Abstract:
A beverage holder for securing a beverage container to a support surface is provided. In one example, the beverage holder also insulates the beverage container. The beverage holder has a deformable base, which may be concave in shape. The base is constructed to act as a suction device to releasably attach the beverage holder to the support surface. A sidewall connects to the base to form a cylindrical void. Sidewall projections are spaced apart on the sidewall and extend into the void. The sidewall projections are constructed and arranged to frictionally engage the beverage container. In use, the beverage container is received into the void, and as the beverage container is pressed into the void, the deformable base suctionally couples to the support surface. The sidewall projections act to securely hold the beverage container in the void, while allowing air to escape.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. patent application number 60/708,003, filed Aug. 12, 2005, and entitled “Beverage Holder”. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to the field of beverage holders. More particularly, the present invention relates to an beverage holder that can be releasably attached to a surface.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Beverage holders have been available for a number of years and are well known in the art. Some of these beverage holders are made of insulating material so that the canned or bottled beverages are maintained a temperature close to the temperature of the beverage prior to being placed in the beverage holder. The insulating material also helps to insulate the hand from very cold or very hot beverages. These beverage holders are typically made of Styrofoam or Neoprene. The beverage holder is typically in the shape of a cylinder into which the beverage container is inserted. Beverage holders of this type are typically constructed from insulating material, in the form of tubing or rectangular sheets, cut to suitable lengths, formed into the appropriate cylindrical shape if necessary, and fitted with a flat round bottom piece of similar insulating material, usually provided with a drain hole. The bottom piece of the beverage holder is typically held in place by an adhesive material. These beverage holders will typically remain upright and are stable on flat, unmoving surfaces.  
         [0006]     While the beverage holders described above serve their purpose adequately, it is often desirable to be able to use an insulating beverage holder in a situation where the available surfaces upon which to place a beverage holder are subject to sudden, unexpected movement. In certain vehicles such as marine craft, airplanes, RV motor homes, and the like, table-type support surfaces are provided for supporting food and beverages. A recurring problem in such vehicles are the overturning and sliding of beverage containers on the support surfaces when the vehicle accelerates or changes direction, or in the case of marine craft and airplanes, experiences buffeting associated with waves or air pockets. While it is desirable to prevent sliding and tipping of the container due to changes in the speed, orientation or direction of the vehicle, it is also desirable to have the ability to easily lift the beverage container, with or without the beverage holder, for the purpose of drinking or pouring from it without having to use undue force or two hands to do so.  
         [0007]     One solution used in the art to prevent the sliding of beverage holders due to directional changes experienced by the support surface upon which the beverage holder rests, is to use a non-slip coating on the base of the beverage holder. While this solution seems useful, the reality is that applying this type of coating increases the manufacturing cost of the beverage holder significantly, and moreover, the increased surface friction may actually increase the tendency for tip over for the beverage container and beverage holder combination. This increased tendency for tip over occurs because inertial forces that would normally cause slippage without the non-slip coating, now cause the beverage container and beverage holder combination to tip over instead. Increasing the size of the base on beverage holders of this type might help alleviate this problem, but to provide a larger base, the thickness of the base must also be increased to provide stability. Increasing the thickness of the base would tend to raise the center of gravity of the beverage holder, which would increase the tendency for tip over as well, and defeat the purpose of the larger base. Additionally, the problem arises of increased cost of manufacture for producing a beverage holder with a larger base and non-slip coating, as well as the larger size of the base of the beverage holder creating a larger, heavier, unsightly and even unwieldy insulating beverage holder.  
         [0008]     Therefore, a need exists for a device that can be used to hold beverage containers, that can be releasably attached to surfaces that are subject to sudden or unexpected changes of speed, direction and orientation of a vehicle, and that can still be handled easily without the need for using two hands or undue force. In some cases, it may also be desirable that the beverage holder provide an insulating function.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Briefly, the present invention provides a beverage holder for securing a beverage container to a support surface. In one example, the beverage holder also insulates the beverage container. The beverage holder has a deformable base, which may be concave in shape. The base is constructed to act as a suction device to releasably attach the beverage holder to the support surface. A sidewall connects to the base to form a cylindrical void. Sidewall projections are spaced apart on the sidewall and extend into the void. The sidewall projections are constructed and arranged to frictionally engage the beverage container. In use, the beverage container is received into the void, and as the beverage container is pressed into the void, the deformable base suctionally couples to the support surface. The sidewall projections act to securely hold the beverage container in the void, while allowing air to escape.  
