U.S. patent application number 09/781923 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-15 for holder for a child's beverage cup.
Invention is credited to Watson, Russell.
Application Number | 20020108960 09/781923 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25124386 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020108960 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Watson, Russell |
August 15, 2002 |
Holder for a child's beverage cup
Abstract
Provided is holder/insulator for carrying a child's nippled cup.
The holder includes an insulative base and a top. The top includes
an aperture for receiving a nipple of the nippled cup when the cup
is in the base and the base and top are engaged. The aperture is
surrounded by a sealing member, such as a grommet, for further
securing the cup to the holder and helping to contain any fluids
inside the holder. An engaging means, such as a zipper or a hook
and loop fastener, is connected between the top and the base for
selectively engaging a lower rim of the top to an upper rim of the
base. A hinge is provided between the top and the base. The hinge
allows the top to rotatingly separate from the base. A hook is also
connected to the top for selectively engaging the holder to an
external item.
Inventors: |
Watson, Russell; (Euless,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David M. O'Dell
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Suite 3100
901 Main Street
Dallas
TX
75202-3789
US
|
Family ID: |
25124386 |
Appl. No.: |
09/781923 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/739 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/3879
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/739 |
International
Class: |
B65D 025/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A holder for carrying a nippled cup, comprising: an insulative
base; a top including an aperture for receiving a nipple of the
nippled cup when the cup is inserted in the base and when the base
and the top are engaged; engaging means connected between the top
and the base for selectively securing a lower rim of the top to an
upper rim of the base; a hinging member between the top and the
base and about which the top can rotate; and a hook connected to
the top for selectively attaching the holder to an external
item.
2. The holder of claim 1 further comprising: a strap connected to
the insulative base for receiving and engaging with a child's
hand.
3. The holder of claim 1 wherein the hook is connected to the top
at a spaced distance from the lower rim of the top so that when the
hook is attached to the external item and the lower rim of the top
is not attached to the upper rim of the base, the lower rim of the
top separates from the upper rim of the base.
4. The holder of claim 1 further comprising: a sleeve for receiving
an identification marker.
5. The holder of claim 1 wherein the engaging means is a
zipper.
6. The holder of claim 1 wherein the engaging means utilizes a hook
and loop fastener system.
7. A holder for carrying a nippled cup, comprising: an insulative
base having an opening capable of receiving a first portion of the
nippled cup; an insulative top including an aperture; engaging
means connected between the top and the base for selectively
engaging a lower rim of the top to the opening of the base, wherein
when the lower rim of the top is engaged with the opening of the
base, a nipple of the nipple cup protrudes through the aperture of
the top; the engaging means including a rotating portion about
which the top and base can rotatingly separate from each other; and
a hook connected to the top at a spaced distance from the lower rim
of the top so that when the hook is attached to the external item
and the lower rim of the top is not attached to the upper rim of
the base, the lower rim of the top separates from the upper rim of
the base.
8. A holder for carrying a nippled cup, comprising: an insulative
base having an opening capable of receiving a first portion of the
nippled cup; an insulative top including an aperture surrounded by
a grommet; engaging means connected between the top and the base
for selectively engaging a lower rim of the top to the opening of
the base, wherein when the lower rim of the top is engaged with the
opening of the base, a nipple of the nipple cup protrudes through
the aperture of the top and is sealed by the grommet; and the
engaging means including a rotating portion about which the top and
base can rotatingly separate from each other.
9. The holder of claim 8 further comprising: a hook connected to
the top at a spaced distance from the lower rim of the top so that
when the hook is attached to the external item and the lower rim of
the top is not attached to the upper rim of the base, the lower rim
of the top separates from the upper rim of the base.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates generally to beverage containers, and
more particularly to an insulative holder for a nippled beverage
container.
BACKGROUND
[0002] There are various types of cups or containers for different
situations and different individuals. Many cups are nippled, such
as a spill-proof "sippy" cup often used by toddlers and children. A
sippy cup typically has a lid of some type, be it screw-on or
snap-on, and a nipple around which a child can place his or her
mouth. One of the advantages of the sippy cup is that it is very
clean, and spills very little, if any, when tipped over or held
upside down. This advantage is especially important for toddlers
and children, who are often prone to accidents and spills.
[0003] However, there has not yet been any type of insulator for
the sippy cup. Furthermore, there is not a clear and easy way to
identify the cup with a particular child. Still further, there has
not been a convenient way to handle and store the sippy cup when it
is not in use.
SUMMARY
[0004] A technical advance is provided by a new and improved holder
for carrying a nippled cup. The holder includes an insulative base
and a top. The top includes an aperture for receiving a nipple of
the nippled cup when the cup is in the base and the base and top
are engaged. In some embodiments, the aperture may be surrounded by
a sealing member, such as a grommet, for further securing the cup
to the holder and helping to contain any fluids inside the
holder.
[0005] An engaging means, such as a zipper or a hook and loop
fastener, is connected between the top and the base for selectively
engaging a lower rim of the top to an upper rim of the base. A
hinging member may be provided between the top and the base. The
hinging member allows the top to rotatingly separate from the
base.
