Wine glass caddy

Abstract

The invention relates to a wine glass caddy which comprises a rigid horizontal base structure having upper and lower rigid parts spaced vertically apart by rigid spacer strips to form a vertically short space therebetween. The upper part includes at least one slot therein extending from a peripheral edge thereof. The slot is formed completely vertically through the upper part so that the slot communicates with the space. The slot and the space are open at a peripheral edge of the base structure. The space is sufficiently vertically tall to receive a base portion of a wine glass, and the slot is wide enough to receive a stem portion of the wine glass. A rigid cover is insertable onto the base structure and is tall enough to enclose the wine glasses. The cover includes a rigid vertical wall structure and a top. The wall structure includes a securing device connectible to the base structure for securing the rigid cover to the rigid base structure. The cover also includes a carrying handle.

1 . A wine caddy comprising: 
 a rigid horizontal base structure having upper and lower rigid parts spaced vertically apart to form a vertically short space therebetween, the upper part including at least one slot therein extending horizontally from a peripheral edge thereof, the slot formed completely vertically through the upper part to communicate with the short space, wherein the space and the slot are open at a peripheral edge of the base structure, the space being sufficiently vertically tall to receive a base portion of a wine glass, and the slot being wide enough to receive a stem portion of the wine glass; and    a rigid cover insertable onto the base structure and being tall enough to enclose the wine glass, the cover including a rigid vertical wall structure and a top, the wall structure including a securing device connectable to the rigid base structure for securing the rigid cover to the rigid base structure, the cover also including a manual carrying handle.    
   
   
       2 . The wine caddy according to  claim 1  wherein the rigid base structure further includes rigid spacer strips disposed between the upper and lower rigid parts to maintain the space.  
   
   
       3 . The wine caddy according to  claim 1  wherein the upper part comprises a plurality of slots, adjacent slots being separated by a spacer, wherein the slots are spaced far enough apart to prevent wine glasses disposed in respective slots from making contact with one another.  
   
   
       4 . The wine glass caddy according to  claim 3  wherein the upper part comprises opposing peripheral edges, and a plurality of slots extending from each of the peripheral edges.  
   
   
       5 . The wine glass caddy according to  claim 3  further including a separator configured to be insertable between wine glasses.  
   
   
       6 . The wine glass caddy according to  claim 1  wherein compressible cushioning is disposed in the space and arranged to contact base portions of the wine glasses.  
   
   
       7 . The wine glass caddy according to  claim 6  wherein the cushioning material is disposed on a top surface of the lower part.  
   
   
       8 . The wine glass caddy according to  claim 6  wherein the cushioning material is disposed on an underside of the upper part.  
   
   
       9 . The wine glass caddy according to  claim 1  wherein a lowermost edge of the cover's wall structure is coplanar with an underside of the lower part.  
   
   
       10 . A method of transporting wine glasses, the method employing a rigid base structure and a rigid cover, the base structure comprising upper and lower rigid parts spaced vertically apart to form a vertically short space therebetween, the upper part including at least one slot therein extending from a peripheral edge of the upper part, the slot being formed completely vertically through the upper part so that the slot communicates with the space, wherein the slot and the space are open at a peripheral edge of the base structure, the space being sufficiently vertically tall to receive a base portion of a wine glass, and the slot being wide enough to receive a stem portion of the wine glass, a rigid cover being insertable onto the base structure and tall enough to enclose the wine glasses, the cover including a rigid vertical wall structure and a top, the wall structure including a securing device connectible to the base structure for securing the rigid cover to the rigid base structure, the cover also including a carrying handle, the method comprising: 
 A) sliding at least one wine glass into the base structure by inserting a base of the wine glass into the space, with a stem of the wine glass extending upwardly through the slot,    B) inserting the cover onto the base to completely enclose the at least one wine glass,    C) securing the cover to the base structure, and    D) manually transporting the wine caddy by the handle.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the base structure includes a plurality of slots, and a plurality of wine glasses are slid into the base structure in step A, the method further including preventing the wine glasses from touching one another.