Holder for beverage containers

Abstract

A beverage container holder is able to hold mugs and stemmed glasses in the same space at different times, the holder 21 is mounted on a rail 22 using clamp assemblies 23 and 24 at each end. The holder may be tilted away for storage in a plane extending downward from the rail and brought up to a generally horizontal position for use. A cup 25 is positioned in a first drop down passageway 26 and a stemmed glass 27 is positioned in a second drop down passageway 28 . The glass entry position is shown in phantom at 29 . The respective stem entry passageways are shown at 30 and 31 . The upper end 32 of the passageways 30 and 31 is made wide enough so that the bottom part of a handle 33 of a mug may be located as shown.

1 . A beverage container holder, suitable for receiving and holding a stemmed glass containing beverage, the holder comprising a holder body having a narrow stem side entry passageway, a glass drop down passageway communicating with the side entry passageway and a glass seat, the glass seat having a stem up/down passageway, the configuration, relative dimensions and relative positions of the passageways and seat enabling the stem of the stemmed glass containing beverage, to travel laterally through the stem entry passageway, thereafter into the drop down passageway and then drop down onto the seat with part of the stem in the up/down passageway and without spilling the beverage, the glass being removable from the holder in the reverse travel.  
   
   
       2 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the drop down passageway is dimensioned so as to be “universal” catering for common beverage containers of the hand-held type and generally of a cylindrical shape as well as stemmed glasses.  
   
   
       3 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the drop down passageway is defined by an upper means above the seat constraining sideways movement of a cylindrical container.  
   
   
       4 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the drop down passageway is of uniform section having a top entry and a side wall so that cylindrical containers may drop down onto a seat for cylindrical containers the seat for cylindrical containers surrounding the seat for stemmed glasses.  
   
   
       5 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the drop down passageway is of uniform section having a top entry and a side wall so that cylindrical containers may drop down onto a seat for cylindrical containers the seat for cylindrical containers surrounding the seat for stemmed glasses, the two seats being part of a base, the cylindrical container seat being an annular surface disposed around the stem up/down passageway, the stem up/down passageway comprises a hole slightly wider than common glass stems and being located in the centre of the annular cylindrical container seat, the hole in the base being curved at its upper periphery, the glass seat comprising the upper periphery of the hole.  
   
   
       6 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the stemmed glass seat comprises a countersunk upper portion of the stem up/down passageway so that a portion of the glass just above the stem is supported in the countersunk portion.  
   
   
       7 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the stemmed glass seat comprises a countersunk upper portion of the stem up/down passageway so that a portion of the glass just above the stem is supported in the countersunk portion, the countersunk portion being stepped so that glasses matching one of the steps in shape may be seated and supported around a region just above the juncture of the stem and the body of the glass.  
   
   
       8 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the stem entry passageway has an upper end which is wide enough at its upper end to cater for handles of mugs so that the handle of a mug protrudes into the upper end thereof while the mug is held in the holder.  
   
   
       9 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the holder includes mounting means so that the holder may be moved to a storage position when not in use.  
   
   
       10 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the holder has a front and a back and is adapted to hold multiple beverage containers and comprises an upper section and a base section, the upper section having spaced container holes with stem entry passageways extending from the holes to the front, the base section having stem up/down passageways located below the holes.  
   
   
       11 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the holder has a front and a back and is adapted to hold multiple beverage containers and comprises an upper section and a base section, the upper section having spaced container holes with stem entry passageways extending from the holes to the front, the base section having stem up/down passageways located below the holes, the upper section and the base section being separated by a space so that containers seated on the base may be viewed through the space.  
   
   
       12 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the holder has a front and a back and is adapted to hold multiple beverage containers and comprises an upper section and a base section, the upper section having spaced container holes with stem entry passageways extending from the holes to the front, the base section having stem up/down passageways located below the holes, the upper section and the base section being separated by a space so that containers seated on the base may be viewed through the space, the back of the holder having mounting means enabling the holder to be secured to a support.  
   
   
       13 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the holder has a front and a back, the stem entry passageway extending from the front to the back and the holder having a swivel mounting at the back so that the holder may extend horizontally when in use and swing to a vertical storage position when not in use.  
   
   
       14 . A beverage container holder according to  claim 1  wherein the holder is multi purpose beverage container holder having spaced recesses each being suitable for receiving and holding a beverage container selected from the following; a stemmed glass, a non-stemmed glass or a cup with a handle in the same space at different times, the selected container containing beverage, the holder comprising a holder body having a front and a back, the back having a mounting so the holder may be secured to a support, each recess having a narrow stem side entry passageway, a container drop down passageway communicating with the side entry passageway and a container seat, the container seat having a stem up/down passageway, the configuration, relative dimensions and relative positions of the passageways and seat enabling the stem of a stemmed glass containing beverage, to pass laterally through the stem entry passageway, thereafter into the drop down passageway and then drop down onto the seat with part of the stem in the up/down passageway and without spilling the beverage, the drop down passageway being defined by an upper means above the seat preventing tipping movement of a non-stemmed container held in the recess instead of the stemmed glass and the stem entry passageway being wide enough to pass a handle of a cup when a cup with a handle is held in the recess, the seat having an annular seat section surrounding the stem up/down passageway so a stemmed glass may be seated on the annular seat section along a corresponding annular region around the stem of the glass.  
   
   
       15 . A beverage container holder able to hold separate containers in spaced apart recesses, at least one recess being able to receive and hold a stemmed glass or a non-stemmed glass in the same space at different times, the glasses containing beverage, the holder comprising a holder body having a front and a back, the back having a mounting so the holder may be secured to a support, the at least one recess having a narrow stem side entry passageway leading from the front toward the back, a glass drop down passageway communicating with the side entry passageway and a glass seat, the glass seat having a stem up/down passageway, the configuration, relative dimensions and relative positions of the passageways and seat enabling the stem of the stemmed glass containing beverage, to pass laterally through the stem entry passageway, thereafter into the drop down passageway and then drop down onto the seat with part of the stem in the up/down passageway and without spilling the beverage, the drop down passageway being defined by an upper means above the seat constraining sideways movement of a non-stemmed glass held in the holder instead of the stemmed glass.