         [0010]     Advantageously, the beverage holder securely and reliably adheres to the support surface, enabling a beverage container to be safely and securely held in place. In some constructions, the beverage holder may also provide an insulating effect for the beverage container. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The present invention is described herein with reference to the following drawings. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and not limitation. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration, these drawings are not made to scale.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1   a - 1   c  are a top view, side view, and perspective front view, respectively, of an insulated beverage holder in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2   a - e  are front, side, left side perspective, right side perspective, and top views, respectively, of the sidewall projection fin of the insulated beverage holder in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3   a - 3   b  are a cross sectional view and a close up view of detail area, respectively, of an insulated beverage holder with sidewall projection fins in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4   a - 4   b  are a top view and cross sectional view, respectively, of an insulated beverage holder with hemi-cylindrical sidewall projections in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5   a - 5   b  are a top view and cross sectional view, respectively, of an insulated beverage holder with a central vent hole and having no sidewall projections in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     Certain embodiments of the invention are described below in connection with the drawings. It should be understood that the invention is not limited by the detailed description and the drawings, but is to be defined by the scope of the appended claims.  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1   a - 1   c , an insulated beverage holder  10  is illustrated. Although the beverage holder is described as an insulting beverage holder, it will be appreciated that the insulating effect is obtained by selection of construction material, as well as the height of the beverage container. For example, a relatively short beverage holder will provide less insulating effect than a taller beverage holder made of the same insulating material. Further, the insulating effect will also depend on the height and shape of the beverage container. A short beverage container will have more surface area insulated than a tall beverage container, which will have more surface area exposed. According, the insulating effect may be set according to the expected height and size of the beverage container, by the height of the beverage holder, and by the type of material used to construct the beverage holder.  
         [0019]     Insulated beverage holder  10  may be advantageously used to releasably attach a beverage to a surface subject to sudden or unexpected movement or changes in speed, direction or orientation while maintaining the beverage held within the insulated beverage holder  10  at or near the temperature of the beverage prior to placing said beverage in the beverage holder&#39;s  10  cylindrical void  19 . The insulated beverage holder  10  is made of insulating material. It will be appreciated that materials with less-insulting effect may be used when the insulating effect in not needed or desirable. The insulating material may be for example, A.B.S, Neoprene, Polyurethane, Polystyrene, PVC, Silicone Rubber, and Foams (Neoprene, Polystyrene, Polyurethane, or Silicone). Insulated beverage holder  10  is constructed such that it possesses a deformable concave shaped base  12 , a sidewall  14 , sidewall projection fins  16 , and a central cylindrical void  19 . Insulated beverage holder  10  is preferably formed such that the base  12 , sidewall  14 , and sidewall projection fins  16  are integrally formed as a single unit. It will be understood that insulated beverage holder  10  can also be formed such that the base  12 , sidewall  14 , and sidewall projections  16  are made as separate pieces and assembled together.  
         [0020]     A beverage container, cup, can, or bottle, is placed within the cylindrical void  19  of the insulated beverage holder  10 . The insulated beverage holder  10  with beverage container is then pressed down upon a surface, deforming the deformable concave base  12 , thereby forcing air out from below the insulated beverage holder  10 . It will also be appreciated that the insulated beverage holder  10  can be releasably attached to a surface prior to placing the beverage container in the insulated beverage holder  10  cylindrical void  19 . Upon release of the downward pressure on the insulated beverage holder  10 , the deformable base  12  reforms its shape creating a vacuum, or suction, in the space below the base  12  from where the air was displaced. The vacuum beneath the base  12  of the insulated beverage holder  10  acts to hold the beverage in place on said surface, preventing the beverage container from tipping over or spilling when a sudden or unexpected change in speed, direction, or orientation of the beverage support surface occurs. For example, it may be desirous to be able to maintain the temperature of a beverage while boating, and also to ensure the beverage is not spilled or lost overboard when the boat is turned or tossed from wave motion. The vacuum or suction is released by gently prying the edge of the base  12  up to allow air to enter the evacuated space beneath the insulated beverage holder  10 , which in turn releases the insulated beverage holder from attachment to the surface in the vehicle to which said beverage holder  10  had been releasably attached. It will be appreciated that other methods to release the beverage holder from the surface to which it is attached are possible as well, for example a simultaneous twisting and lifting motion.  
