Cup warmer

• US 8,274,016 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Montana
• Original Assignee: Mark Montana
• Inventors: Montana, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, David S
• Application Number:
  US12/576,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20100089901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 219/385, 219/518
• US Class Current: 219/385
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2466 with integral heating means

Abstract

A cup holder comprises a heating surface that is configured to receive a cardboard cup. The cup holder has an outside surface that is concentric with the heating surface. A heating element is disposed between the heating surface and the outside surface, and the heating element is configured to heat the heating surface. Insulation may be located between the heating surface and the outside surface, and the insulation may be configured to maintain the outside surface at an outside temperature lower than a heating temperature of the heating surface. The cup holder further comprises a pressure-sensitive switch located in a bottom portion of the heating surface. The pressure sensitive switch may allow a current to run through the heating element in response to the cardboard cup exerting pressure on the pressure-sensitive switch.

Claims

1. A cup holder for a cardboard cup, comprising:

a heating surface configured to receive the cardboard cup;

an outside surface concentric with the heating surface;

a heating element disposed between the heating surface and the outside surface, wherein the heating element is configured to heat the heating surface to a heating temperature; and

a pressure sensitive switch located in a bottom portion of the heating surface, wherein the pressure sensitive switch allows a current to run through the heating element in response to the cardboard cup exerting a toggle pressure on the pressure-sensitive switch.

2. The cup holder of claim 1, further comprising insulation disposed between the heating surface and the outside surface, wherein the insulation is configured to maintain the outside surface at an outside temperature lower than the heating temperature, and wherein the insulation is a foam insulation.

3. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the toggle pressure is a pressure generated by a weight of the cardboard cup.

4. The cup holder of claim 3, wherein the weight of the cardboard cup includes a liquid weight of an amount of liquid within the cardboard cup.

5. The cup holder of claim 4, wherein the pressure sensitive switch allows the current to run through the heating element in response to the amount of liquid being greater than about one percent to about ten percent of a total volume of the cardboard cup.

6. The cup holder of claim 4, wherein the toggle pressure is not sufficient to toggle the pressure-sensitive switch if the amount of the liquid in the cardboard cup is less than about one percent to about ten percent of a total volume of the cardboard cup.

7. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the outside surface comprises a grip material that includes at least one of a rubberized skin and a ribbed surface.

8. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the outside surface is at least one of stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic, and wherein the inside surface is at least one of aluminum and stainless steel.

9. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the heating element is wrapped around the heating surface, and wherein the heating element is disposed within a temperature resistant adhesive.

10. The cup holder of claim 1, further comprising an indicator configured to indicate that the current is running through the heating element, wherein the indicator includes at least one of a light and a buzzer.

11. A cup holder, comprising:

a cavity having a horizontal surface and a substantially vertical surface, wherein the cavity is configured to receive a cardboard cup;

an outside surface that is substantially concentric with the substantially vertical surface of the cavity;

a heating element disposed proximate to the substantially vertical surface and between the cavity and the outside surface, wherein the heating element is configured to heat the substantially vertical surface of the cavity; and

a pressure-sensitive switch disposed within the cavity, wherein the pressure-sensitive comprises a first position and a second position, wherein the cardboard cup depresses the pressure-sensitive switch, thereby toggling the pressure-sensitive switch from the first position to the second position, and wherein the pressure-sensitive switch in the second position allows a current to run through the heating element.

12. The cup holder of claim 11, wherein the pressure-sensitive is adjacent the horizontal surface of the cavity, and wherein the pressure-sensitive switch comprises a trigger that protrudes vertically through the horizontal surface.

13. The cup holder of claim 11, wherein the pressure-sensitive switch is disposed on the substantially vertical surface of the cavity.

14. A system, comprising:

a cardboard cup having a base and a wall, wherein the cardboard cup is configured to hold a beverage; and

a cup holder configured to hold the cardboard cup, wherein the cup holder comprises;

a pressure-sensitive switch oriented vertically within the cup holder, wherein the pressure-sensitive switch is configured to be toggled in response to the cardboard cup being placed within the cup holder; and

a heating element configured to heat the beverage through at least one of the base and the wall of the cardboard cup, in response to the cardboard cup toggling the pressure-sensitive switch.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the cup holder is integrated in a vehicle cup holder.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a power source that comprises at least one of a direct current power source, an alternating current power source, a battery, and a vehicle power source.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the heating element comprises a thermoelectric chip in electrical communication with the power source to regulate at least one of a temperature of the beverage, and a current running through the heating element.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a switch coupled to at least one of the power source and the heating element, wherein the switch in an on position allows a current to run through the heating element.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a vehicle receptacle comprising a slot, wherein the cup holder comprises a guiding key configured to guide the cup holder into the vehicle receptacle, and wherein the cup holder further comprises an o-ring to facilitate maintaining the cup holder in the vehicle receptacle.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the vehicle receptacle includes an electrical contact in electrical communication with a power source, and wherein the cup holder is configured to be twisted within the vehicle receptacle to facilitate providing power to the cup holder and to facilitate maintaining the cup holder within the vehicle receptacle.