Support device for bottle-holder containers

Abstract

 Support device (10) for a bottle-holder container (13) with respect to an edge (11) of a supporting plane (12), comprising an annular element (17) in which the bottle-holder container (13) to be supported is inserted, and a constraining mechanism (16) that cooperates selectively with the edge (11) in order to removably constrain the annular element (17) to the edge (11). The constraining mechanism (16) and the annular element (17) are made in distinct parts.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention concerns a support device for a bottle-holder container, also called bucket, used to accommodate bottles of wine or other drinks and to keep them at a desired temperature. In particular, the support device according to the present invention is of the type able to be constrained, removably, to the edge of a supporting plane, such as for example a table.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Bottle-holder buckets are known, equipped with means that allow them to be constrained suspended at the edge of a supporting plane, for example a table. The buckets are used to keep the contents of a bottle at a desired temperature, for example using ice or other cooling systems.

[0003] Known support means normally work by means of counterweight and comprise an annular element, circular or polygonal in shape, into which the bucket is inserted, and three or more rods or bars made in a single piece with the annular element. The rods are taken into cooperation with the upper and lower surfaces of the table, so as to constrain the annular element to the table and keep it correctly positioned, suspended, along the edge of the table.

[0004] With known devices, when the annular element is to be installed, replaced or removed with respect to the table, it is necessary to intervene on the rods in order to constrain or release the support device to/from the edge of the table.

[0005] The correct execution of these operations requires care and manual ability in order to ensure the correct constraint and release of the device to/from the edge of the table. Furthermore, these operations to constrain/release the device can even last several seconds, with the risk of causing a disturbance to those seated at the table.

[0006] Another disadvantage which businessmen working in this field complain of is that it is substantially impossible to use buckets of different shapes and sizes with the same support device, so that substantially with every modification of the shape and size of the bucket it is necessary to use a different support device.

[0007] One purpose of the present invention is to achieve a support device for a bottle-holder container which is simple and economical to make and which is convenient, quick and easy to constrain and release to/from the table.

[0008] Another purpose of the present invention is to allow to use at least part of the same support device with buckets of even very different shapes and sizes.

[0009] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0011] In accordance with the above purpose, a support device for a bottle-holder container according to the present invention is able to be removably constrained to an edge of a supporting plane, for example a table. The device comprises a constraining mechanism able to cooperate with the edge of the table in order to determine said removable constraint, and at least an annular element into which the bottle-holder container to be supported is able to be inserted.

[0012] According to a first characteristic feature of the present invention, the mechanism for constraining the support device to the edge of the table and the annular element are made as two separate and reciprocally releasable elements. This allows, with quick and easy maneuvers, to remove the annular element of the constraining mechanism, for example in order to replace the annular element with another one having even very different shapes and sizes.

[0013] According to the invention, the constraining mechanism comprises first housing means, and said annular element comprises second attachment means shaped mating with the first housing means and able to cooperate therewith in order to determine the removable attachment of the annular element to the constraining mechanism.

[0014] In particular, a preferred solution of the present invention provides that the annular element has only a tongue or tooth, for example facing downwards with respect to the plane on which the annular element lies, while the constraining mechanism has a seating open upwards into which the tongue of the annular element can easily be inserted in order to determine the attachment in a suspended condition.

[0015] According to a preferential embodiment of the invention, furthermore, the constraining mechanism is of the clamping type.

[0016] With the present invention we therefore have the advantage that the constraining mechanism can always remain associated with the edge of the table and, on the contrary, the annular element alone can be selectively installed or removed, quickly, simply and efficiently, or replaced by others, even very different.

[0017] In particular, the invention allows to replace, with easy and simple maneuvers, a ring having a polygonal shape with another having a circular, oval or other desired shape, in order to house a bucket having said shape.

[0018] In a preferential form of embodiment of the present invention, the first housing means, of the seating type, and the second attachment means, of the tooth type, are conformed so as to achieve a conical shaped coupling. In this way, the weight exerted by the bucket, possibly full of ice and the possible bottle, makes the coupling to the constraining mechanism even more stable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

• fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a support device according to the present invention associated with a table, in a first operating condition;
• fig. 2 is a three-dimensional view of a support device according to the present invention associated with a table, in a second operating condition;
• fig. 3 shows a variant of fig. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

[0020] With reference to the attached drawings, a support device 10 according to the present invention is applied to the edge 11 of a table 12, only partly shown, in order to support a container, or ice bucket 13, shown by a line of dashes in fig. 1 only, to keep cool a bottle, not shown.

