U.S. patent application number 10/944111 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-17 for magnetic beverage holder with cluster magnets and biasing tabs.
Invention is credited to Gary, Lonnie F..
Application Number | 20050056646 10/944111 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34274143 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050056646 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gary, Lonnie F. |
March 17, 2005 |
Magnetic beverage holder with cluster magnets and biasing tabs
Abstract
A beverage holder having a molded polymeric outer shell; a
molded polymeric liner disposed inside the shell, a cluster of
closely spaced magnets disposed on one side of the holder between
the shell and the liner, the magnets cooperating with the shell to
present a substantially flat, outwardly facing surface, and the
liner having a biasing member exerting a force radially inward. The
magnet cluster causes the holder to be attachable to a
substantially vertical ferrous-metal-containing surface with
sufficient attractive force to support the weight of a full
beverage container disposed inside the holder. A beverage holder
having magnets disposed in both the side and bottom walls, and a
docking disk assembly useful in supporting the beverage holder on
non-ferrous mounting surfaces is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Gary, Lonnie F.; (Ransom
Canyon, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LOCKE LIDDELL & SAPP LLP
ATTN: SUE COTT
2200 ROSS AVENUE
SUITE 2200
DALLAS
TX
75201-6776
US
|
Family ID: |
34274143 |
Appl. No.: |
10/944111 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10944111 |
Sep 15, 2004 |
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10662582 |
Sep 15, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/483 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/2261 20130101;
B65D 25/22 20130101; B65D 2313/04 20130101; A47G 23/0225 20130101;
A47G 2200/106 20130101; B65D 81/3881 20130101; B65D 25/24
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/483 |
International
Class: |
B65D 025/24 |
Claims
1. A holder for a single-serving beverage container, the holder
comprising a substantially cylindrical, flexible polymeric shell
having a substantially continuous bottom and an open top; an
injection molded, substantially cylindrical polymeric liner
disposed inside the shell, the liner also having a substantially
continuous bottom and an open top; and a cluster of closely spaced
magnets disposed between the shell and liner to define a
substantially flat magnetic attraction surface on a side of the
shell, the magnets collectively exerting an attraction force
sufficient to support the holder and a beverage container disposed
inside the holder against a substantially vertical
ferrous-metal-containing surface without relative movement between
the holder and the ferrous-metal-containing surface; wherein the
liner further comprises at least one biasing member exerting a
force radially inward against a surface of the beverage container
disposed inside the holder.
2. The holder of claim 1, further comprising at least one magnet
disposed between the bottom of the liner and the bottom of the
shell.
3. The holder of claim 1 wherein the magnets are disposed in
recesses formed in a sidewall of the shell.
4. The holder of claim 1 wherein the cluster comprises four
disk-shaped magnets.
5. The holder of claim 1 wherein the magnets are round and have a
diameter of about 15 mm.
6. The holder of claim 1 wherein the magnets have a thickness of
about 3 mm.
7. The holder of claim 1 wherein the magnet are permanent
magnets.
8. The holder of claim 7 wherein the magnets are made of a material
selected from the group consisting of neodymium iron boron, barium
ferrite and strontium ferrite.
9. The holder of claim 1, further comprising a backing member
disposed between the magnets and the liner.
10. The holder of claim 1 wherein the liner further comprises at
least one biasing member exerting a force directed radially
inward.
11. The holder of claim 10 wherein the liner comprises a plurality
of circumferentially spaced biasing members, each of which exerts a
force directed radially inward.
12. The holder of claim 1 wherein the shell is applied to the liner
by dip molding.
13. The holder of claim 1 wherein the shell is attached to the
liner using an adhesive.
14. The holder of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the
polymeric shell is foamed.
15. The holder of claim 1 wherein the sidewall and bottom are
unitarily formed.
16. The holder of claim 1 wherein the polymeric liner is more rigid
than the shell.
17. The holder of claim 1 wherein the liner comprises a plurality
of circumferentially spaced slots.
18. The holder of claim 1 wherein an aperture extends through both
the bottom of the shell and the bottom of the liner.
19. The holder of claim 1 wherein the liner has an annular lip
disposed around the open top.
20. The holder of claim 1 wherein there is at least one air gap
between the shell and the liner.
21. The holder of claim 1 wherein the liner further comprises a
plurality of longitudinally extending ribs.
22. The holder of claim 21 wherein the reinforcing ribs are
circumferentially spaced and are contacted by the beverage
container when the beverage container is inserted into the beverage
holder.
23. The holder of claim 1 wherein the shell comprises flexible
polyvinyl chloride.
24. The holder of claim 1 in combination with a docking disk
assembly comprising a ferrous-metal disk, the assembly being
attachable to a mounting surface lacking sufficient ferrous metal
to produce an attraction force adequate to releasably support the
holder and a beverage container disposed in the holder in a
substantially fixed position relative to the mounting surface.
25. The holder of claim 24 wherein the docking disk assembly
comprises a steel disk having one side releasably attachable to the
holder and another side having an adhesive pad attachable to a
mounting surface.
26. The holder of claim 25 wherein the adhesive pad comprises
urethane foam and an acrylic adhesive.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/662,582, filed Sep. 15, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a beverage holder of the type
commonly used for holding a single-serving, canned or bottled
beverage and for keeping it cool during consumption. Such holders,
sometimes referred to as "coozies," are typically made, at least in
part, of a thermally insulative polymeric material.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Polymeric beverage holders useful with single cans or
bottles are well known. Ordinarily, such beverage holders are made
with a sidewall that is substantially cylindrical and a bottom that
is unitarily formed or separately made. If separately made, the
bottom is typically attached to the lower end of the sidewall
around the circumference of the holder using an adhesive, by sonic
welding, or by other similarly effective means. Alternatively, the
sidewalls of conventional beverage holders are sometimes made so
that at least the outwardly facing surface is curvilinear in both
the vertical and circumferential directions to provide an outside
profile that is distinctive in appearance and is more easily
gripped by a user. Processes such as dip molding and injection
molding are often used to make the subject articles. Materials
known for use in making conventional beverage holders can include,
for example and without limitation, foamed or unfoamed, moldable
polymeric resins, elastomers or combinations thereof. Examples of
such polymers include polyurethane, polyalkenes, neoprene,
polyurea, polystyrene, polyamides and polyisocyanates. Outer layers
or coatings of a dissimilar material, such as a synthetic fabric,
are sometimes provided to facilitate the application of printing or
other graphics to the outside surface, or to achieve other benefits
or effects in appearance and/or function. In some cases, an
aperture is provided in the side or bottom wall to facilitate the
ingress or egress of air during removal or insertion, respectively,
of a can or bottle from a snugly fitting inside wall.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,665, for example, discloses a container
insulation apparatus having a wider diameter base than sidewall
created by wrapping unicellular foam around a round disk that
serves at the bottom and applying a vinyl coating to the sidewall
to taper the sidewall sleeve above the round bottom. A hole is cut
through the sidewall sleeve near the base end to function as a
vacuum breaker during removal of a beverage container from the
sleeve.
[0007] Other beverage holders have previously been disclosed that
employ magnets to impart a magnetic field to the contained
beverage. Such fields are taught, for example, by U.S. Pat. No.
6,390,319 and other references cited therein to promote
preservation and purification of the contained liquids, or to
provide other perceived therapeutic benefits. FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat.
No. 6,390,319 discloses the use of an axial ring magnet in the
sidewall of an insulating beverage overlayer made of blown
polymeric foam for such purposes. The use of a flexible magnet
having ferromagnetic particles embedded in an elastically
deformable sheet, or a plurality of bar magnets disposed around the
circumference of a foam cylinder to impart a magnetic field to the
beverage, is also disclosed.
[0008] Other beverage holders have previously been disclosed that
employ magnets to stabilize a beverage container on an underlying
support surface. U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,459 discloses the use of
permanent magnets to retain dishes on a tray when transporting the
tray to a table. U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,350 discloses an insulated
beverage container holder having a recess in its bottom surface to
receive a disk-shaped magnet that is attachable to the bottom for
the purpose of maintaining the beverage container on an underlying
support surface. U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,632 discloses another
container for beverages having a magnetic base that stabilizes the
container when placed on underlying metallic surfaces. In that
device, the magnet is preferably of the ceramic type or else made
by pouring a ferrous-metal-impregnated plastic into the base of the
outer wall section and allowed to solidify while exposed to a
magnetic field. The resulting magnet rests on the outer floor
portion and is integral with the container so that its weight
serves as ballast while the magnetic field clamps the container to
an underlying metallic surface.
