Abstract:
A beverage holder assembly for mounting to a framing member. The beverage holder assembly pivotably attaches to the framing member, whereby the beverage holder assembly maintains an open top liquid container, placed therein, in an upright position despite changes in the orientation of the framing member.

Description:
This application claims benefit to Ser. No. 60/154,459 filed Sep. 17, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a beverage holder assembly and more particularly, to a pivotable beverage holder assembly for mounting to a framing member for maintaining open top liquid containers in an upright position despite changes in the orientation of the framing member. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Golfers frequently employ the use of wheeled golf carts to transport golf clubs when playing golf. Most wheeled carts are not designed or built to support a beverage. A variety of beverage holders adapted to be attached to the wheeled golf cart are available. However, these beverage holders typically require a great number of parts, require complicated installation, and are expensive to manufacture, or do not provide the requisite stability or fail to prevent the beverage from spilling over changes in terrain. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,968 to Staschiak is directed to a beverage holder for a golf cart that includes a complex clamping portion that is difficult to install or remove. The clamping portion is made of a bracket having grooved interlocking pieces. Moreover, Stachiak employs a keyhole attachment for the beverage holder portion that is prone to detachment over rough terrain. Moreover, this particular design does not prevent theft. Loss of the beverage holder portion renders the apparatus useless. 
     Therefore, a need exists for an inexpensive beverage holder apparatus that is relatively simple, easily installed and can be used with all types of wheeled golf carts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A pivotable beverage holder assembly for mounting to a framing member includes a clamp for attaching the assembly to the framing member, wherein the clamp consists of a first holder with a surface for engaging the frame member to be clamped, a second holder with a surface in opposition to the surface of the first holder, first and second tightening bolts and nuts spacedly attached to the first holder and second holder for fixedly securing the clamp to the framing member, and a pivoting arm aperture in the first holder; a shoulder bolt and nut, wherein the shoulder bolt includes a head and a shaft, wherein the shaft includes a smooth portion extending from the head and a threaded end portion; and a beverage holder portion including a cylindrical body having an open top portion and a rigid arm extending tangentially and perpendicularly from the cylindrical body, wherein the rigid arm includes an aperture at an arm end that is pivotably attached to the pivoting arm aperture of the first clamp holder with the shoulder bolt and nut, whereby the beverage holder assembly maintains open top liquid containers in an upright position despite changes in the orientation of the framing member. 
     In a second embodiment, the pivotable beverage holder assembly for mounting to a framing member includes an L shaped bracket including a first portion fixedly attached to the framing member and a second portion including an aperture for pivotably attaching a beverage holder portion; a shoulder bolt and nut, wherein the shoulder bolt includes a head and a shaft, wherein the shaft includes a smooth portion extending from the head and a threaded end portion; and a beverage holder portion including a cylindrical body having an open top portion and a rigid arm extending tangentially from the cylindrical body, wherein the rigid arm includes an aperture at an arm end that is pivotably attached to the pivoting arm aperture of the first clamp holder with the shoulder bolt and nut, whereby the beverage holder assembly maintains open top liquid containers in an upright position despite changes in the orientation of the framing member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a top down view of a pivotable beverage holder assembly for mounting to a framing member. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a pivotable beverage holder assembly. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a pivotable beverage holder assembly. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pivotable beverage holder assembly shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the pivotable beverage holder assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pivotable beverage holder assembly shown in FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Can Caddy™ for golfers is a pivoting beverage holder assembly for mounting to a framing member, e.g., a stanchion support in a golf pull cart, designed to transport cups, travel mugs, water bottles, and cans containing liquids while maintaining an upright position during a typical round of golf. Liquids placed in such containers may be conveniently transported across hilly and irregular terrain with minimal spillage. The beverage holder assembly attaches to the stanchion of a pull-behind golf cart, enabling golfers the convenience of enjoying a beverage and avoiding the burden of carrying or placing it on the ground every time they hit the ball. 
     The convenience of having a place to put a beverage while pulling the golf club cart is the purpose of this invention. Golfers no longer need to be concerned with bending down and carefully placing their beverage on the ground and perhaps, spilling it while locating a level spot or picking it up. Many golfers who enjoy a beverage also spill it on themselves while walking. This may be avoided by owning one of these beverage holder assemblies. The freedom of not tying up a golfer&#39;s hands while playing and walking means less chances for spilling and getting the hands sticky from soda or coffee. A pivoting beverage holder assembly mounted to a golf cart will maintain an upright position and prevent spillage while pulling the golf cart. This unit conveniently mounts to the stanchion of the pull-behind golf cart and carries the beverage container while golfing; and collapses when the golfer transports the clubs. 
