Holder for a containerized beverage

• US 7,500,443 B1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Research & Design Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Donald Terry Allen
• Inventors: Allen, Donald Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotelo; Jesus D
• Application Number:
  US11/787,347
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 114/343
• US Class Current: 114/343
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/06 Fastening to floors
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 45/04 the devices being intended to indicate the vessel or parts thereof

Abstract

A lighted holder for holding a container having therein an individual serving of a liquid, such as a beverage. In one application, the cup holder is installed in a hull of a boat.

Claims

1. A cup holder comprising;

a base having an interior surface defining a base channel having an opening and having a bottom,

a rim attached to and extending outwardly from the base, the rim defining an enclosed rim channel and the rim having a perimeter, the perimeter having at least some portion that is translucent; and

a light source positioned in the enclosed rim channel,

whereby the light source illuminates the rim through the at least some portion that is translucent.

2. The cup holder of claim 1 wherein the perimeter has a bottom side that defines a groove.

3. The cup holder of claim 1 further including a keeper that interacts with the base to secure the cup holder in a body.

4. The cup holder of claim 3 wherein the keeper is of a non-blind style.

5. The cup holder of claim 3 wherein the keeper is of a blind style.

6. The cup holder of claim 1 further including a cap that is positioned on the rim.

7. The cup holder of claim 6 wherein the cap is non-transparent and the rim has a translucent top surface and the cap blocks light from exiting the top surface of the rim.

8. The cup holder of claim 1 further including a diffuser positioned in the enclosed rim channel.

9. The cup holder of claim 8 wherein the diffuser and rim define a light passage and the light source projects light into the light passage.

10. The cup holder of claim 9 wherein the light channel is generally continuous around the rim.

11. The cup holder of claim 1 further including ridges, the ridges being on an exterior surface of the base.

12. The cup holder of claim 1 further including a switch for controlling the light source.

13. The cup holder of claim 1 wherein the cup holder has a working depth for a standard 12-ounce can, the working depth being suitable for a boat installation.

14. The cup holder of claim 1 wherein the light source color is selected from a group consisting of red and green.

15. The cup holder of claim 1 further including a liner, the liner having a liner keeper that engages an indentation defined by the base.

16. The cup holder of claim 1 wherein the light source has a lighting pattern.

17. The cup holder of claim 1 wherein the enclosed rim channel extends radially outward from the base.

18. A boat comprising;

a hull; and

a cup holder mounted on the hull, the cup holder having

a base having an interior surface defining a base channel having an opening and having a bottom,

a rim attached to and extending radially outwardly from the base, the rim and base defining an enclosed rim channel and the rim having a perimeter, the perimeter having at least some portion that is translucent; and

a light source positioned in the enclosed rim channel,

whereby the light source illuminates the rim through the at least some portion that is translucent.

19. The boat of claim 18 further including an electrical system associated with the hull, the light source being integrated into the electrical system.

20. The boat of claim 18 having at least two cup holders, one cup holder having a red lighting source and another having a green lighting source.

21. The boat of claim 20 wherein the hull has a port and starboard side and the cup holder having the red lighting source is mounted on the port and the cup holder having the green lighting source is mounted on the starboard.