DRINK CONTAINER STABILIZER

Abstract

A number of variations of the invention may include a product for use with beverage containers including a container support wall or bottom wall including a plurality of bottle toe engagement features. A number of variations of the invention may include an insert for use in a receptacle for beverage containers, the insert being constructed and arranged to provide a container support wall or bottom wall including a plurality of bottle toe engagement features.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field to which the disclosure generally relates to includes receptacles for beverage containers.

BACKGROUND

Receptacles or cup holders which may be mounted in a variety of applications and may include a support wall or bottom wall for supporting beverage containers.

SUMMARY OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS OF THE INVENTION

A number of variations of the invention may include a product for use with beverage containers including a container support wall or bottom wall including a plurality of bottle toe engagement features.

A number of variations of the invention may include an insert for use in a receptacle for beverage containers, the insert being constructed and arranged to provide a container support wall or bottom wall including a plurality of bottle toe engagement features.

Other illustrative variations of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while disclosing optional variations of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Select examples of variations of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a receptacle, particularly for a vehicle including a drink container stabilizer according to a number of variations of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view with portions broken away of a receptacle including a drink container stabilizer according to a number of variations of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a downward angle view or perspective view of a receptacle including a drink container stabilizer according to a number of variations of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view with portions broken away of a receptacle including a drink container stabilizer and illustrating a container support wall or bottom wall including toe engagement features interleaved with toes of a drink container according to a number of variations of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS OF THE INVENTION

The following description of the variations is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

FIG. 1 illustrates a number of variations of the invention. In a number of variations, the invention may include a product 10 including one or more receptacles for receiving and supporting beverage containers such as, but not limited to, cups, cans and bottles. In a number of variations, a first receptacle 12 and/or a separate second receptacle 14 may be provided and may share a common container support wall or bottom wall 16. However, the invention is not limited to dual receptacles or cup holders but may include a single receptacle or cup holder. In a number of variations, a plurality of bottle toe engagement features 18 may be provided in or on the container support wall or bottom wall 16. In a number of variations, for example as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the bottle toe engagement features 18 may be raised features extending above a planar portion of the container support wall or bottom wall 16. The product, whether a single receptacle or dual receptacle, may include a top wall 20 which may include an edge 21 for engagement with sides of a beverage container. In a number of variations, the first receptacle 12 may include a first side wall portion 22 extending from the top wall 20 to the container support wall or bottom wall 16. Similarly, the second receptacle 14 may include a second side wall portion 24 extending from the top wall 20 to the container support wall or bottom wall 16. A portion of the top wall 20 may provide a lip 46 over hanging a portion of the container support wall or bottom wall 16. In a number of variations, a passage 26 may be provided between the first receptacle 12 and the second receptacle 14.

In a number of variations a receptacle may be provide that does not include a side wall portion 22, 24 but includes the container support or bottom wall 16. A top wall may be provided and may be in the form of opposing fingers for engaging the sides of a beverage container. In a number of variations the product may be a fold out or collapsible receptacle for example in a moveable center console of the rear passenger section of a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view with portions broken away of a product including a drink container stabilizer according to a number of variations of the invention. Each of the bottle toe engagement features 18 may include a front ramp surface sloping down towards the container support wall or bottom wall 16, an opposite rear ramp surface 36 sloping down toward the bottom wall 16, a first side wall 38, and an opposite second side wall 40 each connecting to the front ramp surface 34 and the rear ramp surface 36. The bottle toe engagement features 18 may include an upper surface 42 which may be curved, flat or may be in the form of an apex. The upper surface 42 may be constructed and arranged to support beverage containers such as cups, cans and some bottles. According to a number of variations of the invention, a beverage bottle 28 may be provided in one of the first receptacle 12 or the second receptacle 14. The bottle 28 may include bottom having a plurality of toes 30 wherein adjacent toes 30 are separated by a gap 32 between the toes. Each of the bottle toe engagement features 18 may be constructed and arranged to be received in a gap 32 between the toes 30 of the bottle 28. In a number of variations, the first side wall 38 and second side wail 40 of a bottle engagement feature 18 may be constructed and arranged to engage a wall defining one of adjacent toes 30 or the gap 32.

FIG. 3 illustrates a number of variations of the invention. In a number of variations, the side wall 22 may be a generally tapered or stepped cylindrical wall including a portion removed to provide the passage 26 to a similarly constructed side wall 24 of the second receptacle 14. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the base of a can may be received in one of the receptacles 12, 14. In a number of variations, the plurality of bottle toe engagement features 18 may be constructed and arranged so that a lip of the bottom wall of the can may rest on the rear ramp surface 36 of the bottle toe engagement features 18.