     Alternatively, the beverage holder apparatus may be mounted onto a baby carriage, a walk behind lawnmower, a mail cart, or the like. Once again, the Can Caddy for Golfers frees the hands while a person is walking over a variety of terrain avoiding spillage and provides a convenient place to put a beverage while in route. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, a beverage holder assembly, generally designated  10 , for mounting to a framing member  12  is illustrated. The assembly  10  generally includes a cylindrical body  14 , a pivot arm  16  and means for securely attaching the pivot arm  16  to the framing member  12 . The means for securely attaching the pivot arm  16  to the framing member  12  are shown in a first embodiment in FIGS. 1-4 and in a second embodiment in FIGS. 5 and 6. The cylindrical body  14  and pivot arm  16  are the same in both embodiments, whereby common reference numerals are used for these elements throughout the several views. 
     The cylindrical body  14  is an open top container that includes a base  16  and sidewalls  18  extending from the base  16 . As shown in FIG. 2, the base  16  provides a generally concave interior bottom surface. An aperture  20  is centrally located in the base for permitting liquid to exit the cylindrical body, e.g., condensation, spillage, rainwater or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical body  14  is machined or molded from a plastic material. 
     A pivot arm  16  is fixedly attached to the sidewall  18  of cylindrical body  14  and extends tangentially and substantially perpendicularly from the cylindrical body  14 . The pivot arm includes an aperture  18  spaced apart from the cylindrical body  14 . Preferably, the pivot arm  16  is fabricated from an aluminum metal. 
     In one embodiment, the means for securely attaching the pivot arm  16  to the framing member  12  includes a clamp  30 . The clamp  30 , as shown in FIGS. 1-4, includes a first holder  32  with a surface  33  for engaging the frame member  12  to be clamped, a second holder  34  with a surface  35  in opposition to the surface of the first holder  32 , first and second tightening bolts  36 ,  38  and nuts  40 ,  42  spacedly attached to the first holder  32  and second holder  34  for fixedly securing the clamp  30  to the framing member  12 . The surfaces  33  and  35  for engaging the framing member are shown having a radial recessed portion for securing the assembled clamp  30  to a cylindrical framing member  12 . Other shapes and configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. The first holder  32  further includes an aperture  44  for securing the pivot arm  16  to the clamp  30 . 
     The pivot arm  16  is attached to the clamp by means of a shoulder bolt  50  and nut  52 . The shoulder bolt  50  includes an engageable head and a shaft. The shaft includes a smooth portion  54  extending from the head and a threaded portion  56 . The shoulder bolt is inserted into apertures  18  and  44  and is fastened with nut  52  for pivotably attaching the open top cylindrical body  14  to the clamp  30 . The smooth portion  54  of the shoulder bolt  50  permits the cylindrical body to pivot as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     In a second embodiment, the means for securely attaching the pivot arm  16  to the framing member  12  includes an L shaped bracket  60 , as shown FIGS. 5 and 6. The L shaped bracket includes two surfaces  62  and  72  perpendicularly oriented with respect to each other. One surface  62  is fixedly attached to a planar surface of the framing member  12  with first and second tightening bolts  64 ,  66  and nuts  68 ,  70 . The other surface  72  includes an aperture  74  for securing the pivot arm  16  of the beverage holder assembly. The shoulder bolt  50  is inserted into apertures  18 ,  74  and fastened with nut  52 . 
     The beverage holder assembly is a mounting device attached to a pivoting can holder. According to the foregoing, the advantages of the invention include at least the following: 
     1. Provides a convenient way for the golfer to transport a beverage on the golf course without physically carrying the beverage; 
     2. Provides an apparatus that prevents spilling of the beverage by automatically maintaining the beverage in an upright position over a variety of terrains; 
     3. Provides a beverage holder apparatus that is collapsible along with the golf cart for easy storage and transportation; 
     4. Provides a beverage holder apparatus that may be mounted on the right side or left side of the wheeled golf cart, thus allowing greater flexibility. 
     5. The clamp is adapted to surround a tubular or rectangular framing member that is part of the pull behind golf cart. 
     While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration only, and such illustrations and embodiments as have been disclosed herein are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.