Patent Publication Number: US-9888798-B1

Title: Beverage container holder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of beverage container holders which are used to retain a beverage container that has a hot or cold liquid therein in order to enable a person to hold the container and consume the liquid with comfort and without burning the person&#39;s hand. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The following 16 patents and published patent applications are relevant to the field of the present invention: 
     1. U.S. Pat. No. 1,808,763 issued to Oliver Harry Burdett on Jun. 9, 1931 for “Holder For Paper Cups And The Like” (hereafter the “Burdett Patent”); 
     2. U.S. Pat. No. 2,028,566 issued to Harry C. Seipel et al. on Jan. 21, 1936 for “Cup Holder” (hereafter the “Seipel Patent”); 
     3. U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,490 issued to Mark E. Roe on Apr. 20, 1993 for “Hot Cup With Heat-Insulating Hand-Grip” (hereafter the “Roe Patent”); 
     4. U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,315 issued to Charles B. Shelby on Aug. 29, 1995 for “Insulated Beverage Receptacle Holder” (hereafter the “Shelby Patent”); 
     5. U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,826 issued to Jeanne E. Libit et al. on Mar. 7, 2000 for “Cup Holder” (hereafter the “Libit Patent”); 
     6. U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,352 issued to Liming Cai on Apr. 25, 2000 for “Sleeve Protector For Cups” (hereafter the “&#39;352 Cai Patent”); 
     7. U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,333 issued to Eric Ward on Aug. 14, 2001 for “Combination Coaster And Cup Holder” (hereafter the “Ward Patent”); 
     8. U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,091 issued to Allen Ray Bell on Sep. 18, 2001 for “Hot Or Cold Beverage Container Holder” (hereafter the “Bell Patent”); 
     9. U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,735 issued to Liming Cai on Feb. 5, 2002 for “Insulating Sleeve” (hereafter the “&#39;735 Cai Patent”); 
     10. U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,151 issued to Gregory W. Gale on Apr. 2, 2002 for “Cup Holder” (hereafter the “Gale Patent”); 
     11. United States Published Patent Application No. 2003/0075549 to David O&#39;Brien et al. on Apr. 24, 2003 for “Bottle Cooler” (hereafter the “O&#39;Brien Published Patent Application”); 
     12. U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,134 issued to David W. Tulp on Sep. 4, 2007 for “Combination Coaster And Sleeve Apparatus” (hereafter the “Tulp Patent”); 
     13. U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,497 issued to Jay Sorenson on Jun. 20, 1995 for “Cup Holder” (hereafter the “Sorenson Patent”); 
     14. U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,473 issued to David W. Coffin, Sr. on Apr. 27, 1993 for “Recyclable Corrugated Beverage Container and Holder” (hereafter the “Coffin Patent”); 
     15. U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,644 issued to Matthew R. Cook on Mar. 8, 2005 for “Beverage Container Holder” (hereafter the “Cook Patent”); 
     16. U.S. Design Pat. No. D543,844 issued to Matthew R. Cook on Jun. 5, 2007 for “Protective Sleeve” (hereafter the “Cook Design Patent”); 
     The Burdett Patent is an encircling device with a pair of gripping members  13  and  14 . 
     The Seipel Patent discloses a cup holder which encircles the cup and has a multiplicity of ribbed exterior members to provide a cushion between the cup and the hands of a person holding the cup holder. 
     The Roe Patent discloses a hot cup with a heat insulating hand grip. The device is formed by having a tongue member inserted into an opening to complete the encircling device. A portion of the tab member is already affixed to the cup and then it can be completely used to encircle the cup as illustrated in the figures. There also are multiplicity of air gaps to provide further insulation between the person gripping the holder and hot liquid in the cup. 
     The Shelby Patent discloses an insulated beverage receptacle holder which is a polygonal shape and can be collapsed flat and then opened and retained its position by a tab member. It also has a bottom so that the cup presumably cannot extend through the bottom and this portion encircles the lower portion of the cup. 
     The Libit Patent is a cup holder which can be formed to encircle the cup and is enclosed by closing mechanisms which do not require glue. 
