Beverage Container Receptacle And Clamp

Abstract

A device for holding beverage containers, such as cans, bottles and glasses, in an upright position, mountable on an inclined tubular section such as a golf cart handle or a boat railing. A beverage container receptacle is detachably connected by clip means to angularly adjustable clamp means of the invention. The clamp is adjustable to mount on a tubular section of any given angular inclination, while clip means are rigidly secured relative to the clamp and depend downward therefrom, thereby maintaining the beverage container receptacle in a generally vertical orientation. The beverage container receptacle is free swinging relative to the clip means, so that upon jarring or tilting of the tubular section, the receptacle will tend to maintain a vertical orientation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At the present time there is available on the market a beverage holder for use in boats which is comprised of a wire retainer or basket suspended from a bracket, as described in U. S. Pat. No. 2,893,675. The bracket is permanently mounted on a portion of the boat. The retainer is releasably suspended from the bracket and is free swinging relative to the bracket. The bracket is fastened to the boat by screws or the like, and may not be conveniently moved from place to place. The angular orientation of the bracket is not adjustable, and the bracket is not adapted to be removably mounted on tubular sections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a beverage holder generally of the type described above having a clamp for mounting on a tubular section such as a golf cart handle or a pontoon boat railing, where the participant in a sport or activity may have convenient access to his beverage. The clamp is conveniently and removably mounted on a tubular section notwithstanding any angular inclination of the section. A beverage container receptacle is releasably mounted to the clamp by coacting clip means. A hanger plate is pivotally attached to the clamp and is angularly adjustable relative to the clamp so as to be adjustable to a generally vertical orientation despite an angular mounting of the clamp. Small projections or fingers on the hanger plate coact with a plurality of holes on the clamp to secure the hanger plate in the selected position relative to the clamp. Attached to the hanger plate is a first portion of the clip means. A second mating portion of the clip means is attached to a beverage container receptacle, whereby the receptacle may be attached to the clamp but is readily removable for storage or use at another location. The beverage container receptacle is adapted to swing freely relative to the hanger plate, whereby upon jarring or tilting of the tubular section, the receptacle maintains the beverage container in a generally upright position, thus preventing spillage.

An object of the invention is to provide a beverage holder which may be conveniently assembled to a tubular member. A second object of the invention is to provide a beverage holder having a beverage container receptacle adjustable to a downward orientation despite any angular inclination of the tubular member to which the beverage holder is assembled. A further object of the invention is to provide a beverage holder having a beverage container receptacle adapted to swing freely from the clamp portion of the beverage holder and readily removable from the clamp portion of the beverage holder for storage or use at another location.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the beverage holder of the invention in assembled relationship to a tubular member;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the adjustable clamp of the invention, taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the clamp of the invention taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of two elements of the beverage holder of the invention shown in unassembled, spaced relationship for purposes of illustration.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the adjustable beverage holder of the invention in assembled relationship to an elongated member or tubular section 12. The tubular section 12 could be, for example, a portion of the handle of a golf cart or a portion of the railing of a pontoon boat, or a like location to provide the participant in a sport or activity convenient access to his beverage.

The adjustable beverage holder of the invention includes a beverage container receptacle removably assembled by clip means to angularly adjustable clamp means. The beverage container receptacle depends from the adjustable clamp means and is adapted to swivel freely relative to the clamp means whereby upon jarring, rocking, tilting or the like of the tubular support member, the receptacle will maintain a generally downward orientation to prevent spillage of the beverage.

The beverage container receptacle of the device is of the type described in U. S. Pat. No. 2,893,675 for receiving glasses, bottles, cups, etc. and is constituted as a basket consisting of a plurality of upright parallel wire support members shown as first and second U-shaped members, denoted 14 and 15 respectively, in perpendicular relationship to each other. Vertically spaced, circular elements 17 encircle the U-shaped members 14 and 15 and are attached, as by welding, to the U-shaped members at points of contact. Horizontal bases of the U-shaped members engage with each other at the vertical center of the retainer, forming a base for the receptacle. The legs of the U-shaped members extend vertically upward in equally spaced relation, at 90.degree. apart as shown. The legs of first U-shaped member 14 terminate at an uppermost circular element 17. The legs of second U-shaped member 15 extend above those of the member 14 and terminate in outwardly extended end portions 18.

At the base of the receptacle, there is provided an adjustable insert 19, of the type described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,184,201, for the accommodation of glasses of different sizes. Insert 19 comprises a flat plate having notches to selectively engage the upright support members and annular rings of receptacle 13.

A semi-circular bracket 20 has oppositely disposed arcuate arms 21, 21. The end portions 18 of the U-shaped member 15 rotatably engage the respective end portions of the arms 21, 21 of the bracket 20, whereby the receptacle 13 swings freely in a first vertical plane with respect to the bracket 20. At the center of the bracket 20, midway between the arms 21, 21, a first portion of clip means or a clip member 23 is pivotally fastened to the bracket 20 by a pivot pin 24, whereby the receptacle 13 swings freely in a second vertical plane perpendicular to the first vertical plane. Clip member 23, opposite the pivot pin 24, has a generally flat back portion and has outwardly extended vertical parallel shoulders 25, 25 on either side. A pair of arms 26, 26 symmetrically extend still further outward from the top portions of the respective shoulders 25, 25.

