Patent Abstract:
The invention is a stabilizing cup holder comprising a circular or elliptical shaped holding member to prevent a beverage container from tipping. The holding member structure is attached to a bottom member. The invention being of substantial weight such that a beverage container may be easily lifted from the device with no additional force applied to the holding member.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a nonprovisional patent application of provisional application Ser. No. 61/788,629, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to cup holders, and more particularly cup holders to be used on solid surfaces and prevent a beverage from tipping. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Cup holders involve providing a surface for a cup or beverage container to rest on or in. Coasters are also often used to rest a cup on. Some cup holders are sleeve like and grip a cup closely. There are also floating beverage holders meant for use in a swimming pool. There are stabilizing cup holders. For prior art other than the coasters, it teaches the use of a specific rigid cup walls to define the cup holding space or chamber. This space or chamber becomes the contact points with the cup or beverage container. 
         [0004]    For example, known cup holder designs utilize a two-part construction: rigid cup holding walls and an exterior housing. Inside the rigid cup holding walls, there are small arms, or protrusions into the cup holding space in order to stabilize the cup or the beverage container. These arms provide friction when placing a beverage in the cup holder and provide substantial friction upon beverage removal. These protrusions are similar to those found on the multiple disposable cup holders handed out at fast food restaurants. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Aspects of the invention overcome the shortcomings of known cup holder designs by having a circular or elliptical shaped holding member to prevent a beverage container from tipping. In one embodiment, the holding member lacks specific rigid cup holding walls as well as small arms or protrusions from the cup. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The present invention will now be discussed in further detail below with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a cup holder according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 2-5  illustrate top views of cup holders according to one or more embodiments of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-section view of a cup holder according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-section view of a cup holder according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-section view of a cup holder according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a cup holder apparatus or device  100  is shown with a holding member  102  and a bottom member  104 . In one example, the holding member  102  is attached to the bottom member  104 . In one instance, the holding member  102  may be attached to the bottom member  104  through adhesive or other bonding agent. In another embodiment, the holding member  102  may be attached to the bottom member  104  through stitching or other methods. In another example, the holding member  102  is made of a pliant and deformable material. In one example, the holding member  102  is filled with materials to achieve an appropriate and optimal weight to a beverage container such that the beverage container engages with the holding member and may be removed from the holding member without the device  100  remaining stuck to and coming up with the beverage container as the beverage container is removed from the device  100 . In addition, the device  100  (with the holding member  102  and the bottom member  104 ) provides stability such that the beverage container would not topple easily. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the bottom member  104  is attached to the holding member  102 . The bottom member  104  is attached securely enough and is strong enough that a full beverage container may be carried and supported by a user carrying the device  100  by holding the holding member  102  with one hand. In one embodiment, the bottom member  104  is water absorbent such that the bottom member  104  may absorb moisture or condensation from a beverage container (not shown). In one embodiment, the bottom member  104  has a non-slip, non-skid, skid resistant, or slip resistant bottom surface such that the device  100  may not be moved when placed on a surface. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the holding member  102  has multiple layers. For instance, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the holding member  102  is a torus or a toroidal shape, such as a donut, inner tube, or bagel shape. It is to be understood that other shapes may be used without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Referring now to  FIGS. 2-5 , a set of top views of cup holders according to one or more embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment, the device  200 , may have circular holding member  202  with a bottom member  204 . In addition, the holding member  202  includes a circular exterior shape  206  as well as a circular interior shape  208 . In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 3 , the device  300  includes a holding member  302  and a bottom member  304 . In this embodiment, the holding member  302  includes a circular exterior shape  306  and an interior shape  308  resembling a pentagon. In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 4 , the device  400  includes a holding member  402  and a bottom member  404 . In this embodiment, the holding member  402  includes a circular exterior shape  406  and an interior shape  408  resembling a heptagon. In a further embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the device  500  includes a holding member  502  and a bottom member  504 . In this embodiment, the holding member  502  includes a circular exterior shape  506  and an interior shape  508  resembling an octagon. In other embodiments, the interior shape of the holding member, such as  102 ,  202 ,  302 ,  402 , and  502 , may resemble a number of different polygon shapes. In a further embodiment, the exterior shape of the holding member, such as  102 ,  202 ,  302 ,  402 , and  502 , may resemble a number of different polygon shapes other than circular shape. In an alternative embodiment, the exterior shape and the interior shape of the holding member are a function of different holding member filler disposed in the holding member. 
         [0015]    In  FIG. 6 , a cross section view of one embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The device  600  includes a holding member  610 . The holding member  610  includes an exterior skin  602  that wraps around an inner layer  604 . For example, the inner layer  604  may be a layer of foam. The inner layer  604  may be filled with a holding member filler  606 . The holding member  610  is connected to the bottom member  608 . The inner layer  604  may be pliant and deformable to varying degrees. For example, the inner layer  604  may be made of materials from a number of existing products, such as egg carton foam, memory foam, and other foams. 
