BEVERAGE HOLDER HAVING SWIVEL MEMBER

Abstract

A beverage holder includes a beverage container holder or beverage receptacle and attachment member. The beverage holder can be formed of a material that insulates the enclosed beverage from external sources of radiant and conducted heat (i.e. heat from a hand/or the sun). The beverage holder can be worn by a person on a belt or in a waistband or pocket by attaching it with a clip, or it can be affixed to a surface by using the adhesive strip. The beverage holder limits spilling of the beverage by use of a swivel mechanism comprised of a swivel attachment on the holder which slides into a receptacle on the attachment member. This mechanism allows the beverage holder to rotate 360 degrees and remain upright while a person stands, sits or moves. The attachment member can also contain a hinge to allow the beverage receptacle to tilt.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/791,149 filed Mar. 15, 2013.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The invention is directed to a beverage holder and, in particular, to a beverage holder having a swivel member and an attachment member for allowing the beverage holder to be secured in place, yet allow the beverage container holder to swivel or tilt.

2. Description of Art

In social settings such as cocktail parties, happy hours, and other events where individuals are provided a dish of food and a beverage container, e.g., bottle, glass, etc. containing a beverage, for consumption, an issue arises as to how to hold both the food dish and the beverage container while also being able to eat the food on the food dish and/or greet other individuals at the social event through a handshake. In some instances, the beverage container is set on a table thereby freeing up one hand. However, sometimes table area is not available or desired and, in many of these such instances, the beverage container is required to be held in the same hand as the food dish while the person uses the other hand to eat the food (or greet others) which can cause food and liquid to spill. Therefore, devising a location to hold the beverage container that frees one hand (the other remains holding the food dish) allows the person to consume the food on the food dish as well as allows the person to greet other individuals at the social event.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Broadly, the devices disclosed herein are directed beverage holders that permit the holder to be attached to another device and swivel in place. In one particular embodiment, the beverage holder includes a beverage container holder or beverage receptacle formed out of a material that insulates the enclosed beverage from external sources of radiant and conducted heat (i.e. heat from a hand/or the sun). In certain embodiments, the beverage receptacle includes a swivel member to facilitate keeping the beverage receptacle in an upright position in order to limit spilling while it is attached to among other things, a belt, waistband, pocket, vehicle, boat, wall, bench, table and the like by allowing up to 360 degrees of rotation. In other embodiments, the attachment member includes a hinge or other component that permits the beverage receptacle to rotate or swing outwardly from the rest of the attachment member.

In certain embodiments, the attachment member comprises a belt clip that has a receptacle to releasably accept and hold the swivel member of the beverage receptacle so that the beverage holder can be clipped to among other things, a person's belt, waistband or pocket. Suitable clips include “alligator” type clips and spring loaded mechanisms. Alternatively, or in addition, the attachment member can comprises an adhesive strip to be secured to, among other things, a vehicle, boat, wall, bench or table. In certain embodiments, the receptacle for releasably accepting and holding the beverage receptacle can include a mechanism with a spring-loaded button to release and detach the beverage receptacle from the attachment member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of one specific embodiment of a beverage holder disclosed herein shown in a connected arrangement.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional and perspective side view of the beverage holder of FIG. 1 shown in a released arrangement.

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the beverage holder of FIGS. 1-2 showing rotation of the releasable attachment member relative to the beverage receptacle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of the beverage holder of FIGS. 1-3 showing the beverage receptacle without the releasable attachment member.

FIG. 5 is another perspective side view of the beverage holder of FIGS. 1-4 showing the beverage receptacle without the releasable attachment member.

FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of the specific releasable attachment member of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-3 shown in a closed position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective side view of the releasable attachment member of FIG. 6 shown in the opened position.

FIG. 8 is perspective side view of the releasable attachment member of FIGS. 6-7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective side view of a releasable attachment member having an adhesive along an outer surface of the releasable attachment member.

FIG. 10 is a perspective side view of another embodiment of a beverage holder disclosed herein.

FIG. 11 is a perspective side view of an additional embodiment of a beverage holder disclosed herein.

While the invention will be described in connection with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, in one specific embodiment, beverage holder 20 includes beverage receptacle 30 and releasable attachment member 50. Beverage receptacle 30 includes an opened upper end 31 for receiving a beverage, e.g., a can, a bottle, a glass, etc. (not shown) and a closed lower end 32. Beverage receptacle 30 may be made of among other materials, neoprene or other material that insulates the enclosed beverage from external sources of radiant and conducted heat (i.e. heat from a hand/or the sun). Beverage receptacle 30 can also include a stabilizing ring 35 attached to beverage receptacle 30 and, preferably to swivel member 40 (discussed in greater detail below) to provide for greater stability. Stabilizing ring 35 may be secured to outer wall surface 36 of beverage receptacle 20, to inner wall surface 39 of beverage receptacle 30, or between outer wall surface 36 and inner wall surface 39.

The portion of beverage receptacle 30 closer to opened end 31, i.e., the upper portion, can be angled so as to better secure the beverage. For example, the upper portion can be conically shaped as shown in FIGS. 1-5 to better secure an angled bottled within beverage receptacle 30. Alternatively, inner wall surface 39 can be shaped to receive the beverage such as by having inner wall surface 39 reciprocally shaped to the contour or outer surface of the beverage container.

