Spill runner

Abstract

A spill runner for catching liquid, such as a drink at a bar, has a base 2 and sidewalls 4, 5 to form a reservoir 3. A support 7, which may be a shoulder of upper portions of the sidewalls, supports a

Description

Venues which serve drinks sometimes use bar runners to catch liquid which is spilt as the drinks are passed to a customer. This prevents surfaces such as bars or tables from becoming covered in spilt liquid. Bar runners are often made from polyvinylchloride (PVC), which is durable and can withstand temperatures encountered in glass washing equipment. However, PVC is a very poor material from a sustainability point of view. It is difficult to recycle and is usually incinerated, or sent to landfill. Existing bar runners may comprise a thin absorbent pad which sits on a bar surface, a textured PVC moulded pad, or a metal box with holes in its upper surface. A glass can be set upon the pad, or upper surface. Spilt liquid will either be absorbed by a pad-type runner, or in the case of the metal box drain through the holes into the box. It is amongst the objects of the invention to provide a more versatile spill runner, a more sustainably manufactured spill runner, a spill runner which is easy to clean, easily customizable, robust, easily storable, effective at catching spilt liquid and / or reduces aquaplaning or skidding of glasses placed thereon. In a first aspect the invention provides a spill runner comprising; a base and sidewalls, a reservoir for accommodating liquid, and a support for supporting a drainage board above the reservoir. In some embodiments the spill runner comprises an engaging portion (or portions) which is / are adapted to detachably engage with a second identical spill runner to detachably or permanently couple the spill runners together. This allows multiple units to be linked together to cover a desired area of a surface such as a bar or a table. This allows users to customize their spill runners to suit their particular space, in a robust, modular and versatileway. The engaging portion, or portions, may comprise interlocking features which interlock with corresponding features on a further identical spill runner. The spill runner and / or its components may comprise polypropylene, recycled plastic, a seaweed-based plastic, a polymer made from rice husks, PET, a limestone-based material, a metal. The spill runner and / or its components may be made from a composite containing around 40% recycled polypropylene and 60% limestone. The spill runner and / or its components may consist of any of these materials. In some embodiments the engaging portion is adapted to engage and disengage the second identical spill runner by an engaging or disengaging movement which has a vertical component. In use, when spill runners are linked together, forces will be applied to say an end runner in a chain of spill runners. This might be to reposition the chain of spill runners. These repositioning forces will usually be in the plane of the surface on which the spill runners are located. Having an engaging / detaching movement which has a vertical component means that when the forces in the plane of the surface are applied to one or more of the spill runners, those runners are less likely to be inadvertently disengaged from the rest of the chain of runners. The vertical component of engagement / disengagement movement may be defined relative (i.e. perpendicular) to the surface on which the spill runners sit, or with respect to the base of the spill runners. In some embodiments the spill runner comprises a receiving portion and an engaging portion so that one engaging portion of one runner may be dropped onto a receiving portion of a second identical runner, or vice versa. In some embodiments the spill runner further comprises a receiving portion, wherein the engaging portion comprises a flange or hook which is adapted to engage with a corresponding receiving portion of a second identical spill runner. The receiving portion may be a slot or recess which is adapted to receive the flange. The flange may be upstanding so that a second spill runner can be dropped onto the flange to detachably couple two identical spill runners together. To disengage this arrangement a user cannot pull the spill runners apart by movement in the plane of the base of each runner (or the surface on which they sit). One spill runner must be lifted relative to the other to disengage the flange / receiving member (e.g. slot) arrangement. In some embodiments the spill runner further comprises a drainage board which is provided with drainage apertures. This provides a stable surface upon which glasses may be deposited as they are transferred to a customer, whilst allowing spilt liquid to drain into the reservoir. The drainage board may be supported on the support. In some embodiments the drainage board is detachable from the rest of the spill runner. This aids in the cleaning and emptying of the spill runner. In some embodiments, when viewed from above, the spill runner has a square, rectangular, triangular shape or any other tessellating shape and is provided with an engaging member on more than of its sides. Optionally those sides may be opposite one another. This allows the spill runners to be engaged together in different 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional repeating patterns to form arrays which are adapted to suit a user's specific circumstance and space requirements. In some embodiments the spill runner is provided with one or two engaging portions along one side of the spill runner such that a second identical spill runner may be coupled to the engaging portion or either of the engaging portions independently. In some embodiments the spill runner is generally rectangular when viewed from above. In some embodiments the spill runner is provided with engaging features which allow two identical spill runners to be joined end to end. In some embodiments the spill runner is provided with engaging features which allow two identical spill runners to be joined side-to-side. In some embodiments the spill runner is provided with engaging features along two or more edges which allow the spill runner to be joined to one, two or more identical spill runners in a 'stretcher-bond' arrangement, in which one spill runner is joined halfway along a second identical spill runner. This may be similar to the arrangement shown in figure 5. This provides a 3 dimensional array of spill runners with strength. In some embodiments 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional arrays of spill runners are provided, in which the spill runners are in either a stretcher bond arrangement or are in registry with their adjacent spill runners. In some embodiments the drainage apertures are tapered between a wider section adjacent to an upper surface of the drainage board and a narrower section adjacent to a lower surface of the drainage board. This encourages liquid to be drawn into the reservoir to prevent aquaplaning of glasses as they are placed on an upper surface of the drainage board. In some embodiments the drainage board is provided with contact portions which are located between the drainage apertures, and which form a planar support surface for supporting a glass on the drainage board. In some embodiments these contact portions form a network of surfaces. The network may be a regular, square, or triangular grid. The contact portions may form a grid arrangement. Other network arrangements can also exist in other embodiments in which different tessellating shapes are used for the shape of the drainage apertures. The drainage board may be provided with an area covered by drainage apertures and the associated contact portions, and a second area which is generally smooth, planar and which is provided with no drainage apertures. The smooth planar area which is provided with no drainage apertures may be sloped at an angle relative to the plane of the drainage board. The angle may be between 0 degrees and 5 degrees, relative to the plane of the drainage board. This encourages liquid to drain off the sloped area. The sloped area may be provided with branding or advertising. In some embodiments drainage apertures may be provided adjacent to a lower end of the sloped area so that liquid can drain from the sloped area into the reservoir, when the drainage board is supported on the support of the spill runner. The drainage board may comprise plastic such as polypropylene, or a metal. It may consist of any of these materials. In some embodiments the support for supporting the drainage board above the reservoir protrudes from the base of the spill runner. This improves the degree and points of support which the support surface provides to the drainage board, or any cover board present. In some embodiments the support for supporting the drainage board above the reservoir comprises spaced protrusions which protrude from the base of the spill runner. This improves the degree of support which the support which the surface provides to the drainage board, or any cover board present. In some embodiments the spaced protrusions which form the support protrude by the same height. This provides several support points which are widely distributed. This is particularly useful when the spill runner is used with cardboard drainage boards or cover boards, because those absorbent drainage or cover boards generally become less rigid as they absorb liquid and therefore require more support. In some embodiments the base of the spill runner is adapted to cooperate with the sidewalls of an identical second spill runner to enable stacking of the spill runners. In some embodiments this cooperation is provided by a protrusion which tessellates with a shoulder provided in the upper edges of a second identical spill runner. In some embodiments the base of the spill runner cooperates with the sidewalls of an identical second spill runner to enable stacking of the spill runners, such that liquid is prevented from leaking from a lower spill runner's reservoir when a second identical spill runner is stacked on top of the lower spill runner. This makes it easier to clear and empty the spill runners. In some embodiments the base of the spill runner is provided with a protrusion and the sidewalls are provided with a shoulder so that the base on one spill runner cooperates with the shoulder of a second identical spill runner to prevent leakage of liquid from the lower spill runner's reservoir when the second identical spill runner is stacked on top of the lower spill runner. In some embodiments the spill runner comprises a replaceable cover board. The cover board may be supported by the support above the reservoir. In some embodiments the spill runner comprises a replaceable cover board which is adapted to lie on top of a drainage board. The cover board may be made from or comprise an absorbent material such as cardboard, or a material such as a plastic such as polypropylene, or a metal. It may consist of any of these materials. The cover board may be made from or comprise a recyclable material so that it can be disposed of in a sustainable manner once it is saturated with spilt liquid. The cover board may be provided with advertising or branding. In some embodiments the sidewalls are provided with a shoulder for supporting edges of a drainage board or a cover board. The shoulder may have a general L shape. The shoulder may run around the inside perimeter of upper regions of the spill runner's sidewalls. In some embodiments the shoulder for supporting edges of the drainage board is located far enough from the upper edges of the sidewalls to accommodate the drainage board and one or more replaceable cover boards lying on top of the drainage board, or one or more cover boards without a drainage board, without the one or more replaceable cover boards or the drainage board protruding above upper edges of the sidewalls. This allows a user to start with a single cover board and add more cover boards as the first cover board becomes saturated in liquid. In some embodiments the shoulder provides room for 1,2,3 or 4 cover boards, either with or without a corresponding drainage board. In some embodiments the spill runner further comprises a display board which is upstanding relative to the drainage board when the drainage board is supported above the reservoir by the support. In some embodiments the display board is detachable from the rest of the spill runner. In some embodiments the engaging portions are adapted to receive the display board. This is particularly useful where the engaging portion is a flange because the display board can be a single sheet of material which is dropped into the space between the flange and a sidewall of the spill runner. In some embodiments the engaging portions can be used to removably attach display boards. In some embodiments the display board is provided with branding or advertising. In some embodiments the spill runner further comprises a bar wear module which is detachable from the rest of the spill runner. The bar module may comprise a container which is removably detachable with the rest of the spill runner. The container may be provided with one or more compartments to accommodate garnishes for drinks or barware such as cocktail stirrers or straws. The bar module may have a base which is adapted to cooperate with a shoulder on the sidewalls of the spill runner so that the bar module can be removably engaged with the rest of the spill runner. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided an array comprising two or more spill runners as described herein, wherein the engaging portion of a first spill runner is detachably or permanently engaged with a second spill runner. Some embodiments of the arrays according to the invention are also described above. The array may have a two or three dimensional repeating pattern. Spill runners may be linked end-on-end or side-by-side, or a combination of these two configurations. Spill runners may be linked in a 'stretcher bond' arrangement. Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures of the drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 shows a plan view of a tray according to the invention. Figure 3 shows a bottom view of a tray according to the invention. Figure 4 shows a side view of two trays according to the invention. Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of a second configuration of three trays 1 according to the invention. Figure 6 shows a perspective exploded view of another embodiment of the invention. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention. Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 shows a tray 1 which is moulded from recycled polypropylene. The tray has a flat base and is generally rectangular when viewed from above. The tray has an inner volume 3 which is defined by two long sidewalls 4, two shorter sidewalls 5 and the base 2. Within the volume there is an array of protrusions 6 which are generally rectangular tabs and have rounded upper ends. The protrusions 6 extend upwardly from the base of the tray at an angle which is generally perpendicular to the base 2 of the tray. The protrusions are arranged in an array in which each protrusion is spaced generally the same distance from each adjacent protrusion. The protrusions are regularly arranged in rows and columns over the whole area which is defined by the base 2. All of the protrusions extend to the same height above the base. Upper portions of the sidewalls 4,5 of the tray are provided with a shoulder 7. The shoulder is located at the inner perimeter of the mouth of the upper portions of the sidewalls and has an 'L' shape. The shoulder defines a recess into which a drainage board 8 can be placed. When the drainage board 8 is located in the recess defined by the shoulder 7 on the tray, the edges 9 of the drainage board rest on the shoulder 7 which is formed in the upper portions of the sidewalls of the tray 1. The drainage board 8 is a generally rectangular and generally planar article which is designed to fit into and be detachably removable from the tray 1. It is made from moulded recycled polypropylene. The drainage board is provided with two regions of drainage apertures 10. Each region comprises two rows of drainage apertures which are located adjacent to one another. Each region covers a rectangular area. The two regions are separated by a central area 11 which lacks the drainage apertures. This central area 11 is defined by a smooth planar surface 15 .This smooth planar surface is well adapted to accommodate branding to allow the drainage board to be customized for a particular customer. The smooth planar surface which defines the central area 11 is angled at a slight slope relative to the base. The sloped angle about 3 degrees, relative to the plane of the drainage board 8. This angle encourages liquid to run off the central area 11 and through a series of apertures 12 which are provided where the central area meets one of the regions of drainage apertures 10. Each of the series of apertures 12 are rectangular and are provided in a sidewall 13 which extends from an upper surface 14 of the region of drainage apertures 10 to the lowest point of the smooth planar surface 15 which forms the central area. The rectangular apertures 12 allow liquid to drain from the central area 11 into the volume 3 which is defined by the tray when the drainage board 8 is located in the recess defined by the shoulder 7. The drainage apertures 10 allow liquid to drain into the volume 3 defined by the tray, when the drainage board 8 is located in the recess defined by the shoulder 7. Each of the drainage apertures 10 has a wide upper mouth portion and sidewalls 16 which taper to a narrower exit. This taper channels liquid from the mouth of the apertures into the volume 3 defined by the tray 1 .The taper of each drainage aperture 10 has the cross-section of a square-sided inverted pyramid. Between each drainage aperture 10 is a network of surfaces 31 which define a plane. This network extends over the whole region where the drainage apertures 10 are present. The plane is parallel to the base 2 of the tray. This network is adapted to support a glass in a stable manner despite the tapers of the drainage apertures. The network in this embodiment forms a regular square grid arrangement. The tray is provided with two flanges 17,18 on one of its long sides and a flange 19 on its short side. These flanges extend adjacent to the respective sidewalls 4 and 5 of the tray and from adjacent to the base 2 of the tray. They extend outwardly from the sidewalls of the tray and then upwardly parallel to the sidewalls of the tray, to leave a small gap between a planar wall of the flange and the respective sidewall of the tray. The flanges 17 and 18 on the long sidewall have generally the same length and each extend for just under half of the length of the sidewall 4. There is a gap 20 between the two flanges in a central portion of the long sidewall 4. The corners of the flanges are rounded and the planar upstanding walls of the flanges terminate at a height which is just below the upper edges of the respective sidewalls 4 and 5. When the drainage board 8 sits on the shoulder 7, the array of protrusions 6 supports the underside of the drainage board 8. Figure 2 shows a plan view of the tray 1 shown in figure 1. The array of protrusions 6 and the gap 20 between the flange portions 18 and 17 on the long sidewall 4 of the tray are more clearly shown. The shoulder 7 on which the drainage board sits is also shown. The space 21 between each flange and the respective sidewalls 4 and 5 is also clear from this figure. Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the tray 1 shown in figures 1 and 2. The corresponding features are labelled with the same reference numerals. The underside of the base is provided with a protruding support 22. This support is shaped so as to fit into the shoulder 7 of a second identical tray so that the trays may be stacked one on top of the other. The close fit cooperation between the protruding support 22 and the shoulder 7 prevents leakage of liquid contained within a lower tray when a second identical tray is stacked on top of the lower tray. This makes removing the trays from a bar much cleaner, easier and more convenient. In use the protruding support forms the surface of the base on which the tray rests on a surface. The protruding support has a generally rectangular shape and a depth which is the same as the depth of the shoulder 7 from the top of the sidewalls 4 and 5. The underside of the tray 1 is also provided with receiving slots 23 and 24. These slots run along the long and short sides of the tray (which are not provided with flanges) which run parallel to the sidewalls 5 and 4 respectively. The slots are defined by inner and outer skins of the respective sidewall. These slots 23,24 are adapted to receive the flanges of further identical trays so that the trays may be joined together. This is shown in detail in figure 4. Figure 4 shows two trays 1 in an engaged configuration. The flange 19 of one tray is inserted into the slot 23 of the second tray. To do this a first tray is located on a surface and a second tray is dropped vertically onto the surface such that the slot 23 receives the flange 19. The trays can be decoupled by reversing this movement. This type of engagement, with a vertical component of the engaging / disengaging movement, is advantageous because in a long chain of trays joined end to end, in use, there may be pulling forces exerted upon certain trays in the chain as users move or reposition the chain. These moving or repositioning movements will generally be in the plane of the surface on which the chain is sitting. Therefore, the vertical component of movement required to engage / disengage the trays will not be inadvertently provided by a user to inadvertently break up the chain. The protruding support 22 is shown on each tray. Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of a second configuration of three of the trays 1 shown in figures 1-4. Two of the trays are joined end-to-end in the same manner as in figure 4. A third tray has been engaged with each of these two trays. Flange 17 of one of the trays which are linked end-to-end and flange 18 of the other of the trays which are linked end-to-end are received in the slot 24 of the tray which bridges both of the trays which are joined end-to-end. Slot 24 runs along the side 25. Other configurations exist where one of the trays which are joined end-to-end are not present. Configurations can be built to bend around objects or features on a bar such as beer taps, or corners of the bar. Figure 6 shows a perspective exploded view of another embodiment of the invention. The tray 1 and drainage board 8 are identical to those shown in figures 1 -5. This embodiment also comprises one or more of the cover boards 26,27,28. These have generally the same rectangular and planar shape which is designed to fit into and be detachably removable from the tray 1. Embodiments may have one or more of these additional trays, which may be manufactured from materials including metal, plastic such as polypropylene or cardboard. In some embodiments one or more of these boards can replace the drainage board 8. Each of the cover boards 26,27,28 may be provided with an array of apertures 29 through which liquid may drain into the volume 3 defined by the tray 1. Equally the cover board 28 may be planar, smooth and not provided with apertures. The cover boards 26, 27,28 may be made from an absorbent material such as cardboard. Each cover board provides a generally flat, planar surface 30 on which a glass may be stably supported. The cover boards 26,27,28 may be provided with branding to customize the board for a particular customer. The edges of the cover boards 26,27,28 are adapted to tesselate with and rest upon the shoulder 7. The depth of the shoulder 7 may be adapted to accommodate a number, for example 2,3, 4 or 5 of cover boards 26,27,28 stacked on top of one another without the surface 30 of an upper cover board or drainage board in the stack from protruding above the upper ends of sidewalls 4 and 5. The protrusions 6 support a lower surface of the cover board 26,27,28 (or at least the lower surface of the lowest cover or drainage board in a stack) when the edges of the respective cover or drainage board(s) are resting on the shoulder 7. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention. The tray 1 is identical to the tray shown in figures 1-6. The tray is provided with removable display boards 32 and 33. The display boards are made from Perspex and slot between the flanges 17,18 and 19. The display boards are rectangular. They are removable from between the flanges and the sidewalls of the tray. The display boards are upstanding relative to the top surface of the cover board 28. The are generally upstanding perpendicular to the cover board 28. The display boards can be provided with branding on their surfaces to allow a user to customize their spill runner. Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention. Two trays which are identical to those shown in figures 1 -7 are joined end-to-end as shown in figure 4. One of the trays is provided with a cover board 28. The other tray is provided with a bar module 34. The bar module provides a container, the lower edges of which are adapted to sit on the shoulder 7 of the respective tray. In this embodiment the bar module 34 sits on top of a cover board 28, although the cover board or a drainage board is optional. The bar module provides compartments 35 for accommodating garnishes such as lemons, limes or other bar ware such as cocktail stirrers or straws. The bar module 34 is removably detachable from the tray 1.

