U.S. patent application number 11/124690 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-23 for beverage holder.
Invention is credited to Keith Taboada.
Application Number | 20060261234 11/124690 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37447475 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060261234 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Taboada; Keith |
November 23, 2006 |
Beverage holder
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a beverage
holder that removably engages a fishing rod holder. In one
embodiment, the beverage holder includes a beverage receiving
portion and a rod holder mating portion orientated at an acute
angle relative to a center line of the beverage receiving portion.
The beverage receiving portion is configured to retain a beverage
container in a beverage container receiving pocket.
Inventors: |
Taboada; Keith; (Brielle,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATTERSON & SHERIDAN L.L.P.
595 SHREWSBURY AVE, STE 100
FIRST FLOOR
SHREWSBURY
NJ
07702
US
|
Family ID: |
37447475 |
Appl. No.: |
11/124690 |
Filed: |
May 9, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/314 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 3/103 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/314 |
International
Class: |
A47F 7/00 20060101
A47F007/00 |
Claims
1. A beverage holder for mating with a rod holder mounted to the
structure and having a non-vertically orientated rod receiving
tube, comprising: a rod holder mating portion; and a beverage
container receiving portion coupled to the rod holder mating
portion and having a beverage receiving pocket disposed above the
rod holder mating portion, the beverage receiving pocket configured
to retain a beverage container in a substantially vertical position
when the rod holder mating portion is engaged with the rod
receiving tube of the rod holder.
2. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein a centerline of the
beverage container receiving portion is orientated at an acute
angle relative to a center line of the beverage container receiving
portion.
3. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the beverage container
receiving portion further comprises: a cylindrical member defining
a beverage receiving pocket.
4. The beverage holder of claim 3, wherein the beverage container
receiving portion further comprises: a hole venting the beverage
receiving pocket.
5. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the beverage container
receiving portion further comprises: a plurality of fingers
extending away from the rod holder mating portion and defining a
beverage receiving pocket.
6. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the rod holder mating
portion further comprises: a cylindrical member.
7. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the rod holder mating
portion further comprises: a plurality of fingers extending away
from the beverage container receiving portion.
8. The beverage holder of claim 1, wherein a centerline of the
beverage container receiving portion is orientated at an angle
between about 15 to about 30 degrees relative to a center line of
the rod holder mating portion.
9. The beverage holder of claim 1 further comprising: a universal
fitting coupling the rod holder mating portion and the beverage
container receiving portion, wherein an orientation between the rod
holder mating portion and the beverage container receiving portion
is selectively adjustable through the universal fitting.
10. A beverage holder for mating with a rod holder, comprising: a
rod holder mating portion configured to insert into a rod receiving
tube of the rod holder; and a beverage container receiving portion
coupled to the rod holder mating portion, the beverage container
receiving portion having a beverage container receiving pocket
defined therein.
11. The beverage holder of claim 10, wherein a centerline of the
beverage container receiving portion is orientated at an angle
between about 15 to about 30 degrees relative to a center line of
the rod holder mating portion.
12. The beverage holder of claim 10, wherein the beverage container
receiving portion further comprises: a cylindrical member defining
the beverage receiving pocket.
13. The beverage holder of claim 10, wherein the beverage container
receiving portion further comprises: a hole venting the beverage
receiving pocket.
14. The beverage holder of claim 10, wherein the beverage container
receiving portion further comprises: a plurality of fingers
extending away from the rod holder mating portion and defining the
beverage receiving pocket.
15. The beverage holder of claim 10, wherein the rod holder mating
portion further comprises: a cylindrical member.
16. The beverage holder of claim 10, wherein the rod holder mating
portion further comprises: a plurality of fingers extending away
from the beverage container receiving portion.
17. The beverage holder of claim 10 further comprising: a universal
fitting coupling the rod holder mating portion and the beverage
container receiving portion, wherein an orientation between the rod
holder mating portion and the beverage container receiving portion
is selectively adjustable through the universal fitting.
18. A beverage holder for mating with a vessel mounted rod holder,
comprising: a rod holder mating portion configured to slidably mate
with a rod receiving tube of the rod holder; and a beverage
container receiving portion coupled to the rod holder mating
portion, the beverage container receiving portion having a beverage
container receiving pocket defined therein and disposed above the
rod holder mating portion, wherein a centerline of the beverage
container receiving pocket is orientated at an angle between about
15 to about 30 degrees relative to a center line of the beverage
container receiving portion.
19. The beverage holder of claim 18, wherein the beverage container
receiving pocket is at least 3 inches in diameter.
20. The beverage holder of claim 18, wherein the rod holder mating
portion is substantially cylindrical.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a
beverage holder, and more specifically, relate to a beverage holder
adapted to engage a fishing rod holder.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Motion of a vessel generally requires some type of beverage
holder to prevent spillage. Common types of beverage holders
include bulkhead mounted gimble devices and recessed drink holders
formed in the vessel or one of its components. As these types of
beverage holders are firmly mounted to the vessel, there is often
no conveniently located beverage holder nearby. It would be
desirable for a beverage holder suitable for use on a vessel to be
repositionable at different portions of the vessel.
