Abstract:
A container sleeve is disclosed which include a body configured to hold a container. The body contains an attachment element that is concealed behind a cover, and is suitable for temporarily, but securely attaching the sleeve, container, and the container&#39;s contents to a vertical surface. The body and the cover over the attachment element have different coefficients of friction, optimized for their roles of gripping vertical surfaces, and human hands, respectively.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to provisional application No. U.S. 62/360,050, filed on Jul. 8, 2016, entitled “Magnetic Container Holder and Support,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
         [0002]    This application is also related to U.S. design application No. 29/570,520 entitled “Container Holder,” filed on Jul. 8, 2016, which is also incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0003]    This disclosure relates generally to the field of fluid container sleeves. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    People frequently use personal, fluid containers in a variety of situations, such as during physical exercise where the fluid is a beverage. However, while people are exercising, they may need to put the container down and may not have a convenient place to do so and so may put the container in a location where it could spill, be damaged, or cause a trip hazard. 
         [0005]    The information included in this Background section of the specification, including any references cited herein and any description or discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes only and is not to be regarded as subject matter by which the scope of the invention as defined in the claims is to be bound. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A fluid container sleeve is disclosed. The sleeve has a body with an interior surface and an exterior surface which define a body. These surfaces define a volume suitable for holding a fluid container. An attachment element is coupled to the body. The attachment element exerts a magnetic pull force. A cover is attached to the exterior surface of the body and positioned to at least partially enclose the attachment element. The cover supports the combined weight of at least the container, any fluid in the container, the attachment element, and the cover. The cover has a coefficient of friction that is at least the ratio of the combined weight divided by the magnetic pull force. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a container sleeve is disclosed. The sleeve has an interior and an exterior surface defining a body with an inner volume. An attachment element is attached to the body. The attachment element exerts a magnetic pull force sufficient to support the body and container in a predetermined position. A cap is connected to the body and positioned over a first surface of the attachment element so as to conceal the attachment element from the exterior surface of the body. The cap has a coefficient of friction larger than a coefficient of friction of the exterior surface of the body. 
         [0008]    In yet another embodiment, a container sleeve is disclosed having a cylindrical body defined by an interior and an exterior surface. The interior surface defines an inner volume that holds a fluid container. The body has an open end and a closed end. An attachment element is coupled to the body wherein the attachment element exerts a magnetic pull force. A strap closes around the container at the open end. A strap adjuster adjusts a length of the strap and holds the length of the strap. A cover is attached to the exterior surface of the body and positioned to at least partially enclose the attachment element. The cover supports a combined weight of at least the container, the fluid in the container, the attachment element, and the cover. The cover has a coefficient of friction that is at least a ratio of the combined weight divided by the magnetic pull force, and the cover exerts an elastic force less than the magnetic pull force. 
         [0009]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. A more extensive presentation of features, details, utilities, and advantages of the present invention as defined in the claims is provided in the following written description of various embodiments of the invention, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of one embodiment of a container sleeve. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of one embodiment of a container sleeve. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of one embodiment of a container sleeve. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of one embodiment of a container sleeve. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an exploded isometric view one embodiment of a container sleeve. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a deconstructed view of one embodiment of a container sleeve. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a deconstructed alternate embodiment of a container sleeve. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate front and side elevation views of an alternative embodiment of a container sleeve. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C  illustrate multiple cross sectional views of several embodiments of an attachment element in a container sleeve. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10A  is a front elevation view of one embodiment of a container sleeve holding a container, before a strap is tightened. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10B  is a front elevation view of one embodiment of a container sleeve holding a container, after a strap is tightened. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  illustrates a prior art container wedged into an exercise machine. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  illustrates the container sleeve of  FIG. 1  holding a fluid container and secured to an exercise machine. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  illustrates an alternate view of one embodiment of a container sleeve of  FIG. 1  supporting a fluid container and positioned on an exercise machine. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  illustrates an embodiment of a container sleeve of  FIG. 1  holding a container with a strap tightened, having a first and a second cinching feature. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The present disclosure is generally directed toward a sleeve for holding a fluid container securely, but temporarily, to a surface. In one embodiment, the sleeve has a body with an interior and an exterior surface. The interior surface of the body defines an internal volume shaped and sized to support and hold a fluid container. In some embodiments, the inner volume may further be defined, at the bottom, by a bottom surface at least partially closing the bottom of the body. In some embodiments, the sleeve includes a strap and a strap adjuster, which may be dual purpose to define a carrying handle for a user and to cinch the top end of the sleeve around the fluid container to help hold the fluid container within the internal volume. In some embodiments, the cinching mechanism may be single purpose and a handle may not be included, e.g., an elastic element that tightens around the top end of the fluid container. 
