Abstract:
A beverage holder for mobile usage in a vehicle having a container having a base and an opened end opposite the base. The base has an enclosure, a heating element contained within the enclosure; and a sensor capable of controlling the temperature of the heating element. The container receives a heatable cup that is capable of retaining a heatable beverage cup. A beverage holder for a vehicle console having a container having a base and an opening opposite the base. The beverage holder has a heating pad disposed in the container proximate the base. The base has an enclosure, a heating element contained within the enclosure; and a sensor capable of controlling the temperature of the heating element. The container is fully embedded in and electrically integrated into the vehicle console. A cup assembly for a beverage holder having a heatable cup, a lid and an outer shell.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/642,546 filed on Jan. 10, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a cup and a cup holder that can be used as a beverage warmer for a vehicle. Particularly, the invention relates to a cup and a cup holder that can be used as a beverage warmer that is either built into or secured to the console of a vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Currently, there does not exist a convenient and safe beverage warmer for a vehicle that can accommodate different types of cups. When travelers have purchased a cup of a warm beverage, such as coffee or tea, there is no means of keeping the beverage warm for extended periods of time inside of a vehicle. The paper or wax cup does not provide adequate insulation to maintain the temperature of the beverage at a desired level. Further, should travelers bring a mug or a thermos style cup of a warm beverage from their home or consumption in a vehicle, there does not exist a fully integrated or portable beverage warmer to maintain the temperature of the beverage.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, there is a need for an automated cup holder and a beverage warmer that accommodates different types of cups and is safely secured to a moving vehicle or electrically integrated into a vehicle&#39;s console.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A beverage holder for mobile usage in a vehicle having a container having a base and an opened end opposite the base. The base has an enclosure, a heating element contained within the enclosure; and a sensor capable of controlling the temperature of the heating element. The container receives a heatable cup that is capable of retaining a heatable beverage cup.  
         [0006]     A beverage holder for a vehicle console having a container having a base and an opening opposite said base. The beverage holder has a heating pad disposed in the container proximate the base. The base has an enclosure; a heating element contained within the enclosure; and a sensor capable of controlling the temperature of the heating element. The container is fully embedded in and electrically integrated into the vehicle console.  
         [0007]     A cup assembly for a beverage holder having a heatable cup, a lid matingly received on the cup and a shell. The cup is matingly received in the shell.  
         [0008]     The above-described and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Other and further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements of structure:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cup holder warmer according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cup holder according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0012]      FIGS. 3   a  through  3   b  illustrate two power cords to be used with the cup holder of the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cup according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  illustrate two lids for the cup according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a shell that receives the cup of  FIG. 4  according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates a store bought beverage cup that is inserted to a cup and covered with a lid of the present invention; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  illustrates the cup that is fully inserted into the shell of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the first embodiment of the cup holder  10  of the present invention is shown. Cup holder  10  is embedded in and electrically integrated into a front console or side console of a vehicle such as an automobile, a boat or a truck. Alternatively, the cup holder of the present invention could also be integrated into different locations of the vehicle, for example, the back of a front seat for access by a passenger in the rear seat of a vehicle. Cup holder  10  has a base  11 , a heating pad  12 , a heating element  14  and a surround  16 . Heating pad  12  can either be disposed on the bottom of cup holder  10  or it could extend upward along the side of surround  16 , as shown. Heating element  14  is contained in enclosure  18  disposed at the bottom of cup holder  10 . Cup holder  10  has a depth to prevent the inadvertent tipping of cups during travel. Cup holder  10  can either function to stabilize any beverage during travel or as a beverage warmer to heat and or insulate a beverage during travel. Cup holder  10  is designed to accommodate the cup of the present invention.  
         [0019]     Surround  16  is made from an insulating material such as tempered glass, ceramic, porcelain, thermoplastic or any such material that has similar insulating properties. Alternatively, surround  16  could also be made from a metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, or any metal alloy suitable for such purposes. The insulating material must be made from a temperature resistant material that is capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 110° F. to 220° F., or greater.  
         [0020]     The heating element of this embodiment is contained within an enclosure that is located beneath the inner liner. The heating element is a conventional resistive heating element that is activated by a switch after the vehicle is in operation. The temperature of the heating element is regulated by a temperature sensor or a thermostat. The thermostat will prevent the temperature of the heating element from exceeding a predetermined limit and will eliminate the possibility of the heating element, the cup and/or the beverage warmer from becoming overheated.  
         [0021]     Heating element  14  is contained within enclosure  18  that is embedded in the vehicle&#39;s console or other vehicle location. Heating element  14  is a conventional resistive heating element that is activated by a switch after the vehicle is in operation. The temperature of heating element  14  is regulated by a temperature sensor  19  or a thermostat. Sensor  19  or thermostat will prevent the temperature of heating element  14  from exceeding a predetermined limit and will eliminate the possibility of heating element  14  and cup holder  10  from becoming overheated.  
