Magnetized insulator for beverage container

Abstract

The present invention is an insulator for holding a beverage container against a surface. The insulator is a shell having an elastomeric wall. The top portion of the insulator includes an opening leading to an interior portion of the insulator. The insulator wall includes at least one magnetic strip. A beverage container is held within the interior of the insulator. The insulator and retained beverage container may then be attached to any metallic surface. The insulator may include retaining straps to more securely hold the beverage container within the interior of the insulator.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to beverage containers. Specifically, and not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to a magnetized insulator for a beverage container.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is widely known that the consumption of beverages is quite important during athletic activities. Numerous users of health clubs are seen with water bottles while exercising. The use of a beverage bottle having water or another fluid provides many advantages. By using a beverage bottle, the user does not have to return to a water fountain to stay hydrated. In addition, oftentimes individuals mix various substances into or in place of water to provide various benefits. However, although there are some benefits to using a bottle, it is also often very cumbersome to carry. The user must carry the bottle from station to station without having a specific location to position the bottle. Most often the bottle is place on the floor adjacent to the station the user is exercising upon. However, since the bottle is located on the floor, the bottle can easily fall over, spilling the fluid contents on the floor. A device is needed which allows the bottle to be securely attached to various exercise stations while still allow the bottle to be easily and conveniently retrieved.

Bicyclists also often use water bottles in order to stay hydrated. Typically, a bicyclist carries a bottle in a carriage device located on the main structure of the bicycle. However, carriage of the bottle in such a fashion has its problems. Removing and inserting the bottle in the carriage unit can be tedious and difficult. A device is needed which securely attaches the bottle to the bicycle, while still enabling the user to easily retrieve the bottle as desired.

Although there are no known prior art teachings of a device such as that disclosed herein, prior art references that discuss subject matter that bears some relation to matters discussed herein are U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,341 to Rains (Rains), U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,350 to McBride (McBride), U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,632 to Moore (Moore), and U.S. Patent Application Number 2004/0021049 to Payne et al. (Payne).

Rains discloses a drinking container having a magnet mounted in the bottom or side to permit attachment of the cup to a metal surface in an upright position. Although Rains does disclose the use of a magnet, Rains does not teach or suggest an insulating device having magnetized strips. Rains suffers from the disadvantage of embedding the magnet within a container. Thus, the user is limited to only one specific container to use in affixing the container to a surface. A device is needed which enables a wide variety of containers to be used.

McBride discloses an insulated beverage container holder having a cylindrical hollow body connected to a cylindrical hollow cap by an integrally molded flexible plastic loop hinge. A hollow cylindrical insulating foam liner cup is dimensioned for removable insertion into the cylindrical body. At the bottom of the holder is an attached magnet. A steel mount is then affixed to a location to which the beverage holder is to be located. However, McBride does not teach or suggest an insulator having magnetic strips located on the side of the insulator. McBride suffers from the disadvantage of requiring a flat horizontal surface to position the beverage holder. In addition, McBride requires the use of a mounting plate for locating the holder.

Moore discloses a container for beverages having a magnetic base which stabilizes the container when placed on a metallic surface. However, Moore does not teach or suggest an insulating device which accommodates various types of containers. Moore is limited to one specific container. In addition, Moore utilizes a magnet in the base of the container, which requires a flat horizontal surface to position the container upon.

Payne discloses a bottle attachment device having a bottle holder connected to an attachment device having a magnet. The magnet is connected to a cushion which is a rubber boot. The rubber boot is positioned between the exterior surface of a vehicle and the magnet. However Payne does not teach or suggest an insulating device for use with beverage containers. Payne merely discloses a magnet having straps wrapped around a container of automobile wax for attachment to a vehicle.