         [0026]    The body also includes an attachment element that exerts a pull force between the sleeve and a magnetic surface, the attachment element supports the sleeve and fluid container at a desired position and location. For example, the attachment element holds at least the combined weight of the sleeve, the fluid container, the fluid within the fluid container, the strap, and strap adjuster to the magnetic surface. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, a cover is attached to the exterior surface of the body and at least partially covers the attachment element. The cover may act to increase the frictional coefficient of the sleeve and in these embodiments may be selected such that the coefficient of static friction between the cover and the magnetic surface is at least the ratio of the combined weight of the sleeve, fluid container, and fluid, divided by the pull force exerted between the attachment element and the magnetic surface. The cover may be made of different materials depending on the relative coefficient of static friction desired between the cover and the magnetic surface, as well as aesthetic characteristics. For example, the cover may be a rubber material and the body may be a neoprene or similar material. In some embodiments, the attachment element may be disposed on the exterior surface of the body, within a recess in the body, or within a recess in the body surrounded from the rear, sides, or in front by materials different from the body, or different from the attachment element. In other embodiments, the cover may be formed integrally with the body or may be omitted. 
         [0028]    In other embodiments, the cover may have a coefficient of friction that is substantially the same as the body. In these embodiments, the cover may act as a connection location identifier to alert a user where the sleeve should engage a support surface. In these embodiments, the cover may act to hold the attraction element within the sleeve and separate the attraction element from the environment. 
         [0029]    Turning to the figures,  FIGS. 1-5  illustrate various views of a container sleeve.  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a container sleeve  100 , while  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate elevation views of container sleeves  126  and  128 , respectively.  FIG. 4  illustrates a top plan view of a container sleeve  132 , and  FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of a container sleeve. It should be noted that while various features of the sleeve are discussed as particular functions, they may also be selected to have an aesthetically pleasing shape and configuration in order to be attractive and pleasing to a user. With reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , the container sleeve  100  includes a body  102 , a strap  106 , a strap adjuster  112 , an attachment element  130 , and a cover  104 , each of which will be discussed in turn below. 
       The Body 
       [0030]    The body  102  includes an interior surface  110  defining an inner volume  116  and an exterior surface  114 . The interior surface  110  is separated from the exterior surface  114  by thickness, T, of the body  102 . In various embodiments, the interior surface  110  defines an inner volume  116  to hold a container. The inner volume  116  may act as a storage compartment and be shaped and sized to receive various containers, such as, but not limited to, bottles, cups, flasks, cans, pouches, boxes, or the like. Containers may have a cylindrical shape with a circular, or near-circular, cross-sectional shape as seen from a top plan view or bottom plan view. In some cases, containers may have a polygonal or irregular shape. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the body  102  forms a generally cylindrical shape, but in other embodiments may be differently configured. In many embodiments, the body is formed of a sufficiently flexible and pliant material to allow, the body  102  to conform different shapes of fluid containers, such as various polygonal, prism-shaped containers, or other irregularly shaped containers. This allows the body to restrain the fluid container, but also may act to insulate the fluid container. 
