U.S. patent application number 09/783907 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-22 for unitary beverage insulating jacket with contouring for placement in a vehicle's cup holder or the like.
Invention is credited to Lane, Walter E..
Application Number | 20020113072 09/783907 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25130780 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020113072 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lane, Walter E. |
August 22, 2002 |
Unitary beverage insulating jacket with contouring for placement in
a vehicle's cup holder or the like
Abstract
A beverage insulating jacket comprising a top insulating
receptacle having a bore dimensioned to receive a beverage
container or can. The jacket further includes a lower portion
unitarily and integrally formed with the top insulating receptacle
having a perimeter circumference dimensioned for direct insertion
into a beverage holding receptacle of a vehicle, a chair, etc.
Inventors: |
Lane, Walter E.; (Lakeland,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
George A Bode
BODE & ASSOCIATES, P.C.
2314 Broadway
New Orleans
LA
70125-4128
US
|
Family ID: |
25130780 |
Appl. No.: |
09/783907 |
Filed: |
February 16, 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 as invention is:
1. A beverage insulating jacket comprising: a unitary and
homogenous insulating structure having a top portion and a lower
portion made of an insulating material, said top portion has formed
therein a bore forming an insulating receptacle dimensioned to
receive therein a beverage container and said lower portion has a
height and a perimeter circumference dimensioned for insertion
directly into a beverage or cup holding receptacle.
2. The jacket of claim 1, wherein said lower portion is solid and
has a tapering perimeter wall having a top end and a bottom end
wherein the top end has a larger circumference than said bottom
end.
3. The jacket of claim 2, wherein the top portion comprises: a top
section having a perimeter wall, which has a constant
circumference; and, a bottom section having a tapering perimeter
wall.
4. The jacket of claim 3, wherein said height of said lower portion
is at least a depth of said beverage or cup holding receptacle;
and, said lower portion begins at an end of said bore.
5. The jacket of claim 1, wherein the bore is dimensioned to
support therein a 12-ounce beverage can, a bottle, or a paper
cup.
6. The jacket of claim 1, wherein said insulating material is made
of a lightweight, foamed material.
7. The jacket of claim 6, wherein said lightweight, foamed material
is Styrofoam.
8. The jacket of claim 6, wherein said lightweight, foamed material
comprises polyethylene foamed plastic.
9. A beverage insulating jacket comprising: a top insulating
receptacle having a central cylindrical bore dimensioned to receive
therein a beverage container; and, a lower portion unitarily and
integrally formed with said top insulating receptacle having a
height and a perimeter circumference dimensioned for direct
insertion into a beverage holding receptacle.
10. The jacket of claim 9, wherein said lower portion is solid and
has a tapering perimeter wall having a top end and a bottom end
wherein the top end has a larger circumference than said bottom
end.
11. The jacket of claim 10, wherein the top insulating receptacle
comprises: a top section having a perimeter wall which has a
constant circumference; and, a bottom section having a tapering
perimeter wall wherein the smallest outer perimeter circumference
of said top insulating receptacle is larger than the largest outer
perimeter circumference of said lower portion.
12. The jacket of claim 9, wherein said height of said lower
portion is at least a depth of said beverage holding
receptacle.
13. The jacket of claim 9, wherein the cylindrical bore is
dimensioned to support therein a 12-ounce beverage can, a bottle,
or a paper cup.
14. The jacket of claim 9, wherein said insulating material is made
of a lightweight, foamed material.
15. The jacket of claim 14, wherein said lightweight, foamed
material is Styrofoam.
16. The jacket of claim 14, wherein said lightweight, foamed
material comprises polyethylene foamed plastic.
17. A beverage insulating jacket comprising: means for insulating a
beverage container; and, means, unitarily and integrally formed
with and below said insulating means, for securing said insulating
means directly in a beverage holding receptacle wherein said
insulating means and said securing means are made of a homogenous
insulating material which is a lightweight, foamed material.
18. The jacket of claim 17, wherein said securing means is solid
and has a tapering perimeter wall having a top end and a bottom end
wherein the top end has a larger circumference than said bottom
end.
19. The jacket of claim 18, wherein the insulating means comprises:
a top section having a perimeter wall which has a constant
circumference; and, a bottom section having a tapering perimeter
wall wherein the smallest outer perimeter circumference of said
insulating means is larger than the largest outer perimeter
circumference of said securing means.
20. The jacket of claim 19, wherein said lightweight, foamed
material is Styrofoam or polyethylene foamed plastic.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to insulating beverage holders
and, more particularly, to a unitary beverage insulating jacket
having a lower end contoured for placement in a vehicle's cup
holder.
[0003] 2. General Background
[0004] Beverage insulating jackets or "Huggies" are popular for
keeping cold canned beverages colder longer. The beverage
insulating jackets are made of a soft or resilient foamed rubber or
foamed plastic which is lightweight and inexpensive. Since these
beverage insulating jackets fully encircle the beverage can, the
perimeter circumference is much greater than the perimeter
circumference of the can itself. For example, some insulating
jackets have a diameter which is 31/2 to 4 inches and a 12-ounce
can may have a diameter of 21/2 to 23/4 inches.
[0005] While cup holders or receptacles installed in vehicles
accommodate a variety of can or cup sizes these cup holders or
receptacles typically have an interior perimeter circumference
which is smaller than the perimeter circumference of the beverage
insulating jackets.
[0006] Several devices have been patented which are directed to
beverage holder adaptors.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,538 issued to W. M. Ward, entitled
"BOTTOM CLOSURE WITH AUTOMOBILE DRINK-HOLDER ADAPTOR FOR A
SLEEVE-TYPE BEVERAGE INSULATOR," discloses a sleeve-type tubular
beverage insulator and holder in combination with a disk-shaped
bottom closure and an adaptor. The adaptor has a hollow frustum
with a circular open top and a base which is slightly smaller than
the diameter of an automobile drink holder.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,649 issued to C. D. Hunnicutt, entitled
"DRINK HOLDER ADAPTER," discloses a beverage holder adapter for
placement into a beverage receptacle, such as in a chair's arm, and
for receiving a beverage container, such as a can, held within a
tubular insulating beverage holder. The adapter is made of a low
density polyethylene and has cylindrical upper and lower portions
which include deformable rib members. Such lower portion is sized
to fit in the receptacle.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,504 issued to J. A. Miller, entitled
"VESSEL HOLDING ADAPTER," discloses a beverage holder adapter for
retaining a beverage container, which is in an insulated holder, in
a receptacle. The receptacle is one which is commonly found in golf
carts and automobiles, of which the holding cavity is of a
different size than the container. The adapter has sets of opposed
vertical arms between which the holder holding the container can be
placed. The adapter further includes transversely arranged lower
portions sized for placement into the cavity of the receptacle.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,565 issued to Ericsson, Inc., on the
application of I. N. Wakefield, entitled "COMBINATION CUP AND
CELLULAR PHONE HOLDER," discloses a combination beverage and
cellular phone holder which is adapted for insertion into an
existing vehicle beverage holder. The beverage and cellular phone
holder includes a beverage holder and a phone holder and an
integral bridging member which is secures the phone holder from a
sidewall of the beverage holder. The beverage holder has sidewalls
which are generally tapered to fit in the vehicles' beverage
holder.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,673 issued to C. Chandler, entitled "CUP
ADAPTER FOR USE IN CYLINDRICAL SOCKETS"; and, U.S. Pat. No.
5,676,340 issued to W. Ruhnau, entitled "ADAPTOR WITH OFFSET BASE
FOR VEHICLE BEVERAGE RECEPTACLES" both disclose adapters with
enlarged upper diameters and smaller, lower diameters for use in
cylindrical vehicle beverage receptacles.
[0012] Other adapters include U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,088, issued to V.
de Angeli, entitled "ADAPTER FOR RECEIVING RECTANGULAR BEVERAGE
CONTAINERS"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,062, issued to Siegel,
entitled "SQUARE/ROUND BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECEPTACLE FOR AUTOMOTIVE
VEHICLE CUP HOLDERS" none of which meet the needs of the present
invention.
[0013] As can be appreciated, there is a continuing need for a
unitary beverage insulating jacket which has an end contoured for
direct placement into a conventional beverage or cup holder.
[0014] As will be seen more fully below, the present invention is
substantially different in structure, methodology and approach from
that of the prior adapters for use with beverage insulating
jackets.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0015] The preferred embodiment of the unitary beverage insulating
jacket of the present invention solves the aforementioned problems
in a straight forward and simple manner.
[0016] Broadly, what is provided is a beverage insulating jacket
comprising a unitary and homogenous insulating structure having a
top portion and a lower portion made of an insulating material. The
top portion has formed therein a bore forming an insulating
receptacle dimensioned to receive therein a beverage container. The
lower portion has a height and a perimeter circumference
dimensioned for insertion directly into a beverage or cup holding
receptacle.
[0017] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is
to provide beverage insulating jacket having a lower portion which
is solid and has a tapering perimeter wall having a top end and a
bottom end wherein the top end has a larger circumference than the
bottom end.
