CUP HOLDERS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20140246431A1
• Filed: 03/04/2014
• Published: 09/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Erik Lipson
• Original Assignee: Erik Lipson
• Inventors: Lipson, Erik
• Application Number:
  US14/196,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20140246431A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/212
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2227 with means for amusing or giving information to the user A47G23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/182 with means for amusing or giving information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2231/022 for permitting the insertion of a tubular contents-removing device, e.g. a drinking straw
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/24 combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
• 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: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

Devices for removably supporting a cell phone above a disposable beverage cup while a user sips the beverage, include a looped straw and a phone supporting bracket formed on the top surface of a lid for the cup.

Claims

1. Apparatus for engaging and retaining a removable cell phone above a disposable cup for a beverage comprising:

a recess adapted to receive a cell phone at its lower edge, without obscuring the screen of the cell phone, and to allow removal of the cell phone, allowing support of the cell phone above a beverage container while the beverage in the container is consumed through a straw.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the straw is formed of transparent plastic with two parallel loops at spaced points along its length, with each of the loops having a configuration which allows it to surround a cross section of the cell phone, with one of the loops extending parallel to and below the top end of the phone and the other of the loops extending parallel to and above the lower end of the phone;

with the lower end terminating in a straw end which extends below the bottom of the phone, supports the phone, and terminates in a section substantially perpendicular to the face of the phone and the other end extends downwardly beneath the back of the phone and is adapted to be disposed within a beverage supported in a beverage container.

3. A straw for a user to sip beverage disposed in a beverage container while viewing a cell phone, comprising a pair of parallel loops spaced with respect to one another along the length of the straw, each loop enclosing an area comparable to a cross section between opposed sides of the phone, whereby a phone may be inserted into the loops, with one of the loops extending parallel to and below the top of the phone and the other loop extending parallel to and spaced from the bottom of the phone, and the phone may be selectably removed from said loops;

with one of the loops terminating in an end section of the straw which extends beneath and forward of the phone supported in the loops at a generally perpendicular attitude for sipping through the straw and the other of which terminates in a section which extends downwardly with respect to a phone supported in the loops for extending into a beverage supported in a container;

whereby a phone may be supported in the loops and the user may sip beverage supported in the container through the forward extending section.

4. A plastic, disposable cover for a beverage container having two brackets on its upper surface for engaging two opposed side corners of a cell phone to support the cell phone, in a removable manner, above the lid, and a straw integrated with the lid and having one end extending downwardly from the bottom of the lid for use in collecting a beverage and a second end extending above the lid and at an angle to the brackets, to allow the beverage to be sipped while observing the cell phone.

5. The lid of claim 4 wherein the brackets encompass a recess which extends downwardly from the top of the lid in the direction of the bottom of the lid.

6. The method of supporting a cell phone or the like on the upper surface of a plastic, disposable lid for a beverage container comprising placing a volume of a manually deformable plastic having pressure-sensitive adhesive outer surfaces onto the center of the top of the lid and pressing the bottom end of the cell phone into the volume of plastic so it adheres thereto and extends generally normally to the upper surface of the lid.