BEVERAGE CONTAINER HOLDER HAVING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL FIGURE

Abstract

An insulated beverage container holder that incorporates a three-dimensional stuffed figure. Certain disclosed embodiments comprise three-dimensional stuffed figures of animals and, in some embodiments, of cartoon characters. Any three-dimensional object may be portrayed, such as scenes (e.g. a city), buildings (e.g. a castle), toys (e.g. an alphabet block or blocks), sporting equipment (e.g. a baseball and bats, or ballet slippers), etc.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to containers and, more particularly, to a beverage container holder having a three-dimensional figure.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is well known in the art to provide an insulated container for holding beverages such as cans and bottles. Such containers are sold under the brand name KOOZIE® and many other brands. The insulated containers serve to keep a chilled beverage cold longer and prevent the user's hand from becoming overly cold when holding the chilled beverage.

Such prior art containers are generally not appropriate for holding children's drinking cups, such as those known colloquially as “sippy cups.” Sippy cups have a substantially closed lid with a spout that fits easily into a child's mouth, making it more difficult to spill liquid from the cup, which is a desirable feature when the sippy cup is being handled by a child.

Many times, a sippy cup is filled with a chilled drink and a parent would like for the drink to remain chilled longer, particularly when the child is in a warm environment, such as at the beach or pool. Because young children do not have advanced muscular coordination and lack attention spans comparable to adults, it would be desirable if an insulated container for a sippy cup provided for increased ease in being handled by a child, as well as increased attractiveness to the child.

Therefore, there is a need for improved designs for insulated beverage container holders. The present disclosure is directed toward meeting this need.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Certain disclosed embodiments comprise an insulated beverage container holder that incorporates a three-dimensional stuffed figure. Certain disclosed embodiments comprise three-dimensional stuffed figures of animals and, in some embodiments, of cartoon characters. Any three-dimensional object may be portrayed, such as scenes (e.g. a city), buildings (e.g. a castle), toys (e.g. an alphabet block or blocks), sporting equipment (e.g. a football or ballet slippers), etc.

In one embodiment, a beverage container holder is disclosed, comprising a beverage holding portion defining a hollow cavity; a first character side piece having a first margin therearound; a first stuffing material portion disposed between the first character side piece and the beverage holding portion; a second character side piece having a second margin therearound; a second stuffing material portion disposed between the second character side piece and the beverage holding portion; a first joint between the beverage holding portion and the first character side piece extending along at least a first portion of the first margin; a second joint between the beverage holding portion and the second character side piece extending along at least a second portion of the second margin.

Other embodiments are also disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a first disclosed embodiment in a disassembled form.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front elevational view of a second embodiment in an assembled form.

FIG. 3 is a schematic rear elevational view of the second embodiment in an assembled form.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front elevational view of a third embodiment in an assembled form.

FIG. 5 is a schematic rear elevational view of the third embodiment in an assembled form.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of a fourth embodiment in an assembled form.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side elevational view of a fifth embodiment in an assembled form.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side elevational view of a sixth embodiment in an assembled form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the 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 disclosure is thereby intended, and alterations and modifications in the illustrated systems, and further applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated therein are herein contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to an insulated beverage container holder incorporating a three-dimensional stuffed character.

A first embodiment insulated beverage container holder is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 in an exploded view and indicated generally at 10. The insulated beverage container holder 10 comprises a beverage holding portion 12. The beverage holding portion 12, like the remaining components of the insulated beverage container holder 10, may be made from any desired material, such as neoprene (polychloroprene), fabric, or any other desired material, as the material from which the insulated beverage container holder 10 is constructed is not critical to the present invention. Portions of the beverage container holder 10 are filled with a polyester or other suitable stuffing so as to provide a three-dimensional figure portion, as described in greater detail hereinbelow.

