GB2289456A - Device for locating articles relative to one another - Google Patents

Description

2289456 Title - Device for locating articles relative to one another This

invention relates to a locating device whereby a convenient and effective combination of two or more articles, especially frangible articles, can be provided especially, but not exclusively, for marketing or similar purposes.

As hereinafter referred to a locating device in accordance with this invention has wide practical application in various fields of use and has particular application to a combination of a receptacle such as a drinking glass and a container such as a bottle e.g. of beer, wine or a spirit or the like so that they can be sold together or similarly provided ready for use.

Thus the device enables a receptacle and container to be removably-fitted together for convenient use and, particularly in the case of a drinking glass and bottle. whereby the glass is protected against breakage or damage e.g. during handling or stacking of cases or crates containing such glass/bottle combinations. Practical advantages in these and other respects will be apparent from the following description.

According to the invention there is provided a device for locating articles, especially frangible articles, relative to one another, in which the device comprises a central portion to which a plurality of outer portions are hingedly or foldably connected and wherein, in use, the central portion is placed on part of one article, such as the top of a bottle, to provide a head or bridge thereon, the hinged or foldable connection of the outer portions thereto enabling them to extend about at least part of said article, such as a bottle neck. in order to receive a second article, such as a receptacle or drinking glass, about the locating device so as to locate and space the two articles one relative to the other.

2 Further in accordance with the invention the device is of resilient material and/or formation whereby the second article, such as a receptacle or drinking glass, can be removably held in a spaced and cushioned manner in relation to said first mentioned article, such as a bottle neck.

Several practical examples of the locating device as applied or applicable to a glass/bottle combination are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one f orm of the locating device; Figures 2 are a perspective view and cross sectional view and 3 showing a modification of the device shown in Figure 1; Figures 4 are perspective views and cross sectional views 5, 6 and showing further modifications of the device of 7 Figure 1, and Figures 8 are underside perspective views each showing a to 10 variation in the form of the device.

Like parts are referred to by the same or similar reference numerals throughout the drawings, whilst other practical applications of the invention are referred to later.

Referring generally to the drawings, i.e. to Figures 2, 4, 6 and 8 to 10, the locating device 1 can be initially provided in a substantially flat or planar condition for compact packaging or storage prior to use.

In Figures 1 to 3 a convenient one piece form of the locating device 1 is shown in which a central portion providing a head or -1 3 bridge 10 has hingedly or f oldably connected to it outer portions in the form of locating members or spacers 11 which depend and locate about the upper part of the neck 2 of a bottle and removably receive thereabout an inverted glass 3. In the illustrated embodiment hinge lines 17 are provided. However, particularly when the locating device is of papier mache, fold lines are provided by physically folding the device.

For this purpose the opposed faces 12 of the spacers 11 are shown of recessed or concave form in a cylindrical manner for location about the bottle neck 2 and, for protection of the glass 3, are of resilient material and/or formation e.g. of suitable plastics material, or other material such as papier mache. Thus together with the head 10 they may be plastic vacuum formed as a unitary assembly with the spacers 11 radiating as wings from the head 10. The exterior recessed form of the spacers 11 at 13 enables them to be of suitable thickness so that the outer side edges 110 of the spacers 11 flexibly contact the inner wall of the inverted glass 3.

As will be seen in Figure 3 the inverted glass 3 is entirely spaced and cushioned f rom the bottle neck 2 so that in the event of shock or impact the glass 3 is prevented f rom contact with the bottle neck 2 which otherwise might result in breakage or cracking of the glass.

In Figures 2 and 3 the head or bridge 10 is provided with a recess or indentation 14 for spacing and cushioning the interior bottom 30 of the glass 3 from the upper end 20 of the bottle neck 2 or a cap or stopper thereon.

The external form and resilience of the spacers 11 is preferably such that the glass 3 has a gripping push-on fit about them so that the glass is firmly held in place on top of the bottle yet can be readily removed when required for use. Fitting of the 4 glass 3 also closes the spacers 11 about the bottle neck 2, especially where the glass is of internal taper form as shown.

The location device 1 enables a glass 3 to be effectively provided which is a preferred and more hygienic means of consuming bottled drinks as compared with a plastic receptacle such as a screw cap.

various arrangements of the protective locating device 1 may be employed. Thus as shown in Figures 4 and 5 the head 10 has a circular recess 15 at its underside to receive the upper end of the bottle neck or a cap thereon. The recess 15 is shown provided by an annular wall 150 e.g. produced during vacuum forming of the locating device.

