Patent Publication Number: US-2010108703-A1

Title: Removably attachable holding device for beverage containers

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/109,945 filed Oct. 31, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to holding devices for beverage containers, such as soda cans, beer cans, water bottles, beer bottles, soda bottles and so forth, more particularly, a holding device that is removably attachable to horizontal and/or vertical surfaces. 
     Holding devices for beverage containers, more commonly known as coolie cups, are commonly constructed of neoprene, polyester, open cell foam, plastic or other insulating materials used to keep beverages cool or cold and to prevent condensation from forming on the outer surface of a beverage container. Generally, holding devices have a cylindrical wall extending upward from a circular base and an opening at the top of the cylindrical side wall that is the same diameter as the circular base. These types of holding devices may be used to hold beverage containers, such as aluminum cans, plastic water bottles and glass bottles. Alternatively, the holding devices may have a cylindrical side wall with an opening that is smaller in diameter than the circular base. These types of holding device usually also have a slit running up the side that may be closed with a zipper that allows a user to insert a glass bottle into the holding device. 
     Although known holding devices are useful for maintaining cool temperatures of beverages and preventing condensation, users oftentimes find it difficult to keep a holding device and beverage container from tipping over when the holding device is placed on a surface that is unstable, such as a surface located in a car, boat, recreational vehicle, etc. In other instances a horizontal surface may not even be available to place the holding device on, such as a when working on a ladder. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a removably attachable holding device for beverage containers that is removably attachable to horizontal and vertical surfaces, thereby allowing a user to place the holding container on a surface without fear of the beverage container tipping over and spilling or attach the container device to a vertical surface when a horizontal surface is not available. 
     The relevant prior art includes the following references: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Patent No. 
                   
                   
               
               
                 (U.S. unless stated otherwise) 
                 Inventor 
                 Issue/Publication Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 2005/0167457 
                 Barnett 
                 Aug. 4, 2005 
               
               
                 5,873,486 
                 Morgan 
                 Feb. 23, 1999 
               
               
                 5,497,902 
                 Crock 
                 Mar. 12, 1996 
               
               
                 5,381,922 
                 Gladman et al. 
                 Jan. 17, 1995 
               
               
                 5,186,350 
                 McBride 
                 Feb. 16, 1993 
               
               
                 4,629,089 
                 Eger 
                 Dec. 16, 1986 
               
               
                 4,345,704 
                 Boughton 
                 Aug. 24, 1982 
               
               
                 4,220,302 
                 Hampton et al. 
                 Sep. 2, 1980 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a removably attachable holding device for beverage containers that is removably attachable to horizontal surfaces. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a removably attachable holding device for beverage containers that is removably attachable to vertical surfaces. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a removably attachable holding device for beverage containers that prevents beverage containers from tipping over and spilling. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a removably attachable holding device for beverage containers that provides a container to store items other than beverage containers, such as cell phones. 
     The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a removably attachable holding device for beverage containers that is removably attachable to an attachment surface. The removably attachable container holding device has a cylindrical side wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a base having a top surface and a bottom surface, a first attachment means located on the bottom surface of the base and/or the exterior surface of the cylindrical side wall and a second attachment means that is securable to a attachment surface such as a table, wall, refrigerator, vehicle console, clothing, etc. The first attachment means and second attachment means are removably attachable to each other. 
     To use the present invention on a horizontal surface, a user first secures the second attachment means to a attachment surface such as a table, car console, etc with an attachment means, such as glue, adhesive, etc. Then, the user secures the first attachment means located on the base of the holding device to the second attachment means. Because the first attachment means and the second attachment means mate to one another, the removably attachable holding device is adequately secured to the horizontal surface so that it will not tip over, slip, slide or otherwise fall off the horizontal surface. When the user desires to drink from the beverage container, he or she simply applies upward pressure on the holding device and beverage container and the first attachment means detaches from the second attachment means. 
     To use the present invention on a vertical surface, a user first secures the second attachment means to a attachment surface such as a wall, refrigerator, side of a ladder, etc. with an attachment means, such as glue, adhesive, etc. Then, the user secures the first attachment means located on the cylindrical side wall of the holding device to the second attachment means. Because the first attachment means and the second attachment means mate to one another, the removably attachable holding device is adequately secured to the vertical surface so that it will not tip over, slip, slide or otherwise fall off the vertical surface. When the user desires to drink from the beverage container, he or she simply applies pulls the holding device and beverage container away from the vertical surface and the first attachment means detaches from the second attachment means. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective plan side view of a removably attachable holding device for beverage containers attached to a attachment surface wherein the attachment surface is a vertical surface; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a removably attachable holding device for beverage containers showing a bottom surface of a base having a perimeter edge and at least one first attachment means located thereon; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a removably attachable holding device of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective side view of a removably attachable holding device for beverage containers attached to a attachment surface wherein the attachment surface is a horizontal surface. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows:
       1  removably attachable holding device     2  beverage container     3  side wall     4  base     5  first attachment means     6  second attachment means     7  interior surface     8  exterior surface     9  top surface     10  bottom surface     11  attachment surface     12  vertical surface     13  horizontal surface     14  aperture     15  zipper     16  side wall top edge     17  side wall bottom edge     18  perimeter edge     19  opening     20  securing means   

