Abstract:
A holder for a container, the holder comprised of a perimeter, wherein said perimeter defines an interior space, and wherein the interior space is comprised of a container holding portion and an attachment housing portion, wherein the container holding portion includes a cavity conforming to the container, wherein the container is retained in the holder in a non-removable manner, and wherein the container includes a cap portion and the cap portion is not covered by the holder, and wherein the attachment housing portion is comprised of a means to attach the holder to an external object.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/238,251 filed on Oct. 7, 2015. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to holders for containers. Specifically, the present invention is for a holder that fits snugly around a container and is made of a moldable, flexible, squeezable material in a predetermined shape. 
         [0004]    Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    There exist in the prior art holders for containers of a variety of shapes. However, these containers generally are made of a hard material. Such a material is subject to cracking or breaking if dropped by a user, thereby rendering the product inside the container of little use due to contamination and certainty of leakage of the product through the crack in the container and/or holder. 
         [0006]    In addition, there exist in the prior art animal characters and pleasing shapes made of soft, flexible, moldable material to engage the hands of the user, to alleviate nervousness, anxiety, increase motor function and provide a host of other benefits. 
         [0007]    However, there does not exist in the market a holder for a container that provides the benefits of being able to engage a user&#39;s hands and also being a practical product capable of holding a container which may include lip gloss, antibacterial lotion or any other item one would choose to place in a container. The holder of the present invention fills a need in the market presently not addressed by the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An advantage of the holder of the present invention is that it is directed to a holder for a container, said holder comprised of a perimeter, wherein said perimeter defines an interior space, and wherein said interior space is comprised of a container holding portion and an attachment housing portion, wherein said container holding portion includes a cavity conforming to the container, wherein said container is retained in the holder in a non-removable manner, and wherein said container includes a cap portion and said cap portion is not covered by the holder, and wherein said attachment housing portion is comprised of a means to attach the holder to an external object. 
         [0009]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the holder of the present invention includes an attachment means comprised of a retractable reel assembly and a retractor cord coupled to the retractable reel assembly, wherein said retractable reel assembly is situated within the attachment housing portion of the holder, and wherein the perimeter surrounding the attachment housing portion includes an aperture communicating with the exterior of the interior space, and wherein the retractor cord is threaded through the aperture while remaining connected to the retractor reel assembly, and wherein the reel assembly permits selective movement of the holder when one pulls on the retractor cord. 
         [0010]    A further advantage of the holder of the present invention is that the attachment means is comprised of an anchor including a securing ring, wherein the perimeter surrounding the attachment housing portion includes an aperture communicating with the exterior of the interior space which allows the securing ring to be visible on the exterior of the holder, and wherein the securing ring is capable of being fastened to a securing means. 
         [0011]    Yet another advantage of the holder of the present invention is that the securing means is a strap. 
         [0012]    A further advantage of the present inventions that the securing means is a retractable cord. 
         [0013]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the holder is comprised of a moldable material. 
         [0014]    Yet another advantage of the holder of the present invention is that the holder is comprised of a flexible material. 
         [0015]    A further advantage of the holder r of the present invention is that the holder is comprised of a squeezable material. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The invention will be better understood and objects of the invention will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the holder of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a first embodiment of the holder of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of a first embodiment of the holder of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view of a first embodiment of the holder of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is yet another cross section view of a first embodiment of the holder of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the holder of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of an alternate embodiment of the holder of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of the holder of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section view of a second alternate embodiment of the holder of the present 
           [0026]    invention; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is exploded cross-section view of a second alternate embodiment of the holder of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    With reference now to  FIGS. 1-5 , a first preferred embodiment for a new holder for a container embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
       First Preferred Embodiment 
       [0029]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the holder  10  for a container  12  is fabricated from a moldable, flexible and squeezable material capable of being formed into any pre-determined shape. With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the holder  10  has a perimeter  14  that defines an interior space  16 , which is comprised of two portions, a container holding portion  18  and an attachment housing portion  20 . The perimeter  14  is divided into the container holding portion perimeter  14 A and the attachment housing portion perimeter  14 B. The container holding portion  18  includes a cavity  22  that is formed in a shape to conform to the shape of the container  12  it is to hold. The container  12  is comprised of a base wall  24  and a perimeter wall  26 . The base wall  24  and the perimeter wall  26  define an interior space  28  for receiving any substance that may be contained therein. The container  12  further includes a cap portion  32  that is pivotably coupled to the perimeter wall  26  opposite of the base wall  24 . The holder  10  is constructed of a suitable material that is capable of being molded to snugly and/or non-removably hold the container  12  so that the container  12  does not fall out of the holder  10 . The material utilized for the holder  10  is also squeezable by a user. In addition the container  12  is retained in the holder  10  in such a fashion that the cap portion  30  is not covered by the holder  10 , thereby allowing a user to remove or replace the cap portion  30  on the container  26  without having to manipulate or remove the holder  10  from the container. 
         [0030]    The attachment housing portion  20  of the holder  10  is used to accommodate a retractable reel assembly  32 . The attachment housing portion  20  is defined by a portion of the perimeter  14 B and the interior housing wall  34 . The interior housing wall  34  functions as the base wall for the cavity  22  as well. The reel assembly  32  of the holder  10  of the present invention includes a retractor cord  36  coupled to the reel assembly  32 . The reel assembly  32  permits selective movement of the holder  10  when one pulls on the retractor cord  36 . The retractor cord  36 , when released after being pulled, retracts back into the reel assembly. 
         [0031]    The perimeter wall  14 B of the attachment housing portion  20  includes an aperture  38  which allows the retractor cord  36  to extend within the housing portion  20  and be connected to the reel assembly  32 . In this preferred embodiment, the reel assembly  32  is substantially disk shaped, although other shapes may also be employed. 
