BEVERAGE CONTAINER HOLDING DEVICE

PORTE-RECIPIENT A BOISSON

English Abstract

A beverage container holding device is described for use
in an automotive vehicle. The device is adapted for engagement
with a ventilation outlet in a vehicle, to expose a beverage
container to a flow of cooled or heated air. In another
aspect, the invention includes an automotive vehicle including
one or more ventilation outlets for the passage of heated or
cooled air into the vehicle. A beverage container holding
device is located in the vehicle, affixed to the interior of
same proximate to one of the ventilator openings whereby air
flowing from the opening may be directed over the beverage
container holding device.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A beverage container holding device for use in an
automotive vehicle, said device including a first portion
configured to hold a beverage container, and a second portion
adapted for engagement with a ventilation outlet having vanes
or slats with front edges and rear edges in a said vehicle, to
expose said beverage container to a flow of cooled or heated
air, wherein said second portion is a rearwardly extending flat
profiled flange integrally formed with said first portion, said
flange terminating in a thickened rear edge having a forwardly
open channel formed therein engageable with a rear edge of
said vane or slat of said ventilation outlet to engage said
device with a said ventilation outlet.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second
portion terminates in means to engage a vane or slat provided
in a ventilation outlet.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said flange of
said second portion is slotted to accommodate vanes or slats
extending at 90° thereto.
4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein sections of said
flange separated by at least two slots are angled alternately
up and down, to engage the vanes or slats directly above and
below said second portion.

Description

215 '~ 6 3'~
The present invention relates tc> the field of automotive
accessories. In particular, the pre~;ent invention relates to
a novel beverage container holding device for use in a car,
truck, or other automotive vehicle.
It is known, in general terms,, to provide a beverage
container holding device, commonly called a cup holder, in an
automobile (car or truck). The device may be built into the
interior of the vehicle, for instance as a tray molded into a
centre console. The device may retract into a slot in the
dashboard. The device may, moreover, be portable so that the
user of same can carry it from automobile to automobile, and
set it up by clipping it to a part of the automobile's
interior, or hanging it on a part of the interior of the
automobile.
It will be understood, moreover,, that there is currently
no convenient method of cooling a beverage or keeping a
beverage cool in an automobile. A canned soft drink, left in
an automobile that has been parked in the sun can become quite
hot, rendering it substantially useless as a beverage until it
is cooled down. Conversely, there exists no practical method,
other than using an insulated cup, which will often not fit in
a beverage container holder, to keep a beverage warm in an
automobile's interior in cold weather. This is particularly
apparent during the Canadian winter-, when a cup of coffee
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brought into a cold car's interior will cool down to an
unpalatable temperature very quickly indeed.
The obj ect of the present invention is to provide a simple
and easy to use beverage container holding device for use in
an automobile, which through placement in the automobile will
assist in ensuring that a beverage is cooled in warm weather,
and warmed in cold weather.
In a broad aspect, the present invention provides a
beverage container holding device for use in an automotive
vehicle, said device including a first portion configured to
hold a beverage container, and a second portion adapted for
engagement with a ventilation outlet: having vanes or slats with
front edges and rear edges in a said vehicle, to expose said
beverage container to a flow of cooled or heated air, wherein
said second portion is a rearwardly extending flat profiled
flange integrally formed with said first portion, said flange
terminating in a thickened rear edge having a forwardly open
channel formed therein engageable with a rear edge of said
vane or slat of said ventilation outlet to engage said device
with a said ventilation outlet.
In drawings that illustrate the present invention by way
of example:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the principle embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a right side view thereof;
Figure 3 is a left side view thereof;
Figure 4 is a top view thereof.;
Figure 5 is an underside view thereof;
Figure 6 is a front view thereof;
Figure 7 is a rear view thereof;
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Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views of two alternative
embodiments of the present invention; and
Figure 10 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the
hanging portion of the present inveni~ion.
Referring now to Figures 1 - 7, 'the device of the present
invention is made up, generally, of a hanging portion 1 and a
holding portion 2. The holding portion, as illustrated, may
be a simple ring 3, connected by a stem 4 to an outwardly
extending shelf 5 and also via the stem to the hanging portion
1. The shelf 5 which preferably is integrally with the stem
4 and the ring 3 , may be angled slightly upwardly, in order
that it may hold the weight of a beverage (up to about 600
grams) without excess downward deflexion.
The shelf portion may be of any shape. It may, as
illustrated be a rectangular extension of the stem, but it may
be round, or any other shape preferred by a manufacturer. For
instance, the shelf may be in the :shape of the logo of an
automobile manufacturer.
The ring portion 3 may, as illustrated, be a flat circular
band, but it may be square, hexagonal, or any other suitable
shape, as will be obvious to one skilled in the art. It may
be thickened, torus shaped, or bear any molded design deemed
appropriate. Moreover, the stem, ring and shelf, which
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preferably are injection molded in one piece with the hanging
portion, may be shaped as a basket o~r box whereby there will
be no discernible distinction between.the ring portion and the
stem portion.
The hanging portion extends re:arwardly of the holding
portion, and is generally flat, with a short 180 ° hook 6 at its
end. The hanging portion is preferably slotted, as shown in
the top view thereof, for reasons that will be apparent. The
function of the hanging portion, with its 180° hook, is to pass
between the vanes or slots in a heating/air conditioning vent,
and hook onto the inward edge of same by means of the 180°
hook. The hanging means is slotted because in many instances,
a vent will display vertical and horizontal slats and vanes,
so the hanging portion must be both thin, and longitudinally
divided. To hang the device on a vent, then, the vent is
opened, the device is slid between the vanes thereof, and the
hook is pulled into engagement with one of the vanes.
Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10, 'the longitudinal sections
7 of the hanging portion that are divided by the slots formed
therein may alternatively be angled up and down, to snap into
engagement between a pair of lateral vanes. In such an
embodiment, the hooks 8 on alternate sections are angled,
alternatively up and down. Moreover, :in such an embodiment, it
is desirable to provide at least three sections divided by two
slots, to prevent out of balance handing of the device.
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Referring to Figures 8 and 9, two alternate embodiments
are shown, for more permanent attachment to a vehicle. These
embodiments are substantially the same in concept, and differ
in that Figure 8 illustrates a device for use with a vehicle
having laterally oriented vents. Figure 9 illustrates a device
for use with vertically oriented vents. In either case, the
hanging portion of the device is replaced by a spring loaded
vertical post 9, attached directly to the rearward surface of
the holding portion. The post is provided to engage the
interior of vent opening, when the: directional vanes are
removed therefrom.
This opening, which is either lateral or vertical, is
generally provided with a pair of short stubby posts or
apertures, in the middle of the upper and lower surfaces
thereof. The spring loaded posts of the devices of Figures 8
and 9 may be used, to engage such short posts or apertures when
the directional vane structures have been removed.
Utilizing the present invention, it will be understood
that a hot beverage may be kept quite warm in winter almost
indefinitely. In the summer a warm soft drink can be chilled
in minutes, and kept chilled indefinitely. It is, moreover,
understood that the present invention may be built into a
vehicles's interior, either as a permanently molded structure,
a pop-up structure, a swing-away structure, or a retractable
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structure. The essence of the present invention is the
provision of a cup holder in a position to bring a beverage
container into direct contact with the flow of air from a
vehicle's ventilation system.
It is to be understood that the examples described above
are not meant to limit the scope of tlhe present invention. It
is expected that numerous variants will be obvious to the
person skilled in the field of automotive accessory field
without any departure from the spirit of the invention. The
appended claims, properly construed, form the only limitation
upon the scope of the invention.
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Representative Drawing