Bottle holder for school desk or tables

Abstract

A device that allows an individual, and more particularly, a student, to hold a beverage container or other similar device in a classroom desk or table. The instant invention comprises a cylinder shape that is open on one end and closed on the other. It is approximately 5 inches in height and 4 inches in diameter with a ½ inch to 1 inch lip completely around the top of the holder. The cylinder is so designed that it fits directly into an opening on top of the desk or table. When placed into the opening in the desk or table, it is secured by the lip engaging the top of the desk or table. It is removable by pulling up on the lip. In an alternate mode, an attachment is provided wherein the bottle holder can be placed in the event there is no pre-existing hole in the top of the desk or table. The attachment can be affixed either mechanically or chemically onto the top of the desk or table at any location on the desk or table top. The bottle holder is simply inserted into the attachment and removed whenever an individual desires.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/980,399 filed on Oct. 16,2007.

FEDERAL RESEARCH STATEMENT

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device in which students can place and hold water bottles or other objects on student desks or tables in a classroom. The bottle/object holder can be placed in a pre-drilled hole in a school desk or table or in a simple attachment that is affixed to the desk or table.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The prior art contains many examples of devices that can be configured to hold a variety of objects including beverage containers. For example, US Patent Application 20060219858 by Iacovino shows a beverage container holder. U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,538 to Oswald teaches a device that can be attached to the top of a desk or table that can hold various items. Similarly, US Patent Application 20070181766 to Sarullo et al teaches another type of beverage container as does US Patent Application 20070045496 to Kane.

While the above referenced devices provide means to hold items including beverage containers, none present the combination of features and flexibility that the instant invention offers. Specifically, the instant invention is portable, removable, made of a material that can be readily cleaned, contains rounded edges to minimize cutting hazards to students, and can be either be inserted in an existing hole in a desk or table or inserted in a simple attachment that can be affixed to a desk or table.

While the instant invention has wide application throughout offices, homes, industrial settings, its primary application is in elementary, middle school, junior high school and senior high school classrooms. In today's classroom environment, students have a need to continually hydrate due to the extremely dry air caused by aggressive HVAC systems. This is especially true after students participate in sports, recess, physical education, and other strenuous physical activity. In order to meet the need to hydrate, students frequently bring bottles of water, juice, and other beverages into the classroom. Most classroom desks or tables have no place to put these bottles and therefore the bottles are usually place on top of the desk or table where they are prone to topple over and spill water, juice, etc. onto the desk or table top. The liquid can then seep into books and papers, thereby creating a mess or fall on the floor thereby creating a safety hazard.

Applicant has developed the instant invention in order to ameliorate the spilling of water and other liquids over school desks or tables. The instant device fits easily onto a hole that can be pre-drilled into a school desk or table top or drilled into an already existing school desk or table top at the school. It is easily insertable, easily removable, and most importantly in the school environment, it can be easily cleaned.

Applicant has also developed a portable attachment for situations where a pre-existing hole is not present in the school desk or table or where a school does not wish to drill large holes in the school desk or table. The portable attachment is essentially a container overpack into which the bottle holder is inserted. The attachment is easily screwed into the top of the school desk or table. It can be placed at any suitable position on the top of the desk or table.

The instant invention has wide application in all types of environments where desks or tables are used including schools, offices, homes, industrial settings, and recreational settings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The best mode for making and using the present invention is directed toward a device that allows an individual, and more particularly, a student, to hold a beverage container or other similar device. More specifically, the instant invention comprises a cylinder shape that is open on one end and closed on the other. The open end is comprised of a lip with rounded edges in order to minimize the cutting hazard to students. It is approximately 5 inches in height and 4 inches in diameter with a ½ inch to 1 inch lip completely around the top of the holder. The lip comprises rounded edges. The cylinder is so designed that it fits directly and easily into an opening on top of the desk or table. When placed into the opening in the desk or table, it is secured by the lip engaging the top of the desk or table. It is removable by grasping the lip and the inner part of the device and pulling up.

The present invention also comprises a portable, removable attachment that can be used in situations where a pre-existing hole is not present on the desk or table or where the school does not wish to drill large holes in the desk or table top. The portable attachment is essentially a container overpack into which the bottle holder is inserted. The attachment is easily screwed into the top of the school desk or table. It can be placed at any suitable position on the top of the desk or table. The overpack can also be attached to the desk or table top using other means such as Velcro.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a school desk showing the relative position of the bottle holder 10 on the desk or table 20. FIG. 1 furthermore shows how the lip 40 engages the top of the desk or table in order to hold it in place.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the bottle holder 10. This view shows that the device is a cylinder that is closed and rounded on the bottom end 50. It also shows the open top end of the cylinder 30 and the lip 40 that goes around the circumference of the top open end.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the desk 20 with the relative positioning of the bottle holder 10.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the bottle holder 10 and overpack attachment 60 and a bottom view of the overpack attachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a simple mechanical device that can be inserted into a school desk or table that allows a student to place a bottle or other beverage container into the device in a manner that is stable and minimizes the chances of spilling the liquid contained in the bottle.

