Drinking container holder

• US 4,889,302 A
• Filed: 02/10/1989
• Issued: 12/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dalton R. Tucker
• Original Assignee: Dalton R. Tucker
• Inventors: Tucker, Dalton R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLSON, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/308,472
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 248/128, 248/146, 248/148, 248/149, 248/176, 248/309.1, 248/310, 248/311.2, 248/314, 248/DIG. 10, 248/1 R, 248/346, 248/364, 62/457.1, 62/457.3, 62/457.4, 62/457.7, 215/12.1, 215/12.2, 215/13.1, 220/85 H, 220/410, 220/411, 220/412
• US Class Current: 248/146
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0216 for one glass or cup
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2400/083 Bean bag
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/027 Cooking- or baking-vessels specially adapted for use in microwave ovens; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3886 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3895 provided with liquid material between double walls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0831 the liquid is disposed in the space between the walls of the container
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0841 external to the container for a beverage, e.g. a bottle, can, drinking glass or pitcher
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0843 on the side of the product
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0845 below the product
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/805 Cans
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/808 Glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/809 Holders
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/007 Bottles or cans
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/91 Weighted base

Abstract

A beverage container holder for supporting a drinking container on a wide variety of surfaces and for keeping the beverage hot or cold, as desired, comprising a container holder, a liquid-impervious bladder secured around and beneath it and containing a small amount of cellulose fibers and a bacteriostat that swell in the presence of water to fill the bladder and be amenable to heating in a microwave oven or freezing to adjust the temperature of the swollen material.

Claims

1. A shippable drinking container holder comprising:

(a) means for supporting a drinking container including a rigid, open-topped receptacle terminated by an upper rim and having an enclosed bottom wall;

(b) a liquid-impervious bladder secured about said receptacle and extending loosely therearound and beneath it to form a sealed chamber therebetween;

(c) a mixture comprising a small amount of a bacteriostat and a small quantity of fibrous material, of the type that will swell in the presence of liquid to form a thick, mushy substance, in said chamber; and

,

(d) means for adding liquid to said fibrous material to fill said chamber.

2. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 1 further including a flexible sack surrounding said bladder and secured to said receptacle.

3. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 1 further including a plastic ring lip for placement about and over said rim of said receptacle and including a plurality of inwardly directed pliable flaps for contacting the drinking container, placed in said receptacle, and retaining it therein.

4. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 1 further including a layer of insulation surrounding all but the bottom of said receptacle.

5. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 1 further including a narrow elastic band fixed about said bladder and over said receptacle below said rim.

6. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is cylindrical in shape.

7. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 1 wherein said fibrous material is comprised of cellulose fibers.

8. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 7 wherein said cellulose fibers are in the form of disintegrated paper.

9. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 2 wherein said flexible sack has a printable outer surface formed thereon.

10. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 1 wherein said means for adding liquid to said fibrous material to fill said chamber includes:

(a) a flattenable, flexible sleeve temporarily fixed between said receptacle and said bladder, having one end extending above said rim and another end extending into said chamber; and

,

(b) a liquid transfer means insertable through said sleeve for passing liquid through said sleeve into said chamber.

11. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 10 wherein said liquid transfer means includes a small diameter, hollow tube through which the liquid may be passed into said chamber.

12. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 11 further including a funnel attached to the exterior of said tube.

13. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 1 wherein said means for adding liquid to said fibrous material to fill said chamber includes:

(a) an aperture formed in said receptacle for access from inside said receptacle into said chamber;

(b) an elastic band stretched over said bladder and said aperture to bias said bladder thereagainst; and

,

(c) an instrument having a tip, of a cross-section smaller than said aperture, for inserting into said receptacle to push said bladder and band away from said aperture to permit liquid to be passed therethrough into said chamber.

14. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 1 wherein said means for adding liquid to said fibrous material to fill said chamber includes:

(a) an aperture formed in said receptacle for access from inside said receptacle into said chamber;

(b) a strip of liquid-impervious sheet material anchored to the lower outside of said receptacle and drawn tightly up the side of said receptacle and out through said rim except for a short outwardly folded segment adjacent said aperture; and

,

(c) a pair of elastic bands stretched over said bladder, one above and one below said aperture to hold said short outwardly-folded segment of material apart from said receptacle so that after said receptacle is filled with liquid and it passes into said chamber, said strip may be pulled upward to close off said aperture.

15. The shippable drinking container holder of claim 1 wherein said means for adding liquid to said fibrous material to fill said chamber includes a syringe containing an elongated hollow needle for insertion through said bladder into said chamber to pass liquid thereinto.

16. A drinking container holder comprising:

(a) means for supporting a drinking container including a rigid, open-topped receptacle terminated by an upper rim and having an enclosed bottom wall;

(b) a water-impervious bladder secured about said receptacle and extending loosely therearound and beneath it to form a liquid-sealed chamber therebetween; and

,

(c) an amount, sufficient to fill said chamber, of a mixture comprising;

(1) a small amount of a bacteriostat;

(2) a small quantity of fibrous material of the type that will swell in the presence of a liquid to form a thick, mushy substance; and

,

(3) sufficient liquid to form the thick, mushy substance.

17. The drinking container holder of claim 16 further including a flexible sack surrounding said bladder and secured to said receptacle.

18. A drinking container holder of claim 17 further including a plastic ring lip for placement about and over said rim of said receptacle and including a plurality of inwardly directed pliable flaps for contacting the drinking container, placed in said receptacle, and retaining it thereon.

19. The drinking container holder of claim 17 further including a layer of insulation surrounding all but the bottom of said receptacle.

20. The drinking container holder of claim 17 further including a narrow elastic band fixed about said bladder and over said receptacle below said rim.

21. The drinking container holder of claim 17 wherein said bladder is water-resistantly sealed to said receptacle except for the area wherein a sleeve passes therethrough.

22. The drinking container holder of claim 17 wherein said fibrous material is comprised of cellulose fibers.

23. The drinking container holder of claim 22 wherein said cellulose fibers are in the form f disintegrated paper.

24. The drinking container holder of claim 17 wherein said flexible sack has a printable outer surface thereon.

25. A process for manufacturing a shippable drinking container holder comprising:

(a) providing means for supporting a drinking container including a rigid, open-topped receptacle having an enclosed bottom wall and terminated by a rim;

(b) providing a water-impervious bladder and securing it about said receptacle such that it extends loosely therearound and beneath to form a chamber therebetween;

(c) placing in said chamber a mixture comprising a small amount of a bacteriostat and a small quantity of fibrous material of the type that will swell in the presence of a liquid to form a thick, mushy substance; and

,

(d) providing a means for accessing said chamber from outside said holder to add liquid to said chamber.

26. The process of claim 25 including the additional step of providing layer of insulation about all but the bottom of said receptacle.

27. The process of claim 25 including the further step of providing an elastic band around said bladder.

28. The process of claim 25 wherein said fibrous material is comprised of cellulose fibers.

29. The process of claim 28 wherein said cellulose fibers are in the form of disintegrated paper.

30. The process of claim 25 including the further step of providing a flexible sack over said bladder and attaching it to said receptacle.

31. The process of claim 25 wherein said means for transmitting liquid into said chamber comprises providing a flattenable, flexible sleeve and placing it between said bladder and said receptacle with one end in said chamber and the other end extending above said receptacle.

32. The process of claim 31 including the further steps o withdrawing said sleeve from between said receptacle and said bladder to hermetically seal said substance in said chamber.

33. The process of claim 31 wherein said means for conveying water into said chamber includes inserting a long, narrow diameter tube through said sleeve into said chamber.

34. The process of claim 33 wherein said tube contains a funnel at its end exterior the chamber for receipt of water therethrough.