         [0031]    The body  102  may further have a height, H, and width, W, as shown with respect to  FIG. 2 . The height, H, extends from a bottom end  120  of the body  102  to a top end  118  of the body  102 . The width, W, extends from a left side  122  of the body  102 , to a right side  124  of the body  102 . In some embodiments, the body  102  may have a height, H, allowing at least half of a height of a container to fit into the inner volume  116 . 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, the body  102  further has an opening, as shown in the top plan view of  FIG. 4 , and is closed at the bottom by an interior bottom surface  109  of a bottom end  120 . In these embodiments, the body may prevent condensation that may accumulate around the fluid container from leaking from the sleeve  100 . In other embodiments, the body  102  may be open, or partially closed at the bottom. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, the body  102  is made of a material having sufficient structural rigidity allowing the generally cylindrical shape to be maintained when the inner volume  116  is empty. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the container sleeve  100  may be a sleeve fitted around, or otherwise enclosing a container. The body  102  may also be pliable enough to conform to containers of various shapes and sizes. For example, the body  102  may fit around fluid containers of various sizes, such as fluid containers sized according to the volume of fluid they can hold. The body  102  may be configured to fit reusable and disposable bottles, cups, or cans of any size, or a range of sizes. In some embodiments, the body  102  may have elasticity to stretch around fluid containers having a larger diameter than the diameter of the body  102 . In some cases, the body  102  may be optimized to fit a certain size of container, or a range of sizes determined by the degree by which the body  102  can stretch and deform. 
         [0034]    In another aspect, the body  102  may also be made from an insulating material to reduce the rate of heat transfer between the fluid container and its surroundings, thereby keeping the temperature of the fluid in the fluid container substantially constant over a period of time. Insulating material may include, without limitation, suitable polymer foam having either closed or open-cell geometry. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the body  102  may be constructed from a fabric, expanded polymer foam, other suitable polymer material, or a combination of fabric and polymer material. For example, in some embodiments, the body  102  may include fabric created from, without limitation, polyester, nylon, polyurethane, or elastane. In further embodiments, the body  102  may include, without limitation, a polymer sheet or foam formed from latex rubber, nitrile rubber, expanded neoprene, styrene rubber, or other suitable synthetic rubbers, silicone, expanded polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl acetate, and polyvinyl chloride, and other polymers. In some embodiments, the body  102  may be a polymer sheet or foam lined on at least one of an exterior or interior surface with a fabric. In some further embodiments, a waterproof lining may be provided to cover all surfaces of the body  102  to prevent the buildup and trapping of moisture. In other embodiments, a porous open-cell foam may be utilized in the body  102  to allow moisture to escape from the body  102 . 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , in other embodiments, the body  102  may be extruded or molded into its shape. In some embodiments, the bottom end  120  may be a separate piece attached to the bottom of the body  102 . The strap  106 , strap adjuster  112 , attachment element  130 , and cover  140  may be attached to the body  102 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates a deconstructed container sleeve  136  according to various embodiments. The deconstructed container sleeve  136  may include body  138 , cover  140 , strap  144 , strap adjuster  142 , and attachment element  146 . The body  138  may be constructed from a single sheet of polymer material. The polymer sheet may be generally rectangular, having a length and a width. The polymer sheet may have a first end  148  and a second end  150  separated by the length. The body  138  may be rolled widthwise into a cylindrical shape, with first and second ends  148 ,  150  attached together. Attachment of the first and second ends may include, without limitation, stitching, pressing, fusing, or bonding of first and second ends. 
         [0037]    With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 , in an alternative set of embodiments, bottom end  120  of a container sleeve  204  may be part of polymer sheet itself.  FIG. 7  illustrates one such polymer sheet  206 , according to various embodiments. The polymer sheet  206  may have a left edge  208  and a right edge  210  extending in a lengthwise direction, and a top edge  211  and a bottom edge  213 , extending in the widthwise direction. The polymer sheet may therefore further include a first cutout  212  disposed approximately centrally along the left edge  208 , and a second cutout  214  disposed approximately centrally along the right edge  210 . The left edge  208  and right edge  210  may thus be divided, by the first and second cutouts, respectively, into top and bottom halves. The polymer sheet may thus be folded in half, widthwise, with the top half of the left edge  208  attached to the bottom half of the left edge  208 , and the top half of the right edge  210  similarly attached to the bottom half of the right edge  210 . For example, in one set of embodiments, the left edge  208  may be stitched, or bonded to itself, and the right edge  210  may similarly be stitched or bonded to itself. When constructed in this manner, the center area  216 , defined on either side by the first and second cutouts  212 ,  214 , may be the bottom end  120  with respect to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 8A, and 9B  illustrate a front plan view and a side plan view of a container sleeve  192  having body  194  constructed from the polymer sheet  206  of  FIG. 7 . Here, the first cutout  200  corresponds to first cutout  212  disposed centrally along the left edge  196 , and a second cutout  202  corresponds to the second cutout  214  disposed centrally along the right edge  198 , after the left edge  196  and right edge  198  have respectively been attached together. According to some embodiments, the first cutout  200  and second cutout  202  may be stitched or bonded shut. This can be seen with respect to  FIG. 13 , described in further detail below. 