[0009] The use of magnets in beverage holders as disclosed in the
prior art does not, however, function satisfactorily for the
purpose of firmly supporting a full can or bottle of beverage in an
upright orientation on a substantially vertical,
ferrous-metal-containing support surface, such as the side of a
motor vehicle, steel beam, wall, filing cabinet, or the like. The
use of a ring magnet or a plurality of magnets spaced around the
periphery of the sidewall of a cylindrical beverage holder has been
found to provide insufficient contact with a substantially planar
and vertical support surface to hold a beverage firmly in one
position. Such beverage holders tend to detach, slide down the
vertical surface, or "roll" sideways over the metal surface under
the influence of the magnetic field.
[0010] Applicant has previously disclosed a beverage holder having
a single, large-diameter, disk-shaped magnet disposed in the
sidewall as being necessary for providing a flat surface of
sufficient area and a holding force strong enough to support the
subject beverage holder and an associated beverage container in a
stationary position on a vertical, ferrous-metal-containing wall.
However, such large magnets are comparatively expensive for the
holding force achieved and contribute to an undesirably high cost
of manufacture for the subject beverage holder.
[0011] Another difficulty that has been encountered with the
beverage holder previously disclosed relates to the diameter of the
beverage container with which the holder is used. Because some
canned single-serving beverages that are now popular have diameters
slightly smaller than the diameter of a conventional soft drink or
beer can, a can supported in the beverage holder can slide
downwardly out of the holder when the bottom of the holder is
tipped upwardly during consumption of the beverage. This is
particularly likely where the beverage holder comprises a liner
having a relatively slick inside surface. A beverage holder is
needed that can accommodate cans or bottles of different diameters
and exert a frictional holding force against a smaller-diameter
beverage container to prevent axial slippage between the container
and the holder, thereby preventing accidental spillage or possible
injury to the user.
[0012] An improved beverage holder is therefore needed that has a
side which can be attached firmly to a substantially vertical,
ferrous-metal-containing support surface, even when supporting a
full beverage container, that can be manufactured economically, and
that will exert a frictional holding force against containers of
various diameters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] A beverage holder that is inexpensive but will firmly
support a full beverage can or bottle in an upright position firmly
against a substantially vertical, ferrous-metal-containing surface
is disclosed herein. The beverage holder of the invention can be
conveniently used, for example, to support a beverage in an upright
position on the side of a parked motor vehicle during tailgate
parties, or on the face of a filing cabinet within easy reach of an
individual working at a desk, without fear of inadvertent tipping
or spillage. The beverage holder of the invention can similarly be
used to support a beverage in an upright position on the sides of
structural members of buildings, or on machinery or heavy equipment
where there is no readily available horizontal surface on which to
rest a beverage holder, or where vibrations might otherwise cause a
conventional beverage holder to slide off a support surface.
[0014] According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a
thermally insulative, polymeric beverage holder is provided that
has an outer shell made of a flexible polymer such as polyvinyl
chloride ("PVC"), a molded polymeric liner that is harder and more
rigid than the outer shell and is slidably insertable into the
outer shell, a cluster of closely-spaced magnets disposed in an
array located on one side of the beverage holder in a predetermined
position between the shell and the liner, and at least one magnet
disposed between the bottom of the liner and the bottom of the
shell. The outer shell and liner preferably each comprise a
substantially cylindrical sidewall and a bottom, but are open at
the top to receive a single-serving beverage container. The liner
sidewall preferably further comprises a plurality of
circumferentially spaced, axially extending slots and at least one
biasing member positioned so as to maintain frictional contact with
an outside surface portion of a beverage container having a
diameter slightly smaller than the diameters of conventional
single-serving beverage cans. According to a particularly preferred
embodiment, one biasing member is aligned with each
circumferentially spaced slot in the liner sidewall.
[0015] The cluster of closely spaced magnets most preferably
comprises a cluster of four circular, disk-shaped magnets, each of
which is disposed in a cooperatively shaped recess in the inside
wall of the outer shell. According to one particularly preferred
embodiment of the invention, the four magnets are supported on a
plastic backing plate that is also disposed between the outer shell
and the liner. The liner most preferably further comprises a
plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending ribs
projecting slightly inward from the liner sidewall to increase the
rigidity of the sidewall and to reduce the contacting surface area
between the liner sidewall and the sidewall of a beverage
container, thereby reducing friction between the two and making the
container more easily insertable into the beverage holder and more
easily removable from the beverage holder following consumption of
the beverage.
