Multiple beverage cup/can holder for outdoor use

Abstract

A multiple cup or multiple can beverage holder formed of an upper surface having a plurality of depending receptacles having circular side walls and a flat bottom wall, or inverted conical side walls and a flat bottom wall or a concentrically stepped side wall and flat bottom wall, each receptacle dimensioned for the receipt of a beverage cup or beverage can, and including at least one receptacle for receipt of incidental objects, the multiple cup and multiple can holder supported on at least one vertical rod secured to the underside of the upper surface of the holder, the lower end of the rod engageable in the earth for supporting the holder and its contents at a convenient height above the ground for a user either standing or sitting.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a holder for multiple beverage cups or multiple beverage cans, the holder supported on an adjustable vertical rod, the rod being engageable in the earth for support of the holder, the holder allowing for the receipt of a beverage cup or beverage can to allow the individual free use of his or her hands for other activities.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many social and athletic activities take place outside and in all seasons of the year. Particularly in good weather, social activities such as birthday parties, cocktail parties, or other social gatherings are either held outside on the lawn or in the park or the beach or migrate thereto from the dwelling. In many of these social activities, the individuals are partaking of food and beverage, and in many instances, there are not enough tables and chairs or other support surfaces with which to support a beverage cup or a beverage can while one partakes of food using both hands from a paper plate or the like. There therefore has been a need for a sturdy and inexpensive holder or support tray which is capable of supporting beverage cups or glasses or beverage cans of a variety of dimensions, which holders can be supported by an adjustable vertical rod inserted into the earth and placed at random and strategic areas about the outdoor activity area which allows individuals and guests to mingle, talk, yet free up both hands for eating, while having their beverage glass or can in close proximity, and at the same time does not compel the individual to stay in a particular area.

The same purposes may be found in athletic activities which are conducted outside. In many instances there may not be a table or flat surface available upon which an individual can rest his drink. An example would be playing horseshoes in the backyard, or bocci ball or badminton, or alternatively conducting these athletic activities or other athletic activities in a public park which has insufficient benches and tables. Such a situation could also include sporting activities on the beach or just relaxation on the beach. The individuals would require a flat convenient surface within which to place their beverage cup or beverage can while they partake of the activity, which like horseshoes and bocci ball or quoits, does not require continuous activity, but rather alternative shot making by players. Thus the players hands can be free for the game, yet the beverage is retained in close proximity in a non-spill orientation instead of trying to balance it on the grass.

Still further, the beverage cup or can holder may further be equipped with additional pockets for the temporary placement of matches, cigarettes, lighters, cell phone or the like, and in relaxation situations such as the beach or park may include a book or magazine acceptable.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel multiple cup or multiple can holder supported by a vertical and adjustable support rod which can be secured in the earth allowing the placement at various random and strategic locations in an outdoor environment allowing individuals to place their drink temporarily into the holder, thus freeing both hands for the consumption of food or the partaking of another activity, such as athletics.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel multiple cup or multiple can holder which is of molded, sturdy construction for placement in the earth for the support of multiple beverage containers, the beverage containers being of a variety of cross-sectional configuration which are securable in the holder.

A still further object of present invention is to provide for a novel beverage can holder or beverage cup holder which also has provision for the temporary storage of incidentals such as cigarettes, lighter, matches and cell phone or magazine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A multiple cup or multiple can beverage holder formed of an upper surface having a plurality of depending receptacles having circular side walls and a flat bottom wall, or inverted conical side walls and a flat bottom wall or a concentrically stepped side wall and flat bottom wall, each receptacle dimensioned for the receipt of a beverage cup or beverage can, and including at least one receptacle for receipt of incidental objects, the multiple cup and multiple can holder supported on at least one vertical rod secured to the underside of the upper surface of the holder, the lower end of the rod engageable in the earth for supporting the holder and its contents at a convenient height above the ground for a user either standing or sitting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the multiple-beverage cup holder of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the multiple-beverage cup holder of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a second embodiment of the multiple-beverage cup holder of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a third embodiment of the multiple-beverage cup holder of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross section view along Plane 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a front view of the multi-beverage cup holder of the present invention embedded in the ground, and utilizing an adjustable support rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a front view of the multiple beverage cup holder 10 of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 through 4 are top views of three embodiments. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a front view of a second support embodiment.

The multi-beverage cup holder 10 consists of two elements, a cup holder body 12 and a support rod 14. The cup holder body 12 is preferably constructed of one piece molded polymer having an upper peripheral planar surface 16, a depending front wall 18, and peripheral side walls 20 and 22 which merge into a bottom wall 24 and rear wall 25.

