WO1991006445A1

WO1991006445A1 - Beverage container holder

Info

Publication number: WO1991006445A1
Application number: PCT/GB1990/001629
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Maynerd; Simon King
Original assignee: David Maynerd; Simon King
Priority date: 1989-10-24
Filing date: 1990-10-23
Publication date: 1991-05-16
Also published as: GB2239163A; AU6634490A; GB9022986D0; GB8923917D0; GB2239163B

Abstract

A beverage container holder (10) is made of foamed plastics material of thickness more than one centimetre and in three parts. The outer part is a ring (12) having a circular aperture (14) which has corners (24) cut into it. The ring (12) has an adhesive coating or hooked nylon layer to enable it to be fixed to an appropriate surface. A circular can or rectangular carton of the right dimensions can be received within the confines of the ring (12). A smaller diameter drinks container may be received by an annulus (15), whose external shape conforms to the inside of the ring (12) and which has a circular hole (16). The third part (17) may be used to store the annulus when not in use. The several parts may be interchanged to provide different colour schemes.

Description

Beveraqe Container Holder

This invention relates to a beverage container holder and particularly to a holder for use in vehicles such as motor vehicles, boats, trains and airplanes.

It is common practice for people to want to drink refreshments while they are driving or being driven in motor vehicles. Of course this behaviour does not enhance road safety, but it does occur, and it is therefore desirable to provide means to at least reduce the risk of accident when taking refreshment whilst driving.

The accidents which might occur vary from the relatively unimportant spillage of the beverage on the lap of the driver or passenger to the obviously more serious consequences if driving ability of the driver is impaired at critical moments.

Refreshments commonly taken by people in cars include drinks from cans and drinks from cardboard cartons. In either case the sizes of the containers are generally fairly standard.

It is of course well known to provide a holder or retainer to hold cans or cups while they are not actually being used to drink from. But the presently available holders all seem to suffer from various disadvantages which it is an object of the present invention to overcome.

For example, one holder which is presently available comprises a structure having means to hold a can or cup and means for attachment of the holder to a vehicle body comprising a hook or similar means adapted to be fitted at the window ledge of the vehicle door and be retained between the window seal and the window glazing itself. Apart from interfering with the operation of the window and being obtrusive when not in use, the structure is necessarily rather complicated which makes it quite expensive. This is particularly the case if some collapsible mechanism is incorporated to enable the retainer to be folded away when not in use.

Another presently available holder comprises a plate constructed from rigid plastics material having a central dish which is sized to fit standard cans. The holder- can be affixed either to a flat horizontal surface, preferably by means of screws, or through the intermediary of a fixing bracket which is adapted to be fixed to a vertical surface, again by screws.

Apart from the damage to the vehicle which the use of screws obviously causes, this type of retainer suffers the further disadvantage that modern (or indeed most older) cars and other vehicles seldom have a conveniently located flat surface, horizontal or vertical, to which the retainer can be secured. Moreover the alternative fixing arrangements merely serves to increase the cost of the holder.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage container holder which does not suffer these disadvantages, or at least mitigates their effects.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a beverage container holder, primarily for use in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, said holder comprising a sheet of resiliently elastic foamed material of a thickness at least one centimetre when uncompressed and having on one side a coating of adhesive protected by a removable release covering and having an endless cut through the sheet, the part of the sheet encompassed by said cut being adapted to be removed from said sheet to leave an aperture in said sheet of a shape and size to fit a particular container of beverage having a base area between 10 and 50 square centimetres, so as to enable said particular container to be fitted in said aperture by deforming the holder and to be retained in said holder by the resiliently elastic gripping of said container by the holder around said aperture, the holder being adapted to be secured to the vehicle by means of the adhesive coating on said one side of the holder once said release covering is removed.

In accordance with a different aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making a beverage container holder comprising the steps of:-

a) providing a sheet of resiliently elastic foamed material of a thickness at least one centimetre with an adhesive coating on one side thereof; b) applying a removable release backing sheet to said adhesive coating; c) cutting the sheet with an endless cut; d) removing that part of the sheet encompassed by said cut to leave an aperture in said sheet of a shape and size to fit a particular container of beverage having a base area between 10 and 50 square centimetres; and, optionally: e) removing said backing sheet; and f) adhering the holder to a surface,

the holder being adapted to hold said particular container by said container being inserted in said aperture deforming the material of the holder around said aperture and being retained therein by the resiliently elastic gripping of said container by the holder around said aperture.