     The &#39;352 Cai Patent is a design patent which protects the shape of the holder. The cup holder has a ribbed exterior pattern to provide the insulation and there is also a variation shown in  FIG. 9  with a multiplicity of openings or air chambers  56 . 
     The Ward Patent discloses a combination coaster and cup holder. It is a device which can be formed into a circle which encircles the cup with extended flanges to enable the holes to be gripped between two fingers. 
     The Bell Patent discloses:
         “A substantially cylindrical beverage container holder manufactured from a sheet of recycled pressed paper pulp is provided. The sheet is die cut from a blank having large and small opposing substantially rectangular sides connected by a bottom portion. The large side has a center panel and two glue flaps attached to the center panel by vertical fold lines. The bottom portion is substantially circular to conform to the shape of a beverage can and has fold lines that allow the blank to be folded so that the two rectangular sides are brought together in facing relationship. The large side glue flaps are glued to the small side to form a flat holder having vertical edges. The holder is opened by gently squeezing along the vertical edges, thereby creating an open top end of receiving a beverage container.”       

     The &#39;735 Cai Patent discloses an insulating sleeve which contains wing portions. The device envelopes the exterior of the cup. 
     The Gale Patent discloses a cup holder with a multiplicity of spaced apart sections. 
     The O&#39;Brien Published Patent Application is a bottle cooler. The innovation is to have a multiplicity of openings which provide an air gap to provide insulation when it envelopes a cup. 
     The Tulp Patent discloses a combination coaster and sleeve apparatus wherein a coaster can be formed into a sleeve into which a cup can be retained. 
     The Sorenson Patent is a cup holder wherein the sleeve is wrapped around the cup and then one section of the sleeve is mated with another section through score lines to 
     provide an enclosing device which has a multiplicity of ribbed patterns to provide the insulation. 
     The Coffin Patent is a recyclable corrugated beverage container wherein it is wrapped around the cup and has a multiplicity of exterior corrugations which serves as the insulating mechanism. 
     The Cook Patent is a beverage container holder. 
     The Cook Design Patent protects a sleeve which wraps around the cup and has an arcuate upper member. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a beverage container holder that is formed from a single sheet of material, is formed with one single die cutting stroke, and does not involve glue or any other materials to retain the sections together as the sections are automatically retained together and formed into a round retaining member by the simple action of engaging score sections and operationally causing the score sections to be removed from side sections by a pushing of the score sections to break the connection at the score lines to thereby cause the completed beverage container to be formed with one single operation. 
     It is an object of the present invention to have a beverage container holder which is created from one single sheet of material and cut so that it has two oppositely disposed mirror image sections. These sections have a first central section with a first wing section on one side and a mirror image opposite second central section and mirror image opposite second wing section so that this will form the basis for the beverage container holder. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to have the above mentioned two sections separated by a major score line which in turn are connected to bend lines which create a beverage holder with a chimney section that enables heat to be generated and removed from the location adjacent the beverage container and enable an individual to hold the beverage container with hot or cold liquid therein. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to have the chimneys or spaces that are formed in the beverage container holder during use to create air gaps between the surface of the present invention that is touched by beverage container holder&#39;s hand and the hot or cold liquid within the container. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to have the present invention beverage container holders die cut from a single sheet of material which can be stacked, stored, and transported easily. 
     It is an even further object of the present invention to have the beverage container holder function and fold together for use without the need for glue or other adhesive to retain the present invention beverage container holder together during use. The present invention folds together and as explained in more detail herein, has portions of the invention specifically designed for better gripping of the beverage container holder and improved gripping contact between the beverage container holder and the exterior wall of the beverage container. 
     Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational perspective view of the beverage container holder; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational perspective view showing the beverage container holder in use around a beverage container with the beverage container shown in dashed lines; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevational perspective view showing the beverage container holder in use around a beverage container with the beverage container shown in dashed lines rotated 90 degrees from the view in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the beverage container holder in use around a beverage container illustrating the air gap with an extra set of dashed lines to more clearly define the air gap; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the beverage container holder without the beverage container; 
         FIG. 7  is top plan view of the beverage container holder without the beverage container; 
         FIG. 8  is an elevational perspective view showing the beverage container holder in use around a beverage container and being held by a thumb and fingers; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspectives view of a number of beverage container holders stored in a dispenser. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  there is illustrated a top plan view of the present invention beverage container holder  10  which is in the unopened condition. The beverage container holder  10  is cut from a single sheet of material which can be paperboard, cardboard, plastics, any synthetic material, metal, aluminum or any other firm material that can hold its shape once it is in the opened condition. The single sheet of paper is cut so that it has two oppositely disposed mirror image sections. These sections are labeled in  FIG. 1  as first section  40  and second section  60 . First section  40  has a first central section  14  with a first wing section  16  on one side and a second wing section  18  on the opposite side. The mirror image opposite second section  60  has a second central section  24 , a third wing section  26  on one side and a fourth wing second  28  on the opposite side. Separating the first section  40  and second section  60  is a score section  30  having major score line  32  and major score line  42  which are mirror images of each other. Major score line  32  is connected at opposite ends to a first bend line  43  and a second bend line  53 . Mirror image of major score line  32  is major score line  42  which is connected at opposite ends to bend line  41  and bend line  51 . These score lines and bend lines are defined to include any crease or score or any other form to enable the sheet to be bent or folded along these lines. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , minor score lines  34  and  44  meet and form friction point  47  at the symmetrical center of the beverage container holder  10  when folded. Similarly, minor score lines  36  and  46  meet and form friction point  45  at the symmetrical center of the beverage container holder  10  when folded. Friction points  45  and  47  are formed when beverage container holder  10  is opened and in use, rotate at a downward angle creating a frictional griping force against a container being used with the current invention beverage container holder  10 . 
     Further referring to  FIG. 1 , while the angle of the score lines as shown are at approximately a 45 degree angle from score lines  41  and  43  to respective top section  27  and score lines  51  and  53  are at approximately a 45 degree angle to top section  25 , it will be appreciated that this is just one of the many angles that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The angle designated as theta “θ” in  FIG. 1  can range anywhere from 10 degrees to 80 degrees, although 45 degrees is the preferred angle. 
     The present invention in the open condition is shown in the perspective view in  FIG. 2 . To insert a container for use, central sections  14  and  24  are rotated approximately 90 degrees in opposite directions (one counter clockwise and one clockwise) about the axis where major score line  32  and major score line  42  meet or at the symmetrical center of beverage container holder  10 . When rotated, interlocking sections found on wing sections  16 ,  18 ,  26 , and  28  which are  101 ,  103 ,  105 ,  107 ,  109 ,  111 ,  113 ,  115 ,  117 ,  119 ,  121 ,  123 ,  201 ,  203 ,  205 ,  207 ,  209 ,  211 ,  213 ,  215 ,  217 ,  219 ,  221 , and  223 . Specifically, interlocking section  101  interlocks with section  201 , interlocking section  103  interlocks with  203 , interlocking section  105  interlocks with section  205 , interlocking section  101  interlocks with section  201 , interlocking section  107  interlocks with section  207 , interlocking section  109  interlocks with section  209 , interlocking section  111  interlocks with section  211 , interlocking section  113  interlocks with section  213 , interlocking section  115  interlocks with section  215 , interlocking section  117  interlocks with section  217 , interlocking section  119  interlocks with section  219 , interlocking section  121  interlocks with section  221 , and interlocking section  123  interlocks with section  223 . 
     When wing section  18  and wing section  28  interlock, first air chimney  75 A is created between top section  25 , wing section  18 , and wing section  28 . Similarly, when first wing section  16  and third wing section  26  interlock, second air chimney  75 B is created between top section  27 , first wing section  16 , and third wing section  26 . These air chimneys are a key innovation of this invention and provide a level of insulation that has not been previously invented in the prior art of cardboard coffee cup sleeves. 