         [0021]     The beverage container is held firmly in place in the central cylindrical void  19  of the insulated beverage holder  10  by being frictionally engaged by the sidewall projection fins  16  that form the perimeter of the cylindrical void. When a beverage container is placed within the void, the fins are reversibly contacted with the beverage container. The sidewall projection fins  16 , being made of a pliable or deformable yet insulating material, fold or bend as the beverage container is placed into the central cylindrical void  19 , thus forming a frictional coefficient between the surface of the beverage container and the sidewall projection fins  16 . The frictional engagement is sufficient to hold the beverage container in place, yet still allow the beverage container to be easily removed from the insulating beverage holder  10 , in order to consume said beverage, without releasing the insulating beverage holder  10  from the surface to which it is attached.  
         [0022]     Insulated beverage holder  10  is constructed to accept beverage containers whose diameter falls in a range of between about 45 millimeters to about 85 millimeters into the central cylindrical void  19 . It is understood that the central cylindrical void  19  is formed by the perimeter established by the sidewall projection fins  16 . It will be appreciated that the central cylindrical void  19  can be made larger by decreasing the depth of the sidewall projection fins  16  with respect to the area from which the sidewall projection fins  16  protrude from the insulated beverage holder sidewall  14 . It will also be appreciated that the central cylindrical void can be made smaller by increasing the depth of the sidewall projection fins  16  with respect to the area from which the sidewall projection fins  16  protrude from the insulated beverage holder sidewall  14 . Thus it will be appreciated that beverage containers larger or smaller than the range described above can also be accommodated by the present invention.  
         [0023]     Insulated beverage holder  10  can be constructed such that the height of the sidewall  14  falls in a range of between about 50 millimeters to about 200 millimeters. It will be understood by one of skill in the art that beverage containers come in numerous heights, and that to effectively insulate a beverage container of any given height, the appropriate height insulated beverage holder  10  must be used. It will also be understood that to provide maximal insulation, the sidewall  14  height of an insulating beverage holder  10  should be such that most of the beverage container rests within the height of the sidewall  14  of the beverage holder  10 . It will be appreciated that when the insulating beverage holder  10  mostly covers the beverage container, any temperature changes of the beverage, due to exposure to ambient temperature or direct sunlight, are minimized. Therefore it will be understood that insulating beverage holder  10  will be most advantageously adapt to particular uses if available in a variety of sizes.  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a - 2   e , various views of a sidewall projection fin  20  are illustrated.  FIG. 2A  illustrates the view of the front edge view of sidewall fin projection  20 , from the front edge  24  to projection from sidewall  28 .  FIG. 2B  illustrates the left side view of the sidewall projection  20 .  FIGS. 2C and 2D  illustrate the right and left side perspective views, respectively, of sidewall projection fin  20 . Sidewall projection fin  20  increases in height as the view passes from front edge  24  to point of projection from sidewall  22 .  FIGS. 2C and 2D  also illustrates the taper of the fin from front edge  24  to sidewall projection point  22 .  FIG. 2E  illustrates the top view of the sidewall fin projection  20 .  FIG. 2E  illustrates the taper of the sidewall fin  20  and also illustrates the manner in which the sidewall fin  20  projects from the sidewall  22 .  
         [0025]     The entire area between the front edge  24  of the sidewall projection  20  and the emergence from the sidewall  22  is available to frictionally engage the beverage container to ensure the beverage container is held firmly. The sidewall projection  20 , being constructed with material that is insulating and deformable, will bend or flex to allow the beverage container to occupy the beverage space  19  shown in  FIG. 1A , thereby allowing the area described above to frictionally engage the beverage container. While the sidewall projection fins  20  in  FIG. 2A-2E  are drawn to be uniform in shape and size, it will be understood that the sidewall projection fins  20  can be formed in such a way as to increase or decrease in size from top to bottom of the fin. It will also be appreciated that the sidewall fin may be formed in a variety of shapes.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 3A-3B , illustrated is a thin cross section view of insulated beverage holder  30  having the sidewall  34 , base  32  and sidewall projection fins  38  integrally formed as a single unit, and beverage space  36  formed by the cylindrical void described from the perimeter formed by sidewall fin projections  38 . It will be appreciated that the concave shape of base  32 , in conjunction with base  32  being deformable, allows the base  32  of insulated beverage holder  30  to act as a suction device. Insulated beverage holder  30  having sidewall projection fins  39  emerging from sidewall  43  can frictionally engage a beverage container placed in beverage space  36 .  
         [0027]     Also illustrated in  FIG. 3A  is detail area  FIG. 3B . As shown in  FIG. 3B  detail area  34  illustrates the flattened rim  41  of base  32 . Flattened rim  41  of base  32  provides additional stability to help prevent the beverage container and insulated beverage holder  30  from tipping over or spilling when a sudden or unexpected change in speed, direction, or orientation of the vehicular support surface occurs. Flattened rim  41  of base  32  will also aid in maintaining suction of the beverage holder  30  to the surface which beverage holder  30  is pressed onto. Flattened rim  41  provides additional surface area for the vacuum to exert its force on, and also requires any escaping air to move further from the central suction pocket located in the concave area of base  32 , below the beverage container space  36 , before allowing escaping air to completely release suction, thus helping to maintain the integrity of the suction. It will be understood that the flattened rim  31  of base  32  will be most advantageously used when the width of flattened rim  41  is at least 2 millimeters wide. It will also be appreciated that the flattened rim  41  of base  32  of insulating beverage holder  30  can be manufactured to any desired width and that certain widths may prove more advantageous in certain conditions. For example, insulating beverage holder  30  with base  32  having a flattened rim  41  of at least greater than 2 millimeters might provide better suction, when compared to a similar beverage holder  30  with a flattened rim  32  of less than 2 millimeters, for holding insulated beverage holder  30  in place on a marine craft where water spray from waves may wet available support surfaces.  
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4B , illustrated is a top view of a beverage holder  45  having a deformable concave base  47 , hemi-cylindrical side wall projections  51  emerging from sidewall  49  and forming, from the perimeter described from the sidewall projections, the beverage container space  54 , or cylindrical void. It is understood that the hemi-cylindrical sidewall projections can be fashioned, for example, as either solid hemi-cylindrical rods emerging from sidewall  49 , or hollow hemi-cylindrical tubes emerging from sidewall  49 . Beverage holder  45  may be advantageously used to releasably attach a beverage to a surface subject to sudden or unexpected movement or changes in speed, direction or orientation. Beverage holder  45  is sized to accommodate a typical 12 oz. beverage container, as well as standard 16 oz. plastic water bottles. Other types of bottles and cans, such as beer bottles, may also be used.  
         [0029]     The Beverage holder  45  is relatively short for many standard beverage cans and bottles, so may provide only limited insulating effect. The beverage holder  45  may have more insulating effect by selecting a more insulating material, or by increasing the wall height. The insulating material may be for example, A.B.S, Neoprene, Polyurethane, Polystyrene, PVC, Silicone Rubber, and Foams (Neoprene, Polystyrene, Polyurethane, or Silicone). A beverage container, cup, can, or bottle, is placed within the cylindrical void  54  of the insulated beverage holder  45 . The beverage holder  45  with beverage container is then pressed down upon a surface, deforming the deformable concave base  47 , thereby forcing air out from below the insulated beverage holder  45 . It will also be appreciated that the beverage holder  45  can be releasably attached to a surface prior to placing the beverage container in the insulated beverage holder  45  cylindrical void  54 . Upon release of the downward pressure on the insulated beverage holder  45 , the deformable base  47  reforms its shape creating a vacuum, or suction, in the space below the base  47  from where the air was displaced. The vacuum beneath the base  47  of the beverage holder  45  acts to hold the beverage in place on said surface, preventing the beverage container from tipping over or spilling when a sudden or unexpected change in speed, direction, or orientation of the beverage support surface occurs. For example, it may be desirous to be able to maintain the temperature of a beverage while boating, and also to ensure the beverage is not spilled or lost overboard when the boat is turned or tossed from wave motion. The vacuum or suction is released by gently prying the edge of the base  47  up to allow air to enter the evacuated space beneath the insulated beverage holder  45 , which in turn releases the beverage holder from attachment to the surface in the vehicle to which said beverage holder  45  had been releasably attached. It will be appreciated that other methods to release the beverage holder from the surface to which it is attached are possible as well, for example a simultaneous twisting and lifting motion.  
         [0030]     The beverage container is held firmly in place in the central cylindrical void  54  of the insulated beverage holder  45  by being frictionally engaged by the sidewall projections  51  that emerge from sidewall  49  and form the perimeter of the cylindrical void  54 . When a beverage container is placed within the void  54 , the sidewall projections  51  are reversibly contacted with the beverage container. The sidewall projections  51 , being made of a pliable or deformable yet insulating material, deform as the beverage container is placed into the central cylindrical void  19 , thus forming a frictional coefficient between the surface of the beverage container and the sidewall projections  51 . The frictional engagement is sufficient to hold the beverage container in place, yet still allow the beverage container to be easily removed from the insulating beverage holder  45 , in order to consume said beverage, without releasing the insulating beverage holder  45  from the surface to which it is attached.  