[0005] Therefore, there is a need for an improved beverage holder
suitable for use on watercraft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a beverage
holder that removably engages a fishing rod holder. In one
embodiment, the beverage holder includes a beverage receiving
portion and a rod holder mating portion orientated at an acute
angle relative to a center line of the beverage receiving portion.
The beverage receiving portion is configured to retain a beverage
container in a beverage container receiving pocket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] So that the manner in which the above recited features of
the present invention can be understood in detail, a more
particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above,
may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however,
that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of
this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of
its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective
embodiments.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of one embodiment of a
beverage holder;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a respective view of another embodiment of a
beverage holder;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the beverage holder of
FIG. 2;
[0011] FIG. 4 is perspective view of another embodiment of a
beverage holder; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment
of a beverage holder having a rod holder mating portion coupled to
a beverage receiving pocket in a manner that allows the relative
orientation therebetween to be selectively adjusted.
[0013] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals
have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements
that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements of
one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The present invention generally is a beverage holder
configured to slidably engage a rod holder disposed on a vessel or
other structure. When used on a fishing vessel, the beverage holder
may be moved between rod holders by pulling the beverage holder out
of one rod holder and inserting it into another. In this manner,
the beverage holder may be readily moved about the cockpit of a
vessel without tools, thereby allowing the beverage holder to
maintain "a cold frosty one" or other beverage of choice within
easy reach of an angler.
[0015] FIG. 1 is one embodiment of a beverage holder 100 configured
to mate with a fishing rod holder 190. Although the fishing rod
holder 190 is shown in FIG. 1 mounted on a flat surface 192, such
as a gunnel of a vessel (e.g., or other watercraft), the beverage
holder 100 is suitable for interfacing with other rod holders
having a tubular body 194 inclined from vertical. Examples of other
rod holders to which the beverage holder 100 may interface may be
found to include, but are not limited to leaning posts, rocket
launchers, fighting chairs, towers, radar arches, among other
locations.
[0016] The beverage holder 100 generally includes a rod holder
mating portion 104 and a beverage container receiving portion 102.
The beverage container receiving portion 102 defines a beverage
container receiving pocket 150 having a vertical centerline 188.
The beverage container receiving pocket 150 may be configured to
retain or include a beverage container 126, such as a cup, bottle
or can. The beverage receiving pocket 150 may optionally be
configured to retain a foam beverage insulator 124, for example, by
having a diameter greater than about 3 inches. The foam insulator
124 may integrally define the receiving pocket 150, may be coupled
to the beverage holder 100, or alternatively, be removable from the
drink holder 100 with the beverage container 126. The beverage
container receiver portion 102 generally includes a transition
member 110 having at least one wall 120 extending from an upper
surface 114 thereof. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the wall
120 has a cylindrical form which extends from the upper surface 114
of the transition member 110 to a height sufficient to retain the
beverage container 126 in the beverage container receiving pocket
150. In one embodiment, the height of the wall 120 is about three
inches. It is also contemplated that the wall 120 may be defined by
a plurality of arc segments.
[0017] The rod holder mating portion 104 of the beverage holder 100
extends from a bottom surface 112 of the transition member 110. The
wall 120 may optionally include a vent hole 119 (shown in phantom)
formed therethrough proximate the transition member 110. The
transition member 110 may optionally include a lip 128 extending
radially outward of the wall 120.
[0018] The rod holder mating portion 104 extends from the bottom
112 of the transition member 110 and is configured to insert into
the tube 194 of the rod holder 190, thereby preventing the beverage
holder 100 from sliding and/or tipping over due to motion of the
vessel. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the rod holder mating
portion is a tube 106 having a center line 198 respectively
inclined at acute angle 196, 198 with the vertical centerline 188
and the plane of the transition member 110. In the embodiment
depicted in FIG. 1, the plane of the transition member 110 is
horizontal. It is noted that on some vessel designs, the plane of
the gunnel, and correspondingly transition member may not be truly
horizontal, thus causing the orientation of the centerline 188 to
rotate from true vertical when disposed in the rod holder 190. The
tube 106 may include a passage 108 that fluidly couples the
beverage receiving pocket 150 to the rod holder mating portion 104
through a hole 116 formed through the transition member 110. The
hole 116 vents the beverage receiving pocket 150 during removal of
the beverage container 126 and/or insulator 124 from the pocket
150, thereby preventing generation a vacuum within the beverage
container receiving portion 102 that would make removal of the
beverage from the pocket difficult. It is contemplated that the
beverage receiving pocket 150 may be vented by a hole formed in
another portion of the beverage holder 100.