[0006] In some embodiments, a hook is connected to the top for
selectively attaching the holder to an external item. The hook may
be connected to an upper portion of the top, at a spaced distance
from the lower rim. Therefore, when the hook is attached to the
external item and the lower rim of the top is not attached to the
upper rim of the base, the lower rim of the top separates from the
upper rim of the base. This facilitates easy insertion and removal
of the cup from the base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 provides a side, isometric view of a beverage holder
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates the beverage holder of FIG. 1 carrying a
sippy cup and being held by a child.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side view of the beverage holder of FIG. 1
carrying a sippy cup.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a top view of the beverage holder of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side, cross-sectional view of the beverage
holder of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a side, cross-sectional view of a beverage holder
receiving a sippy cup according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a side, cross-sectional view of the beverage
holder of FIG. 6.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
[0014] The present invention provides a new and unique holder for a
nippled beverage container, such as a child's "sippy" cup. It is
understood that the present disclosure provides many different
embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of
the invention. Specific examples, features, and layout
configurations are described below to clarify the present
disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not
intended to limit the invention from that described in the
claims.
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the reference numeral 10 generally
represents a holder according to one or more embodiments of the
present invention. The holder 10 includes a base 12 that is
constructed primarily out of a flexible, insulative material. The
insulative material may be a rubber-foam type product with a
waterproof nylon coating 12a. The nylon coating 12a may be of
various colors (e.g., red, blue) to help identify one holder from
other similar holders. The nylon coating 12a also helps to receive
and attach other components of the holder 10. Other materials
include canvas or hard plastic.
[0016] The holder 10 may also include a clear plastic sleeve 14.
The sleeve 14 includes an opening for receiving a name plate, such
as a piece of paper. The name plate can include a child's name for
identification purposes, and the sleeve 14 will keep the name plate
relatively dry and protected.
[0017] The holder 10 may also include one or more straps 16. The
straps 16 are of sufficient size, shape, and flexibility to receive
a child's hand (e.g. the hand 18 of FIG. 2). The straps 16 may also
be made of nylon or canvas, and may either match the color of the
shell 12a, or be of a neutral color (e.g., black).
[0018] The holder 10 also includes a lid or top 20. The top 20 may
be constructed similarly to the insulative base 12. However, in
some embodiments, the top 20 may be relatively thin, in comparison
to the insulative base 12, to facilitate the use of a nipple on the
sippy cup, as discussed in further detail below. For example, the
top 20 can be constructed solely out of nylon material.
[0019] Referring specifically to FIG. 5, the holder 10, with the
top 20, is sized appropriately to receive and frictionally engage
with a container 22 (shown in phantom), such as a sippy cup, having
a nipple 24. The top can rotate about a hinge 26 so that when it is
open, the container 22 can be easily inserted and removed into the
insulative base 12. The hinge 26 may be made of the same material
as the base 12 and top 20 (e.g., in the case of the base 12 and top
20 being canvas), or may be a mechanical hinge (e.g., in the case
of the base 12 and/or the top 20 being hard plastic). In some
embodiments, the hinge may include a spring to secure and engage
the top 20 to the base 12.
[0020] Referring to all the figures, the top 20 also includes an
opening 28, so that when the top is closed, the nipple 24 can
extend through the opening. It is desired to allow a child to
access the container 22 through the nipple 24 while the top is
closed.
[0021] Referring specifically to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the
opening 28 is surrounded by a grommet 28a. In the preferred
embodiment, the grommet 28a is made of rubber or other flexible
material. The grommet 28a operates as a sealing member between the
holder 10 and the nipple 24 of the container 22. In this way, any
condensation or leakage that occurs from liquid inside the
container 22 will be contained inside the holder.
[0022] The top 20 may also include a hanger hook 30. In some
embodiments (e.g., FIG. 3), the hanger hook 30 is connected to the
hinge 26. In other embodiments (e.g., FIG. 5), the hanger hook 30
is connected to the top 20, above the hinge 26. Although not shown,
the hanger hook 30 is selectively attachable to external items,
such things as a stroller or a diaper bag.
[0023] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5, the top 20 and the
insulative base 12 include mating portions of a zipper 32. The
zipper 32 works with the hinge 26 to selectively secure the top 20
to the base 12.
[0024] Referring specifically to FIG. 5, when the hanger hook 30 is
connected to the top 20, the hanger serves to help separate the
base 12 from the top. For example, when the hanger hook 30 is
connected to an external item (e.g. a stroller) and the zipper 32
is open, a center of gravity for the base 12 (with or without the
container 22 inserted) causes the base to rotate about the hinge
26. As a result, the holder 10 is opened so that the container 22
can be easily inserted or removed. This operation is especially
beneficial because an operator can insert or remove the container
22 by using just one hand.
[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 6-7, the reference numeral 40
designates another embodiment of a holder. The holder 40 includes a
hook and loop fastener system 42, instead of or in addition to the
zipper 32, for securing the top 20 to the base 12. The hook and
loop fastener system 24 may also be used with the strap(s) 16
and/or the hanger hook 30.
[0026] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes
in form and detail may be made therein without departing form the
spirit and scope of the invention.
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