The angularly adjustable clamp means of the invention includes an inverted U-shaped member or collar 27 having a first leg 28 and a second leg 29, which legs engage or straddle the tubular portion 12. While the collar portion 27 is shown to have a rounded U-shaped base, it is understood that the shape of the collar could be altered to accommodate elongated members having other than a circular cross section without departing from the scope of the invention.

Fastened to the second leg 29 of collar 27 and depending therefrom is a plate member or hanger plate 31. The legs 28 and 29 of collar 27 are provided with mutually aligned holes. A bolt 32 passes through a square hole 35 provided in the upper portion of the hanger plate 31, and thence through the mutually aligned holes in the legs of the collar 27, thereby fastening the hanger plate to the collar. Bolt 32 has a square portion on the shank which engages the square hole 35 of the hanger plate 31 to prevent rotation of the bolt with respect to the plate. A wing nut 36 is threaded to the end of the bolt 32 outboard of the first leg 28.

The second leg 29 of collar 27 has a plurality of small circular holes 38 symmetrically arranged in a circular pattern about the round hole 34. The holes 38 are relatively arranged in like quadrate sets, each hole having a corresponding hole 180.degree. opposite and holes 90.degree. to either side. The hanger plate 31 has four inwardly facing, small projections or fingers 39 symmetrically spaced in a quadrate set about the square hole 35. The relative spacing of the fingers 39 corresponds to the relative spacing of the holes 38. When the hanger plate 31 is brought into mating contact with the collar 27, the fingers 39 engage a selected quadrate set of holes 38 according to the desired angular position of the hanger plate 31 relative to the collar 27. The bolt 32 and wing nut 36 function as bias means to bias the fingers 39 in engagement with the selected holes 38. As best seen by FIG. 3, upon tightening of the wing nut 36 on the bolt 32, the fingers 39 are securely positioned in the selected set of holes 38, thus securing the hanger plate in the desired position relative to the collar. If the nut 36 is tightened to an extent causing the legs 28 and 29 to converge as when the tubular member has a smaller diameter than shown, one of the fingers 39 above the bolt 32 may become disengaged from the hole 38. Nonetheless, the remaining fingers below the bolt 32 will hold the hanger plate 31 securely in place. The hanger plate 31 may be adjusted to a different angular position relative to the clamp simply by loosening the bolt 36 until the fingers 39 are disngaged from the holes 38. The hanger plate is then adjusted to the desired position, and the wing nut 36 is again tightened.

A mating portion of the clip means or the clip retaining means is located on the lower portion of the hanger plate 31. The clip retaining means includes a pair of elongated retaining members 41, 42 symmetrically fastened to the hanger plate 31 in generally parallel relationship but converging slightly in a downward direction. Each retaining member 41, 42 has an angular or stepped cross section, having a first portion extending outward from the plate 31, and a second portion extending parallel to the plate 31 toward the opposite retaining member. The respective second portions of the retaining members and the surface of the plate 31 define slots of sufficient depth to accommodate the shoulders 25, 25 of the clip member 23. The pair of slots define a converging channel into which the clip member 23 is insertable. The top portion of the channel is of sufficient width to admit the back and shoulder portions of the clip member 23. The channel converges to a width where the clip member 23 is frictionally restrained from further movement in the channel. A nub 43 is provided on hanger plate 31 at the bottom of the channel in location to contact the bottom edge of clip member 23 when restrained in said channel.

In the use of the invention, the clamp 27 is mounted on a tubular section, such as a golf cart handle, a lawn mower handle, a lawn chair, or a pontoon boat railing, by placing the collar 28 on the section and assembling to it the hanger plate 31, the bolt 32, and the wing nut 36. The hanger plate 31 is adjusted relative to the collar 28 to depend generally downward. The wing nut 36 is tightened to secure the clamp and hanger plate in place. The beverage container receptacle is assembled to the clamp by inserting the clip member 23 in the channel of the clip retaining means, the converging channel frictionally retains the clip member 23. The arms 26, 26 of the shoulders 25, 25 rest on the top edges of the clip retaining members 41, 42 to further support the clip member 23. Additionally, the bottom edge of clip member 23 rests on the nub 43. The beverage container receptacle may be readily removed for storage or use at another location.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A beverage container holder for mounting on an elongated member, including: a beverage container receptacle; clip means including first and second portions; means pivotally attaching the receptacle to the first portion of the clip means; a plate member; said second portion of clip means attached to the plate member, said first portion and said second portion of clip means cooperable to releasably hold the receptacle; clamp means having a pair of legs engageable with said elongated member; angular adjusting means having a first portion located on a leg of said clamp means and a second portion located on said plate member; one portion of angular adjusting means including a plurality of spaced holes symmetrically arranged in a circular pattern; the other portion of angular adjusting means including at least two projections engageable with at least one pair of selected holes disposed opposite each other in said circular pattern; and bias means releasably biasing said projections in engagement with said pair of holes.