[0019] Since most rod holders, such as the deck mounted rod holder
190 depicted in FIG. 1, are inclined at an acute angle to vertical,
the rod holder mating portion 104 and the beverage receiving pocket
150 generally have a centerline orientation that less than about 60
degrees. In one embodiment, the rod holder mating portion 104 and
the beverage receiving pocket 150 generally have a centerline
orientation (i.e., the angle 198) between about 15 to about 30
degrees. This relative orientation between the rod holder mating
portion 104 and the beverage receiving pocket 150 allows the
beverage receiving pocket 150 to maintain the beverage container
126 disposed therein to be retained in a substantially horizontal
orientation, thereby substantially preventing spillage of liquid
from the container 126.
[0020] The beverage container receiving portion 102 and the rod
holder mating portion 104 may comprise separate elements or have
single piece construction. The beverage holder 100 may be
fabricated from any suitable metal, plastic, elastomer, wood or
other suitable material, and in one embodiment, may be injection
molded as a single piece.
[0021] FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of a beverage holder 200.
The beverage holder 200 is substantially similar to the beverage
holder 100. As depicted in FIG. 2, the beverage container receiving
portion 102 of the beverage holder 200 includes one or more slots
202 formed therein. Optionally, the bottom 204 of the slot 202 may
extend completely to the top surface 114 of the traverse member 110
as depicted by dashed line 210. As such, the beverage receiving
portion 102 of the beverage holder 200 is comprised of one or more
arc segments 212. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, two arc
segments 212 are shown. In another embodiment, four slots 202 may
be provided to divide the beverage containing portion 102 of the
beverage holder 200 into four arc segments 212. Other
configurations having different number (i.e., one or more) slots
202 are contemplated.
[0022] Similarly, the rod holder mating portion 104 of the beverage
holder 200 may include one or more slots 224 which divide the rod
holder mating portion into at least one arc segment 220. In the
embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, two slots 224 divide the rod holder
retaining portion 104 into two arc segments 220. It is contemplated
that both the beverage container receiving portion 102 and the rod
holder mating portion 104 of the beverage holder 200 may include
any number of arc segments separated by slots of any width and
length. Optionally, at least one arc segment 220 may be flared
outward at a lower end 226 opposite the beverage container
receiving portion 102 to a width greater than the inside diameter
of the tube 194 of the rod holder 190. In such an embodiment, the
flared rod holder mating portion 104 is fabricated of a resilient
material such that the rod holder mating portion is biased against
the internal diameter of the tube 194 upon insertion into the rod
holder 190, thereby retaining the beverage holder 200 to the rod
holder. Optionally, as depicted in FIG. 3, one or more of the arc
segments 220 comprising the rod holder mating portion 104 may
include an outwardly extending lip 302. The lip 302 is configured
to have a diameter and/or width 304 which causes the lip to bias
against greater than the inside diameter of the tube 194, thereby
improving retention of the beverage holder 200 to the rod holder
190.
[0023] FIG. 4 depicts another embodiment of a beverage holder 400.
The beverage holder 400 is substantially similar to the beverage
holders 100, 200 described above. A beverage retaining portion 102
of the rod holder 400 generally includes a least three fingers 406
coupled by at least one traverse member 408 to define a beverage
container receiving pocket 150. In the embodiment depicted in FIG.
4, four fingers 106 are coupled together by four traverse members
408. Each finger 406 may have any suitable sectional profile, for
example, cylindrical, cylindrical segment, oval, polygonal and the
like, and in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the finger has a
rectangular cross-section.
[0024] The rod holder mating portion 104 of the rod holder 400
generally includes at least two fingers 402 which extend downward
from the at least one traverse member 408. In the embodiment
depicted in FIG. 2, two are shown. Optionally, at least one of the
fingers 408 may have a feature 404 extending laterally therefrom
which functions to engage the inside diameter of the tube 194 of
the rod holder 190.
[0025] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment
of a beverage holder 510 having a rod holder mating portion 104
coupled to a beverage receiving pocket 150 in a manner that allows
the relative orientation therebetween to be selectively adjusted.
In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a flexible joint or universal fitting
500 is disposed between the rod holder mating portion 104 and the
beverage receiving pocket 150 such that the angular orientation
between the rod holder mating portion 104 and the beverage
receiving pocket 150 may be adjusted between about 180 and about 90
degrees. It is also contemplated that the universal fitting 500 may
provide different angular range of motion between the rod holder
mating portion 104 and the beverage receiving pocket 150. In one
embodiment, the universal fitting 500 is comprised of at least one
first plate 502 extending from the rod holder mating portion 104
and at least one mating second plate 504 extending from the
beverage receiving pocket 150 held together by a thumb screw 506
and wing nut 508. At least one of the plates 502, 504 may include
ribs, grooves or other surface feature to enhance retention of the
portions 102, 104 in a selected orientation after the nut 508 and
bolt 506 are tightened.
[0026] Thus, embodiments of a beverage holder suitable to be
removably engaged with a rod holder have been disclosed.
Advantageously, the beverage holder may be easily moved between
different rod holders positioned around a vessel or watercraft,
thereby allowing a beverage container to be securely retained
against a rocking motion of the vessel and flexibly repositioned.
It is contemplated that any of the features described in any one of
the embodiments above may be advantageously utilized in the other
embodiments.
[0027] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the
present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention
may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and
the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
* * * * *