Abstract:
The present invention features a hand beverage carrier comprising a fastening strap having a hand space, a flap attached to the fastening strap, and a holder. In some embodiments, the fastening strap comprises a flexible material. In some embodiments, the flap further comprises a hook-and-loop fastener to secure the flap to the fastening strap, thereby tightening the fastening strap around a hand inserted into the hand space.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a hand beverage carrier that includes a fastening strap and a holder to enable a person to carry a liquid container easily without spilling the liquid within the liquid container. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Persons carrying liquid containers often wish to have the liquid container wrapped in a holder to keep the liquid a certain temperature or to keep condensation from getting on the person&#39;s hand. Additionally, a person carrying liquid containers may wish to have the liquid container securely in their hand, especially in environments where a large crowd of people exist. However, most persons who wish to keep the liquid in the liquid container a certain temperature or to keep condensation from getting on their hand must fit a material coat around the outside of the liquid container. One problem with these liquid container coats is the person does not have the option of securing the liquid container to their hand. 
         [0003]    Therefore, there is a need for an improved portable liquid container apparatus, where a person may keep the liquid in a liquid container a certain temperature and keep condensation off their hand, while simultaneously securing the liquid container to their hand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention features a hand beverage carrier comprising a fastening strap having a hand space, a flap attached to the fastening strap, and a holder. In some embodiments, the fastening strap comprises a flexible material. In some embodiments, the flap further comprises a hook-and-loop fastener to secure the flap to the fastening strap, thereby tightening the fastening strap around a hand inserted into the hand space. In some embodiments, the holder further comprises a mesh material. In some embodiments, the holder further comprises a flexible material. In some embodiments, the holder further comprises a bottom surface. In some embodiments, the holder further comprises an aperture to fit a liquid container. 
         [0005]    Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable cup holder according to the invention, including a fastening strap and a liquid container holder. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show a side view of a portable cup holder according to the invention, including a fastening strap and a liquid container holder.  FIG. 3  shows the flap being secured to the fastening strap via an attachment means, e.g., hook-and-loop Velcro®, wherein the fastening strap partially folds over to provide a smaller hand space. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portable cup holder according to the invention as used by a person to hold a cup, can, or bottle securely. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0009]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , hand beverage carrier  100  comprises a fastening strap  110  and a holder  120 . The fastening strap  110  comprises a closed loop band forming a hand space  200  (see also  FIG. 2 ). In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , fastening strap  110  is attached to a flap  114  having a fastening means  112  positioned on the underside of the flap  114 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , holder  120  comprises aperture  122  and bottom  124 . In some embodiments, the flap  114  has a length of about 1 inch to 4 inches, and a width  114   b  of about 0.5 inch to about 1.5 inch. 
         [0010]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , fastening strap  110  comprises a flexible material selected from the group consisting of elastic, nylon, plastic, or combinations thereof. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , holder  120  comprises a flexible material selected from the group consisting of elastic, mesh, nylon, or combinations thereof. 
         [0011]    In  FIG. 2 , hand beverage carrier  100  comprises fastening strap  110  and holder  120 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , fastening strap  110  is attached to a flap  114 . A fastening means  112  is located on the underside of the flap  114  and on the outside of the fastening strap  110 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , holder  120  comprises aperture  122  and bottom  124 . 
         [0012]    When a person wishes to hold a can, cup, bottle, or a similar liquid container, the person may insert his/her hand into the hand space  200  formed by the fastening strap  110  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). In some embodiments, the hand space  200  is of the size that can accommodate a human hand. For example, the circular perimeter distance around the inner edge  110   a  of the fastening strap  110  is about 4 inches to about 8 inches. In some embodiments, the width  110   b  of the fastening strap is about 1 inch to about 3 inches. (“About” as used herein means a variation of plus or minus 10%.) 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the person can further tighten the fastening strap  110  onto his hand, reducing the size of the hand space  200 . A person can reduce the size of the hand space by pulling on flap  114  in a direction away from the holder  120  to create at least one wrinkle  210  on the side of the fastening strap that is opposite of the holder (to effectively reduce the size of the hand space  200 ), and then attaching the flap  114  to the fastening strap  110  by fastening means  112  (FIG.  FIG. 3 ). In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , fastening means  112  comprises a hook-and-loop fastener known to one skilled in the art. The person may then insert the liquid container into aperture  122  until the liquid container fits tight against bottom  124  of holder  120 . Hand beverage carrier  100  comprises a variety of sizes to fit a variety of hand sizes. 
         [0014]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , hand beverage carrier  100  comprises fastening strap  110  and holder  120 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , fastening strap  110  is attached to a flap  114 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , holder  120  comprises aperture  122  and bottom  124 . 
         [0015]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , hand beverage carrier  100  is shown as used by a person. When a person wishes to hold a can, cup, bottle, or a similar liquid container, the person may insert his/her hand into the hand space  200 . The person will then use flap  114  to tighten hand beverage carrier  100  on their hand by pulling on flap  114  and then attaching the flap  114  to the fastening strap  110  with fastening means  112 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , fastening means  112  comprises a hook-and-loop fastener known to one skilled in the art. The person may then insert the liquid container  310  into aperture  122  until the liquid container fits tight against bottom  124  of holder  120 . 
         [0016]    Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0017]    Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.