ADJUSTABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER HOLDER

Abstract

The present invention provides an adjustable beverage container holder. The beverage container holder may include a housing and a plurality of deformable bands. The housing may include a bottom end, a top end opposite the bottom end having a container receiving opening, and a wall extending between the top and bottom ends. The wall may include an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion. The outer wall portion and inner wall portion may be rotatable relative to one another. The plurality of deformable bands may extend between corresponding sets of upper band mounts and lower band mounts. The lower band mounts may be disposed on a lower portion of the outer wall portion and the upper band mounts may be disposed on an upper portion of the inner wall portion. Rotation of the outer wall portion relative to the inner wall portion may cause the plurality of deformable bands to transition from a first position wherein the plurality of deformable bands form a beverage receiving area corresponding to a beverage container of a first size, and a second position wherein the plurality of deformable bands form a beverage receiving area corresponding to a beverage container of a second size.

Claims

1. An adjustable beverage container holder, comprising: a housing, comprising a bottom end, a top end opposite the bottom end comprising a container receiving opening, and a wall extending between the top and bottom ends comprising an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion, wherein the outer wall portion and inner wall portion are rotatable relative to one another; a plurality of deformable bands extending between corresponding sets of upper and lower band mounts, wherein the lower band mounts are disposed on a lower portion of the outer wall portion, and the upper band mounts are disposed on an upper portion of the inner wall portion; wherein rotation of the outer wall portion relative to the inner wall portion causes the plurality of deformable bands to transition from a first position wherein the plurality of deformable bands form a beverage receiving area corresponding to a beverage container of a first size, and a second position wherein the plurality of deformable bands form a beverage receiving area corresponding to a beverage container of a second size.

2. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially cylindrical.

3. The beverage container holder of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for selectively engaging the inner wall portion and outer wall portion in two or more positions.

4. The beverage container holder of claim 3 wherein the two or more positions are discrete, predetermined positions.

5. The beverage container holder of claim 4, further comprising a release mechanism for disengaging the locking mechanism.

6. The beverage container holder of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises insulating material for minimizing heat transfer between a beverage container disposed therein and the ambient environment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] So that the manner in which the features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, are attained and can be understood in more detail, more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only one preferred embodiment of the invention and is therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope as the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

[0009] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a perspective view of an adjustable beverage container holder in a first position;

[0010] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a perspective view of an adjustable beverage container holder in a rotated and extended position;

[0011] FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exploded view of the adjustable beverage container holder shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

[0012] FIGS. 4A-4C are illustrations of top views of the adjustable beverage container holder shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and illustrate rotation of the adjustable beverage container holder and corresponding effect on the deformable bands;

[0013] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a top view of the adjustable beverage container holder shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

[0014] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are illustrations of a front view and back view, respectively, of the adjustable beverage container holder shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

[0015] FIG. 8 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of the adjustable beverage container holder shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 and taken along a line AA of FIG. 5;

[0016] FIG. 9 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of the adjustable beverage container holder shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 and taken along a line BB of FIG. 5;

[0017] FIG. 10 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of the adjustable beverage container holder shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 and taken along a line CC of FIG. 6;

[0018] FIG. 11 is an illustration of perspective views of an outer wall portion of the adjustable beverage container holder shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

[0019] FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are illustrations of perspective views of an inner wall portion of the adjustable beverage container holder shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

[0020] FIGS. 14A and 14B are an illustration of perspective views of a top cap ring of the adjustable beverage container holder shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

[0021] FIGS. 15A and 15B are an illustration of perspective views of a bottom cap of the adjustable beverage container holder shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Several embodiments will be described more fully in reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Thicknesses and dimensions of some components may be exaggerated for clarity.

[0023] The terminology used herein is for the purposed of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms a, and, and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0024] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being attached, coupled or connected to another element, it can be directly attached, coupled or connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being directly attached, directly coupled or directly connected to another element, there are no intervening elements present.

[0025] All patents, patent applications and publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of a conflict in terminology, the present specification is controlling.

[0026] It is noted that any one or more aspects or features described with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated in a different embodiment although not specifically described relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination. Applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to be able to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. These and other objects and/or aspects of the present invention are explained in detail in the specification set forth below.

[0027] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, an adjustable beverage container holder 100 is shown in FIGS. 1-3. The adjustable beverage container holder 100 may include a housing 103 having a bottom end 104, a top end 105, and a wall 106 extending between the bottom end 104 and the top end 105. The top end 105 may include a container receiving opening 108. The wall 106 may include an inner wall portion 110 and an outer wall portion 130. The inner wall portion 110 may be nested in or otherwise disposed adjacent to the outer wall portion 130. In some embodiments, the adjustable beverage container holder may include a top cap ring 150 and a bottom cap ring 170. In an embodiment in which there is an optional release mechanism, an optional bottom mount window 122 having a release bottom 128 may be positioned on the wall 106.

