U.S. patent application number 10/678242 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-08 for cup holder for shopping carts.
Invention is credited to Giampavolo, Paul.
Application Number | 20040129852 10/678242 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32685943 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040129852 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Giampavolo, Paul |
July 8, 2004 |
Cup holder for shopping carts
Abstract
A cup holder for retaining a cup on a shopping cart has a ring
and a bracket. The ring supports the cup, and is in turn supported
by the bracket attached to the shopping cart. Further supports for
holding the cup in the cup holder are provided as attachments to
the ring or the bracket. The cup holder may be mounted on a wall of
the shopping cart, a handle, or may be carried by the individual
through the provision of a handle on the bracket or ring. The cup
holder contributes to preventing spills and provides a safe and
convenient way to transport beverages, especially hot
beverages.
Inventors: |
Giampavolo, Paul;
(Fairfield, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK, FABER, GERB & SOFFEN, LLP
1180 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036-8403
US
|
Family ID: |
32685943 |
Appl. No.: |
10/678242 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10678242 |
Oct 3, 2003 |
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29169554 |
Oct 21, 2002 |
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D484753 |
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60416506 |
Oct 3, 2002 |
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60483376 |
Jun 27, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/315 ;
248/311.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B 2202/023 20130101;
B62B 3/1472 20130101; A47G 23/0225 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/315 ;
248/311.2 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/00; A47K
001/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cup holder for holding a cup on a shopping cart, comprising: a
ring having a size and shape suitable for receiving the cup; a
support member attached to the ring and having a portion being
substantially horizontal for providing vertical support for the
cup; a bracket coupled to the cup holder located on at least one of
the ring and the horizontal support member for supporting the cup
holder on the shopping cart in a particular position; and the
bracket being shaped to obtain a retaining force acting between the
bracket and the shopping cart to contribute to maintaining the cup
holder in the specified position.
2. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is in
the shape of an elongated hook, an elongated portion of the bracket
providing a resilient retaining force applied between the shopping
cart and the cup holder to retain the cup holder in the specified
position.
3. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein the bracket further
comprises a resilient member that provides a retaining force
between the cup holder and the shopping cart when the cup holder is
placed on the shopping cart.
4. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal
support member has an annular shape.
5. The cup holder according to claim 1, further comprising an inner
flattened portion of the ring, whereby a size of an opening formed
by the ring is reduced.
6. The cup holder according to claim 1, further comprising a planar
portion on an inner surface of the ring, and the planar surface
contributes to retaining the cup in the cup holder.
7. The cup holder according to claim 1, further comprising: an
attachment structure on the bracket for cooperating with the
bracket to attach the cup holder to the shopping cart; and an
attachment device cooperative with the attachment structure to
secure the cup holder to the shopping cart.
8. The cup holder according to claim 7, wherein the attaching
device and the attachment structure are releasably cooperative.
9. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is
shaped to attach to a handle of the shopping cart.
10. The cup holder according to claim 9, wherein the bracket
attaches to a portion of the handle that includes a bend.
11. The cup holder according to claim 9, wherein the bracket is
permanently affixed to the handle.
12. The cup holder according to claim 9, wherein the bracket is
releasably coupled to the handle.
13. The cup holder according to claim 9, further comprising a
bracket clamping mechanism for clamping the bracket to the
handle.
14. The cup holder according to claim 13, further comprising: a
series of positioning elements in the clamping mechanism for
receiving a cooperative positioning member located on the bracket,
wherein the positioning member cooperates with at least one of the
positioning elements to maintain the cup holder in a specified
position when the clamping mechanism is clamped.
15. A cup holder for holding a cup on a shopping cart, comprising:
a ring shaped to receive and support the cup; a bracket attached to
the ring for supporting the cup holder on the shopping cart; a
handle coupled to at least one of the ring and the bracket to
permit an individual to grasp and convey the cup holder.
16. The cup holder according to claim 15, wherein the bracket
further comprises two resilient extensions for mounting on either
side of a wall of the shopping cart.
17. The cup holder according to claim 16, wherein the extensions
are separated by a dimension suitable to permit the legs to apply a
resilient force to the wall of the shopping cart to retain the cup
holder on the shopping cart wall.
18. The cup holder according to claim 15, further comprising a
planar surface coupled to the ring for contributing to retaining
the cup in the cup holder.
