U.S. patent application number 14/221350 was filed with the patent office on 2015-09-24 for collapsible cup holder.
The applicant listed for this patent is Brian Hill. Invention is credited to Brian Hill.
Application Number | 20150266653 14/221350 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54141396 |
Filed Date | 2015-09-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150266653 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hill; Brian |
September 24, 2015 |
COLLAPSIBLE CUP HOLDER
Abstract
A collapsible cup holder for receiving and holding an oversized
beverage container when in a deployed position which can be
collapsed into a substantially flat storage position. The
collapsible cup holder comprises a cylindrical body constructed of
two side pieces attached together to form a continuous side wall
and two bottom pieces are attached together to form a closed
bottom. The closed bottom is then attached to the continuous side
wall in a manner which forms a cup receiving cavity inside the
continuous side wall and above the closed bottom. The point of
attachment for the side pieces and the bottom pieces forms sewn
seams which provide a joint which allows the side piece and bottom
piece on a first side of the cylindrical body to be folded over on
top of the side piece and bottom piece on a second side.
Inventors: |
Hill; Brian; (Isola,
MS) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hill; Brian |
Isola |
MS |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54141396 |
Appl. No.: |
14/221350 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/739 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 23/0216 20130101;
B65D 81/3876 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/38 20060101
B65D081/38; A47G 23/02 20060101 A47G023/02 |
Claims
1. A collapsible cup holder, comprising: two side pieces, each
defined as an identical, substantially flat body having two side
ends, a top end and a bottom end, stitched together along both side
ends in a manner which results the respective bottom ends to be
positioned adjacent to one another and which forms a continuous
side wall; two bottom pieces, each defined as an identical,
substantially flat body having a curved end and a flat end,
stitched together on one plane along their respective flat ends to
form a closed bottom; wherein said continuous side wall is attached
to the closed bottom on the side of the continuous side wall on
which said bottom ends are disposed in a manner which forms a cup
receiving cavity inside the continuous side wall and above the
closed bottom; and wherein the stitching between the side pieces on
the continuous side wall is adjacent to and aligned with the
stitching on closed bottom between the bottom pieces and said
stitching forms a continuous joint which enables the cylindrical
body to be folded.
2. The collapsible cup holder of claim 1, wherein the side pieces
are trapezoidal and the width of the collapsible cup holder
progressively increases as further from the closed bottom.
3. The collapsible cup holder of claim 1, wherein the side pieces
and bottom pieces are constructed of neoprene.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to drinking accessories
and, more particularly, to an insulating cup holder which is sized
to fit a extra large cups and collapsible.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The use of cup holders for insulating beverage containers
and improving a user's ability to grip the same is well known.
While cup holders are customarily made in a plurality of sizes to
fit cups of all sized, a problem which still exists is that typical
cup holders are rarely sized to hold extra large cups. Cup holders
that are so sized are often bulky and very inconvenient to
transport or store. Thus, there remains a need for a collapsible
cup holder which would enable a user to hold large beverage
containers, such as cups, but not require a significant amount of
space when stored or transported. It would be helpful if such a
collapsible cup holder was constructed of a pliable insulating
material capable of reducing and absorbing condensation on the
exterior of the cup to enhance grasping of the collapsible cup
holder. It would be additionally desirable for such a collapsible
cup holder to include sewn seams which enable it to be collapsed
from the shape of a cup to a substantially flat shape.
[0005] The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a
collapsible cup holder adapted to receive and hold a oversized
cylindrical beverage containers. The primary component in
Applicant's collapsible cup holder is a cylindrical body with an
open top, cup receiving cavity, and sewn seams along its sides and
bottom. When in operation, the collapsible cup holder enables extra
large cups to be received and held by a structure which can be
collapsed into a substantially flat structure when not in use. As a
result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are
removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A collapsible cup holder for receiving and holding an
oversized beverage container when in a deployed position which can
be collapsed into a substantially flat storage position. The
collapsible cup holder comprises a cylindrical body having an open
top, a closed bottom, and a continuous side wall. The cylindrical
body is constructed of four discrete pieces of neoprene. Two side
pieces are attached together to form the continuous side wall and
two bottom pieces are attached together at their respective flat
end to form the closed bottom. The closed bottom is then attached
to the continuous side wall in a manner which forms a cup receiving
cavity inside the continuous side wall and above the closed bottom.
The point of attachment for the side pieces and the bottom pieces
forms sewn seams which provide a joint which allows the side piece
and bottom piece on a first side of the cylindrical body to be
folded over on top of the side piece and bottom piece on a second
side.
[0007] It is an object of this invention to provide an extension
bar for a collapsible cup holder which would enable a user to hold
large beverage containers, such as cups, but not require a
significant amount of space when stored or transported.
[0008] It is another object of this invention to provide a
collapsible cup holder constructed of a pliable insulating material
capable of reducing and absorbing condensation on the exterior of
the cup to enhance grasping of the collapsible cup holder.
[0009] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a
collapsible cup holder which includes sewn seams that enable it to
be collapsed from the shape of a cup to a substantially flat
shape.
[0010] These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in
the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a collapsible cup
holder built in accordance with the present invention in a deployed
position.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a collapsible cup holder
built in accordance with the present invention in a deployed
position.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a collapsible cup
holder built in accordance with the present invention in a storage
position.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a collapsible cup holder
built in accordance with the present invention in a storage
position.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a side piece of a
collapsible cup holder built in accordance with the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a bottom piece of a
collapsible cup holder built in accordance with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1, 2,
3, 4, 5 and 6, a collapsible cup holder 10 is defined as a
cylindrical body 11 having an open top 12a, a closed bottom 12b,
and a continuous side wall 12c. Between the open top 12a and the
closed bottom 12b, and partially enclosed by the closed bottom 12b
and the continuous side wall 12c is a cup receiving cavity 13
which, when the collapsible cup holder 10 is in its deployed
position, is sized and shaped to fit an oversized beverage
container. In the preferred embodiment, the collapsible cup holder
10 measures six inches tall and has a diameter of 13 inches at the
top and 11 inches at the bottom.
[0018] In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical body 11 is
constructed of four discrete pieces of neoprene. Two side pieces 50
are attached together at both ends 51 through stitches to form the
continuous side wall 12c. Two bottom pieces 60 are attached
together at their respective flat end 61 through stitches to form
the closed bottom 12b. The closed bottom 12b is then attached to
the continuous side wall 12c in a manner which forms the cup
receiving cavity 13 inside the continuous side wall 12c and above
the closed bottom 12b. The closed bottom 12b is attached to the end
of the continuous side wall 12c which is smaller in diameter.
[0019] The stitching used to attach the side pieces 50 and the
bottom pieces 60 forms the sewn seams 14. Because the sewn seams 14
are disposed in the location where the side pieces 50 and the
bottom pieces 60 attach to each other, they form a joint which
allows the side piece 50 and bottom piece 60 on a first side of the
cylindrical body 11 to be folded over on top of the side piece 50
and bottom piece 60 on a second side. When the side piece 50 and
bottom piece 60 on the first side of the cylindrical body 11 is
folded over on top of the side piece 50 and bottom piece 60 on the
second side, the collapsible cup holder 10 is placed in a
substantially flat storage position.
[0020] It is understood that because the lower portion of the
cylindrical body 11 is narrower that the upper portion, the range
of larger cups which may be held is increased because wider cups
which do not extend all the way to the closed bottom can be still
held.
[0021] The instant invention has been shown and described herein in
what is considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made
therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious
modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
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