US20090095779A1

US20090095779A1 - Hand beverage carrier

Info

Publication number: US20090095779A1
Application number: US11/872,148
Authority: US
Inventors: Victor Manuel Alvarez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-10-15
Filing date: 2007-10-15
Publication date: 2009-04-16

Abstract

The present invention features a hand beverage carrier comprising a fastening strap having a hand space, a flap attached to the fastening strap, and a holder. In some embodiments, the fastening strap comprises a flexible material. In some embodiments, the flap further comprises a hook-and-loop fastener to secure the flap to the fastening strap, thereby tightening the fastening strap around a hand inserted into the hand space.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a hand beverage carrier that includes a fastening strap and a holder to enable a person to carry a liquid container easily without spilling the liquid within the liquid container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Persons carrying liquid containers often wish to have the liquid container wrapped in a holder to keep the liquid a certain temperature or to keep condensation from getting on the person's hand. Additionally, a person carrying liquid containers may wish to have the liquid container securely in their hand, especially in environments where a large crowd of people exist. However, most persons who wish to keep the liquid in the liquid container a certain temperature or to keep condensation from getting on their hand must fit a material coat around the outside of the liquid container. One problem with these liquid container coats is the person does not have the option of securing the liquid container to their hand.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved portable liquid container apparatus, where a person may keep the liquid in a liquid container a certain temperature and keep condensation off their hand, while simultaneously securing the liquid container to their hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention features a hand beverage carrier comprising a fastening strap having a hand space, a flap attached to the fastening strap, and a holder. In some embodiments, the fastening strap comprises a flexible material. In some embodiments, the flap further comprises a hook-and-loop fastener to secure the flap to the fastening strap, thereby tightening the fastening strap around a hand inserted into the hand space. In some embodiments, the holder further comprises a mesh material. In some embodiments, the holder further comprises a flexible material. In some embodiments, the holder further comprises a bottom surface. In some embodiments, the holder further comprises an aperture to fit a liquid container.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable cup holder according to the invention, including a fastening strap and a liquid container holder.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a side view of a portable cup holder according to the invention, including a fastening strap and a liquid container holder. FIG. 3 shows the flap being secured to the fastening strap via an attachment means, e.g., hook-and-loop Velcro®, wherein the fastening strap partially folds over to provide a smaller hand space.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable cup holder according to the invention as used by a person to hold a cup, can, or bottle securely.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, hand beverage carrier 100 comprises a fastening strap 110 and a holder 120. The fastening strap 110 comprises a closed loop band forming a hand space 200 (see also FIG. 2). In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, fastening strap 110 is attached to a flap 114 having a fastening means 112 positioned on the underside of the flap 114. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, holder 120 comprises aperture 122 and bottom 124. In some embodiments, the flap 114 has a length of about 1 inch to 4 inches, and a width 114 b of about 0.5 inch to about 1.5 inch.
In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, fastening strap 110 comprises a flexible material selected from the group consisting of elastic, nylon, plastic, or combinations thereof. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, holder 120 comprises a flexible material selected from the group consisting of elastic, mesh, nylon, or combinations thereof.
In FIG. 2, hand beverage carrier 100 comprises fastening strap 110 and holder 120. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, fastening strap 110 is attached to a flap 114. A fastening means 112 is located on the underside of the flap 114 and on the outside of the fastening strap 110. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, holder 120 comprises aperture 122 and bottom 124.
When a person wishes to hold a can, cup, bottle, or a similar liquid container, the person may insert his/her hand into the hand space 200 formed by the fastening strap 110 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). In some embodiments, the hand space 200 is of the size that can accommodate a human hand. For example, the circular perimeter distance around the inner edge 110 a of the fastening strap 110 is about 4 inches to about 8 inches. In some embodiments, the width 110 b of the fastening strap is about 1 inch to about 3 inches. (“About” as used herein means a variation of plus or minus 10%.)
In some embodiments, the person can further tighten the fastening strap 110 onto his hand, reducing the size of the hand space 200. A person can reduce the size of the hand space by pulling on flap 114 in a direction away from the holder 120 to create at least one wrinkle 210 on the side of the fastening strap that is opposite of the holder (to effectively reduce the size of the hand space 200), and then attaching the flap 114 to the fastening strap 110 by fastening means 112 (FIG. FIG. 3). In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, fastening means 112 comprises a hook-and-loop fastener known to one skilled in the art. The person may then insert the liquid container into aperture 122 until the liquid container fits tight against bottom 124 of holder 120. Hand beverage carrier 100 comprises a variety of sizes to fit a variety of hand sizes.
Referring now to FIG. 4, hand beverage carrier 100 comprises fastening strap 110 and holder 120. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, fastening strap 110 is attached to a flap 114. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, holder 120 comprises aperture 122 and bottom 124.
In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, hand beverage carrier 100 is shown as used by a person. When a person wishes to hold a can, cup, bottle, or a similar liquid container, the person may insert his/her hand into the hand space 200. The person will then use flap 114 to tighten hand beverage carrier 100 on their hand by pulling on flap 114 and then attaching the flap 114 to the fastening strap 110 with fastening means 112. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, fastening means 112 comprises a hook-and-loop fastener known to one skilled in the art. The person may then insert the liquid container 310 into aperture 122 until the liquid container fits tight against bottom 124 of holder 120.
Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.

Claims

1. A hand beverage carrier, comprising:

(a) a fastening strap having a hand space for insertion of a part of a hand;

(b) a flap attached to the fastening strap, the flap being effective to tighten the fastening strap around the part of a hand; and

(c) a holder attached to the fastening strap, wherein the holder comprises a bottom surface and an aperture for insertion of a container.

2. The hand beverage carrier of claim 1, wherein the fastening strap comprises a flexible material.

3. The hand beverage carrier of claim 1, wherein the flap can be secured to the fastening strap via a hook-and-loop fastener, thereby tightening the fastening strap around a hand inserted into the hand space.

4. The hand beverage carrier of claim 1, wherein the holder further comprises a mesh material.

5. The hand beverage carrier of claim 1, wherein the holder further comprises a flexible material.