Abstract:
A reusable, foldable, detachable handle is disclosed that can grip a drinking vessel by pressing against both the upper and lower rims of the vessel, thereby providing stable and reliable attachment thereto. The detachable handle can be folded when not in use for easy carrying and storage, and when in use it can be fixed in an unfolded configuration by a sleeve or flap that spans a foldable portion. Preferred embodiments allow attachment to vessels of different heights by being adjustable in length and/or by including a plurality of base-gripping features at different locations along the handle. Some preferred embodiments include gripping spike that enhances gripping security by applying opposing pressure to the upper rim. The gripping spike can be fixed in location or slidable along the handle. Further preferred embodiments include a bottle opener, and some preferred embodiments are attachable to a key ring or include a key ring.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Continuation-in-part of U.S. pending patent application Ser. No. 12/463,274 dated May 8, 2009 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    During consumption of a beverage from a drinking vessel, such as a cup, glass, mug, open soda can, open beer can, stein, and such like, holding the vessel can sometimes be uncomfortable or otherwise problematic. If the beverage is warm or cold, the vessel can become uncomfortably warm or cold to the touch. In addition, a cold beverage can cause a drinking vessel to condense moisture on its outer surface, thereby making the vessel slippery and causing the hand of a consumer to become uncomfortably wet. 
         [0003]    One solution to this problem is to provide a handle to facilitate grasping of a drinking vessel. For example, a reusable tea cup, coffee mug, or beer stein typically includes a handle that is permanently attached thereto. The handle provides for easy grasping of the drinking vessel without exposing a user&#39;s hand to uncomfortable temperatures or condensed moisture. 
         [0004]    Handles are also sometimes included with disposable paper beverage cups. Typically, the handle is split into two flat halves that are initially aligned against the outer surface of the cup, so as to allow for easy stacking and storage of a plurality of cups. At time of use, the two halves are bent away from the cup and held together by the hand of a user. While providing the basic benefits of a handle, this approach can be inconvenient and uncomfortable, since the halves of the handle can be difficult to separate from the surface of the cup, and are typically uncomfortable to grasp. Also, the need to provide a handle with each disposable cup results in significant added cost, due to the extra handle pieces and gluing thereof that must be included in the manufacture of each disposable vessel. Other types of disposable drinking vessel, such as open beer and open soda cans, typically do not include a handle of any sort. 
         [0005]    A convenient and comfortable approach for holding a drinking vessel, such as a disposable drinking vessel, that does not include a permanent handle, is to provide a reusable, detachable handle that can be attached to the drinking vessel during use, and then detached for reuse once the beverage has been consumed. One type of reusable, detachable handle includes one or more rings that can surround the drinking vessel. However, this approach can typically be used only with drinking vessels that fall within a narrow range of diameters, and are either tapered in shape or have a pronounced lip near the upper rim. Otherwise, handles of this type can slip in location, causing the drinking vessel to become unstable or even to slip away from the handle. Also, handles of this type are generally bulky in size, and therefore inconvenient to carry and store. 
         [0006]    Another type of reusable, detachable handle includes a clamping mechanism that attaches firmly to the upper rim of a drinking vessel, and a bumper that rests against the lower side of the vessel. While this approach is compact and adaptable to a wide range of drinking vessel sizes and shapes, attachment of this style of handle to a drinking vessel can be uncertain and unreliable, especially if the vessel is made from a flexible material such as paper or thin aluminum, since the handle only grips the vessel at the rim. Also, the cost of such a handle can be high, due to the complexity of the clamping mechanism. 
         [0007]    Yet another type of reusable, detachable handle attaches to the top and bottom of a drinking vessel. This type of handle is typically somewhat flexible, and includes shaping with notches and/or tabs at each end so as to couple with the upper and lower rims of the vessel. The handle is flexed so as to position the two ends over the upper and lower rims of the drinking vessel, and then released so as to cause the ends of the handle to press against the upper and lower rims and thereby firmly grasp the vessel. While this approach is adaptable to a wide variety of vessel shapes and diameters, each handle can be used with only a narrow range of vessel heights. Also, the handle must be at least as long as the vessel, and so tends to be somewhat bulky in size, and therefore inconvenient to carry and store. 