     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a perspective plan side view of a removably attachable holding device  1  for beverage containers  2  attached to an attachment surface  11  wherein the attachment surface  11  is a vertical surface  12  is shown. The removably attachable holding device  1  comprises at least one cylindrical side wall  3  having an interior surface  7 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , and an exterior surface  8 , a top edge  16  and a bottom edge  17 . The at least one side wall  3  is secured to a perimeter edge  19  of a circular base  4  and extends upward from the circular base  4 , which has a top surface  9  and a bottom surface  10 . An opening  19  at the top edge of the at least on side wall  3  is the substantially the same diameter as the circular base  4 . The at least one side wall  3  and base  4  are preferably made of neoprene, polyester, open cell foam, plastic or other insulating materials used to keep beverages cool or cold and prevent condensation from forming on the beverage container  2 . The beverage container  2  is held within the at least one side wall  3 . As shown here, the beverage container  2  is an aluminum can, but the beverage container  2  may be any type, such as plastic water bottles, glass bottles, etc. 
     At least one first attachment means  5 , such as a hook and loop fastener, interlocking strips, etc., is located on the exterior surface  8  of the side wall  3 , as shown here, and/or the bottom surface  10  of the base  4 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The at least one first attachment means  5  may be secured to the removably attachable holding device via a securing means, such as an adhesive, sewing, etc. At least one second attachment means  6 , such as a hook and loop fastener, interlocking strips, etc., is located on the attachment surface  11 , which may be a vertical surface  12  as shown here, such as a wall, refrigerator, ladder, etc., or a horizontal surface  13  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The at least one second attachment means  6  may be secured to the attachment surface  11  via a securing means, such as an adhesive, sewing, screws, etc. At least one aperture  14  may be located in the base  4  to prevent a vacuum seal from forming between a beverage container  2  and the removably attachable holding device  1  when in use. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , a bottom view of a removably attachable holding device  1  for beverage containers  2  showing a bottom surface  10  of a base  4  having a perimeter edge  18  and at least one first attachment means  5  located thereon is shown. The at least one first attachment means  5 , such as a hook and loop fastener, interlocking strips, etc., is located on the bottom surface  10  of the base  4 . At least one aperture  14  may be located in the base  4  to prevent a vacuum seal from forming between a beverage container  2  and the removably attachable holding device  1  when in use. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , a top view of a removably attachable holding device  1  of the present invention is shown. The removably attachable holding device  1  comprises at least one cylindrical side wall  3  having an interior surface  7  and an exterior surface  8 , a top edge  16  and a bottom edge  17 . The at least one side wall  3  is secured to a perimeter edge  19  of a circular base  4  and extends upward from the circular base  4 . At least one first attachment means  5 , such as a hook and loop fastener, interlocking strips, etc., is located on the exterior surface  8  of the side wall  3 . At least one aperture  14  may be located in the base  4  to prevent a vacuum seal from forming between a beverage container  2  and the removably attachable holding device  1  when in use. 
     Finally, referring to  FIG. 4 , a perspective side view of a removably attachable holding device  1  for beverage containers  2  attached to a attachment surface  11  wherein the attachment surface  11  is a horizontal surface  13  is shown. The removably attachable holding device  1  comprises at least one cylindrical side wall  3  having an interior surface  7  and an exterior surface  8 , a top edge  16  and a bottom edge  17 . The at least one side wall  3  is secured to a perimeter edge  19  of a circular base  4  and extends upward from the circular base  4 , which has a top surface  9  and a bottom surface  10 . An opening  19  at the top edge of the at least on side wall  3  is smaller in diameter than the circular base  4 . Due to the smaller opening  19 , a zipper  15  is located on the at least one side wall  3  to allow a user to insert a beverage container  2 , such as a glass bottle, into the removably attachable holding device  1 . The at least one side wall  3  and base  4  are preferably made of neoprene, polyester, open cell foam, plastic or other insulating materials used to keep beverages cool or cold and prevent condensation from forming on the beverage container  2 . 
     At least one first attachment means  5 , such as a hook and loop fastener, interlocking strips, etc., is located on the exterior surface  8  of the side wall  3  and the bottom surface  10  of the base  4 . The at least one first attachment means  5  may be secured to the removably attachable holding device via a securing means, such as an adhesive, sewing, etc. At least one second attachment means  6 , such as a hook and loop fastener, interlocking strips, etc., is located on the attachment surface  11 , which may be a vertical surface, as shown in  FIG. 1  or a horizontal surface  13 , such as a table, counter top, bar, vehicle console, etc., as shown here. The at least one second attachment means  6  may be secured to the attachment surface  11  via a securing means, such as an adhesive, sewing, screws, etc. 
     It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.