         [0032]    The holder  10  of the present invention may be formed in any predetermined shape, as shown in an alternate preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
       An Alternate Preferred Embodiment 
       [0033]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a holder  10 A in the shape of an animal character. As in the first preferred embodiment, the holder  10 A of the alternate preferred embodiment, has a perimeter  14 ′ that defines an interior space  16 ′, which is comprised of two portions, a container holding portion  18 ′ and an attachment housing portion  20 ′. The perimeter  14 ′ is divided into the container holding portion perimeter  14 A′ and the attachment housing portion perimeter  14 B′. The container holding portion  18 ′ includes a cavity  22 ′ that is formed in a shape to conform to the shape of the container  12 ′ it is to hold. The container  12 ′ is comprised of a base wall  24 ′ and a perimeter wall  26 ′. The base wall  24 ′ and the perimeter wall  26 ′ define an interior space  28 ′ for receiving any substance that may be contained therein. The container  12 ′ further includes a cap portion  32 ′ that is removably coupled to the perimeter wall  26 ′ opposite of the base wall  24 ′. The holder  10 A is constructed of a suitable material that is capable of being molded into any pre-determined shape and to also snugly and/or non-removably hold the container  12 ′ so that the container  12 ′ does not fall out of the holder  10 A. The material utilized for the holder  10  is also squeezable by a user. In addition the container  12 ′ is retained in the holder  10  in such a fashion that the cap portion  30 ′ is not covered by the holder  10 A, thereby allowing a user to remove or replace the cap portion  30 ′ on the container  26 ′ without having to manipulate or remove the holder  10 A from the container. 
         [0034]    The attachment housing portion  20 ′ of the holder  10 A is used to accommodate an anchor  32 ′ for a carabiner or other similar attachment. The attachment housing portion  20 ′ is defined by a portion of the perimeter  14 B and the interior housing wall  34 . In this embodiment, the interior housing wall is thicker than in the first preferred embodiment. However, similarly, the interior housing wall  34 ′ functions as the base wall for the cavity  22 ′ and the other side functions to define the attachment housing portion  20 ′. The perimeter wall  14 B′ of the attachment housing portion  20 ′ includes an aperture  38 ′ which allows a portion of the anchor  32 ′ to extend outside the housing portion  20 ′ and be connected to the reel assembly  32 . Specifically, the anchor  32 ′ of the holder  10 A is situated inside the attachment housing portion  20 ′, such that only the securing ring  40 ′ visible to the user. The securing ring  40 ′ may be used to attach a carabiner, a strap, a clip, a lanyard, a retractable cord or any other securing device the user chooses. 
       A Second Alternate Preferred Embodiment 
       [0035]      FIGS. 8-10  illustrate a holder  10 B in the shape of an ice cream cone. The holder  10 B of the second alternate preferred embodiment, has a perimeter  14 ″ is comprised of two portions, a container holding portion  18 ″ and an attachment housing portion  20 ″. The perimeter  14 ″ is divided into the container holding portion perimeter  14 A″ and the attachment housing portion perimeter  14 B″. The container holding portion  18 ″ includes a cavity  22 ′ that is formed in a shape to conform to the shape of the container  12 ″ it is to hold. The container  12 ″ is comprised of a base wall  24 ″ and a perimeter wall  26 ″. The base wall  24 ″ and the perimeter wall  26 ″ define an interior space  28 ″ for receiving any substance that may be contained therein. The container  12 ″ further includes a cap portion  30 ″ that is pivotably coupled to the perimeter wall  26 ″ opposite of the base wall  24 ″. The holder  10 B is constructed of a suitable material that is capable of being molded into any pre-determined shape and to also snugly and/or non-removably hold the container  12 ″ so that the container  12 ″ does not fall out of the holder  10 B. The material utilized for the holder  10 B is also squeezable by a user. In addition the container  12 ″ is retained in the holder  10 B in such a fashion that the cap portion  30 ″ is not covered by the holder  10 B, thereby allowing a user to remove or replace the cap portion  30 ″ on the container  26 ′ without having to manipulate or remove the holder  10 B from the container. 
         [0036]    The attachment housing portion  20 ″ of the holder  10 B is used to accommodate a retractable reel assembly  32 ″. The attachment housing portion  20 ″ is defined by the perimeter  14 B″ and the interior housing wall  34 ″. In this embodiment, the interior housing wall is thicker as in the alternate preferred embodiment. However, similarly, the interior housing wall  34 ″ functions as the base wall for the cavity  22 ″ and the other side functions to define the attachment housing portion  20 ″. The reel assembly  32 ′ of the holder  10 B of the present invention includes a retractor cord  36 ″ coupled to the reel assembly  32 ″. The reel assembly  32 ″ permits selective movement of the holder  10 B when one pulls on the retractor cord  36 ″. The retractor cord  36 ″, when released after being pulled, retracts back into the reel assembly. 
         [0037]    The perimeter wall  14 B″ of the attachment housing portion  20 ″ includes an aperture  38 ″ which allows the retractor cord  36 ″ to extend within the housing portion  20 ″ and be connected to the reel assembly  32 ″. In this embodiment, the reel assembly  32 ″ is substantially disk shaped, although other shapes may also be employed. 
         [0038]    Ideal materials to be utilized in manufacturing the holder of the present invention should be those that are moldable and/or flexible and/or squeezable. Materials which are soft and/or flexible and/or pliable and/or moldable and/or pleasurable to the feel and encourage a user to engage their hands to alleviate nervousness, anxiety, increase motor function and/or for pleasure are ideal for constructing the holder of the present invention. The material for constructing the holder of the present invention should be capable of maintaining its shape while being handled extensively, be able to be dyed to any desired color or shade and generally be receptive to molding processes. 
         [0039]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0040]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.