         [0008]    In particular there is a need to provide a hinge that can be simply manufactured, have robust function, and does not require unnecessary parts or tools for assembly. Other technologies require separate parts that do not allow for quick manual assembly without tools or addition of other parts. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A reusable, detachable handle is claimed that attaches to both the upper and lower rims of a drinking vessel, so as to provide stable and reliable attachment thereto. The claimed handle can be folded when not in use, so as to provide for convenient and compact carrying and storage. Preferred embodiments of the claimed handle are adjustable in length, and/or provide a plurality of base-gripping features, so as to be adaptable to vessels of different heights. Some preferred embodiments include a fixed or slideable gripping spike that enhances gripping security by pressing against the upper rim in opposition to the upper end of the reusable handle. Further preferred embodiments include a bottle opener, and some preferred embodiments are attachable to a key ring or include a key ring. 
         [0010]    One general aspect of the present invention is a detachable handle for use with a drinking vessel. The detachable handle includes an upper end that is shaped so as to press against and grip an upper rim of the drinking vessel, a lower end that is shaped so as to press against and grip a lower rim of the drinking vessel, a middle section that connects the upper end to the lower end, the middle section being foldable so as to fold the detachable handle into a storage configuration, and a latching mechanism that is able to fix the middle section in an unfolded configuration. 
         [0011]    In preferred embodiments, the detachable handle can be used with a disposable drinking vessel. In some preferred embodiments the unfolded configuration of the middle section is a curved configuration. 
         [0012]    In various preferred embodiments, when the middle section is fixed in the unfolded configuration, it can be flexed so as to place the upper and lower ends respectively above and below the upper and lower rims of the drinking vessel, and then released, so as to grip the drinking vessel by pressing the upper and lower ends against the upper and lower rims respectively. And in certain preferred embodiments the middle section includes a hinge that allows the middle section to be folded. 
         [0013]    In some preferred embodiments, the latching mechanism includes a rigid sleeve that is slidable over a foldable portion of the middle section so as to prevent folding of the middle section, the rigid sleeve being slidable away from the foldable portion so as to enable folding of the middle section. In other preferred embodiments the latching mechanism includes a flap that is able to bridge a foldable portion of the middle section, a distal end of the flap being attachable to the middle portion by engagement of a protrusion with the flap, thereby fixing the detachable handle in its unfolded configuration. 
         [0014]    In preferred embodiments, the middle section is adjustable in length. In some preferred embodiments the middle section includes a telescoping portion that allows adjustment of the length of the middle section. And in some of these embodiments the telescoping portion includes a member with a protrusion and a member with at least one receptacle, each receptacle being one of an indentation and a hole, the members being configured so as to fix the length of the telescoping portion when the protrusion is inserted into a receptacle. 
         [0015]    In various preferred embodiments the middle section includes at least one base gripping structure that is able to press against and grip a lower end of a drinking vessel that is too short to be gripped by the lower end of the detachable handle. Some preferred embodiments further include a key ring attachment that enables attachment of the detachable handle to a key ring. And other preferred embodiments further include a key ring attached thereto. 
         [0016]    Preferred embodiments further include a gripping spike located near the upper end of the detachable handle, the gripping spike being able to participate in gripping of the upper rim of the drinking vessel by pressing against the upper rim of the drinking vessel in opposition to the upper end of the detachable handle. And in some of these embodiments the gripping spike is movable in location along the detachable handle, so as to be movable into a pressing relationship with the upper rim of the drinking vessel, in opposition to the upper end of the detachable handle. 
         [0017]    Certain preferred embodiments further include a bottle opening protrusion that can be used to remove a bottle cap from a bottle. 
         [0018]    Another general aspect of the present invention is a detachable handle for use with a drinking vessel. The detachable handle includes an upper end that is shaped so as to press against and grip an upper rim of the drinking vessel, a lower end that is shaped so as to press against and grip a lower rim of the drinking vessel, and a middle section that connects the upper end to the lower end, the middle section being foldable so as to fold the detachable handle into a storage configuration. 
         [0019]    The detachable handle further includes a latching mechanism that is able to fix the middle section in a curved, unfolded configuration that can be flexed so as to place the upper and lower ends respectively above and below the upper and lower rims of the drinking vessel, and then released, so as to grip the drinking vessel by pressing the upper and lower ends against the upper and lower rims respectively. 