FIG. 4 illustrates a number of variations of the invention. In one variation of the invention, a bottle 28 having a bottom with a plurality of toes 30 with a gap 32 between adjacent toes may be provided and placed in one of the receptacles 12, 14 so that a bottle toe engagement feature 18 is received in the gap 32. As shown in FIG. 4, in a number of variations five bottle engagement features 18 may be radially arranged in a spaced apart relationship. The plurality of bottle toe engagement features 18 may be constructed and arranged so that an operator of a vehicle may open the cap 48 of the bottle 28 with one hand while keeping the other hand on the steering wheel of the vehicle.

A number of variations of the invention may include an insert for use in a receptacle for beverage containers, the insert being constructed and arranged to provide a container support wall or bottom wall including a plurality of bottle toe engagement features.

The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, product and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The components, elements, acts, product and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and still are considered to be within the scope of the invention.

Variation 1 may include a product including a container support wall or bottom wall including a plurality of bottle toe engagement features.

Variation 2 may include a product as set forth in Variation 1 wherein the product comprises at least a first receptacle for a beverage container.

Variation 3 may include a product as set forth in Variation 2 further comprising a second receptacle having a container support wall or bottom wall including a plurality of bottle toe engagement features.

Variation 4 may include a product as set forth in Variation 3 wherein the first receptacle and second receptacle are positioned adjacent each other and further including a passage defined in the product between the first receptacle and the second receptacle.

Variation 5 may include a product as set forth in any of Variation 1-4 wherein the plurality of bottle toe engagement features are constructed and arranged to be received in a gap between adjacent toes of a beverage bottle.

Variation 6 may include a product as set forth in any of Variation 1-5 wherein each of the bottle toe engagement features includes a front ramp surface sloping downward to a planar portion of the container support wall or bottom wall.

Variation 7 may include a product as set forth in any of Variation 1-6 wherein each of the bottle toe engagement features includes a rear ramp surface sloping down toward the container support wall or bottom wall.

Variation 8 may include a product as set forth in any of Variation 1-7 wherein each of the bottle toe engagement features includes an upper surface constructed and arranged to support a cup, a bottle or a can.

Variation 9 may include a product as set forth in Variation 8 wherein the upper surface has a flat, curved or apex configuration.

Variation 10 may include a product as set forth in any of Variation 1-9 wherein each of the bottle toe engagement features includes a first side wall and an opposite second side wall.

Variation 11 may include a product as set forth in any of Variation 1-10 further comprising a top wall spaced a distance from the container support wall or bottom wall.

Variation 12 may include a product as set forth in Variation 11 further comprising a side wall portion extending from the top wall to the container support wall or bottom wall.

Variation 13 may include a product comprising an insert for a receptacle for beverage containers, the insert being constructed and arranged to provide a container support wall or bottom wall having a plurality of bottle toe engagement features.

Variation 14 may include a product as set forth in claim 13 wherein the plurality of bottle toe engagement features extend above a planar portion of the container support wall or bottom wall.

The above description of select examples of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations or variants thereof are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A product comprising a container support wall or bottom wall including a plurality of bottle toe engagement features.

2. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the product comprises at least a first receptacle for a beverage container

3. A product as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a second receptacle having a container support wall or bottom wall including a plurality of bottle toe engagement features.

4. A product as set forth in claim 3 wherein the first receptacle and second receptacle are positioned adjacent each other and further including a passage defined in the product between the first receptacle and the second receptacle.

5. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of bottle toe engagement features are constructed and arranged to be received in a gap between adjacent toes of a beverage bottle.

6. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the bottle toe engagement features includes a front ramp surface sloping downward to a planar portion of the container support wall or bottom wall.

7. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the bottle toe engagement features includes a rear ramp surface sloping down toward the container support wall or bottom wall.

8. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the bottle toe engagement features includes an upper surface constructed and arranged to support a cup, bottle or a can.

9. A product as set forth in claim 8 wherein the upper surface has a flat, curved or apex configuration.

10. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the bottle toe engagement features includes a first side wall and an opposite second side wall.

11. A product as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a top wall spaced a distance from the container support wall or bottom wall.

12. A product as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a side wall portion extending from the top wall to the container support wall or bottom wall.

13. A product comprising an insert for a receptacle for beverage containers, the insert being constructed and arranged to provide a container support wall or bottom wall having a plurality of bottle toe engagement features.

14. A product as set forth in claim 13 wherein the plurality of bottle toe engagement features extend above a planar portion of the container support wall or bottom wall.