Beverage heating assembly

• US 6,403,928 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tracy L. Ford
• Original Assignee: Tracy L. Ford
• Inventors: Ford, Tracy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pelham, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/860,326
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 219/432, 219/433, 219/429, 219/386
• US Class Current: 219/432
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2461 with electrical heating means

Abstract

A beverage heating assembly for warming and maintaining the temperature of a hot beverage. The beverage heating assembly includes an housing with a base portion designed for resting on a horizontal support surface such as a desk or a vehicle dash board, a heating element positioned substantially within the housing for converting electrical energy to thermal energy for heating a beverage in a cup, and an electrical power source operationally coupled to the heating element for providing electrical energy to the heating element.

Claims

1. A beverage heating assembly for use with conventional mugs and cups comprising:

an housing having a base portion adapted for resting on a horizontal support surface such as a desk or a vehicle dash board;

a heating element positioned substantially within said housing, said heating element being for converting electrical energy to thermal energy for heating a beverage in a cup;

an electrical power source operationally coupled to said heating element, said electrical power source providing electrical energy to said heating element;

said housing further comprises a perimeter wall extending upwardly from said base portion, said perimeter wall being adapted for substantially encompassing an exterior surface of a cup for preventing the cup from sliding off said housing; and

said perimeter wall further comprises a slot extending from said from said base portion upwardly through said perimeter wall, said slot being adapted for receiving a handle of a cup.

2. The beverage heating assembly of claim 1, wherein said perimeter wall has a first circumference adjacent to said base portion, said perimeter wall having a second circumference positioned distal from said base portion, said perimeter wall tapering inwardly as said perimeter wall extends upwardly from said base portion such that said first circumference is substantially larger than said second circumference.

3. A beverage heating assembly for use with conventional mugs and cups comprising:

an housing having a base portion adapted for resting on a horizontal support surface such as a desk or a vehicle dash board;

a heating element positioned substantially within said housing, said heating element being for converting electrical energy to thermal energy for heating a beverage in a cup;

an electrical power source operationally coupled to said heating element, said electrical power source providing electrical energy to said heating element;

said housing further comprises a perimeter wall extending upwardly from said base portion, said perimeter wall being adapted for substantially encompassing an exterior surface of a cup for preventing the cup from sliding off said housing;

said perimeter wall further comprises a slot extending from said from said base portion upwardly through said perimeter wall, said slot being adapted for receiving a handle of a cup;

said perimeter wall has a first circumference adjacent to said base portion, said perimeter wall having a second circumference positioned distal from said base portion, said perimeter wall tapering inwardly as said perimeter wall extends upwardly from said base portion such that said first circumference is substantially larger than said second circumference.

4. The beverage heating assembly of claim 3, wherein said electrical power source comprises at least one battery positioned within said housing.

5. The beverage heating assembly of claim 3, wherein said electrical power source comprises:

a power input jack positioned substantially within said housing;

an electrical cord adapted for connecting to a conventional power source, said electrical cord providing electrical current from said conventional power source to said power input jack.