Multi-piece vessel

Abstract

A multi-piece vessel includes a receptacle and a base. The securing of the receptacle to the base can be facilitated by a rib and displaceable fingers such that the receptacle and the base, once secured to each other, tend not to become inadvertently separated. The vessel may include a base having a receiving portion having one or more displaceable fingers defining a receiving aperture. The vessel may also include a receptacle having an upper portion and an insertion portion, the insertion portion including a rib. The displaceable fingers are adapted to secure the insertion portion to the base when the insertion portion is inserted into the base.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A multi-piece vessel comprising: 
 a base having a receiving portion having one or more displaceable fingers;    a receptacle having an upper portion and an insertion portion;    said insertion portion including a rib;    said one or more displaceable fingers being adapted to engage said rib to secure said insertion portion in said base when said insertion portion is inserted into said base.    
     
     
         2 . The multi-piece vessel of  claim 1 , said receiving portion further having a shoulder stop, said insertion portion further having a shoulder wall, wherein said shoulder stop abuts said shoulder wall when said insertion portion is inserted into said base.  
     
     
         3 . The multi-piece vessel of  claim 1 , said base further having a contact surface adapted to support said base when said base is placed upon a flat surface, said base further having a lower surface, said base being formed such that said lower surface is spaced apart from a plane defined by said contact surface.  
     
     
         4 . The multi-piece vessel of  claim 3 , wherein said base is substantially dome-shaped.  
     
     
         5 . The multi-piece vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said rib is a peripheral rib.  
     
     
         6 . The multi-piece vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said base and said receptacle are formed of plastic.  
     
     
         7 . The multi-piece vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said multi-piece vessel is formed in the shape of a champagne flute.  
     
     
         8 . The multi-piece vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle is adapted to be stacked with other receptacles.  
     
     
         9 . The multi-piece vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more displaceable fingers define one or more gaps therebetween.  
     
     
         10 . The multi-piece vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more displaceable fingers consist of four displaceable fingers.  
     
     
         11 . The multi-piece vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more displaceable fingers consist of one displaceable finger.  
     
     
         12 . A base for use with a receptacle having an upper portion and an insertion portion, said insertion portion including a rib, said base comprising: 
 a receiving portion having one or more displaceable fingers;    said one or more displaceable fingers being adapted to engage the rib of the insertion portion of the receptacle to secure the insertion portion in said base when the insertion portion is inserted into said base, and forming a multi-piece vessel.    
     
     
         13 . A receptacle for use with a base having a receiving portion having one or more displaceable fingers, said receptacle comprising: 
 an upper portion and an insertion portion;    said insertion portion including a rib    said rib being adapted to engage the displaceable fingers of the receiving portion of the base to secure said insertion portion in the base when said insertion portion is inserted into the base, and forming a multi-piece vessel.    
     
     
         14 . A method of making a multi-piece vessel for holding a liquid, said method comprising: 
 providing a base having a receiving portion having one or more displaceable fingers;    providing a receptacle having an upper portion and an insertion portion;    said insertion portion including a rib;    said one or more displaceable fingers being adapted to engage said rib to secure said insertion portion in said base when said insertion portion is inserted into said base.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said receiving portion further has a shoulder stop, said insertion portion further having a shoulder wall, wherein said shoulder stop abuts said shoulder wall when said insertion portion is inserted into said base.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said base further has a contact surface adapted to support said base when said base is placed upon a flat surface, said base further having a lower surface, said base being formed such that said lower surface is spaced apart from a plane defined by said contact surface.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said base is substantially dome-shaped.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said rib is a peripheral rib.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said base and said receptacle are formed of plastic.