       The Handle and Cinching Features 
       [0039]    The sleeve container may also include one or more features that assist a user in carrying and enclosing the fluid container. For example, a handle may be connected to the sleeve, such as a strap, loop, or the like, that allows a user to grasp the sleeve at a particular location and that may not require a user to fit his or her hand around the diameter of the fluid container and sleeve. Additionally or alternatively, the sleeve may also include a cinching or enclosing feature that encloses a top end of the sleeve around the fluid container. This helps to ensure that the fluid container remains within the compartment, even if the sleeve is turned upside down or rotated. 
         [0040]    In some embodiments, the cinching mechanism and carrying feature may be integrated in a dual purpose strap. For example, with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , strap  106  may be coupled to the body  102  and in some embodiments, the strap  106  may be adjustably positioned around the body  102  in order to cinch or close the top opening of the body around the fluid container. The strap  106  may be tightened or loosened around the body  102  via strap adjuster  112  or cinching mechanism, which in some embodiments may be a buckle, fastener, or the like. In various embodiments, the strap  106  may be elastic or inelastic. For example, without limitation, the strap  106  may be made of polyester, nylon, leather, jute, metal, fiberglass, or other polymer or natural materials. The strap adjuster  112  may be configured to allow the length of the strap  106  to be adjusted, and to maintain the length of the strap  106  at a desired position. Accordingly, the strap adjuster  112  may include quick release buckles, ratcheting buckles, and ladder buckles. 
         [0041]    With reference to  FIG. 14 , in some embodiments, the sleeve  250  may have a first cinching feature  260  and a second cinching feature  256 . The first cinching feature  260  cinches a strap  262  around a body  254  of the sleeve  250  and a fluid container  252 , holding the fluid container  252  in the body  254  of the sleeve  250 . The second cinching feature adjusts the size a loop  258  in a strap  262  to make it a suitable length for hooking over specific objects. For example, without limitation, the second cinching feature  256  may adjust the loop  258  to different length to hook over a coat hook, a door knob, handle, protrusion, a user&#39;s finger, a hanger, or other suitable feature. 
         [0042]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-5, and 14 , in some alternative embodiments, instead of a strap  106 , a cinching cord may be provided. The cinch cord may be elastic or inelastic. For example, without limitation, the cinch cord may be made of polyester, nylon, leather, jute, metal, fiberglass, or other polymer or natural materials. 
       The Attachment Element 
       [0043]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , in other embodiments, an attachment element  130  may be attached to, coupled to, or recessed within the body. The attachment element  120  may be a magnetic element having a substantially plate-like or disc-like structure with at least one planar surface configured to magnetically couple to a magnetic surface. In various embodiments, the attachment element  130  may include ferrite magnets and/or rare earth magnets, such as, without limitation, neodymium magnets. With reference to  FIG. 9A , in some embodiments, the attachment elements  158 ,  164 , and  170  may be coupled to or recessed into the body  154 ,  160 ,  166  in various ways. For example, in one set of embodiments, the attachment element  158  may be positioned to be adjacent to an exterior surface of the body  154 , and confined within a pocket defined by the cover  156  and exterior surface of the body  154 . 
         [0044]    With reference to  FIG. 9B , in a further set of embodiments, labeled the attachment element  164  may alternatively be positioned within a recess in the exterior surface of the body  160 . The recess may then be covered by cover  162 , thus securing attachment element  164  in the recess. 