         [0031]     Beverage holder  45  is constructed to accept beverage containers whose diameter falls in a range of between about 45 millimeters to about 85 millimeters into the central cylindrical void  54  or beverage container space. It is understood that the central cylindrical void  54  is formed by the perimeter established by the sidewall projections  54 . It will be appreciated that the cylindrical void  54  can be made larger by making the sidewall projections  51  thinner with respect to the area from which the sidewall projections  51  emerge from the beverage holder sidewall  49 . It will also be appreciated that the cylindrical void  54  can be made smaller by making the sidewall projections  51  thicker with respect to the area from which the sidewall projections  51  protrude from the insulated beverage holder sidewall  49 . Thus it will be appreciated that beverage containers larger or smaller than the range described above can also be accommodated by the present invention.  
         [0032]     Beverage holder  45  can be constructed such that the height of the sidewall  49  falls in a range of between about 50 millimeters to about 200 millimeters. It will be understood by one of skill in the art that beverage containers come in numerous heights, and that to effectively insulate a beverage container of any given height, the appropriate for height insulated beverage holder  45  should be selected, if an insulating effect is desired. It will also be understood that to provide maximal insulation, the sidewall  49  height of an beverage holder  45  should be such that most of the beverage container rests within the height of the sidewall  49  of the beverage holder  45 . It will be appreciated that when the beverage holder  45  mostly covers the beverage container, any temperature changes of the beverage, due to exposure to ambient temperature or direct sunlight, are minimized. Therefore it will be understood that beverage holder  45  may be advantageously provided in a variety of sizes and heights.  
         [0033]     Illustrated in  FIG. 4B  is a cross section view of beverage holder  45  constructed such that the deformable concave shaped base  47 , sidewall  49 , sidewall projections  51 , and flattened base rim  57  are integrally formed as a single unit. It will be understood that beverage holder  45  can also be formed such that the sidewall  47 , sidewall projections  54 , base  47  and flattened base rim  57  are made as separate pieces and assembled together. Flattened base rim  57  of base  47  provides additional stability to help prevent the beverage container and insulated beverage holder  45  from tipping over or spilling when a sudden or unexpected change in speed, direction, or orientation of the vehicular support surface occurs. Flattened base rim  57  of base  47  will also aid in maintaining suction of the beverage holder  45  to the surface which beverage holder  45  is pressed onto. Flattened base rim  57  provides additional surface area for the vacuum to exert its force on, and also requires any escaping air to move further from the central suction pocket located in the concave area of base  47 , below the beverage container space  51 , shown in  FIG. 4A , before allowing escaping air to completely release suction, thus helping to maintain the integrity of the suction. It will be understood that the flattened base rim  57  of base  47  will be most advantageously used when the width of flattened base rim  57  is at least 2 millimeters wide. It will also be appreciated that the flattened base rim  57  of base  47  of insulating beverage holder  45  can be manufactured to any desired width and that certain widths may prove more advantageous in certain conditions. For example, beverage holder  45  with base  47  having a flattened base rim  57  of at least greater than 2 millimeters might provide better suction, when compared to a similar beverage holder  45  with a flattened base rim  57  of less than 2 millimeters, for holding insulated beverage holder  45  in place on a marine craft where water spray from waves may wet available support surfaces.  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIG. 5A-5B , illustrated are top view and cross section view, respectively, of insulated beverage holder  60 . Insulated beverage holder  60  has deformable sidewall  64 , cylindrical void  66  to hold a beverage container, and deformable concave base  62  with flattened base rim  71  and vent hole  69 . Illustrated in  FIG. 5B  is a cross section view of insulated beverage holder  60  constructed such that the sidewall  64 , deformable concave shaped base  62  with vent hole  69  and flattened base rim  71  are integrally formed as a single unit. It will be understood that insulated beverage holder  60  can also be formed such that the sidewall  64 , deformable concave base  62 , vent hole  69  and flattened base rim  71  are made as separate pieces and assembled together.  
         [0035]     Insulated beverage holder  60  is constructed in a manner that sidewall  64 , devoid of sidewall projections, frictionally engages a beverage container placed into the cylindrical void  66 . It will be understood that insulated beverage holder  60  will be most advantageously useful if the inner diameter of sidewall  64  is only marginally greater than the diameter of the beverage container to be placed in cylindrical void  66 .  
