US20110114656A1

US20110114656A1 - Tip resistant beverage container holder

Info

Publication number: US20110114656A1
Application number: US12/873,740
Authority: US
Inventors: Craig A. Tupy; Steven J. Benda
Original assignee: Innovative Marine Products Inc
Current assignee: Innovative Marine Products Inc
Priority date: 2009-11-13
Filing date: 2010-09-01
Publication date: 2011-05-19
Also published as: WO2011060039A2; WO2011060039A3

Abstract

A tip resistant beverage container holder includes a central container support region with a wall defining an inner perimeter for holding a container, a generally horizontal base connecting lower ends of the inner perimeter wall, and a wall defining an outer perimeter; a base region with a larger perimeter than the central container support; and a resilient region connecting the outer perimeter of the central container support region with the base region.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present U.S. utility patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/281,117 filed on Nov. 13, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

There are a variety of locations and circumstances in which persons enjoy a beverage, yet there are not good options for setting a beverage container down without a risk of it tipping and spilling the beverage. One such location is on a boat. Many people like to congregate on the bow or sides of a boat when anchored to fish or simply lay in the sun and enjoy the water. While a boat may have some beverage container holders within the boat, they are generally limited in numbers and located in very select locations. The bow and sides generally do not include cup holders, and the surfaces on which to place a beverage container are often not flat. Furthermore, boats encounter waves and wind, often causing beverage containers sitting on a surface of the boat (outside a cup holder) to tip over. This wastes the beverage, and can result in damage to the boat or other things on the boat.
Some beverage container holders attempting to solve these problems include beverage container holders with a suction grip underneath the beverage container holder. The suction grip requires a smooth, flat surface to form a tight seal. Furthermore, it is not convenient or easy to have to break the seal and then re-form the suction grip every time a person wants to take a drink of the beverage in the container.
Another device which attempts to solve these problems are beverage container holders with sand, gel or another heavy material in a bottom component to hold the beverage container holder in place. These are heavy, and not easy or convenient to use in all locations or easy to store.

