Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02794916 2012-11-07
BEVERAGE CONTAINER HOLDER
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates generally to holders for containers
and in
particular, to a beverage container holder.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Vehicles are typically equipped with one or more beverage
container
holders that are fixedly-mounted to the vehicle. However, such fixedly-mounted
holders are subject to acceleration and deceleration forces that arise while
the vehicle
is travelling, and which can cause contents of a beverage container supported
therein
to spill. Additionally, any tilting of the vehicle relative to horizontal
during travel can
also cause the contents of the beverage container to spill.
[0003J Spills due to acceleration, deceleration and/or tilting of the
vehicle may
be reduced or eliminated by providing a pivoting holder for the beverage
container.
Pivoting holders for vehicles have been previously described. For example,
U.S.
Patent No. 2,520,412 discloses a swinging cooker for a ship comprising a
gimbal plate
and stove that remain generally horizontal when the ship pitches and rolls.
[0004] U.S. Patent No. 3,842,981 to Lambert discloses an apparatus for
removably holding a liquid beverage container in a vibratory environment of a
type
created by a moving vehicle, such as an automobile, an airplane, or the like.
The
apparatus includes a housing having a base wall and a partially enclosing side
wall
forming an interior chamber. Mounted on the enclosing side wall in the
interior
chamber is a bracket which removably receives a gimbal structure. Mounted on
the
gimbal structure is a retaining member which has an encircling side wall sized
to
removably retain the beverage container. The housing is provided with a trough
at its
lower end in order to receive and collect any liquid spillage. The gimbal
structure
permits the beverage container to automatically shift its position relative to
the
housing to maintain a relatively vertical position and thereby compensate for
any
shifting of the attitude of the vehicle, and to compensate for vibratory
movement
imposed on or created by the vehicle.
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[0005] U.S. Patent No. 4,248,397 to Casper discloses a device for holding
a
cup and maintaining liquid in the cup while travelling in a vehicle. A cup
holding
device is carried by a support member in such a manner so as to permit
rotation of the
cup holding device on a first axis. A stand carries the support member in such
a
manner so as to permit rotation thereof on a second axis generally 90 degrees
of the
first axis. The stand is adapted for mounting at a desired location in the
vehicle. The
cup is free to act under its own inertia to maintain the liquid therein.
[0006] U.S. Patent No. 4,819,843 to Nakayama discloses a drink container
holder comprising three members: a mounting base having a mounting device for
mounting within a vehicle such as an automobile, a holding framework for
holding a
cup, and an intermediate pivotable framework interposed between the mounting
base
and the holding framework. The three members are pivotably connected to one
another through means of pivotable shaft bearing portions. The mounting device
comprises a substantially inverted U-shaped bracket, and the mounting base has
dependent bearing portions integrally suspended therefrom. A substantially U-
shaped
bail member is provided upon the holding framework, and the mounting base, the
holding framework, and the intermediate framework are pivotable with respect
to
each other about two axes orthogonally arranged with respect to each other
such that
the three members define in effect gimbal rings for supporting the drink
container.
[0007] Improvements are generally desired. It is therefore an object at
least to
provide a novel beverage container holder.
Summary of the Invention
100081 In one aspect, there is provided a beverage container holder
comprising: an arcuate body pivotably mounted to a base so as to define a
first axis of
rotation, the base comprising first and second clamping members configured for
clamping to a cylindrical structure of a vehicle; and an annular member
pivotably
mounted to the arcuate body so as to define a second axis of rotation, the
annular
member being sized for accommodating a beverage container.
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[0009] The base may further comprise an adjustable member to which the
arcuate body is pivotably mounted, the adjustable member being configured to
fasten
the arcuate body to the first clamping member at an angle about a third axis
of
rotation.
[00010] The beverage container holder may further comprise a basket
assembly
configured for connecting to the annular member. The basket assembly may be
configured for providing an additional support surface for the beverage
container.
[00011] In another aspect, there is provided a kit for a beverage
container
holder comprising: an arcuate body configured to be pivotably mounted to a
base so
as to define a first axis of rotation; the base, said base comprising first
and second
clamping members configured to be removably connected to each other and being
shaped for clamping to a cylindrical structure of a vehicle; and an annular
member
configured to be pivotably mounted to the arcuate body so as to define a
second axis
of rotation, the annular member being sized for accommodating a beverage
container.
