Beverage container holder device
A beverage container holder having a frame, a base attached to the frame capable of supporting the beverage container, a retaining member capable of retaining the beverage container on the base, and an engagement member capable of removable engagement a linked structure, such as a chain-link fence. The holder can include a hanger element for supporting articles.
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This application claims priority to provisional application No. 60/779,982 filed on Mar. 7, 2006.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a holder for beverage containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a holder for beverage containers which is capable of being hung from a fence or other appropriate structure.
Many people commonly consume beverages while attending or participating in outdoor activities, such as sporting events, that take place at parks, athletic fields, and backyards across the country. The beverages are kept in various containers, such as metal cans, plastic bottles, or cups. However, there is seldom any convenient place to set down the beverage containers when not drinking. As a result, the containers are oftentimes placed on the ground where they are subject to being knocked over, stepped on, on contaminated with dust or insects.
Many parks, athletic fields, and backyards have chain-link fences located in various areas. For example, baseball fields typically have chain-link fences around the dugout areas and behind home plate. Likewise, many residential homes have chain-link fences enclosing the backyard area. It would be convenient to secure or hang beverage containers on the fence.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As shown in
The chain-link fence “B” (
In the embodiment of
The retaining member 16 is a generally cylindrical ring that extends generally perpendicularly from the upright support 34 of the frame 12 at intersection “C” (
The base 14 is shown to be a generally cylindrical disc that extends generally perpendicularly from a lower end of the frame 12, but can be any desired shape or size capable of supporting the container “A”. The base 14 can be attached to the frame 12 by any suitable means, such as welding, adhesive, or with fasteners, or can be unitary with the frame 12. The position and orientation of the base 14 is generally concentric with and generally corresponds with the position and orientation of the retaining member 16 (
The holder 10 of
In the embodiment of
In operation, the holder 10 engages the fence “B” so that it is suspended from the lower wire segments 30 and 32 of two separate diamond-shaped openings 24. The forward facing engagement member 18 engages a corresponding wire segment 30 and the rearward facing engagement member 20 engages a corresponding wire segment 32. The weight of the frame 12, base 14, and retaining member 16 pull generally downwardly by gravity on the engagement members 18 and 20 along the longitudinal axis of the arms 36 and 38 to maintain engagement with the fence “B” and so that the holder will lie flat against the fence “B”. In this way, the Y-shape of the frame 12 enhances the stability of the holder 10 making it less likely to disengage from the fence “B” when it is bumped.
Many variations of the beverage container holder 10 can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Several alternate embodiments of the holder 10 are shown in
In this second embodiment, the base 114 is shown as generally rectangular. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that any desired shape can be used that is capable of supporting the container “A”, such as cylindrical, hexagonal, elliptical, oval, square and the like. In addition, the base 114 is angled slightly upwardly, such as approximately 5°, to compensate for the weight of the beverage container “A” (
The frame 212 comprises a generally rectangular upright support 234 (
The retaining member 216 is a generally cylindrical ring that extends generally perpendicularly from an upper end of the frame 212 (
The base 214 is generally rectangular with a rounded end 215 and extends generally perpendicularly from a lower end of the frame 212 (
The holder 210 is illustrated in
In this third embodiment, the engagement member 218 is generally L-shaped with an upper portion 250 extending rearward from the upper end of the frame 212 and lower portion 252 extending downwardly from the upper portion 250. (
In operation, the holder 210 engages the fence “B” so that it suspends from the lower wire segments 232 and 230 of one of the diamond-shaped openings 224. Each slot 254 and 256 engages a corresponding wire segment 232 and 230. The weight of the frame 212, base 214, and retaining member 216 pull generally downwardly by gravity on the engagement member 218 along the longitudinal axis of the frame 212 to maintain engagement with the fence “B”.
In this fourth embodiment, the retaining member 316 and the frame 312 include respective ornamental elements 360 and 362 (
In this fifth embodiment, the holder 410 includes a hanger element 470 that can be used to hang articles weighing up to about twenty pounds therefrom, such as a jacket or a glove. The hanger element 470 is generally triangular and extends from the lower end of the frame 412 in a vertical orientation (
All of the components of the beverage container holders 10, 110, 210, 310, or 410, described above can be made from any suitable material, preferably polypropylene, ABS or other plastic, but also can be a metal or a composite material. The holders 10, 110, 210, 310, or 410 can also include a protective or decorative coating, such as a paint, sealant, sticker, or the like.
The frame 512 comprises a generally rectangular upright support 534 (
The base 514 and retaining member 516 are generally cylindrical with the retaining member 516 extending upwardly from the base 514 to define an opening 561 for receiving the container “A” (
The holder 510 is illustrated in
The base 514 and retaining member 516 preferably comprise an insulating material to reduce heat transfer from the container “A” to the surrounding environment.
