Stabalising & locking drinking device

Abstract

A stabilising drinking device, including a handle ( 21 ) attached within a set range of points to an outer ring ( 20 ) that pivots about a middle ring ( 30 ) that orthogonally pivots about a cradle ( 40 ) within which a cup ( 50 ) resides, and all parts made at such dimensions to enable the mechanism to lock when the handle is sufficiently turned to pour drinks into users' mouths.

1 . A mechanism for holding a vessel, e.g. a drinking vessel, comprising an outer ring supporting within it a middle ring and an inner ring, each of which is configured to pivot about an axis and that together form a pair of gimbals,
 wherein the inner ring is configured to hold the drinking vessel   wherein the outer ring has a handle or indicia indicating where the outer ring should be grasped so that the mechanism has a tipping axis about which the outer ring is tipped by rotating the forearm of a user holding the mechanism by the handle or at the indicia,   wherein the tipping axis is not aligned with the pivoting axis of either the middle ring or the inner ring, whereby, on tipping the outer ring about the tipping axis, (a) a vessel held by the inner ring or (b) an element that is attached to the inner ring and that extends above or below the inner ring is brought into engagement with both the middle ring and the outer ring, thereby causing the vessel or the said element to tip with the outer ring.   
   
   
       2 . A mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , which has a handle and wherein the tipping axis lies substantially along the diameter of the inner gimbal and passes though the handle. 
   
   
       3 . A mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , which has indicia on opposed sides of the outer ring indicating where the outer ring should be grasped and wherein the tipping axis lies approximately at right angle to a line joining the indicia. 
   
   
       4 . A mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tipping axis lies at an angle β of 10° to 80° to each of the pivoting axes of the inner and the middle rings. 
   
   
       5 . A mechanism as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the angle β is in the range 20° to 70°, e.g. 30° to 60°, such as approximately about 45°. 
   
   
       6 . A mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes a cradle attached to the inner ring for holding a vessel, which cradle extends below the inner ring, and wherein, on tipping the outer ring about the tipping axis, each of the middle ring and the outer ring are engaged by the cradle or a vessel held by the cradle, thereby causing the cradle to tip with the outer ring. 
   
   
       7 . A mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the arrangement is such that a cylindrical vessel having a diameter equal to the internal diameter of the inner ring or the said element attached to the inner ring is brought into engagement with both the middle ring and the outer ring when the outer ring has been tipped about the tipping axis by an angle greater than a threshold angle α that is at least 10°, e.g. at least 20° and optionally about 30°. 
   
   
       8 . A mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein adjacent rings are connected by means of arms on one ring engaging in holes in the adjacent ring. 
   
   
       9 . A mechanism as claimed in any  claim 8 , wherein projections are provided on the ends of the arms and the holes have corresponding recesses so that the arms with their projections can pushed into the holes to assemble the mechanism but in use the projections are not in register with the recesses. 
   
   
       10 . A mechanism as claimed in any  claim 8 , wherein the part of each arm that contacts its adjacent ring is a sharp edge.