         [0020]    The detachable handle further includes a gripping spike located near the upper end of the detachable handle, the gripping spike being able to participate in gripping of the upper rim of the drinking vessel by pressing against the upper rim of the drinking vessel in opposition to the upper end of the detachable handle, the gripping spike being movable in location along the detachable handle, so as to be movable into a pressing relationship with the upper rim of the drinking vessel, in opposition to the upper end of the detachable handle, and at least one base gripping structure that is able to press against and grip the lower rim of the drinking vessel if the drinking vessel is too short to be gripped by the lower end of the detachable handle. 
         [0021]    In preferred embodiments the latching mechanism includes a flap that is able to bridge a foldable portion of the middle section, a distal end of the flap being attachable to the middle portion by engagement of a protrusion with the flap, thereby fixing the detachable handle in its unfolded configuration. 
         [0022]    In some preferred embodiments the middle section includes a hinge that allows the middle section to be folded. And in other preferred embodiments the middle section is adjustable in length. 
         [0023]    In preferred embodiments, the hinge is specially designed utilizing a self-limiting cantilevered flexible pinless hinge structure for molded devices. In addition it is an object to securely assemble without the risk of disassembly through cycles of normal use. In addition it is an object to provide intentionally limited range of motion with persistent strength throughout full range of motion. In addition it is an object to manufacture a relatively simple and low cost molded manufacturing process. It is also an object to disassembled and reassembled with the same process and relative ease. 
         [0024]    Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and consideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the detailed description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment in a folded configuration; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective drawing of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing the embodiment unfolded and ready to be locked in its unfolded configuration; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective drawing of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 2A  showing the embodiment locked in its unfolded configuration by a rigid sleeve that has been slid over a foldable portion; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a perspective drawing of the embodiment of  FIG. 2B , showing the embodiment prepared for attachment to a drinking vessel, with a curved middle section of the embodiment partially straightened so as to position an upper end and a lower end of the embodiment respectively above an upper rim and below a lower rim of the disposable drinking vessel; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , showing the embodiment attached to a disposable hot drinking vessel; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a perspective drawing of an alternate embodiment similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , but including a key ring; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a perspective drawing of an embodiment similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , but including a telescopic portion that allows the length of the middle section to be adjusted, the embodiment being attached to a disposable cold drinking vessel; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a perspective drawing of the embodiment of  FIG. 6  attached to an aluminum beverage can; 
           [0034]      FIG. 8A  is a front drawing of a portion of the middle section of the embodiment of  FIG. 6  showing the telescopic portion; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8B  is a back drawing of the portion of  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8C  is a side drawing of the portion of  FIG. 8A  shown in a dissembled configuration; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9A  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention that includes a gripping spike and a plurality of base-gripping structures arranged so as to accommodate vessels of differing heights; 
           [0038]      FIG. 9B  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9A , showing a bottle opener included in the embodiment, and a latching mechanism that can lock the embodiment in its unfolded configuration without a sliding sleeve; 
           [0039]      FIG. 9C  is a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9A , showing locations of the bottle opener and locking mechanism; and 
           [0040]      FIG. 9D  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9A  attached to a disposable hot drinking vessel. 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a self-limiting cantilevered flexible pinless hinge structure in an open, or unfolded assembled a closed position. 
           [0042]      FIG. 11   a  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a self-limiting cantilevered flexible pinless hinge structure in a separated, unassembled position. 
           [0043]      FIG. 11   b  is a close up view of the upper half of the embodiment of  FIG. 11   a.    
           [0044]      FIG. 11   c  is a close up view of the lower half of the embodiment of  FIG. 11   a.    
           [0045]      FIG. 12  is a top view of  FIG. 11   c  wherein the cantilevered arms are shown in phantom in the expanded position flexed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0046]    Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention and not for purposes of limiting the same,  FIG. 1  the present invention is a detachable handle  100  that includes an upper end  102 , a lower end  104 , and a middle section  106  that connects the upper end  102  to the lower end  104 . The middle section  106  includes a foldable portion  108  that can be bent so as to allow the detachable handle  100  to be folded into a storage configuration and unfolded into a fixed, curved, unfolded configuration. This foldable portion  108  thereby allows the detachable handle  100  to be folded into a compact shape for portable storage when it is not in use. The detachable handle  100  can be made of a metal, such as aluminum, or of a semi-rigid, durable plastic. The embodiment of  FIG. 1  further includes a sleeve  110  that can be slid over the foldable portion  108  so as to lock it into an unfolded configuration. Wing-like projections  111  are included so as to provide a more secure and comfortable grasp, and to balance and stabilize smaller cups when set to rest on a flat surface while still connected to the handle. In this embodiment, the foldable portion  108  included in the middle section  106  of the detachable handle  100  is a “hinge” formed by a thin strip of bendable plastic  112 . In similar embodiments, the hinge  112  is a traditional interlocking hinge. The hinge  112  includes a flap  113  that overlaps the hinge  112  and keeps the middle section  106  from being bent beyond its unfolded configuration. 
