Patent Publication Number: US-2007108239-A1

Title: Portable beverage assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This Application claims priority from a U.S. Provisional Application having Ser. No. 60/737,617, and filed Nov. 17, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention is directed to a portable beverage assembly which includes a support member, a hardness attached to that support member, and a cup removeably disposed within the support member.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Many people, and their pets, consume beverages from various kinds of beverage containers. It can inconvenient to carry a beverage container and a drinking cup when walking, hiking, bicycling, and the like. What is needed is a portable beverage assembly, wherein a cup can be removeably disposed within a carrying harness, and wherein a beverage container can be removeably disposed within that cup element.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Applicant&#39;s invention comprises a portable beverage assembly, comprising a support assembly formed to define an aperture, where that support assembly comprises a first diameter, and where that aperture comprises a second diameter, and where the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. The portable beverage assembly further includes a harness comprising a first end and a second end, where the first end of said harness is attached to the support assembly at a first attachment point, and where the second end of said harness is attached to the support assembly at a second attachment point, where the first attachment point is opposite the second attachment point.  
      The portable beverage assembly further comprises a cup comprising a bottom, one or more walls continuously attached to the bottom and extending upwardly therefrom, and a lip continuously disposed around the distal ends of the one or more walls, where the one or more wall comprise a third diameter, where the third diameter is less than the second diameter, and where the lip comprises a fourth diameter, where that fourth diameter is greater than said second diameter. The cup is removeably disposed within the support assembly, such that the lip is disposed on top of the support assembly and where the one or more walls extend through the aperture. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference designators are used to designate like elements, and in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a carrier portion of Applicant&#39;s portable beverage assembly;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cup element which can be removeably disposed within the carrier assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the cup of  FIG. 1  disposed within the carrier assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4A  is a side view of beverage container;  
       FIG. 4B  show the beverage container of  FIG. 4A  removeably disposed in the apparatus of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 4C  shows the cup element of  FIG. 4B  and the beverage container element of  FIG. 4B  being removed from the carrier assembly of  FIG. 4B ;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of Applicant&#39;s portable beverage assembly that includes two shoulder straps and a waist band;  
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the opposing side of the apparatus of  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of Applicant&#39;s cup element;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of Applicant&#39;s support assembly, where that embodiment if designed to accommodate the cup of  FIG. 7 ;  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of Applicant&#39;s support assembly; and  
       FIG. 10  shows an optional adjustment means to adjust the length of Applicant&#39;s harness element. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      This invention is described in preferred embodiments in the following description with reference to the Figures, in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.  
      The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are recited to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 1 , Applicant&#39;s portable beverage assembly  100  comprises support member  110 , harness  120 , and fixturing strap  130 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , support member  110  comprises a circular member which defines a circular aperture  112 . Support member  110  comprises diameter  114 . Aperture  112  comprises diameter  116 , wherein diameter  114  is greater than diameter  116 .  
      In certain embodiments, diameter  114  is between about 1 inch and about 6 inches. In certain embodiments, diameter  114  is about 4 inches. In certain embodiments, diameter  116  is between about 0.5 inches and about 5.5 inches. In certain embodiments, diameter  116  is about 3.5 inches.  
      In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 8 , Applicant&#39;s support assembly comprises support assembly  810  formed from members  820 ,  830 ,  840 , and  850 , wherein support assembly  810  comprises a diameter  814  comprising a diagonal measurement from one corner of assembly  810  to an opposing corner.  
      In certain embodiments, support assembly  810  is formed from a rigid material selected from the group consisting of wood, metal, plastic, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, members  820 ,  830 ,  840 , and  805 , are integrally formed. Support assembly  810  defines a square aperture  812 , wherein that aperture  812  comprises a diameter  816 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 9 , Applicant&#39;s portable beverage assembly further comprises a web structure  910  attached to support assembly  110 . In these embodiments, web structure  910  comprises a flexible material that configures to a variety of cup  210  ( FIG. 2 ) sizes.  
      Referring once again to  FIG. 1 , harness  120  comprises a first end  122  and a second end  124 , wherein first end  122  is separated from second end  124  by a length. In certain embodiments, the length of harness  120  is between about 12 inches and about 36 inches. In certain embodiments, the length of harness  120  is about 24 inches. First end  122  is attached to circular support member  110  at a first position  111 , and second end  124  is attached to circular support member  110  at a second position  113 , wherein the first position  111  is directly opposite the second position  113 . In certain embodiments, harness  120  comprises a flexible material selected from a group consisting of nylon, canvas, cotton, combinations thereof, and the like.  
