Disposable bottle holder

Abstract

A disposable bottle holder has an elongated textured body surface, a hook at one end and a bottle engaging end on the other end. The textured body is adapted to be snapped into the bottle engaging end and be pulled there through so as to tighten the bottle engaging end around the bottle. The one way nature of the textured body surface and bottle engaging end enable a one pull locking engagement between the bottle holder and the bottle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to beverage bottle carriers. More particularly, it relates to a disposable beverage bottle carrier.

2. Description of the Prior Art

With the generation of more and more beverage products being distributed in bottles, there has become a need to provide the customer with a hands free method of carrying the beverage bottle. This is especially the case for patrons of sporting events, athletic people who exercise a lot and require constant hydration.

Various different forms of bottle toting and/or bottle carrying devices are known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,577,647, 6,837,472, 5,810,218, 6,131,780 and 6,626,333 all disclose various different forms of bottle holders/tote devices. None of these devices, however, are disposable, and are difficult expensive to manufacture. In addition, they are limited to particular bottle designs and/or sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore desirable to provide a bottle holding device that is disposable and can be used for practically any sized bottle.

This and other aspects are achieved in accordance with an embodiment of the invention where the disposable beverage bottle holder includes a body having a first user engaging end, a second bottle engaging end and a central portion between the ends. The central portion includes a one-way textured surface, and the second bottle engaging end includes a one way securing means adapted to receive the one way textured surface of said central portion.

The body is wrapped around a beverage bottle and pulled through the one way securing means to secure the holder to the beverage bottle.

In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the disposable beverage bottle holder is comprised of plastic having a tensile strength of at least 3 lbs, and the textured surface is made up of a sequential frusto-conical sections.

According another aspect of the invention, the disposable beverage bottle holder includes a body having a first user engaging end, a second bottle engaging end and a central portion between the ends, one way securing means disposed at the second bottle engaging end and adapted to receive the central portion.

The body is wrapped around a beverage bottle and pulled through the one way securing means to secure the holder to the beverage bottle. The one way securing means enables a one-time only adjustment of the bottle holder around the bottle.

According to other embodiments, the disposable beverage bottle holder includes a first user engaging end, a second opposing end, and a central portion extending between said ends. The first user engaging end is passed through the second opposing end to cause the central portion, in conjunction with the second end to form a loop around the beverage bottle. The central portion being pulled through the second opposing end to secure the bottle holder around the bottle.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar components throughout the views:

FIG. 1 is plan view of the disposable bottle holder device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the hook end of the disposable bottle holder device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the body surface of the disposable bottle holder device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are enlarged views of the bottle receiving end of the disposable bottle hook device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the disposable bottle holder device in its operable position engaged around the neck of a beverage bottle; and

FIGS. 6a-6c show the operation of the disposable bottle holder according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows the disposable bottle holder 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. Bottle holder 10 includes a hook portion 12, an elongated thin body 14 and a bottle engaging end 16.

FIG. 2 shows the hook portion 12 having a lower portion 20 and an upper portion 22. The lower portion 20 is adapted to engage over a user's clothing, or bag strap so as to retain the clothing or bag strap within the hook portion and preferably in contact with the upper portion 22 during use. In accordance with other embodiments, hook portion 12 can be replaced with a clip or other releasably securable device with departing from the spirit of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged portion of the elongated body 14 of the disposable bottle holder. Body 14 includes a textured surface that is designed for one way operation with the bottle engaging end 16. In the exemplary embodiment, body 14 consists of a plurality of sections 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, etc. Each of the sections 30 are substantially frusto-conical in shape, having a larger end 32 leading to a smaller end 34, where the sections are sequentially arranged such that the smaller end 34 of one section adjoins the larger end 32 of the next adjacent section. Those of skill in the art will recognize that different shapes may be implemented for sections 30 that accommodate the one way operation of the same with the bottle engaging end.

The stem 15 or remaining un-textured portion of the holder 10 is preferably smaller in diameter than the textured surface sections 30, as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b, the bottle engaging end 16 includes a securing hook like section 40 having tapered internal edges 42 that culminate in a central hole 44. The spacing of tapered edges 42 is such that once the body 16 has been snapped into hole 44 (FIG. 4b) by riding up and against the tapered edges 42, the body 16 can only be pulled in one direction D to tighten the bottle engaging end around the neck of a bottle. The circumferential edges of hole 44 prevent the larger ends 32 of the sections 30 from being pulled there through in a direction opposite to direction D shown.

FIG. 5 shows the disposable bottle hook device 10 as secured around the neck of a bottle 50. Most every beverage bottle includes a flange 52 around the neck. This flange 52 assists in the operation of the disposable bottle hook by allowing the same to be wrapped and secured around the bottle neck without being capable of being pulled there from.

It is envisioned that the disposable bottle holder 10 can be made of a plastic, polyethylene or any type of nylon, and formed such that the body has a tensile strength of at least 3 lbs.

During operation, a user simply wraps the bottle engaging end 16 around the bottle neck and snaps body 14 into the securing section 40. Once snapped in, the body 14 is pulled in direction D to tighten the bottle engaging end around the bottle neck. Once secured, the user can use hook 12 to attach the bottle to their clothing, a bag or the like. When the user is finished with the beverage, the bottle 50 and the disposable bottle holder 10 are thrown away.

FIGS. 6a-6c shows the bottle holder 10 according to another embodiment of the invention. In particular, bottle engaging end 16 includes an enclosed or integrated loop 60 adapted to allow the hook 12 pass there through and enable body 14 to be pulled around the neck of the bottle as shown. The inner circumferential edges 62 of the integrated loop 60 engage the textured surface of body 14 and enable the securing of the same around the bottle.

In other contemplated embodiments, the bottle holder may be integrated into the bottle cap or other bottle closing device. In particular, most bottle caps include a lower ring portion that remains on the bottle after the initial opening of the bottle cap. This remaining ring may include a hook or clip portion that is molded into the same and provides a sufficient tensile strength to allow the user to carry the bottle by the hook or clip portion. The integrated hook can be molded in a flat arrangement so as to fold out from the retained ring and not interfere with the manufacturing or shipment of the bottle.

While there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A disposable beverage bottle holder comprising:

a body having a first user engaging end, a second bottle engaging end and a central portion between said ends;

said central portion having a one-way textured surface;

one way securing means disposed at said second bottle engaging end and adapted to receive said one way textured surface of said central portion;

wherein said body is wrapped around a beverage bottle and pulled through said one way securing means to secure the holder to the beverage bottle.

2. The disposable beverage bottle holder according to claim 1, wherein said holder is comprised of plastic or nylon having a tensile strength of at least 3 lbs.

3. The disposable beverage bottle holder according to claim 1, wherein said textured surface comprises sequential frusto-conical sections.

4. The disposable beverage bottle holder according to claim 3, wherein said one way securing means comprises an end having tapered edges leading to a central hole for receiving said textured one way surface of said central portion, said central hole having circumferential edges that prevent two way movement of said frusto-conical sections.

5. The disposable beverage bottle holder according to claim 3, wherein said one way securing means comprises an end having a central hole for receiving said textured central portion, said central hole having circumferential edges that prevent two way movement of said frusto-conical sections.

6. The disposable beverage bottle holder according to claim 2, wherein said plastic comprises polyethylene.

7. The disposable beverage bottle holder according to claim 1, wherein said first user engaging end comprises a hook.

8. A disposable beverage bottle holder comprising:

a body having a first user engaging end, a second bottle engaging end and a central portion between said ends;

one way securing means disposed at said second bottle engaging end and adapted to receive said central portion;

wherein said body is wrapped around a beverage bottle and pulled through said one way securing means to secure the holder to the beverage bottle, said one way securing means enabling a one-time only adjustment of said bottle holder around the bottle.

9. The disposable bottle holder according to claim 8, wherein said central portion further comprises a one way textured surface.

10. The disposable bottle holder according to claim 8, wherein said bottle holder is comprised of a plastic or nylon having a tensile strength of at least 3 lbs.

11. A disposable beverage bottle holder comprising:

a first user engaging end;

a second opposing end; and

a central portion extending between said ends;

wherein said first user engaging end is passed through said second opposing end to cause said central portion, in conjunction with said second end to form a loop around the beverage bottle, said central portion being pulled through said second opposing end to secure said bottle holder around the bottle.

12. The disposable beverage bottle holder according to claim 11, wherein said second opposing end comprise an integrated loop.

13. The disposable beverage bottle holder according to claim 12, wherein said central portion comprises a one way textured surface.

14. The disposable beverage bottle holder according to claim 13, wherein said integrated loop comprises circumferential edges engaging the one way textured surface to allow a one time adjustment of said bottle holder around the bottle.