         [0047]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective drawing of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the detachable handle  100  unfolded and ready to be fixed in its unfolded configuration by sliding a rigid sleeve  110  over the hinge  112  so as to prevent folding of the middle section  106 . The rigid sleeve  110  can then be slid away from the hinge  112  so as to enable folding of the middle section  106 .  FIG. 2B  is a perspective drawing of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 2A  showing the detachable handle  100  fixed in its unfolded configuration due to sliding of the rigid sleeve  110  over the hinge  112 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 3  is a perspective drawing of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 2B  showing the detachable handle  100  prepared for attachment to a drinking vessel  300 . The middle section  106  is elastic, which allows the detachable handle  100 , while fixed in the curved, unfolded configuration, to be at least partially straightened so as to position the upper end  102  and the lower end  104  against the upper rim  116  and the lower rim  118  of the hot drinking vessel  114 , as shown in the figure. 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 3  showing the curved middle section  106  no longer partially straightened, thereby causing the upper end  102  and the lower end  104  of the detachable handle  100  to press against and grip the upper rim  116  and the lower rim  118  respectively of a disposable hot drinking vessel  400 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 5  is a perspective drawing of an embodiment  500  similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , but further including a key ring attachment  214  that enables attachment of the detachable handle  200  to a key ring  216 , so as to provide for ready access whenever needed. In similar embodiments, the detachable handle  200  includes a key ring. 
         [0051]      FIG. 6  is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment  600  similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 5  illustrated as being attached to a disposable cold drinking vessel  602 . As in the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the detachable handle  600  of  FIG. 6  includes an upper end  304 , a lower end  306 , a middle section  308  connecting the upper end  304  to the lower end  306 , and a key ring attachment  216 . However, the embodiment of  FIG. 6  also includes a telescopic portion  310  that allows the length of the middle section  308  to be adjusted.  FIG. 7  is a perspective drawing of the embodiment  600  of  FIG. 6  illustrated as being attached to an aluminum beverage can  316 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 8A ,  FIG. 8B  and  FIG. 8C  are a front drawing, a back drawing and a side drawing respectively of the middle section  308  of the embodiment  600  of  FIG. 6 , providing close-up views of the telescopic portion  310  that allows the length of the middle section  308  to be adjusted. The telescopic portion  310  utilizes a sliding and locking mechanism, including a first member  318  that can slide telescopically within a channel  326  formed in a second member  320 , the first member  318  having a protrusion  322  that is able to engage with any of a series of holes  324  provided in the second member  320 , thereby fixing the first member  318  in place within the channel  326 . Tabs  328  provided on the sides of the first member  318  engage with corresponding slots in the sides of the channel  326  formed within the second member  320 , thereby retaining the first member  318  within the channel  326 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , the second member  320  can be flexed so as to pop the protrusion  322  out of a hole  324 , thereby allowing adjustment of the length of the middle section  308  of the detachable handle  300  until the protrusion  322  engages with another hole  324 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 9A ,  FIG. 9B , and  FIG. 9C  are a perspective front view, a side view, and a rear view respectively of a preferred embodiment  900  that includes a plurality of base-gripping structures  901 , arranged along a lower portion of the handle  900  so as to allow gripping of drinking vessels having a variety of heights. Depending on the height of the drinking vessel, one of the base-gripping structures  901  can engage the base of the vessel, while the other base-gripping structures  901  are either located below the vessel or held away from the side of the vessel by the curvature of the handle  900 . This embodiment also includes a gripping spike  902  located near the upper end  102  of the handle  900 . The gripping spike  902  is able to work in opposition to the upper end  102  of the handle so as to firmly grip the upper rim of a drinking vessel. In some embodiments, the gripping spike  902  is fixed in position. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9A ,  FIG. 9B , and  FIG. 9C , the gripping spike  902  is attached to a slideable mount  903  that allows the gripping spike  902  to be slid upwards so as to firmly engage the gripping spike  902  with the upper rim of a drinking vessel. 