         [0036]     Insulated beverage holder  60  may be advantageously used to releasably attach a beverage container to a surface subject to sudden or unexpected movement or changes in speed, direction or orientation while maintaining the beverage held within the insulated beverage holder  60  at or near the temperature of the beverage prior to placing said beverage in the beverage holder&#39;s  60  cylindrical void  66 . The insulated beverage holder  60  is made of insulating material. The insulating material may be for example, A.B.S, Neoprene, Polyurethane, Polystyrene, PVC, Silicone Rubber, and Foams (Neoprene, Polystyrene, Polyurethane, or Silicone). A beverage container, cup, can, or bottle, is placed within the cylindrical void  66  formed by the deformable sidewall  64  of insulated beverage holder  60 . Insulated beverage holder  60  with beverage container is then pressed down upon a surface, deforming the deformable concave base  62 , thereby forcing air out from below the insulated beverage holder  60  deformable concave base  62 . Upon release of the downward pressure on the insulated beverage holder  60 , the deformable base  62  reforms its shape creating a vacuum, or suction, in the space below the base  62  from where the air was displaced. The vacuum beneath the base  62  of the insulated beverage holder  60  acts to hold the beverage in place on said surface, preventing the beverage container from tipping over or spilling when a sudden or unexpected change in speed, direction, or orientation of the beverage support surface occurs. For example, it may be desirous to be able to maintain the temperature of a beverage while boating, and also to ensure the beverage is not spilled or lost overboard when the boat is turned or tossed from wave motion. It will be understood that insulated beverage holder  60  having vent hole  69  will require that a beverage container be frictionally engaged in cylindrical void  66  in order to form suction beneath deformable concave base  62  having flattened rim  71 . Because insulated beverage holder  60  is constructed so that sidewall  64  is deformable, it will be appreciated that insulated beverage holder  60  will accept beverage containers that fall within a range of diameters. It will also be appreciated that to be most advantageously useful insulated beverage holder will be available in a variety of sizes to accommodate beverage containers of vastly different diameters. One of skill in the art will understand that as the deformable sidewall  64  of insulated beverage holder  60  is deformed outwards to accept larger diameter beverage containers, the height of the sidewall  64  will be shortened. One of skill in the art will understand that to provide maximal insulation, the sidewall  64  height of an insulating beverage holder  60  should be such that most of the beverage container rests within the height of the sidewall  64  of the beverage holder  65 . It will be appreciated that when the insulating beverage holder  60  mostly covers the beverage container, any temperature changes of the beverage, due to exposure to ambient temperature or direct sunlight, are minimized. It will also be appreciated that deformable sidewall  64  is not infinitely elastic, and in order to maintain maximal insulation, insulated beverage holder  60  will be most advantageously useful if available in a number of different diameters and sidewall heights.  
         [0037]     Flattened base rim  71  of base  62  of insulated beverage holder  60  provides additional stability to help prevent the beverage container and insulated beverage holder  60  from tipping over or spilling when a sudden or unexpected change in speed, direction, or orientation of the vehicular support surface occurs. Flattened base rim  71  of base  62  will also aid in maintaining suction of the beverage holder  60  to the surface which beverage holder  60  is pressed onto. Flattened base rim  71  provides additional surface area for the vacuum to exert its force on, and also requires any escaping air to move further from the central suction pocket located in the concave area of base  62 , below the beverage container space  66 , before allowing escaping air to completely release suction, thus helping to maintain the integrity of the suction. It will be understood that the flattened base rim  71  of base  62  will be most advantageously used when the width of flattened base rim  71  is at least 2 millimeters wide. It will also be appreciated that the flattened base rim  71  of base  62  of insulating beverage holder  60  can be manufactured to any desired width and that certain widths may prove more advantageous in certain conditions. For example, insulating beverage holder  60  with base  62  having a flattened base rim  71  of at least greater than 2 millimeters might provide better suction, when compared to a similar beverage holder  60  with a flattened base rim  71  of less than 2 millimeters, for holding insulated beverage holder  60  in place on a marine craft where water spray from waves may wet available support surfaces.  
         [0038]     Although the foregoing has described certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the disclosure herein. Additionally, other combinations, omissions, substitutions and modifications will be apparent to the skilled artisan in view of the disclosure herein. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited by the preferred embodiments, but is to be defined by reference to the following claims.