface 302 configured to rest on a surface, e.g., a table. That is, the base 300 is configured to provide a stand for the stem 200 and the liquid vessel 100 when the wine glass assembly of the vessel 100, the stem 200, and the base 300 is assembled. The base

300 includes a top surface 304. The top surface 304 includes a mating feature 306. In this example, the mating feature 306 is a centrally located downward projecting recess in the top surface 304 of the base 300. The mating feature 306 is configured to mate with either of the mating features 204, 206 of the stem 200. Thus, for example, the mating feature 206 is mated with the mating feature 306, and the mating feature 204 is mated with the mating feature 112 to form a wine glass assembly. In some examples, the vessel 100, the stem 200, and the base 300 can be reversibly assembled such that they can be disassembled and re-assembled after an initial assembly. The mating between the mating feature 306 and the mating feature 206 can be any suitable form of mating connection, e.g., a frictional fit, a spring clip fit, etc.

[0035] Each of the vessel 100, the stem 200, and the base 300 can be manufactured separately and shipped in large quantities. Shipping containers can be configured to hold a plurality of all three of the components 100, 200, 300 or alternatively a plurality of just one or two of the components.

[0036] FIG. 5 is an example of a further embodiment of a liquid vessel 400 of a further embodiment of an example wine glass assembly in accordance with this disclosure. FIG. 6 is an expanded cross-sectional view of the liquid vessel 400 of FIG. 5 along the line B-B in FIG. 5 in the call-out region of FIG. 5.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the liquid vessel 400 has an open top 402 and a closed bottom 404. The liquid vessel 400 includes an interior volume 412 for receiving liquid, the interior volume 412 being bounded on all sides and the bottom by a wall 406. The wall 406 has an outer surface 408 and an inner surface 410. In this example, the wall 406 also includes a thickened portion 414 towards the bottom 404 of the vessel 400. The thickened portion 414 includes a mating feature 416. The mating feature 416 is configured to mate with a complementary mating feature of a stem, such as either of the mating features 204 or 206 of the stem 200 (with the other mated to, e.g., the base 300). In the example vessel 400, the mating feature 416 is an upwardly projecting recess in the wall 406 of the vessel 400.

[0038] The vessel 400 has circular horizontal cross-sections that vary in size from the top 402 to the bottom 404. In this example, the largest horizontal cross-section is labeled in FIG. 5 by imaginary line E. Moving upwards or downwards from the imaginary line E, the horizontal cross-sections of the vessel 400 become increasingly small. [0039] The outer surface 408 projects outwardly in a horizontal annular rib 418. In this example, one horizontal annular rib 418 is provided. However, two, three, four or more parallel or substantially parallel annular ribs can alternatively be provided. In this example, the annular rib 418 is continuous about an entire horizontal circumference of the vessel 400. In alternative examples, the horizontal annular rib 418 can be discontinuous. In the example shown, the horizontal annular rib 418 is positioned above the maximum diameter of the vessel 400 (i.e., above the imaginary line E) and below the top 402. In other examples, the horizontal annular rib can be positioned between the imaginary line E and the bottom 404, and/or one or more horizontal annular ribs can be provided above the line E and one or more horizontal annular ribs can be provided below the line E.

[0040] The projecting nature of the one or more ribs 418 can provide structural strength to the vessel 400, even if portions or all of the remainder of the wall 406 are relatively thin. The one or more ribs 418 can be formed (e.g., molded) integrally with the remainder of the vessel 400. Alternatively, the one or more ribs 418 can be attached (e.g., with adhesive or via an interference fit) to the wall 406 after manufacture of the vessel 400. In some examples, the one or more ribs 418 are made of a different material than the remainder of the vessel 400.

[0041] In the example shown in FIG. 6, the outer surface 408 projects outwardly to form the solid rib 418, the curvature of the inner surface 410 remaining undisturbed at the vessel's horizontal cross-section at the solid rib 418.

[0042] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a portion of a liquid vessel wall in accordance with the wine glass assemblies of the present disclosure. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a portion of a liquid vessel wall in accordance with the wine glass assemblies of the present disclosure.

[0043] Referring to FIGS. 7 A and 7B, the wall has an outer surface 500 and inner surface 502.

[0044] With respect to FIG. 7 A, the wall includes an outwardly projecting rib 504.

Unlike the rib 418 shown in FIG. 6 or the ribs 114 shown in FIG. 2, the rib 504 is not entirely solid and includes a hollow portion 506, the inner surface 502 being bowed outward to create the hollow portion 506. With respect to FIG. 7B, the wall includes an outwardly projecting rib 508 that has a hollow portion 509. Unlike the rib 504, the inner surface 502 in FIG. 7A does not bow outward to form the hollow portion 509; rather, the hollow portion 509 is disposed within the wall between the outer surface 500 and the inner surface 502, and the inner surface 502 in FIG. 7B has an undisturbed curvature at the rib 508.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the hollow portion (506, 509) can be continuous about the entire horizontal circumference of the vessel at the rib (504, 508). Alternatively, the hollow portion (506, 509) can be discontinuous about the horizontal circumference of the vessel, interrupted by one or more solid pieces of the rib (504, 508), and/or interrupted by one or more discontinuities in the rib (504, 508) itself. The hollow portion (506, 509), can reduce the overall weight of the vessel and the amount of material used to manufacture the vessel without reduction, or with minimal reduction, in the strength of the vessel.

[0046] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a portion of a liquid vessel wall in accordance with the wine glass assemblies of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a portion of a liquid vessel wall in accordance with the wine glass assemblies of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a portion of a liquid vessel wall in accordance with the wine glass assemblies of the present disclosure.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 8, the vessel wall has an outer surface 510, an inner surface 512, and a cross-sectionally rectangular (or square) shaped solid (alternatively hollow or partially hollow) rib 514. Referring to FIG. 9, the vessel wall has an outer surface 520, an inner surface 522, and a cross-sectionally triangular shaped solid (alternatively hollow) rib 524. Referring to FIG. 9, the vessel wall has an outer surface 530, an inner surface 532, and a cross-sectionally trapezoidal shaped solid (alternatively hollow) rib 534. FIGS. 8-10 show merely some, non-limiting examples of cross-sectional rib shapes. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the alternative rib embodiments such as those shown in FIGS. 6, 7 A, 7B, 8, 9 and 10 can be incorporated into any vessel wall configuration, including but not limited to the vessel walls 108 and 406. [0048] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a complete (i.e., assembled) example wine glass assembly 600 in accordance with the present disclosure. The wine glass assembly 600 includes a liquid vessel 602 having an interior volume 604, a stem 608, and a base 610. In this example, the stem 608 is identical to the stem 200 of FIG. 3, and the base 610 is identical to the base 300 of FIG. 4. In addition, the liquid vessel 602 is identical to the liquid vessel 100 of FIG. 1, except the liquid vessel 602 includes just one annular, horizontally circumferential outwardly projecting rib 606, instead of the two annular ribs 114 shown in FIG. 1. It should be appreciated that the assembly 600 can be assembled using complementary mating features of the stem 608 and the vessel 602 on the one hand, and complementary mating features of the stem 608, and the base 610, in the manners described above with respect to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The vessel 602, the stem 608 and the base 610 can be assembled together after shipping and prior to use (e.g., by the end user), or alternatively before shipping, e.g., as a part of the manufacturing process. In some examples, the assembly 600 can be configured to be assembled and disassembled multiple times.

[0049] Still referring FIG. 11, the assembly 600 has a total vertical height hi and a total weight w when empty, i.e., when no liquid is contained in the vessel 602. The vessel 602 has a vertical height h ₂ , a maximum horizontal diameter di, and an average horizontal diameter d ₂ . In addition, the interior volume 604 has a volume v.

[0050] In some examples, because of the durability imparted to the wine glass assembly 600 on account of the one or more ribs 606, for a given material composition of the liquid vessel 602, one or more of the following are true: a) the height h ₂ is greater than or equal to the corresponding height of a liquid vessel of a reference wine glass assembly X, the liquid vessel of the reference wine glass assembly X having the same or more dense material composition as the vessel 602; b) the diameter di is greater than or equal to the corresponding diameter of the liquid vessel of the reference wine glass assembly X; c) the diameter d ₂ is greater than or equal to the corresponding diameter of the liquid vessel of the reference wine glass assembly X; and/or d) the volume v of the interior volume 604 is greater than or equal to the corresponding interior volume of the vessel of the reference assembly X; and in addition, at least one of the following is true: e) the weight w is less than the empty weight of the reference assembly X; and/or f) the break resistance of the vessel 602 is greater than or equal to the break resistance of the liquid vessel of the reference assembly X.

[0051] As used herein, that the "material composition" of the vessel 602 and the vessel of the reference assembly X are the same or the that the material composition of the vessel of the reference assembly X is less dense than that of the vessel 602 means that the material density of the vessel 602 is greater than or equal to the material density of the vessel of the reference assembly X.

[0052] Although various embodiments are described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that many modifications may be made thereto within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the disclosure in any way be limited by the examples provided.