BEVERAGE CONTAINER HOLDING APPARATUS

Abstract

A beverage container holding apparatus for holding beverage containers on a person's body includes a case with a lower portion and an upper portion which enclose a beverage container. A lanyard is attached to the case which includes a strap and an adjustment ring. The adjustment ring is slidable along end portions of the strap to adjust the respective sizes of a pair of loops formed by the strap.

Claims

1. A beverage container holding apparatus comprising: a case comprising: a lower portion having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall being coupled to and extending away from the bottom wall, the lower portion defining an interior space in the lower portion, the interior space having a size and a shape such that the lower portion is configured to hold a beverage container in the interior space, a top edge of the perimeter wall defining an opening to the interior space; an upper portion being coupled to the lower portion, the upper portion being movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the opening of the lower portion; and a closure being coupled to the lower portion and the upper portion and is operable to releasably secure the upper portion in the closed position; and a lanyard being coupled to the case, the lanyard comprising: a strap being mounted to the upper portion of the case, the strap having a pair of end portions, each end portion of the pair of end portions of the strap being coupled to the case, the strap having a middle portion being coupled to and extending between the pair of end portions; and an adjustment ring being slidably coupled to the pair of end portions of the strap, the adjustment ring receiving the pair of end portions through the adjustment ring, the adjustment ring forming a proximal loop and a distal loop with the strap with respect to the case, the adjustment ring being slidable alternately toward and away from the case to adjust sizes of the proximal loop and the distal loop.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the perimeter wall has a height from the bottom wall to the top edge of the perimeter wall such that the top edge is configured to be positioned between a top end and a bottom end of the beverage container when the lower portion holds the beverage container in a held position in the lower portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the top edge is configured to be positioned closer to the top end than to the bottom end of the beverage container when the lower portion holds the beverage container in the held position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an interior surface of the perimeter wall has a shape such that the interior surface is configured to be complementary in shape to an exterior surface of the beverage container.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the perimeter wall has a cylindrical shape.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower portion and the upper portion each comprise a thermally insulating material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper portion has a top wall and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being coupled to and extending away from the top wall, the upper portion and the lower portion being configured to completely enclose the beverage container when the upper portion is positioned in the closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the closure comprises a pair of mating members.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the closure comprises a zipper.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hinge being coupled to the lower portion and the upper portion, the upper portion being pivotable with respect to the lower portion via the hinge.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the hinge comprises a living hinge.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the hinge is integrally formed with the lower portion and the upper portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lid being mounted in the upper portion, the lid comprising a panel and a peripheral lip, the peripheral lip being coupled to and extending away from the panel wherein the peripheral lip is configured to form a seal around a rim of the beverage container.

14. A beverage container holding apparatus comprising: a case comprising: a lower portion having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall being coupled to and extending away from the bottom wall, the lower portion defining an interior space in the lower portion, the interior space having a size and a shape such that the lower portion is configured to hold a beverage container in the interior space, a top edge of the perimeter wall defining an opening to the interior space, the perimeter wall having a height from the bottom wall to the top edge of the perimeter wall such that the top edge is configured to be positioned between a top end and a bottom end of the beverage container when the lower portion holds the beverage container in a held position in the lower portion, the top edge being configured to be positioned closer to the top end than to the bottom end of the beverage container when the lower portion holds the beverage container in the held position, an interior surface of the perimeter wall having a shape such that the interior surface is configured to be complementary in shape to an exterior surface of the beverage container, the perimeter wall having a cylindrical shape, the lower portion comprising a thermally insulating material; an upper portion being coupled to the lower portion, the upper portion being movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the opening of the lower portion, the upper portion having a top wall and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being coupled to and extending away from the top wall, the upper portion and the lower portion being configured to completely enclose the beverage container when the upper portion is positioned in the closed position, the upper portion comprising the thermally insulating material; a hinge being coupled to the lower portion and the upper portion, the upper portion being pivotable with respect to the lower portion via the hinge, the hinge comprising a living hinge, the hinge being integrally formed with the lower portion and the upper portion; a closure being coupled to the lower portion and the upper portion and is operable to releasably secure the upper portion in the closed position, the closure comprising a pair of mating members, the closure comprising a zipper; and a lid being mounted in the upper portion, the lid comprising a panel and a peripheral lip, the peripheral lip being coupled to and extending away from the panel wherein the peripheral lip is configured to form a seal around a rim of the beverage container; and a lanyard being coupled to the case, the lanyard comprising: a strap being mounted to the upper portion of the case, the strap having a pair of end portions, each end portion of the pair of end portions of the strap being coupled to the case, the strap having a middle portion being coupled to and extending between the pair of end portions; and an adjustment ring being slidably coupled to the pair of end portions of the strap, the adjustment ring receiving the pair of end portions through the adjustment ring, the adjustment ring forming a proximal loop and a distal loop with the strap with respect to the case, the adjustment ring being slidable alternately toward and away from the case to adjust sizes of the proximal loop and the distal loop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0012] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a beverage container holding apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. A beverage container is depicted in exploded fashion with the apparatus.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross section in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Arrows 3-3 in FIG. 2.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a top rear side perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. An upper portion is depicted being pressed downwardly to secure a lid located inside the upper portion to a rim of a beverage container.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a front in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a cross-section in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Arrows 6-6 in FIG. 5.

[0019] FIG. 7 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure in which the apparatus is worn around a neck of a user.

[0020] FIG. 8 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure in which the apparatus is worn around a wrist of a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new beverage container holder embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0022] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the beverage container holding apparatus 10 generally comprises a case 12 with a lower portion 14 and an upper portion 28. The lower portion 14 has a bottom wall 16 and a perimeter wall 18, and the perimeter wall 18 is coupled to and extends away from the bottom wall 16. The lower portion 14 defines an interior space 20 in the lower portion 14 with a size and a shape such that the lower portion 14 is configured to hold a beverage container 64 in the interior space 20. A top edge 22 of the perimeter wall 18 defines an opening 24 to the interior space 20. The beverage container 64 in FIGS. 1 through 8 is a can with a pull tab similar to readily available soda-containing cans, beer-containing cans, and the like. But the beverage container holding apparatus 10 may be adapted to hold a bottle, a cup, a mug, or the like.

[0023] The perimeter wall 18 has a height from the bottom wall 16 to the top edge 22 of the perimeter wall 18 such that the top edge 22 is configured to be positioned between a top end 66 and a bottom end 68 of the beverage container 64 when the lower portion 14 holds the beverage container 64 in a held position 70 in the lower portion 14. The top edge 22 is configured to be positioned closer to the top end 66 than to the bottom end 68 of the beverage container 64 when the lower portion 14 holds the beverage container 64 in the held position 70. The top edge 22 is positioned between the top end 66 and the bottom end 68 of the beverage container 64 to facilitate drinking, pouring, or otherwise accessing a beverage 76 contained in the beverage container 64 while the beverage container 64 is held in the held position 70 without interference by the lower portion 14.

[0024] An interior surface 26 of the perimeter wall 18 has a shape such that the interior surface 26 is configured to be complementary in shape to an exterior surface 74 of the beverage container 64 to prevent shifting or rattling of the beverage container 64 within the lower portion 14. The perimeter wall 18 has a cylindrical shape but may have another shape if the beverage container 64 used with the device has an alternative shape. The lower portion 14 may comprise a flexible material so that the lower portion 14 conforms to various shapes of various beverage containers.

[0025] The upper portion 28 is coupled to the lower portion 14 and is movable between an open position 34 and a closed position 36 with respect to the opening 24 of the lower portion 14. The upper portion 28 has a top wall 30 and a peripheral wall 32, and the peripheral wall 32 is coupled to and extends away from the top wall 30. The upper portion 28 and the lower portion 14 are configured to completely enclose the beverage container 64 when the upper portion 28 is positioned in the closed position 36. The lower portion 14 and the upper portion 28 comprise a thermally insulating material which may be any suitable thermal insulator such as a polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, another polymer foam, a ceramic, or the like. In some embodiments, the thermally insulating material may be contained within an outer casing which comprises a flexible fabric, a polymer, a metal, or the like.

[0026] The case 12 further comprises a hinge 38 which is coupled to the lower portion 14 and the upper portion 28, and the upper portion 28 is pivotable with respect to the lower portion 14 via the hinge 38. The hinge 38 comprises a living hinge 38 and is integrally formed with the lower portion 14 and the upper portion 28. In embodiments wherein the lower portion 14 and the upper portion 28 comprise a flexible fabric outer casing which contains a thermally insulating material, the flexible fabric may also be used for the living hinge 38.

[0027] The case 12 additionally includes a closure 40 and a lid 44. The closure 40 is coupled to the lower portion 14 and the upper portion 28 and is operable to releasably secure the upper portion 28 in the closed position 36. The closure 40 comprises a pair of mating members 42. The closure 40 comprises a zipper but may include a latch, a snap fit connection, a threaded fastener, or the like. The lid 44 is mounted in the upper portion 28 and comprises a panel 46 and a peripheral lip 48. The peripheral lip 48 is coupled to and extends away from the panel 46 wherein the peripheral lip 48 is configured to form a seal around a rim 72 of the beverage container 64. The peripheral lip 48 is shaped to have a snap fit to the rim 72 of the beverage container 64 but may include a latch, a clamp, a resiliently deformable material, or the like to form the seal.

[0028] A lanyard 50 is coupled to the case 12 and comprises a strap 52 and an adjustment ring 58. The strap 52 is mounted to the upper portion 28 of the case 12. Each one of a pair of end portions 54 of the strap 52 is coupled to the case 12, and the strap 52 has a middle portion 56 which is coupled to and extends between the pair of end portions 54. The adjustment ring 58 is slidably coupled to the pair of end portions 54 of the strap 52. The adjustment ring 58 receives the pair of end portions 54 through the adjustment ring 58, forming a proximal loop 60 and a distal loop 62 with the strap 52 with respect to the case 12. The adjustment ring 58 is slidable alternately toward and away from the case 12 to adjust sizes of the proximal loop 60 and the distal loop 62.

[0029] In use, the beverage container 64 is placed in the held position 70 in the lower portion 14 of the case 12. The upper portion 28 of the case 12 is positioned in the closed position 36, and the lid 44 is positioned against the rim 72 of the beverage container 64 to form the seal with the rim 72. The closure 40 is operated to secure the upper portion 28 of the case 12 to the lower portion 14. The adjustment ring 58 is positioned relative to the strap 52 to adjust the sizes of the proximal and distal loops 60, 62. The proximal and distal loops 60, 62 may be used to hang the beverage container 64 on a structure or a body part of a user 78. For example, the distal loop 62 may be worn around a neck 80 of the user 78, and the adjustment ring 58 may be positioned to ensure the strap 52 remains on the user's 78 neck 80 without constricting the neck 80. The proximal loop 60 may be worn on a wrist 82 of the user 78 and may be tightened around the wrist 82 via the adjustment ring 58 to ensure the beverage container 64 is secured to the user's 78 wrist 82. The proximal loop 60 may be used to keep the beverage container 64 adjacent to the user's 78 wrist 82, thereby avoiding inadvertently swinging and shaking of the beverage container 64.

[0030] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0031] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.