Abstract:
A cup holder incorporating an expandable circular band to which is affixed a handle having vertically oriented finger rings and a vertically projecting stem that includes a finger pad.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to cup holding devices, and more particularly to a cup holder that insulates the user&#39;s hand from the cup. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Most disposable drinking cups are not generally outfitted with integral gripping means by which a user may grip the cup. Therefore, the user is most often required to grip the cup directly at several points about its circumference using his or her fingers and hand in order gain favorable purchase of the cup when the user is drinking from it or moving its location. However, because drinking cups, whether they be formed from plastic, paper, or any other material known in the art, are generally smooth on their outer surfaces, they may be easily dropped, particularly when the outside surface is wet from condensation or liquid spillage. 
     More commonly, such cups are generally poorly insulated and can become very hot to the touch on their outer surfaces when they contain hot beverages such as coffee or tea. As a result, the user is unable to securely and confidently grasp the cup without enduring some degree of pain if the beverage is hot, or without concern that the high temperature or the condensation or spillage that may be present on the outside of the cup will interfere with the grip and cause the cup to slip from his or her hand. 
     There have been several advancements in the art that have sought to address these concerns. Some have proposed handles in the form of strips that surround the cup, or other beverage container, that are connected by elements built into the strip itself For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,583 issued to Noon discloses a disposable handle formed by flexible heavy paper or plastic strip that wraps around the cup to be connected together at its opposite ends. U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,067 issued to Effertz discloses a single layer elastic thermal insulator strip wrapped around a beverage can and secured by cooperative interlocking engagement members at the terminal ends of the strip. While these devices may be inexpensive and convenient, they do not provide the convenience desired for repetitive use. 
     Other prior art developments have sought to secure a beverage container in place while providing more durable handles. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,109 issued to Cook discloses a split collar that fits over a beverage can and mounts a crank handle between its opposite ends for rotation to a securing position pressing frictionally against the side of the can. U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,675 issued to Walker discloses a can caddy having a bottom well with a vertical stem at one side mounting a hand grip configured with a forwardly projecting clasp at the top end. This one-piece cup caddy is designed to maintain its grip on a beverage can through downward pressure exerted by a resilient clip that secures the can in place in an indentation formed in a circular base. However, while these devices may be sufficient for supporting applications involving beverage cans, they are not well suited to applications incorporating beverage cups because the structural compositions of such cups do not have the inherent rigidity that is found in such beverage cans. 
     Some prior art devices have sought various ways to lend the sufficient rigidity to drinking cup applications that is required for user confidence and comfort. U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,633 issued to Brink et al. discloses an adjustable diameter coiled gripping member for surrounding a cup to be fixed at an adjusted diameter and held by a D-shaped handle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,805 issued to Shaddy discloses a cup holder formed by a wide ring of thermally insulative material and an annular band projecting radially inwardly and having an annular inward surface textured to frictionally engage the cup, the band being formed with a shoulder spaced below the upper edge of the ring. A vertically oriented elongated oval-shaped ring is mounted on the outer surface of the ring for supporting the ring and a cup held in the ring. However, while these devices may be of some utility, they are relatively bulky and the D and oval shaped handles do not afford good purchase for the user&#39;s fingers for positive support of the held cup. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for a cup holder that is designed to reliably and securely grasp a cup while providing a handle that may be complementally and comfortably received by the fingers of the user to hold the cup erect. It would also be beneficial for such a cup holder to incorporate structural features that permit the holder to grasp cups of varying dimensions and that prevent the movement of the cup and holder that may occur when the user does not grasp the handle tightly due to inability or fatigue. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The improved cup holder of the present invention is characterized by a circular band for nesting of a cup therein and a vertical stem secured to one side thereof and projecting downwardly below the band to form a vertically extending pad. A radially outwardly projecting hand grasp is formed with the stem. In one embodiment, the hand grasp may be in the form of a numeral  3  to be configured with vertically disposed finger-receiving ring shaped elements for receipt of the index and second finger of a user&#39;s hand. 
     Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the cup holder of the present invention with a cup shown in broken lines nested therein; 
     FIG. 2 is a left side view of the cup holder shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the cup holder shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a detail view, in enlarged scale, taken from the circle designated  6  in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of a second embodiment of the cup holder of the present invention in its relaxed position; 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of the cup holder shown in FIG. 7 expanded to a desired diameter; and 
     FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the cup holder shown in FIG. 8 with a cup nested therein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in the drawings and for purposes of illustration, the cup holder of the present invention, generally designated  15  and shown in FIGS.  1 — 3 , is embodied, generally, in a circular band  20  mounting the stem  35  portion of a laterally projecting handle  30 . The stem  35  projects downwardly to form a pad  40 , to press against the outer wall of a cup  50  held in the band  20  to support it erect. 
     The circular band  20  may be formed of any suitable material. However, in a preferred embodiment, it is constructed of a rigid molded plastic. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the circular band  20  has an inner and outer surface  22  and  23 , respectively, and an upper and lower edge  24  and  25 , respectively. In one embodiment, the band is solid and is frusto conically shaped for complemental receipt of a frusto conically shaped cup. The external surface  23  of the band  20  conforms with the downward and inward angle of the inner surface  22  to maintain a consistent thickness to the band. This design is intended to mirror the general frusto conical shape of most common drinking cups. 
     The circular band  20  is of sufficient dimension to lend it rigidity and to accommodate variously dimensioned cups without being cumbersome or aesthetically unappealing. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the band is constructed with an inside diameter of 8 cm, a thickness of approximately 0.2 cm and a width of approximately 2 cm. These dimensions are suitable for holding most variations of common disposable drinking cups as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the cup  50  is nested within the inner diameter of the circular band  20  and secured by an interference fit that is formed between the external surface of the cup  52  and the inner surface  22  of the band. It is also contemplated that, as shown in FIG. 4., for cups  50  formed with radially outwardly projecting beads  54  around their upper periphery, the upwardly facing annular shoulder formed by the top edge of the band  24  will abut the bead to further cooperate in securing the cup  50  in such band. 
     The handle  30  includes a vertically projecting stem  35  joining the handle to the circular band  20  and a hand grasp  31  by which the user may grasp the handle to gain purchase of the cup holder  15 . Referring now to FIG. 2, the stem  35  portion of the handle  30  is formed at the top and bottom edges of the band  24  and  25 , respectively, with radially inwardly projecting braces  29  abutting the respective top and bottom edges. Such braces  29  serve to afford support for the relatively delicate plastic band  20  to thus prevent sagging thereof under the weight of liquid in the cup  50  and to minimize any tendency of the holder to fatigue and crack due to repetitive usage and flexing thereof at the interface between the stem  35  and band  20 . Additionally, the circular band  20  is formed with longitudinally spaced apart, oppositely disposed brackets  28  abutting the respective vertical sides of the stem  35 . As with the braces  29  formed integrally with the stem  35 , such brackets  28  formed integrally with the band  20  serve to afford support to the stem  35  and to minimize any tendency of the holder to fatigue and crack due to flexing and use at the interface between the stem  35  and the band  20 . 
     The vertically projecting stem  35  is formed at one side of the band  20  and projects about 1 cm above the top edge thereof to form an upper pad  36  for engaging the bead  54  before the stem transitions into the upper portion of the handle  30  (FIG.  4 ). The stem  35  then projects along the outside of the band  20  and downwardly therebelow a total distance of approximately 3 cm, with approximately a 2 cm portion of this distance forming a pad  40  projecting downwardly from the point on the stem  35  at which the stem and the bottom portion of the handle  30  intersect. Such stem is relatively lightweight and is configured with a thickness of about 1 cm., an overall top to bottom length of about 6.5 cm and a width of about 2.8 cm. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the stem  35  of the handle  30  is bonded to the outer surface of the band  23  by means of a bonding layer  29  of suitable adhesive (FIG.  6 ). In other embodiments, however, the handle  30  may be formed integral with the band  20  as by injection molding. The handle  30  is formed with a hand grasp  31  comprising a pair of vertically spaced finger rings  32  and  33  for respective receipt of the first and second fingers of the user. As shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  4 , the hand grasp  31  is generally configured in the form of a numeral 3 with the upper and lower concave curvatures of the three extending slightly beyond the apex of the upper curvature and the nadir of the bottom curvature respectively. 
     The“3” shaped hand grasp  31  is formed integrally with the stem  35  and is to be configured with over and under finger ring elements  32  and  33 , respectively, for conveniently and comfortably receiving the first and second fingers of a user&#39;s hand to afford favorable purchase thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the finger ring elements have a radius of about 1.25 cm. and a horizontal major interior dimension of about 2.5 cm. at the horizontal diameter thereof. Such hand grasp  31  is formed medially with a radially inwardly projecting horizontal divider  34  formed by the intermediate wall of the respective rings  32  and  33  to thus add to the stability of the grip by the user&#39;s fingers. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the cup holder shown in FIGS. 1-6 is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and will require only a minimum quantity of fabrication material. The cup holder will typically be manufactured and packaged in bulk form for distribution to beverage retail outlets, such as take-out coffee shops and entertainment and sports facilities for use by the viewing public. The cup holder will typically be presented with the initial purchase of a beverage and is convenient and effective to use. The user will merely nest the cup  50  into the band  20  as shown in FIG.  1 . Assuming the cup incorporates a lip bead  54 , the bottom downwardly facing shoulder of such lip bead will nest on the upwardly facing upper edge  24  of the band  20 . In any event, the band is sized to engage the peripheral wall  52  of the cup  15  near the upper edge thereof so as to restrict downward travel of the cup in such band and afford support therefor. 
     Once the cup has engaged at the appropriate level within the band  20 , it will be appreciated that the stabilizer stem  35  will afford support against rocking of such cup within the band  20 . To this end, when the user grasps the hand grasp  31  to lift the handle  30  and consequently lift the band  20 , the cup will be raised therewith. Assuming the cup is nearly full of fluid, it will be appreciated that the handle  30  will serve to lift the band  20  and the fluid in the cup in cantilever fashion. The bottom of the cup will weigh downwardly and will typically tend to apply a torque to the band  20  as resisted by the components of the handle  30 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that the user&#39;s index and first finger will be received in the respective finger ring elements  32  and  33  in trigger-like fashion leaving the third finger free to press against the ring  33  and pad  40 . If, for example, the user grasps the handle  30  with his or her right hand, the weight of the fluid will thus be resisted by the first finger (in most cases the index finger), received in the ring element  32 , and the second finger (in most cases the middle finger), received in the ring element  33 , drawing upwardly and to the right as viewed in FIG.  4 . Typically, the user&#39;s thumb will press downwardly and inwardly on the top quadrant of the ring  32  thus pinching such ring between the thumb and the index finger. Simultaneously, the user&#39;s third finger (in most cases the ring finger) will rest against the pad  40 , and will press downwardly and to the left, thus applying a clockwise torque to such handle  30 . To the extent that there is any flexibility in the cup wall or the plastic strip forming the handle and stem, this will then tend to press the pad  40  to the left as viewed in FIG. 4, causing the inside wall of the pad  40  to engage the outer cup wall intermediate its height, thus affording support for the fluid contained therein. This construction thus affords a maximum amount of support and stability for the cup with a relatively lightweight thin walled cup holder. 
     This cup holder construction provides convenience in that, with the relatively inexpensive cost of the cup holder, a new cup holder may be provided free of charge by the beverage retail store. Further, because of the inexpensive construction, advertisers will be attracted to apply their advertising thereto and provide such cup holders free of charge for the advertising benefits. For example, it is contemplated that the handle  30  and band  20  may be constructed of varying colors or contain various advertising messages, depending on the commercial application and the desires of the advertiser. 
     A second embodiment of the cup holder of the present invention, generally designated  16  and shown in FIGS. 7 through 9, is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 except that the band  120  is in the form of a split band to form a pair of opposed semi-cylindrical clamps  121  which might be flexed to different diameters to accommodate different diameter cups. It is also contemplated that such an adjustable split band  120  may be biased towards a closed position, and that the terminal edges formed at the split point will be aligned and contiguous in such a closed or relaxed position, as shown in FIG.  7 . The construction of the stem  35  and overall handle  30  is similar to that for the cup holder shown in FIGS. 1 through 6. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the cup holder of the present invention provides a reliable, convenient, affordable and effective means for confidently holding and picking up drinking cups when a user does not desire to directly engage the cup with his or her hand. The handle design emphasizes an efficient and comfortable interaction with both the left and right hand of the user, and its unique design lends additional support to the circular band in which the cup is nested. The band readily accommodates the most common dimensional variations found in drinking cups, and may be expandable if required to accommodate those that are not so common. 
     Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to the foregoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of the invention.