SUMMARY

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of one embodiment of a tip resistant beverage container holder.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bottom of an embodiment of a tip resistant beverage container holder.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the tip resistant beverage container holder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a tip resistant beverage container holder that is holding a beverage container.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of tip resistant beverage container holders stacked.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tip resistant beverage container holder which floats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The current disclosure relates to a tip resistant beverage container holder which can hold any of a large variety of beverage containers and greatly reduce the likelihood of the beverage container tipping, while holding the beverage container securely in place through its single piece design with a stepped container holder region, a resilient region and a base region which may include treads for additional traction. It is ideal for use on a boat, as it is light-weight, stackable, and can resist many of the forces acting to tip a beverage container, such as uneven surfaces, waves rocking the boat, wind, etc.
FIG. 1 is perspective view of one embodiment of a tip resistant beverage container holder.
Tip resistant beverage container holder 10 includes central container support region 12 with inner perimeter wall 14, outer perimeter wall 16 and horizontal base 18 (shown in FIG. 2); resilient region 20 with elevated portions 22; and base region 24.
A typical tip resistant beverage container holder 10 is one solid piece, produced by injection molding. It can be produced from a number of different materials ranging from durable materials, such as Thermal Plastic Elastimers (“TPE”) or Thermal Plastic Rubber (“TPR”), or a lighter, more rigid material such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”). Numerous other polymers are also acceptable for use in making the tip resistant beverage container holder, as well as other natural and man-made materials. Additionally, different regions of the tip resistant beverage container holder could be made from different materials.
Central container support region 12 can hold a beverage of a variety of sizes within inner perimeter wall 14. Base region 24 sits on one or more surfaces to hold central container support region 12 solidly upright and provide any beverage container in central container support region 12 support to stay upright and resist tipping. Resilient region 20 extends from outer perimeter wall 16 of central container support region 12 to connect central container support region 12 to base region 24 and allows horizontal base 18 (not shown) of central container support region 12 to move vertically downward to sit in the same plane as base region 24 when weight is applied to central container support region 12 (usually in the form of a beverage container being placed in central container support region 12). Resilient region 20 is able to flex and allow central container support region 12 to move vertically downward through material(s) used in resilient region or through design (e.g., corrugated). Elevated portions 22 provide a space to insert a logo on beverage container holder 10. Elevated portions 22 are for aesthetic purposes, although they may be utilized for further support, and are not required in all embodiments.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bottom of an embodiment of a tip resistant beverage container holder. FIG. 2 shows tip resistant beverage container holder 10, which includes outer perimeter wall 16, and horizontal base 18 (with hole 19 and treads 26A) of central container support region 12; resilient region 20; and base region 24 (with treads 26B).
Base region 24 sits on one or more surfaces to provide tip resistant beverage container holder 10 support in resisting the tipping of any beverage being supported by central container support region 12. Base region 24 has a larger perimeter than central support region 12, providing a wider base to better resist tipping forces on a beverage container in central container support region 12. Although in this embodiment base region 24 has a circular perimeter, base region 24 can have a different shaped perimeter, including polygonal as square or octagonal. Treads 26B provide base region 24 with extra traction to resist movement on any surface which base region 24 is sitting upon. In this embodiment, treads 26B are circular projections extending from the bottom side of base region 24 to contact a surface on which base region 24 sits. Treads 26B can also be a different shape, such as diamond shaped, or a different design which increases traction between base region 24 and the surface on which it sits. Hole 19 on horizontal base 18 of central container region 12 can drain any liquid in central container region 12 due to moisture collecting on cold beverage containers sitting within central container region 12 or a small spill which might occur when a beverage container rocks but does not tip over all the way. Tip resistant beverage container holder 10 can also have additional holes for a similar purpose in different locations, such as in resilient region 20.
As mentioned above, when a weight, such as a beverage container, is placed in central container support 12, resilient region 20 flexes, lowering horizontal base 18 of central container support 12. When the weight is heavy enough, horizontal base 18 of central container support region 12 lowers to come into the same plane as base region 24, and treads 26A provide further traction to keep tip resistant beverage container holder 10 from sliding on the surface on which it sits.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the tip resistant beverage container holder of FIG. 1. Tip resistant beverage container holder 10 includes central container support region 12 (with inner perimeter wall 14, outer perimeter wall 16 and horizontal base 18 with treads 26A), resilient region 20, base region 24 with treads 26B and three stepped container holders defined by inner perimeter wall 14 forming first stepped perimeter 28, second stepped perimeter 30 and third stepped perimeter 32. First stepped perimeter 28 starts at horizontal base 18 and goes vertically upward on central container support region 12. Second stepped perimeter 30 goes vertically upward on central container support region 12 above first stepped perimeter 28, and third stepped perimeter 32 goes above second stepped perimeter 30 to a top of central container support region 12. Horizontal base 18 can rest about 6.35 mm (about 0.25 inches) above the plane on which base region 24 is resting when no weight is on horizontal base 18 of central container support region 12.
In this embodiment, central container support region 12 includes three stepped perimeters 28, 30, 32 to hold container and ensure a secure fit with a variety of popular sizes of beverage containers. The secure fit helps to hold a beverage container in place, prevent rocking motions that could lead to tipping of a beverage container that is smaller in diameter than container holder region 12. Additionally, the vertical height H₁, H₂, H₃of each stepped container perimeter 28, 30, 32 helps to resist the tipping and spilling of a beverage in a beverage container placed in central container support region 12. Third stepped perimeter 32 accounts for about ⅔ of the vertical height of central container support region 12, with first and second stepped perimeters 28, 30 each taking up about ⅙ of the vertical height of central container support region 12, respectively. Due to these height ratios, even beverage containers which start to tip will likely be caught, and held upright enough by third stepped perimeter 32 to prevent spillage. In this embodiment vertical height H₁of first stepped perimeter 28 is about 12.7 mm (about 0.5 inches), vertical height H₂of second stepped perimeter 30 is about 12.7 mm (about 0.5 inches), and vertical height H₃of third stepped perimeter 32 is about 50.8 mm (about 2 inches). In this embodiment, the diameter of first stepped perimeter 28 is about 70% of the diameter of third stepped perimeter 32. First stepped perimeter 28 can have a diameter of about 64.77 mm (about 2.55 inches), about the size of a 12 ounce can or a 12 ounce bottle with a neoprene insulation sleeve on it. Second stepped perimeter 30 can have a diameter of about 80.01 mm (about 3.15 inches), about the size of a 12 ounce can with a neoprene insulation sleeve around it. Third stepped perimeter 32 can have a diameter of about 91.44 mm (about 3.6 inches), about the size to fit a standard 750 ml bottle of wine or various liquor bottles. These stepped perimeters to hold containers 28, 30, 32, defined by inner perimeter wall 14, ensure that tip resistant beverage container holder 10 can be versatile and hold a wide variety of popular beverage containers securely while providing resistance to tipping. While this embodiment shows three stepped perimeters, other embodiments could have a different number of stepped perimeters, a sloping perimeter or just one sized perimeter for central container support region 12.