Abstract:
An insulating beverage container holder is disclosed that is adapted to receive either longneck beverage bottles or aluminum cans. The insulating beverage holder consists of a substantially cylindrical body having 3 axially aligned apertures therein. One aperture is sized for an interference fit with the cylindrical diameter of an aluminum can beverage container. A second aperture is sized for an interference fit with the neck portion of a longneck beverage container. A third aperture, situated between the first and second apertures, is sized for an interference fit with the larger diameter of a longneck beverage container. Retaining mechanisms are also disclosed that secure longneck beverage containers within the holder to prevent inadvertent removal of the beverage container from within the insulated beverage container holder.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to insulated beverage or drink holders and more particularly to an insulated beverage container holder adapted for use with both single diameter beverage containers and longneck bottle beverage containers where the larger diameter of the two c containers are different. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A number of insulating enclosures or containers configured to receive and insulate a beverage container are well known in the art. The simplest of such insulating containers typically includes a cylindrical external shape having a cylindrical cavity for receiving a cylindrical beverage container therein. The insulating enclosures of the prior art are typically constructed of a flexible material having good insulating characteristics. The cylindrical opening is typically sized to receive either an aluminum can or a longneck glass or plastic bottle and gently grip the external cylindrical surface of the beverage container. Such devices are useful in maintaining the temperature of the beverage container situated within the insulating container. A few examples of such are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,228,987, 6,814,252, 6,799,693, 6,571,976, 6,349,846, 5,845,806, and 5,669,538. 
     A typical aluminum can beverage container produced in the United States has an external cylindrical diameter that is slightly larger than the typical longneck bottle beverage container. As a result of the differential in diameter between the two most commonly produced beverage containers, beverage insulators are typically designed to hold either an aluminum can beverage container or a longneck bottle beverage container. The insulating container sized to receive an aluminum beverage can will obviously also receive a longneck bottle beverage container, yet the bottle will be loosely received therein resulting in a less than ideal “fit”; and if the longneck beverage container is held by the smaller diameter neck portion, the insulating container will fall off of the longneck bottle due to the loose fit. 
     What is needed is an insulating beverage container holder adapted to securely receive both a metal can and a longneck bottle beverage container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An insulating beverage container holder for use with a cylindrical beverage container and a longneck beverage container, according to one aspect of the present invention, comprises a body consisting of a flexible resilient insulating material and having a top surface and a bottom surface and wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are disposed in spaced apart parallel planes, a first aperture disposed in the bottom surface of the body that is sized for an interference fit with the diameter of the cylindrical beverage container, a second aperture disposed in the top surface of the body that is sized for an interference fit with the neck portion of the longneck beverage container, and a third aperture situated within the body and in fluid communication with the first and the second apertures, and wherein the third aperture is sized for an interference fit with the larger diameter of the longneck beverage container. 
     One object of the present invention is to provide an improved insulating beverage container holder. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an insulating beverage container holder that is adapted for use with both longneck bottles and cylindrical can beverage containers. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an economical insulating beverage container that includes features to secure glass bottle beverage containers within the device. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following drawings and description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an insulating beverage container holder according to one aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the insulating beverage container holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the insulating beverage container holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the insulating beverage container holder of  FIG. 2  looking in the direction of the arrows labeled A in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cutaway front elevational view of an insulating beverage container holder according to a second aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of a beverage retaining ring for use with the insulating beverage container holder of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional side elevational view of the ring shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of an insulating beverage container holder according to a third aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of an elastic strap removably attachable to the device shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a partial front elevational view of the device of  FIG. 8  depicting the elastic strap of  FIG. 9  attached to the insulating beverage container holder of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is another embodiment of a retaining ring for use with the insulating beverage container holder of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1  depicting, by way of broken lines, a longneck beverage container situated within the device. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1  depicting, by way of broken lines, a metal can beverage container situated within the device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an insulated beverage container holder  10  according to one aspect of the present invention is shown. Holder  10  has a generally cylindrical lateral surface  12 . An indented surface  14  serves to provide a convenient gripping area for a user to grasp holder  10  by the hand. Base surface  16  and top surface  18  are planar circular surfaces having cylindrical apertures extending therein (apertures are shown in detail in  FIGS. 2-4 ). Planar surfaces  16  and  18  are situated in parallel spaced apart planes. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a plan view and a bottom view of holder  10  are respectively shown.  FIG. 2  depicts circular top surface  18  that includes a cylindrical aperture  20  extending downward into holder  10 . The radius of aperture  20  is sized to have an interference fit with the neck portion of a longneck beverage container. Cylindrical aperture  22  extends into base  16  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Aperture  22  has a radius sized for an interference fit with a typical aluminum can beverage container, such as a soda or beer can. Cylindrical aperture  24  is situated within device  10  and between apertures  20  and  22 , and is in fluid communication with apertures  20  and  22 . Aperture  24  has a diameter sized for an interference fit with the largest diameter of a longneck bottle beverage container. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a cross-sectional view of holder  10  looking in the direction of the arrows labeled A of  FIG. 2  is shown. Lateral surface  12 , base  16  and top  18  are shown. Apertures  20 ,  22  and  24  are more clearly defined by reference to this view depicting the position, height and diameter of each aperture with respect to holder  10 . Apertures  20 ,  22  and  24  are axially aligned cylindrical apertures in fluid communication with one another within container holder  10 . The difference in diameter between aperture  22  and aperture  24  results in a shoulder  26  disposed at the interface therebetween. Indentation  14  is also shown. 
