Stemmed glassware holder/coaster with integral spacer tab/coaster

Abstract

A coaster having a pocket for receiving the base of a stemmed glass. The pocket is configured in the coaster to receive the base of the stemmed glass in sliding engagement from a side of the coaster. The pocket has an opening to permit the stem of the glass to extend through upwardly, thereby enabling the coaster to be a more stable platform to reduce tipping over or spilling. A removable spacer tab is configured to be received within the pocket. The spacer tab has a circumferential arc edge that can engage the base rim of the stemmed glass to secure the base of the glass within the pocket to provide further stability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A coaster for supporting a stemmed drinking glass, the coaster comprising: a base member and an upper member, the upper member being attached to the base member to form a pocket between the base member and the upper member, an opening to the pocket being defined in the upper member, the pocket being adapted to receive therein a foot of the stemmed glass drinking vessel and the opening being adapted to receive therethrough a stem of the drinking glass. 
     
     
         2 . The coaster of  claim 1  in which the upper member is unattached from the base member at a portion of a side perimeter of the coaster to receive the foot of the stemmed glass drinking vessel for insertion into the pocket of the coaster. 
     
     
         3 . The coaster of  claim 2  in which a channel is defined in the upper member between the opening in the pocket and the side perimeter of the coaster to receive the stem of the drinking glass. 
     
     
         4 . A coaster for supporting a stemmed drinking glass, the coaster comprising:
 a base member;   an upper member;   and a spacer tab member,   the upper member being attached to the base member to form a pocket between the base member and the upper member, an opening to the pocket being defined in the upper member, the pocket being adapted to receive therein a foot of the stemmed glass drinking vessel and the opening being adapted to receive therethrough a stem of the drinking glass, the upper member being unattached from the base member at a portion of a side perimeter of the coaster to removably receive the spacer tab member in the pocket.   
     
     
         5 . The coaster of  claim 4  in which the spacer tab maintains a spacing between the upper member and the base member comprising the pocket. 
     
     
         6 . The coaster of  claim 4  in which a channel is defined in the upper member between the opening in the pocket and the side perimeter of the coaster to receive the stem of the drinking glass. 
     
     
         7 . The coaster of  claim 6  in which the spacer tab forms a raised edge at an outer perimeter thereof, the raised edge of the spacer tab being adapted to retain the foot of the stemmed glass drinking vessel received in the pocket when the spacer tab is inserted in the pocket. 
     
     
         8 . A coaster for supporting a stemmed drinking glass, the coaster comprising:
 a base member;   an upper member;   and a spacer tab member,   the base member having a circular shape, the upper member having a semi-circular shape coextensive with a portion of the base member, the upper member being attached to the base member to form a pocket therebetween, the upper member having an opening centrally positioned over the pocket and a channel extending from the opening to a side perimeter of the coaster, the pocket being adapted to receive therein a foot of the stemmed glass drinking vessel and the opening being adapted to receive therethrough a stem of the drinking glass, the upper member being unattached from the base member at a portion of a side perimeter of the coaster to removably receive the spacer tab member in the pocket.   
     
     
         9 . The coaster of  claim 8  in which the spacer tab comprises a tongue portion and a circular outer rim, the outer rim of the spacer tab having a circumferential edge coextensive with the base member when inserted into the pocket with the tongue portion lying along the base member, the spacer tab forming a raised edge at an outer perimeter thereof, the raised edge of the spacer tab being adapted to retain the foot of the stemmed glass drinking vessel received in the pocket when the spacer tab is inserted in the pocket. 
     
     
         10 . The coaster of  claim 9  in which the spacer tab is separable from the coaster and may be used to cover a top opening of the drinking vessel.