         [0016]    The holding member filler  606  may be made of many different materials. For example, solid materials include: plastic pellets, metal pellets, metal ball bearings, metal bee bees, sand, stone, or glass beads. Generally, these solid materials may be in a small containing sack or bag within the inner layer  604 . Solid materials may be blended with other materials for a desired weight and feel. Other materials that may be used, such as a liquid filled tube or a tube filled with water. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , another illustration shows a cross section of the device  700  according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a holding member  710  may not include an inner layer. The device  700  includes an exterior skin  702  surrounding a holding member filler  706 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , this device  700  differs from the device  600  in that there is no additional inner layer  604 . Instead, the holding member fill  706  includes a gel as filler. In one embodiment, the exterior skin  702  may be composed of Lycra®, or other low friction material. 
         [0018]    As such, the holding member filler  706  is meant to add weight and a feel of substance to the device  700  while the device  600  needs both the inner layer  604  and the holding member filler  606  to achieve. The weight, as mentioned earlier, allows for easy removal of a beverage container and assists in preventing beverage container tipping without having the cup holder to be attached to the beverage container as the beverage container is removed. 
         [0019]    In  FIG. 8 , an illustration of a cross section of another device  800  according to another embodiment of the invention is shown. The device  800  includes an exterior skin  802  over a holding member  810 . Beneath the exterior skin  802  includes a waterproof or water resistant layer  812 . Beneath the waterproof or water resistant layer  812  is an inner layer  804 . Within the layer of foam  806  there is holding member filler  806 . The waterproof or water resistant layer  812  enables the exterior skin  802  to be washed without soaking the inner layers of the holding member  810  (such as the inner layer  804  and the holding member filler  806 ). 
         [0020]    Aspects of the invention overcome known teachings because known teachings merely disclose a cup holding device. The cup holding device would hold a beverage container therein, but when a user needs to remove the beverage container from the cup holder, the user needs to use one hand to forcefully hold the cup holder while using another hand pulling the beverage container out. Aspects of the invention observe these deficiencies by identifying a relationship between the weight of the holding member and the surface friction of the holding member. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the bottom member  104  may not be in a disc shape as previously discussed. For example, the bottom member  104  may be a ring shape having a narrow strip of nonskid, nonslip, skid resistant or slip resistant material on the bottom surface. For example, it is observed that the weight of the holding member, such as  102 , would be optimal for aspects of the invention if it is between 0.6 lbs. and 2 lbs. In one embodiment, the most preferred weight is 1 lb. In another embodiment, the overall height of the holding member and the bottom member may be between 2 inches and 3 inches with a most preferred overall height of 2.5 inches. In another embodiment, it is to be understood that the height or thickness of the bottom member is relative small compared to the holding member. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, the device  100  may be without the bottom member  104  or the holding member  102  and the bottom member  104  may be treated as one unit. 
         [0023]    Using the above optimal values, an internal diameter of the holding member may be 2.5 inches. It is also understood that larger or smaller length may be used depending on the intended beverage container to be fitted inside the device. Similarly, the exterior diameter of the holding member may be 7 inches with the optimal value above. The embodiment is comfortable to be held and comfortable to be carried a beverage container therein. 
         [0024]    In a further embodiment, the weight of the holding member of the device is a function of a friction force exerted upwardly against the beverage container. In one example, suppose a holding member has a first weight and suppose a bottom member has a second weight. According to aspects of the invention, a sum of the first weight and the second weight is greater than a force exerted on the beverage container in a direction being relatively perpendicularly upward to the first weight and the second weight. For example, the first weight may be relatively greater than that of the second weight. In another example, the second weight may be relatively greater than that of the first weight. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, a sum of the first weight and the second weight is greater than a friction force exerted on the beverage container biased against the exterior skin. If the exterior skin is a high friction material the overall weight of the device should be greater for the desired functionality. If the exterior skin is a low friction material the overall weight of the device can be lower and still maintain the desired functionality. Weight must be greater for high friction materials used for the exterior skin, the converse is not required. 
         [0026]    In a further embodiment, a holding member, such as the holding member  102 , may not be a polygon or a torus. For example, the holding member may be a C-shaped or horseshoe shaped. In this embodiment, a flexible wire band may be embedded in the holding member to define a holding space between walls of the holding member for a beverage container. In another embodiment, the flexible wire may be implemented as a bottom member and also has a non-skid, non-slip, skid resistant or slip resistant bottom surface. 
         [0027]    Alternative embodiments of the invention include ones with exterior protrusions and ones adapted for holding wine glasses. Exterior protrusions would be on the exterior surface of the holding member. Examples of decorative protrusions include animal paws, a face, and tail such that could appear to be an animal such as a lion, or flippers and such to appear as a sea turtle. This embodiment could be marketed at a zoo. Another exterior protrusion example may be a clip or karabiner attached to the device such that it could be easily attached to a stroller, backpack, or belt loop. This example is of a more utilitarian exterior protrusion rather than a decorative one. 
         [0028]    When introducing elements of the present invention or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
         [0029]    In view of the above, it will be seen that the several aspects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. 
         [0030]    As various changes could be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0031]    Alternative embodiments of the invention include one unit of multiple cup holders that can incorporate any of the above described features. 
         [0032]    Alternative embodiments of the invention include the incorporation of adding a compartment or a holder that can accommodate items other than cups, such as food, keys, telephone, etc.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0