Holder for Beverage Containers

Abstract

Holders for beverage containers are provided that can hold a beverage container in place and also seal or cover the beverage container, making it more difficult for foreign matter to enter the beverage container. The holder includes a base in which an actuator is mounted. Upper and lower rails are connected to and biased toward each other by the actuator. Upper and lower arms and upper and lower plates are, respectively, connected to the upper and lower rails. The upper and lower plates axially restrain the beverage container from above and below. A locking arm selectively engages at least one of the actuator and the upper and lower arms in a manner that supplements the biasing force provided by the actuator, clamping the upper and lower plates more tightly against the beverage container, and fixing the upper and lower plates in that condition, so that the beverage container is securely and tightly held between the upper and lower plates.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 196,230, filed on Oct. 17, 2008, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to beverage holders and, more specifically, to beverage holders that can be mounted to a variety of substrates, including substrates within vehicles such as boats, ATVs (all terrain vehicles), automobiles, and / or others.[0004]2. Discussion of the Related Art[0005]Holders for holding beverages containers, in other words, drink holders, are known. Conventional drink holders are, for example, top-loading and side supporting or restraining during use. Such drink holders typically include a pocket or recess that accepts a beverage container, radially confining the beverage container with a ring or sidewall that concentrically surrounds the beverage container. In this ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides holders for beverage containers that can hold the container in place and seal it, making it more difficult for foreign matter to enter and the beverage to spill out. The holder allows for one-handed operation, with the user's hand holding the beverage container during consumption. The holder can accommodate beverage containers of various sizes and materials. The actuator used in the holder applies a biasing force that is substantially constant in magnitude, ensuring the holder operates effectively and securely. The actuator can be a spring assembly, allowing for easy one-handed manipulation by the user."

Problems solved by technology

By sealing the beverage container while it is being held, it is more difficult for foreign matter to enter the beverage container and also more difficult for the beverages to spill out of the container.

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