US20140246447A1 - Vehicle Beverage Shield - Google Patents
Vehicle Beverage Shield Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140246447A1 US20140246447A1 US13/784,492 US201313784492A US2014246447A1 US 20140246447 A1 US20140246447 A1 US 20140246447A1 US 201313784492 A US201313784492 A US 201313784492A US 2014246447 A1 US2014246447 A1 US 2014246447A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- shield
- mat
- aperture
- beverage
- flexible mat
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D25/20—External fittings
- B65D25/22—External fittings for facilitating lifting or suspending of containers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N3/00—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for
- B60N3/10—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of receptacles for food or beverages, e.g. refrigerated
- B60N3/103—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of receptacles for food or beverages, e.g. refrigerated detachable
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to vehicle accessories and, more specifically, to a Vehicle Beverage Shield.
- FIG. 1 depicts a conventional arrangement for the interior of a passenger vehicle. It is common in current vehicles that there be a center console 22 located between the driver's seat 24 and the passenger seat 26 .
- the center console 22 will almost always include a pair of cup holders 28 A, 28 B to provide the user with a convenient location to safely hold a beverage cup.
- the cup holders 28 A, 28 B are of the pop-up type (i.e. they can be refracted or pushed down to close them); other versions may be the immovable or permanently open type.
- the cup holders 28 A, 28 B retract into a cup holder compartment 29 formed in the center console 22 by pushing down on the face of the cover panel 31 .
- the shield should protect the interior of a vehicle by capturing any spilled liquids around the interior cup holder(s).
- the shield should have a cup-shaped receptacle that inserts through an aperture formed in a protective mat.
- the protective mat should have an absorbant upper layer and a liquid-proof lower layers attached to one another.
- the shield should optionally accommodate one or more beverage cups.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the driver area of the interior of a conventional vehicle
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the vehicle beverage shield of the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a second exploded perspective view of the shield of FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled shield of FIGS. 2 and 3 ;
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shield of FIGS. 2-4 installed in the vehicle interior of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the installation of FIG. 5 retaining a beverage cup therein;
- FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway exploded view depicting an alternate version of the receptacle of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the vehicle beverage shield 10 of the present invention.
- the two main components of the shield 10 are the protective mat 12 and the cylindrical insert 16 .
- the mat 12 could be provided in a variety of sizes and shapes, particularly if customized for the driver's particular vehicle.
- the mat 12 is defined by a central aperture 14 (or apertures as will be discussed below) formed therethrough.
- the edge of the aperture 14 will further include a peripheral ring 20 .
- the peripheral ring 20 adjusts the diameter of the aperture 14 so that it can fit the widest variety of cylindrical inserts 16 .
- the ring 20 could be a drawstring sewn into the mat 12 , or alternatively could be an elastic ring. 1
- element numbers enclosed in square brackets [ ] indicates that the referenced element is not shown in the instant drawing figure, but rather is displayed elsewhere in another drawing figure.
- the mat 12 has a plurality of quilt seams 35 formed in its upper surface. This quilted look has been found to be particularly attractive, while also adding functionality and durability to the mat 12 by stitching the different layers of the mat 12 together.
- the cylindrical insert 16 is preferably a plastic or metal sleeve having a closed bottom to form a receptacle 18 therein.
- FIG. 3 is a second exploded perspective view of the shield 10 of FIG. 2 .
- the mat 12 in this version is rectangular in shape and has rounded corners. In particular, this version is approximately 28 inches long (“L”) by 14 inches wide (“W”), which is a size found particularly suitable for full-sized vehicles.
- the mat 12 is flexible so that it will lay down over the center console area of the vehicle, and can even be tucked in to the sides of the seats if necessary (in order to hold the shield 10 in place).
- the material is washable so that any spillage can be removed easily through normal cleaning methods.
- FIG. 4 shows the shield 10 fully assembled.
- the mat 12 is found to be most useful if it has two or more layers of different material.
- the top layer 37 is made from absorbent material such as cotton or a cotton blend.
- the bottom layer 39 is made from a liquid-resistant material, such as plastic or rubber (or a surface coating of plasticized or rubberized material).
- a padding layer sandwiched between the top and bottom layers 37 , 39 .
- the collar ring 33 and aperture [ 14 ] are cooperatively sized so that the collar ring 33 is larger than the aperture [ 14 ], so that the lip of the collar ring 33 extends over the top of the mat 12 .
- FIG. 5 Another potential feature is that additional apertures 14 A and inserts 16 A could be provided in the shield 10 , so that more than one protected cup holder is provided for the users.
- the dashed circles in the instant drawing is intended to represent a second aperture/insert 14 A, 16 A.
- three or more aperture/inserts could be provided.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shield 10 of FIGS. 2-4 installed in the vehicle interior of FIG. 1 .
- the mat 12 is laid over the center console 22 so that it snugly fits, and so that the aperture [ 14 ] is aligned with one of the cup holders [ 28 A, 28 B] (or both cup holders in the case where the shield has two inserts 16 ).
- the insert 16 is inserted through the aperture [ 14 ] so that it is captured in one of the cup holders [ 28 A, 28 B].
- the side edges of the mat 12 are preferably tucked in between the seats 24 , 26 and the center console 22 so that a sleek appearance is achieved (and also to prevent spillage from getting between the console 22 and the seats 24 , 26 . As shown in FIG.
- FIG. 7 An alternate design of the instant invention is depicted in FIG. 7 .
- a retainer ring 42 is threadedly engaged with the receptacle 18 A from beneath the protective mat 12 .
- the user inserts the receptacle 18 A through the aperture 14 , and then slips the retainer ring 42 over the bottom of the receptacle 18 A and then rotates the ring 42 to engage the threads 42 , 44 .
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Vehicle Step Arrangements And Article Storage (AREA)
- Passenger Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
A Vehicle Beverage Shield. The shield should protect the interior of a vehicle by capturing any spilled liquids around the interior cup holder(s). The shield should have a cup-shaped receptacle that inserts through an aperture formed in a protective mat. The protective mat should have an absorbant upper layer and a liquid-proof lower layers attached to one another. The shield should optionally accommodate one or more beverage cups.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates generally to vehicle accessories and, more specifically, to a Vehicle Beverage Shield.
- 2. Description of Related Art
-
FIG. 1 depicts a conventional arrangement for the interior of a passenger vehicle. It is common in current vehicles that there be acenter console 22 located between the driver'sseat 24 and thepassenger seat 26. Thecenter console 22 will almost always include a pair ofcup holders cup holders cup holders cup holder compartment 29 formed in thecenter console 22 by pushing down on the face of thecover panel 31. - While the conventional vehicle cup holders (collectively 28) are extremely convenient, there is one serious drawback related to spillage. If the driver or passenger accidentally spills their drink while inserting it or removing it from the cup holder 28, then the liquid will end up all over the center console 22 (best case), or inside of the cup holder compartment 29 (worst case). In either case, the mess created by the spilled liquid is difficult to clean and potentially damaging to the vehicle's interior.
- While a variety of different vehicle cup holder designs are available as accessories to vehicles after purchase, none have been found that provide a decorative cover to capture and absorb liquid spilled onto the cup holders.
- In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and assemblies, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Vehicle Beverage Shield. The shield should protect the interior of a vehicle by capturing any spilled liquids around the interior cup holder(s). The shield should have a cup-shaped receptacle that inserts through an aperture formed in a protective mat. The protective mat should have an absorbant upper layer and a liquid-proof lower layers attached to one another. The shield should optionally accommodate one or more beverage cups.
- The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the driver area of the interior of a conventional vehicle; -
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the vehicle beverage shield of the present invention; -
FIG. 3 is a second exploded perspective view of the shield ofFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled shield ofFIGS. 2 and 3 ; -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shield ofFIGS. 2-4 installed in the vehicle interior ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the installation ofFIG. 5 retaining a beverage cup therein; and -
FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway exploded view depicting an alternate version of the receptacle of the present invention. - The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Vehicle Beverage Shield.
- The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG. 2.1
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thevehicle beverage shield 10 of the present invention. The two main components of theshield 10 are theprotective mat 12 and thecylindrical insert 16. Themat 12 could be provided in a variety of sizes and shapes, particularly if customized for the driver's particular vehicle. Themat 12 is defined by a central aperture 14 (or apertures as will be discussed below) formed therethrough. In some versions, the edge of theaperture 14 will further include aperipheral ring 20. Theperipheral ring 20 adjusts the diameter of theaperture 14 so that it can fit the widest variety ofcylindrical inserts 16. Thering 20 could be a drawstring sewn into themat 12, or alternatively could be an elastic ring. 1 As used throughout this disclosure, element numbers enclosed in square brackets [ ] indicates that the referenced element is not shown in the instant drawing figure, but rather is displayed elsewhere in another drawing figure. - In this version, the
mat 12 has a plurality ofquilt seams 35 formed in its upper surface. This quilted look has been found to be particularly attractive, while also adding functionality and durability to themat 12 by stitching the different layers of themat 12 together. - The
cylindrical insert 16 is preferably a plastic or metal sleeve having a closed bottom to form areceptacle 18 therein. There is preferably acollar ring 33 extending outwardly from the upper edge of theinsert 16, the purpose of which will become apparent when discussed below in connection with other drawing figure(s). Now turning toFIG. 3 , we can continue to examine the inventive details of the current invention. -
FIG. 3 is a second exploded perspective view of theshield 10 ofFIG. 2 . As discussed above, themat 12 in this version is rectangular in shape and has rounded corners. In particular, this version is approximately 28 inches long (“L”) by 14 inches wide (“W”), which is a size found particularly suitable for full-sized vehicles. Themat 12 is flexible so that it will lay down over the center console area of the vehicle, and can even be tucked in to the sides of the seats if necessary (in order to hold theshield 10 in place). The material is washable so that any spillage can be removed easily through normal cleaning methods. - As shown, the
cylindrical insert 16 inserts into theaperture 14, where it is grasped by the peripheral ring [20], if so equipped. The user'sbeverage cup 22 can then easily be inserted into, and removed from, thecylindrical insert 16.FIG. 4 shows theshield 10 fully assembled. - The
mat 12 is found to be most useful if it has two or more layers of different material. In this version, thetop layer 37 is made from absorbent material such as cotton or a cotton blend. Thebottom layer 39, in contrast, is made from a liquid-resistant material, such as plastic or rubber (or a surface coating of plasticized or rubberized material). There may be additional layers as well, such as a padding layer sandwiched between the top andbottom layers - The
collar ring 33 and aperture [14] are cooperatively sized so that thecollar ring 33 is larger than the aperture [14], so that the lip of thecollar ring 33 extends over the top of themat 12. - Another potential feature is that
additional apertures 14A andinserts 16A could be provided in theshield 10, so that more than one protected cup holder is provided for the users. By way of example, the dashed circles in the instant drawing is intended to represent a second aperture/insert FIG. 5 , we will examine how the device of the present invention is actually used. -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of theshield 10 ofFIGS. 2-4 installed in the vehicle interior ofFIG. 1 . First, themat 12 is laid over thecenter console 22 so that it snugly fits, and so that the aperture [14] is aligned with one of the cup holders [28A, 28B] (or both cup holders in the case where the shield has two inserts 16). Theinsert 16 is inserted through the aperture [14] so that it is captured in one of the cup holders [28A, 28B]. The side edges of themat 12 are preferably tucked in between theseats center console 22 so that a sleek appearance is achieved (and also to prevent spillage from getting between theconsole 22 and theseats FIG. 6 , once installed, the convenience of the original equipment cup holder has not changed. The user can still place his or herbeverage cup 22 into thecenter console 22, just as was originally designed. With theshield 10 installed, however, now the user has security that they won't damage the vehicle by spillage. - An alternate design of the instant invention is depicted in
FIG. 7 . In this version, aretainer ring 42 is threadedly engaged with thereceptacle 18A from beneath theprotective mat 12. There is a threadedportion 40 on the upper end of the outer surface of thereceptacle 18A, and a corresponding threadedportion 44 on the inner surface of theretainer ring 42. To attach, the user inserts thereceptacle 18A through theaperture 14, and then slips theretainer ring 42 over the bottom of thereceptacle 18A and then rotates thering 42 to engage thethreads - Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
Claims (20)
1. A shield, comprising:
a flexible mat defined by at least one aperture formed therethrough; and
a cylindrical insert formed from substantially rigid material inserted and retained within said each said aperture;
2. The shield of claim 1 , wherein each said cylindrical insert is defined by an elongated cylindrical shape having an open top end defined by a collar extending outwardly therefrom, whereby said collar extends over a top surface of each said mat when said insert is retained within each said aperture;