19. The cup holder according to claim 15, further comprising a
protrusion on an upper portion of the cup holder defining a recess
for receiving a lip of the cup to thereby contribute to retaining
the cup in the cup holder.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/169,554, filed Oct. 21,
2002 entitled Design for a Cup Holder. This application is also
based on and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial
No. 60/416,506, filed Oct. 3, 2002 entitled Cup Holder for Shopping
Carts and this application is also based on and claims benefit of
U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/483,376, filed Jun. 27,
2003 entitled Cup Holder for Shopping Cart, a claim of priority
being hereby made to both provisional applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to beverage cup
holders, and relates more particularly to beverage cup holders for
shopping carts.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] It is often the case that individuals carry beverage
containers with them as they complete various tasks throughout
their daily regimen, while driving, at work or shopping. It is
often difficult to insure that a beverage can be transported
without spilling its contents while still being easily accessible
to the individual. In addition, it is often the case that an
individual will want to have two hands free, for example while
driving, and avoid spilling the contents of a beverage container.
As in the case of the present invention, a person shopping using a
shopping cart may wish to have both hands free, while still being
able to easily access the contents of a beverage container.
[0006] A solution to the above difficulties is to provide a cup
holder that can be easily mounted on a relatively stationary
mounting frame, such as an automobile frame or other non-movable
fixtures within the automobile. With respect to shopping carts, no
such cup holders are readily available for mounting on shopping
carts. One difficulty in mounting cup holders to shopping carts is
the fact that shopping cart models vary and the carts have
irregular features that pose a problem for mounting cup holders.
For example, a popular type of shopping cart is formed out of a
grid of metal bars, which is unsuitable to support a cup holder
adapted for use with an automobile. In another type of shopping
cart, the cart structure is made of a grid of plastic elements all
bound together to form a basket. The shopping cart so formed out of
plastic has sidewalls that are thickened to provide enough support
for items that may be placed in the shopping cart. Due to the
thickness of the walls of the shopping cart, and because of the
irregular support offered by the plastic grid, such shopping carts
are unsuitable for use with cup holders adapted for automobile
use.
[0007] Grocery retailers, at which shopping carts are commonly
found in abundant numbers, are particularly sensitive to issues
involving the transportation of beverages by shoppers. In
particular, it is often the case that beverage spills can lead to
slippery conditions on store floors, so that patrons of the store
are exposed to hazardous conditions that can result in severe
injury from slips and falls. However, store patrons regularly carry
beverage containers that are susceptible to spilling and releasing
the container contents without being fully aware of the potentially
hazardous condition that spillage may cause thereby. Grocery store
owners in particular are at high risk for liability related to
slips and falls of patrons when unsafe conditions occur in the
store for which the store owner is made responsible. It is possible
for grocery store owners to reduce the risk to patrons by ensuring
that spills are cleaned up rapidly and reduce the occurrence of
spills in the first place. Accordingly, there is a tremendous need
to secure and stabilize beverage holders in shopping carts when
grocery store patrons transport beverage containers in the grocery
store.
[0008] A particular cup holder for securing and stabilizing a
beverage container is not available for all types of shopping cart
models. For example, as mentioned above, the size and shape and
construction materials used to manufacture shopping carts varies
widely, such that no single cup holder device is usable with every
shopping cart design. For example, a cup holder that fits on a wall
of a shopping cart with a thick plastic wall will not be stable on
a shopping cart with a very thin wall, such as with a wire frame
shopping cart. Accordingly, it would be desirable to obtain a cup
holder that performs well on a majority of available shopping cart
designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided a cup
holder for carrying a beverage container that can be easily and
securely fixed to shopping carts of various design. According to
one aspect of the invention, the cup holder may be disposable.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the cup
holder is provided with a clip that can be removably coupled to
shopping carts having various designs. Advantageously, the cup
holder may be provided with a handle element to permit the user to
easily pick up and hold a beverage container in the cup holder. For
example, a handle attached to the cup holder of the present
invention provides an insulated grasping point for holding and
moving beverage containers with the use of an individual's hand,
without the individual's hand being subjected to high temperatures
that may accompany a hot beverage container. According to one
embodiment of the present invention, the cup holder is shaped in a
loop that has a smaller dimension than that of a beverage container
that has a tapered diameter along the container length, so that the
beverage container is securely held by the loop of the cup holder.
According to another embodiment, the cup holder has a bottom
support portion upon which a beverage container may rest while
supported by the cup holder.
[0010] An attachment mechanism provided with the cup holder permits
the cup holder to be rigidly fixed to the handle of a shopping
cart. According to one embodiment, the cup holder is removably
attachable to the shopping cart handle. Attachment to the shopping
cart handle permits the shopping cart user to access a beverage
container in the cup holder with ease. The cup holder attached to
the handle also removes the beverage container from within easy
reach of a child that may occupy a foldout seat in the shopping
cart in the area near the handle. Moreover, even if the child can
reach the cup holder, the rigid attachment to the handle prevents
the child from causing a spill that could injure the child or
produce an unsafe condition on the floor of the store.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention is explained in further detail in the
following description with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment according to the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top view of another embodiment according to the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 3;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of another embodiment
according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of another embodiment
according to the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 9;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 9;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 9;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a side view of another embodiment according to
the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 13;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 13;
[0027] FIG. 16 is a side perspective view of another embodiment
according to the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 17 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 16;
[0029] FIG. 18 is a side perspective view of another embodiment
according to the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 19 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 18;
[0031] FIG. 20 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 18;
[0032] FIG. 21 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 18;
[0033] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of another embodiment
according to the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 23 is another side perspective view of the embodiment
of FIG. 22;
[0035] FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of
FIG. 22;
[0036] FIG. 25 is another exploded perspective view of the
embodiment of FIG. 22;
[0037] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of another embodiment
according to the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 27 is another perspective view of the embodiment of
FIG. 26;
[0039] FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 26
detached from a cart handle;
[0040] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of another embodiment
according to the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 30 is another perspective view of the embodiment of
FIG. 29;
[0042] FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 29
assembled in a first position;
[0043] FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 29
in a second position;
[0044] FIG. 33 is a side view of another embodiment according to
the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 34 is an exploded side view of the embodiment in FIG.
33;
[0046] FIG. 35 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of
FIG. 33; and
[0047] FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.
33.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0048] The present invention provides a simple and cost effective
means for stabilizing beverage containers, particularly beverage
containers with contents that are hot, in shopping carts and other
types of transports for shoppers. Although the embodiments
described are oriented materially for shopping carts, it should be
apparent that the present invention is usable with any number of
scenarios where beverage containers are retained in a particular
position to avoid spillage. A particular feature of the present
invention permits the cup holder to be discarded after being used,
and therefore lends itself to a number of food service and other
industries where the individual consuming the beverages is moving
or does not have a stable frame of reference for retaining a
beverage container, such as occurs on an airplane, for example.
[0049] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment according
to the present invention is shown generally as cup holder 20. Cup
holder 20 is composed of a moldable plastic and can be manufactured
in large quantities very rapidly. It should be apparent that cup
holder 20 can be manufactured out of any number of materials that
are low cost and capable of supporting a beverage container.
[0050] Cup holder 20 includes a clip 21 for attaching cup holder 20
to a shopping cart. Clip 21 is shaped to fit over the edge of a
wall of a shopping cart and retain cup holder 20 in a given
position. Clip 21 has a resilient arm 24 that can elastically
deform a short distance away from a body 23 of cup holder 20.
Resilient member 24 can apply spring force to the wall of the
shopping cart on which it is placed to retain cup holder 20 in
position. Clip 21 also includes a vertical support member 25 for
supporting cup holder 20 and a beverage container filled with a
beverage. Once a full beverage container is placed in cup holder
20, a supporting force is carried by vertical support member 25
cooperating with a top edge of the wall of the shopping cart.
Accordingly, vertical support member 25 and resilient member 24
cooperate to retain cup holder 20 in position when loaded with a
full beverage container.
[0051] Support ribs 22 are preferably arranged near a bottom edge
of cup holder 20 and span the width of cup holder 20 to provide
vertical support for beverage containers. Support ribs 22 are thin
and flexible and require less material than a solid cup bottom, for
example, while still maintaining sufficient support for beverage
containers.
[0052] Cup holder 20 also includes solid sidewall 23 that spans the
height and circumference of the cup portion of cup holder 20.
Sidewall 23 thus provides rigid structural support for cup holder
20. Sidewall 23 is tapered from a larger diametric dimension to a
smaller diametric dimension from top to bottom of cup holder 20.
