Abstract:
A low center of gravity beverage container receptacle has a bottom surface with both a high friction surface to resist skidding on a smooth surface and a fabric hooking material to resist skidding on fabric. A surrounding annular support is weighted by a gel material or contained weighted granular elements. The container, composed of insulating material, has a notch to accommodate cup handles and an interior step which allows all sizes of drink containers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present US utility patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/778,021 filed on Mar. 1, 2006. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to the field of beverage container receptacles, and more particularly to a portable beverage holding device comprising a stabilizing beverage container receptacle made of a thermal insulating material to help maintain the temperature of the beverage with an annular stepped interior bottom to accommodate different sizes of beverage containers and an open notch on the side to allow a cup handle to stick out therefrom, a bottom surface with both a high friction surface to resist skidding on a smooth surface and a fabric hooking material to resist skidding on fabric surfaces, and a surrounding annular support at the base. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0007]    A number of products exist for preventing beverage containers from tipping over and spilling. For example, many automobiles are equipped with beverage container receptacles which are built into the dash, the console, or an arm rest of the automobile. However, these automobile beverage container receptacles are typically designed to securely receive only one size of beverage container. Further, because these beverage container receptacles are built-in, they cannot be relocated. For example, a beverage container receptacle built into a console may inconvenience a driver of an automobile by impeding access to a shifter or other vehicle controls. Contrastingly, in situations where an automobile is not equipped with beverage container receptacles, a driver or passenger in an automobile may opt to use a wide-based mug, which he or she places on the console, the seat, or the floor of the automobile. However, if the driver of the automobile has to brake suddenly, especially when traveling at a high speed, such mugs may still be susceptible to tipping over and spilling. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a beverage container receptacle which addresses the above-referenced shortcomings of current beverage container receptacles. The prior art fails to solve the problem adequately. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,600, issued Oct. 23, 1990 to Lee, is for an insulated cup holder with flexible base member. A bag-like, flexible base member is provided which has flowable, granular particles therein is secured to the bottom of a rigid frame member having insulated interior walls to provide an insulated cup holder that may be placed on uneven surfaces without spilling a portable contained in a cup held by the novel holder. The cup holder has a slot to accommodate a cup handle. The frame may be co-extensive with or extend above the insulation that lines the interior of the frame. In the embodiment where the frame extends beyond the insulation, a screw-threaded, rim-mounted member enhances the integrity of the structure. In another embodiment, the holder is surrounded by the bag-like base member. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. D261,592, issued Nov. 3, 1981 to Wilson, indicates the ornamental design for a coaster-holder for a beverage container. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. D281,755, issued Dec. 17, 1985 to Bradley, provides the ornamental design for a holder for drinking vessel. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,436, issued Apr. 4, 1967 to Beghetto, Jr., shows a cup holder having a bean bag base. The cup holder frame has an opening which allows the cup handle to protrude therethrough. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,028,702, issued Apr. 10, 1962 to St. Cyr, claims a support for a cup-like container such as a drinking glass having a pouch depending therefrom containing weighted pellets for stabilizing the drinking container when placed on a bumpy or odd-angled surface. The device uses leaf spring members to hold the glass in place. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,888, issued Jun. 24, 2003 to Castillo, puts forth an apparatus for the stabilization of a drinking vessel such as a glass, coffee mug, or a piece of stemware that is placed on a flat or irregular or sloping surface includes a base portion having a flexible outer covering that surrounds a flexible weighted mass. An elastomeric member that includes an opening is attached to the base portion. The elastomeric member is urged into an open position which requires expanding the opening a sufficient amount to permit the bottom portion of the drinking vessel to pass through the opening and rest on top of the base portion. The elastomeric member is then allowed to retract into a closed position in which elastomeric tension secures the bottom portion of the drinking vessel to the top of the base portion. The apparatus is then placed on the desired surface where the drinking vessel is supported and thereby prevented from tilting or tipping. If the surface is irregularly shaped, the bottom surface of the base portion flexes and adapts to the irregular shape thereby permitting use of the apparatus on irregular surfaces. A modified elastomeric member, according to a modification, is not attached to a modified base portion but surrounds it concentrically and secures the vessel thereto as the vessel passes through an opening that is provided in the modified elastomeric member. 
