US3018014A - Disposable saucer insert - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 23, 1962 A. OPOLION 3,013,014

DISPOSABLE SAUCER INSERT Filed March 50, 1961 INVENTOR. ARTHUR OPOLION F/G3 BY HIS ATTORNEY fiihfil i Patented Jan. 23, 1962 3,018,014 DISPOSABLE SAUCER INSERT Arthur Opolion, 895 West End Ave, New York 25, N.Y. Filed Mar. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 99,505 3 Claims. (Cl. 215-1005) This invention relates to coasters and more particularly to a saucer insert adapted to obviate the problem of drip and spillage of any cup spill-over portion within the saucer.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the disposable saucer insert, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the insert in placement position within a saucer;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in isolation of the encircled segment of the section of FIG. 2.

The invention is directed to providing a disposable saucer insert which will drain and retain the cup spillover portion of coffee or the like and which will prevent the cup from contacting the spill-over portions subsequent to drainage thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel coaster adapted to be placed in standard saucer and adapted to remove any spill-over of coffee or the like from sight and in addition to preclude further spillage thereof should the saucer be tilted from the horizontal.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of a saucer insert which will absorb any spill-over portion of coffee or the like and which will not release said spill-over portion under the weight of a cup placed thereon.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a disposable saucer insert which can be utilized as an advertising medium for coffee products and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a unique and aesthetic saucer insert which is readily and economically manufactured, convenient to use, efficient in operation and easily disposed of.

It will be understood that the foregoing general objectives and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory but are not restrictive of the invention. Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the disposable saucer insert illus trated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 shows the insert designated generally by numeral 1 positioned within a standard saucer 2.

Referring to the sectional view of FIGURE 2 of the drawings, insert 1 is seen to be formed of top member 4 and bottom member 6, said top and bottom members being combined in superposed relation in the manner shown. Top member 4 which is preferably constructed of a high density paper of water impervious character or of any other material having similarly suitable properties is comprised of a dished central area 8, said central area being concave with respect to the bottom of saucer 2. Hollow raised portion 12 being disposed peripherally of said central area 8 is seen to be positioned intermediate of the said central area and the outer area 14 extending thereabout, openings 16 and 18 being intermittently positioned along the inside and outside base portions, respectively, of the said hollow raised portion. It will be seen that in View of the concave curvature of central area 8 and of the concentric inclination of outer area 14, any spill-over or overflow of liquid from cup 20 will tend to drain toward openings 16 and 18 at the base of and adjacent said raised portion 12.

Bottom member 6 constructed of material possessing the liquid absorbtive property, is provided with a peripheral shoulder 22 integral with the top side 24 of the said bottom member. Shoulder 22 being shaped complementary with respect to the underside 2.6 of hollow raised portion 12 is readily received within said raised portion and may be secured therein by means of cement applied at the zenith 28 of the said shoulder or in any other suitable manner. I

As illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings intermittent openings 16 and 18 adjacent the base of said portion 1'2 provide drainage means for any liquid spill-over portion by establishing communication between the surface of said top member 4 and the said absorbtive bottom member 6, such drainage being effectively accomplished through the cooperative relation of said openings contiguous with shoulder 22 of the said absorbtive bottom member.

In providing the structural configuration according to the foregoing, the instant coaster will be understood to "be an expeditor of the overflow liquid removal function otherwise normally occasioned by dint of gravity-inspired flow through openings 16 and 18 and of absorbtion and capillary flow by and through bottom member 6. To that end, deflection of central concave area 8 toward the formation indicated by broken line 8, i occasioned under the weight of cup 20 resting thereon. By reason of such deflection, air normally occupying the space 30 beneath said top member is forced from the said space 30 through openings 16 and 18, whereunder an area of reduced air pressure is created. Upon rem-oval of cup 20 from central area 8 and the restoration of said area to normalcy indicated by numeral 8, any overflow portion contained upon top member 4 above and/ or near openings 16 and 18 will be drawn through said openings by virtue of the said reduced air pressure, and will subsequently be absorbed by the said bottom member 6.

Inasmuch as the weight of cup 20 is substantially supported by shoulder 22, any liquid contained within absorbtive member 6 will not be released under the weight of said cup but will rather be retained therein out of contact with said cup and will not be spilled notwithstanding the inadvertent tilting of the saucer.

Substantial space provided circumferencially of outer area 14 will lend each insert for the purpose of display of advertising media while the inexpensiveness of both materials and applicable methods for the fabrication of the said inserts provide the disposable feature enjoyed by the users thereof.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form details, proportion and arrangement of parts, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A disposable saucer insert comprising in combination, a top member and a liquid absorbtive bottom member shaped for placement within a saucer, said top member having a dished central area concave with respect to the bottom of a saucer, a hollow raised portion peripherally located with respect to said concavely dished central area, openings positioned adjacent said peripherally located raised portion, said absorbtive bottom member having a top side and a bottom side, a peripheral shoulder integral with the said top side, said shoulder being securely receivable within said holl-ow raised portion and in registry with said openings, said top side being spaced with respect to said concavely dished central area of said top member and said bottom side being adapted to fit within a saucer bottom.

2. A disposable saucer insert comprising in combination, a top member and a liquid absorbtive bottom member shaped for placement within a saucer, said top member having a dished central area concave with respect to a saucer bottom, and an outer area sloping downwardly toward said dished central area, a hollow raised portion peripherally located with respect to said central area and being interposed between said central and outer areas, openings positioned adjacent said hollow raised portion, said absorbtive bottom member having a top side and a bottom side, a peripheral shoulder integral with the said top side, said shoulder being securely receivable within said hollow raised portion and in registry with said openings, said top side being spaced with respect to said concavely dished central area and said bottom side being adapted to fit within a saucer bottom.

3. A disposable saucer insert comprising in combination, a top member and a liquid absorbent bottom member shaped for placement within a saucer, said top memher having a deflecti'ble dished central area, said central area being concave with respect to a saucer bottom, an outer area sloping downwardly toward said dished central area, a hollow raised portion peripherally defining said central area and being interposed between said central and outer areas, openings intermittently positioned along the base of said hollow raised portion, said absorbent bottom member having a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral shoulder integral with said top side, said shoulder being secured within said hollow raised portion and in registry with said openings, said top side being spaced with respect to said concavely dished central area and said bottom side being adapted to fit within a saucer bottom.

No references cited.

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