This partially conical shape permits cup holder 20 to be stackable
for ease of storage and distribution. The partially conical shape
of sidewall 23 also contributes to supporting beverage containers
placed in cup holder 20. Sidewall 23 also provides the advantage
that cup holder 20 may be grasped by an individual around sidewall
23 for transporting and consuming beverages in a retained beverage
holder. In the instance where the beverage container holds a hot
liquid, such as hot coffee, the individual is prevented from being
scalded by the interposition of sidewall 23 between the
individual's hands and the hot beverage container. The partially
conical shape of sidewall 23 also contributes to permitting the
individual to maintain a good grasp of cup holder 20 to help
prevent spillage of contained beverages.
[0053] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a top view and side view of
a cup holder 20 of similar design to that of cup holder 20 of FIG.
1 is shown. In this embodiment, like components to those
illustrated in FIG. 1 are marked with the same reference numerals.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an alternative clip 26 is illustrated
for use with cup holder 20. Clip 26 has a double resilient action
with a central resilient member 28 and peripheral resilient members
29. Clip 26 includes two horizontal support members 27 that provide
vertical support for cup holder 20. Peripheral resilient members 29
are formed to provide a spring resistance when moved away from
sidewall 23 of cup 20. Accordingly, peripheral resilient members 29
provide a spring force in cooperation with cup holder 20 to retain
cup holder 20 on the side of a shopping cart. Central resilient
member 28 extends from a bottom portion of peripheral resilient
members 29 and also provides a spring force when moved away from
cup holder 20 and sidewall 23. Central resilient member 28 and
peripheral resilient members 29 together form a reflex spring that
provides additional resilient spring force along the length of
central resilient member 28. Clip 26 according to the design of
FIGS. 3 and 4 provides additional retaining force for retaining and
stabilizing cup holder 20 on a shopping cart. Clip 26 is suitable
for use with shopping carts having particular designs that prevent
the simple use of a clip 21 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Clip 26
also has the advantage of using less material than clip 21.
[0054] Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, another embodiment of a cup
holder according to the present invention is illustrated generally
as cup holder 50. Cup holder 50 includes a ring 51 that is
substantially circular in shape with walls 52. Accordingly, ring
portion 51 is shaped substantially like a cylinder to accept
beverage containers. Cup holder 50 also includes a handle 53 in the
shape of a loop through which an individual can insert a finger to
easily lift and support cup holder 50. In practice, handle 53
serves as an extension of the retained beverage container, as with
a typical mug, so that the individual can drink the beverage out of
the beverage container using handle 53 as a hand hold. Cup holder
50 also includes a clip portion 54 that includes two legs 55. Legs
55 are adapted to fit over and resiliently retain cup holder 50 to
a shopping cart wall. An individual user can handle a beverage
container by grasping cup holder 50 by handle 53, and place cup
holder 50 and the retained beverage container onto a shopping cart
wall with legs 55 retaining cup holder 50 and thus the beverage
container. Because cup holder 50 is retained to the shopping cart
wall with a spring force provided by the resiliency of legs 55, the
individual user can easily remove cup holder 50 and a retained
beverage container from the shopping cart wall, and freely replace
cup holder 50 back on the shopping cart wall.
[0055] A support 56 is provided on clip 54 to form a lower portion
of handle 53 and to join legs 55 together. When clip 54 is placed
on the shopping cart wall, a top of the shopping cart wall abuts
support 56 to support cup holder 50.
[0056] Referring now to FIGS. 10-12, an embodiment similar to that
of FIGS. 5-9 is shown as a cup holder 90. Cup holder 90 has a
protrusion 97 and a hook 98 arranged near a top rim of a ring 91 to
assist in retaining a beverage container. It is often the case that
beverage containers are in the shape of a cup with a lip portion
that has a greater diameter than the cup itself. Accordingly, when
such a beverage container is placed in cup holder 90, the cup lip
can cooperate with protrusion 97 and hook 98 to contribute to
retaining the beverage container in cup holder 90. This arrangement
permits cup holder 90 and the beverage container to be moved when
cup holder 90 is grasped by a handle 93 and transported without the
beverage container moving relative to cup holder 90. Accordingly,
protrusion 97 and hook 98 contribute to the stability of the
arrangement of cup holder 90 and the retained beverage holder.
