INSULATED BEVERAGE HOLDER
A thermally insulating beverage holder that is easily customizable to include graphics, text, and/or photographs. The beverage holder comprises a lid, a base, a spine piece, and sleeve. The lid and base elements may be removably joined by the spine piece which holds the two elements in place and provides the proper spacing. The ends of the sleeve may be inserted into slots on either side of the spine piece with the lid and base fitting over the top and bottom edges of the sleeve, respectively. When the lid, base, spine piece, and sleeve are assembled, they define an interior cavity where a beverage container may be inserted.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/389,617, filed on 4 Oct. 2010, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/394,241, filed on 18 Oct. 2010.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to insulated beverage holders and, more particularly, to insulated beverage holders that can be easily customized to include graphics, text, and/or photographs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many insulating beverage holders are in common use today. Sometimes referred to as a “beer koozie” or simply a “koozie”, the purpose of these insulating beverage holders is to keep the consumer's hand warm while keeping the beverage cold at the same time. Beverage holders are frequently customized to include graphics and/or text for the purpose of corporate marketing or commemorating a special event such as a wedding, for example. Customized graphics and text are commonly applied to the beverage holder using a screen printing process, for example.
Many types of beverage holders are typically fabricated with a thermally insulating material such as plain foam, neoprene, polyester, and open or closed cell foams. The body of the beverage holder often includes a hole in the bottom surface so as to reduce the suction effects that prevent the can from being easily removed from the holder. Beverage holders are commonly sized to accommodate a standard twelve-ounce aluminum can. However, other holders may be sized for standard bottles, forty-ounce bottles, and many other styles and sizes of beverage containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA beverage holder according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the following elements. An annular lid is sized to accommodate a beverage container. A base comprises a surface for receiving a beverage container. An elongated spine piece comprises first and second ends. The first end is joined to the lid, and the second end is joined to the base such that the lid and the base are spaced a distance from each other. The spine piece is shaped to define elongated slots on both sides.
A receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the following elements. A spine piece is connected at one end to a lid and at the other end to a base. A sleeve is between the lid and the base. The sleeve is connected to both sides of the spine piece.
A receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the following elements. An elongated spine piece comprises inner and outer planks spaced to define two longitudinal slots. The inner and outer planks are connected by a rib running along the length of the spine piece. A sleeve is connected to both sides of the spine piece with the ends of the sleeve inserted into the longitudinal slots.
Embodiments of the invention as claimed provide a thermally insulating beverage holder that is easily customizable to include graphics, text, and/or photographs. The beverage holder comprises a lid, a base, a spine piece, and sleeve. The lid and base elements may be removably joined by the spine piece which holds the two elements in place and provides the proper spacing. The ends of the sleeve may be inserted into slots on either side of the spine piece with the lid and base fitting over the top and bottom edges of the sleeve, respectively. When the lid, base, spine piece, and sleeve are assembled, they define an interior cavity where a beverage container may be inserted.
It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Furthermore, relative terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “upper”, “above”, “lower”, “beneath”, and “below”, and similar terms, may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element to another. It is understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.
Although the ordinal terms first, second, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, or section from another. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, a first element, component, region, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, or section without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.
As shown, the beverage holders 200 can be designed to accommodate various sizes and shapes of beverage containers. Many different designs are possible without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.
It is also possible to use embodiments of the present invention to hold objects other than beverage containers. For example holder 100 may be used to hold pencils, pens, and the like. Many other objects may be stored within the holder 100.
The rib 308 comprises a fastening mechanism on both of the longitudinal ends as well. This mechanism can also be a snap-fit structure as in this particular embodiment. Here, the rib 308 comprises a female socket 307 at the top end and a male post 309 at the opposite end. The socket 307 cooperates with a corresponding post on the lid, and the post 309 corresponds with a socket structure on the base. Thus, the lid and base can be fastened to the assembled spine piece as discuss in more detail herein.
It is understood that embodiments presented herein are meant to be exemplary. Embodiments of the present invention can comprise any combination of compatible features shown in the various figures, and these embodiments should not be limited to those expressly illustrated and discussed.
Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred configurations thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should not be limited to the versions described above.
Claims
1. A beverage holder, comprising:
- an annular lid sized to accommodate a beverage container;
- a base comprising a surface for receiving a beverage container; and
- an elongated spine piece comprising first and second ends, said first end joined to said lid and said second end joined to said base such that said lid and said base are spaced a distance from each other, said spine piece shaped to define elongated slots on both sides.
2. The beverage holder of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve disposed between said lid and said base, said sleeve comprising a first side end inserted into one of said spine piece slots and a second side end inserted into the other spine piece slot such that said sleeve, said lid, said base, and said spine portion define an interior cavity.
3. The beverage holder of claim 2, wherein said sleeve comprises an outer surface that is customizable to display graphics, text, and/or photographs.
4. The beverage holder of claim 2, wherein said sleeve comprises a thermally insulating material.
5. The beverage holder of claim 2, wherein said sleeve comprises an interior surface designed to prevent a beverage container from easily slipping out of said cavity.
6. The beverage holder of claim 2, wherein said first and second side ends of said sleeve are removably inserted into said spine piece slots.
7. The beverage holder of claim 2, wherein said lid is shaped to receive a top end of said sleeve.
8. The beverage holder of claim 2, wherein said lid comprises a cylindrical slot to receive a top end of said sleeve.
9. The beverage holder of claim 2, wherein said base is shaped to receive a bottom end of said sleeve.
10. The beverage holder of claim 2, wherein said base a cylindrical slot to receive a bottom end of said sleeve.
11. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein said spine piece first end is removably joined to said lid.
12. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein said spine piece second end is removably joined to said base.
13. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein said spine piece comprises an inner plank and an outer plank connected by a rib that runs longitudinally along the length of said spine piece.
14. The beverage holder of claim 13, wherein said lid cooperates with said rib to hold said spine piece in place.
15. The beverage holder of claim 13, wherein said lid comprises a slot to receive said rib to hold said spine piece in place.
16. The beverage holder of claim 13, wherein said base cooperates with said rib to hold said spine piece in place.
17. The beverage holder of claim 13, wherein said base comprises a slot to receive said rib to hold said spine piece in place.
18. The beverage holder of claim 2, wherein said sleeve comprises at least two bore holes proximate to the ends of said sleeve, and wherein said sleeve is affixed in said slots with snap-fit post structure that corresponds to each of said bore holes.
19. A receptacle, comprising:
- a lid;
- a base;
- a spine piece connected at one end to said lid and at the other end to said base; and
- a sleeve between said lid and said base, said sleeve connected to both sides of said spine piece.
20. A receptacle, comprising:
- an elongated spine piece comprising inner and outer planks spaced to define two longitudinal slots, said inner and outer planks connected by a rib running along the length of the spine piece; and
- a sleeve connected to both sides of said spine piece with the ends of said sleeve inserted into said longitudinal slots.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 4, 2011
Publication Date: Oct 18, 2012
Applicant:
Inventor: Russell James White (Orange, CA)
Application Number: 13/252,961
International Classification: B65D 85/72 (20060101); B65D 6/02 (20060101); B65D 81/38 (20060101);