Preferably said endless cut is circular and of a diameter slightly less than that of currently popular soft drink cans, that is to say, those of about 7 centimetres diameter. Preferably said cut has four corners cut into it to define a rectangle of sides slightly less than currently popular soft drink cardboard cartons, that is to say, those of base sides of about 4 by 7 centimetres. Several advantages will be apparent with a holder according to the present invention. Firstly, it is of simple design, simple to fix, and simple to use. Secondly, the surface to which it is secured in a vehicle or elsewhere need be neither absolutely flat nor horizontal. Frequently vehicles have sloping and/or curved surfaces on their dashboards and facias and where it would be most convenient to locate a beverage container holder. Because it is essentially the surface itself which supports the container and the holder merely retains the container in position, it is not necessary for the surface to be flat, or indeed to be absolutely horizontal: primarily this is because most cans and cartons which contain drink have an opening located in the top surface of the container near one edge. Consequently, if the holder is on a slight incline it is usually possible to arrange for the opening to be uppermost so that even when the container is full, the liquid contained therein will not overflow the opening.

Other advantages arise with different embodiments of the invention, as will appear from the following description.

Preferably the part encompassed by said endless cut contains a further endless cut. This cut is preferably circular of a diameter slightly less than other popular but smaller soft drink cans, that is to say, those of base diameter of about 5 centimetres. The portion so formed between said endless cuts defines a further beverage container holder which can be employed in its own right separately from the main holder. Alternatively, it is also envisaged that the release coating may not be removed from said further holder. Instead the further holder may be retained within the confines of the main holder when said smaller cans are to be held. This further holder thus functions as an adapter, enabling cans of different diameters to be held within the main holder.

The part of the sheet encompassed by the further cut, that is to say the inner part within the adapter ring, may be employed as a marketing tool in the form of a badge having a logo or advertising material or trade mark material applied to the surface of the sheet remote from said adhesive and which may be adhered where the purchaser pleases. Furthermore, it may be used to locate and store the adapter ring while larger cans or cartons are being held in the beverage container holder.

Each holder, when sold, may be constructed from interchanged parts of two differently coloured but otherwise identical holders, so that each holder may have an outer part of one colour, and an inner part of another colour.

In another aspect, the invention also provides a beverage container holder, primarily for use in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, said holder comprising a sheet of resiliently elastic foamed material of a thickness at least one centimetre when uncompressed and having on one side a layer of resilient hook fastener material, such as hooked nylon or the like, and having an endless cut through the sheet, the part of the sheet encompassed by said cut being adapted to be removed from said sheet to leave an aperture in said sheet of a shape and size to fit a particular container of beverage having a base area between 10 and 50 square centimetres, so as to enable said particular container to be fitted in said aperture by deforming the holder and to be retained in said holder by the resiliently elastic gripping of said container by the holder around said aperture, the holder being adapted to be secured to the vehicle by means of said resilient hook fastener material. The holder according to this aspect may be provided with a loop fastener sheet adapeted to cooperate in a touch and close manner with said resilient hook fastener material, said loop fastener sheet being provided with adhesive for attachment to a surface with the loop fastener exposed, in a vehicle or elsewhere. In any event, however, the resilient hook fastener material can be employed to fasten the holder to any fabric surface having a suitable loose pile, such as for example vehicle carpeting, and in some cases vehicle seats. It is quite feasible moreover, that said adhesive coating or resilient hook fastener material may be dispensed with entirely should vehicle manufacturers specially adapt their vehicles to accept holders according to the present invention. Thus in yet another aspect, the present invention provides a motor vehicle having passenger compartment including an indentation shaped to receive and retain a complementary beverage container holder comprising a sheet of resiliently elastic foamed material of a thickness at least one centimetre when uncompressed and having an endless cut through the sheet, the part of the sheet encompassed by said cut being adapted to be removed from said sheet to leave an aperture in said sheet of a shape and size to fit a particular container of beverage having a base area between 10 and 50 square centimetres, so as to enable said particular container to be fitted n said aperture by deforming the holder and to be retained in said holder by the resiliently elastic gripping of said container by the holder around said aperture.

Said indentation may be adapted to retain said holder in place by means of an overhanging lip around its periphery. The holder might even be integral with the material of the coachwork in which it is mounted.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the external outline of the holder according to the present invention is a matter of individual choice, and while circular is the most convenient and logical shape, it is equally feasible to choose some other shape such as star, square or shield shaped etc, as may be desired.

The invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig la is a plan view of a holder according to the present invention, prior to removal of cut parts;

Fig lb is a side view of the holder of Fig la; Fig lc is a section along the line A-A of Fig 1;

Fig 2 is an exploded perspective view of the holder of Fig 1;

Fig 3 is a perspective view of the holder of Fig 1, applied to a surface and holding a standard beverage can;

Fig 4 is a perspective view of a further holder, constructed from the holder of Fig 1, and applied to a surface and ^" holding a smaller can;

Fig 5 is a perspective view of the holder of Fig 1, applied to a surface and holding a standard rectangular beverage carton;

Fig 6 is an underneath perspective view of a different embodiment of a holder according to the invention;

Fig 7 is a section through another embodiment; and

Fig 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

In Figs 1 to 5 of the drawings, and as particularly shown in Figs 1 to 2, a beverage container holder 10 according to the present invention comprises a circular element 12 cut from a sheet of resiliently elastic foamed plastics material. Two vertical endless cuts 14,16 are made in the element 12. One surface 20 of the sheet is coated with a layer of adhesive material, such adhesive preferably being of the type which does not harden but remains sticky. A layer of removable release paper 22 is then applied to the coating to protect it until the adhesive is required for use.

The first endless cut 14 is primarily circular of a diameter about 6.5 cm. However, the circle is modified by the inclusion of corners 24 defining a rectangle of sides about 6.5 by 4 cm. The second endless cut 16 is circular of a diameter about 5.5 cm. The cuts 14 and 16 define the internal shape of the element 12 and two further elements 15,17.

When the holder 10 is to be used, the two elements 15,17 are pressed out from the element 12. The backing 22 is removed from the foam element 12 and the element 12 is affixed, at a desired location in a vehicle or elsewhere, to a suitable, preferably non- porous, surface. The surface need not be absolutely flat because the flexibility of the foam material of the element will allow it to flex to conform with the shape of the surface to which it is applied.

With reference now to Fig 3, the element 12 when fixed to a surface 30 constitutes the main beverage container holder 10. A can 32 of beverage can be introduced within the confines of the element 12 defined by the cut 14. The diameter of the cut 14 is arranged to be slightly less than the diameter of the average soft drinks can, which is fairly standard at about 6 cm, so that, to position the can in the element 12, it is necessary to prise the foam element open. This deforms the foam slightly so that the elasticity of the element subsequently grips the can 32 and prevents it from being easily dislodged. It should be pointed out that the weight of the can 32 is taken mainly by the surface 30 to which the foam is adhered. The element 12 merely holds the can in position. However, the can is easily removable when desired by tilting it, so that it is no longer held squarely by the foam, enabling it to be lifted out smoothly without sudden sharp movement.

Indeed it is something of a feature of the present invention that, when in use in a car or other vehicle, a person drinking from a beverage container need only know the approximate whereabouts of the holder 10. When the container approaches the holder the person can feel its texture, and then press the container obliquely into engagement with the holder without having to look at it while doing so. This is particularly useful for the driver of a motor vehicle who can therefore maintain his attention on the road ahead.

Additionally, the holder can be provided with luminous markings delineating the aperture for the container, to further facilitate replacement of a container in the holder at night.

With reference to Fig 4 the second element 15, defined by the cuts 14,16, constitutes in its own right a further beverage container holder 10'. This may likewise be adhered to a surface and may similarly hold a can 32' in much the same way as described with reference to the element 12. The can 32' is a standard sized can of smaller diameter than the can 32, being of about 5.5 cm in diameter. However, a further option exists with the element 15. Its release backing need not be removed, and instead it may be replaced in the element 12 (shown in Fig 4 in dashed outline) as an adapter whenever required. In this manner the holder 10 may be adapted to suit differently sized cans.

With further reference to Fig 5, the holder 10 may also be employed to hold rectangular containers 32" of the type frequently employed to hold soft non-carbonated beverages. Such containers 32" are usually constructed as leak-proof cardboard cartons, and have base dimensions of about 4 by 6.5 cm.

Although it is preferable to adhere the container holder to a suitable surface, particularly in a vehicle where the motion of the vehicle is likely to tip the holder over, it is not essential in all situations that the holder 10 be fixed to a surface. Indeed, even in office or home applications, the holder forms a useful stabilising element for a drinks can. It can be fitted to the base of the can and carried with it while drink is being taken from the can. When placed back upon a table, the holder stabilises the can and prevents it from easily being dislodged and knocked over.

Turning to Fig 2, the holder 10 in accordance with the present invention thus comprises three elements, 12, 15 and 17. The innermost element 17 may be employed to carry, on its upper surface 40, marketing slogans or logos or some other aesthetic design. With its own layer 22 of adhesive, the element 17 can form a badge or brooch which might be an attractive sales feature. In particular, the inner element 17 can be stuck in an unobtrusive, but in reach, position in the vehicle, and used to store the adapter ring 15 when it is not being used.

With reference to Fig 6, the adhesive coating 20 on a holder 10" has been replaced by a layer 50 of resilient hook fastener material such as that sold under the trade mark Velcro. This is adhered to, or integrally formed on, the base of the element 12". Although the element 15" is not shown having hook fasteners, it may equally be provided with the same. A corresponding patch of complementary loop fastener (not shown) is also provided, having its own layer of adhesive for fixing to a particular surface, providing a touch and close anchor for the hook material. However, the properties of the resilient hook fastener material allow the holder 10" to be attached to a variety of fabric surfaces, such as carpet or even some vehicle seats.

