BEVERAGE HOLDER AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE

Abstract

A beverage holder and transporting device for holding, transporting and drinking from beverages such as coffee in paper cups, beverages in cans and plastic cups and other cylindrical beverage containers. The device generally comprises a formed u-shaped rectangular clip with a radius on top of each end. The bottom of the clip has a u-shaped bend that also incorporates the same radius of both sides of the clip and this radius closely matches the radius of the beverage container with which the device is used. At the top of the device there is a finger hole cylinder or ring that allows for the user to insert a finger to support the device and thereby the beverage container. The device clip is slid up between the insulating sleeve and the beverage container. This compression allows the beverage container to be supported firmly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/400,165 filed on Jul. 22, 2010 titled “BEVERAGE HOLDER AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE,” and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/458,749 filed on Dec. 1, 2010 titled “BEVERAGE HOLDER AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to a new method for holding, transporting and drinking from beverages such as coffee in paper cups, beverages in cans and plastic cups and other cylindrical beverage containers. There are currently many different methods for transporting these types of beverages but there are limitations and problems that this present invention solves. The present invention provides a new and unique method for accomplishing these tasks by providing a new beverage holder and transporting device.

For many years there have been paper coffee cup holders that allow the user to hold and transport the beverage by means of belt clips, bike clips, dashboard clips, elastic bungee and other various methods. These existing devices are typically bulky, large, complicated to use or just not practical.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce in a simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage holder and transporting device for the holding and transporting of paper coffee cups, plastic beverage cups, canned beverages and bottled beverages. It is an additional object of present invention to provide a clip on type of device to allow the user to carry these beverage containers or cups either on the inside or the outside of the hand. It is another additional object of present invention to provide a ring arrangement on the top of the device so that the user can insert a finger to pick up the beverage and to stabilize the beverage once it is in the user's hand. Still one additional object of the present invention is to have a u-shaped slide clip that can be inserted between the paper insulator and the paper cup that is common on most coffee cups to provide a means of supporting the cup. Additionally, the present invention provides the function of allowing the user to hold on to another object while also holding the beverage with the same hand. Still another object of the present invention is to allow the device to be made with elastic or solid conical or cylindrical support rings that fit different types of beverage containers while providing the same inside or outside of the hand transportation. One further object of the present invention is the option for fixed or removable support rings. Yet another object of the present invention is the ability to have a sliding adjustment to the height of the ring assembly in relation to the support section to allow for different heights in beverage containers. Still one more object of the present invention is the ability to incorporate a pivot point between the ring arrangement and the u-shaped slide clip to allow for rotation of the cup or beverage container when the hand is angled upwards or downwards thereby allowing the cup or beverage to remain level. It is also an object of the present invention to have the device produced with many different shapes, colors, and styles. Still one additional object of the present invention is to allow the beverage container or cup to still fit into automobile beverage holders without interference from the device.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating different embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the beverage holder and transporting device.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of an embodiment of the beverage holder and transporting device.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of an embodiment of the beverage holder and transporting device.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective demonstration of use view of an embodiment of the beverage holder and transporting device.

FIG. 5 shows a side demonstration of use view of an embodiment of the beverage holder and transporting device.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a back and side view of the beverage holder and transporting device showing the option with a three position detent for adjustment to cup sizes which can be incorporated into the device.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the beverage holder and transporting device.

FIG. 8 Is a perspective view of the present invention with the pivot option.

FIG. 9 Is a perspective and front view of the beverage holder and transporting device with the pivot option showing movement.

FIG. 10 Is a front view of the beverage holder and transporting device with the pivot option displaying different rotations.

FIG. 11 Is a perspective view of the beverage holder and transporting device with the different options including the molded plastic or rubber sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Figures, like reference numerals and names refer to structurally and/or functionally similar elements thereof, and if objects depicted in the figures that are covered by another object, as well as the tag line for the element number thereto, may be shown in dashed lines. Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6B, the beverage holder and transporting device 1 generally comprises a formed u-shaped rectangular clip having a back side 2 and a front side 13 connected by a u-shaped bend 3. Back side 2 and front side 13 have a radius 5 on each top and bottom ends 8. The radius 5 of back side 2 and front side 13 closely matches the radius of the beverage container 11. At the top of device 1 there is a finger hole cylinder or ring 4 that allows for the user to insert a finger to support the device and thereby the beverage container 11. The ring 4 attaches to front side 13 with a radius 7 to allow for comport by the user. The ring 4 may be closed or have an opening 6 to allow for size adjustment to accommodate different finger sizes. As shown in FIG. 5 back side 2 is slid up between the insulating sleeve 9 and the beverage container 11. This compression allows the beverage container 11 to be supported firmly. The insulating sleeve 9 can be produced of various materials and can be flexible or rigid and sized for different beverage diameters. Device 1 may also be used with the disposable cardboard insulating sleeves provided by most coffee shops and stores. Device 1 may also have a slide adjustment with a means of positioning the slide such as a detent 10 as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. This allows for adjusting the height of the ring 4 to match the best position for a particular beverage container 11.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the beverage holder and transporting device. Referring now to FIG. 7, ring 4′ is curved in the opposite direction from ring 4 shown in FIGS. 1 through 6B. Edge 14 of ring 4′ is substantially parallel to front side 13 and back side 2 and has a radius 15 that receives one or two fingers of a hand comfortably in opening 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 through 11, device 1 may also have a pivot point 17 between the ring 4 and front side 13 to allow for rotational differences between the two to allow beverage container 11 to remain level. The device may also incorporate a molded plastic or rubber sleeve 18 around front side 13 for comfort enhancement and or style and advertising, which may be printed on sleeve 18 or labels affixed thereto.

