Cup holder
A cup holder comprising: a body having a top and bottom edge, the body including a first end and a second opposing end, wherein the first end and second end are adapted to be coupled to one another. In one embodiment, the cup holder includes a lip along the top edge of the body and extending between the first end and the second end, the lip positioned a distance from the outer surface of the cup. In one embodiment, the cup holder includes having a plurality of cone-shaped concave grooves in an inner surface of the body, extending between the lip and the bottom edge and defining corresponding air passageways with the outer surface of the cup, wherein the air passageways are in communication with the lip. In one embodiment, the cup holder includes perforated lines in the body which allow removal of a portion of the body from the cup holder.
The present invention relates generally to a cup holder and in particular, to a cup holder adapted to be coupled to a cup and having air passageways for effective heat transfer from the cup.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany different cup holders are present in the market. However, the existing cup holders trap heat in between the cup and the cup holder and thereby do not provide adequate heat transfer. What is needed is a cup holder allowing more effective heat transfer from the cup.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The band 102 of the cup holder 100 preferably includes several pleats or folding features 110 therein as shown in
As shown in
The air passageway is defined herein as the area where the interior surface of the cup holder 100 does not contact the outer surface of the cup 99. Each air passageway 118 preferably extends from the top surface 104 to the bottom surface 106 and provides a significant non-contacting surface between the cup 99 and the cup holder 100. The air passageways 118 allow heat to transfer from the cup 99 while minimizing the amount of heat transferred to the cup holder 100. The air passageways 110 also provide an insulating layer between the user's hand and the cup 99. In addition, the several distinct surfaces provide an enhanced gripping ability for the user while providing an adequate amount of surface on the interior of the cup 99 to the cup holder 100. In one embodiment, the air passageways 118 are shown to be different sizes as in
In one embodiment, each pleat 110 is formed by scoring or embossing a line 110 into the body 102. In another embodiment, the pleats 110 are formed into the body 102 as perforations at the desired pleating locations. In another embodiment, the pleats 110 are formed into the body 102, whereby the body has a lesser thickness of material along the desired pleating location. Thus, the body 102 in general can be formed to have a certain thickness, whereas the areas where the pleats 110 exist have a smaller thickness. This difference in material thickness naturally causes the body 102 to fold at the areas where the material thickness is less. It is contemplated that any other known method is alternatively utilized to form the pleats 110 in the body 102.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the vertical grooves 208, 209 are continuous from the top surface 204 to the bottom surface 206 and have a substantially constant depth dimension therebetween. In another embodiment, the vertical grooves 208, 209 are non-continuous from the top surface 204 to the bottom surface 206 and have a non-constant depth dimension. For instance, the cup holder of the present invention includes shaped indentations 302, 304 (
Another embodiment of the present cup holder includes detachable body portions. Referring to
The grooves 304 preferably form individual concave air passageways with the outer surface 98 of the cup 99 and function in a similar manner as in the embodiments shown in
The increased area of each air passageway from the bottom surface 310 to the top surface 308 allows a greater amount of heat to be dissipated from the cup 99 than the grooves in
The cup holder of the present invention is preferably manufactured by providing a flat sheet of paper. The paper is preferably cut into a band 102 wherein the top surface 104 and the bottom surface 106 are arc-shaped as well as the opposite ends 108, 110. The band is preferably embossed in either one or both surfaces to form the desired number of pleats 100. Alternatively, the thickness of the band 102 is controlled such that the material thickness is less along the contour of where the pleat 110 is desired. If desired, the band 102 is subjected to a press or embossing technique to corrugate the band 102 to have a series of alternating concave and convex grooves. In addition, if desired, one or more perforations 218 (
The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant arts. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications that are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims and their equivalence.
Claims
1. A cup holder comprising:
- a. a body having a top edge adapted to form a top opening and a bottom edge adapted to form a bottom opening, wherein the top and bottom openings are adapted to receive an outer surface of a cup therethrough; and
- b. a groove extending between the top edge and the bottom edge of the body, the groove having an overall width dimension larger at the top edge than the bottom edge, the groove having a corresponding air passageway between an inner surface of the body and the outer surface of the cup.
2. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein the groove is conical in shape.
3. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein the groove further comprises a first opening at the top edge and a second opening at the bottom edge, the first and second openings in communication with the air passageway.
