BEVERAGE CONTAINER HOLDER

Abstract

A beverage container holder for holding a beverage can or bottle comprising: a mug and a beverage container securing system. The mug includes: an inner cylindrical cavity sized to receive a beverage container; and a cylindrical shell. The cylindrical shell is composed of: an inner layer; a middle layer composed of a substantially liquid impermeable material and substantially enclosing the inner layer; and an outer layer substantially enclosing the middle layer. The mug also includes: a base member and a handle member. The beverage container securing system includes: a hole disposed through the cylindrical shell; and a tab coupled to the cylindrical shell, substantially covering the hole, including an adhesive material on the tab's inner side. The beverage holder also includes a first and second split along the cylindrical shell and a folding system. The folding system includes a first, second, and third crease which allow users store multiple holders.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to beverage container holders, specifically to disposable beverage container holders.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the related art, it has been known to use beverage container holders and/or wraps to keep beverages cool, allow for ease in carrying beverages, and/or prevent the contents of the beverage from spilling onto the floor and/or the user's hands, clothes, and/or body. Many of the beverage container holders contain foam and/or other expensive components that increase the manufacturing costs of a beverage container holder. These high manufacturing costs prevent the beverage container holder from being disposable. Other disposable beverage container holders are flimsy and/or unstable and force a user to hold onto the beverage container rather than the holder. Some improvements have been made in the field. Examples include but are not limited to the references described below, which references are incorporated by reference herein:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,372, issued to Spence, discloses a beverage container holder formed from a water soluble starch based material in a configuration facilitating the wrap around engagement of a beverage container for the insulation thereof and convenience of the user. The cup holder may be provided in a generally planar sheet construction for facilitating the packaging, shipping and handling thereof and with an interlocking tab assembly for facilitating the securement around a beverage container, such as a coffee cup. Once used for insulating the hands of a user, the cup holder of the present invention may be discarded and disposed of with water or the like.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,826, issued to Libit et al., discloses a cup holder constructed in the form of a planar blank of recyclable material which can be formed into a sleeve and set up without the use of glue, assembled onto a cup or beverage container, removed from the cup and recycled when combined with the cup or separated therefrom.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,131, issued to Owens et al., discloses a method of manufacturing a beverage cooling or heating wrap for keeping a beverage cool or warm, as desired, comprises steps of providing a generally rectangular strip of material, superimposing and attaching a piece of insulation to the strip, twice folding the strip and insulation to create a three-layered bundle, securing the longitudinal edges of the bundle, inverting the bundle about the axis of one of the folds, inverting the bundle about the axis of the other fold, and securing fasteners to the bundle.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: 2002/0084278, by Woods, II, discloses an insulator wrap for a beverage container is formed by a substantially rectangular body of insulation material. A self-coiling spring strip is embedded in the body along approximately the longitudinal center line. Because the spring strip is curved in lateral cross section, the wrap is held straight when uncoiled. Manual pressure frees the spring strip to self-coil inwardly to cause the wrap to extend around the container for use. Extended portions of the rectangular body isolate the spring strip from the edges of the body. In one embodiment, the extended body portions are one and one half times as wide as the spring strip. A foam insert is positioned within the elongated concave trough of the spring strip to provide a substantially smooth display surface for graphics and indicia in either the uncoiled or self-coiled states. Stiffening stays are embedded laterally across the ends of the body to provide additional snugging force and to hold the top and bottom comers of the body securely against the container during use.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: 2002/017961, by Barthlow et al., discloses a wrap-around attachment to be used as wrap for a beverage container. There is a main sheet of a water repellent styrene foam and an inner layer of an absorbent material in contact with the outer surface of the beverage container. At one edge of the inner layer there is an adhesive strip which will adhere to any location on the outside of the main layer to make the warp-around usable on differently sized containers. Adjacent to the adhesive strip is placed a protective non-stick strip. Prior to use, the adhesive strip is folded over the protective strip to make the wrap-around non-sticking until use.

U.S. Design Pat. No. D393,571, issued to Gardner, discloses an ornamental design for an adjustable beverage insulator wrap.

The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages which include: inability to house a variety of beverage containers, high manufacturing costs, unstable and/or flimsy beverage container holders, and/or expensive and/or non disposable components.

What is needed is a beverage container holder that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available beverage container holders. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a beverage container holder that is simple and easy to use, disposable, cheap to manufacture, able to house a variety of beverage container types, and/or sturdy and/or durable.

In one embodiment, there may be a beverage container holder for holding a beverage can or bottle comprising: a mug, configured to hold a beverage container. The mug may include: an inner cylindrical cavity sized to receive a beverage container; and a cylindrical shell. The cylindrical shell may be composed of: an inner layer; a middle layer composed of a substantially liquid impermeable material and substantially enclosing the inner layer; and an outer layer substantially enclosing the middle layer.

In another embodiment the beverage container holder may include: a base member coupled to an end of the cylindrical shell; and a handle member coupled to the cylindrical shell. The end of the cylindrical shell opposite the base member may include a first split. The beverage container holder may include a beverage container securing system, configured to secure the beverage container inside the cylindrical portion. The beverage container securing system may include: a hole selectively disposed through the cylindrical shell; and a tab coupled to the cylindrical shell, substantially covering the hole. The tab may include an adhesive material on the tab's inner side, configured to stick to a beverage container inside the cylindrical cavity.

In yet another embodiment, the beverage container holder may include a cylindrical shell which has a first split and a second split. The first split and second split may be configured to ease the fit of a beverage container inside the cylindrical cavity. The cylindrical shell may include a logotype selectively disposed thereon. The beverage container holder may also include a base member with opposing curved openings into the cylindrical cavity.

In still another embodiment, the beverage container may further include a folding system, configured to enable compact storage of multiple beverage container holders. The folding system may include: a first crease transversely disposed along the base member; a second crease longitudinally disposed along the cylindrical shell; and a third creased longitudinally disposed opposite the second crease, along the cylindrical shell.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage container holder, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom of a beverage container holder, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of a beverage container holder in a folded state, according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the components of the cylindrical shell, according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “one embodiment,” “n embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, different embodiments, or component parts of the same or different illustrated invention. Additionally, reference to the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, for two or more features, elements, etc. does not mean that the features are related, dissimilar, the same, etc. The use of the term “an embodiment,” or similar wording, is merely a convenient phrase to indicate optional features, which may or may not be part of the invention as claimed.

Each statement of an embodiment is to be considered independent of any other statement of an embodiment despite any use of similar or identical language characterizing each embodiment. Therefore, where one embodiment is identified as “another embodiment,” the identified embodiment is independent of any other embodiments characterized by the language “another embodiment.” The independent embodiments are considered to be able to be combined in whole or in part one with another as the claims and/or art may direct, either directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly.

Finally, the fact that the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, does not appear at the beginning of every sentence in the specification, such as is the practice of some practitioners, is merely a convenience for the reader's clarity. However, it is the intention of this application to incorporate by reference the phrasing “an embodiment,” and the like, at the beginning of every sentence herein where logically possible and appropriate.

As used herein, “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “is, are,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional unrecited elements or method steps. “Comprising” is to be interpreted as including the more restrictive terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.”

Looking now to the Figures, there is shown a beverage container holder 100 including a mug 105, configured to hold a substantially cylindrical object 110. The cylindrical object 110 may be a bottle, can, or any other object contemplated in the art. The mug 105 includes: an inner cylindrical cavity 120, sized to receive a beverage container 110; and a cylindrical shell 130. The inner cylindrical cavity 120 may be a variety of diameters and/or sizes. A non-limiting example of a diameter range includes one inch to twelve inches. A non-limiting example of a size range includes five ounces to thirty two ounces.

Looking specifically to FIG. 4, the cylindrical shell 130 includes: an inner layer 410; a middle layer 420 composed of a substantially liquid impermeable material 430 and substantially enclosing the inner layer 410; and an outer layer 440 substantially enclosing the middle layer 420. The inner layer 410 may be composed of a variety of materials. Some non-limiting examples include: paper, plastic, foam, and/or any other material contemplated in the art.

Still looking at FIG. 4, the cylindrical shell includes a middle layer 420 composed of a substantially liquid impermeable material 430. In being substantially liquid impermeable, the material 430 may be one hundred percent liquid impermeable, preventing any liquid penetration. The substantially liquid impermeable material 430 may also be impermeable to small amounts of liquid; such as, but not limited to, small droplets of liquid from a beverage container 110 and/or small droplets of water formed as a result of condensation. Some non-limiting examples of substantially impermeable material include: plastic wrap, foam, plastic, rubber, and so forth.

