Patent ID: 12207746

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments disclosed or contemplated herein relate to a detachable holder10for beverages, phones and other personal items. The assembled holder10shown inFIGS.1A-1Dhas a housing12comprising curved portions14,16and defining an internal lumen18constructed and arranged to house a cup, can or bottle, such as a medicine bottle or beverage. It is appreciated that while the housing12ofFIGS.1A-1Dis curved, other shapes defining the lumen are of course possible. In these implementations, the housing12further comprises a mounting plate20. It is appreciated that the housing12may be metal, plastic or other firm materials known in the art.

FIGS.2A-2BandFIG.3depict the holder's10outer housing portion14(FIGS.2A-2B) and inner housing portion16(FIG.3) of the implementations ofFIGS.1A-1B. In certain implementations, the outer portion14is curved and comprises one or more downward extensions14A constructed and arranged to provide greater stability when securing the holder10to an implement. These downward extensions14A or wings14A are arranged on either side of the holder10so as to extend downwardly therefrom along the extended mounting plate20provide additional leveraged support, particularly when the holder10and/or its contents are of considerable weight. That is, the wings14A provide additional support and security to the cup holder10when magnetically mounted or secured in a substantially upright position.

Continuing withFIG.3, and as shown inFIGS.1A-1Dand elsewhere, the inner portion16of the holder10is curved and constructed and arranged to define the lumen18. It is appreciated that these portions14,16according to certain implementations are sized so as to define a lumen18that is constructed and arranged to contain a beverage container such as a can, bottle or cup, such as a soda or beer can, water bottle or coffee cup and the like, including reusable coffee or other beverage cups, such as those made by YETI®, Thermos®, and other producers recognized in the art.

Continuing withFIGS.4A-5, the mounting plate20according to implementations such as those shown inFIGS.1A-1Dcarries one or more magnets22(shown, for example inFIG.6) disposed on a mounting bracket24affixed to the mounting plate20.

As shown in the implementation ofFIG.4Aand elsewhere, the holder10has an optional base plate30having on or more openings32,34such as an optional central opening32and optional side openings34. In these and other implementations, the optional base plate30is suspended at the lower end10A of the cup holder internal lumen18. It would be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the base plate30can be structurally integrated with the mounting plate20, such as by having the shape of the base plate30cut extending from one end of the mounting plate20and angled perpendicularly therefrom, as is shown.

An optional mounting bracket24is shown in detail inFIG.5. In various implementations, the mounting bracket24has a plurality of mounting points26that are constructed and arranged to securely couple to corresponding mounting points26A on the mounting plate (shown inFIG.4Aat20). In some implementations, the mounting bracket24also includes one or more openings28for attachment of magnets22, such as those shown inFIG.6.

FIG.7depicts a further implementation of the magnetic holder10from the underside, showing possible positions of the various openings32,34in the base plate when the holder10is assembled. It is appreciated that further arrangements are of course contemplated, and that the openings32,34are optional and can be omitted in certain alternate implementations.

FIG.8depicts an assembled holder10from behind, showing an arrangement with two magnets22. It is readily appreciated that alternate implementations can have a single magnet22, such as is shown in the implementation ofFIG.12E. Various implementations have more than two magnets22, and further implementations have magnets22of alternate shapes, such as squares, rectangles, triangles and the like, as would be readily understood.

It is understood that in various implementations, and as shown inFIG.9, the holder10can be configured such that a bottle40, such as a medicine bottle40or water bottle40, can be placed within the lumen18so as to allow a tube42or other administration conduit can be routed out of the lumen18via one or more of the openings32,34for use, such as in watering or administering medicine to animals. As would be readily appreciated, the sizing of the components discussed herein can be changed to accommodate industry-standard sizing or other sizing for a particular use.

FIGS.10A-10Bdepict alternate uses of the holder10. For example,FIG.10Adepicts an implementation of a holder10configured for holding a beverage container44, wherein the holder10is magnetically attached to a fence.FIG.10Bshows an implementation of a holder10configured for holding a beverage container44attached to a tractor.

