Abstract:
A beverage container holder adapted to hold a wide variety of containers including cups, bottles, mugs, and tumblers. The device preferably includes a base, an upright extending upward from the base, and a receiver near the top of the upright. The receiver includes a cup holder which is preferably made detachable so that it may be washed in a dishwasher. The cup holder and receiver include a cutout which is wide enough to accommodate the handle on a coffee cup.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates to the field of beverage holders. More specifically, the present invention comprises a modular beverage holder which can accommodate a wide variety of containers. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    The need to provide a resting surface for beverage containers has long been recognized. The simplest solution to this problem is the provision of an end table (for a couch or chair) or a nightstand (for a bed). These pieces of furniture provide a horizontal surface near the user&#39;s position. The user may then place his or her beverage on this horizontal surface. 
         [0008]    Of course, end tables and nightstands are relatively expensive and fixed in one location. Thus, some inventors have explored the possibility of a less expensive solution which may be attached directly to the furniture itself. An example of this approach is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,113 to Waddell (1989). The Waddell device provides a flat tray adjacent to a bed frame. A similar approach is taken in U.S. Pat. No. D550,981 to Watson (2007) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,434 to Navarrette (1991). 
         [0009]    All these devices provide a flat resting surface adjacent to the user&#39;s position. However, they fail to secure the beverage container in position. They also fail to account for the fact that a beverage holder must be periodically cleaned to provide a sanitary condition. The present invention solves these and other problems, as will be described more particularly in the following text. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention comprises a beverage container holder adapted to hold a wide variety of containers including cups, bottles, mugs, and tumblers. The device preferably includes a base, an upright extending upward from the base, and a receiver near the top of the upright. The receiver includes a cup holder which is preferably made detachable so that it may be washed in a dishwasher. 
         [0011]    The cup holder and receiver include a cutout which is wide enough to accommodate the handle on a coffee cup. Since the cutout on the receiver and the cutout in the cup holder are preferably maintained in alignment, those embodiments including a detachable cup holder are provided with a rotation-limiting connection between the cup holder and the receiver which maintains the alignment of the two cutouts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view, showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view, showing the embodiment of  FIG. 1  attached to a bed. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment, including a larger base. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a detailed perspective view, showing the detachable cup holder in its receiver. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view, showing the cup holder removed from the receiver. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a detailed perspective view, showing a coffee cup retained by the cup holder. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a detailed perspective view, showing a can retained by the cup holder. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a detailed perspective view, showing a tumbler retained by the cup holder. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a detailed perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the cup holder and receiver. 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
       [0021]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 10 
                 beverage stand 
                 12 
                 receiver 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 cup holder 
                 16 
                 base 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 upright 
                 20 
                 box spring 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 mattress 
                 24 
                 lip 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 holder cutout 
                 28 
                 receiver cutout 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 circular relief 
                 32 
                 notch 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 edge 
                 36 
                 step 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 small portion 
                 40 
                 large portion 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 coffee mug 
                 44 
                 handle 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 can 
                 48 
                 insulating jacket 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 upper surface 
                 52 
                 tumbler 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 notch 
                 56 
                 rib 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The present invention provides a resting place for a beverage container when the user is not actually holding the beverage container.  FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment. Beverage stand  10  includes base  16 , upright  18 , and receiver  12 . Upright  18  extends upward from base  16  to any desired height. Receiver  12  is connected to the upper end of upright  18 . Cup holder  14  is attached to receiver  12 . 
         [0023]    In some embodiments the cup holder is integral to the receiver itself. However, in the preferred embodiments the cup holder is made removable. The cup holder will accumulate small quantities of spilled liquid over time. The spilled liquid tarnishes the appearance of the device and may in some instances create an unsanitary hazard. Making the cup holder removable allows it to be more easily cleaned—such as by placing it in a dishwasher. 
         [0024]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , base  16  is elongated so that it may be captured between two elements of a piece of furniture. As an example,  FIG. 2  shows the stand with base  16  inserted between box spring  20  and mattress  22 . Upright  18  is preferably made long enough to place receiver  12  well above the upper level of the mattress when the unit is installed. The same method may be used to secure the device to a couch or chair. In that scenario, base  16  is inserted between the cushion and the frame. 
         [0025]    Other embodiments may be configured to rest directly on the floor.  FIG. 3  shows an embodiment in which base  16  is enlarged in all directions so that it provides stable support when the unit is placed directly on the floor. Upright  18  is sized so that cup holder  14  will rest at the same height as an arm rest or side table. 
         [0026]    As stated previously, the preferred embodiments include a removable cup holder.  FIG. 4  shows this configuration in more detail. Cup holder  14  is provided with lip  24  which extends over the upward facing surface of receiver  12 . Thus, the cup holder may be lowered into position but it cannot pass completely through the receiver. 
         [0027]    The cup holder includes a cutout sized to accommodate the handle of a coffee mug. Holder cutout  26  passes through the vertical side wall of cup holder  14 . Receiver cutout  28  passes through the corresponding portion of receiver  12 . It is preferable to provide a rotation-limiting connection between the cup holder and the receiver so that the two cutouts are aligned when the cup holder is placed in the receiver. 
         [0028]    The rotation-limiting connection may assume many forms.  FIG. 5  shows an example of such a connection. Receiver  12  includes circular relief  30  which is sized to receiver large portion  40  of cup holder  14  without allowing lip  24  to pass through. The cup holder rests within circular relief  30  but lip  24  bears against upper surface  50 . Circular relief  30  includes one or more notches  32  which are positioned to engage edges  34  on the cutout in the vertical side wall of the cup holder. Thus, when the cup holder is placed in the receiver, the cup holder is unable to rotate with respect to the receiver. In addition, the engagement of the notches with the two edges properly aligns the cutout in the cup holder with the cutout in the receiver. 
         [0029]    The size and shape of the cup holder may assume many forms.  FIG. 5  shows a version including large portion  40  and small portion  38 . Step  36  lies at the junction between the large portion and the small portion. Step provides a horizontal surface which engages the bottom of a typical coffee mug. On the other hand, the base of a large tumbler will typically be small enough to pass beyond step  36  and into small portion  38 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows the same embodiment with coffee mug  42  in position within the cup holder. The reader will observe how handle  44  protrudes through holder cutout  26  and receiver cutout  28 . The user may grasp the handle and use it to remove the mug from the cup holder or place the mug back in the cup holder. Sufficient clearance is preferably provided on each side of handle  44  to avoid interference between the cup holder and the user&#39;s thumb and fingers. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show how the same cup holder geometry can accommodate different types of beverage containers.  FIG. 7  shows an aluminum can  46  surrounded by an insulating jacket  48 . This fits within large portion  40  of the sup holder.  FIG. 8  shows a large tumbler  52 , the base of which is resting within the small portion of the cup holder. 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  shows one possible additional embodiment for the preferred rotation-limiting connection between cup holder  14  and receiver  12 . The cup holder has been provided with a vertical rib  56  sized to slide into notch  54  in the receiver. This engagement easily prevents rotation while maintaining the desired alignment between the cutouts in the cup holder and the receiver. 
         [0033]    The invention can be made using a wide variety of materials and need not be made from any single material. As a first example, the base and upright might be made of stamped metal while the receiver and cup holder could be made of injection molded plastic. Likewise, the entire assembly could be made as one unitary piece. 
         [0034]    The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. As an example, although the illustrated embodiments show a design incorporating a removable cup holder, the invention could be made of glass and could feature an integral cup holder and receiver. Such variations would not alter the function of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.