With reference to Fig 7, all forms of adhesive are dispensed with in this embodiment of the invention, wherein part 59 of a vehicle or such like is provided with a shaped indentation 60 adapted to receive and locate a holder 10'". The indentation 60 is provided with an overhanging lip 62 adapted to hold the holder 10'" in place after it has been pressed into the indentation 60.

Finally, Fig 8 shows a holder 10"" having an external element 12"" which is shaped as a shield. Any convenient shape for the element 12 is feasible, as marketing requirements demand. Moreover, the three parts of the holder 10"" have been taken from different holders so that each part 12"",15,17 is a different colour according to some desired colour scheme, for example the colours of a logo or trade mark, or colours keyed to the vehicle interior. While the invention has been described with reference to specific elements and combinations of elements, it is envisaged that each element may be combined with any other or any combination of other elements. It is not intended to limit the invention to the particular combinations of elements suggested. Furthermore, the foregoing description is not intended to suggest that any element mentioned is indispensable to the invention, or that alternatives may not be employed. What is defined as the invention should not be construed as limiting the extent of the disclosure of this specification.

Claims

w yi 0u6tx4w4s5 PCT/GB90/01629-12-CLAIMS

1. A beverage container holder comprising a sheet of resiliently elastic foamed material of a thickness at least one centimetre when uncompressed and having on one side a coating of adhesive protected by a removable release covering and having an endless cut through the sheet, the part of the sheet encompassed by said cut being adapted to be removed from said sheet to leave an aperture in said sheet of a shape and size to fit a particular container of beverage having a base area between 10 and 50 square centimetres, so as to enable said particular container to be fitted in said aperture by deforming the holder and to be retained in said holder by the resiliently elastic gripping of said container by the holder around said aperture, the holder being adapted to be secured to a support by means of the adhesive coating on said one side of the holder once said release covering is removed.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1 in which said endless cut is circular and has a diameter of about 7 centimetres.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which said cut has four corners cut into it to define a rectangle having sides of about 4 by 7 centimetres.

4. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim in which the part encompassed by said endless cut contains a further endless cut.

5. A holder as claimed in claim 4 in which the portion between said endless cut and said further endless cut defines a further beverage container holder.

6. A holder as claimed in claim 4 or 5 in which said further endless cut is circular and has a diameter of about 5 centimetres.

7. A holder as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6 having parts of different colours, being constructed from interchanged parts of two differently coloured said holders which were otherwise identical.

8. A beverage container holder comprising a sheet of resiliently elastic foamed material of a thickness at least one centimetre when uncompressed and having on one side a layer of resilient hook fastener material and having an endless cut through the sheet, the part of the sheet encompassed by said cut being adapted to be removed from said sheet to leave an aperture in said sheet of a shape and size to fit a particular container of beverage having a base area between 10 and 50 square centimetres, so as to enable said particular container to be fitted in said aperture by deforming the holder and to be retained in said holder by the resiliently elastic gripping of said container by the holder around said aperture, the holder being adapted to be secured to a surface by means of said resilient hook fastener material.

9. A holder as claimed in claim 9, including a loop fastener sheet adapted to cooperate in a touch and close manner with said resilient hook fastener material, said loop fastener sheet being provided with adhesive for attachment to a surface with the loop fastener exposed.

10. A motor vehicle having a passenger compartment including an indentation receiving and retaining a complementary beverage container holder comprising a sheet of resiliently elastic foamed material of a thickness at least one centimetre when uncompressed and having an endless cut through the sheet, the part of the sheet encompassed by said cut being adapted to be removed from said sheet to leave an aperture in said sheet of a shape and size to fit a particular container of beverage having a base area between 10 and 50 square centimetres, so as to enable said particular container to be fitted in said aperture by deforming the holder and to be retained in said holder by the resiliently elastic gripping of said container by the holder around said aperture.

11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10 in which said indentation is adapted to retain said holder by means of an overhanging lip around its periphery.

12. A method of making a beverage container holder comprising the steps of:

a) providing a sheet of resiliently elastic foamed material of a thickness at least one centimetre with an adhesive coating on one side thereof;

b) applying a removable release backing sheet to said adhesive coating;

c) cutting the sheet with an endless cut; and

d) removing that part of the sheet encompassed by said cut to leave an aperture in said sheet of a shape and size to fit a particular container of beverage having a base area between 10 and 50 square centimetres;

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 comprising the further steps of:

e) removing said backing sheet; and

f) adhering the holder to a surface.