Stemware anchor

Abstract

A stemware anchor that includes a plate having various surfaces and edges and a notch that is used for anchoring a piece of stemware on top of an external surface, such as a table. On the lower surface of the plate are one or more protruding members that are used for releasably gripping the external surface. When the base of a piece of stemware is slipped within the notch, the plate securely restrains the glass on the tabletop.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A stemware anchor comprised of:
 a plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, a top edge, two opposing side edges, and   a bottom edge;   a notch in the plate;   at least one surface-connecting member that protrudes from said lower surface.   
     
     
         2 . The stemware anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface-connecting member is magnetic. 
     
     
         3 . The stemware anchor of  claim 2 , wherein the surface-connecting member has an angled lower surface that is not parallel to the lower surface of the plate. 
     
     
         4 . The stemware anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface-connecting member is a suction cup. 
     
     
         5 . The stemware anchor of  claim 4 , wherein the surface-connecting member has an angled lower surface that is not parallel to the lower surface of the plate. 
     
     
         6 . The stemware anchor of  claim 1 , wherein a multiplicity of surface-connecting members protrude from the lower surface. 
     
     
         7 . The stemware anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the multiplicity of surface-connecting members are magnetic. 
     
     
         8 . The stemware anchor of  claim 7 , wherein the multiplicity of surface-connecting members each have an angled lower surface that i not parallel to the lower surface of the plate. 
     
     
         9 . The stemware anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the multiplicity of surface-connecting members are suction cups. 
     
     
         10 . The stemware anchor of  claim 9 , wherein the multiplicity of surface-connecting members each have an angled lower surface that is not parallel to the lower surface of the plate. 
     
     
         11 . The stemware anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the notch has a beveled edge. 
     
     
         12 . The stemware anchor of  claim 11 , wherein the beveled edge is also present on at least part of the bottom edge of the plate. 
     
     
         13 . The stemware anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the notch has a chamfered edge. 
     
     
         14 . The stemware anchor of  claim 13 , wherein the chamfered edge is also present on at least part of the bottom edge of the plate. 
     
     
         15 . The stemware anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the notch is U-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The stemware anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the plate contains a marking that identifies the anchor. 
     
     
         17 . A stemware anchor comprised of:
 a plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, a top edge, two opposing side edges, and a bottom edge;   a notch in the plate;   a multiplicity of surface-connecting protrusions attached to the lower surface of the plate,   wherein the surface-connecting protrusions each have their own angled lower surface that is not parallel to the lower surface of the plate;   
     
     
         18 . The stemware anchor of  17 , wherein the surface-connecting protrusions are magnetic. 
     
     
         19 . The stemware anchor of  claim 17 , wherein the notch has a beveled edge. 
     
     
         20 . A stemware anchor comprised of:
 a plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, a top edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, and a bottom edge;   a U-shaped notch disposed within the bottom edge of the plate, wherein the U-shaped notch has a beveled edge along the entire length of the notch;   a first magnetic disc that is located in the area defined by the first edge of the plate, the bottom edge of the plate, and the notch, wherein the first magnetic disc protrudes from the lower surface of the plate;   a second magnetic disc that is located in the area defined by the second side edge of the plate, the bottom edge of the plate, and the notch, wherein the second magnetic disc protrudes from the lower surface of the plate;   wherein the first magnetic disc and the second magnetic disc are not immediately adjacent to the notch, and wherein of the said magnetic discs has its own angled lower surface that is not parallel to the lower surface of the plate; and   wherein the top surface of the plate contains a marking.