MAGNETIZED BEVERAGE CONTAINER HOLDER
A beverage container holder is disclosed which includes a magnet within the sleeve of a beverage container holder. The beverage container holder, along with any beverage container placed in the beverage container holder, may be mounted on any mounting surface having an associated ferrous material. The beverage container holder is held in place due to the force of the magnetic interaction between the magnet and the mounting surface.
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The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/655,502, filed Jan. 19, 2007, entitled “Magnetized Beverage Container Holder” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/382,459, filed Mar. 5, 2003, entitled “Magnetized Beverage Container Holder”, which is incorporated herein by this reference. This application is also a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/248,542, filed Oct. 9, 2008, entitled “Magnetized Beverage Container Holder”, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to holders for beverage containers, and more specifically, to a magnetized beverage container holder used to secure a beverage container to a surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn numerous situations, for several reasons, people drink beverages from beverage containers, such as boating, tailgating, working, etc. For example, while boating a person may be exposed to heat and sun for several hours, and remaining hydrated is important. In many of these situations, finding a place to store the beverage container in which the container will not be inadvertently spilled or knocked over can be problematic. On a boat, for example, simply placing a beverage container on a flat surface is often unsatisfactory since the container may tip over as a result from typical movement of the boat rocking on the water. Likewise, when operating heavy machinery during construction or farming operations one might find it difficult or even impossible to retain a beverage without spilling. Similarly, at picnics or other outdoor gatherings, placing a beverage container on the ground may result in spilling as a result of a person or animal inadvertently kicking the container.
Numerous container holders exist which attempt to solve the above-mentioned problems. For example, holders exist for the attachment to platforms, such as boats, in which a beverage container may be placed. Such holders are typically secured to the platform by screws, for example. While such a holder provides a place for container storage, it also has disadvantages. For example, the holder is permanently secured in one place on the platform, thus providing limited flexibility for storing such beverage containers. While additional holders may be installed in areas which are most convenient for such storage, the additional holders may cause clutter in those areas. Furthermore, if a person wishes to be in an area which does not have a holder installed, that person must either hold the container, or store the container in area which does have a holder, which may be inconvenient for the person due to having to move to the other area every time they wish to drink from the container. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a holder for a beverage container which is able to be moved from place to place with relative ease, and which helps to prevent inadvertent spilling of the beverage container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThese and other needs are addressed by the various embodiments and configurations of the present invention. The invention provides a method and apparatus for mounting a beverage container holder to a mounting surface. The beverage container holder includes a magnet and may be mounted to any mounting surface which contains a ferrous material in sufficient quantity to produce sufficient attraction to the magnet to secure and hold the beverage container holder, and beverage container, to the mounting surface.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a beverage container holder including a holder which is adapted to receive a beverage container, and a magnet operatively associated with the holder and operable to interact with a mounting surface. The magnet is operable to secure the holder to the mounting surface such that the side of the beverage container is at least substantially parallel to the mounting surface. The mounting surface may be substantially vertical, thus holding the beverage container holder and beverage container in a substantially upright position. In one embodiment, the holder includes a pouch on the holder adapted to receive the magnet and secure the magnet to the holder. In another embodiment, the magnet is secured to the holder using adhesive. In another embodiment, the magnet is embedded within the holder, and the holder includes a visual indicator and/or surface texturing indicating the location of the magnet within the holder. The magnet has a total field strength of about 800-1200 gauss.
The mounting surface includes a ferrous material, and in one embodiment, the mounting surface is a ferrous material. The mounting surface may also include a non-ferrous material with a ferrous material adjacent thereto which interacts with the magnet to secure the holder to the mounting surface. The ferrous material may be secured with a rivet or other mechanical fastening device.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for securing a beverage container to a mounting surface. The method includes providing a holder adapted to receive the beverage container, the holder being operatively engaged with a magnet, and placing the holder adjacent to the mounting surface. The magnet is operable to interact with the mounting surface and secure the holder and beverage container to the mounting surface, with a side of the beverage container being at least substantially parallel to the mounting surface.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a holder for a beverage container. The method of manufacturing includes forming a sleeve portion of the holder, with the sleeve portion being adapted to receive the beverage container. A magnet is secured to the sleeve portion in a position such that the side of the beverage container is substantially parallel to a mounting surface when the beverage container is located in the sleeve and the holder is engaged with the mounting surface. A base portion may be formed and secured to a first end of the sleeve, substantially closing the first end of the sleeve. The sleeve portion may be formed by injection molding an insulation material into a sleeve form. The sleeve portion may also be formed by stitching end portions of a rectangular fabric together to form the sleeve portion. A pouch may also be stitched to the sleeve, the pouch being adapted to receive the magnet, and the magnet inserted into the pouch. The magnet may also be secured to the sleeve with an adhesive, where the adhesive is applied to at least one of the magnet and the sleeve portion, the magnet is positioned against the sleeve portion, and the adhesive is cured to secure the magnet to the sleeve portion. The magnet may also be secured to the sleeve by inserting the magnet into a preformed aperture in the sleeve.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a beverage container holder including holding means for holding a beverage container, and mounting means for mounting the holding means to a mounting surface. The mounting means is secured to the holding means such that, when the beverage container is located in the holding means and the holding means is mounted to the mounting surface, a side of the beverage container is at least substantially parallel to the mounting surface. The mounting means may include a magnet which is secured to the holding means.
Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a system for holding a beverage container. The system includes a beverage container, a holder adapted to receive the beverage container, a magnet operatively engaged with the holder, and a mounting surface operative to engage with the magnet and secure the holder to the mounting surface. When the holder is secured to the mounting surface, a side of the beverage container is substantially parallel to the mounting surface. The mounting surface may be substantially vertical.
These and other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention taken together with the drawings.
Referring to
The orientation of the various components are shown in
In the embodiment of
In another embodiment, illustrated in
Referring again to
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In another embodiment, as illustrated in
The magnet within the beverage container holder has numerous alternative configurations. For example, as illustrated in
In another embodiment, illustrated in
Having a second magnet 118 associated with the mounting surface allows for a stronger interaction with the magnet 32 and the mounting surface 110 than would be present if the mounting surface simply has a ferrous material. Thus, in this embodiment, the non-ferrous material 114 may be relatively thick, and/or the magnet 32 may not be required to be as strong as compared to the strength of a magnet required to secure the beverage container holder 20 to a mounting surface not having a second magnet.
Another embodiment, illustrated in
It will be understood that the invention includes further embodiments which may have magnets associated with the mounting surface, such as, for example, a mounting surface having multiple magnets associated therewith such that the beverage container holder may be mounted in various positions. Furthermore, the magnet associated with the mounting surface may be embedded within the non-ferrous material, or may be located on the side of the mounting surface which contacts the beverage container holder. Furthermore, magnets associated with the mounting surface may be configured to align with the magnets of the beverage container holders described with reference to
In another embodiment, illustrated in
Numerous alternatives also exist for the configuration of the beverage container holder. As mentioned above, the holder may be made of a flexible material, or a rigid material. The beverage container holder may have different sizes, in order to accommodate beverage containers which are different sizes, such as different sized beverage cans, bottles, cups, or glasses, for example. Alternatively, the beverage container holder may be expandable or adjustable to receive different sized beverage containers. Furthermore, the beverage container holder may be large enough to completely cover the beverage container, having an aperture for a straw, or having a zipper or other closure device which may be opened in order to access the beverage within the beverage container.
The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. Although the description of the invention has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the invention, e.g. as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.
Claims
1-64. (canceled)
65. A method for securing a beverage container to a mounting surface, comprising:
- providing an insulated holder containing said beverage container, the holder having a sleeve portion, a base portion, magnet positioned in the sleeve portion of the holder, and a height above the base portion, the holder having a fixed diameter along substantially the entire height; and
- placing said holder adjacent to and in contact with said mounting surface, wherein said magnet maintains said holder and beverage container in a desired position and orientation on said mounting surface, wherein said mounting surface is substantially vertical and engages the side of the holder containing the magnet, wherein a side of the beverage container is at least substantially parallel to the mounting surface when the holder is in contact with said mounting surface, wherein a layer of insulation material is positioned between the magnet and the mounting surface when the holder is in contact with said mounting surface, and wherein a magnetic force of attraction at the interface between the holder and the mounting surface is sufficient to overcome a gravitational force exerted on the beverage container and the holder, whereby said holder and beverage container remain stationary at the desired position on the mounting surface.
66. The method of claim 64, wherein the magnet is positioned only in an upper half of the holder, wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the holder adjacent to the magnet is coplanar with an elongated portion of the lower half of the holder, the elongated portion of the holder extending substantially an entire height of the lower half of the holder.
67. The method of claim 64, wherein said holder includes a pouch operatively engaged to said holder, said pouch adapted to receive said magnet, and wherein said magnet is inserted into said pouch.
68. The method of claim 64, wherein said magnetic force of attraction is at least about 1200 gauss and said magnet comprises neodymium.
69. The method of claim 64, wherein the sleeve portion of the holder is not wrappable about the container.
70. The method of claim 64, wherein said magnet is embedded within said holder such that a second layer of insulation material lies between the magnet and the beverage container.
71. The method of claim 64, wherein said magnet is positioned adjacent to a side wall of the beverage container and at a distance from the ends of the beverage container in the placing step and wherein a second layer between the magnet and the mounting surface.
72. The method of claim 64, wherein said magnetic force of attraction ranges from about 800 to 12,300 gauss.
73. The method of claim 64, wherein said mounting surface is a non-ferrous material with a ferrous material located adjacent thereto and wherein the non-ferrous material is positioned between the magnet and the ferrous material.
74. The method of claim 64, wherein said holder includes surface texturing on an outside surface of the holder adjacent to the magnet and wherein the surface texturing is in the insulation material.
75. The method of claim 64, wherein an exterior portion of the holder is adjacent to and covers a face of the magnet and wherein at least most of the exterior portion of the holder is planar to engage the mounting surface.
76. The method of claim 75, wherein said magnet is located in an upper half and not a lower half of said holder.
77-81. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 23, 2009
Publication Date: May 21, 2009
Applicant: ELWARD-LOUIS JOINT VENTURE LLP (Lakewood, CO)
Inventor: Jed D. Mitchell (Lakewood, CO)
Application Number: 12/358,713
International Classification: A47B 96/06 (20060101);