Swivel member 40 is affixed to outer wall surface 36 and, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-8, to interior ring 35 of beverage receptacle 30. Swivel member 40 is operatively associated with releasable attachment member 50. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9, and as best shown in FIG. 5, swivel member 40 includes post 41 having outer flange 42 and inner flange 43 such that releasable attachment member 50 engages post 41 between outer and inner flanges 42, 43 as discussed in greater detail below.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-7, one embodiment of releasable attachment member 50 comprises engagement surface 51 for engaging with swivel member 40 and attachment device 56 for securing releasable attachment member 50 to an object such as a person's belt, pocket, waistband and the like. In the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7, and best shown in FIG. 8, engagement surface 51 includes swivel receptacle 52 and slot 53 for receiving post 41 and flange 43 so that releasable attachment member 50 can rotate along swivel member 40.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9, releasable attachment member 50 includes release member 59 for operative association of releasable attachment member 50 with swivel member 40. Release member 59 maintains releasable attachment member 50 in a locked arrangement with swivel member 40 on until actuated, e.g., depressed. Upon depression of release member 59, releasable attachment member 50 is unlocked from its connection with swivel member 40 so that it is permitted to be removed from swivel member 40. In certain embodiments, release member 59 comprises a spring that is biased toward a locked position.

Also in the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7, attachment device 56 of releasable attachment member 50 comprises a clip 57 such as an alligator clip which can be releasably attached to a person's belt, pocket, waistband, and the like, or to any other object. In this particular embodiment, clip 57 includes hinge member 58 having a closed position (shown in FIGS. 1 and 6) and an opened position (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7). Hinge member 58 facilitates clip 57 to pivot. Thus, hinge member 58, when releasable attachment member 50 is connected to swivel member 40, allows beverage receptacle 30 to swing out from attachment device 56 thus allowing beverage receptacle 30 to remain fixed or tilt and provide another direction of movement to help keep the beverage receptacle 30 upright.

Referring now to FIG. 9, in another embodiment of attachment device 56 comprises adhesive strip 60 for securing releasable attachment member 50 to a surface of among other things, an automobile dashboard, ATV, boat, table or bench. Although adhesive strip 60 is shown as part of a separate embodiment of attachment device 56, it is to be understood that adhesive strip 60 can be included on a surface of clip 57 or on the surface of any other attachment device.

Releasable attachment member 50 and swivel member 40 provide for 360 degree rotation of beverage receptacle 30 in order to maintain the beverage or container (not shown) in an upright position in order to limit spilling while the user stands, sits, walks or otherwise moves or while it is affixed to a surface by an adhesive strip 60 disposed on an outer surface of releasable attachment member 50.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-11, in other embodiments, the beverage holder is modified to receive a wine glass (not shown). In one such specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, an inner resilient, flexible, ring or flange 138 is included along inner wall surface 139 of the beverage receptacle 130 of beverage holder 120 to facilitate securing the bottom of the beverage, such as a wine glass, within beverage receptacle 130. In operation, the wine glass is inserted into beverage receptacle 130 until it rests on top of ring or flange 138. Addition force causes flange 138 to flex to permit the bottom of the wine glass to pass beyond flange 138 and to come to rest on closed end 132 of beverage receptacle 130. Flange 138 then returns to its initial position and, in so doing, preferably remains in contact with the top portion of the bottom of the wine glass. As a result, the wine glass is captured within beverage receptacle 130.

In addition to including flange 138, inner wall surface 139 near opened end 131 of beverage receptacle 130 includes a shape that facilitates receiving and securing the wine glass within beverage receptacle 130. As shown in FIG. 10, inner wall surface 139 is conically-shaped. It is to be understood, however, that inner wall surface 139 can have any shape that facilitates capturing the wine glass within beverage receptacle and can be, but is not required to be, reciprocally-shaped, or closely reciprocally-shaped, to the actual shape of a wine glass to better secure the wine glass within beverage receptacle 130.

In another specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, beverage receptacle 230 of beverage holder 220 is similar to beverage receptacle 130 of the embodiment of FIG. 10 with the exception that flange 138 is removed and outwardly directed shoulder 238 is disposed on inner wall surface 239 near closed end 232 of beverage receptacle 230. Outwardly directed shoulder 238 provides an increase in the inner diameter of beverage receptacle 230 to provide space for the bottom of the wine glass to be inserted thereby securing the wine glass within beverage receptacle 230.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials, or embodiments shown and described, as modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. For example, the material of the beverage receptacle may be made of flexible or rigid material and material to also provide for insulating the enclosed beverage from external sources of radiant and conducted heat (i.e. heat from a hand/or the sun). Moreover, the beverage receptacle's size and shape may be modified to hold various glasses, cups, bottles, cans or any other beverage container. In addition, the beverage receptacle may be made of material and be of the size and shape that will allow it to itself hold liquid in addition to holding a beverage. Moreover, the spring-loaded, “alligator” mechanism portion of the belt clip may be modified to allow for attachment to things other than belts, waistbands or pockets. Further, the beverage holders are not required to include each and every component described herein or shown in the Figures. Accordingly, the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A beverage holder comprising:

a beverage receptacle having an opened end, a closed end, an inner wall surface, an outer wall surface, and a swivel member disposed on the outer wall surface; and

a releasable attachment member operatively associated with the swivel member, the releasable attachment member having an engagement surface for releasably engaging with the swivel member and an attachment device for fixing the releasable to an object.

2. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the attachment device further comprises an adhesive strip.

3. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the releasable attachment member further comprises a clip.

4. The beverage holder of claim 3, wherein the releasable attachment member further comprises a hinge member.

5. The beverage holder of claim 4, wherein the hinge member is operatively associated with a release member.

6. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the beverage receptacle further comprises a stabilizing ring.

7. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the beverage receptacle further comprises a flange disposed along the inner wall surface in proximity to the closed end.

8. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the beverage receptacle further comprises an outwardly directed shoulder disposed along the inner wall surface in proximity to the closed end.