[0057] In addition, ring 91 includes a flat portion 99 that serves
to decrease the opening size defined by ring 91. When a typical
beverage container is placed into cup holder 90 through ring 91,
the round sides of the beverage container are compressed by flat
portion 99 to contribute to retaining the beverage container in cup
holder 90. With the configuration of protrusion 97, hook 98 and
flat portion 99, a beverage container can be retained in cup holder
90 and moved about while grasping handle 93 to permit an individual
to easily transport beverages in the beverage container, or consume
the same, with less chance of spillage. Accordingly, as with other
embodiments discussed above, cup holder 90 offers the individual an
insulative grip for holding the beverage container through the use
of handle 93 on cup holder 90. When cup holder 90 retains a
beverage container holding a hot beverage, the individual need not
grasp the hot beverage container and thus can avoid discomfort or
receiving a potential scalding. Other features of cup holder 90 are
similar to those described above for a cup holder 50 and are not
repeated here.
[0058] Referring now to FIGS. 13-15, another embodiment of the cup
holder according to the present invention is illustrated generally
as a cup holder 130. Cup holder 130 has a clip 131 for retaining
cup holder 130 on a shopping cart wall. Clip 131 is attached to a
ring 132, which serves as a structural member for supporting cup
holder 130 and a beverage container inserted into cup holder 130.
Ring 132 is cylindrical in shape to match a shape of a beverage
container and retain the container in cup holder 130 accordingly.
Two vertical legs 133 extend from ring 132 to support an annular
shaped ring 134. Ring 134 provides a vertical support for a
beverage container inserted into cup holder 130. By being
substantially annularly shaped, ring 134 provides even and
distributed support for a beverage container retained in cup holder
130. Cup holder 130 provides an embodiment of the present invention
that requires less material than other embodiments discussed above,
while maintaining many of the features and advantages of the other
embodiments. It should be apparent that clip 131 can be replaced
with clip 26 according to the embodiment show in FIGS. 3 and 4, in
addition to various other substitutions and combinations disclosed
in other embodiments or equivalents. Cup holder 130 also has the
added feature that it may be permanently affixed in a shopping
cart, so that it need not be replaced with each use of a beverage
container by an individual.
[0059] Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17, another embodiment of the
present invention is illustrated generally as cup holder 160. Cup
holder 160 is substantially similar to cup holder 130 with a reflex
clip 161 added, similar to reflex clip 26 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
All other features of cup holder 160 are substantially the same as
those described above for cup holder 130 and clip 26, and will not
be repeated here.
[0060] Referring now to FIGS. 18-21, a cup holder 180 is
illustrated. Cup holder 180 has a clip 181 for retaining cup holder
180 on a shopping cart wall. Clip 181 is attached to a ring 182,
which serves as a structural member for supporting cup holder 180
and a beverage container inserted into cup holder 180. Ring 182 is
cylindrical in shape to match a shape of a beverage container and
retain the container in cup holder 180 accordingly. Ring 182
includes a flat portion 189 that serves to decrease the
cross-sectional area of ring 182. When a typical beverage container
is placed into cup holder 180 through ring 182, the round sides of
the beverage container are compressed by flat portion 189 to
contribute to containing the beverage container in cup holder 180.
Cup holder 180 includes two vertical legs 183 that extend from ring
182 to support an annular shaped ring 184. Ring 184 provides and
distributed support for a beverage container retained in cup holder
180.
[0061] Clip 181 is a shown as a reflex clip, similar to reflex
clips described in previous embodiments, and will not be described
here again in detail. Clip 181, however, includes a through hole
185 that is positioned to cooperate with a through hole 186 in leg
183. Accordingly, cup holder 180 can be permanently affixed to a
shopping cart by placing clip 181 over a wall of the shopping cart
and securing cup holder 180 to the cart by passing a securing
device through holes 185 and 186 to thereby prevent removal of cup
holder 180 from the shopping cart. Any type of adequate device can
be used to retain cup holder 180 on the shopping cart by being
passed through holes 185 and 186, such as a screw, peg, bolt and
nut, plastic anchor, rivet or two piece rivet, for example. When
cup holder 180 is attached to the shopping cart using an attaching
device and holes 185, 186 cup holder 180 obtains further rigidity
for supporting a beverage container to further help prevent
spillage of the container contents. The attaching device passed
through holes 185, 186 can also supply a compressive force to push
clip 181 against the carriage wall in cooperation with leg 183 to
provide further stability and rigidity for attaching cup holder 180
to the shopping cart. The advantages of this design are that cup
holder 180 is less likely to be disturbed from its position and can
more readily accept impacts without tipping or spilling contents of
a beverage container retained in cup holder 180.