[0016] According to other, alternative embodiments of the
invention, the magnets comprising the closely spaced magnet cluster
can be completely embedded in the sidewall of the shell during
manufacture or can be inserted later into one or more slits made
between two sidewall sections of the beverage holder. When
installed as disclosed herein, the magnets are not visible
externally and will not scratch or mar the surface of any
ferrous-metal-containing support member to which the beverage
holder is releasably secured.
[0017] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
a thermally insulative beverage holder is provided that comprises
an outer shell having a substantially cylindrical sidewall, the
sidewall providing support to a cluster of closely-spaced magnets
disposed in a side-by-side array located on one side of the
beverage holder in such manner that a portion of the outside
surface of the outer sidewall of the shell is caused by the magnets
to assume an substantially flat, outside surface that can be placed
in contact with an abutting flat surface of a substantially
vertical, ferrous-metal-containing structural member and will
remain in stationary contact with the structural member to support
the beverage holder in a substantially upright position until
separated from the structural member by the user.
[0018] The beverage holder of the invention can optionally
comprise, in addition to a cluster of closely spaced sidewall
magnets as described herein, a bottom wall portion having at least
one additional magnet for use in stabilizing the beverage holder on
an inclined ferrous-metal surface on which it might slide without
benefit of the holding power of the magnet or magnets in the
bottom. When configured with magnets as disclosed herein disposed
in both the bottom and sidewalls, the user is provided with the
option of selectively placing the subject beverage holder on either
a substantially vertical or an inclined ferrous-metal surface
without risk of tipping, rolling or sliding, and associated
spillage.
[0019] The magnets used in the sidewall of the subject beverage
holder are desirably permanent magnets and will collectively impart
to a vertical wall comprising a ferrous-metal a magnetic attractive
force that is sufficiently strong and is applied over a
sufficiently large area that the weight of a full beverage
container disposed inside the holder is supported in an upright
position against the wall without relative motion between the
beverage holder and the wall, and without attendant risk of
resultant tipping or spillage absent the intervention of another
external force.
[0020] A further aspect of the invention is that the flat surface
section imparted to the sidewall of a beverage holder by the
cluster of closely spaced magnets provides a convenient mounting
surface by which the subject beverage holders can be attached to
metal shelving for display purposes at the point of sale. Thus, for
example, the subject beverage holders can be releasably attached to
the metal walls, shelves or doors of display cases in which
refrigerated beverages are sold. While there is no inherent limit
in the size of the beverage holders that can be made as disclosed
herein, beverage holders suitable for use with single serving
beverage containers containing up to about 20 fluid ounces are
particularly preferred.
[0021] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
a docking disk assembly comprising a ferrous metal docking disk is
disclosed for use in releasably attaching the magnetic beverage
holder of the invention to mounting surfaces that do not comprise a
ferrous metal. A particularly preferred docking disk for use in the
invention comprises an adhesive pad on one side of the disk that is
applied to a non-ferrous mounting surface by removing a peel-off
paper backing and pressuring the disk against the mounting surface.
The level of adhesion between the adhesive pad and the mounting
surface is desirably sufficient to support a magnetic beverage
holder as disclosed above while holding a full single-serving
beverage container without detaching from the mounting surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The apparatus of the invention is further described and
explained in relation to the following figures of the drawings
wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the magnetic beverage
holder of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the magnetic beverage holder of
FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the magnetic beverage holder
of FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the magnetic
beverage holder of FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken along line
5-5 of FIG. 2;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional detail elevation view taken
along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of
the magnetic beverage holder of FIG. 1, but having a plurality of
spaced apart bottom magnets;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the magnetic beverage holder
of the invention with a beverage container inserted into the holder
and being supported in a vertical position on a
ferrous-metal-containing wall;
[0031] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the magnetic
beverage holder of the invention, which is shown supported on an
inclined supporting surface; and
[0032] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a self-adhesive, ferrous
metal docking disk suitable for use with the magnetic beverage
holder of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] The structure and configuration of a preferred beverage
holder 10 of the invention are further described and explained
below in relation to FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings. Referring
to FIG. 4, beverage holder 10 preferably comprises a thermally
insulative, flexible, polymeric shell 12 that optionally comprises
a foamed or elastomeric component; a molded polymeric liner 14 that
is desirably more rigid than shell 12; a cluster of closely spaced,
disk-shaped magnets 46; and a magnet backing plate 44 that is also
most preferably made of molded plastic. Both shell 12 and liner 14
of beverage holder 10 preferably comprise a substantially
cylindrical sidewall, and a bottom having at least one aperture.