3. The shield of claim 2 , wherein each said cylindrical insert is defined by a closed end opposite said top end.
4. The shield of claim 3 , wherein each said flexible mat comprises a top layer juxtaposed above, and attached to, a bottom layer;
5. The shield of claim 4 , wherein each said flexible mat top layer comprises absorbent material.
6. The shield of claim 5 , wherein each said flexible mat bottom layer comprises substantially liquid-impervious material.
7. The shield of claim 6 , further comprising cinching means for reducing the diameter defined by each said aperture in said mat.
8. The shield of claim 7 , wherein said cinching means comprises a segment of elastic material.
9. A method for protecting a vehicle interior, said interior comprising a cup receptacle, the method comprising the steps of:
placing a flexible mat having an aperture formed therethrough such that said aperture is juxtaposed over the cup receptacle; and
inserting a cylindrical insert through said aperture and into the cup receptacle.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said flexible mat of said placing step comprises a mat defined by an absorbent top layer attached to and juxtaposed over a substantially liquid-impervious bottom layer.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said cylindrical insert of said inserting step comprises a substantially rigid cylindrical shape defined by an open top end having a collar extending outwardly therefrom, such that said collar remains atop said mat after said inserting step.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said cylindrical insert of said inserting step comprises a closed bottom end opposite said open top end.
13. A spill-proof beverage shield for vehicles, comprising:
a flexible mat defined by at least one aperture formed therethrough; and
a cylindrical insert formed from substantially rigid material inserted and retained within said each said aperture;
14. The beverage shield of claim 13 , wherein each said cylindrical insert is defined by an elongated cylindrical shape having an open top end defined by a collar extending outwardly therefrom, whereby said collar extends over a top surface of each said mat when said insert is retained within each said aperture;
15. The beverage shield of claim 14 , wherein each said cylindrical insert is defined by a closed end opposite said top end.
16. The beverage shield of claim 15 , wherein said flexible mat comprises a top layer juxtaposed above, and attached to, a bottom layer;
17. The beverage shield of claim 16 , wherein said flexible mat top layer comprises absorbent material.
18. The beverage shield of claim 17 , wherein each said flexible mat bottom layer comprises substantially liquid-impervious material.
19. The beverage shield of claim 18 , further comprising cinching means for reducing the diameter defined by each said aperture in said mat.
20. The beverage shield of claim 19 , wherein said cinching means comprises a segment of elastic material.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/784,492 US20140246447A1 (en) | 2013-03-04 | 2013-03-04 | Vehicle Beverage Shield |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/784,492 US20140246447A1 (en) | 2013-03-04 | 2013-03-04 | Vehicle Beverage Shield |
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US20140246447A1 true US20140246447A1 (en) | 2014-09-04 |
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ID=51420450
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US13/784,492 Abandoned US20140246447A1 (en) | 2013-03-04 | 2013-03-04 | Vehicle Beverage Shield |
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Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN115485205A (en) * | 2020-05-29 | 2022-12-16 | 朝日集团控股株式会社 | Replacement member for beverage container, combination of replacement member for beverage container and beverage container, and method for using replacement member for beverage container |
US11653779B2 (en) | 2020-09-10 | 2023-05-23 | Charlene Linhard | Drink holder |
-
2013
- 2013-03-04 US US13/784,492 patent/US20140246447A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN115485205A (en) * | 2020-05-29 | 2022-12-16 | 朝日集团控股株式会社 | Replacement member for beverage container, combination of replacement member for beverage container and beverage container, and method for using replacement member for beverage container |
US11653779B2 (en) | 2020-09-10 | 2023-05-23 | Charlene Linhard | Drink holder |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |