Abstract:
A lightweight and compactable beverage container holding device. The beverage container holding device may be made of a single piece or multiple pieces of material and is preferably foldable or otherwise collapsible into a reduced size for shipping or storage. The device preferable supports use on non-uniform surfaces, provides ample visible surface area for promotional marking and may have minimal points of contact with a beverage container. The device may be configured to accommodate different size beverage containers.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/718,494, filed Sep. 19, 2005, and having the same title and inventor(s) as above. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a beverage holding device and, more specifically, to such a device that is compact for storage, may be used on uneven surfaces and presents ample visible surface area for promotional marking, among other beneficial features.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Many people enjoy outdoor environments for various group or individual activities, for example, picnics, receptions, athletic events or merely relaxing in the sun. The outside environment for these activities may include lawn, lawn alternatives, beach or other landscapes that have uneven or non-uniform surfaces. While consuming beverages in these environments, it is often challenging to find a stable, sufficiently flat location to rest one&#39;s beverage container, often resulting in precarious balancing of one&#39;s beverage and having it fall over. Even if one is successful in finding a sufficiently flat surface, the locations are often random and/or less stable increasing the likelihood that a beverage may be accidentally knocked over.  
         [0004]     The prior art includes several beverage holding devices. These include devices disclosed in three representative U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,063,328 issued to Morcom; 5,028,023 issued to Allen; and 6,533,140 to Freeman.  
         [0005]     The device of the &#39;328 patent is disadvantageous for many reasons including that the compact or retracted configuration has an awkward shape that does not facilitate packing en masse and is easily damaged. Furthermore, it is configured for use only on flat, uniform surfaces and does not accommodate different sized beverage containers.  
         [0006]     The device of the &#39;023 patent is disadvantageous for many reasons including that the large flat bottom is not well-configured to accommodating non-uniform surfaces, essentially requiring a large flat surface on which to be placed. Furthermore, it does not appear to accommodate different sized containers, may actually attach to a container requiring the bulky holding device and container to be lifted to take a drink, and it does not present good surface visibility for promotional information.  
         [0007]     The device of the &#39;140 patent is disadvantageous for many reasons including that it is not compactible, does not accommodate different sized containers and does not present good visibility surface area for promotional information.  
         [0008]     A need thus exists for a beverage holding device that may be stowed and transported in a compact configuration yet expand to securely hold beverage containers, particularly on uneven and/or non-uniform surfaces. A need further exists that presents ample visible surface area for promotional marking and/or accommodates different sized beverage containers.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of prior art.  
         [0010]     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a beverage container holding device that is compact for storage when not in use; accommodates use on uneven, non-uniform surfaces; has ample visible surfaces for promotional marking; provides some adjustability for accommodating (securely holding) different sized containers and/or provides minimal contact points with a beverage container such that condensation from a beverage container does not cause the beverage container to stick to the holder or damage the holder.  
         [0011]     These and related objects of the present invention are achieved by use of a beverage container holding device as described herein.  
         [0012]     The attainment of the foregoing and related advantages and features of the invention should be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art, after review of the following more detailed description of the invention taken together with the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a beverage holding device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the beverage holding device of  FIG. 1  holding a beverage container in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 3-6  is a series of drawings that illustrate fabrication of the device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 7-8  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention utilizing three support members.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 9-11  are a perspective, a side and a top view of another embodiment of a beverage container holding device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  illustrates a side end view of an alternative support member for use with a beverage container holding device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 13-19  are a series of diagrams illustrating construction of a beverage holding device from a single piece of material in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a beverage holding device  10  in accordance with the present invention is shown. Device  10  may include four support members  15 - 18  that are movably mounted to one another. While the support members may be provided as individually coupled members in one embodiment, they are provided in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  as pairs coupled by fastening member  52 . For example, and as discussed in more detail below, cut piece  11  may be folded to provide support members  15  and  16  while cut piece  12  may be folded to provide support members  17  and  18 . Piece  11  has folds at  6  and  7 , while piece  12  has folds at  8  and  9 . Support members  15 - 18  are preferably movable along their respective folds and about fastening mechanism  52 .  
         [0021]     A side wall structure  21 , 22  is preferably provided between each pair of support members  15 - 16  and  17 - 18  respectively. Each side wall preferably includes two sections  25 , 26  and  27 , 28  that are movable about their respective folds  8 , 9 .  
         [0022]     Each support member  15 - 18  is preferably configured 2% to support surfaces, a bottom support  31 - 34  and a lateral support  35 - 38 . These surfaces  31 - 38  in addition to side wall sections  25 - 28  may contact a beverage container in use.  
         [0023]     Since the support members are movable with respect to each other, different sized beverage containers may be supported by device  10 . For example, bringing support members  15  and  17  and support members- 16  and  18  toward each other, side walls  21 - 22  (and lateral supports  35 - 38 ) are brought closer together, enabling device  10  to securely hold a narrower beverage container. By moving support members  15 - 18  to their furthest away positions, the largest sized beverage container can be accommodated.  
         [0024]     Support members  15 - 18  may be configured along their bottom edge with one or more portions removed. For example, in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  arch portions  13  are removed from the bottom of each support member. The removal of these portions defines outer legs  14  and inner legs  19  in each support member. The provision of legs, whether added as supplemental members or defined by cutaway portions or other means, provides increased stability and ease-of-use on uneven or non-uniform surfaces such as lawns and the like. It should be recognized that other leg structures could be provided without departing from the present invention. Furthermore, while leg structures are shown in device  10  of  FIG. 1 , the bottom edge of support members  15 - 18  could be flat or legless; such an embodiment is well suited for use in sand and like substrates.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of beverage holding device  10  holding a beverage container  60  in accordance with the present invention is shown.  FIG. 2  illustrates that a beverage container may be positioned in device  10  on the bottom support surfaces (only  31  and  33  are visible) and laterally by any combination of lateral support surfaces  35 - 38  and side wall sections  25 - 28 . Note that a beverage container may rest wholly on bottom supports  31 - 34  without contacting the lateral support structure, though the latter is quite useful in guarding against accidental knock-over and use on uneven and/or sloped surfaces.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , a series of drawings is presented that illustrate fabrication of device  10  in accordance with the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of piece  11  or  12  that is preferably cut from a sheet of suitable material. Characteristics of suitable material include being lightweight, foldable and durable. In one preferred embodiment, the material is cardboard, which may be coated or laminated to avoid condensation absorption and provide promotional information, etc. There is also an inherent property in some cardboards to expand from a fold which may be used in the present invention to achieve a beverage holder that “spring” from a compressed position towards the position shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0027]     Other materials include, but are not limited to, some plastics or rubberized plastics, etc., and more substantial hinged embodiments may also be configured, the hinges permitting use of materials that do not permit resilient folding.  
         [0028]     The perimeter of piece  11 , 12  is preferably cut as shown and a additional cut  5  to separate the side wall  21 , 22  from the bottom support surfaces  31 , 34  is made. The piece is then folded as shown in  FIG. 4  at folds  6 , 8  and  7 , 9 . The two cut and folded pieces  11 - 12  are then positioned as shown in  FIG. 5  and joined with fastening mechanism  52  to produce the device  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . When joined and pressed flat (in the opposite sense of  FIG. 3 ) device  10  will appear as shown in  FIG. 6 . When made of a suitable cardboard or the like, the inherent “spring” or resilience in the material causes the device stored in the position shown in  FIG. 6  to spring open to a position as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0029]     Device  10  may be stored in the position shown in  FIG. 6  or that shown in  FIG. 3 . It should also be recognized that device  10  is ready for use from its compact position and does not require any tearing along perforations or assembly as evident in prior art beverage holding devices.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 7-8  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention utilizing three support members  115 , 117 , 118 . This device  110  may be fabricated using a single piece  112 , similar to piece  12  of  FIGS. 1-5 , and attaching it via fastener  152  to a “half-piece” or a single support member  115 , similar to support member  15  of  FIGS. 1-5 . This effectively achieves a tripod beverage holding device preferably with one set of side walls  127 , 128 . When piece  112  is folded towards compression and support section  115  is folded back onto compressed piece  112 , then the side view appears as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . In this configuration, device  110  has a side view that is half the size of device  10 , though it is thicker by one support member ( 115 ).  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 9-11 , a perspective, side and top view of another embodiment of a beverage container holding device  210  in accordance with the present invention is shown. Device  210  illustrates substantially flat bottoms on support members  215 - 218 . Substantially flat bottoms may function well on sandy substrates.  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  illustrates a side end view of an alternative support member  315  for use with devices  10 , 110 , 210  or other. Support member  315  may have a bottom edge that is bent or otherwise shaped for form a fin or the like  319  that resists penetration into sandy surfaces, so that a beverage container holding device does not descend more than desired, perhaps obscuring the visible promotional surfaces.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIGS. 13-19 , a series of diagrams illustrating construction of a beverage holding device  410  from a single piece of material in accordance with the present invention is shown. The single piece of material  411  may be cardboard or any other suitable substance including paper-based and non-paper-based materials. Paper-based materials are advantageous in that they are readily recyclable and/or biodegradable. The single piece of material is cut to the shape shown to form or outline sections  401 - 408 . Horizontal cuts  414  and  415  preferably extend into sections  402 - 403  and  406 - 407 , respectively. Piece  411  is preferably scored above these horizontal cuts at  412  and  413  to enhance bending and demarcate side wall sections  425 - 428  (shown below). Tab  409  extends to the right of piece  411 .  
         [0034]     Piece  411  is folded substantially in half at point A. Sections  401 - 404  are then folded at points B,C and D, while sections  405 - 408  are folded at points E,F and G, to form the structure shown in  FIG. 15 . The inner most portion of section  405  is glued to the distal end of section  401  (opposite it) and tab  409  is also glued to the distal end of section  401 . Corners  417  and  418  are pushed toward center  419  to form the intermediate structure shown in  FIG. 16 , and further until the corners  417  and  418  approach or contact each other at center  419  (as shown in  FIG. 17 ). Folded in this manner, sections  401 - 408  create support members  415 - 418 . Side wall sections  425 - 426  are shown pulled out in  FIG. 17 , while side wall sections  427 - 428  are not and thus appear flush with the remainder of sections  402 - 403 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 18  illustrates beverage holding device  410  with support members  415 - 418  folded out into more of an X shape and with both side wall pairs  425 - 426  and  427 - 428  folded out. The position of device  410  as shown in  FIG. 18  is substantially that of device  10  of  FIG. 1  as it would appear when viewed from above.  
         [0036]     The paired sections  407 - 408 ,  405 - 406 ,  403 - 404  and  401 - 402  that respectively form legs  415 - 418  may be glued or otherwise fastened to each other or, as in one preferred embodiment, not be glued or otherwise fastened, except for the fastening provided at the distal end of section  401  as discussed with respect to  FIG. 15 . Reduced fastening reduces the number of fabrication steps.  
         [0037]      FIG. 19  illustrates a side elevation view of device  410  in the position shown in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0038]     While sections  401 - 408  are shown with a flat bottom is should be recognized that the bottom of the sections may be fastened to define legs such as those disclosed in device  10  of  FIG. 1 , etc.  
         [0039]     While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claims.