Looking at FIGS. 1 and 4, the middle layer 420 substantially encloses the inner layer 410. In substantially enclosing the inner layer 410, the middle layer 420 and the inner layer 410 may or may not be equal in size. As shown in FIG. 4, the middle layer 420 is a slightly smaller size than the inner layer 410, thereby partially enclosing the inner layer 410. Additionally, the middle layer 420 may be larger in size than the inner layer 410; thereby causing the middle layer 420 to fully enclose the inner layer 410.

Again looking at FIG. 4, cylindrical shell 130 contains an outer layer 440 substantially enclosing the middle layer 420. In substantially enclosing the middle layer 420, the outer layer 440 and the middle layer 420 may or may not be equal in size. As shown in FIG. 4, the outer layer 440 is a slightly larger size than the middle layer 420, thereby fully enclosing the inner layer 410. Additionally, the outer layer 440 may be smaller in size than the middle layer 420; thereby causing the outer layer 440 to partially enclose the middle layer 420. The outer layer 440 may be composed of a variety of materials. Some non-limiting examples include: paper, plastic, foam, and/or any other material contemplated in the art.

As shown in the Figures, the beverage container holder 100 includes a base member 210 coupled to an end 220 of the cylindrical shell 130. Looking specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, the base member 210 includes opposing curved openings 230 into the inner cylindrical cavity 120. The curved openings 230 may be a variety of sizes, diameters, and/or shapes.

FIG. 1 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, wherein the beverage container holder 100 includes a handle member 140 coupled to the cylindrical shell 130. The handle member 140 may be disposed anywhere on the cylindrical shell 130 and may be a variety of shapes and/or sizes. The beverage container holder 100 also includes a first split 150 incorporated into the end 160 of the cylindrical shell 130 opposite the base member 210. The first split 150 enables a potentially larger beverage container 110 to slide more easily inside the inner cylindrical cavity 120. The first split 150 may be a variety of sizes and/or length. The first split 150 may also be disposed anywhere along the cylindrical shell 130 opposite the base member 210. The beverage container holder 100 also includes a second split 170, configured to further ease the fit of a beverage container 110 inside the inner cylindrical cavity 120. The second split 170 may or may not be substantially identical to the first split 150.

Still looking to FIG. 1, the beverage container holder 100 includes a beverage container securing system 175, configured to secure the beverage container 110 inside the inner cylindrical cavity 120. The beverage container securing system 175 includes: a hole 180 selectively disposed through the cylindrical shell 130; and a tab 185 coupled to the cylindrical shell 130, substantially covering the hole 180. The hole 180 may be a variety of shapes and/or sizes. Some non-limiting examples of shapes include: square, rectangular, circular, and so forth.

FIG. 1 illustrates the beverage container securing system 175 with a tab 185 that includes an adhesive material 190 on the tab's 185 inner side, configured to stick to a beverage container 110 inside the inner cylindrical cavity 120. The tab 185 is formed to substantially cover the hole 180. In substantially covering the hole 180, the size of the tab 185 may be equal to the size of the hole 180. The tab 185 may also be a smaller size than the hole 180. The adhesive material 190 may be any type of adhesive material contemplated in the art. Some non-limiting examples include: acrylic adhesive transfer tape, elastomeric adhesive transfer tape, and so forth. The tab 185 may or may not be composed of the same material as the cylindrical shell 130. The tab 185 may be composed of plastic, paper, rubber, and/or any other material contemplated in the art.

Still looking to the Figures, the beverage container holder 100 may include logotype 195 selectively disposed on the outer surface of the cylindrical shell 130. A variety of logos, brand names, commercial trademarks, and other logos may be selectively placed on the cylindrical shell 130 for advertising and/or other marketing purposes.

In one embodiment, as shown in the Figures, the beverage container holder 100 includes a folding system 310, configured to enable compact storage of a plurality of beverage container holders 100. The folding system 310 includes a first crease 320 transversely disposed along the base member 210; a second crease 330 longitudinally disposed along the cylindrical shell 130; and a third crease 340 longitudinally disposed opposite the second crease 330, along the cylindrical shell 130. The first crease 320, second crease 330, and third crease 340, function together to enable a user to fold the beverage container holder 100 to flat position; as shown in FIG. 3. The folding system 310 enables a user to place a plurality of flattened beverage container holder 100 in a sleeve and/or box for distribution at a variety of types of events and/or occasions.