The beverage holding portion 10 of the insulated beverage container holder 10 may be generally cylindrical in shape and form a hollow cavity 14 suitably sized and shaped to receive a beverage container, such as a child's sippy cup. The bottom of the beverage holding portion may be closed with a bottom member 16. In one embodiment, the beverage holding portion 10 and bottom member 16 are both formed from neoprene material and are sewn together around the circumference of bottom member 16. In other embodiments, the bottom of beverage holding portion 10 may be partially or completely open. In still other embodiments, the beverage holding portion 10 may be formed to have an integral bottom.

The insulated beverage container holder 10 additionally includes at least one three-dimensional figure applied to the beverage holding portion 12. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional figure is formed by a first character side piece 18 and a second character side piece 20. In some embodiments, the first character side piece 18 is representative of a first side of a character, such as the character's front side or face, while the second character side piece 20 is representative of a second side of a character, such as the character's back or the back of the character's head. In other embodiments, the first character side piece 18 is representative of a first side of a character, such as the character's right side, while the second character side piece 20 is representative of a second side of a character, such as the character's left side. In other embodiments, multiple characters can be represented on the insulated beverage container holder 10. In certain other embodiments, the three-dimensional figure may be an inanimate character, such as a scene or a building. As discussed hereinbelow, other arrangements are also contemplated by the present disclosure.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the figure is made three-dimensional by the inclusion of a stuffing material 22 placed between the first character side piece 18 and the beverage holding portion 12, and between the second character side piece 20 and the beverage holding portion 12. It is the stuffing material 22 that gives the represented character its three-dimensional form. Stuffing material 22 can be any appropriate material, such as polyester fiber material, cotton, or other suitable material.

The insulated beverage container holder 10 is assembled by sewing the first character side piece 18 and the second character side piece 20 to the beverage holding portion 12 along the margins 24 where they meet. Additionally, if portions of the first character side piece 18 and second character side piece 20 extend beyond the margins of the beverage holding portion 12, such as the ear portions 26 and 28 of FIG. 1, then they may be sewn to one another along their margins 30. Additional stuffing material 22 may also be placed between these extending portions prior to sewing along the margins 30. In insulated beverage container holders 10 that include such extending portions, it will be appreciated that these extending portions serve as handles that make it easier for a child to grasp the insulated beverage container holder 10. It will be appreciated that other means may be used for joining the margins 24 and 30, such as an appropriate adhesive or any other joining means.

As shown in FIGS. 2-6, the insulated beverage container holder 10 may be configured in additional manners. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, an insulated beverage container holder 100 is illustrated with a character in the shape of a cat. A beverage holding portion 12 is provided to which a first character side piece 118 (representing the front of a sitting cat) and a second character side piece 120 (representing the back of a sitting cat). First character side piece 118 and second character side piece 120 are sewn to the beverage holding portion 12 at seams 124. The space between first character side piece 118 and beverage holding portion 12, as well as between second character side piece 120 beverage holding portion 12, are filled with stuffing 22 (not visible) in order to give the characters a three-dimensional appearance. Additionally, the first and/or second character side pieces may have one or more addition seams 140 if desired to more completely form the character or to facilitate filling the cavity with stuffing 22. The inclusion of the stuffing 22 and the sewn margins additionally gives the character the appearance of a stuffed toy. Since children are generally familiar with and like stuffed toys, this appearance makes the insulated beverage container holder 10 more appealing to the child and also easier to hold onto.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, an insulated beverage container holder 200 is illustrated with a character in the shape of an elephant. A beverage holding portion 12 is provided to which a first character side piece 218 (representing the front of a sitting elephant) and a second character side piece 220 (representing the back of a sitting elephant). First character side piece 218 and second character side piece 220 are sewn to the beverage holding portion 12 at seams 224. The space between first character side piece 218 and beverage holding portion 12, as well as between second character side piece 220 beverage holding portion 12, are filled with stuffing 22 (not visible) in order to give the characters a three-dimensional appearance. Additionally, the first and/or second character side pieces may have one or more addition seams 240 if desired to more completely form the character or to facilitate filling the cavity with stuffing 22. The first character side piece 218 includes extending ear portions 226 that are sewn to the second character side piece 220 extending ear portions 228 along seams 230. They may also be filled with stuffing 22 (not visible).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, an insulated beverage container holder 300 is illustrated with a character in the shape of a dinosaur. A beverage holding portion 12 is provided to which a first character side piece 318 (representing the right side of a standing dinosaur) and a second character side piece 320 (representing the left side of a standing dinosaur). First character side piece 318 and second character side piece 320 are sewn to the beverage holding portion 12 at seams 324. The space between first character side piece 318 and beverage holding portion 12, as well as between second character side piece 320 and beverage holding portion 12, are filled with stuffing 22 (not visible) in order to give the characters a three-dimensional appearance. The first character side piece 318 includes extending head, neck and tail portions 326 that are sewn to the second character side piece 320 extending head, neck and tail portions along seams 330. They may also be filled with stuffing 22 (not visible).