Referring to FIG. 1, a top perspective view of a school desk 20 showing the relative position of the bottle holder 10 on the desk 20. It is important to note that the bottle holder can be placed in any location on the school desk where there is a suitable hole. While FIG. 1 shows the bottle holder placed on the right side of the desk, it could just as easily be placed on the left side of the desk, which may be more conducive for a left-handed student. FIG. 1 furthermore shows how the lip 40 engages the top of the desk in order to hold it in place.

Referring to FIG. 2, a top perspective view of the bottle container 10 is shown. This view shows the opening 30 in the top of the holder as well as the lip 40 around the entire circumference of the top of holder. The lip is approximately one half inch to one inch in width and is between one eighth inch and three eighths inches in height. The lip must be sufficiently wide and strong to adequately support the weight of the holder and a full bottle as it engages the surface of the desk. Another key feature of the holder in general and of the lip in particular is that all edges are rounded to minimize the risk of injury to students.

The bottle container or holder 10 as is shown in FIG. 2 is between four and six inches in height and between three and five inches in diameter. The container holder is open at the top and closed at the bottom. It can be a standard cylinder shape with one end closed or it can taper slightly from the top to the bottom. The lip is between one quarter inch and five eighths of an inch wide.

Referring to FIG. 3, a top side view of a school desk 20 is presented indicating the relative ease with which the bottle holder 10 can be inserted into and removed from the desk or table. Easy insertion and removal from the desk or table is a key component of the design of the holder since it is very important that the cup be easily cleaned given the propensity of students to get the holder dirty.

Referring to FIG. 4, a perspective view of the bottle holder 10 in a more contemporary school desk 50 is shown. This view is instructive as it shows the depth that the holder is located at under the desk or table surface.

The best mode for making and using the instant bottle holder is to comprise the device of a readily cleanable plastic, hard rubber plastic, neoprene, or other similar material and to round off all edges to make the device as safe as possible for students. The best mode further comprises inserting the holder into a round hole in the surface of a school desk or table. However, the holder can be made of any material that is easily cleanable and that is fairly rigid with rounded edges. Furthermore, the device can be attached or affixed to the desk or table in any manner such as inserting it into an overpack that is placed on the desk or table top, placing the holder in an attachment that is mounted on the exterior of the desk or table top; and attaching it to the desk or table top with a mechanism such as Velcro or some other type of non-permanent and benign affixing method.

The overpack 60 is generally made of a heavy weight plastic or metal.

Claims

1. A cylindrical device for holding bottles or other items that can be inserted into an opening on the top of a school desk or table comprising:

a. a rigid or semi-rigid material that is closed at one end and open at the other end,

b. a lip surrounding the circumference of the open end of the cylinder which serves to hold the device in place on the desk or table top

c. rounded and smoothed edges to reduce the probability of injury to students.

2. A device as in claim 1 where the cylinder tapers slightly from the open to the closed end.

3. A device as in claim 1 where the device is between four and six inches high, between three and five inches wide, and where the lip is between one quarter and five eighths inches wide.

4. A device as in claim 1 where the device is made of hard nylon, rubber, neoprene or other similar material.

5. A device as in claim 1 where the device is made of a strong lightweight metal.

6. A cylindrical device for holding bottles or other items that can be affixed to the top of a school desk or table comprising:

a. a rigid or semi-rigid material that is closed at one end and open at the other end,

b. a lip surrounding the circumference of the open end of the cylinder which serves to hold the device in place on the desk or table top,

c. rounded and smoothed edges to reduce the probability of injury to students.

7. A device as in claim 6 where the cylinder tapers slightly from the open to the closed end.

8. A device as in claim 6 where the device is between four and six inches high, between three and five inches wide, and where the lip is between one quarter and five eighths inches wide.

9. A device as in claim 6 where the device is made of hard nylon, rubber, neoprene or other similar material.

10. A device as in claim 6 where the device is made of a strong lightweight metal.

11. A device as in claim 1 or 6 where the device is affixed to the desk or table top mechanically or with adhesive.