         [0045]    With reference to  FIG. 9C , in another set of embodiments, the attachment element  170  may be disposed within the body  166 , between an interior and exterior surface of the body  166 . In configuration  9 C, the attachment element  170  may be enclosed by one or more different materials above by top section  172 , below by bottom section  174 , behind by back section  176 , and in front by front section  178 . Front section  178  may be further enclosed with a cover  168 . In some embodiments, sections  170  and  172  may be circumferential sections in contact with the circumferential edge of attachment element  170 . Sections  170  and  172  may be the same width as the body  166 , or they may be narrower. In some embodiments, top section  172 , bottom section  174 , back section  176 , and front section  178  may be the same material, while in other embodiments, each of the sections  172 ,  174 ,  176 ,  178  may be different materials. For example, in some embodiments, the front and back sections  176 ,  178  may be a first material, while top and bottom sections  172  and  174  may be a second material. In some embodiments, additional materials may be utilized. In yet further embodiments, one or more of the various sections  172 ,  174 ,  176 , and  178  may be the same material as that used in the body  166 . In another embodiment, each of sections  172 ,  174 ,  176 , and  178  may each be different materials. Accordingly, each of the sections  172 ,  174 ,  176 , and  178  may be any of polyester, nylon, polyurethane, or elastane fabric, a polymer sheet or foam formed from latex rubber, nitrile rubber, expanded neoprene, styrene rubber, or other suitable synthetic rubbers, silicone, expanded polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl acetate, and polyvinyl chloride and other vinyl polymers, or a combination of fabric and polymer material. 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIG. 9C , alternately, sections  172 ,  174 ,  176 , and  178  may be magnetic materials for example, without limitation, iron, nickel, cobalt, and alloys of the same. Using magnetic materials in this way will enable a larger contact area, amplifying the holding force of the attachment element, without requiring the use of a larger attachment element  178 , thus saving cost, increasing stability of the container sleeve&#39;s contact on the surface to which it is attached, and enabling the sleeve to hold heavier containers than it could without those materials. 
         [0047]    With reference to  FIG. 9C , in other embodiments, sections  172 ,  174 ,  176 , and  178  may be rigid non-magnetic materials for example, without limitation, such as copper, aluminum, brass, thermoplastics, thermosetting plastics, wood, stone, or leather. Materials for sections  172 ,  174 ,  176 , and  178  may be chosen such that they act as an interface between the attachment element  178  and the body  166 . For instance, if the body  166  material and the attachment element  178  material are incompatible chemically, or physically, or cannot be reliably bonded to one another, materials may be chosen for sections  172 ,  174 ,  176 , and  178  that are compatible with both the material of the attachment element  178 , and the body  166 . 
         [0048]    With reference to  FIG. 9C , in other embodiments, sections  172 ,  174 ,  176 , and  178  may be rigid non-magnetic materials for example, without limitation, such as copper, aluminum, brass, thermoplastics, thermosetting plastics, wood, stone, or leather. Materials for sections  172 ,  174 ,  176 , and  178  may be chosen such that they act as an interface between the attachment element  178  and the body  166 . For instance, if the body  166  material and the attachment element  178  material are incompatible chemically, or physically, or cannot be reliably bonded to one another, materials may be chosen for sections  172 ,  174 ,  176 , and  178  that are compatible with both the material of the attachment element  178 , and the body  166 . 
       The Cover 
       [0049]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , in some embodiments, the cover  104  may be coupled to the body  102 , securing the attachment element  130  to the body  102 . In one set of embodiments, the cover  104  may define a pocket with the exterior surface  114  to hold the attachment element  130 . The cover may act to enhance the connection between the sleeve and the support surface, e.g., may increase the coefficient of friction compared to either or both the body and the attachment mechanism. 
         [0050]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , in various embodiments, attachment of the cover  104  may include, without limitation, stitching, pressing, fusing, or bonding. For example, in some embodiments, the cover  104  may be stitched to the body  102 . In other embodiments, an adhesive may be used to attach the cover  104  to the body  102 . In a further embodiment, the cover  104  may be bonded to the body  102  using other suitable techniques, including, without limitation, thermal bonding, chemical bonding, and the like. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other techniques may be utilized to attach the magnetic cover  104  to the body  102 , and that the above description should not be taken as limiting. 
         [0051]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , in various embodiments, the cover  104  may be a sheet-like structure, having a size and shape configured to cover at least part of the attachment element  130  and secure the attachment element  130  against the body  102 . Accordingly, in some embodiments, the cover  104  may be a cap that can be either flexible or rigid, covering or concealing the attachment element against the body  102 . In some embodiments, the cover  104  may further be configured to support the weight of the container sleeve  100 , a fluid container, and any fluid in the container. Accordingly, the cover  104  may be created from a material having sufficient strength to support the weight of a filled fluid container, repeatedly, without experiencing material failure or weakening, such as tearing, perforation, permanent deformation, or other structural failure. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the cover  104  may also have a coefficient of friction appropriate to keep the container sleeve  100  in place against a vertical or sloped surface. For example, in one set of embodiments, the cover  104  may have a coefficient of friction, relative to the magnetic surface, which is greater than or equal to a ratio of the combined weight of the container sleeve  100  and a filled fluid container (total weight “W”), and a pull force of the attachment element  130  (“F”). In other words, the coefficient of friction may be greater than or equal to the ratio of W/F. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the cover  104  may be created from an elastomer, or other suitable polymer material. Suitable materials may include, without limitation, latex rubber, nitrile rubber, neoprene or other suitable synthetic rubbers, silicone, polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl acetate, and polyvinyl chloride and other polymers. 
         [0052]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , in other embodiments, the material of cover  104  may be chosen to maximize the coefficient of static friction between the cover  104 , and typical surfaces to which the container sleeve  134  may be attached. In this way the coefficient of friction for the sleeve may be customized for different usage modes (i.e. holding mode and mounted mode). By way of example and for illustration only, to optimize the sleeve  134  for mounted mode, the cover  104  may be of a rough material like sand paper that does not easily slide along smooth surfaces. Alternately, the surface of cover  104  may possess horizontal ridges that resist sliding movement of the sleeve along an axis parallel to the axis Y-Y. However, materials that maximize friction between the mounting surface and the cover  104 , may not be comfortable, ergonomic, nor aesthetically pleasing to hold. Therefore, to make the sleeve  134  appropriate for holding mode, the body  102  may be made of a material entirely different than the cover, a material that is easy and comfortable to hold. 
         [0053]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , in other embodiments, the material of a first cover  104  may be further covered with second cover  105  made of the same, or a different material. By selecting the materials used for first cover  104  and second  105 , different properties can be obtained. For example, without limitation, first cover  104  could be an elastomer such as rubber, expanded polymer foam, thermoplastic, or thermosetting plastic; and the second cover  105  could be a rugged, abrasion-resistant material such as woven nylon, aramid, polypropylene, or cotton fibers or blends of fibers. Also for example, without limitation, first cover  104  could be made of expanded polymer foam, and second cover  105  could be made of a material such as rubber, to enhance the coefficient friction, and also provide an elastic force when compressed by a magnetic pull force of the attachment element. 
         [0054]    With reference to  FIG. 9C , in some embodiments, cover  168  may be made of a spongy material with a low spring rate, or Young&#39;s or elastic modulus. Such a material will collapse under the magnetic pull force between the attachment element  170  and a magnetic surface. In so collapsing, the cover  168  will allow for a stable, flush attachment area between the sleeve  152  and the surface. In addition, depending on the Young&#39;s modulus of the cover  168  material, and its thickness, the cover  168  will generate a spring force opposed to that of the attachment element  170 . This opposing force will enable a user to easily re-position the sleeve by helping to push the sleeve away from a magnetic surface. 
       Operating the Strap and Strap Adjuster 
       [0055]      FIG. 10A  illustrates a front elevation view of a container sleeve  180  for a fluid container before a strap  186  is adjusted with a strap adjuster  188 .  FIG. 10B  illustrates a front elevation view of a container sleeve after a strap  186  is adjusted. In various embodiments, a fluid container  190  may be placed within the body  182  of the container sleeve  180 . The body  182  may further have a cover  184  positioned on the exterior of the body  182 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10B , the body  182  may be secured to the fluid container  190  via strap  186  and strap adjuster  188 . The strap  186  may be tightened around the fluid container  190 , and locked in place via strap adjuster  188 . In this manner, the strap  186  and strap adjuster  188  may be used to tighten the body  182  around a fluid container, preventing the body  182  from sliding off of the fluid container. In some further embodiments, the strap  186  may at least partially be attached circumferentially around the body  182 . 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a cinch may be provided instead of a strap adjuster  112 , to adjust the length of the cinching cord, and to maintain the desired length of the cinching cord. In some embodiments, a loop may be provided at an end of the strap  106  to serve as a handle, or to hang the container sleeve  100  from, for example, a protruding feature such as a hook, handle, pin, or other suitable part of an exercise machine. 