It will also be appreciated that the characters portrayed by the side pieces are not limited to human or animal characters. Any three-dimensional object may be portrayed, such as scenes (e.g. a city), buildings (e.g. a castle), toys (e.g. an alphabet block or blocks), sporting equipment (e.g. a baseball and bats as shown in FIG. 7 or ballet slippers as shown in FIG. 8), etc., just to name a few non-limiting examples.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.

Claims

1. A beverage container holder, comprising:

a beverage holding portion defining a hollow cavity;

a first character side piece having a first margin therearound;

a first stuffing material portion disposed between the first character side piece and the beverage holding portion;

a second character side piece having a second margin therearound;

a second stuffing material portion disposed between the second character side piece and the beverage holding portion;

a first joint between the beverage holding portion and the first character side piece extending along at least a first portion of the first margin;

a second joint between the beverage holding portion and the second character side piece extending along at least a second portion of the second margin.

2. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the hollow cavity is sized and shaped to receive a child's sippy cup.

3. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the beverage holding portion is formed from neoprene.

4. The beverage container holder of claim 1, further comprising:

a bottom member having a bottom member margin;

wherein the beverage holding portion is generally cylindrical in shape; and

wherein the bottom member is joined to the beverage holding portion along the bottom member margin.

5. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein:

the first character side piece is representative of a character's front side; and

the second character side piece is representative of a character's back side.

6. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein:

the first character side piece is representative of a right side of a character; and

the second character side piece is representative of a left side of a character.

7. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the first and second character side pieces are representative of multiple characters.

8. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the first and second character side pieces are representative of at least one inanimate object.

9. The beverage container of claim 8, wherein the inanimate object is selected from the group consisting of: a scene, a city, a building, a castle, a toy, an alphabet block, sporting equipment, a baseball and bats, and ballet slippers.

10. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the stuffing material is selected from the group consisting of: polyester fiber and cotton.

11. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the first and second joints are formed by a joining technique selected from the group consisting of: sewing and joining with adhesive.

12. The beverage container holder of claim 1, further comprising:

a third joint between the first character side piece and the second character side piece extending along at least a third portion of the first margin and a fourth portion of the second margin, wherein the first and second character side pieces extend beyond a margin of the beverage holding portion; and

a fourth joint between the first character side piece and the second character side piece extending along at least a fifth portion of the first margin and a sixth portion of the second margin.

13. The beverage container holder of claim 12, wherein the third and fourth joints are formed by a joining technique selected from the group consisting of: sewing and joining with adhesive.

14. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein:

the first character side piece comprises a representation selected from the group consisting of: a front of a sitting cat, a front of a sitting elephant, and a right side of a standing dinosaur; and

the second character side piece comprises a representation selected from the group consisting of: a back of a sitting cat, a back of a sitting elephant, and a left side of a standing dinosaur.