[00012] The base may further comprise an adjustable member to which the
arcuate body is configured to be pivotably mounted, the adjustable member
being
configured to fasten the arcuate body to the first clamping member at an angle
about a
third axis of rotation.
[00013] The kit may further comprise a basket assembly configured to be
connected to the annular member. The basket assembly may comprise a base and
at
least one support rod configured to removably connect the base to the annular
member.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[00014] Embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
1000151 Figure 1 is a first front perspective, partially exploded view of
a
beverage container holder;
1000161 Figure 2 is a second front perspective, partially exploded view of
the
beverage container holder of Figure 1;
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[00017] Figure 3 is a first rear perspective, partially exploded view of
the
beverage container holder of Figure 1;
[00018] Figure 4 is a second rear perspective, partially exploded view of
the
beverage container holder of Figure 1;
[00019] Figure 5 is a first side elevational, partially exploded view of
the
beverage container holder of Figure 1;
[00020] Figure 6 is a second side elevational, partially exploded view of
the
beverage container holder of Figure 1;
[00021] Figure 7 is a front elevational, partially exploded view of the
beverage
container holder of Figure 1;
[00022] Figure 8 is a rear elevational, partially exploded view of the
beverage
container holder of Figure 1;
[00023] Figure 9 is a top plan view of the beverage container holder of
Figure
1;
[00024] Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the beverage container holder
of
Figure 1;
[00025] Figure 11 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a
beverage container holder;
[00026] Figure 12 is a rear perspective view of the beverage container
holder of
Figure 11;
[00027] Figure 13 is a first side elevational view of the beverage
container
holder of Figure 11;
[00028] Figure 14 is a second side elevational view of the beverage
container
holder of Figure 11;
[00029] Figure 15 is a front elevational view of the beverage container
holder
of Figure 11;
1000301 Figure 16 is a rear elevational view of the beverage container
holder of
Figure 11;
[00031] Figure 17 is a top plan view of the beverage container holder of
Figure
11;
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1000321 Figure 18 is a bottom plan view of the beverage container holder
of
Figure 11;
[00033] Figure 19 is a rear perspective view of the beverage container
holder of
Figure 11, oriented in a first position and accommodating a beverage
container; and
[00034] Figure 20 is a rear perspective view of the beverage container
holder of
Figure 11, oriented in a second position and accommodating a beverage
container.
Detailed Description of the Embodiments
[00035] Turning now to Figures 1 to 10, a beverage container holder is
shown
and is generally indicated by reference numeral 30. Holder 30 comprises an
arcuate
body 32 that is pivotably mounted to a base 34 so as to define a first axis of
rotation.
Holder 30 further comprises an annular member 36 that is pivotably mounted to
the
arcuate body 32 so as to define a second axis of rotation. The annular member
is
generally sized to accommodate a beverage container (not shown), such as for
example, a disposable cup, a soda can, a glass, and the like.
1000361 In this embodiment, the base 34 comprises a first clamping member
42
and a second clamping member 44 that are configured to be removably connected
to
each other by one or more fasteners. In the embodiment shown, the fasteners
are
screws 46, however it will be understood that other suitable fasteners may
alternatively be used. The members 42 and 44 are shaped such that they define
a
generally circular aperture when connected together by the fasteners. The
aperture is
sized so as to be generally commensurate with the diameter of a cylindrical
structure
of a vehicle, such as for example a handlebar of a motorcycle, a bicycle, a
watercraft,
a snowmobile, and the like, or a pole affixed to or forming part of a vehicle,
such as
for example a boat, or any other suitable cylindrical structure of any
vehicle.
1000371 In this embodiment, the holder 30 further comprises a basket
assembly
50 comprising a generally planar base 52. The base 52 comprises two (2)
apertures
56, with each aperture 56 being sized to receive a respective support rod 58.
Each
support rod 58 has a head 60 having a larger diameter than the aperture 56,
and a
threaded end 62 that is configured to matingly engage a threaded bore (not
shown) on
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an underside of the annular member 36. As will be understood, when the basket
assembly 50 is connected to the annular member 36, the base 52 of the basket
assembly 50 provides an additional support surface for the beverage container.