         [0015]    Two U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,096 issued Dec. 10, 1991 and U.S. Design Pat. No. D330,995 issued Nov. 17, 1992 to Hartmann, concern a drink container stabilizing device which normally rests upon a relatively horizontal surface for releasably holding various sized drink containers. One or more biased members, each of which are secured to the inner surface of a frame, releasably hold various sized drink containers within the frame&#39;s interior region. The frame has a top end and a bottom end which rests upon the relatively horizontal surface when the drink container stabilizing device is in a resting position. A retaining member may be used to further secure the one or more biased members proximate the top end of the frame, and a base plate may be attached to the bottom end of the frame so as to provide an underlying support for a drink container should the device be raised from its resting position. The base plate may further serve to secure the one or more biased members proximate to the bottom end of the frame. A slot in the retaining member accommodates a drink container having a handle, such as a coffee mug. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,916, issued Dec. 6, 1988 to Saxton, claims a take-apart cushion pouch tray assembly especially useful for stabilizing a serving tray on an irregular surface including the lap or abdomen of a user, which has a rigid planar tray top with a peripheral sidewall receiving the mouth of a pouch or bag in detachable sealed relation. The pouch or bag in turn receives a cushion or pillow partially filled with a very light weight flowable granular material, such as styrofoam. Hook and loop fastener tapes unite the mouth of the pouch or bag with the peripheral wall of the tray. The components of the assembly are easily washed and sterilized. 
         [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,064, issued Jul. 5, 1994 to Sapien, discloses a holder for preventing spills which comprises an upper section with a generally longitudinal slot forming a passage through a tubular wall member, a lower section with an open first end and an opposite second end, a connecting means for attaching the upper section with the lower section, and an end closure at the bottom of the lower section. In a preferred embodiment, the lower section has a tubular wall member with a generally frustoconical inner surface. An apparatus comprises a container placed in the holder. In a preferred embodiment, the container may be placed on the connecting means of the holder. In another preferred embodiment, the container may rest on the frustoconical inner surface of the tubular wall member of the lower section of the holder. In yet another preferred embodiment, the container may be positioned on the end closure of the lower section. A method for decreasing spills from the container comprises positioning the container in the holder; restraining movements of the container inside the holder; directing a spill from the container through an existing annular gap between the outer surface of the container and the inner surface of the holder into a reservoir; and collecting a spill from the container in the annular gap in the holder which serves as the reservoir. 
         [0018]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,673, issued Feb. 18, 1992 to Chandler, indicates a cup adapter for use in cylindrical sockets and for holding an enlarged drinking glass, mug or the like having a socket that is of a larger interval diameter, with a lower pedestal of a smaller outer diameter adapted to fit the console socket of a moving vehicle. The cup adapter has a slot for an extending handle of a mug to pass through. 
         [0019]    U.S. Pat. No. D370,392, issued Jun. 4, 1996 to Flanagan, is a design for a large beverage container holder. 
         [0020]    What is needed is a highly stable non-skid and non-spill portable beverage container receptacle for use on any substantially horizontal surface of a vehicle. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    An object of the present invention is to provide a low center of gravity beverage container receptacle with a bottom surface having both a high friction portion to resist sliding on smooth surfaces and a hook material for hooking onto fabric surfaces combined with a stabilizing annular support surrounding the beverage container receptacle for a highly stable non-skid and non-spill portable beverage container receptacle for use on any substantially horizontal surface of a vehicle. 
         [0022]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a raised annular step in the bottom interior of the beverage container receptacle to accommodate different sizes of beverage containers including up to oversized “biggie” cup sizes which are common now. 
         [0023]    One more object of the present invention is to provide an open notch in the side of the beverage container receptacle to accommodate beverage containers with handles. 
         [0024]    An additional object of the present invention is to fabricate the beverage container receptacle with thermal insulating material to help maintain the temperature of the beverage. 
         [0025]    In brief, the beverage container receptacle is structured for the best center of gravity with the base being the widest heaviest portion and the receptacle tapering inward and being lighter towards the top. Further stabilization is provided by a rubberized ridged high friction base ring on the bottom to prevent sliding on smooth surfaces, such as a dashboard or rubber mat in many trucks and semis, and a bottom center hook portion formed of a mating hook and loop fastener material to hook onto fabric, such as a vehicle seat or carpet to prevent sliding on the fabric with the receptacle inserted into the center of a stabilizing anti-spill ring preferably formed of gel or a bead bag, thereby providing a highly stable portable beverage container receptacle which can be placed an a wide variety of surfaces in a moving vehicle or in other locations and still maintain a non-spill non-skid holder for the beverage container. 
         [0026]    An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a low center of gravity beverage container receptacle to prevent tipping of the beverage container. 
         [0027]    A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a bottom surface having both a high friction portion to resist sliding on smooth surfaces and a hook material for hooking onto fabric surfaces. 
         [0028]    One more advantage of the present invention is that the combined beverage container receptacle and stabilizing annular support surrounding the beverage container receptacle form a highly stable non-skid and non-spill portable beverage container receptacle for use on any substantially horizontal surface of a vehicle. 
         [0029]    Another advantage of the present invention is it accommodates different sizes and types of beverage containers. 