Claims

1. A spill runner comprising;a base and sidewalls,a reservoir for accommodating liquid,a support for supporting a drainage board above the reservoir, andan engaging portion which is adapted to detachably engage with a second identical spill runner to detachably couple the spill runner to the second identical spill runner.

2. A spill runner according to claim 1 wherein the engaging portion is adapted to engage and disengage the second identical spill runner by an engaging or disengaging movement which has a vertical component.

3. A spill runner according to either preceding claim, further comprising a receiving portion, wherein the engaging portion comprises a flange which is adapted to engage with a corresponding receiving portion of a second identical spill runner.

4. A spill runner according to any preceding claim, further comprising a drainage board which is provided with drainage apertures.

5. A spill runner according to claim 4 wherein the drainage board is detachable from the rest of the spill runner.

6. A spill runner according to any preceding claim wherein the spill runner is rectangular and provided with two engaging portions along one side of the spill runner such that a second identical spill runner may be detachably coupled to either of the engaging portions independently.

7. A spill runner according to any preceding claim wherein the drainage apertures are tapered between a wider section adjacent to an upper surface of the drainage board and a narrower section adjacent to a lower surface of the drainage board.

8. A spill runner according to any preceding claim in which the drainage board is provided with contact portions which are located between the drainage apertures and which form a planar support surface for supporting a glass on the drainage board.

9. A spill runner according to any preceding claim in which the support for supporting the drainage board above the reservoir protrudes from the base of the spill runner.

10. A spill runner according to any preceding claim in which the support for supporting the drainage board above the reservoir comprises spaced protrusions which protrude from the base of the spill runner.

11. A spill runner according to any preceding claim wherein the base is adapted to cooperate with the sidewalls of an identical second spill runner to enable stacking of the spill runners.

12. A spill runner according to any preceding claim further comprising a replaceable cover board which is adapted to lie on top of the drainage board.

13. A spill runner according to any preceding claim wherein the sidewalls are provided with a shoulder for supporting edges of the drainage board.

14. A spill runner according to claim 13 wherein the shoulder for supporting edges of the drainage board is located far enough from the upper edges of the sidewalls to accommodate the drainage board and one or more replaceable cover board lying on top of the drainage board, without the one or more replaceable cover boards or the drainage board protruding above upper edges of the sidewalls.

15. A spill runner according to any preceding claim further comprising a display board which is upstanding relative to the drainage board when the drainage board is supported above the reservoir by the support.

16. A spill runner according to claim 15 wherein the display board is detachable from the rest of the spill runner.

17. A spill runner according to any preceding claim further comprising a barware module which is detachable from the rest of the spill runner.

18. An array comprising two or more spill runners according to any preceding claim, wherein the engaging portion of a first spill runner is detachably engaged with a second spill runner.s

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