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
beverage insulating jacket having a top portion which includes a
top section having a perimeter wall which has a constant
circumference and a bottom section having a tapering perimeter
wall.
[0019] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
beverage insulating jacket having a central bore which is
dimensioned to support therein a 12-ounce beverage can, a bottle,
or a paper cup.
[0020] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide a beverage insulating jacket which is made of a
lightweight, foamed material such as Styrofoam. polyethylene foamed
plastic or a foam rubber.
[0021] The present invention further contemplates a beverage
insulating jacket comprising a top insulating receptacle having a
central cylindrical bore dimensioned to receive therein a beverage
container; and a lower portion unitarily and integrally formed with
the top insulating receptacle having a height and a perimeter
circumference dimensioned for direct insertion into a beverage
holding receptacle.
[0022] In view of the above, a feature of the present invention is
to provide a unitary beverage insulating jacket which is easy to
use.
[0023] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
unitary beverage insulating jacket which is relatively simple
structurally and thus simple to manufacture.
[0024] A still further feature of the present invention is to
provide a unitary beverage insulating jacket which eliminates the
need for adaptors while providing insulating capabilities for
keeping a cold beverage colder longer or a hot beverage hot
longer.
[0025] The above and other objects and features of the present
invention will become apparent from the drawings, the description
given herein, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0026] For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the
present invention, reference should be had to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which like parts are given like reference numerals and,
wherein:
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of the unitary beverage
insulating jacket in line with a beverage container or can and a
cup holder;
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the unitary
beverage insulating jacket of the present invention with the
beverage container inserted;
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a partial view of the unitary beverage
insulating jacket with advertising incorporated therewith;
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the unitary beverage
insulating jacket;
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the unitary
beverage insulating jacket; and
[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view unitary beverage insulating
jacket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0033] Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1-5,
the insulating jacket of the present invention of the present
invention is generally referenced by the numeral 10. The unitary
beverage insulating jacket 10 of the present invention is best
shown in FIG. 2 and functions to (1) insulate a beverage container
or can 5 so that the beverage remains colder longer; and (2)
directly fit into or be directly supported in a vehicle's beverage
holding receptacle 7 or other beverage holder, such as found in
chairs.
[0034] The unitary beverage insulating jacket 10 comprises, in
general, a unitary and homogeneous insulating body or structure 20
having a top portion 30 and a lower portion 40 made of an
insulating material. The insulating material is made of a
lightweight, foamed material such as Styrofoam, polyethylene foamed
plastic or other lightweight foamed rubber.
[0035] The top portion 30 has formed therein a cylindrical bore 32
forming an insulating receptacle dimensioned to receive therein a
beverage container or can 5. For example, the cylindrical bore 32
is dimensioned to support therein a 12-ounce beverage can 5, a
bottle, or a paper cup. The top portion 30 comprises a top section
36 having a perimeter wall 37 which has a constant circumference
the length thereof and a bottom section 38 having a slightly
tapering perimeter wall 39.
[0036] The lower portion 40 has a height H and a perimeter
circumference dimensioned for insertion into a beverage holding
receptacle 7, as best seen in FIG. 1. As best seen in FIG. 5, the
lower portion 40 is solid and has a tapering outer perimeter wall
42 having a top end 44 and a bottom end 45 wherein the top end 44
has a larger circumference than the bottom end 45. In the exemplary
embodiment, the lower portion 40 begins substantially at the end of
the cylindrical bore 32. As can be appreciated, maintaining a
certain thickness of the insulating material around the cylindrical
bore 32 assists in insulating the beverage container or can 5.
[0037] In the preferred embodiment, the height H of the lower
portion 30 is at least a depth of the beverage holding receptacle
7.
[0038] In operation, the user places the beverage container or can
5 of a cold beverage in bore 32 or insulating receptacle of the top
portion 30 of the jacket 10. When not drinking, the user places
lower portion 40 into the conventional beverage holding receptacle
7 which is mounted in the vehicle in which he is driving or riding
or mounted in a chair. Jacket 10, therefore, allows the user to
enjoy a cold beverage with the beverage remaining colder longer
when in a moving vehicle or sitting in a chair and allows the
user's hands to be freed-up by placing the jacket 10 in the
beverage holding receptacle 7 when not drinking.
[0039] The unitary insulating jacket 10 may also be used with hot
beverages such as those sold in paper cups, etc.
[0040] Because many varying and differing embodiments may be made
within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught and because
many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed in
accordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be
understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense:
* * * * *