     Holder  10  is constructed of any of the materials well known in the art of insulated beverage holders, including open cell foam, closed cell foam, vinyl coated soft foam, neoprene foam or any other materials known in the art having resilient and compressible characteristics as well as good insulating properties. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , another embodiment of an insulated beverage container holder  30  according to another aspect of the present invention is shown. Holder  30  includes a beverage container holder  32  and a retaining device  34 . Holder  32  is identical with and includes all of the features of device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . Retaining device  34  consists of a cylindrical ring attached to base  36  of holder  32 . Retaining device  34  includes a specially configured aperture for easy insertion and removal of a longneck beverage container within holder  32 . Retaining device  34  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , retaining device or retaining ring  34  is shown.  FIG. 6  is a plan view of retaining ring  34  and  FIG. 7  is a side view including a partial cross-sectional view through the central portion of ring  34 . Ring  34  includes a vertical wall  38  extending around the outer periphery of ring  34 . The inner diameter of wall  38  surrounds and makes contact with base  36  of holder  32 . Ring  34  fits snugly against the lateral surface of beverage holder  32 . Retaining flaps  40  extend inward from vertical wall  38  and are resilient to allow a longneck bottle beverage container to pass centrally therethrough when sufficient force is applied to the beverage container to deflect flaps  40  during insertion or removal of the beverage container within the internal apertures of holder  32 . Preferably, retaining device  34  is attached to holder  32  using a suitable adhesive applied about the inner periphery of vertical wall  38 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-10 , an insulating beverage container holder  50  according to another aspect of the present invention is shown.  FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of holder  52  with strap  54  attached to only one of the two mounting buttons  56 . Holder  52  is identical in all respects with the features and construction of device  10  of  FIG. 1 . A longneck beverage container is inserted into the internal apertures of holder  52  when strap  54  is detached from at least one of the buttons  56 , as shown.  FIG. 9  is a plan view of retaining strap  54 , a thin rectangular strip of flexible material having apertures  55  therein. Strap  54  is mounted on buttons  56  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 . It is contemplated that strap  54  may also have resilient properties such as are found in a rubber band. Buttons  56  are permanently affixed to holder  52  using adhesives, integral molding techniques, with rivets or any other technique will known in the art of affixing a button to an article.  FIG. 10  depicts strap  54  mounted on rivets  56  and extending across the base or bottom surface of holder  52  thereby safely retaining a longneck beverage container within the internal apertures of holder  52 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , another embodiment of a retaining device  60  for use with insulated beverage container holder  10  is shown. Retaining device  60  is comprised of a disk or ring  62  having a cross-hatched netting  64  attached at the periphery of ring  62 . Netting  64  may be thin mono-filament material attached to ring  62  or integrally molded plastic filaments formed into ring  62 . One portion of a hook and loop fastener  66  is attached to the surface of device  60  as shown. The mating portion of the hook and loop fastener  66  is attached to base  16  of beverage holder  10  (as shown in  FIG. 12 ) so that device  60 , when attached to holder  10 , provides a readily removable retention means for securing a longneck beverage within the internal apertures of holder  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , a cross-sectional view of holder  10  is shown depicting a longneck beverage container  70  situated within the internal apertures of holder  10 . The interference fit discussed above between the beverage container and holder  10  is found at locations  71 . The interference fit assists in retaining container  70  securely within holder  10  as a user enjoys the beverage in container  70 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 13 , a cross-sectional view of holder  10  is shown depicting an aluminum can beverage container  72  situated within the internal apertures of holder  10 . The interference fit discussed above is found at locations  73 , specifically, between the inner walls of holder  10  and the lateral surface of the aluminum can beverage container. The interference fit creates a gripping force between container  72  and holder  10  to retain container  72  within holder  10 . Further, the shoulder  26  may at least partially support the aluminum can beverage container  72  as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     It is contemplated that a retaining disk attached to the bottom surface of the embodiments shown may also include a hinge and a latch to secure the retaining disk in a closed position adjacent the bottom surface of the insulating body yet enable the disk to be pivoted into an open position for insertion of a beverage container into the body of the holder. It is also contemplated that a variety of mechanisms may be employed to retain a longneck beverage container within the embodiments shown, including, but not limited to, projections extending inward about the periphery of aperture  22  and integrally molded into the body of holder  10 , spring loaded pins or levers attached to holder  10  and extending partially over aperture  22  at the base of holder  10 , or a disk pivotally attached to base  16  over aperture  22  and rotatable about a pivot pin to allow access to aperture  22  in a first pivot position and to cover aperture  22  in a second pivot position and including mechanical mechanisms to positively retain the disk in position over the aperture yet allow the disk to pivot into an open position to allow insertion/removal of a beverage container when sufficient force is applied thereto. Various approaches may be taken to accomplish the objective of providing a retaining means that enables convenient installation of a longneck beverage container into the insulated beverage container holder disclosed herein yet provides a retaining mechanism to prevent accidental escape of the longneck container from within the holder. 
     All of the embodiments disclosed herein are constructed from materials well known in the art of insulated beverage holders, including open cell foam, closed cell foam, vinyl coated soft foam or any other material known in the art having resilient and compressible characteristics as well as desirable insulating properties. 
     The longneck bottle commonly used in the beverage industry offers a long cushion of air to absorb the pressure of carbonation and reduce the risk of exploding. It is not expected that this beverage container will fall into disuse, thus the invention disclosed is expected to enjoy a long period of use. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description of the preferred embodiments, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.