4. The cup holder according to claim 3 wherein the first opening is larger than the second opening.
5. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein the groove has a substantially constant depth dimension between the bottom edge and the top edge.
6. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein the body further comprises a left end and a right end adapted to be coupled to one another to form a circular cup holder.
7. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein the groove is continuous between the top edge and the bottom edge.
8. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein the groove is non-continuous between the top edge and the bottom edge.
9. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the body adjacent to the groove is adapted to be substantially in contact with the outer surface of the cup.
10. The cup holder according to claim 1 further comprising at least one perforated line scored into the body, wherein a portion of the body adjacent to the perforated line is removable.
11. The cup holder according to claim 1 further comprising at least two perforated lines scored into the body, wherein a portion of the body is removable at the perforated lines.
12. A cup holder comprising:
- a. a body having a top edge and a bottom edge and an inner surface, the body including a first end and a second opposing end, wherein the first end and second end are adapted to be coupled to one another to form a cup holder adapted to be secured to an outer surface of a cup;
- b. a continuous lip along the top edge of the body between the first end and the second end, the lip adapted to form a continuous opening around the outer surface of the cup; and
- c. a plurality of grooves extending between the lip and the bottom edge of the body, the grooves defining corresponding air passageways between the outer surface of the cup and the inner surface of the body, wherein the air passageways are in communication with the opening.
13. The cup holder according to claim 12 wherein the grooves are aligned parallel to each other.
14. The cup holder according to claim 12 wherein the grooves are configured to be concave with the outer surface of the cup.
15. The cup holder according to claim 12 wherein the grooves have a cone-like shape between the top and bottom edges.
16. The cup holder according to claim 12 wherein heat from the cup is released through the air passageways to the lip.
17. The cup holder according to claim 14 wherein the concave grooves are continuous between the lip and the bottom edge.
18. The cup holder according to claim 12 further comprising at least one line formed into the body, wherein the body is adapted to at least partially fold at the line.
19. The cup holder according to claim 12 further comprising at least one perforated line scored into the body, wherein a portion of the body adjacent to the perforated line is removable.
20. The cup holder according to claim 12 further comprising at least two perforated lines scored into the body, wherein a portion of the body between the two perforated lines is removable at the perforated lines.
21. A method of manufacturing a cup holder adapted to encircle an outer surface of a cup comprising:
- a. providing a flat body having a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein the body includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the body including a left edge and a right edge; and
- b. forming a plurality of grooves into the inner surface between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the grooves have a width dimension larger proximal to the top edge than the bottom edge, wherein the grooves are adapted to form corresponding air passageways between the inner surface of the body and the outer surface of the cup.
22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising coupling the left edge to the right edge to form a circular cup holder, wherein the circular cup holder has a circular top edge opening and a circular bottom edge opening.
23. The method according to claim 21 further comprising forming at least two perforated lines scored into the body, wherein a portion of the body between the perforated lines is removable at the perforated lines.
24. A method of manufacturing a cup holder adapted to encircle an outer surface of a cup comprising:
- a. providing a flat body having a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein the body includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the body including a left edge and a right edge; and
- b. forming a plurality of grooves in the body, wherein the grooves extend between an area of the body defined as a lip in the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the grooves are adapted to form corresponding air passageways between the inner surface of the body and the outer surface of the cup, the air passageways in communication with the lip.
25. The method according to claim 24 further comprising coupling the left edge to the right edge to form a circular cup holder, wherein the circular cup holder has a circular top edge opening and a circular bottom edge opening.
26. The method according to claim 24 further comprising forming at least two perforated lines scored into the body, wherein a portion of the body between the perforated lines is removable at the perforated lines.
27. A cup holder comprising:
- a. a body having a top edge and a bottom edge, the body including a first end and a second opposing end, wherein the first end and the second end are adapted to be coupled to one another to form a cup holder, wherein the cup holder is adapted to be secured to an outer surface of a cup;
- b. a lip located along the top edge of the body and extending between the first end and the second end, the lip positioned a distance from the outer surface of the cup when the cup holder is coupled thereto; and
- c. a plurality of cone-shaped concave grooves extending between the lip and the bottom edge, the grooves defining corresponding air passageways with the outer surface of the cup, wherein the air passageways are in communication with the lip.
Type: Application
Filed: May 19, 2004
Publication Date: Nov 24, 2005
Inventor: Brian Morrison (Miami, FL)
Application Number: 10/848,928