[0062] Referring now to FIGS. 22-25, another embodiment of a cup
holder 220 is shown. Cup holder 220 includes a clip 221 for
attaching cup holder 220 to a shopping cart. Clip 221 is shaped to
fit over a handle 223 of a shopping cart and retain cup holder 220
in a given position. Clip 221 has a top member 224 that can fit
snugly over a corner section of handle 223. Member 224 is attached
to cup holder 220 and is shaped in an arc concentric with a basket
225. The shape of member 224 retains basket 225 in an upright
position when attached to handle 223. A bottom member 226
cooperates with top member 224 to encircle handle 223 and provide a
rigid support for cup holder 220. Top and bottom members 224, 226
are affixed together with a screw 227 that also securely fastens
cup holder 220 to handle 223. Bottom member 226 includes a
cylindrically shaped screw guide 222 on an inner curved portion of
bottom member 226. Screw 227 is inserted into guide 222, and abuts
against guide 222 to provide one end of a fixation mechanism for
cup holder 220. Screw 227 projects into a screw receptacle 228
positioned in a cooperating location on top member 224. Screw
receptacle 228 projects slightly into an interior of basket 225. An
opening 229 in basket 25 provides a cutout section to receive guide
222 when top member 224 and bottom member 226 are secured together.
Once screw 227 is screwed into screw receptacle 228, cup holder 220
is fastened to handle 223 through top and bottom members 224, 226.
It should be apparent that any kind of securing device or mechanism
can be used to couple cup holder 220 to handle 223, as long as
basket 225 is maintained in an upright position on handle 23.
[0063] Once a full beverage container is placed in cup holder 220,
a supporting force is carried by top and bottom members 224, 226
cooperating with handle 223 of the of the shopping cart.
Accordingly, top and bottom members 224, 226 and handle 223
cooperate to retain cup holder 220 in position when loaded with a
full beverage container.
[0064] Referring now to FIGS. 26-28, another embodiment of a cup
holder according to the present invention is illustrated generally
as cup holder 260. Cup holder 260 has clips 265, 266 for retaining
cup holder 260 on handle 223 of a shopping cart wall. Clips 265,
266 are shaped to have a circular dimension cooperative with handle
223. Openings 267, 268 have a dimension smaller than a diameter of
handle 223, so that once coupled to handle 223, cup holder 260 is
retained in place with clips 265, 266. Two vertical legs 263, 264
extend from a ring 262 defining a top of cup holder 260 to clips
265, 266, respectively. Ring 262 provides a vertical support for a
beverage container inserted into cup holder 260. Cup holder 260
provides an embodiment of the present invention that is removably
attachable to handle 223, while maintaining many of the features
and advantages of the previously described embodiment. It should be
apparent that clips 265, 266 can be used with members 224, 226 in
addition to various other substitutions and combinations disclosed
in other embodiments.
[0065] Referring now to FIGS. 29-32, another embodiment according
to the present invention is shown generally as cup holder 290. Cup
holder 290 is designed to be mounted on cart handle 223 with a
mounting structure 295. Mounting structure 295 includes several
openings or slots 296 for receiving a mounting protrusion 297
provided on a cup holder bracket 298. Mounting structure 295 is
composed of two separate components, an upper clamp 293 and a lower
clamp 294. Brackets 293, 294 are shaped to fit around handle 223
and provide a secure mounting structure for clamping bracket 298 of
cup holder 290 to handle 223. Mounting structure 295 provides
several openings 296 placed at specified intervals along a collar
299 that receives cup holder bracket 298. The several holes 296
permit mounting structure 295 to be placed on a corner of handle
223 that has various configurations according to different models
of shopping carts. That is, mounting structure 295 is adapted to
secure cup holder 290 to handle 223 on a cart with a substantially
horizontal handle configuration, as best illustrated in FIG. 31. By
providing a number of openings 296 on collar 299, mounting
structure 295 also permits cup holder 290 to be mounted to handle
223 when the cart configuration includes a slanted handle
configuration, as best seen in FIG. 32, for example. Accordingly,
mounting structure 295 can be rotated about an axis along handle
223, and still provide suitable openings 296 for mounting cup
holder 290. Bracket 298 need only have one protrusion 297 that
cooperates with a given opening 296 for a particular handle
configuration. Cup holder 290 remains securely upright, even when
mounted to handles 223 of varying configurations as illustrated in
FIGS. 31, 32. Because brackets 293, 294 provide a substantial
clamping force when secured together, bracket 298 is securely
positioned on handle 223 to maintain cup holder 290 in an upright
position.