The height and internal diameter of beverage holder 10 are
preferably suitable for use with the external dimensions of a
conventional single-serving beverage container, typically a soft
drink, juice or beer can. A further advantage of beverage holder 10
disclosed herein over prior art beverage holders is the presence of
at least one biasing member such as circumferentially spaced
biasing tabs 24 that desirably apply frictional pressure against
the sidewall of the beverage container to resist unintended axial
slippage between beverage holder 10 and a beverage container during
use.
[0034] Beverage containers useful with beverage holder 10 of the
invention can be made of plastic, metal or glass. From the
preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, it is apparent that
shell 12, although substantially cylindrical, can also comprise
other structural and surface features, including convex curved
sections, ribbed sections, and the like. Such structural and
surface features may assist in gripping beverage holder 10, and may
contribute to strength and resistance to collapse. Part of the
outwardly facing portion of shell 12 can also serve as a display
surface for labeling, logos, ads, or the like. Significantly, one
side of the outwardly facing surface of shell 12 desirably
comprises a substantially flat attachment surface 20 that overlies
a cluster of relatively small, closely spaced magnets as discussed
in greater detail below.
[0035] The sidewall of shell 12 preferably further comprises
outside and inside surfaces, and has a top edge 16 that most
preferably fits totally or partially beneath outwardly curving top
lip 18 of liner 14. Shell 12 preferably comprises a moldable
polymeric material, most preferably flexible PVC or a similarly
effective polymeric material. Alternatively, a foamed and/or
elastomeric polymer material can be used to make shell 12. The
outside and inside surfaces of shell 12 most preferably have a
smooth polymeric skin, and can have an overlying coating or
cladding material of the same or a dissimilar material. The use of
a pliable polymeric material as shell 12 of beverage holder 10 is
preferred to facilitate manual gripping of the holder. Vinyl
plastisol coatings are particularly preferred, especially where
beverage holder 10 is dip molded. It should also be appreciated
that, while the sidewall of shell 12 is, in its simplest form,
substantially cylindrical, other internal and external geometries
including curves, annular ribs, and the like, can also be molded or
formed into the sidewall, especially near the top and bottom. Such
features can contribute to the aesthetic appeal of beverage holder
10, can facilitate gripping by the user, and can also provide
additional strength and resistance to collapse during insertion of
liner 14. Another feature of the invention is a substantially flat,
outwardly facing, sidewall surface portion 20 of shell 12 that is
provided for use in attaching beverage holder 10 in an upright
position to a substantially vertical support surface or member.
Shell 12 also helps protect the support surface from scratching
that might otherwise occur if the surface were directly contacted
by one or more magnets 46.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, bottom 36 of shell 12 can be
made of the same or a different material, and can be made unitarily
with the sidewall section or can be separately formed and then
attached to the lower portion of the sidewall by any suitable
means. Most preferably, bottom 36 is formed together with the
sidewall section of beverage holder 10 by dip molding or injection
molding, or by another manufacturing method that is similarly
effective for producing the desired structure. Bottom 36 desirably
comprises at least one aperture 26 that permits the egress and
ingress of air during insertion and removal of a beverage container
from beverage holder 10. Referring to FIG. 5, bottom 36 of
preferably further comprises two upwardly facing, radially spaced
annular rings that receive a cooperatively aligned annular boss
protruding downwardly from bottom 28 of liner 14.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, liner 14 is preferably
injection molded from a rubber-modified polymeric material such as
impact polystyrene that is more rigid than the material used for
shell 12 but has good resistance to brittle failure at low
temperatures as might be encountered when contacting an ice-cold
beverage container. Liner 14 desirably has sufficient rigidity to
permit it to be inserted into shell 12 during manufacture unless
shell 12 is to be formed over liner 14 by dipping. Liner 14
preferably further comprises a sidewall 38 having an outwardly
curved lip 18 at the top, a plurality of circumferentially spaced,
longitudinally extending slots 34, and a plurality of
circumferentially spaced, inwardly projecting, longitudinally
extending ribs 22 disposed on the inside of sidewall 38. Ribs 22
help stiffen sidewall 38 of liner 14 and reduce the contact area
and the force required to overcome friction between sidewall 38 and
a full-diameter beverage container being inserted into or withdrawn
from beverage holder 10. At least one, and preferably a plurality
of resilient biasing members such as circumferentially spaced,
inwardly projecting tabs 24 are provided in liner 14 to reduce the
effective inside diameter of liner 14 and provide frictional
contact with the outside surface of smaller-diameter beverage
containers that may be used with beverage holder 10. When
full-diameter containers are used with beverage holder 10,
projecting tabs 24 are desirably resilient enough and are