         [0030]    An additional advantage of the present invention is that it helps maintain the temperature of the beverage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the beverage container receptacle and annular stabilizing support of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the beverage container receptacle and annular stabilizing support of  FIG. 1  showing the high friction portion and fabric hooking material on the exterior bottom surface of the beverage container receptacle; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the beverage container receptacle aligned for insertion in the annular stabilizing support; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the beverage container receptacle and annular stabilizing support taken through  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    In  FIGS. 1-4 , a portable beverage holding device  10  comprises a beverage container receptacle  20  structured with a low center of gravity and non-skid bottom for securing and stabilizing a beverage container, such as a cup, mug, bottle or the like, on a variety of surfaces in a moving vehicle and a stabilizing annular support  30  around the base of the beverage holding receptacle  20  to insure the beverage container will not tip over even in extreme driving conditions. 
         [0037]    The beverage container receptacle  20  comprising an annular body structure  21  having a wider heavier base with a full thickness lower wall  21 B and an inwardly tapering outer surface of a thinner lighter upper wall  21 A toward a top of the beverage container receptacle to produce a low center of gravity for stability. A substantially cylindrical interior space  23  has an open top with a rim  22  to receive and hold a beverage container therein. A closed bottom supports the beverage container, and an exterior bottom surface comprises both a high friction portion  27  to prevent sliding on smooth surfaces and a fabric hooking portion  28  having means for securing the bottom of the beverage container receptacle to a fabric material, as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . The high friction surface  27  of the exterior bottom of the beverage container receptacle preferably comprises a rubberized material have a textured surface including concentric grooves and protrusions covering a large annular portion of the bottom out to the edge of the beverage container receptacle. The fabric hooking portion  28  of the exterior bottom of the beverage container comprises a circular patch of hook material of a mating hook and loop fastener material to hook onto fabric. 
         [0038]    The beverage container receptacle  20  further comprises a notched area  24  opening through the top rim  22  communicating with the interior space  23  for receiving a handle of a beverage container through the notched area. 
         [0039]    An interior surface of the beverage container receptacle comprises an upper cylindrical interior wall surface  18  and at least one lower annular step  25  configuration of a smaller diameter than the interior wall for securely receiving a wide array of variously sized beverage containers. The interior surface of the beverage container receptacle preferably has a sufficiently low dynamic coefficient of friction, so that a beverage container formed of a material such as glass, plastic, ceramic, foam polystyrene and the like may be easily placed within/removed from the receptacle by a user. A rubberized high friction material  19  may cover an interior bottom surface  29  of the beverage container receptacle. 
         [0040]    The beverage container receptacle  20  is preferably fabricated of a hot or cold insulating material, such as insulating synthetic material, rubber, or other thermally insulating material, for maintaining a temperature of a beverage in the container. 
         [0041]    In further embodiments, the exterior base of the beverage container receptacle may further include a cap member, such as a rubber cap member, for connecting to the portable beverage holder and covering the hook material circular patch  28  to prevent scratching a surface when the user wants to rest the portable beverage holding apparatus on a surface such as a fine leather seat. The beverage container receptacle may further incorporate a weight, such as a metal plate, proximal to the bottom end to further promote stabilization of the receptacle in an upright position. The interior of the beverage container receptacle may have a rubber or (effective material or the like) flap, or flaps, protrusion at the top for very small cups. 
         [0042]    The stabilizing annular support  30  comprises an annular collar having a center opening  31 , shown in  FIG. 3 , equal in diameter to an outer diameter of the beverage container receptacle  20  so that the beverage container fits with a tight friction fit within the stabilizing annular support, which rests on an external surface with the outside bottom  27  and  28  of the beverage container receptacle also resting on the external surface through the center opening of the stabilizing annular support, the stabilizing annular support and the beverage container receptacle together forming a stable, non-skid holder for a beverage container. 
         [0043]    The stabilizing annular support  30  may comprise an outer casing or covering  32  housing a weighted granular material  33 , shown in  FIG. 4 . The outer covering may be a deformable enclosure constructed of a fabric material, such as a durable mesh material. The weighted granular material  33  may comprise at least one of the materials taken from the list of materials including plastic beads, bbs, shot, pellets, pebbles, sand, and gravel. Alternately, the stabilizing annular support  30  may be fabricated of a gel material. The stabilizing annular support  30  may be attached around and coupled to the beverage container receptacle  20  via a mating hook and loop fastener, snap fasteners and the like. The stabilizing annular support allows for the portable beverage holding apparatus to keep from tipping over, even under extreme conditions, such as when a driver using the apparatus in his or her automobile has to brake suddenly when traveling at a high speed. 
         [0044]    In use, a beverage container of any of a wide variety of sizes and types may be removably placed in the beverage container receptacle  20  which fits with a tight friction fit within the stabilizing annular support  30  resting on an external surface with the outside bottom of the beverage container receptacle also resting on the external surface through the center opening  31  of the stabilizing annular support, the stabilizing annular support and the beverage container receptacle together forming a stable, non-skid non-tipping holder for a beverage container which may rest on any substantially horizontal surface within a vehicle or in other location. 
         [0045]    It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.