         [0054]    The embodiment  900  of  FIG. 9A ,  FIG. 9B , and  FIG. 9C  further includes a flap  904  that prevents the hinge  110  from being bent beyond its unfolded configuration. The flap  904  is similar to the flap  113  of  FIG. 1A , but includes a hole  906  that can be engaged with a peg  908  so as to fix it in its unfolded configuration. A bottle opener  910  is included near the bottom of the rear side of the embodiment  900 .  FIG. 9D  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9A ,  FIG. 9B , and  FIG. 9C  attached to a hot drinking vessel. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 10-12  show a preferred embodiment wherein the middle section is a hinge comprising flexible cantilevered arms  501  with integrated pins  502  and inner tabs  503  on a lower side  500  and an upper side  511  with complementary pinholes  506  that engage the integrated pins  502  when the hinge is in the assembled position. The upper side  511  further comprises outer tabs  505  that overlap the inner tabs  503  when the hinge is assembled and in the open configuration. The inner tabs  503  and outer tabs  505  stabilize the hinge in the open position and a user is unable to disassemble the hinge in the fully open position. The cantilevered arms  501  are relatively long and thin so that they can flex away from the lower side  500  when the hinge is in the closed position and thus be easily disassembled. For the sake of clarity, assembly and disassembly must take place in the closed position or within 10-20 degrees of the closed position. For example, in the preferred embodiment the cantilevered arms  501  are one inch long and one sixteenth ( 1/16) of an inch wide, and quarter (¼) inch thick. The dimensions can be adjusted based on the strength of the polymer. If the cantilevered arms  501  are too short relative to the other dimensions they will be inflexible and may snap during assembly. If the cantilevered arms  501  are too long relative to the other dimensions they will be weak and may not have enough resilience to maintain the pins  502  in place. To assemble the pin  502  must slide over a pin lock  515  that houses the pinhole  506 . The lower side  500  and upper side  511  can be assembled by flexing the cantilevered arms  501  away from the lower side  500  allowing the integrated pins  502  to engage the pinholes  506 . 
         [0056]    The lower side  500  further comprises stabilizing fins  509  and stabilizing valleys  510 . The stabilizing fins  509  and stabilizing valleys  510  are complementary to and interdigitate with stabilizing fins  507  and stabilizing valleys  508  on the upper side  511 . In the assembled position the fins and valleys interdigitate and allow a stable platform to guide the hinge from the closed position to the open position and vice versa. The lower side  500  also has abutment  512  that complements upper side  511  abutment receiver surface  513 . The abutment  512  and abutment receiver surface  513  can be adjusted in depth to set the maximum angle that the hinge can open. The range of angles is approximately 10 degrees to 350 degrees. In an alternative embodiment the abutment  512  and abutment receiver surface  513  can be reversed such that the abutment  512  can be on the upper side  511  and the abutment receiver surface  513  can be on the lower side  500 . 
         [0057]      FIGS. 11   a - c  show the hinge in the disassembled configuration. This is a very useful method for assembling hinges because it does not require tools or additional parts. Additionally, the disassembly is just as easy as assembly. This is efficient for packaging products and reducing the overall volume and packaging material for home goods, toys, doors, and tools. 
         [0058]      FIG. 12  shows the cantilevered arms  501  in the flexed position in phantom lines. Fins  509  and valleys  510  are shown in phantom lines beneath the abutment  512 . 
         [0059]    The dimensions of the integrated pins  502  can vary depending on the intended use. In the case of a collapsible beverage holding device the pin  502  need only be 0.5-3.0 millimeter long and 0.5-3.0 millimeter in diameter. The pin  502  may also have a tapered surface to aid in the assembly when the pin  502  must slide over pin lock  515 . The ease of assembly and disassembly allows for quick maintenance or access without compromising strength or durability while in use. This invention can be manually assembled by its flexible cantilevered pins which can be flexed to fit around structure containing matching size holes and securely spring and remain in place no matter what direction an opposing force is imparted thereafter in contrast to most other snap hinges. 
         [0060]    Other technologies requiring separate parts do not allow for quick manual assembly without tools or addition of other parts; in addition it is securely assembled without risk of disassembly through cycles of normal use; in addition it provides intentionally limited range of motion with persistent strength throughout full range of motion; in addition it is relatively simple and low cost to manufacture as a molded process. It can also be disassembled and reassembled with the same process and relative ease. 
         [0061]    Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the particular combination of parts described and illustrated herein are intended to represent only one embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices within the spirit and scope of the invention.