      Referring to  FIG. 10 , in certain embodiments harness  120  further comprises an adjustable means  1210  which allows the user to adjust the length of the harness to fit his/her needs. Adjustable means  1210  comprises an outer body and a central bar that separates a first and second aperture. Harness  120  passes upwardly through the first aperture and over the central bar and is pulled downwardly through the second aperture to form a tight friction fit.  
      Referring once again to  FIG. 1 , in certain embodiments Applicant&#39;s portable beverage assembly  100  further comprises fixturing strap  130 , wherein strap  130  comprises first end  132  and second end  134 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , fixturing strap  130  is attached to harness  120  a distance  136  from first end  122 , and is further attached to harness  120  a distance  136  from second end  124 . Fixturing strap  130  comprises a first surface  131  and an opposing second surface  133 . First closure means  137  is disposed on first surface  131  adjacent first end  132 . Second closure means  139  is disposed on second surface  133  adjacent second end  134 . First closure means  137  can be releaseably coupled to second closure means  139 . In certain embodiments, first closure means  137  and second closure means  139  comprise interlocking snaps. In other embodiments, first closure means  137  comprises a plurality of loop fasteners and second closure means  139  comprises a plurality of hook fasteners.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2 , Applicant&#39;s portable beverage assembly  100  further comprises cup  210 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , cup  210  comprises a cylindrical body defined by a bottom and circular wall  220  continuously attached to the bottom and extending upwardly therefrom. Circular wall  220  comprises a diameter  224 , wherein diameter  224  is less than diameter  116 . In certain embodiments, cup  210  is formed from a rigid material selected from the group consisting of wood, metal, plastic, and combinations thereof.  
      Lip  230  is continuously disposed along the top of circular wall  220  and extends outwardly therefrom. Lip  230  comprises diameter  232 , wherein diameter  232  is greater than diameter  116 .  FIG. 3  shows cup  210  removeably disposed within support member  110  such that lip  230  rests on top of support member  110 , and such that circular wall  220  extends through aperture  112 .  
      Referring now to  FIG. 7 , cup  710  comprises a rectangular shape formed from bottom  712  and walls  720 ,  722 ,  724 , and  726 , which are attached to bottom  712  and extend upwardly therefrom. Cup  710  comprises a diagonal diameter  714  measured from one corner to an opposing corner. In certain embodiments, cup  710  is formed from rigid material selected from the group consisting of wood, metal, plastic, and combinations thereof.  
      Lip  730  is disposed along the top portions of walls  720 ,  722 ,  724 , and  726 . Lip  730  comprises a diagonal diameter  732  comprising a diagonal measurement taken from one corner to an opposition corner. Diameter  724  is greater than diameter  714 . Diameter  714  is less than diameter  816  ( FIG. 8 ). Cup  710  can be removeably disposed within support assembly  810  ( FIG. 8 ) such that lip  730  is disposed on top of support assembly  810 , and such that walls  720 ,  722 ,  724 , and  726 , extend through aperture  812  ( FIG. 8 ).  
      Referring now to  FIG. 4A , Applicant&#39;s portable beverage assembly further comprises a beverage container  410 , wherein container  410  comprises a diameter  420  and a height  430 , wherein height  430  is greater than distance  136  ( FIG. 1 ). Diameter  410  is less than diameter  224  such that container  410  can be removeably disposed within cup  210  ( FIG. 2 ). Diameter  410  is less than diameter  714  such that container  810  can be removeably disposed within cup  710  ( FIG. 7 ).  
       FIG. 4B  shows cup  210  removeably disposed within support member  110 , and beverage container  410  removeably disposed within cup  210 . Fixturing strap  130  can then be tightened around container  410 , and first closure means  137  engage with second closure means  139  to secure container  410  within Applicant&#39;s carrier assembly  100 .  FIG. 4C  shows beverage cup  210  removed from support member  110 , and beverage container  410  removed from cup  210 .  
      Referring now to  FIG. 5 , in certain embodiments Applicant&#39;s portable beverage assembly  100  further comprises back pad  510  comprising a first surface  512  and opposing second surface  514  ( FIG. 6 ), shoulder strap assembly  520  comprising first end  522  attached to an upper portion of back pad  510  and second end  524  attached to a lower portion of back pad  510 , and shoulder strap assembly  530  comprising first end  532  attached to an upper portion of back pad  510  and second end  534  attached to a lower portion of back pad  510 . In certain embodiments, Applicant&#39;s portable beverage assembly  100  further comprises waist belt  540  comprising a first portion  542  attached to back pad  510 , second portion  544  attached to back pad  510 , and buckle assembly  546  releaseably attaching first portion  542  to second portion  544 .  FIG. 6  shows second surface  514  of back pad  510  ( FIG. 5 ), wherein harness  120  in combination with support member  110  is attached to surface  514  of back pad  510 .  
      While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.