US20160022072A1

US20160022072A1 - Floating Beverage Holder

Info

Publication number: US20160022072A1
Application number: US14/337,399
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen McDowell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-07-22
Filing date: 2014-07-22
Publication date: 2016-01-28

Abstract

A non-inflatable floating beverage holder preferably consists of a ring of foam flotation material, with a mesh pouch affixed around its inner circumference and suspended downward. The beverage container is inserted downward through the ring and secured in the mesh pouch.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to beverage holders and in particular to a floating beverage holder. When in a swimming pool, recreational swimmers may wish to keep a cold beverage close at hand. Floating beverage holders exist but they are inflatable, and prone to leaking and sinking to the bottom of the pool. A floating beverage holder that is not inflatable, and relies on a foam construction such as polystyrene for flotation, would resolve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a non-inflatable floating beverage holder. The floating beverage holder preferably consists of a ring of foam flotation material, with a mesh pouch affixed around its inner circumference and suspended downward. The beverage container is inserted downward through the ring and secured in the mesh pouch.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment displaying the foam flotation ring 10, the mesh pouch 11, and the central opening 12.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the first exemplary embodiment displaying the foam flotation ring 10 and the central opening 12.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment holding a full beverage bottle, displaying the foam flotation ring 10, the mesh pouch 11, the central opening 12, the beverage bottle 30, and the water level 31.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the second exemplary embodiment holding a partially consumed beverage can, displaying the foam flotation ring 10, the mesh pouch 11, the central opening 12, the beverage can 40, and the water level 31.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a non-inflatable floating beverage holder. The floating beverage holder would consist of a foam flotation ring 10, with a mesh pouch 11 affixed around the inner circumference of a central opening 12 in the floatation ring 10, and suspended downward. The beverage container is inserted downward through the central opening 12 foam flotation ring 10 and secured in the mesh pouch 11. Preferably, the mesh pouch 11 is reversible such that the apparatus may be inverted without changing its function. The foam floatation ring 10 preferably maintains its upper surface above the water level 31 of a swimming pool or other body of water forming the surroundings (it is assumed that the surroundings are within the range of ordinary atmospheric pressures on Earth at inhabited elevations) such that pool water does not get into the open beverage container.
The mesh pouch 11 would preferably be capable of limited stretching to accommodate beverage containers of various sizes and weights. Alternatively, different sizes of the mesh pouch 11 may be provided to accommodate a beverage bottle 30 with a longer mesh pouch 11, as shown in the first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, or to accommodate a beverage can 40 with a shorter mesh pouch 11 as shown in the second exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4. Generically, the Applicant refers to a beverage container in place of the beverage bottle 30, the beverage can 40, a cup, a mug, a glass, or any other beverage container. Due to frequent and extended exposure to moisture, the floating beverage holder would preferably be manufactured from material that is water durable and resists growth of mold, fungus, and other microorganisms (generically, “microbial growth) from extended water exposure, and the mesh pouch 11 would also preferably be treated with a solution that retards mold and fungal growth. The floating beverage holder does not provide an insulation feature, and so it must accommodate beverage containers that are in insulating covers. Accordingly, the inner diameter of the foam flotation ring 10 would preferably be four inches, and the mesh pouch 11 would suspend downward four inches.
The foam flotation ring 10 would preferably be manufactured from a light, flexible, mold and fungus-resistant and highly buoyant material such as polystyrene. The mesh pouch 11 would preferably be manufactured from a durable, flexible, fungus-resistant fibrous material such as nylon. The foam floatation ring 10 is preferably buoyant enough to counterbalance the weight of drinks or other article s placed inside of it.
Component sizes and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components, or different materials, could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A floating beverage holder comprising a floatation ring; said floatation ring having a central opening; a mesh pouch; said mesh pouch being affixed about the inner circumference of said central opening; said floatation ring being non-inflatable; said floatation ring being sufficiently buoyant to float above the water level of its surroundings; and said central opening and said mesh pouch being configured to accept a beverage container.

2. The floating beverage holder of claim 1 wherein said mesh pouch is stretchable such that a range of sizes and weights of said beverage container may be accommodate.

3. The floating beverage holder of claim 1 wherein said mesh pouch is elongated such that said beverage container may be accommodated where said beverage container is a beverage bottle.

4. The floating beverage holder of claim 1 wherein said mesh pouch is of reduced length such that said beverage container may be accommodated where said beverage container is a beverage can.

5. The floating beverage holder of claim 1 wherein said mesh pouch is affixed so as to be reversible such that said floatation ring may be inverted with its function unaffected.

6. The floating beverage holder of claim 2 wherein said mesh pouch is affixed so as to be reversible such that said floatation ring may be inverted with its function unaffected.

7. The floating beverage holder of claim 3 wherein said mesh pouch is affixed so as to be reversible such that said floatation ring may be inverted with its function unaffected.

8. The floating beverage holder of claim 4 wherein said mesh pouch is affixed so as to be reversible such that said floatation ring may be inverted with its function unaffected.

9. The floating beverage holder of claim 1 wherein said floatation ring is resistant to microbial growth.

10. The floating beverage holder of claim 2 wherein said floatation ring is resistant to microbial growth.

11. The floating beverage holder of claim 3 wherein said floatation ring is resistant to microbial growth.

12. The floating beverage holder of claim 4 wherein said floatation ring is resistant to microbial growth.

13. The floating beverage holder of claim 5 wherein said floatation ring is resistant to microbial growth.

14. The floating beverage holder of claim 6 wherein said floatation ring is resistant to microbial growth.

15. The floating beverage holder of claim 7 wherein said floatation ring is resistant to microbial growth.

16. The floating beverage holder of claim 8 wherein said floatation ring is resistant to microbial growth.