Floating beverage holder

• US 6,029,845 A
• Filed: 10/14/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Midemue Group Inc.
• Original Assignee: Midemue Group Inc.
• Inventors: Mueller, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOY, JOSEPH MAN
• Application Number:
  US09/172,320
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 220/560, 220/737
• US Class Current: 220/560
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/02 Glass or bottle holders serving trays with openings for carrying glasses or bottles A47G23/0641; bottle racks A47B73/00; for feeding-bottles A61J9/06; in vehicles B60N3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/565 Accessories, e.g. sticks for water walking

Abstract

A floating beverage holder for use in water sports. The beverage holder contains a plurality of cavities for holding cans or bottles, and has sufficient volume to provide the required buoyancy and which can support the beverage holder on water when the beverage holder contains combinations of cans and bottles. The design of the beverage holder makes the floating beverage holder virtually un-tipable. A housing is provided in the larger beverage holders for storage of food, ice, or bathing supplies.

Claims

1. A floating beverage holder for use in water recreation, said holder comprising a base section defining a plurality of cavities for holding cans or bottles, said beverage holder having sufficient buoyancy to support said holder on said water when said holder contains a full can or bottle of beverage in each cavity, and said base section characterized as having a ratio of downwardly facing surface area to height of between 23 to 33 inches.

2. The floating beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the material of said beverage holder is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, poly methyl chloride, styrene, cellulose, wood, and extruded polyethylene, wherein extruded Polyethylene is the preferred material.

3. The floating beverage holder of claim 1, whereby the body of the floating beverage holder is capable of providing an insulating means for keeping said beverage cool for a period of time.

4. The floating beverage holder of claim 1,further including a housing for storage of foodstuffs, ice, towels, or bathing supplies.

5. The floating beverage holder of claim 4 whereby said base and said housing are integrally molded as one unit.

6. The floating beverage holder of claim 4 whereby said base and said housing are manufactured separately and are bonded together by thermal means.

7. The floating beverage holder of claim 4, further including a closable cover adapted to be removably placed upon the housing.

8. The floating beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the base is extruded polyethylene having a density of 3 pounds per cubic foot.

9. The floating beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the base is extruded polyethylene having a density of 4 pounds per cubic foot.

10. The floating beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the base is circular in plan.

11. The floating beverage holder of claim 1, wherein the base is polygonal in plan.

12. The holder of claim 1, wherein the ratio of presented area to height is between 25 and 35.

13. The holder of claim 1, wherein the ratio of presented area to height is between 27 and 30.

14. The holder of claim 1, wherein the ratio of presented area to height is 28.25.

15. A floating beverage holder for use in water recreation, comprising a buoyant body member which defines a plurality of beverage container receptacles for placement of beverage containers therein, said body member defining a downwardly projecting surface area and a height, said body member being characterized as having a ratio of downwardly projecting surface area to height of between 18.25 and 38.25.

16. The holder of claim 16, wherein said ratio is between 23.25 and 33.25.

18. The holder of claim 16, wherein the body member consists of a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyprolene, polyethylene, poly methyl chloride, styrene, cellulose, wood and extruded polyethylene.

21. The holder of claim 16, wherein the downwardly projecting surface area is a polygon.

17. The holder of claim 17, wherein said ratio is 28.25.

19. The holder of claim 19, wherein the material is extruded polyethylene having a density of 3 pounds per cubic foot.

20. The holder of claim 19, wherein the material is extruded polyethylene having a density of 4 pounds per cubic foot.