       Operating the Attachment Element and Cover 
       [0057]    With respect to  FIGS. 1 and 5  in various embodiments, the container sleeve  100  may be configured to attach to a magnetic surface. The magnetic surface may include, without limitation, the magnetic surface of a car, truck, motorcycle, an exercise machine or exercise equipment, home appliances, furniture, a bicycle frame, wall, or any other suitable surface upon which the attachment element  130  may exert a magnetic force. The container sleeve  100  may be attached to the magnetic surface via the attachment element  130  and cover  104 . The cover  104  may be attached to the body  102 , with attachment element  130  positioned between the cover  104  and the body  102 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 11  illustrates a prior art fluid container  218  wedged into an exercise machine  220 . Here, the fluid container  218  is merely wedged into a gap created by the handle  222  of the exercise machine  220 . As described previously, bottles may easily be knocked over, dropped, kicked, stepped on, or crushed by the exercise machine  220 . When placed on or wedged into the exercise machines  220 , the bottles may interfere with the operation of, and cause damage to, the exercise machine  220 . Accordingly, with reference to  FIG. 5 , the body  102  may attach to a magnetic surface at a suspension area. The suspension area may be a section of the body  102 , along a longitudinal axis Y-Y, to which the cover  104  and attachment element  130  are attached to the body  102 . 
         [0059]    With respect to  FIGS. 1-5 , accordingly, in some embodiments, the cover  104 , and attachment element  130 , may be centered, with respect to the body  102 , at or above a halfway point of the body  102  along longitudinal axis Y-Y (e.g. height), and may be located along a radial axis X-X. In other embodiments, the cover  104  and attachment element  130  may be positioned such that it is above the center of mass of a filled fluid container within the inner volume  116  of the body  102 . For example, the attachment element  130  may be positioned above a center height of the body  102 . In this way, a suspension area may be configured to prevent the fluid container from becoming free from the body  102  while attached to a magnetic surface. It is to be understood that the above description makes reference to only one attachment element  130  and one cover  104  to provide a simpler conceptual example only. It will be appreciated that in further embodiments, multiple attachment elements  130  and/or covers  104  may be utilized. For example, in one set of embodiments, one or more attachment elements  130  may be distributed to increase the size of the suspension area. In another set of embodiments, one or more attachment elements may be offset to create suspension points around a center of mass of a fluid container. In some embodiments, each of the one or more attachment elements  130  may have a respective cover  104 , while in other embodiments more than one attachment element  130  may share a cover  104 . 
         [0060]    With respect to  FIGS. 5 and 12 , an exercise machine  228  without handles is illustrated. A way to more securely attach a fluid container to an exercise machine is disclosed.  FIG. 12  illustrates one implementation of the container sleeve  224  according to various embodiments disclosed. The body  226  of the container sleeve  224  may be configured to hold a fluid container  232 . The body  226  may be secured to the fluid container  232  via strap  230 . The container sleeve  224  may be suspended from a magnetic surface  234  via an attachment element  130 , coupled to the body  226  via a cover  104 . In various embodiments, the magnetic surface  234  may, as depicted, be a vertical surface of an exercise machine  228 . 
         [0061]    With respect to  FIGS. 5 and 13  an alternative view of container sleeve  236  is provided. The strap  240 , adjuster  242 , and second cutout  248  are visible. As described above, the second cutout  248  has been stitched or bonded shut, thereby creating an enclosed volume within body  238  for holding fluid container  244 . An attachment element  130  provides a pull force between the attachment element  130  and the magnetic surface of  246  of the exercise machine  228 .