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a tip resistant beverage container holder that is holding a beverage container. FIG. 4 shows tip resistant beverage container 10 with central beverage container support region 12 (which includes inner perimeter wall 14, outer perimeter wall 16, horizontal base 18 with treads 26A, stepped beverage container holders 28, 30, 32), resilient region 20, base region 24 with treads 26B and beverage container 34. As can be seen in FIGS. 3-4, cross section of base region 24 flares outward from resilient region 20. Additionally, base region 24 is flared to be aerodynamic and has more material to form a thicker cross section in parts (than resilient region 20 and central container holder region 12) to ensure that base region 24 acts as a solid foundation for tip resistant beverage container holder 10.
Beverage container 34 is a large beverage container (e.g., a 750 ml wine bottle) which sits firmly in third stepped perimeter 32. Under the weight of beverage container 34, resilient region 20 flexes, and the perimeter of base region 24 presses outward (flaring), allowing central container support region 12 to lower, bringing treads 26A on horizontal base 18 into the same plane as base region 24.
By horizontal base 18 of central container support 12 lowering under the weight of beverage container 34, the center of gravity of the container is lowered, reducing the likelihood that beverage container 34 may tip. When horizontal base 18 is lowered so much that treads 26A on horizontal base 18 (or just horizontal base 18 if there are no treads) enter the same plane as base region 24, this also helps to increase traction on the surface(s) on which beverage container holder 10 is sitting, as more treads come into contact with the surface(s). This increase of traction results in less movement or slippage of the beverage container holder 10 on the surface on which it rests, further increasing the resistance to tipping of a beverage container within the holder. Furthermore, as central container support 12 lowers, the perimeter of base region 24 presses or flares outward. This can make tip resistant beverage container holder 10 more aerodynamic, causing wind to go up and over beverage container holder 10, rather than work to tip beverage container holder 10 over. This is especially useful when being used on a boat or other high-speed vehicle which may cause beverage container holder 10 to encounter high speed winds acting to tip beverage container and/or beverage container holder 10.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of tip resistant beverage container holders stacked. First tip resistant beverage container holder 10A, has a central container support 12A with inner perimeter wall 14A, outer perimeter walls 16A and horizontal base 18A, resilient region 20A, and base region 24A. Second tip resistant beverage container holder 10B, has a central container support 12B with inner perimeter wall 14B, outer perimeter walls 16B and horizontal base 18B, resilient region 20B, and base region 24B. Third tip resistant beverage container holder 10C, has a central container support 12C with inner perimeter wall 14C, outer perimeter walls 16C and horizontal base 18C, resilient region 20C, and base region 24C.
Tip resistant beverage container holders can stack together by placing first central container support 12A within second central container support 12B. Inner perimeter wall 14A and outer perimeter wall 16A of first beverage container holder 10A fit around the inner and outer perimeter walls 14B, 16B of second beverage container holder 10B. Second beverage container holder 10B is stacked with third beverage container holder 10C in the same way as first beverage container holder 10A and second container holder 10B are stacked. As can be seen in FIG. 5, due to the single-piece design a plurality of beverage container holders can be stacked together when not in use. This can be especially useful in situations where space is limited, such as on a boat. The light-weight design and materials also ensures that they can easily be stored and handled despite a large number of tip resistant beverage container holders being stacked together.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a tip resistant beverage container holder that floats. Tip resistant beverage container holder 10 includes central container support region 12 (with inner perimeter wall 14, outer perimeter wall 16 and horizontal base 18 with treads 26A), resilient region 20, base region 24 with treads 26B and three stepped container holders defined by inner perimeter wall 14 forming first stepped perimeter 28, second stepped perimeter 30, third stepped perimeter 32, first flotation device 36 and second flotation device 38. First flotation device 36 sits securely around the outside of first stepped perimeter 28, and can be secured by an adhesive or by friction to first stepped perimeter. Second flotation device 38 fits securely around the outside of second stepped perimeter 30, and can be secured by an adhesive or by friction to second stepped perimeter 30. First flotation device 36 and second flotation device 38 can be larger or smaller depending on the flotation needs, and can be made of dense Polyethylene foam or any other material which will keep the tip resistant beverage container holder afloat. First flotation device 36 and second flotation device 38 could be a single flotation device, or in some situations it may be preferable to use only one flotation device.
First flotation device 36 and second flotation device 38 work together to ensure that tip resistant beverage container holder 10 floats if it falls into water. They keep the tip resistant beverage container holder 10 floating due to the size and type of the material used. The material properties work together to ensure that tip resistant beverage container holder 10 is buoyant if it falls into water. This allows a user of the tip resistant beverage container holder to feel comfortable using the tip resistant beverage container holder 10 on the edge of a boat or in rough seas, knowing that if it were to accidentally fall in the water, it would not sink and could be recovered.
In summary, the tip resistant beverage container holder of the current disclosure provides a light-weight and effective solution to resisting the tipping of beverage containers in any number of situations. The wide base region helps to spread out and resist tipping forces, while the resilient region allows flexibility in the beverage container holder to lower under the force of a beverage, lowering the center of gravity and increasing traction on the surface on which the holder sits (if it lowers to the level of the base portion). The flexibility also allows base portion to flare out, making it more aerodynamic, helping to increase resistance to wind as a tipping force. The design keeps it lightweight and stackable, making the tip resistant beverage container holders easy to use and store, even in places where space is limited.
In some embodiments, the tip resistant beverage container holder includes one or more flotation devices to ensure that it floats if it falls into water which may be helpful when in use on a boat or in other situations involving the possibility of it falling into water. Even in an embodiment which does not include a flotation device, due to the one piece design, the tip resistant beverage container holder is floatable. If the tip resistant beverage container holder (without flotation devices) lands on water, air pockets are often formed in different sections depending on how the beverage container holder lands, keeping it floating long enough for retrieval from the water.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the base portion may be square or a different shape instead of round or the treads may not be exactly the same as those shown in FIGS. 2-5. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tip resistant beverage container holder comprising:

a central container support region with a wall defining an inner perimeter for holding a container, a generally horizontal base connecting lower ends of the inner perimeter wall, and a wall defining an outer perimeter;

a base region with a larger perimeter than the central container support; and

a resilient region connecting the outer perimeter of the central container support region with the base region.

2. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the wall defining the inner perimeter for holding a container is stepped to define a plurality of perimeters for a plurality of sized containers.

3. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 2, wherein the wall defining the inner perimeter comprises:

a first stepped perimeter starting at the horizontal base going vertically upward on the central container support;

a second stepped perimeter above the first stepped perimeter; and

a third stepped perimeter above the second stepped perimeter going vertically upward to a top of the central container support.

4. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 3, wherein the diameter of the first stepped perimeter is about 70% the diameter of the third stepped perimeter.

5. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 3, wherein the third stepped perimeter is about ⅔ of the height from the horizontal base to the top of the central container support.

6. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the base region flares out away from the central container support region as the base region approaches the surface on which it will rest.

7. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the base region is circular and contains a flare.

8. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 1, and further comprising:

at least one elevated portion on the resilient region.

9. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the base region further comprises treads on a bottom side to increase traction between the tip resistant beverage container holder and a surface on which the tip resistant beverage container holder sits.

10. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the generally horizontal base of the central container support region has treads on an underneath side to increase traction between the tip resistant beverage container holder and a surface on which the tip resistant beverage container holder sets.

11. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 1, and further comprising:

one or more flotation devices around the central container support region.

12. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the generally horizontal base of the central container support region rests about 6.35 mm (about 0.25 inches) above the plane where the base portion rests on a surface when no weight is in the central container support region.

13. A tip resistant beverage container holder comprising:

a upper portion defining a cavity to receive a corresponding container; and

a base portion with a larger area profile than the area profile of the upper portion, to support the upper portion, wherein the base portion includes a flared section to rest the holder on a surface and at least one generally horizontal section connecting the flared section to the upper section.

14. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 13, and further comprising:

a plurality of steps defining different diameters of the cavity in the upper portion.

15. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 13, and further comprising:

a plurality of treads on a bottom side of the flared section for increasing traction between the tip resistant beverage container holder and the surface on which it rests.

16. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 13, wherein when a weight is placed in the upper portion, the base portion flares out and the horizontal section flexes, lowering the upper portion toward the plane on which the flared section rests on a surface.

17. A tip resistant beverage container holder comprising:

a central container support region with an outer generally vertical wall, an inner wall with first generally horizontal base portion connecting to a lower end of a first vertical portion, a second generally horizontal portion connected to an upper end of the first generally vertical portion and to a lower end of a second generally vertical portion, a third generally horizontal portion connected to an upper end of the second generally vertical portion and to a lower end of a third generally vertical portion, and a fourth generally horizontal portion connecting an upper end of the third generally vertical portion to the outer generally vertical wall, wherein the first generally horizontal base portion and the first vertical portion define a first beverage container holder with a first cross-sectional area, the second generally horizontal portion and the second generally vertical portion define a second beverage container holder with a second cross-sectional area, and the third generally horizontal portion and third generally vertical portion define a third beverage container holder with a third cross-sectional area,

wherein the third cross-sectional area is larger than the second cross-sectional area, and

wherein the second cross-sectional area is larger than the first cross-sectional area;

a base region with a larger perimeter than the central container support region;

a generally horizontal resilient region connecting a lower end of the outer wall of the central container support region with an upper end of the base region,

wherein the resilient region flexes, moving central container support region downward when a weight is placed on central container support region, and

wherein the base region is curved outwards from the resilient region.

18. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 17, and further comprising treads extending downwards from the base region and from the first generally horizontal base portion.

19. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 17, wherein the tip resistant beverage container holder is made of Thermal Plastic Rubber.

20. The tip resistant beverage container holder of claim 17, wherein the resilient region has at least one elevated portion.