[00038] During use, the assembled holder 30 is clamped to a suitable
cylindrical structure (not shown) of a vehicle (not shown) by connecting the
members
42 and 44 together around the cylindrical structure. Once clamped to the
cylindrical
structure, the holder 30 is ready to receive and support a beverage container
(not
shown), such that the beverage container is supported by the annular member 36
and
by the base 52 of the basket assembly 50. As will be understood, during motion
of
the vehicle, the contents of the beverage container will generally tend not to
spill, due
to the ability of the arcuate body 32 and the annular member 36 to pivot
freely about
the first and second axes of rotation, respectively, so as to keep the
contents of the
beverage container generally level with respect to gravity.
1000391 Although in the embodiment described above, the holder comprises
the
basket assembly, in other embodiments, the holder may alternatively not
comprise a
basket assembly.
1000401 Figures 11 to 20 show another embodiment of a beverage container
holder, which is generally indicated by reference numeral 130. Holder 130
comprises
an arcuate body 132 that is pivotably mounted to a base 134 so as to define a
first axis
of rotation. Holder 130 further comprises an annular member 136 that is
pivotably
mounted to the arcuate body 132 so as to define a second axis of rotation. The
annular member is sized to accommodate a beverage container, such as for
example, a
disposable cup, a soda can, a glass, and the like.
1000411 In this embodiment, the base 134 comprises an adjustable member
138
to which the arcuate body 132 is mounted. The adjustable member 138 is in turn
pivotably mounted to a first clamping member 142 of the base 134, so as to
define a
third axis of rotation. The adjustable member 138 comprises a fastening screw
140,
which may be used to fasten the arcuate body 132 to the first clamping member
142 at
a desired angle. The base 134 further comprises a second clamping member 144,
which is configured to be removably connected to the first clamping member 142
by
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one or more fasteners. In this embodiment, the fasteners are screws 146,
however it
will be understood that other suitable fasteners may alternatively be used.
The
members 142 and 144 are shaped such that they define a generally circular
aperture
148 when connected together by the fasteners. The aperture 148 is sized so as
to be
generally commensurate with the diameter of a cylindrical structure of a
vehicle, such
as for example a handlebar of a motorcycle, a bicycle, a watercraft, a
snowmobile,
and the like, or a pole affixed to or forming part of a vehicle, such as for
example a
boat, or any other suitable cylindrical structure of any vehicle.
[00042] The holder 130 further comprises a plurality of bushings that are
positioned between the annular member 136, the arcuate body 132, the
adjustable
member 138 and the first clamping member 142. In particular, the holder 130
comprises two (2) bushings 162 positioned between the annular member 136 and
the
arcuate body 132, and a bushing 164 positioned between the arcuate body 132
and the
first clamping member 142. Each bushing is fabricated of a low-friction
material, and
has low-friction surfaces for allowing adjacent parts to pivot freely relative
to each
other. In this embodiment, each bushing 162 and 164 is fabricated of
polyoxymethylene (POM), sometimes referred to as DelrinTM, however it will be
understood that other suitable low-friction materials may alternatively be
used.
[00043] During use, the assembled holder 130 is clamped to a suitable
cylindrical structure (not shown) of a vehicle (not shown) by connecting the
members
142 and 144 together around the cylindrical structure. Once clamped to the
cylindrical structure, the orientation of the arcuate body 132 relative to the
first
clamping member 142 may be adjusted using the fastening screw 140 of the
adjustable member 138, so to bring the arcuate body 132 to a generally level
position
with respect to gravity, as necessary. The holder 130 is then ready to receive
and
support a beverage container C, such that the beverage container C is
supported by the
annular member 136. As will be understood, during motion of the vehicle, the
contents of the beverage container C will generally tend not to spill, due to
the ability
of the arcuate body 132 and the annular member 136 to pivot freely about the
first and
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second axes of rotation, respectively, so as to keep the contents of the
beverage
container generally level with respect to gravity.
[00044] As may be seen in Figure 18, the underside of the annular member
136
comprises a pair of threaded bores 172 for allowing a basket assembly (not
shown)
generally similar to basket assembly 50 described above and with reference to
Figures
1 to 10, to be connected to the annular member 136. As will be understood,
when
such a basket assembly is connected to the annular member 136, the base of the
basket assembly provides an additional support surface for the beverage
container
accommodated therein.
[00045] The present invention also contemplates a kit of parts which, when
assembled, form the holders described above.
[00046] Although embodiments have been described above with reference to
the accompanying drawings, those of skill in the art will appreciate that
variations and
modifications may be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined
by
the appended claims.