Upper peripheral planar surface 16 defines a plurality of depending cavities. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, the two outer cavities 28 and 30 are substantially circular in cross-section for the receipt of a beverage container 32, and the central cavity 34 is rectangular in cross-section for the receipt of peripheral items, such as cigarettes, lighter, or cell phone. The outer circular walls 36 and 38 of the two outer cavities 28 and 30 and the outer rectangular wall 40 of the central cavity 34 serve to define protruding front wall 18.

In order to provide stability and rigidity to the beverage cup holder member 12, certain indentations or embossments 42 are formed during the molding process in the front wall 18 which indentations in the front wall appear as protrusions 44 in the inner face of front wall 18, together with a portion of the outer walls of the cavities 28, 30, and 34.

Outer cavities 28 and 30 may be formed with a constant circular cross-section 41 as illustrated in FIG. 3 to accommodate a beverage container of constant cross-section, such as a beer can, a soda can, or a bottle, or the outer cavities 28 and 30 can be formed with a divergent circumference 43 similar to a truncated inverted cone so as to accommodate beverage cups having divergent circumferences similar to an inverted truncated cone (See FIG. 4). Preferably, the outer cavities 28 and 30 would have a stepped side wall as illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the steps 50 diverging to a larger diameter. The lower step 50A would define a circumference which would accommodate the circumference of a beer can, soda can, or beer bottle or soda bottle, or the bottom circumference of a beverage cup. The next step would define a larger circumference which in turn would accommodate a beverage holder having divergent side walls and the upper surface would define a surface area for support of a larger beverage cup or larger beverage container.

Beverage cup holder 10 is supported by support rod 14. In FIG. 5, support rod 14 is slidably receivable within a unitary C-shaped slot 60 formed unitarily on the inner rear surface 61 of beverage cup holder 10. Support rod 14 is slidably received within C-shaped slot 60 such that the upper end 62 of support rod 14 abuts the bottom molded wall 64 of central cavity 34. The lower end 66 of support rod 14 is pushably engaged into the ground a desired distance to provide stable support to beverage holder 10 at a desired height above the ground. In this configuration, the beverage cup holder 10 and support rod 14 may be separated when not in use for ease of storage.

It will also be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that the manner of attaching the support rod 14 to the beverage cup member 10 may vary and such attachment may be of a permanent nature such as rivets or the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the beverage cup holder 10 and support rod 14 embedded into the ground. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 includes two optional additions to support rod 12. The support rod 14 illustrated in FIG. 6 is telescopic having an inner upper rod 14A and a lower outer rod 14B, the upper portion of lower outer rod 14B having a frictional locking mechanism 70 which allows for the adjustment in height of the beverage cup holder body 10 once embedded in the ground. Additionally, proximate the lower end of the lower outer rod 14B there is unitarily formed with the lower outer rod 14B, a cross member 72 which allows the user to apply foot pressure to the cross member 72 to aid in the embedding of the lower outer rod 14B into the ground.

FIG. 3 illustrates an additional option for the multiple beverage cup holder. This option includes a magazine pocket 80 secured and abutting the rear wall 25 of the multiple beverage cup holder 10. Pocket 80 can be temporarily used to store magazines or paperback book. This feature with respect to the multiple beverage cup holder is particularly useful when the multiple beverage cup holder 10 is being utilized in a beach environment. Pocket 80 can be permanently formed with the multiple beverage cup holder 10 in conjunction with rear wall 25 or it can be an add-on feature which can be clipped onto the multiple beverage cup holder 10 using a plurality of clips 82 along its upper edge for engagement with cup holder body 12.

Therefore, while the present invention has been disclosed with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalence thereof.

Claims

1. A multiple beverage cup holder for outdoor use comprising:

a unitary one-piece molded body member defining an upper surface, a front surface, and opposing parallel side surfaces, the upper surface having formed therein two depending receptacles positioned proximate the sides of said body member, and a centrally depending receptacle, said two depending receptacles proximate said sides of said body member for receipt of a beverage cup or beverage can, said central receptacle for receipt of personal items, said rear surface of said front face of said body member having a vertically oriented C-shaped slot unitarily formed thereon;

a support rod for supporting said body member a distance above the underlying substrate, said support rod having a first end for insertion into the said substrate, said support rod having a second end slidably frictionally engageable through said C-shaped vertically oriented slot on said rear face of said body member, said second end of said support member abutting a lower surface of said centrally disposed depending receptacle for support of said body member and said beverage cup or beverage can.

2. The multiple beverage cup holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said depending receptacles for receipt of said beverage cup or said beverage can are cylindrical.

3. The multiple beverage cup holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said depending receptacles for receipt of said beverage cup inverted conical in shape.

4. The multiple beverage cup holder in accordance with claim 1 sides of said inverted conical receptacle are stepped to accommodate beverage cups of varying diameter.

5. The multiple beverage cup holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support rod is telescopic.

6. The multiple beverage cup holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein the rear wall of said body member snap fits to said body member and defines a slot member for receipt of reading material.