In a development shown in Figures 6 and 7 the recess 15 which accommodates the bottle neck top 20 or cap, has a smaller recessed portion 155 serving as a spacer and cushion between the interior bottom 30 of the glass 3 and the-top 20 of the neck 2.

The number and formation of the spacers 11 may be varied as shown in Figures 8 to 10. In Figure 8 the three spacers 11 are recessed at 12 in a cylindrical manner as before but in Figure 9 five flat spacers 11 each have an internal rib 16 for locating contact at 160 with the bottle neck 2,, the flat spacers 11 flexing to accommodate the internal curvature of the glass 3 with a gripping fit. In Figure 10 each flat spacer 11 has a pair of spaced apart ribs 16 which are shown parallel to one another or may be mutually inclined to accommodate the taper form of a bottle neck.

Although particularly suited to receive a tapered glass 3, as shown in the drawings, the device 1 can be of a f orm to receive a parallel sided glass.

1 3 In every case firm removable mounting of a glass 3 in a protectively cushioned manner on a bottle is provided whilst the mounted glass and bottle provides an attractive and appealing interfitting combination. The locating device 1 can also be very inexpensively produced as a throwaway item after use.

In the case of receptacles and containers for potable liquids and for various other purposes, the receptacles and containers may be made of any suitable material such as metal or ceramic or plastic materials.

In the wider practical application of the invention it may be applied to the combination of two or more packages or the like of food, e.g. in a complementary manner for point of sale display. Further application may be to household items generally such as detergents and other cleaning materials.

In still further practical application the invention can be applied to the provision and display of industrial components such as to accessories or spare parts again in a complementary manner and with or for various other articles which may, for example, be power or other tools.

As will be appreciated very many instances of use of the invention are possible in numerous ways.

In the described embodiments of the invention, the locating device has been applied to a bottle top and a container such as a glass then placed over the top of the bottle including part of the neck so that the locating device is sandwiched between the neck and glass. In the alternative, the locating device can be placed within a glass first and subsequently placed on, pressed firmly to and locked on the bottle top. By using the locating device in this way, the glass complete with locating device can be machine loaded onto the bottle.

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Claims (1)

1. A device for locating articles, especially frangible articles, relative to one another, in which the device comprises a central portion to which a plurality of outer portions are hingedly or foldably connected and wherein, in use, the central portion is placed on part of one article, such as the top of a bottle, to provide a head or bridge thereon, the hinged or foldable connection of the outer portions thereto enabling them to extend about at least part of said article, such as a bottle neckt in order to receive a second article, such as a receptacle or drinking glass, about the locating device so as to locate and space the two articles one relative to the other.

   2 A device for locating articles relative to one another and according to claim 1 wherein the central portion and outer portions can be initially provided in a substantially flat or planar condition for compact packaging or storage prior to use.

   3 A device for locating articles relative to one another and according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the device is of resilient material and/or formation whereby the second article, such as a receptacle or drinking glass, can be removably held in a spaced and cushioned manner in relation to said first mentioned article such as a bottle neck.

   A device for locating articles relative to one another and according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein, in position of use, the device is of an external form such that reception of the second article, such as a receptacle or drinking glass, closes the outer portions of the device about the first mentioned article such as a bottle neck especially where the second article is of internal taper form.

   9 1 z 7 A device for locating articles relative to one another and according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the external form of the device when fitted in position of use is such that it receives the second article, such as a receptacle or drinking glass, with a gripping push-on fit.

   6 A device for locating articles relative to one another and according to any of the preceding claims wherein the outer portions are of recessed or concave form for locating engagement about at least part of said first mentioned article such as a bottle neck.

   7 A device for locating articles relative to one another and according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the outer portions are provided with a raised formation or ribbing for locating engagement about at least part of said first mentioned article such as a bottle neck.

   8 A device for locating articles relative to one another and according to any of the preceding claims wherein the central portion of the device providing the head or bridge is f ormed such as by indentation or recessing so as to provide central spacing between the articles such as between the interior bottom of a receptacle or drinking glass and the upper end of a bottle neck or between and/or about the latter.

   9 A device for locating articles, especially frangible articles, such as a drinking glass and bottle, relative to one another when substantially as herein described with reference to any of the several embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings.