DRINK HOLDER FOR ACTIVE USERS

Abstract

An injection molded drink holder with an axial tee extending from a circular base of the injection mold is disclosed herein. The circular base of the injection molded drink holder is flat and includes an axial tee that extends from the center of the circular base. In this regard, the axial tee may pierce the surface of natural ground, artificial ground, and/or any other type of terrain. To this end, the axial tee can be inserted into the natural ground, artificial ground, and/or any other type of terrain until the circular base of the drink holder is flat against the surface of the ground. The insertion of the axial tee into the ground to the point of the circular base secures the drink holder in place at the location in the ground where the axial tee was inserted.

Claims

1. A drink holder comprising: a circular base; a radial wall extending upwardly from the circular base; an opening at an end of the radial wall opposite of the circular base; and an axial tee extending downwardly from the circular base, the axial tee comprising: an axial lip extending downwardly from the circular base; an axial cone extending downwardly from the axial lip; and a tee shaft extending downwardly from the axial cone.

2. The drink holder of claim 1, wherein the circular base is between 0.18 and 0.22 inches thick.

3. The drink holder of claim 1, wherein the radial wall is between 0.06 and 0.10 inches thick.

4. The drink holder of claim 1, wherein the radial wall is between 4.03 and 4.07 inches tall.

5. The drink holder of claim 1, wherein the opening is between 2.68 and 2.89 inches wide.

6. The drink holder of claim 1, wherein the axial cone is between 0.48 and 0.52 inches wide.

7. The drink holder of claim 1, wherein the axial tee is between 1.48 and 1.52 inches tall.

8. The injection molded drink holder of claim 1, wherein the axial tee inserts into a ground surface.

9. The drink holder of claim 8, wherein the ground surface comprises natural ground, artificial ground, and all terrain types.

10. The drink holder of claim 1, wherein the drink holder is an injection molded drink holder.

11. The drink holder of claim 1, wherein the drink holder comprises a unitary body, the unitary body comprising the circular base, the radial wall, and the axial tee.

12. The drink holder of claim 11, wherein the unitary body comprises of a polymer.

13. The drink holder of claim 11, wherein the unitary body comprises of silicon.

14. The drink holder of claim 11, wherein the unitary body comprises of a metal alloy.

15. The drink holder of claim 11, wherein the unitary body comprises of plastic.

16. An injection molded drink holder comprising: a circular base; a radial wall extending upwardly from the circular base; an opening at an end of the radial wall opposite of the circular base; and an axial tee extending downwardly from the circular base, the axial tee comprising: an axial lip extending downwardly from the circular base; an axial cone extending downwardly from the axial lip; and a tee shaft extending downwardly from the axial cone.

17. The injection molded drink holder of claim 16, wherein the axial tee inserts into a ground surface.

18. The injection molded drink holder of claim 17, wherein the ground surface comprises natural ground, artificial ground, and all terrain types.

19. The injection molded drink holder of claim 16, wherein the injection molded drink holder comprises a unitary body, the unitary body comprising the circular base, the radial wall, and the axial tee.

20. The injection molded drink holder of claim 19, wherein the unitary body is comprised of a polymer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

[0006] FIG. 1A is an illustration of a bottom-side, front-side view of a drink holder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0007] FIG. 1B is an illustration of a top-side, front-side view of the drink holder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a cross-sectional, front-side view of the drink holder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0009] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a top-side view of the drink holder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different designs and/or dimensions similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies.

[0011] By way of background, conventional drink holders designed for active users who partake in outdoor endurance activities (e.g., hiking, camping, golfing, gardening, fishing, birdwatching, beach activities, etc.) are typically designed to withstand the various rugged environments encountered in outdoor settings. For example, these drink holders are often lightweight, durable, and portable and are often made from pieces constructed out of rigid materials (e.g., plastic, metal, etc.) to withstand rough handling and outdoor conditions. Conventional outdoor drink holders usually include features to attach to various surfaces (e.g., secure clamp, grip, etc.) to stabilize drinks held within the drink holders while users participate in a desired outdoor activity. In some examples, a camper may secure a drink holder to a camping chair, a golfer may secure a drink holder to a golf cart, and a beach goer may secure a drink holder to a beach umbrella. By requiring conventional drink holders to be secured to a stationary object or surface to maintain an upright position, these drink holders are often bulky due to the need of a gripping/clamping mechanism, lack versatility based on the necessity of an available surface to attach to, and may be an inconvenient method of holding a drink when a user must traverse stretches of terrain (e.g., a golf course, coastline of a beach, trails in a forest, etc.) to fully immerse themselves in the outdoor activity, the drink getting further away as the user traverses the terrain. For example, a user may decide to not carry a drink in a drink holder, because there would not be a suitable location to which the drink holder could be attached. As such, there is a need for a drink holder design that is more versatile, portable, and convenient (e.g., as compared to conventional outdoor drink holders) for active users who partake in outdoor activities. Notably, active users (e.g., such as campers, golfers, beach goers, etc.) commonly touch the terrain as part of their activities.

[0012] In order to achieve a more versatile, portable, and convenient design, the present invention discloses an injection molded drink holder with an axial tee extending from a circular base of the injection mold. In accordance with embodiments described herein, the circular base of the (i.e., injection molded) drink holder is flat and includes an axial tee that extends from the center of the circular base. In this regard, the axial tee may pierce the surface of natural ground, artificial ground, and/or any other type of terrain (hereinafter, these types of surfaces will be referred to collectively as ground). To this end, the axial tee can be inserted into the ground until the ground abuts against the circular base. In some embodiments, the insertion of the axial tee into the ground to the point of the circular base secures the drink holder in place at the location in the ground where the axial tee was inserted.

[0013] While some drink holders include a long stake (e.g., greater than a foot), the length of the axial tee disclosed herein in much shorter (e.g., 1.48 and 1.52 inches). For example, some golfing drink holders include a stake that may be 2-3 feet long, so that the drinks placed in such holders are near hip level. The shortfall with this longer stake design is that these drink holders are inconvenient to carry, especially when engaging in an outdoor activity (e.g., golfers holding both a golf club and a drink holder with a stake, beach goers dragging the drink holder with a stake across a beach, campers trudging along a trail with an elongated drink holder, etc.). In contrast to drink holders with a stake, the drink holder of the present invention discloses a short tee (e.g., as compared to a long stake). The short tee makes carrying the drink holder more versatile, portable, and convenient. For example, due to the compact size of the drink holder, carrying the drink holder is like carrying any other drink (e.g., a canned beverage) without having to drag or struggle to transport the drink holder. In a specific example, golf carts usually contain cup holders for receiving beverages, and these cup holders have an axial opening in the center and at the bottom of the cup holder to allow for rain to escape without pooling in the cup holder. In this example, while the drink holder with the long stake cannot fit into a golf cart cup holder, the drink holder of the present disclosure is capable of fitting into a golf cart cup holder, because the axial tee is designed such that it can be inserted into the axial opening without extending too far through the axial opening.

[0014] Various embodiments of a drink holder 130 are depicted in FIGS. 1A-2 herein. Specifically, FIG. 1A depicts a bottom-side 100, front-side view of a drink holder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. By way of non-limiting example, the Drinktee is a drink holder that can be referenced and implemented in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 1B depicts a top-side 150, front-side view of the drink holder 130 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] With reference to both FIGS. 1A and 1B, the drink holder 130 can include an outer radial wall 106 and an inner radial wall 118. The radial (e.g., including both the outer radial wall 106 and the inner radial wall 118) extend upwardly from a circular base 102. In various embodiments, the drink holder can include an axial tee 132, which can include several portions. For example, in the depicted embodiment, the axial tee 132 can include an axial lip 108, an axial cone 110, a tee shaft 112, a tee cone 114, and a tee tip 116. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1A, the axial tee 132 extends downwardly and axially from the circular base 102, and the circumference of the circular base 102 is defined by a base ring 104. In some embodiments, the base ring 104 is the point where the circular base 102 transitions into the radial wall. The drink holder 130 has an opening 120. The opening 120 is located at the end of the radial wall opposite of the circular base 102. The opening 120 is configured to receive a receptacle capable of holding liquid. In some embodiments, the opening 120 may also be configured to receive liquid directly.

[0016] A drink holder in accordance with the present disclosure, such as the drink holder 130, can be manufactured utilizing any combination of materials, such as polymers, metals, or other composite blends. In some examples, the drink holder 130 may be manufactured as an injection mold. As such, the drink holder 130 can be injection molded out of a material such as polymer, silicon, metal, plastic, and the like. In various embodiments, a mold will result from the injection mold, the mold forming a drink holder in accordance with the present disclosure. The materials are preferably opaque and do not allow light to pass through, so as to prevent sunlight from quickly heating the drink inside the drink holder 130. Because the drink holder is a unitary body drink holder, the drink holder may be more rigid than conventional solutions, which are often constructed from individual pieces. As a unitary body, the drink holder may also be manufactured more efficiently as compared to conventional solutions.

[0017] Looking now to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional 200, front-side view of the drink holder 130 in accordance with some of the described embodiments. At a high level, FIG. 2 illustrates the different dimensions of an example drink holder 130. The set of dimensions depends on the injection mold used to construct an injection molded drink holder. The example depicted in FIGS. 1A-2 illustrates a non-limiting example of a drink holder in accordance with the present disclosure, and the present disclosure takes into consideration drink holders with different designs and dimensions.

