Bottle holder with frangible joint

• US 5,603,479 A
• Filed: 07/25/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew W. Kristy
• Original Assignee: Andrew W. Kristy
• Inventors: Kristy, Andrew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TURGEON, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/506,854
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 248/102, 248/103, 248/104, 248/106, 248/548, 248/900, 403/2
• US Class Current: 248/548
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/0638 for supporting in a feeding position
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/0661 attachable to other devices or furniture, e.g. crib, commode or stroller
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/0692 comprising a flexible arm
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/63 Frangible connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/90 Movable or disengageable on impact or overload

Abstract

A bottle holder for an automobile. The bottle holder includes a cradle or similar structure for securing a bottle in a predetermined position, a clamp for securing the bottle holder inside the automobile, and a partially rigid neck connecting the clamp to the cradle. The neck includes a frangible joint which shears in the event of a collision. The cradle and bottle are thereby no longer bound near the feeding child. The frangible joint preferably comprises a prescored tube, which breaks along a predetermined circumferential inscribed line in a collision. The frangible joint is manually removable and installable to the neck, so that it can be renewed should it break. Optionally, a flaccid tether is provided to restrain the freed cradle and bottle from being thrown uncontrollably about the automobile cabin.

Claims

1. A bottle holder for maintaining a bottle in place proximate and accessible to a feeding child, said bottle holder comprising:

a cradle and means for engaging a bottle and securing the bottle within said cradle;

a clamp for releasably engaging an environmental surface; and

a partially rigid neck connecting said clamp to said cradle, said partially rigid neck including a frangible joint and a remaining length, said frangible joint being of predetermined strength of less magnitude of the strength of said remaining length of said partially rigid neck, whereby a shearing force applied to said partially rigid neck will cause said partially rigid neck to break at said frangible joint, said frangible joint comprising a tube having first threads and second threads, said partially rigid neck including third threads cooperating with said first threads of said frangible joint and fourth threads cooperating with said second threads of said frangible joint, whereby said frangible joint is disposed serially within said partially rigid neck and is connected to said partially rigid neck by mutual threading.

2. The bottle holder according to claim 1, said frangible joint having means for making manual connection to said partially rigid neck, whereby a broken frangible joint is renewed by manually removing the broken frangible joint and manually installing a new frangible joint.

3. The bottle holder according to claim 1, further comprising a flaccid tether disposed in parallel with said frangible joint, whereby said cradle is restrained from being thrown about an automobile in the event of breakage of said frangible joint.

4. The bottle holder according to claim 1, said frangible joint comprising a tube having an axis, an outer circumference, and a break line formed by scoring said tube about said outer circumference, said axis of said tube disposed serially with said partially rigid neck, whereby said frangible joint breaks into two pieces devoid of sharp projections.

5. A bottle holder for maintaining a bottle in place proximate and accessible to a feeding child, said bottle holder comprising:

a cradle and means for engaging a bottle and securing the bottle to said cradle;

a clamp for releasably engaging an environmental surface;

a partially rigid neck connecting said clamp to said cradle, said partially rigid neck including a tubular frangible joint and a remaining length, said tubular frangible joint being of predetermined strength of less magnitude of the strength of said remaining length of said partially rigid neck, whereby a shearing force applied to said partially rigid neck will cause said partially rigid neck to break at said tubular frangible joint, said frangible joint having means for making manual connection to said partially rigid neck, whereby a broken tubular frangible joint is renewed by manually removing the broken tubular frangible joint and manually installing a new tubular frangible joint; and

a flaccid tether disposed in parallel with and externally to said tubular frangible joint, whereby said cradle is restrained from being thrown about an automobile in the event of breakage of said tubular frangible joint.

6. The bottle holder according to claim 5, said frangible joint comprising a tube having an axis, an outer circumference, and a break line formed by scoring said tube about said outer circumference, said axis of said tube disposed serially with said partially rigid neck, whereby said frangible joint breaks into two pieces devoid of sharp projections.

7. A bottle holder for maintaining a bottle in place proximate and accessible to a feeding child, said bottle holder comprising:

a cradle and means for engaging a bottle and securing the bottle to said cradle;

a clamp for releasably engaging an environmental surface;

a partially rigid neck connecting said clamp to said cradle, said partially rigid neck including a frangible joint and a remaining length, said frangible joint comprising a tube having first threads and second threads, said partially rigid neck including third threads cooperating with said first threads of said frangible joint and fourth threads cooperating with said second threads of said frangible joint, whereby said frangible joint is disposed serially within said partially rigid neck and is connected to said partially rigid neck by mutual threading, said tube having means defining a circumferential incision and means defining a penetration through said frangible joint, whereby said frangible joint has a predetermined strength of less magnitude of the strength of said remaining length of said partially rigid neck, whereby a shearing force applied to said partially rigid neck will cause said partially rigid neck to break at said frangible joint; and

a flaccid tether disposed in parallel with and externally to said frangible joint, whereby said cradle is restrained from being thrown about an automobile in the event of breakage of said frangible joint.