In the implementations ofFIGS.11A-14, the magnetic cup holder10further comprises first18and second lumens50so as to accommodate multiple objects, such as a beverage and a mobile phone or other device(s). It is readily appreciated that in certain applications, the ability to magnetically couple holder10having lumens18,50for a beverage and a phone to an object—such as a lawn mower—for a period of time presents numerous advantages and flexibility to the user.

It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that in these implementations, such as those shown inFIGS.11A-11D, the first lumen18is adapted or otherwise sized to accommodate a bottle, beverage44or other drink or container, as described above, while the second lumen50is sized or otherwise constructed and arranged to accommodate a cell phone54or other personal electronic device.

In some implementations, the first lumen18and second lumen50are wholly separate such that there is no communication between the two lumens18,50. In various alternative, implementations, the holder10may include an opening31between the first lumen18and the second lumen50such that there is communication between the two lumens18,50. For example, such that a charging cord may be placed through an opening31,32,34into the lumen18,50. Of course various alternative implementations are possible. The example given is for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting.

In other respects, the components of the two lumen18,50holder10ofFIGS.11A-12Eare similar to those of the one lumen holders10described above in relation toFIGS.1A-2Dand elsewhere. That is, these holders10have a housing12having optional outer14and inner16portions, optional wings14A, a mounting plate20defining one or more magnet openings22A and the like, as will be readily understood. It is further understood that while one magnet22is shown inFIG.12E, alternate implementations may have two or more magnets22, as shown in relation toFIG.8andFIG.12D.

Continuing with the implementations ofFIGS.11A-12Eand as shown inFIG.13, it is further understood that in various of these implementations, liners56and/or covers (not shown) can be inserted into the lumens18,50so as to adapt them for a variety of desired purposes, such as reduction of vibration and/or thermal insulation for mobile devices and drinks, or to cover a lumen18,50when not in use. It is appreciated that in various implementations, the liner56is made of neoprene, Styrofoam or other insulating material understood in the art. It is further understood that in certain implementations, the cover is made of plastic and sized to cover the lumen18,50opening, as would be readily appreciated by those of skill in the art.

It will be further appreciated that, in use according to these implementations and as shown inFIGS.13and14, the holder10is thereby configured to hold both of a user's beverage container44and cellphone54, the utility and advantages of which are readily apparent. For example, in one exemplary implementation, such a holder10may be mounted to a riding lawn mower such that the user has a cup and mobile phone holder to stow these objects for ready access while mowing. Further, because the holder10is magnetic, after mowing the user can detach it and move on to a subsequent task, such as in a garage or on other machinery. As such it is understood that in use, the holder10presents numerous advantages over the prior art. Namely, the holder10can be secured to a variety of indoor and outdoor implements, such as calf chutes, tractors, fences, mowers, or anything comprising ferromagnetic metals.

As has been described above, the holder10is constructed and arranged to be firmly secured to the attaching implement via the magnets22and overall structure. In certain implementations, the magnets22are 100 lb. magnets or more. Other implementations using stronger or weaker magnets are of course possible and would be readily understood by those of skill in the art to vary depending on the desired application.

The cup holder10according to the various implementations described herein is also useful in numerous sporting applications, such as in rodeo chutes. That is, the cup holder10may be securely mounted to a rodeo chute such that mild jostling or other disruptions will not cause the cup holder10to become unsecured from the chute, but in the event that a larger impact is made against the holder, it will separate to prevent injury to riders and animals. Further similar uses will be appreciated in other sporting, agricultural and industrial applications.

Further, various implementations of the cup holder10are formed out of metal or other non-plastic materials so as to be highly resistant to ordinary wear and tear. Alternate implementations are made of plastic or other synthetic materials, which are lighter and easier to produce. Further applications are of course possible.

Although the disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods.