Dish with Recessed Top Rim Section

Abstract

A dish selected from the group consisting of a drinking glass, stemware, beverage cup, mug or bowl having a base with a perimeter, a sidewall contiguous with the perimeter of the base and extending upwardly to a top rim, the top rim being substantially level and continuous except for at least one recessed sidewall section having a top edge recessed to a level lower than the level of the top rim.

1 . A dish selected from the group consisting of a drinking glass, beverage cup, mug or bowl, the dish having a base with a perimeter, a sidewall contiguous with the perimeter of the base and extending upwardly to a top rim, the top rim being substantially level and continuous except for at least one sidewall section having a top edge recessed to a level lower than the level of the top rim. 
     
     
         2 . The dish of  claim 1  wherein the top rim is substantially level except for two oppositely disposed sidewall sections having a top edge recessed to a level lower than the top rim. 
     
     
         3 . The dish of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sidewall section having a top edge recessed to a level lower than the top rim comprises an outwardly curved lip. 
     
     
         4 . The dish of  claim 1  wherein the sidewall and the top edge of the at least one sidewall section having a recessed top edge are cooperatively configured to reduce the likelihood of liquid spillage when drinking from the recessed top edge. 
     
     
         5 . The dish of  claim 4  wherein the recessed top edge of the at least one sidewall section having a recessed top edge has a width, depth and edge configuration that are cooperatively configured to reduce the likelihood of liquid spillage when drinking from the recessed top edge. 
     
     
         6 . The dish of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the sidewall comprises one or more structural features that passively influence a user of such dish to orient it so that the recessed rim portion is proximal to and appropriately aligned for drinking when the dish is grasped by the user and raised upwardly to a drinking position. 
     
     
         7 . The dish of  claim 6  wherein the structural features are flattened sidewall sections with outer surfaces disposed substantially parallel to the at least one sidewall section having a recessed top edge. 
     
     
         8 . The dish of  claim 1  comprising a base configured to rest on an underlying support surface and a stem configured to support the sidewall above the base. 
     
     
         9 . The dish of  claim 1  comprising a sidewall with a fixed-position handle and at least one sidewall section having a recessed top edge positioned to accommodate convenient use by one of the group consisting of left-handed and right-handed users. 
     
     
         10 . The dish of  claim 6  when configured as a drinking glass having a top rim with at least one recessed sidewall section and a sidewall configured to passively influence a user to grasp the glass comfortably and in such manner that the at least one sidewall section with a recessed top edge is proximal to and naturally oriented toward the mouth of the user when the glass is lifted by the user upwardly off an underlying support surface. 
     
     
         11 . The dish of  claim 1  comprising two or three sidewall sections with recessed top edges that are circumferentially spaced apart around the top rim and are positioned to facilitate drinking or consuming a beverage or food from the dish. 
     
     
         12 . The dish of  claim 1  comprising a sidewall having one or more sections that are vertical, inwardly or outwardly tapered, flared, curvilinear, or a combination of those. 
     
     
         13 . The dish of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sidewall section with a recessed top edge has a top edge that is recessed from about 3/16 in. to about ½ inch lower than the top rim of the dish. 
     
     
         14 . The dish of  claim 13  wherein the at least one sidewall section with a recessed top edge has a top edge that is recessed from about ¼ in. to about ⅜ inch lower than the top rim of the dish. 
     
     
         15 . The dish of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sidewall section with a recessed top edge has a usable width sufficient to enable a user to drink comfortably from the recessed top edge without liquid spillage. 
     
     
         16 . The dish of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sidewall section with a recessed top edge has a recessed top edge with a usable arcuate width ranging from about 1.5 inches to about 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The dish of  claim 16  wherein the recessed top edge has a usable arcuate width ranging from about 1.25 inch to about 2 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The dish of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the base, sidewall and top rim is circular. 
     
     
         19 . The dish of  claim 18  wherein at least two of the base, sidewall and top rim are circular. 
     
     
         20 . The dish of  claim 19  wherein the base, sidewall and top rim are all circular. 
     
     
         21 . The dish of  claim 1  wherein the sidewall is substantially vertical between the base and the top rim. 
     
     
         22 . The dish of  claim 12  wherein the sidewall is outwardly inclined or flairs outwardly between the base and the top rim. 
     
     
         23 . The dish of  claim 12  wherein the sidewall is continuously curvilinear between the base and the top rim.