configured in such manner that a full-diameter, conventional
beverage container can be inserted into liner 14 without meeting
strong resistance. Liner 14 can be fixed to shell 12 using adhesive
if desired.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4-6, a closely spaced cluster of
four round, disk-shaped magnets 46 is preferably recessed inside a
side portion of shell 12 of beverage holder 10. When configured in
this manner, magnets 46 are well protected so that they will not
scratch a ferrous-metal-containing surface in juxtaposition to
outwardly facing, substantially flat attachment surface 20 but can
still exert a magnetic field of sufficient strength to hold
beverage holder 10 in fixed relation to the
ferrous-metal-containing surface. Because there is no need or
intention to create a magnetic flux inside the liquid disposed
inside a beverage container, proximity of magnets 46 to a beverage
container disposed in beverage holder 10 is not important and the
positioning of magnets 46 on only one side of beverage holder 10 is
preferred.
[0039] The upwardly facing surface of bottom 28 of liner 14
preferably comprises a plurality of spaced-apart radially extending
ribs 30 and at least one circular boss that opens downwardly to
form at least one recess 32 for at least one magnet 42 disposed
beneath bottom 28. The radial ribs and boss are preferably the same
height to provide level support to a beverage container inserted
into liner 14. A hole in bottom 28 of liner 14 is preferably
aligned with a hole in bottom 36 of shell 12 to form aperture 26
through the bottom of beverage holder 10. FIG. 7 discloses an
alternate embodiment wherein beverage holder 50 comprises liner 58
having a bottom 56 wherein a plurality of circumferentially spaced
bosses 52 each defines a downwardly facing recess containing a disk
magnet 54.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, magnets 46 are preferably
disposed in recesses 48, and are most preferably supported in that
position by backing member 44, preferably made of injection molded
plastic, that is attachable with adhesive to the inwardly facing
surfaces of magnets 46 and to the web of polymeric material
defining recesses 48 behind attachment surface 20. Backing member
44 most preferably spans one of the slots 34 in liner 14 beneath
biasing member 24. If shell 12 is to be formed over the exterior of
liner 14 by dipping, slots 34 can be omitted and backing member 44
can be attached directly to liner 14 prior to dipping. Magnets 46
can be made of any material generally characterized as a "permanent
magnet" that is shaped to impart a substantially flat, outwardly
facing surface to shell 12 of beverage holder 10 once magnets 46
are in place, and that are capable of being magnetized sufficiently
to support beverage holder 10 containing a full beverage container
in fixed juxtaposition to a substantially vertical,
ferrous-metal-containing surface with which the flat, outwardly
facing surface is placed in contact during use. Such magnets are
commonly referred to as "disk magnets" and are commercially
available.
[0041] I have now discovered that by using a plurality of smaller
magnets disposed in a closely spaced array presenting a combined
outwardly facing surface area comparable to that of a single,
larger-diameter disk magnet, it is possible to generate an
equivalent or greater holding force at substantially lower cost.
Most preferably, magnets 46 are pressed neodymium iron boron
(NdFeB) magnets having a diameter of about 15 mm and a thickness of
about 3 to 4 mm, said magnets being magnetized sufficiently so that
in combination, they can support beverage holder 10 and a plastic
or aluminum container holding up to about 20 fluid ounces in fixed
relation to a vertical, ferrous-metal object having a smooth,
painted surface. It will be appreciated, however, upon reading this
disclosure, that magnets 46 suitable for use in beverage holders 10
but having other dimensions and made of other materials can
likewise be used in the invention provided that magnet 28 can be
closely grouped into a cluster presenting an outwardly facing,
substantially flat surface on one side of beverage holder 10 having
sufficient area, magnetic attraction and resistance to rolling that
beverage holder 10 will remain in place in an upright position
against a substantially vertical support surface until removed by
the user or acted upon by another external, non-gravitational
force. Non-limiting examples of other materials that can be used as
magnets in the present invention include barium ferrite magnets and
strontium ferrite magnets.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 8, beverage holder 10 of the invention
having beverage container 60 supported inside it is shown in
juxtaposition to a substantially vertical wall 62 to which beverage
holder 10 is releasably attached. At least the portion of wall 62
to which beverage holder 10 is releasably attached is understood to
comprise a ferrous metal that is attracted to the magnetic field of
a cluster of closely spaced magnets 46 disposed inside the sidewall
of beverage holder 10 as discussed above. The magnitude of the
attractive force between wall 62 and the magnets disposed inside
the sidewall of beverage holder 10, when coupled with the normal
frictional force present at the interface between wall 62 and the
adjacent outside surface 20 of beverage holder 10, is desirably
sufficient to resist the gravitational force exerted on beverage
holder 10 and to hold beverage holder 10 in a desired,
substantially upright position relative to wall 62, even when a
full beverage container 60 is present inside the beverage holder.