[0066] Cup holder 290 is assembled to handle 223 by first
positioning mounting structure 295 loosely around a corner of
handle 223. An appropriate opening 296 is selected to receive
protrusion 297 on bracket 298, and bracket 298 is inserted into
collar 299. Once the proper relationship between mounting structure
295 and bracket 298 is established to maintain cup holder 290 in an
upright position, upper and lower bracket members 293, 294 are
secured together to affix bracket 298 to handle 223. Cup holder 290
is prevented from rotating about handle 223 by the cooperation of
protrusion 297 with the selected opening 296, and is also
maintained in position by the clamping force provided by clamping
members 293, 294 secured together.
[0067] The remainder of portions of cup holder 290 are similar to
those described in other embodiments above, and will not be
repeated here.
[0068] Referring now to FIGS. 33-36, another embodiment of the
present invention is shown generally as cup holder 330. Cup holder
330 is secured to a shopping cart handle 223 with a clamp structure
335. Clamp structure 335 is composed of a top clamp 336 and a
bottom clamp 337 that are joined securely together to clamp around
handle 223. Clamp 336 is attached to cup holder 330 and provides a
stable support platform when coupled with clamp 337 securely to
handle 223. Clamp 337 has an arcuate shape that is semicircular to
fit snugly around a portion of handle 223. Clamp 337 also has
through holes 338 to allow passage of a retaining element, such as
a bolt 333.
[0069] Clamp 336 has an arcuate semicircular shape similar to that
of clamp 337, to again snugly fit around handle 223. The snug fit
provided by clamps 336, 337 in cooperation, provides a secure
fastening mechanism for supporting and maintaining cup holder 330
in a desired position. Clamp 336 has through holes 339 that also
permit passage of a securing device such as bolt 333. Nuts 340
cooperate with bolt 333 to secure clamps 336, 337 together to affix
cup holder 330 in a desired position and location.
[0070] An inner arcuate surface of clamps 336, 337 can be formed of
a substance with particular gripping or frictional characteristics
to assist in providing a secure clamp to handle 223. Alternatively,
a gripping material can be applied to the inner surface of clamps
336, 337 to provide extra retaining properties to clamp 335 when
clamps 336 and 337 are securely coupled together. Cup holder 330
attached to handle 223 with clamp 335 has the advantage of being
positioned in any particular location on handle 223 and in any
particular orientation, without regard to the structure of the
particular handle of the shopping cart. That is, cup holder 290,
discussed above, relies upon particular handle configurations at
particular angles to maintain cup holder 290 in an upright
position. Cup holder 330 can be maintained in an upright position
without reliance on a remainder of the structure of handle 223. Cup
holder 330 also includes a surface area 331 that, in addition to
providing extra support and rigidity for cup holder 330, provides a
space to apply advertising or other indicia on cup holder 330. For
example, instructions on the use of cup holder 330 or safety
precautions when transporting hot beverages can be provided on
surface area 331, in addition to advertising or sponsorship for a
beverage producer, for example.
[0071] Cup holder 330 is affixed to handle 223 by aligning clamps
336 and 337 around handle 223, and passing bolts 333 through
openings 338, 339 and affixing nuts 340 to bolts 333. Bolts 333 and
nuts 340 are screwed together to obtain a particular torque and
clamping force around handle 223 to maintain cup holder 330 in an
upright position, for example. It should be apparent that many
other affixing devices can be used with cup holder 330, including a
releasably affixable mechanism that can be adjustably clamped to
handle 223. By providing an adjustable clamping mechanism, a user
can place cup holder 330 where they wish on handle 223 for their
convenience. In addition, more permanent fixtures can be used such
as rivets or welding to permanently affix cup holder 330 to handle
223.
[0072] Although the present invention has been described in
relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations
and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those
skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present
invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but
only by the appended claims.
* * * * *