Advantageously, in one embodiment, the beverage container holder 100 is simple and easy to use and provides a user with a sturdy holder for his or her beverage container 110. The user may typically obtain the beverage container holder 100 in its flattened state from a package and/or sleeve. A user may press inwardly on the second crease 330 and the third crease 340 slight opening the inner cylindrical cavity 120. The user may then slide the beverage container 110 into the inner cylindrical cavity 120, which will typically fully unfold the beverage container holder 100. The user then presses the adhesive material 190, contained on the inner side of the tab 185, to his or her beverage container 110 inside the inner cylindrical cavity 120. The user's beverage container 110 is now securely in the beverage container holder 100.

It is understood that the above-described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

It is also envisioned that there may be numerous shapes and sizes of the invention. For example, the inner cylindrical cavity 120 may be a variety of sizes and/or diameters. Additionally, the handle member 140 may be a variety of sizes and shapes.

Finally, it is envisioned that the components of the device may be constructed of a variety of materials. Some non-limiting examples include: plastic, paper, foam, cardboard, and any other material contemplated in the art.

Thus, while the present invention has been fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A beverage container holder for holding a beverage can or bottle comprising:

a mug, configured to hold a beverage container, including: an inner cylindrical cavity sized to receive a beverage container; and a cylindrical shell composed of: an inner layer; a middle layer composed of a substantially liquid impermeable material and substantially enclosing the inner layer; and an outer layer substantially enclosing the middle layer; a base member coupled to an end of the cylindrical shell; and a handle member coupled to the cylindrical shell; wherein the end of the cylindrical shell opposite the base member includes a first split; and

a beverage container securing system, configured to secure the beverage container inside the cylindrical portion, including: a hole selectively disposed through the cylindrical shell; a tab coupled to the cylindrical shell, substantially covering the hole, including an adhesive material on the tab's inner side, configured to stick to a beverage container inside the inner cylindrical cavity.

2. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical shell includes a second split, configured to ease the fit of a beverage container inside the inner cylindrical cavity.

3. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the cylindrical shell includes logotype selectively disposed thereon.

4. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the base member includes opposing curved openings into the inner cylindrical cavity.

5. The beverage container holder of claim 1, further comprising a folding system, configured to enable compact storage of multiple beverage container holders, the folding system including:

a first crease transversely disposed along the base member;

a second crease longitudinally disposed along the cylindrical shell; and

a third creased longitudinally disposed opposite the second crease, along the cylindrical shell.

6. A beverage container holder for holding a beverage can or bottle consisting essentially of:

a mug, configured to hold a beverage container, including: an inner cylindrical cavity sized to receive a beverage container; and a cylindrical shell composed of: an inner layer; a middle layer composed of a substantially liquid impermeable material [plastic wrap] and substantially enclosing the inner layer; and an outer layer substantially enclosing the middle layer; a base member coupled to an end of the cylindrical shell; and a handle member coupled to the cylindrical shell; wherein the end of the cylindrical shell opposite the base member includes a first split; and

a beverage container securing system, configured to secure the beverage container inside the inner cylindrical cavity, including: a hole selectively disposed through the cylindrical shell; a tab coupled to the cylindrical shell, substantially covering the hole, including an adhesive material on the tab's inner side, configured to stick to a beverage container inside the inner cylindrical cavity.

7. The beverage holder of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical shell includes a second split, configured to ease the fit of a beverage container inside the inner cylindrical cavity.

8. The beverage holder of claim 6, wherein the outer surface of the cylindrical shell includes logotype selectively disposed thereon.

9. The beverage holder of claim 6, wherein the base member includes opposing curved openings into the inner cylindrical cavity.

10. The beverage container holder of claim 6, further comprising a folding system, configured to enable compact storage of multiple beverage container holders, the folding system including:

a first crease transversely disposed along the base member;

a second crease longitudinally disposed along the cylindrical shell

a third creased longitudinally disposed opposite the second crease, along the cylindrical shell.