CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/938244 filed Feb. 11, 2014.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a beverage container grip and, more particularly, to a beverage container grip that may be used with beverage containers of different sizes and that may be attached to items of different sizes and shapes.

BACKGROUND

Beverage container grips are well-known. Many vehicles include a beverage container grip in an armrest or console. These grips are generally formed as deep sockets or receptacles of circular cross-section. These grips will accept beverage containers of different diameters but rely primarily on the beverage container bottom resting in contact with the bottom of the receptacle, i.e., the depth of the receptacle, to prevent the container from tipping over and spilling the contents.

In addition, beverage container grips of the type to be used in vehicles, for example, frequently include a clip or attachment mechanism so that the grip may be secured, such as by suction, to the vehicle window or hung from the vehicle door through the use of a projection extending between the vehicle window and interior of the door trim.

In the context of persons who are enjoying being out in the sun, such as by a swimming pool, or on a backyard patio, or at the beach, there are various types of chairs that include a socket or receptacle to receive a beverage container. The socket or receptacle for beach chairs and the like are typically located in the armrest and are totally inconvenient when the user is lying face down on the chair.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An improved beverage container grip and method of using a beverage container grip is described below and illustrated in the drawings. The beverage container grip automatically adjusts to the diameter of the beverage container, to secure the beverage container in place, and has the ability to be attached to various surfaces, thus overcoming the aforementioned limitations. The present beverage container grip and method comprise a means for attaching to a piece of furniture, a means for securing a beverage container, a platform connected to a support column, and a top. A beverage container grip may be attached to furniture having various sizes and shapes and materials when a consumer adjusts a knob through a threaded aperture and toward a top having a scored underside. Beverage containers may be secured by at least one pair of arcuate arms that may be connected at a pivot point and may be granted resistance via a spring housed in a support column at the pivot point. Arm resistance from spring compression may allow a consumer to secure a variety of beverage container sizes and shapes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary beverage container grip when viewed from the left side and above;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary beverage container grip when viewed from the left side and below;

FIG. 3 is a sectional illustration of an exemplary beverage container grip when viewed from the left side and above; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a portion of an exemplary beverage container grip enlarged to facilitate understanding of a spring or a biasing mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The beverage container grip described below and illustrated in the appended drawings has particular utility in conjunction with beach chairs, patio chairs and the like. In addition, the beverage container grip may be secured to the edge (overhang) of a countertop, on the edge of desk or table surfaces, etc. Thus, the explanation in the context of attachment to a chair should be considered a non-limiting explanation as to the potential use of the beverage container grip. The beverage container grip, therefore, will be explained in that context with the understanding that the following descriptions are non-limiting explanations and non-limiting contexts.

The following is a general description of the preferred embodiments for a beverage container grip and methods of use. References to directions (e.g., top, bottom, left, right) are for ease of understanding only; references to sizes, shapes and materials are also for ease of understanding only. Nothing should be construed as limiting.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary beverage container grip when viewed from the left side and above is illustrated. A beverage container grip may be composed of natural and/or synthetic materials. For example, a beverage container grip may be formed of plastic, such as polystyrene, except for a spring which preferably is formed of metal. In some embodiments, a beverage container grip may be made with light but strong materials such as carbon fiber.

A beverage container grip includes an elongated base 10 having a first end 12 with a generally flat platform or upper surface 14 and a second end 16 having a generally flat platform or upper surface 18 when viewed from the side. Each end 12 and 16 of the base 10 may be of a generally circular configuration when viewed from above.

The second end 16 of the beverage container grip base 10 includes a threaded aperture 20. A screw including a shaft 22 and having a knurled knob 24 at one end is threaded through the aperture 20 from below, i.e., with the knob 24 below the base 10. A top 26 of a screw may be scored, i.e. may have a series of grooves which need not be parallel and which need not be uniform in size, shape or thickness, to assist in securing the beverage container grip to furniture or the like as will be explained below.

Extending upwardly from the base 10, in a generally vertical direction, is a support column 28. One side of the support column 28 may be generally arcuate when viewed from above, and this arcuate portion may coincide with a portion of arcuate surface of the platform 14 also when viewed from above. A beverage container grip includes a top 34 extending generally over the platform 18, and parallel thereto.

Arms 38 and 40 are curved toward each other and biased toward each other by a spring 32 (depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4). In operation, arms 38 and 40 are manually opened against the influence of the spring 32 such that a beverage container may be placed on the platform 14. In some embodiments, arms 38 and 40 may be coated with a textured polymer such as a plastic, gel, or rubber that may frictionally increase the gripping function of arms 38 and 40 against a beverage container.

In some embodiments, when it is desired to secure the beverage container grip to a product such as a furniture (for example a poolside chair or the like,) it should be appreciated that the poolside chair typically includes a tubular frame. The frame may be of circular cross-section. For example, at the tubular pool chair frame may be placed between the platform 18 at the second end 16 of the beverage container grip and the top 34 of a beverage container grip, and the knurled knob 24 is turned or rotated to thus turn the screw shaft 22 until the chair frame is rigidly held between the scored portion 26 of a screw and the scored portion of an underside 36 of the beverage container top 34 (depicted in FIG. 2).

Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary beverage container grip when viewed from the left side and below is illustrated. The underside 36 may be attached to or may stem from the support column 28. Arms 38 and 40 may also be connected to the support column 28 and face the opposite direction of underside 36 of the top 34. The underside 36 of the top is preferably scored, i.e. may have a series of grooves which need not be parallel and which need not be uniform in size, shape or thickness. In some embodiments, the underside 36 may be scored in alternating or zig-zag lines, parallel lines, perpendicular lines, or may be scored with polygon or circular outlines in order to increase friction and grip to a piece of furniture.

In some embodiments, the underside 36 may have a scoring pad that may be fixedly or removably attached and may vary in thickness and may vary in material composition. For example, an underside 36 may have a thickness of 1 mm and may be composed of a cork material. Other materials for the underside 36 may be a gel, a wood, a metal, foam, or a plastic. Various materials for the underside 36 may correspond to the type of chair or table ledge to which a consumer may attach a beverage container grip. For example, a metal underside 36 may increase a firm grip on a metal chair arm or a metal table ledge, especially when the metal underside 36 may contain magnetic properties. Accordingly, a tubular metal chair arm also possessing magnetic properties may adhere or bind more readily with the underside 36.

In some embodiments, a consumer may turn or rotate knurled knob 24 in a clockwise direction so that the screw including a shaft 22 may pass through the threaded aperture 20. As a consumer turns the knurled knob 24, the screw including a shaft 22 will rise closer to the surface of the underside 36. A consumer may turn the knurled knob 24 clockwise to increase the grip of the beverage container to a piece of furniture, and a consumer may turn the knurled knob 24 counter clockwise to release the grip on the piece of furniture. Once a consumer has achieved a desired grip of a beverage container grip, then a consumer may manually force arms 38 and 40 apart in order to insert a beverage container.

Alternatively, and especially if the beverage container is of a tapered configuration with a smaller base and a larger top, such as, for example but not limited to a plastic container, the beverage container may be moved downwardly through the opening between the arcuate arms to spread or force the arms outwardly and apart until the bottom of the container rests on the base 14. At that time, the container rests securely on the base and the arcuate arms are biased into contact with the sides of the beverage container.

Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary beverage container grip when viewed from the left side and above is presented in a sectional illustration. A vertical support column 28 may be hollow and may include a transverse slot or recess 30 to receive a spring 32. Arms 38 and 40, when forced or rotated apart, may facilitate the compression of the spring 32. For example, the placement of a beverage container on the platform 14 may facilitate the outward opening of arms 38 and 40 away from each other and may cause a spring 32 to compress. Once the force of placing a beverage container on platform 14 is lessened and a beverage container bottom is touching the platform 14, the spring 32 may decompress slightly such that arms 38 and 40 are rigidly holding a beverage container in place. Accordingly, once a beverage container is fully placed against the platform 14 and the support column 28, the arms 38 and 40 could then be released to engage the sides of the beverage container under the influence of the spring 32.

A screw including a shaft 22 may be hollow or solid and may have a smaller diameter than the diameter of a threaded aperture 20 to allow for rigid passing of the screw shaft 22 through the threaded aperture 20. However, in some embodiments, a knurled knob 24 and a top 26 of the screw may have a greater diameter than the diameter of a threaded aperture 20 so that the screw shaft 22 may not fall off from a beverage container grip when not in use.

Referring to FIG. 4, a portion of an exemplary beverage container grip enlarged to facilitate understanding of a spring or a biasing mechanism is illustrated. A transverse slot 30 may house the spring 32. The use of spring biased arms allows for securing beverage containers of different diameters. In some embodiments, the spring 32 may be made of a flexible or malleable metal. A transverse slot 30 may have a recess of various lengths and widths to accommodate a variety of springs 32. A thicker spring 32, for example, may provide greater resistance to forcing arms 38 and 40 apart and may provide a more rigid grip onto beverage containers with smaller diameters. A longer spring 32, for example, may allow a consumer to more easily and widely force apart arms 38 and 40 and may accommodate larger beverage containers.

Thus the beverage container grip includes the lower platform and the top platform, at least one screw for securing the furniture to the grip, and at least two arms rotationally or pivotally mounted to receive the beverage container there between. The arms are biased toward each other, by a spring, and a support column interconnects the top and the platform or base. In one embodiment the gripping arms and the furniture gripping mechanism are at opposite lateral sides of the support column, i.e., they extend in opposite directions from the support column.

The gripping arms are biased toward each other and thus rotate about a first axis, or pivot point and the threaded screw when rotated moves in a longitudinal direction along a second axis, the two axes being perpendicular to each other.

The beverage container may be inserted between the two arms by manually spreading the arms apart to overcome the bias, placing the container between the open or spread-apart arms, and then releasing the arms so that the spring bias causes the arms to rotate into engagement with the container. Alternatively, the beverage container, typically of tapered configuration, such as a plastic â€œdrinking cupâ€ may be moved downwardly to force the arms apart, overcoming the spring bias sufficiently so that the container may be moved into contact with the platform.

The foregoing is a complete description of the beverage container grip and method of use, however, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular descriptions disclosed and shown in the drawings. The present invention also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the claims.