Reconfigurable base and coaster set

Abstract

 Reconfigurable base and coaster set, which comprises a plurality of quadrangular-shaped coasters, with their inner surface being flat in the centre, and having a plurality of teeth (2) lining the outer perimeter, a base to support the coasters (1), comprised of four longitudinal elements (3) that fit into the adjacent longitudinal elements, and where each longitudinal element (3) has a series of grooves (5) disposed in such a manner that, thanks to the teeth (2) that line the outer perimeter of the coasters (1), said coasters (1) fit tightly within the grooves (5) of the longitudinal elements (3) of the base, thereby obtaining different configurations that allow the assembly to be used as a souvenir, display stand, etc., or to be personalized with any photograph.

Description

Reconfigurable base and coaster set.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a reconfigurable base and coaster set which, thanks to its special design and removable nature, may be used, in addition to its obvious use, for publicity purposes, as a souvenir or merchandising element by including any photograph or personalized engraving, allowing the coasters to be arranged in different fixed positions within the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] At present, coaster and support sets are known to be used regularly to avoid deterioration and traces of liquid remaining on surfaces on which bottles, glasses and other containers are placed. In this manner, for example, utility model ES 223407 U discloses a coaster set comprised of a shelf-type support that can contain an unspecified number of quadrangular-shaped coasters in a vertical position. Utility model ES 1002407 U, which consists of a coaster and support for coasters, comprised of a considerably heavy base body with a base similar to the shape of the coasters, wherefrom a stem emerges centrally from its upper side, which houses the orifices made in said coasters, which are made of a porous and flexible material and have a radial cut profile to allow the lateral extraction thereof. In these two cases the coasters, once placed in their support, are unable to adopt more than one position, being vertical in the first case and horizontal in the second. Additionally, the coasters are not fixed to the support, which can cause these to become accidentally detached therefrom.

[0003] The present invention solves the previously described problems in a fully satisfactory manner. Firstly, it allows different configurations of the coasters, whereby these can be arranged vertically, horizontally or even forming a cube on the base. Secondly, it allows the assembly to be configured for publicity purposes by making engravings or including photographs in the coasters, thanks to the different configurations. And thirdly, in the vertical and cube-shaped configurations, the coasters are fixed to the support with no possibility of falling on moving the assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention consists of a reconfigurable base and coaster set, with the special characteristic of allowing different configurations of said coasters on the base. The coasters allow the inclusion of any photographs or laser engravings, due to which they can be used as a merchandising product, souvenir or similar, according to user preferences. Specifically, they allow the inclusion of a photographic or artistic image on one of their sides, fully integrated into the body of the coaster and a laser engraving on the other side, thereby allowing reversible use thereof.

[0005] A removable base has been designed together with the coaster, comprised of four equal longitudinal elements, which allow the different positioning of the coasters therein. One of the special configurations obtained thanks to this feature is a cube, in such a manner that all the coasters are arranged on the base forming a perfect cube, along the outer longitudinal elements of which we can include, as mentioned earlier, any desired photograph or design. This configuration of the base and coasters allows the cube to remain stable and firm, allowing it to be lifted and shaken without moving or becoming disassembled.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] For the purpose of complementing the foregoing description and to further explain the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof has been included as an integral part of said description, in which the following figures have been represented in an illustrative and unlimitative manner:

Fig. 1

Shows a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the coaster.

Fig. 2

Shows two cross-sections along A-A and B-B marked in Figure 1. The special design of the ends of the coasters are shown, which allow them to be coupled to the base, thereby maintaining a stable configuration in any of their possible positions.

Fig. 3

Shows a simplified view of one of the longitudinal elements of the base and an exploded detail view of the crimps that join the longitudinal elements together.

Fig.4

Shows a general view of the base set assembled with its four constituent longitudinal elements.

Fig. 5

Shows a general view of the base and coaster set where, of all the possible coaster configurations, these have been represented forming a cube.

Fig. 6

Shows a general view of the base and coaster set where, of all the possible coaster configurations, these have been represented in a vertical position.

Fig. 7

Shows a general view of the base and coaster set where, of all the possible coaster configurations, these have been represented in a horizontal position.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention consists of a reconfigurable base and coaster set which, thanks to the special design of both the coasters and the base, allows the coasters to be configured in different positions: horizontal, vertical or even forming a cube, in such a manner that the assembly could be used for publicity purposes, as a souvenir, etc., by including engravings or photographs in the coasters. The invention comprises a plurality of quadrangular-shaped coasters (1), with their inner surface being flat in the centre, and having a plurality of teeth (2) lining the outer perimeter, a base to support the coasters (1), comprised of four longitudinal elements (3) that fit into the adjacent longitudinal elements, and where each longitudinal element (3) has a series of grooves (5) disposed in such a manner that, thanks to the teeth (2) of the outer perimeter of the coasters (1), said coasters (1) fit tightly within the grooves (5) of the longitudinal elements (3) of the base.

[0008] In all their different configurations the coasters remain stable and firm, allowing the assembly to be lifted and shaken without moving or becoming disassembled.

[0009] The configurations described are interchangeable, in such a manner that more than fifteen different presentations can be produced by alternating the positions: vertical, semi-cube and horizontal. For this purpose, a number of grooves (5) greater than the number of coasters have been disposed on the base, allowing multiple combinations to be made.

[0010] The longitudinal elements (3) of the base are easily fitted together, due to which they can be assembled and disassembled as many times as necessary. Each of the longitudinal elements (3) has two crimp joins (4), male and female, that fit into the adjacent longitudinal elements (3) above and underneath these.

Claims

1. Reconfigurable base and coaster set, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of quadrangular-shaped coasters (1), with their inner surface being flat in the centre, and having a plurality of teeth (2) lining the outer perimeter, a base to support the coasters (1), comprised of four longitudinal elements (3) that fit into the adjacent longitudinal elements, and where each longitudinal element (3) has a series of grooves (5) disposed in such a manner that, thanks to the teeth (2) that line the outer perimeter of the coasters (1), said coasters (1) fit tightly within the grooves (5) of the longitudinal elements (3) of the base.

2. Reconfigurable base and coaster set, according to Claim 1, characterized in that each longitudinal element has crimp joins (4), male and female, that fit into the adjacent longitudinal elements (3) above and underneath these.

Drawing