[0028] A plurality of deformable bands 185 may extend between the bottom end 104 and the top end 105. The deformable bands 185 may be any material such as metal, cellulosic or polymeric (e.g., elastic material such as a rubber band) that is flexible and deforms (e.g., is elastic) so as to receive and hold a beverage container when inserted in the housing.

[0029] The housing 103 may be cylindrical although the selection of other shapes will be within the skill of one in the art. In one preferred embodiment, the housing may comprise insulating material for minimizing heat transfer between a beverage in a beverage container disposed or inserted into the housing 103 and the ambient environment.

[0030] In some embodiments, the bands 185 may be attached to the outer wall portion 130 at an upper portion of the housing, and attached to the inner wall portion 110 at a lower portion of the house. As the outer portion 130 and the inner portion 110 are rotated relative to one another, the path of each band 185 may extend substantially along a perimeter of the inside of the housing in a first position, to extending across more interior portions of the housing as rotated, as will be explained in greater detail below.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, FIG. 4A shows the bands 185 in an initial position with an opening for insertion of a beverage can. In this first exemplary rotational position illustrated in FIG. 4A, the bands 185 extend partially across the interior and collectively form an opening smaller than container receiving opening 108. Further rotation, however, as depicted in FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, results in ever smaller openings formed by the bands 185. In some embodiments, on rotation of the top cap ring 150 of the adjustable beverage container holder 100, in a counterclockwise direction, FIG. 4B shows the bands having been deformed (e.g., tightened) and the opening reduced. As shows in FIG. 4C, by continued rotation of the top cap ring 150, the bands may be deformed even further depending on the diameter of the beverage can. It is recognized that the top can ring 150 and the bottom can ring 170 may be rotated in opposite directions in contrast to only moving the top can ring 150. Practically, this rotation enables a user to size the beverage container holder 100 as desired to fit a wide range of beverage containers.

[0032] Additional features of the invention may be seen in top, front and back views of FIGS. 5-7 respectively and the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 8-10. The adjustable beverage container holder 100 includes an outer wall portion 110 and an inner wall portion 130 which twists relative to each other, a plurality of deformable bands 185, a top cap ring 150 and a bottom cap ring 170. The bottom cap ring may include a domed standoff 174. Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the adjustable beverage container holder 100 includes the top cap ring 150, the outer wall portion 110, the inner wall portion 130 and the bottom cap 170. The inner wall portion 130 may include deformable inner band mounts 144 for the deformable band which connect to the outer band mounts 120 of the outer wall portion 110. The inner wall portion 130 may include spiral track riders 136 which receive spiral tracks 114 of the outer wall portion. This track arrangement allows the inner wall portion 130 to rotate relative to the outer wall portion 110. Additionally the spiral track riders 136 and spiral tracks 114 may facilitate the ability to allow the adjustable beverage container holder 100 to become taller and to accommodate tall and skinny beverage containers such as are common to alcoholic seltzers. The outer wall portion 110 and the inner wall portion 130 may be locked relative to each other via the release mount button 128. The release mount button 128 facilitates maintaining the tension of the deformable bands 185 and the grip around the beverage containers to be maintained in two or more positions. The two or more positions may be predetermined positions. When the button 128 is engaged, tension may be released and the aperture created by the deformable bands may be opened thereby allowing a beverage container to be released and discarded if empty. In one embodiment, the mount button 128 may be motorized.

[0033] The track arrangement is further illustrated in FIGS. 11-13. FIG. 11 is a cutaway of the outer wall portion 110 illustrating the track arrangement. The outer wall portion 110 may include an outer cylinder 112 and a lower ring structure 116. The spiral tracks 114 are shaped to be received in the spiral track riders 136 of the inner wall portion 130 shown in FIG. 12. Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the inner wall portion 130 may include an inner cylinder 132, slots 134, an upper rim plate 138, an upper ring structure 140 grooves 142 and the deformable band mounts 144.

[0034] Referring FIGS. 14A, 14B, 15A, and 15B, aspects of the top cap ring 150 and the bottom cap ring 170 are shown. The top cap ring 152 may include an upper ring plate 152, an opening 154, a rim 156, support members 158 and a snap feature 160 for attachment to the adjustable beverage container holder. The bottom cap ring 170 may include a lower plate 172, a domed standoff 174, a rim 176, support members 178 and a snap feature 180 for attachment to the adjustable beverage container holder. The bottom cap ring 170 may include customization to facilitate grip of the bottom cap ring 170 to a surface.

[0035] While the invention has been shown or described in only some of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of the invention.