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

[0008]The present invention provides holders for beverage containers that can hold a beverage container in place and also seal or cover the beverage container. 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. The holder can include 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. The locking arm can apply a clamping force in an axial direction through a beverage container being held between the upper and lower plates, or supplement the biasing force provided by the actuator by increasing axial force application, in addition to that generated by the actuator, so as to positively-lock a beverage container between the upper and lower plates.

[0009]According to some aspects of the invention, the holder allows a user to load and unload a beverage container into or out of the holder by using a true one-hand operation. A user can insert a beverage container into or remove the beverage container from the holder by using the same hand that is holding the beverage container during consumption of the beverage. Such true one-hand operation allows users to keep one hand on the steering wheel or controls of, for example, a boat or other vehicle, while being able to freely insert and / or remove the beverage container into and / or from the holder.

[0012]According to some aspects of the invention, the holder further includes a loading opening that accommodates side or lateral, that is, substantially horizontal loading of a beverage container into the holder, whereby the container is not lowered into the holder from above. The loading opening may extend between the upper and lower plates and define a loading direction that faces the base and extends transversely toward an axis defined between a pair of facing surfaces of the upper and lower plates. The loading opening may be a largely cylindrical void space, for example, defined by projecting perimeters of the upper and lower plates toward each other. In such embodiments, the holder is substantially devoid of obstructions, in other words, is continuously open, between the upper and lower plates, facilitating loading of a beverage container into the holder from all directions, with a possible exception being a direction that would require extending through the base of the holder.

[0013]According to yet other aspects, the holder can include upper and lower arms that extend from the upper and lower plates, respectively, extending toward the actuator. Upper and lower rails may extend between and connect the upper and lower arms to the actuator. The upper and lower rails may slidingly engage the base, for example, sliding into and out of a void defined therein. A hinge may be provided between at least one of (i) the upper rail and upper arm, and (ii) the lower rail and lower arm. A first hinge can connect the upper rail to the upper arm and a second hinge can connect the lower rail to the lower arm. This allows the upper and lower arms to fold inwardly against the base.

[0017]In some aspects of the invention, the actuator can be a spring assembly, for example, a constant force spring assembly. The constant force spring assembly may include first and second constant force springs which are rolled upon each other. Outwardly facing ends of the first and second constant force springs may face different directions. An outwardly facing end of the first constant force spring can be attached to the upper rail, while an outwardly facing end of the second constant force spring can be attached to the lower rail. The constant force springs can have spring rates that allow for suitably easy, or non-straining, one handed manipulation by a user, while transmitting sufficient tensile forces to pull the upper and lower plates toward each other, clamping them against the beverage container. Furthermore, parts of the first and second constant force springs can have sufficient columnar or longitudinal strength to push or assist in pushing the upper and lower plates away from each other, opening the holder and allowing withdrawal of the beverage container therefrom, for example, when the springs are being unwound by overcoming their spring forces in a manner that forces lengths of the springs to extend and push outwardly instead of their default function of winding up.

[0018]According to yet other aspects of the invention, at least one of the upper and lower plates includes a gasket, for example, a rubber mat or other resilient material. The gasket of the upper plate can engage a top surface of a beverage container, while the actuator is biasing the upper plate toward the beverage container or as locked-down by a locking arm, with sufficient force so that the gasket conforms to and seals against the top surface of the beverage container. Such sealing prevents substances from entering into or egressing from the container, whereby the beverage stays in the container and foreign objects stay out of the container when it is being held in the holder. The gasket may have an overall conical configuration, or a concave surface that interfaces the top surface or wall of the beverage container. The gasket can be made from any of a variety of suitably durable and / or resilient materials, have a relatively low durometer value and be FDA compliant, UV and ozone resistant, and dishwasher safe. The gasket and / or the top plate may include a drip edge or channel that extends across at least a portion of a perimeter thereof, and be configured to direct external water / liquid, such as rain, lake water spray, and / or others, away from the top of beverage container.

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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