Stemware Stabilizer

Abstract

A stemware stabilizer apparatus engages a piece of stemware between the stem and foot of the stemware to prevent tipping over. The stabilizer apparatus includes a stabilizer body having an upper side and a lower side. A contact surface is defined on the lower side of the stabilizer body. The contact surface is positioned to contact the upper side of a foot on stemware. A stem receiver slot is defined in the stabilizer body allowing passage of the stem. The stem protrudes upwardly through the slot when the apparatus is installed on the stemware. A concave chamber is defined by the lower side of the stabilizer body shaped to at least partially receive the foot. The stabilizer body applies a downward force against the foot and includes a sufficiently heavy material to prevent the stemware from tipping over under some conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for stabilizing a wine glass, the wine glass including a foot, a stem, and a bowl, the apparatus comprising:
 a stabilizer body having an upper side, a lower side, a vertical center axis and an outer edge;   a stem receiver slot defined through the stabilizer body from the upper side to the lower side, the stem receiver slot positioned on the stabilizer body from the outer perimeter radially inwardly toward the center axis of the stabilizer body, the stem receiver slot shaped to allow radial passage of the wine stem toward the center axis;   a bottom face on the stabilizer body at the lowest axial position on the stabilizer body, wherein the stabilizer body has a fastener comprising an adhesive disposed on the bottom face of the stabilizer body; and   an open-bottom, concave foot chamber defined below the lower side on the stabilizer body, the foot chamber defining a volume shaped to at least partially receive the foot on the wine glass when the stem is received in the stem receiver slot.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a stem support positioned on the stabilizer body at an interior end of the stem receiver slot, wherein the stem support engages the stem when the stem is positioned in the stem receiver slot. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a contact surface on the lower side of the stabilizer body, the contact surface positioned to engage the foot on the wine glass and to apply a downward force against the foot on the wine glass when the stem is positioned in the stem receiver slot. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the foot chamber is open to the stem receiver slot. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a foot receiver opening defined in the outer edge of the stabilizer body, the foot receiver opening including a foot receiver opening width. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the foot receiver opening is shaped to allow radial passage of the foot into the foot chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the foot receiver opening width is greater than the diameter of the foot on the wine glass. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising an outer perimeter on the bottom face, wherein the adhesive is disposed on the outer perimeter of the bottom face. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the stem support is vertically offset from the contact surface by a stem support vertical offset distance between about 1.0 mm and about 10 cm. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the contact surface is axially offset from the stem support by a distance between about 1.0 mm and about 10.0 cm. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the contact surface is axially offset from the stem support by a distance between about 5.0 mm and about 15.0 mm. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for installation on a wine glass to prevent the wine glass from tipping over, the wine glass including a foot, a stem, and a bowl, the apparatus comprising:
 a stabilizer body having an upper side and a lower side;   a stem receiver slot defined in the stabilizer body, the stem receiver slot shaped to receive the stem on the wine glass;   a concave, foot chamber defined by the lower side of the stabilizer body, the foot chamber defining a volume shaped to at least partially receive the foot on the wine glass, wherein the stabilizer body is axially moveable along the stem of the wine glass when the stem is received in the stem receiver slot;   a bottom face on the stabilizer body at the lowest position on the stabilizer body; and   a fastener comprising an adhesive disposed on the bottom face of the stabilizer body.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the fastener comprises a magnet. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for stabilizing stemware, the stemware having a foot, a stem rising from the foot, and a bowl on the stem, the apparatus comprising:
 a body having an upper side, a lower side, an outer edge and a transverse axis;   a stem receiver slot defined in the body extending from a location on the outer edge toward the axis, the stem receiver slot terminating at a stem support on the body;   a concave, open-bottom foot chamber defined below the lower side, the foot chamber defining a volume shaped to at least partially receive the foot;   a bottom face on the lower side of the body positioned to engage the foot and to apply downward force against the foot; and   a fastener comprising an adhesive disposed on the bottom face of the stabilizer body.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the contact surface is axially offset from the stem support by an axial distance between about 1.0 mm and about 30.0 mm.