[0018] In the example embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the drink holder 130 includes a set of dimensions that defines the drink holder 130. For example, the drink holder 130 may have an opening width 202 (e.g., an opening diameter). In some embodiments, the opening width 202 may be between 2.68 and 2.89 inches. The drink holder 130 also has a suitable depth to hold a drink. For example, the drink holder 130 may include an inner radial wall height 204 and an outer radial wall height 218. In some examples, the inner radial wall height 204 may be between 3.83 and 3.87 inches, and the outer radial wall height 218 may be between 4.03 and 4.07 inches. The difference between the widths of the inner radial wall and the outer radial wall is the radial wall width 224 (e.g., the thickness of the radial wall). For example, the radial wall width 224 (e.g., the thickness of the radial wall) may be 0.06 and 0.10 inches. In various embodiments, a base ring height 222 is the difference between the inner radial wall height 204 and the outer radial wall height 218. For example, the base ring height 222 may be between 0.18 and 0.22 inches. In some examples, the circular base may be as thick as the height of the base ring. In some embodiments, an overall height 220 of the drink holder 130 may be between 5.53 and 5.57 inches, including the height of the axial tee.

[0019] In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the axial tee may include several dimensions. In some examples, the axial tee may include an axial lip that protrudes from the circular base of the drink holder 130, and the axial lip may include an axial lip width 208 and an axial lip height 228. For instance, the axial lip width 208 may be between 0.48 and 0.52 inches, and the axial lip height 228 may be between 0.04 and 0.08 inches, by way of non-limiting example. In accordance with some embodiments, an axial cone may extend from the axial lip, and the axial cone may include two axial cone widths (e.g., two different widths), an axial cone height, and an axial cone angle. Because the axial cone begins at and extends from the axial lip, one of the two width measurements (i.e., a first width) associated with the axial cone is the same as the width measurement of the axial lip (e.g., between 0.48 and 0.52 inches). The second width associated with the axial cone is smaller than the first width and is defined by the angle between the first width and the second width of the axial cone. For example, the angle of the axial cone may be approximately 45 degrees, by way of non-limiting example. In this example, the second width (e.g., delineated by the double arrow 210) is approximately half of the first width, equating to 0.23 to 0.27 inches, by way of non-limiting example. In some embodiments, the angle of the axial cone may vary anywhere between 30 and 60 degrees, and the precise angle of the axial cone affects the second width measurement (e.g., the greater the angle, the smaller the second width; the smaller the angle, the greater the second width), by way of non-limiting example.

[0020] The shaft of the axial tee extends from the second width of the axial cone. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the width of the tee shaft is equal to the second width of the axial cone (i.e., between 0.24 to 0.26 inches), by way of non-limiting example. The height before the shaft of the axial tee (e.g., the height of the axial lip and the axial cone combined) can be between 1.2 to 1.4 inches, which means that the height of the axial cone is between 0.8 and 1.0 inches, by way of non-limiting example. In some examples, the axial cone and the axial lip help to stabilize the drink holder 130 when the axial tee fully pierces the ground (e.g., the axial tee is inserted into the ground such that it is submerged into the ground until the circular base of the drink holder). The distance between the circular base and the beginning of the tee shaft comprises the heights of the axial lip and the axial cone. As such, in some non-limiting examples, this height (e.g., represented by double arrow 226) can be between 0.23 and 0.27 inches. Furthermore, the shaft of the axial tee may have a tee shaft height 212, by way of non-limiting example. In some embodiments, the tee shaft height 212 is between 0.98 and 1.02 inches, by way of non-limiting example.

[0021] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a tee tip extends from the tee shaft. In some embodiments, the base of the tee tip shares the same width measurement as the width of the tee shaft (e.g., as well as the second width of the axial cone, in some examples). The tee tip begins at the end of the tee shaft and extends at an angle to a point. In some examples, the angle is greater than the angle associated with the axial cone. For instance, the angle of the tee tip may be between 60 and 90 degrees, by way of non-limiting example. In accordance with various embodiments, tee tip may have a tee tip height 230. For example, the tee tip height 230 may be between 0.23 and 0.27 inches, by way of non-limiting example. As such, in some embodiments, the height of the entire tee (e.g., the height of the tee beginning from the circular base and ending at the point of the tee tip) may be between 1.48 and 1.52 inches, by way of non-limiting example. The point of the tee tip, as well as the angle of the tee tip, is designed such that the tee of the drink holder 130 may pierce the ground. Accordingly, the tee tip has a relatively small tee tip width 214. For example, the tee tip width 214 may be between 0.03 and 0.07 inches, by way of non-limiting example. As one may appreciate, the small tee tip makes it easier for the drink holder 130 to pierce the ground.

