BEVERAGE HOLDER

Abstract

A beverage holder/cooler for differently-sized beverages. It may be a double-walled vessel that can keep beverages cold, while providing internal features that can support differently-sized beverage containers.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/735,767 filed May 23, 2020; U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/735,768 filed May 23, 2020; U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/735769 filed May 23, 2020; U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/736,585 filed Jun. 1, 2020; and U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/736,591 filed Jun. 1, 2020, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to certain embodiments of this disclosure, there is provided a beverage holder/cooler for differently-sized beverages. It may be a double-walled vessel that can keep beverages cold, while providing internal features that can support differently-sized beverage containers.

BACKGROUND

Differently-sized beverage cans and bottles have gained popularity. For example, some consumers choose to drink long neck bottle beers, others prefer skinny can seltzers, others prefer traditional 12-ounce cola type cans. With all of these alternate options, companies have also marketed insulated can/bottle holders/coolers. One company has become popular for its skinny can cooler, which snuggly fits skinny cans that do not otherwise fit in a traditional can cooler. Other companies have become popular for long neck bottle coolers. There are many examples of holder/coolers that are designed to fit specifically-shaped beverage containers.

The present inventors have identified a need for a more universal solution. They realized that a number of consumers do not want to purchase a number of differently-sized beverage holders/coolers to fit all of the differently-sized beverages they may enjoy.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present inventors have designed a beverage holder that can receive and support a plurality of differently-sized beverage containers.

In one example, there is provided a beverage holder, comprising an open top end, a closed base end, and at least one internal feature that allows the beverage holder to support differently-shaped beverage containers. The at least one internal feature can be an inward ledge. In a specific example, there may be first and second inward ledges defining portions of narrowing diameters.

There may also be provided a beverage securement feature that cooperates with an upper portion of the beverage holder in order to secure a beverage container in place. There may also be provided a tumbler lid that allows use of the beverage holder to be used directly as a drinking vessel.

The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” “the present invention,” “disclosure,” “the disclosure,” and “the present disclosure,” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention as described by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a beverage holder according to one embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the beverage holder of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 shows a first shaped beverage container positioned within the beverage holder described herein.

FIG. 4 shows a second shaped beverage container positioned within the beverage holder described herein.

FIG. 5 shows a third shaped beverage container positioned within the beverage holder described herein.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a two-part beverage securement feature that may cooperate with the beverage holder in order to secure a beverage in place.

FIG. 7 shows a one-part beverage securement feature.

FIG. 8 shows a tumbler lid that may cooperate with the beverage holder in order to use the beverage holder directly as a drinking vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a beverage holder 10 that can receive and support a plurality of differently-sized beverage containers. As shown by FIG. 1, the beverage holder 10 has a beverage securement feature 12, an open top end 14, and a closed bottom base 16. Because most beverage containers are circular in shape, the internal and external perimeter walls of the beverage holder 10 are also generally also circular. The internal surface of the beverage holder 10 is provided with one or more internal features 18 that allow the beverage holder 10 to receive and support differently-sized beverages.

The internal features 18 may be ledges, ridges, bumps, circular rings, protrusions, narrowing diameters, tapers, or any other feature that extends at least slightly into the interior of the beverage holder 10. In a specific example, there are at least two internal features 18 in the interior of the beverage holder. A first internal feature defines a first inward ledge 20. A second internal feature defines a second, further inward ledge 22.

The beverage holder 10 may have a first diameter 24 defined between the open top end 14 and the first inward ledge 20. A second diameter 26 is defined between the first inward ledge 20 and the second inward ledge 22. A third diameter 28 is defined below the second inward ledge 22. In the examples shown, these diameters 24, 26, 28 are progressively narrowing in dimension. The result is that the cross-sectional view resembles a series of concentric internal and narrowing diameters. D1>D2>D3. When a beverage container is positioned within the beverage holder 10, depending upon the size of the container, the bottom portion of the container will abut one of the internal features 18 or rest on the closed bottom base 16.

FIGS. 3-5 show side cross-sectional views of a beverage holder 10 positioned with variously-shaped beverage containers shown in phantom lines. In a specific example, as shown by FIG. 3, when a first shaped beverage container is positioned within the beverage holder 10, the bottom portion of the beverage container meets, abuts, or otherwise rests on the first inward ledge 20. This will typically be the configuration for a standard can. In another specific example, as shown by FIG. 4, when a second shaped beverage container is positioned within the beverage holder 10, the bottom portion of the beverage container meets, abuts, or otherwise rests on the second inward ledge 22. This will typically be the configuration for a ling neck bottle. In a further specific example, as shown by FIG. 5, when a third shaped beverage container is positioned within the beverage holder 10, the bottom portion of the beverage container meets, abuts, or otherwise rests on the closed bottom base 16 of the beverage holder 10. This will typically be the configuration for a skinny can.

All of these images illustrate that the beverage holder may be a double-walled construction. This can help provide additional insulative properties to help keep the beverage being held cold.

In a specific example, the beverage holder 10 may be made of steel, aluminum, titanium, plastic, or any other appropriate material.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a securement feature 12 which can secure a beverage container in place in the beverage holder 10. As shown, the securement feature 12 has an opening 30 which is configured to receive an upper portion of one or more differently shaped beverage containers. The securement feature 12 also has a holder-cooperating portion 32. In one example, this portion 32 may be formed as interior threads 34 that cooperate with exterior threads 36 at the upper portion of the beverage holder 10. The material defining the perimeter of the opening 30 is malleable and/or flexible so that it can accommodate differently-shaped beverage containers. The holder-cooperating portion 32 of the securement feature 12 may be made of a more resilient material. In a specific example, the material surrounding the opening 30 is of rubber, malleable plastic, silicone, or any other appropriate material. In a specific example, the holder-cooperating portion 32 is of plastic or any other appropriate material.

As shown by FIGS. 6A and 6B, the securement feature 12 may be provided as a two-part configuration. Alternatively, the two parts can be integrated into a single one-piece securement feature, as shown by FIG. 7

It is also possible to use the beverage holder 10 to hold liquids or other substances directly, rather than holding a beverage container. This allows the beverage holder 10 to work directly as a tumbler. FIG. 8 illustrates a tumbler lid 40 that may be used in connection with the beverage holder to allow it to be used directly as a drinking vessel, rather than as a beverage container holder. The tumbler lid 40 is illustrated as having a closure feature 42 that can slide open and shut in order to close or open the drinking opening 44. As with the securement feature 12 described above, it is possible for the tumbler lid 40 to have internal threads that can cooperate with the external threads 36 of the beverage holder 10.

The subject matter of certain embodiments of this disclosure is described with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described.

It should be understood that different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims below.

Claims

1. A beverage holder, comprising

an open top end,

a closed base end, and

at least one internal feature that allows the beverage holder to support differently-shaped beverage containers.

2. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the at least one internal feature comprises an inward ledge.

3. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the at least one internal feature comprises (a) a first internal feature formed as a first inward ledge and (b) a second internal feature formed as a second inward ledge.

4. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the at least one internal feature comprises first and second internal features, further comprising a first diameter between the open top and the first internal feature, a second diameter between the first internal feature and the second internal feature, and a third diameter below the second internal feature.

5. The beverage holder of claim 4, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter, and wherein the second diameter is larger than the third diameter.

6. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the at least one internal feature is defined by a narrowing diameter.

7. The beverage holder of claim 1, further comprising a beverage securement feature that cooperates with an upper portion of the beverage holder in order to secure a beverage container in place.

8. The beverage holder of claim 1, further comprising a tumbler lid that allows use of the beverage holder to be used directly as a drinking vessel.