         [0022]     The cup holder  10  of the first embodiment is embedded in and electrically integrated into a vehicle electrical system  25 . Cup holder  10  is activated upon ignition of the vehicle. The warmer circuit  21  is powered by the vehicle&#39;s battery  22  and has a dedicated fuse in the vehicle&#39;s fuse bus  23 . The circuit is connected to a switch such that when the switch is activated, heating element is energized to warm a beverage. The circuit is properly rated to accommodate the current that the heating element with draw.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a cup holder  40  according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. Cup holder  40  has a heating pad  42 , a heating element  44  and a switch  46 . Heating element  44  is enclosed at the lower portion of cup holder  40  to heat heating pad  42 . Heating pad  42  can alternatively, extend up along sides of cup holder  40  to increase the heating surface as shown in the first embodiment. Cup holder  40  is made from a heat resistant plastic or porcelain or any such material that is capable of withstanding the temperature range of the heating element. Alternatively, cup holder  40  could be made from a metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, or any metal alloy suitable for such purposes. Cup holder  40  is portable and is intended for use in a vehicle of for a desktop.  
         [0024]     Heating element  44  of this embodiment is contained within an enclosure  48 . The heating element  44  is a conventional resistive heating element that is activated by a switch  46  after the vehicle is in operation. The temperature of heating element  44  is regulated by a thermostat or a temperature sensor. The thermostat or sensor will prevent the temperature of the heating element from exceeding a predetermined limit and will eliminate the possibility of the heating element  44  and cup holder  40  from becoming overheated.  
         [0025]     The second embodiment of the cup holder of the present invention is intended for portable use. Cup holder  40  is made to be placed on a flat fixed surface. Cup holder  40  can be secured to a flat surface by retaining surface  49  such as a hook and eye connector, such as Velcro, a suction pad, a high friction surface or any other similar method such as a bracket that will ensure stability on either a desktop or a moving vehicle. Preferably, cup holder  40  is secured to surface by threading. Cup holder  40  preferably has male threadings on an outer surface thereof that mate with female threads connected to a supporting surface, although the female threads could be disposed on the cup holder  40  with male threads on the supporting surface without impacting functionality.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 3   a , an electrical cord  50  is can be used with the second embodiment of the present invention. Cord  50  is connected to a base of cup warmer  40  and can be inserted into an outlet to be energized. When cord  50  is inserted into an outlet, switch  46  can be positioned to energize heating element  44  at the bottom of cup holder. Electrical cord  50  plugs into an AC 110 volt power supply. Cord  50  is a connected to a 12 volt transformer.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 3   b , an alternative electrical cord  60  can be used when cup holder  40  is to be used in a vehicle. Cord  60  is designed to be inserted into a 12 volt cigarette outlet or a transformer sufficient to operate heating element in a vehicle. The 12 volt electrical system will energize heating element  44  of cup holder  40  to warm beverage.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 through 5   b  and  7 , a cup  70  of the present invention will be described. Cup  70  is sized to fit into cup holders  10  and  40  of the first and second embodiments, respectively, of the present invention. Cup  70  is sized to accommodate tapered coffee containers that are store bought. Cup  70  is made of an insulating material such as tempered glass, ceramic, porcelain thermoplastic or any such material that is capable of withstanding heat from 110° F. to 220° F., or greater. Alternatively, cup holder  70  could be made from a metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, or any metal alloy suitable for such purposes. Cup  70  is threaded along a substantial distance of its outer length with male threads. The male threads  72  near the top of cup  70  receive a lid  80  or a lid  90 , that each have compatible female threads  82  of an inner surface thereon. Lid  80  is a hollow rimmed top with female threads to mate with the male threads  72  of cup  70 . Lid  80  secures a store bought beverage cup of  FIG. 7  in cup  70  to prevent the possibility of spills during transport. Alternatively, lid  90  is a spill proof lid that is matingly received on cup  70 . Lid  90  also secures a store bought cup inside of cup  70  to prevent spills during transport.  
         [0029]     Cup  70  is configured to receive a styrafoam paper or store bought cup  74 . Alternatively, the cup  70  can receive compatibly sized ceramic mug or a stainless steel thermos style cup brought from the user&#39;s home. Furthermore, cup  70  can also receive fluid directly such as coffee, tea, soup or a chilled beverage.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 8 , shell  100  is designed to receive cup  70 . Shell  100  is similarly tapered and is designed of an insulating material to maintain the temperature of beverage. Shell  100  can be made of glass, ceramic, porcelain, or thermoplastic or any such material with similar insulting properties. Alternatively, shell  100  could be made from a metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, or any metal alloy suitable for such purposes. Threaded outer surface of cup  70  is designed to be received in female threads of shell  100 . This mating relationship will prevent the possibility of spills during transport. Additionally, when cup  70  is placed inside of shell  100 , the two can be moved together with a store bought cup should the user decide to enjoy the beverage away from the vehicle.  
         [0031]     Cup  70  and store bought cup  110 , when placed inside of shell  100 , will extend past bottom of shell  100  and above top of shell  100 , respectively. The lower portion of cup  70  that is exposed will come in direct contact with heating pad  12  of cup holder  10  of the first embodiment of the present invention or heating pad  42  of cup holder  40  of the second embodiment of the present invention. The portions of heating pad that extend in a vertical direction will ensure heating of cup  70  not only at its base, but also along its sides. To further contain store bought cup within shell, a hollow lid similar to lids  80  and  90  that are sized to fit over the extending portion of store bought cup can also be used. In this alternative, lid  80  or  90  would not be secured to top of cup  70 .  
         [0032]     While this invention has been described with respect to an automobile, it can also have applicability to other vehicles such as boats, trucks or trailers. Further, while this invention is described with respect to insulating heated beverages, the materials used for the cup and the embodiments of the cup holder can also be used to maintain the temperature of chilled beverages.  
         [0033]     While the instant disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope thereof. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.