[0022] Notably, the example depicted in FIGS. 1A-2 illustrates a non-limiting example of a drink holder in accordance with the present disclosure. In some embodiments, although not shown, the drink holder may take on the form of different designs and dimensions. For example, a drink holder in accordance with the present disclosure could include a receptacle with different dimensions. As described in accordance with FIG. 2, the drink holder 130 designed and illustrated in FIG. 2 is suitable to contain a typical 12 ounce beverage can. To illustrate, a typical 12 ounce beverage can usually comprises an overall height of 4.8 inches and a width of 2.6 inches. As described herein, a typical 12 ounce beverage can may be conveniently placed into the drink holder 130.

[0023] With reference now to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 depicts a top-side view 300 of a drink holder 330 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The drink holder 330 has a width 302. The width 302 represents the different sizes of canned and/or bottled drinks that may be inserted into the drink holder 330. For example, the drink holder 330 may be configured with such dimensions as to receive a receptacle the size of a seltzer can. In this example, the drink holder 330 may include dimensions to hold (e.g., without too much wiggle room) a can that is 6.125 inches tall with a width of 2.25 inches. In another embodiment, the drink holder 330 may be configured with such dimensions as to receive a receptacle the size of a soda bottle. In this example, the drink holder 330 may include dimensions suitable to receive a bottle that is 8 inches tall and 2.5 inches wide. In some examples, the overall design of a drink holder in accordance with the present invention may change in order to accommodate variously shaped receptacles. For example, the drink holder of the present invention may be slimmer and taller to accommodate a seltzer can. In another example, the drink holder could be wider and taller to accommodate a soda bottle. Furthermore, depending on the dimensions of the drink holder and the type of receptacle it is designed to carry (e.g., can, bottle, flask, etc.), the axial tee will have different dimensions. For example, a drink holder designed to hold a 12 ounce beverage can may have a shorter axial tee than a drink holder designed to hold a soda bottle.

[0024] Additionally or alternatively, a drink holder in accordance with the present invention may be configured to receive and hold liquid as an alternative to receiving and holding a receptacle (e.g., can, bottle, flask, carafe, etc.). As noted, a drink holder in accordance with the present invention may be configured with different designs and/or dimensions. With reference to FIGS. 1A-2, the illustrated embodiment of drink holder 130 includes a flat top ring that circumscribes the opening 120. However, some embodiments may have a round ring (e.g., a curved ring, one that is convex relative to the circular base) that circumscribes the opening of the drink holder. In various embodiments, the drink holder of the present invention may have a round ring so that users may comfortably place their lips on the drink holder to directly drink liquid held therein. Accordingly, users may drink from a drink directly from a holder in accordance with the present invention.

[0025] As described herein, a holder in accordance with the present invention includes a more versatile, portable, and convenient design when compared to conventional drink holders. Furthermore, the injection molded drink holder designed with an axial tee extending from a circular base of the injection mold makes the drink holder described herein more efficient and practical than conventional solutions. In accordance with embodiments described herein, the axial tee extending from the center of the circular base allows the axial tee to pierce the surface of the ground until the ground abuts against the circular base. The insertion of the axial tee into the ground to the point of the circular base secures the drink holder in place at the location in the ground where the axial tee was inserted. Moreover, the drink holder described herein is a unitary body drink holder, which makes the drink holder more rigid than conventional drink holders constructed out of discrete pieces.

[0026] Carrying around a drink holder with a short tee allows users to fully engage in desired outdoor activities without having to worry about where to place their drinksthe user can just take their drink holder to where they want to be and stick the drink holder into the ground where it is held in place by the axial tee. Due to the compact size of the drink holder, carrying the drink holder is like carrying any other drink (e.g., a canned beverage) without having to drag the drink holder or worry about where to attach the drinker holder to hold it in an upright position. Unlike drink holders with long stakes, the drink holder described herein is designed to be conveniently portable. In a golfing use case example, a user of the drink holder of the present disclosure may place their drink holder directly into a golf cart cup holder, because the axial tee is designed such that it can be inserted into the axial opening without extending too far through the axial opening. Additionally or alternatively, the axial tee is designed to insert into (e.g., pierce) all types of ground and hold the drink holder in an upright position, parallel to the ground. The drink held therein may be stably and safely secured to a spot in the ground so that the user may fully engage in their desired outdoor activity.

[0027] As can be understood, embodiments of the present invention provide for, among other things, an injection molded drink holder with an axial tee extending from a circular base of the injection mold. The present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its scope.

[0028] From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objectives set forth above, together with other advantages which are obvious and inherent to the system and method. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.