An insulating device is needed which allows the use of various types of beverage containers while attaching the device to any flat metallic surface. Thus, it would be a distinct advantage to have a device attachable to a wide variety of surfaces having various orientations which insulates a container and is useable on a wide variety of beverage containers. It is an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is an insulator for holding a beverage container. The insulator includes a shell having a wall. The wall has insulating properties and surrounds an interior portion of the insulator. The shell includes a top portion with an opening leading to the interior portion. In addition, the insulator includes at least one magnetic strip attached to the wall. The beverage container is inserted through the opening and held within the interior. The magnetic strip enables the insulator to attach to a surface.

In another aspect, the present invention is a combination of an insulator and beverage container. The combination includes a beverage container for holding a fluid and an insulator. The insulator includes a shell having a wall. The wall has insulating properties and surrounds an interior portion of the insulator. The shell has a top portion with an opening leading to the interior portion. Additionally, the wall includes at least one magnetic strip. The beverage container is inserted through the opening into the interior and retained within the insulator. The magnetic strip enables the insulator to attach to a substantially vertical surface.

In still another aspect, the present invention is an insulator for holding a beverage container. The insulator includes a shell having a wall. The wall has insulating properties and surrounds an interior portion of the insulator. The wall is constructed of an elastomeric neoprene material. The shell has a top portion with an opening leading to the interior portion. The wall includes two magnetic strips. Each strip is located on an opposite side of the insulator. The beverage container is inserted through the opening into the interior and the magnetic strips enable the insulator to attach to a substantially vertical surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an insulator in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the insulator of FIG. 1 holding a beverage container affixed to a surface in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the magnetic strip removed from the insulator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the wall of the insulator of FIG. 1 illustrating the embedded magnetic strip;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the insulator with the beverage container removed;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an insulator in an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the insulator of FIG. 6 holding the beverage container; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of an insulator in a second alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an insulator holding a beverage container having a magnetized strip for attachment to a surface. FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an insulator 10 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The insulator is constructed of a flexible material having excellent insulating qualities such as neoprene or Gortex. However, any material which can securely hold a beverage container may be utilized. Preferably, the insulator is a cylindrical shell having a wall 12 surrounding an interior 14. On a top portion 16 of the insulator is an opening 16. The interior is sized and shaped to accommodate a beverage container, such as a water bottle. In addition, the wall is preferably constructed of an elastomeric material to stretch around the beverage container while retaining the container within the interior. The wall includes at least one magnetic strip 18. Preferably, to maintain a balanced weight distribution of the insulator, there are two or more strips 18 located at opposite sides of the insulator. Although preferably cylindrically shaped, the insulator may be any size and shape to accommodate a beverage container. The magnetic strip is preferably rectangular and flat and longitudinally runs the entire length of the insulator.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the insulator 10 of FIG. 1 holding a beverage container 20 affixed to a surface 22 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The beverage container is inserted through the opening 16 and held within the interior 14 of the insulator 10. Because of the elastomeric qualities, the beverage container may easily be inserted into the interior. The walls are biased inwardly to retain the beverage container within the interior of the insulator. The insulator is attached to the surface 22 by the magnetic strip 18. The surface is a metallic surface attracted to the magnetic strip, thereby retaining the insulator and retained beverage against the surface. Since the magnetic strip is longitudinally oriented on the insulator, the insulator may be held most effectively against a vertical or substantially vertical surface. However, the insulator may be affixed to a surface of any orientation, including a horizontal surface.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the magnetic strip 18 removed from the insulator 10 of FIG. 1. The magnetic strip may be any size and shape providing an attractive force great enough to hold the insulator 10 and retained beverage container 20. However, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic strip is curvilinear to conform to the shape of the retained beverage container. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic strip may be curved outwardly, opposite the shape of the beverage container to follow a shape of a curved surface, such a pole to which the insulator may be attached.

FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the wall 12 of the insulator 10 of FIG. 1 illustrating the embedded magnetic strip 18. The magnetic strip 18 may be embedded within the wall of the insulator. As discussed above, the magnetic strip may be curved to follow the shape of the beverage container 20.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the insulator 10 with the beverage container 20 removed. The magnetic strips may be positioned in one or move locations on the insulator. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic strip 18A is embedded within the interior of the wall 12. Alternately, the magnetic strip 18B may be positioned on an interior side 30 of the wall 12. In another alternate embodiment, the magnetic strip 18C may be positioned on an exterior side 32 of the wall 12. It should be understood that the magnetic strips may be any size and shape necessary to provide the required magnetic strength to retain the insulator and retained beverage container against a surface. Additionally, the magnetic strip may wrap completely around the insulator, following the wall 12. The magnetic strip may also be added to an existing conventional insulator. The magnetic strip may be affixed directly to the exterior or interior surface of the insulator (wall 12). Alternatively, a pocket (not shown) may be affixed to the wall of an existing insulator and the magnetic strip placed within the affixed pocket.

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, the operation of the insulator 10 will now be explained. The beverage container is filled with fluid. The beverage container may be a conventional water bottle or any container holding a fluid. The beverage container is inserted through the opening 16 into the interior 14. The walls may stretch outwardly to facilitate the placement of the beverage container within the interior. Once the beverage container is in place within the interior, the wall may revert to its original positioned, thereby retaining the beverage container within the interior of the insulator. The user then carries the beverage container and insulator as desired. The insulator and retained beverage container may then be placed against any metallic surface, preferably vertically or nearly vertically oriented. The magnetic strips 18 are attracted to the metallic surface 22, which enables the insulator to be retained against the surface. Thus, the user may leave the beverage container and insulator hands free without worry of spilling the fluid from the beverage container. When desired, the insulator and beverage container may then be removed from the surface and reattached at a different location.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an insulator 100 in a first alternate embodiment of the present invention. The insulator 100 is similar to the insulator 10, which includes a shell having the wall 12 surrounding the interior 14. At the top of the insulator is the opening 16. One or more magnetic strips may be located on the wall 12. However, in order to more securely retain the beverage container 20, the insulator 100 includes retaining straps 102 and 104. The retaining straps may include securing devices such as hook and pile strips 106 and 108.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the insulator 100 of FIG. 6 holding the beverage container 20. The beverage container may be inserted through the opening 16 into the interior 14. The retaining straps 102 and 104 may then be wrapped around the top portion of the beverage container to securely hold the beverage container within the insulator.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the operation of the insulator 100 will now be explained. The beverage container 22 is inserted through the opening 16 into the interior 14. The walls may stretch outwardly to facilitate the placement of the beverage container within the interior. Once the beverage container is in place within the interior, the wall may revert to its original positioned, thereby retaining the beverage container within the interior of the insulator. To provide additional security in retaining the beverage container within the insulator, the retaining straps 102 and 104 are wrapped around a top portion of the beverage container. The straps are held in place by the hook and pile strips 106 and 108. The user then carries the beverage container and insulator as desired. The insulator and retained beverage container may then be placed against any metallic surface, preferably vertically or nearly vertically oriented. The magnetic strips 18 are attracted to the metallic surface 22, which enables the insulator to be retained against the surface. Thus, the user may leave the beverage container and insulator hands free without worry of spilling the fluid from the beverage container. When desired, the insulator and beverage container may then be removed from the surface and reattached at a different location.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the insulator 10 carrying one or more accessories in a second alternate embodiment of the present invention. An accessory may be detachably connected to the wall 12. For example keys 60 having a retainer 62 having a metallic surface 64 may be used. The metallic surface 64 may be retained against the magnetic strip 18. Thus, an individual may perform exercises at various stations, while carrying his keys on the insulator 10. In another example, the insulator may include an integrated retaining ring 70. A towel 72 may also include an attachment ring 74 for attachment to the retaining ring 70. The towel may alternatively include a metallic strip (not shown), which may be used for retaining the towel against the wall of the insulator in a similar fashion as discussed above for the keys 60.