The back side 2 can be constructed of stamped metal, spring steel, plastic and other type of material. The device may be constructed on various shapes, colors and sizes for identification and or marketing purposes.

The device 1 can be produced in various sizes and shapes incorporating many different types of configurations and applications. The device 1 can be a constructed of a durable medium that is longwearing and capable of being produced very inexpensively or to be made very durable.

The device 1 is very unique in that it is a small and simple to use modular clip that can attach to any paper coffee cup insulating ring and provide the user with the ability to carry the beverage container 11 on either the outside of their hand 12 as shown in FIG. 4 or on the inside by reversing the position of the device 1 on the finger. The ability to carry the beverage container 11 on the outside of the hand frees the user to hold onto a steering wheel, open a door, pick up a bag or carry another beverage container or cup for example.

Device 1 may also incorporate insulating sleeve 9 that is part of device 1 or as a separate piece in one embodiment that allows also for holding and transporting canned or bottled beverages and plastic cups of different sizes. Device 1 can be produced with different sizes, colors materials and configurations to provide the best fit for all types of beverage containers.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the disclosed subject matter.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding and transporting an object by a user comprising:

(a) a back side member;

(b) a front side member;

(c) a u-shaped member connecting the back side member and the front side member at a first end; and

(d) a ring connected to the front side member at a second end, the back side member engages with a sleeve engaged with the object, and the ring is adapted to engage with a finger of a hand of the user, enabling the user to hold and transport the object.

2. An apparatus for holding and transporting an object by a user according to claim 1 further comprising an opening in the ring to allow for size adjustment to accommodate different finger sizes.

3. An apparatus for holding and transporting an object by a user according to claim 1 further comprising a radius on the front side member and the back side member running from the first end to the second end that closely matches a radius of the object.

4. An apparatus for holding and transporting an object by a user according to claim 1 further comprising an offset of the ring extending away from the front side member and the back side member.

5. An apparatus for holding and transporting an object by a user according to claim 1 where the object is a beverage container and the sleeve is an insulating sleeve situated around the beverage container.

6. An apparatus for holding and transporting an object by a user according to claim 1 where the sleeve is formed as a part of the apparatus connected to the back side member, and the object is placed within the sleeve.

7. An apparatus for holding and transporting an object by a user according to claim 1 further comprising:

a slide adjustment; and

a detent that cooperates with the slide adjustment to adjust a height of the ring to a best position in relation to the object.

8. An apparatus for holding and transporting an object by a user according to claim 1 further comprising a curvature of the ring in a first direction toward the back side member.

9. An apparatus for holding and transporting an object by a user according to claim 1 further comprising:

a curvature of the ring in a second direction away from the back side member;

an opening in the ring; and

a radius of the ring that allows for receiving comfortably one or more fingers of a hand of the user in the opening of the ring having the radius.

10. An apparatus for holding and transporting an object by a user according to claim 1 where the front side member, the back side member, the u-shaped member, and the ring are formed in one continuous piece.

11. An apparatus for holding and transporting an object by a user according to claim 1 further comprising:

a pivot point between the ring and the front side member of the apparatus to allow for rotational differences between the object engaged with the front side member and the back side member, and the relative position of the finger of the hand of the user engaged with the ring to allow the object to remain level.

12. An apparatus for holding and transporting an object by a user according to claim 1 further comprising:

a sleeve around the front side member of the apparatus for adding at least one of comfort and style to the apparatus.

13. A method for holding and transporting an object by a user comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a back side member adapted to be engaged with a sleeve that is engaged with the object;

(b) forming a front side member;

(c) forming a u-shaped member;

(d) connecting the back side member to the front side member with the u-shaped member at a first end;

(e) forming a ring adapted to be engaged with a finger of a hand of the user; and

(f) connecting the ring to the front side member at a second end enabling the user to hold and transport the object.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said forming step (e) further comprises the step of:

forming an opening in the ring to allow for size adjustment to accommodate different finger sizes.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein said forming steps (a) and (b) further comprise the step of:

forming the back side member and the front side member with a radius running from the first end to the second end that closely matches a radius of the object.

16. The method according to claim 13 wherein said forming step (e) further comprises the step of:

offsetting the ring to extend away from the front side member and the back side member.

17. The method according to claim 13 where the object is a beverage container and the sleeve is an insulating sleeve situated around the beverage container.

18. The method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of:

forming the sleeve as a part of the back side member where the object is placed within the sleeve.

19. The method according to claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

forming a slide adjustment connected to the front side; and

forming a detent that cooperates with the slide adjustment to adjust a height of the ring to a best position in relation to the object.

20. The method according to claim 13 wherein said forming step (e) further comprises the step of:

curving the ring in a first direction toward the back side member.

21. The method according to claim 13 wherein said forming step (e) further comprises the steps of:

curving the ring in a second direction away from the back side member;

forming an opening in the ring; and

forming a radius of the ring that allows for receiving comfortably one or more fingers of a hand of the user in the opening of the ring having the radius.

22. The method according to claim 13 wherein said forming steps (a), (b), (c), and (e) further comprise the step of:

forming the front side member, the back side member, the u-shaped member, and the ring in one continuous piece.

23. The method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of:

forming a pivot point between the ring and the front side member to allow for rotational differences between the object engaged with the front side member and the back side member, and the relative position of the finger of the hand of the user engaged with the ring to allow the object to remain level.

24. The method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of:

placing a sleeve around the front side member for adding at least one of comfort and style.