12 Hour coaster

Claim 1

A long term coaster for removing and containing the condensate formed on the outside of glasses containing iced beverages and preventing condensate from forming on the furniture underneath the coaster or on the outside walls of the coaster itself and subsequently dripping onto the furniture comprising: a body of liquid impervious non-warpable material having a liquid impervious central well portion encircled by an uninterrupted upstanding wall portion, the central well portion being elevated above and out of contact with any supporting surface, providing a thermal insulation region underneath the well portion, said encircling wall portion including an inside wall in communication with the well portion and an outside wall portion that is disposed to provide poor thermal connection to the inside wall, an adsorbent pad of material disposed inside the well portion, that is substantially non-wettable by the condensate, substantially non-adherent to a glass or container surface whether the well contains condensate fluid or not, and substantially invarient in surface configuration and volumetric content as the well fills with condensate, said well portion and side wall portions being integrally formed of plastic material, with said inner and outer wall portions being spaced apart from one another for a distance sufficient to prevent condensate forming on the outside wall portion, and vapor impermeable means disposed beneath the well for preventing the deposit of moisture on a supporting surface beneath the coaster.