Decanter handle structure

Abstract

A one-piece plastic handle structure for supporting a glass decanter such as for dispensing coffee and similar liquids. The handle structure is adapted to be removably engaged with the glass decanter and includes means for releasably embracing the decanter neck and means for protecting the bowl portion of the decanter bowl from injury.

I claim: .[.1. For use with a glass decanter having a globular bowl portion terminating in an upper distal outturned portion defining a pouring spout, a handle structure comprising a one-piece element defining a handle adapted to be grasped for manually carrying the decanter, a pair of arcuate gripping means having connecting portions fixedly connected to a common fixed upper portion of the handle and defining deflectible gripping portions spaced apart forwardly of said handle upper portion and extending at least approximately 270° whereby said gripping means is adapted for yieldingly firmly embracing the decanter subjacent said pouring spout, and an annular band extending in a continuous arc from a lower portion of the handle and having a large diameter preselected to embrace and protect the bowl portion of a decanter at the portion thereof having largest horizontal cross section for cooperation with said gripping elements in stabilizing the handle in retained association with the decanter, said element being formed of a material having limited resilience, the opening of said annular band being unobstructed axially thereof whereby said handle structure is mountable on said decanter by firstly moving said annular band vertically about the decanter to said decanter portion of largest cross section and then swinging the gripping means to embrace laterally opposed portions of said upper decanter portion below said pouring spout..]. .[.2. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said carrier is formed of substantially homogeneous synthetic plastic material..]. .[.3. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said gripping means comprise arcuate walls having a curvature preselected to be generally similar to the curvature of the decanter subjacent said upper portion..]. .[.4. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said handle comprises an elongated, substantially straight portion of said handle structure..]. .[.5. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said handle extends angularly to the axis of said annular band..]. .[.6. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said portions of the gripping means are arcuate and axially parallel, and said handle 
     
        extends angularly thereto..]. .[.7.  The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said gripping means define similar arcuate elements inturned toward each other..]. .[.8. The decanter handle structure of claim 7 wherein said inturned elements extend at least approximately 60° toward each other..]. .[.9. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said decanter includes a tubular neck subjacent said outturned portion and said gripping means has a height parallel to the lengthwise extent of said decanter neck at least one-half said lengthwise extent..]. .[.10. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said gripping means is arcuate and said annular band and gripping means are generally coaxially spaced..]. .[.11. The decanter handle structure of claim 10 wherein said arcuate gripping means has a height parallel to the axis thereof substantially greater than the height of said annular band parallel to said axis..]. .[.12. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said gripping means extends downwardly from said outturned portion of the decanter to overlie said bowl portion..]. .[.13. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said gripping means is provided with an outturned upper edge adapted to engage the underside of the distal outturned portion of the decanter..]. .[.14. The decanter carrier of claim 1 wherein said gripping elements comprise a pair of segmentally cylindrical walls having a radius slightly smaller than the radius of curvature of the decanter neck, said wall being resiliently spread by the engagement thereof with the decanter neck to provide the firm embracing of the neck thereby..]. .[.15. The decanter carrier of claim 14 wherein the axes of curvature of the respective segmentally cylindrical walls are spaced from each other..]. .[.16. The decanter carrier of claim 14 wherein the axes of curvature of the respective segmentally cylindrical walls are spaced closely adjacent the axis of the annular band..]. .[.17. The decanter carrier of claim 1 wherein the annular band is provided with spaced end portions joined to said handle and defining a gap in the annular configuration thereof permitting limited circumferential extensibility off the band in accommodating itself to the configuration of the bowl portion of the decanter..]. .[.18. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said gripping means comprises means for partially encircling the decanter neck having a gap intermediate the handle and a portion of the gripping means spaced most remotely from the handle..]. .[.19. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said gripping means comprises means for partially encircling the decanter neck having a gap at a portion of the gripping means spaced most remotely from the handle..]. .[.20. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said annular band is spaced from said gripping means a distance preselected to dispose the annular band superjacent a position of maximum diameter of the globular bowl portion of the decanter with the gripping means disposed about the decanter subjacent said outturned portion of the decanter..]. .[.21. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said annular band is spaced from said gripping means a distance preselected to dispose the annular band subjacent a position of maximum diameter of the globular bowl portion of the decanter with the gripping means disposed about the decanter subjacent said outturned portion of the decanter..]. .[.22. The decanter handle structure of claim 1 wherein said annular band is spaced from said gripping means a distance preselected to dispose the annular band accurately about the maximum diameter of the globular bowl portion of the decanter closely with the gripping means disposed about the decanter subjacent said outtruned portion of the decanter. .Iadd. 23. For use with a glass decanter having a globular bowl portion terminating in an upper distal outturned portion defining a pouring spout, a handle structure comprising a one-piece element defining a handle adapted to be grasped for manually carrying the decanter, a pair of arcuate gripping means having connecting portions fixedly connected to a common fixed upper portion of the handle and defining deflectible gripping portions spaced apart forwardly of said handle upper portion and extending at least approximately 270° whereby said gripping means is adapted for yieldingly firmly embracing the decanter subjacent said pouring spout, and an annular band extending in a continuous arc from a lower portion of the handle and having a large diameter preselected to embrace and protect the bowl portion of a decanter at the portion thereof having largest horizontal cross section for cooperating with said gripping elements in stabilizing the handle in retained association with the decanter, said element being formed of a material having limited resilience, the opening of said annular band being unobstructed axially thereof whereby said handle structure is mountable on said decanter by firstly moving said annular band vertically about the decanter to said decanter portion of largest cross section and then swinging the gripping means to embrace laterally opposed portions of said upper decanter portion below said pouring spout, said gripping portions each defining a segmentally cylindrical lower portion and an outturned upper end portion, said upper portion of the handle having a height equal to that of said cylindrical portion and being spaced radially outwardly of said upper decanter portion by said connecting portions of the gripping means, said handle upper portion defining a planar top surface and a stepped lower surface, said handle including a grasping portion defining an upper surface continuing uninterruptedly outwardly and downwardly from said planar top surface, said grasping portion and upper handle portion further defining a U-shaped downwardly opening recess spaced outwardly of the connecting portions of the gripping means by at least approximately half the outward extent of the handle upper portion away from said connecting portions. .Iaddend.