2. The beverage container holder of claim 1 wherein: said beverage container receptacle is freely swinging relative to the first portion of the clip means.

3. The beverage container holder of claim 2 wherein said beverage container receptacle includes: a basket having a plurality of annular rings vertically spaced and attached to at least one pair of diametrically opposite upright parallel wire support members, and a bracket pivotally connected to the upper end portions of a pair of the wire support members, said bracket pivotally attached to the first portion of clip means.

4. The beverage container holder of claim 1 wherein: the first portion of angular adjusting means includes a plurality of sets of holes arranged in a circular pattern; the second portion of angular adjusting means includes a quadrant of projections engageable with a selected set of said holes; and bias means includes means operative to releasably bias said set of projections in engagement with said set of holes.

5. The beverage container holder of claim 4 wherein: said clamp means includes a U-shaped collar having a pair of legs adapted to straddle said elongated member; said sets of holes are disposed on one of said legs; and said bias means includes a bolt passing through a bolt hole provided in the plate member and through a bolt hole provided in the center of the circular pattern of sets of holes, and a nut threadably engaging the end of the bolt.

6. The beverage container holder of claim 1 wherein: said first portion of clip means includes a clip member having a generally flat back portion and outwardly extended vertical shoulders; and said second portion of clip means is constituted as a pair of elongated angular members forming a downwardly converging channel releasably retaining the clip member.

7. A beverage container holder for mounting on a tubular member including: a beverage container receptacle comprising a basket having a plurality of annular rings vertically spaced and attached to at least one pair of diametrically opposite upright parallel wire support members; a bracket pivotally connected to the upper end portions of a pair of the wire support members whereby the basket is rotatable in a first vertical plane relative to the bracket; clip means including first and second portions; said bracket pivotally attached to the first portion of clip means, rotatable relative to the first portion of clip means in a second vertical plane perpendicular to said first vertical plane; said first portion of clip means including a clip member having a generally flat back portion and outwardly extended vertical shoulders; a clamp constituted as a U-shaped collar and a plate member, said collar having a pair of legs adapted to straddle a tubular member, said legs provided with mutually aligned holes; said plate member pivotally fastened to the collar adjacent a leg of the collar by a bolt passing through a hole provided in the plate member and through the mutually aligned holes of the legs; a nut threaded to the bolt; said plate having a plurality of inwardly facing projections; said leg adjacent the plate having a plurality of sets of angularly spaced holes, said projections being successively engageable with selected sets of said holes upon rotation of the plate member with respect to the collar, said projections being secured in a selected set of holes when the nut is tightened; said plate member providing the second portion of clip means constituted as a pair of elongated angular members attached to the plate member forming a downwardly converging channel releasably retaining the clip member.

8. A beverage container holder for mounting on an elongated member, including: a beverage container receptacle; clip means including first and second portions; said receptable including a basket having a plurality of annular rings vertically spaced and attached to at least one pair of diametrically opposite upright parallel wire support members, and a bracket pivotally connected to the upper end portions of a pair of the wire support members, said bracket pivotally attached to the first portion of clip means whereby said beverage container receptacle is freely swinging relative to the first portion of the clip means; an adjustable insert comprised of a flat plate selectively engageable with one of said annular rings; a plate member; second portion of clip means attached to the plate member; said first portion and said second portion of clip means cooperable to releasably hold the receptacle; a clamp engageable with said elongated member; angular adjusting means including first and second portions; said clamp providing said first portion of angular adjusting means; said plate member providing said second portion of angular adjusting means; one portion of angular adjusting means including a plurality of spaced holes in angular relationship to one another; the other portion of angular adjusting means including at least one projection engageable with a selected hole of the plurality of holes; and bias means releasably biasing said projection in engagement with said hole.

9. A beverage container holder for mounting on an elongated member, including: a beverage container receptacle; clip means including first and second portions; means pivotally attaching the receptacle to the first portion of clip means; a plate member; said second portion of clip means attached to the plate member; said first portion and said second portion of clip means cooperable to releasably hold the receptacle; clamp means engageable with said elongated member; fastening means operative to fasten said clamp means to said elongated member; angular adjusting means having a first portion located on said clamp means and a second portion located on said plate member; one portion of angular adjusting means including a plurality of spaced holes in angular relationship to one another; the other portion of angular adjusting means including at least one projection engageable with a selected hole of the plurality of holes; said fastening means adapted to bias said projection in engagement with said hole when operative to fasten said clamp means to said elongated member.

10. The beverage container holder of claim 9 wherein said means pivotally attaching the receptacle to the first portion of the clip means includes: a bracket pivotally connected to the upper portion of the receptacle whereby the receptacle is rotatable in a first vertical plane relative to the bracket; said bracket pivotally attached to the first portion of clip means, rotatable relative to the first portion of clip means in a second vertical plane perpendicular to said first vertical plane.

11. The beverage container holder of claim 9 wherein: the first portion of angular adjusting means includes a plurality of sets of holes arranged in a circular pattern; the second portion of angular adjusting means includes a set of projections engageable with a selected set of said holes; and said fastening means is adapted to releasably bias said set of projections in engagement with said set of holes when operative to fasten said clamp means to said elongated member.