     Another unique feature of the present invention are the four (4) holes labeled  54 A through  54 D on beverage container holder  10 . These holes provide a means to: allow air in to cool or heat the beverage, additional comfort when holding beverage container holder  10 , and a means of stacking, storing, and dispensing beverage container holder  10 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     By having the design of the present invention which includes first wing section  16  and second wing section  18  on opposite sides of a first central section  14 , and third wing section  26  and fourth wing section  28  on opposite sides of second central section  24 , the two side sections separated by the score sections when folded cause the side sections to form a completed enclosure as best illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Wing sections  16 ,  26 ,  18 , and  28  create two opposing areas for better gripping. This allows the beverage container holder  10  to be positioned on a cup to hold the cup at any desired grasp location.  FIGS. 3 and 4  show the beverage container holder  10  in its open condition and in use around a beverage container. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a beverage container  200  has a sidewall  210  with a bottom  220  and an opening  230  into which a hot or cold liquid such as coffee, tea, iced or frozen drinks, +or hot soup can be inserted and retained within the container  200  surrounded by the sidewalls  210  and  220 . In operation, when the present invention beverage container holder  10  is formed into its operative condition as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the cup or beverage container  200  can be inserted into the opening  90  preferably by having the bottom inserted over the beverage container holder  10  or having the beverage container holder  10  inserted under the cup by the opening extending over the opening  220  and around the sidewalls  210  of the beverage container  200 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the design of beverage container holder  10  also provides a tactile source so the user can grasp the holder at the location of the wings without having to look at the cup retained by the holder after the holder has been oriented for the desired location on the cup. As a result, the quickness and ease of using beverage container holder  10  is substantially improved by the present invention. In addition, the novel feature of having the score sections with angular score cuts  51  and  41  for section  24  and  53  and  43  (shown on  FIG. 1 ) enable the score sections to be folded inwardly when sections  14  and  24  are rotated in opposite directions as illustrated by the present invention beverage container holder  10  fitting around beverage container  200  in  FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 . This automatically causes beverage container holder  10  to be formed into its final shape with one simple operation of rotating section  14  in a clockwise and section  24  in a counter clockwise direction. 
     Some of the numerous benefits of the present invention are that the beverage container holder can be formed from a single sheet of material, can be formed with one single die cutting stroke, and does not involve glue or any other materials to retain the sections together as the sections are automatically retained together and formed into a round retaining member by the simple actions of engaging the score sections and rotating sections  14  and  24  about a central axis located at the symmetrical center of beverage container holder  10 . This causes the completed beverage container holder to be formed with one single operation. Further benefits of the present invention include the utilization of the wings adjacent to the score sections. These wing sections when in use form air gaps as discussed above which substantially enhance the beneficial effects of the beverage container holder  10  by providing an air gap between the person&#39;s fingers holding the beverage container holder and the beverage container which contains hot liquid therein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a bottom view of the present invention beverage container holder  10  is illustrated. From this view without beverage container  200  shown, the four (4) holes labeled  54 A through  54 D on beverage container holder  10  are clearly illustrated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the bottom view in  FIG. 7 , more clearly shows the bottom portions of air gaps  75 A and  75 B which are formed between the beverage container  200 , central sections  14  and  24 , and wing sections  18 ,  28 ,  16 , and  26  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). These air gaps provide further insulation between the beverage container holder  10  and the cup  200  containing a hot or cold liquid therein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the elevational perspective view in  FIG. 8  shows the beverage container bottom  220  and the beverage container lip  240  and beverage container sidewall  200  all shown in dashed lines with the present invention beverage container holder  10  being illustrated with sidewalls  14  and  24  engaging the sidewall  210  of cup  200 . 
     Another benefit of the present invention is that it can be formed from a single sheet of paper and cut with one die cut where all of the sections are formed and the die cut can also have a score section cut to form the two score members. In addition, because the beverage container holder can be formed in a single flat sheet as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the sheets can be stacked adjacent each other in a dispenser so that they can be easily pulled out of the dispenser, as shown in  FIG. 9 , for immediate use by having holes  54 A through  54 D of beverage container holder  10  fit through dispenser rods  450  and  460  on dispenser  400 . 
     Therefore, the present invention provides a simple, yet effective insulation device that can be formed by the unique design of wings and score sections which create insulation air gaps. This is an innovative concept in the field of beverage container holders. 
     Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.