Cup holder for shopping carts that retracts into the basket of the shopping cart

• US 8,245,894 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alyson M. Buehler
• Original Assignee: Alyson M. Buehler
• Inventors: Buehler, Alyson M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, Justin
• Assistant Examiner(s): SKURDAL, COREY NELSON
• Application Number:
  US12/406,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20090236381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 224/411, 224/148.4, 224/148.7, 224/282, 224/926, 224/548, 224/553, 224/549, 224/555, 224/565, 280/47.34, 280/33.992, 248/311.2
• US Class Current: 224/411
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/023 Beverage holders, e.g. for a cup, tin or bottle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1472 Supports for specific articles B62B3/1468 takes precedence

Abstract

A collapsible cup holder is provided. The collapsible cup holder is adapted to be coupled to a shopping cart and is rotatable between a retracted and deployed configuration. The cup holder includes a back with a top portion and a bottom portion. A top ring is rotatably coupled to the top portion and a base is rotatably coupled to the bottom portion. A strut extends between the top ring and the base and is rotatably coupled to both such that rotation of either the top ring or the base causes corresponding rotation of the other.

Claims

1. A deployable and retractable cup holder that is adapted to be coupled to a shopping cart, the cup holder comprising:

a back having a top portion and a bottom portion;

at least one top axle coupled to the top portion by a hook and at least one bottom axle coupled to the bottom portion by at least one hook, each axle having opposite ends;

a top ring having at least two flanges attached to opposite terminal ends of the top ring, each flange rotatably coupled to the top axle such that the top ring can rotate with respect to the back from a deployed configuration to a retracted configuration;

a base, the base having a first end distal from the back and a second end proximate the back, the base including at least one plank coupled the second end and extending from the second end to rotatably couple to the bottom axle, such that the base can rotate with respect to the back from a deployed configuration to a retracted configuration; and

at least one strut, the at least one strut extending between the top ring and the base and being rotatably coupled to both the top ring and the base such that moving either of the top ring or the base between the deployed configuration and the retracted configuration causes the other to be rotated between the deployed configuration and the retracted configuration.

2. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the top ring comprises a wall having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface defining a holding recess adapted to hold a container.

3. The cup holder of claim 2, the back further comprises at least one clasp such that the cup holder is adapted to releasably couple to at least one wire of a shopping cart.

4. The cup holder of claim 2, wherein the base is selected from the group of bases consisting of a solid base or a wire frame base.

5. The cup holder of claim 1, further comprising a rotation inhibiter to inhibit the rotation of the top ring and the base.

6. The cup holder of claim 1, further comprising a brace to inhibit the rotation of the top ring and the base.

7. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the back is a frame.

8. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the at least one strut is rotatably coupled to the top ring by a fastener.

9. The cup holder of claim 8, wherein the fastener is selected from the group of fasteners consisting of:

an axle, a pin, a rivet, or a screw.

10. The cup holder of claim 8, wherein the at least one strut is rotatably coupled to the base by a fastener coupled to a tab.

11. The cup holder of claim 10, wherein rotation of the top ring and the base is inhibited by the friction between the strut and the fastener coupled to at least one of the top ring or the base.

12. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the at least one hook comprises pinched distal ends.

13. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the at least one hook comprises at least one protrusion.

14. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the each flange has a cavity, the top axle is rotatably coupled to the cavity of the flange.

15. The cup holder of claim 14, wherein rotation of the top ring is inhibited by the friction between the top axle and at least one of the cavity and the hook.

16. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the bottom axle has at least one slot, the at least one plank is rotatably coupled to the axle by the slot.

17. The cup holder of claim 16, wherein rotation of the base is inhibited by the friction between the bottom axle and the hook.

18. A shopping cart, comprising:

an upper basket, the basket being formed by a plurality of horizontal and vertical wires;

a retractable child seat, the retractable child seat being rotatably coupled to the upper basket and being formed by a plurality of horizontal and vertical wires; and

a deployable and retractable cup holder coupled to the shopping cart, the cup holder comprising;

a back having a top portion and a bottom portion, the back comprising a plurality of clasps that couple to a corresponding plurality of the horizontal and vertical wires;

at least one top axle coupled to the top portion by a hook and at least one bottom axle coupled to the bottom portion by at least one hook, each axle having opposite ends;

a top ring having at least two flanges attached to opposite terminal ends of the top ring, each flange rotatably coupled to the top axle such that the top ring can rotate with respect to the back from a deployed configuration to a retracted configuration;

a base, the base having a first end distal from the back and a second end proximate the back, the base including at least one plank coupled to the second end and extending from the second end to rotatably couple to the bottom axle, such that the base can rotate with respect to the back from a deployed configuration to a retracted configuration; and

at least one strut, the at least one strut extending between the top ring and the base and being rotatably coupled to both the top ring and the base such that moving either of the top ring or the base between the deployed configuration and the retracted configuration causes the other to be rotated between the deployed configuration and the retracted configuration.

19. The shopping cart of claim 18 wherein the cup holder is releasably coupled to the shopping cart.