Also, while beverage holder 10 is depicted for illustrative
purposes as being supported by its sidewall in a substantially
upright position against wall 62, it will be appreciated upon
reading this disclosure that beverage holder 10, when made in
accordance with the present invention, can likewise be used to hold
a beverage container in juxtaposition to many other types of
ferrous-metal-containing structures having substantially vertical
surfaces. Such structures can include, for example, pick-up and SUV
sidewalls and tailgates, metal walls, braces, I-beams, equipment,
tools, furniture, fixtures, filing cabinets and the like. FIG. 9
similarly depicts beverage holder 10 held by a magnetic field
against an inclined, underlying, ferrous-metal-containing surface
64. In this instance, beverage holder 10 is being held in static
relation to surface 64 62 by the magnet 42 described above in
relation to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 10, docking disk assembly 66 can
optionally be provided for use in releasably attaching magnetic
beverage holder 10 as described above to a mounting surface that
does not comprise sufficient ferrous metal to generate sufficient
attractive force between the mounting surface and magnetic beverage
holder to support the beverage holder in releasable but
substantially fixed relation to the mounting surface. Docking disk
assembly 66 is particularly preferred, for example, for use on
non-ferrous mounting surfaces made of aluminum or fiberglass, which
are often encountered on vehicles with plastic or fiberglass body
panels, recreational vehicles, boats, motor homes, SUV's, and the
like. Although docking disk assembly 66 can be made in many varying
configurations using various commercially available adhesive
products, it preferably comprises a coated ferrous-metal disk 68
having sufficient mass and surface area to support the weight of a
magnetic beverage holder 10 (FIG. 1) when placed in contact with
substantially flat attraction surface 20 of beverage holder 10. One
side of metal disk 68 is preferably backed with an adhesive pad 70
having a surface not in contact with ferrous metal disk 68 that
comprises a peel-away release paper 72 that can be removed
immediately prior to applying disk 68 to a mounting surface.
[0044] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the
invention, metal disk 68 is a 9 gauge, plain steel disk about two
inches in diameter, about 0.15 inches thick, and has polished
chrome plating with a logo stamped on the outwardly facing surface.
Adhesive pad 70 is preferably about 1.9 inches in diameter, about
0.05 inches thick, and comprises urethane foam impregnated or
coated with an acrylic adhesive. The holding force between ferrous
metal disk 68 and adhesive pad 70, and between adhesive pad 70 and
the mounting surface, is preferably sufficient to support a
magnetic beverage holder 10 (FIG. 1) containing a full
single-serving beverage without accidental slippage or
spillage.
[0045] While the use of a docking disk assembly 66 as described
above is preferred, it will be appreciated that other similarly
effective coatings and holding devices for metal disk 68 can
likewise be used within the scope of the invention. Thus, for
example, metal disk 68 can be coated with paint or a suitable
polymeric coating to prevent rust, allow for color coordination
with beverage holder 10, or the like. Metal disk 68 can be
releasably or permanently secured to a non-ferrous mounting
surface, provided that the holding power is sufficient to provide
support to magnetic beverage holder 10 during use. Other similarly
effective attachment devices useful for attaching metal disk 68 to
a non-ferrous mounting surface can include, for example,
selectively releasable adhesive pads such as those marketed under
the Command trademark by 3M Corporation; Velcro brand fasteners;
mechanical interlocks, or the like.
[0046] Other alterations and modifications of the invention will
likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon
reading the present disclosure, and it is intended that the scope
of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest
interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventor is
legally entitled.
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