This allows containers placed within the holder 510 to remain cool or warm for longer period of time than without the insulating material. Any suitable insulating material can be used, such as neoprene, rubber materials, nylon, foam, foam polymers, and any combinations thereof. In alternative embodiments, the insulating material can comprise layers of different insulating and non-insulating materials. For example, a layer of foam polymer can be placed between outer layers of decorative or protective nylon. In another example, a layer of any synthetic or natural materials, such as leather, can be placed between outer layers of synthetic or natural materials.
An adjustable mouth 560 at the upper end of the retaining member 516 can be adjusted to select the size of the mouth 560 and cinch the mouth 560 to the external sides of the container “A”. This allows the holder 510 to accommodate different size containers placed within the opening 561. In this way, the adjustable mouth enhances the insulating effects of the holder 510 by limiting the entrance of air from the surrounding environment into the opening 561. In addition, the adjustable mouth 560 helps secure the container “A” within the holder 510. In
In this sixth embodiment, the engagement member 518 is generally L-shaped with an upper portion 550 extending rearward from the upper end of the frame 512 and lower portion 552 extending downwardly from the upper portion 550. (
For ease and comfort for carrying the holder 510, a shoulder strap 570 can be provided, which attaches to opposite external sides of the retaining member 516. The length of the strap 570 is preferably adjustable by using an appropriate device such as clasps 572 (
In operation, the holder 510 engages the fence “B” so that it suspends from the lower wire segments 530 and 532 of one of the diamond-shaped openings 524 (
Changes can be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. A beverage container holder, comprising:
- a generally Y-shaped frame having an upright support and at least two arms;
- a base member associated with the frame, the base member being capable of supporting a beverage container;
- a retaining member associated with the frame, the retaining member being capable of retaining the beverage container on the base member; and
- at least one engagement member associated with the frame, the at least one engagement member being capable of removable engagement with a linked structure.
2. The beverage container holder of claim 1, the at least one engagement member comprising at least one hook-shaped catch sized to receive at least one segment of the linked structure.
3. The beverage container holder of claim 1, the at least one engagement member comprising at least one slot sized to receive a segment of the linked structure.
4. The beverage container holder of claim 1, the at least one engagement member comprising at least two slots sized to receive corresponding segments of the linked structure, wherein the at least two slots are offset from each other at a distance relative to the corresponding segments.
5. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein:
- the upright support extends generally upwardly from the base member; and
- engagement member is positioned at an upper end of at least one arm.
6. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein an orientation of the retaining member respective to the frame generally corresponds with an orientation of the base member respective to the frame.
7. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the base member is positioned an angle equal to or above horizontal.
8. The beverage container holder of claim 1, further comprising a hanger element.
9. The beverage container holder of claim 1, further comprising at least one ornamental element associated with the retaining member.
10. The beverage container holder of claim 1, further comprising at least one ornamental element associated with the frame.
11. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the base member and the retaining member are unitary; and
- the base member and retaining member comprise an insulating material.
12. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the base member and retaining member comprise an insulating material.
13. (canceled)
14. The beverage container holder of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable shoulder strap associated with the base member.
15. A beverage container holder, comprising: a sleeve generally located about a perimeter of the opening; a cord partially and moveably located within the sleeve for cinching and releasing the adjustable mouth to and from the beverage container; and a fastener removeably engaged with the cord for securing the selected size of the opening.
- a frame;
- a base member extending from a lower end of the frame, the base member being capable of supporting a beverage container;
- a retaining member extending generally outwardly from the frame and being positioned relative to the base member, the retaining member defining an openeing for receiving and retaining the beverage container on the base member;
- at least one engagement member associated with the frame, the at least one engagement member having at least one slot for removable engagement with at least one segment of a linked structure;
16. The beverage container holder of claim 15, wherein the base member is positioned an angle equal to or above horizontal.
17. A beverage container holder, comprising:
- a generally Y-shaped frame having an upright support and at least two arms;
- a base member associated with the frame, the base member having a retaining member that defines an opening for receiving a beverage container; and
- at least one engagement member associated with the frame, the at least one engagement member being capable of removable engagement with a linked structure.
18. (canceled)
19. The beverage container holder of claim 15, the at least one engagement member comprising at least two slots sized to receive corresponding segments of the linked structure, wherein the at least two slots are offset from each other at a distance relative to the corresponding segments.
20. The beverage container holder of claim 17, further comprising an adjustable mouth for selecting a size of the opening.
21. The beverage container holder of claim 20, the adjustable mouth comprising:
- a sleeve generally located about a perimeter of the opening;
- a cord partially and moveably located within the sleeve for cinching and releasing the adjustable mouth to and from the beverage container; and
- a fastener removeably engaged with the cord for securing the selected size of the opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 5, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 13, 2007
Applicant:
Inventors: Steve Brenner (Webster Groves, MO), Ray Waidmann (Ballwin, MO), Gregory Litwicki (Wildwood, MO), Kim Rowden (Fenton, MO), Joe Anderson (St. Louis, MO)
Application Number: 11/543,500