Hugo Pick Patents the Nonik Drinking Glass

In 1913, Chicago businessman Hugo Pick received a United States design patent for a drinking glass with a shallow bulge near its upper section. He subsequently received a utility patent in 1914 explaining how the projecting band protected the rim when the glass tipped over and reduced damage when glasses were stacked. The shape also improved grip while retaining surfaces that were easy to clean. Commercialized as the Nonik, or “no-nick,” glass, the design addressed the everyday demands of high-volume beverage service by reducing chipped rims, breakage, and glasses becoming wedged together. Variations of the glass later became especially common for serving draught beer in British pubs. Its familiar bulge illustrates how beer glassware could be shaped by durability, handling, cleaning, and service efficiency as much as by visual presentation.