[0021] In particular, the support device 10 consists of a constraining clamp 16 able to be selectively constrained to said edge 11, and a supporting ring 17, into which the ice bucket 13 is inserted.

[0022] The constraining clamp 16 comprises, in a substantially traditional manner, a C-shaped gripper 19, able to be disposed astride the edge 11 and provided at the lower part with a clamping screw 20, which, selectively screwed or unscrewed, determines the clamping or unclamping of the constraining clamp 16 with respect to the edge 11.

[0023] The gripper 19 also comprises a housing seating 21 open upwards and towards the outside of the table 12, in an assembled condition of the constraining clamp 16 on the edge 11.

[0024] The supporting ring 17 defines a seating, of suitable shape, for the insertion of the ice bucket 13 to be supported, and is conformed in such a manner as to exploit the slight taper of traditional ice buckets 13 so as to allow the latter to be inserted only up to a determinate height.

[0025] According to a variant, not shown, the supporting ring 17 comprises at least a supporting base on which the ice bucket 13 is rested with its bottom.

[0026] The embodiment shown in fig. 2 provides a ring 17, substantially polygonal in shape, to support the polygonal bucket 13 in fig. 1, while the variant in fig. 3 provides a circular ring 117 to support a bucket substantially cylindrical in shape.

[0027] The supporting ring 17, 117 also comprises an attachment tongue 22, made externally and conformed in a manner corresponding to the housing seating 21 of the constraining clamp 16, and also facing downward.

[0028] The attachment tongue 22, when necessary, can be inserted inside the housing seating 21 and thus determine the releasable attachment of the supporting ring 17 and the constraining clamp 16.

[0029] In this way, the supporting ring 17, with the relative ice bucket 13, can be easily associated (fig. 1), or disassociated (figs. 2 and 3) with/from the constraining clamp 16, and hence the edge 11 of the table 12, simply by inserting or removing the attachment tongue 22 into/from the housing seating 21. The associated condition is maintained due to gravity.

[0030] When it is necessary to support a bucket 13 of a different shape, it is extremely simple to remove the ring 17 from the clamp 16 and insert a different ring, for example the ring 117 in fig. 3.

[0031] Advantageously, the attachment tongue 22 and the relative housing seating 21 have a determinate reciprocal taper that increases the coupling stability thereof.

[0032] Alternatively, elastic and/or partly deformable members may be provided, of a substantially known type, which prevent the accidental exit of the attachment tongue 22 from the housing seating 21.

[0033] The constraining clamp 16 and the supporting ring 17, 117 can be made without distinction of any material, either plastic or metal, and conformed according to the different ice buckets 13 to be supported.

[0034] It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the support device 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

[0035] For example, it comes within the field of the present invention to provide that the supporting ring 17 is conformed so as to itself define the ice bucket 13. Just as it also comes within the field of the present invention to provide that the attachment tongue 22 is made on the constraining clamp 16 and the housing seating 21 is made on the supporting ring 17.

[0036] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of support device for bottle-holder containers, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. Support device for a bottle-holder container (13) with respect to an edge (11) of a supporting plane (12), said device comprising at least an annular element (17, 117) in which said bottle-holder container (13) to be supported is able to be inserted, and a constraining mechanism (16) able to cooperate selectively with said edge (11) in order to removably constrain said annular element (17, 117) to said edge (11), characterized in that said constraining mechanism (16) and said annular element (17, 117) are made in distinct parts and able to be reciprocally separated.

2. Device as in claim 1, characterized in that said constraining mechanism (16) comprises first housing means (21) and said annular element (17, 117) comprises second attachment means (22) shaped mating with said first housing means (21), and able to cooperate with said first housing means (21) so as to determine the releasable attachment of said annular element (17, 117) to said constraining mechanism (16).

3. Device as in claim 2, characterized in that said first housing means (21) and said second attachment means (22) are conformed so as to be able to be coupled by means of reciprocal insertion.

4. Device as in claim 3, characterized in that said first housing means comprises at least a housing seating (21) open upwards, and in that said second attachment means comprises an attachment tongue (22) facing downwards and conformed so as to correspond with said housing seating (21).

5. Device as in claim 3, characterized in that said first means comprises at least an attachment tongue (22), and in that said second means comprises at least a housing seating (21) conformed so as to correspond with said attachment tongue (22).

6. Device as in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said housing seating (21) and said attachment tongue (22) define a reciprocal taper able to render the reciprocal coupling stable.

7. Device as in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that one or both of said housing seating (21) and said attachment tongue (22) comprise elastic and/or partly deformable means, able to prevent the accidental exit of said attachment tongue (22) from said housing seating (21).

Drawing