The present invention provides many advantages over existing beverage containers. The present invention accommodates various beverage containers and is not limited to one particular container. In addition, the insulator provides excellent insulating qualities to maintain the desired temperature of the beverage held in the container. The present invention also provides a convenient method of storing the beverage container while not in use without the use of additional equipment being installed on the surface. Additionally, the present invention allows the beverage container to be held against a substantially vertical surface, which enables the beverage container to be stored in a convenience yet unobtrusive location for later use. However, the insulator may be attached to a surface of any orientation. The insulator, although particularly suited for gymnasiums, health clubs, and during many athletic activities, may also be used in other activities. For example, the present invention may be used to retain and insulate a baby bottle. Additionally, several studies have indicated that a fluid can be filtered by magnets to remove undesirable substances found in many fluids.

While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.

Thus, the present invention has been described herein with reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof.

It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An insulator for holding a beverage container, the insulator comprising:

a shell having a flexible wall, the wall surrounding an interior portion of the insulator;

the shell having a top portion with an opening leading to the interior portion; and

at least one magnetic strip attached to the wall;

whereby the beverage container is inserted through the opening into the interior and the magnetic strip enables the insulator to attach to a surface.

2. The insulator for holding a beverage container of claim 1 wherein the wall is elastomeric.

3. The insulator for holding a beverage container of claim 1 wherein the wall is constructed of neoprene.

4. The insulator for holding a beverage container of claim 1 further comprising a second magnetic strip located on the wall opposite the first magnetic strip.

5. The insulator for holding a beverage container of claim 1 wherein the magnetic strip is embedded into the wall of the insulator.

6. The insulator for holding a beverage container of claim 1 wherein the magnetic strip is affixed to an exterior surface of the wall.

7. The insulator for holding a beverage container of claim 1 wherein the magnetic strip is affixed to an interior surface of the wall.

8. The insulator for holding a beverage container of claim 1 further comprising at least one retaining strap located on the top portion of the shell for retaining the beverage container within the interior of the insulator.

9. The insulator for holding a beverage container of claim 1 wherein the insulator is attached to a substantially vertical wall.

10. The insulator for holding a beverage container of claim 1 wherein the magnetic strip is curved inwardly to conform to the beverage container retained within the interior portion.

11. The insulator for holding a beverage container of claim 1 wherein the magnetic strip is curved outwardly to conform to a curved surface.

12. The insulator for holding a beverage container of claim 1 further comprising:

an accessory; and

means for detachably connecting the accessory upon the insulator.

13. The insulator for holding a beverage container of claim 12 wherein the means for detachably connecting the accessory includes affixing a metallic surface to the accessory, the metallic surface of the accessory being detachably attached to the magnetic strip of the wall.

14. A combination of an insulator and beverage container, the combination comprising:

a beverage container for holding a fluid; and

an insulator having: a shell having a wall, the wall having insulating properties and surrounding an interior portion of the insulator; the shell having a top portion with an opening leading to the interior portion; and at least one magnetic strip attached to the wall;

whereby the beverage container is inserted through the opening into the interior and the magnetic strip enables the insulator to attach to a substantially vertical surface.

15. The combination of an insulator and beverage container of claim 14 wherein the wall of the insulator is elastomeric.

16. The combination of an insulator and beverage container of claim 14 further comprising a second magnetic strip located on the wall of the insulator opposite the first magnetic strip.

17. The combination of an insulator and beverage container of claim 14 further comprising at least one retaining strap located on the top portion of the shell for retaining the beverage container within the interior of the insulator.

18. The combination of an insulator and beverage container of claim 14 wherein the magnetic strip is curved to conform to the beverage container retained within the interior portion.

19. The combination of an insulator and beverage container of claim 14 wherein the magnetic strip is curved outwardly to conform to a curved surface.

20. An insulator for holding a beverage container, the insulator comprising:

a shell having a wall, the wall having insulating properties and surrounding an interior portion of the insulator, the wall constructed of an elastomeric neoprene material;

the shell having a top portion with an opening leading to the interior portion; and

two magnetic strips attached to the wall, each strip located on an opposite side of the insulator;

whereby the beverage container is inserted through the opening into the interior and the magnetic strips enables the insulator to attach to a substantially vertical surface.