Patent Application
20080087786
Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated:
Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims.
The present invention is a bean bag holder for carrying a container which has a liquid retained inside of the container. The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a comfortable squeezable feel to the bean bag holder. In addition, others features of the present invention are to keep the beverage in the can hot or cold for a period of time. The lower bean bag surface also enables the holder to be securely placed on an uneven surface.
Referring to
A preferred embodiment of the present invention bean bag holder 100 as illustrated in the exploded view of
The container 20 is generally an open ended cylindrical structure, comprising a first smaller cylindrical section 22 and a second larger cylindrical section 24 of the container holder, wherein the first section 22 has a slightly larger diameter than the second section 24. The first cylindrical section 22 is a cylinder having a top round opening 21 which extends to intercept a transverse outer ring 26 having a respective first and second surface 27 and 29. The transverse outer ring 26 is connected to a top 23 of the second cylindrical section 24 which has a closed flat bottom 25. As illustrated, a short circular wall 28 is vertically affixed to the bottom 25 of the container holder 20.
The bottom planar ring attachment 40 is comprised of a planar ring 42 having first and second horizontal surfaces 41 and 43 which surround a central round opening 48, and first and second short height circular walls 44 and 46 which are vertically affixed onto the first horizontal surface 41 of the ring 42. The first and second short height walls 44 and 46 are further illustrated to be concentric and separated by a gap 47. It will be appreciated that the gap 47 matches a thickness of the circular wall 28 on the bottom 25 of the container holder 20.
The double layer bean bag 60 with a top opening 65 is comprised of a top hem 62 with stitches 61, an outer bag 64 with a bottom 63, and inner bag 66. The double layer bag 60 can also be considered to have an outer wall 64 and an inner wall 66. It will be appreciated that there is an elastic means 69 such as a rubber band or elastic band placed within the top hem 62 so that the double layer bean bag 60 can be securely affixed to the outer surface of the container holder 20, wherein the top hem 62 of the bag 60 is detachably attached onto the top of the outer transverse ring 26 of the container 20. The double layer bean bag is made of flexible materials. In a preferred embodiment it is made of natural or synthetic fabric.
The bean bag holder 100 is assembled in accordance with the illustration of the cross-sectional view of
The present invention can be embodied in various sizes, shapes, and dimensions. Therefore, it will be appreciated that a connection of the container to the bottom ring attachment for forming the air gap is not limited to the insertion among the short height circular walls. Alternatively, the connection can be applied in accordance with other mechanical structures of male and female inserts, wherein multiple male inserts are vertically located on the bottom ring attachment, and many female inserts having the same number as the male inserts are vertically affixed to the bottom of the container.
It will be appreciated that the bean bag holder 100 of the present invention has various useful functions in accordance with its unique structural features. Most importantly, the beans or particles or sand 67 between the walls 64 and 66 of the bean bag 60 can provide a squeezable feel to a user since the beans or granules 67 enable the surface to been soft and squishy.
In addition, the bean bag holder 100 can be used for keeping the contents inside of the container such as the beverage cold or hot for a period of time due if the filled particles 67, such as the beans, granules, and sands are made of material that can be heated or frozen reservoir. For this purpose, the bean bag holder 100 can be placed into a freezer to freeze the filled particles 67 inside of the double layer bean bag 60, and then to chill the contents of the container received therein. Alternatively, the bean bag holder can be placed in a microwave oven to heat the filled substance 67, thereafter to heat the contents of the container received therein. In addition, the air gap 45 on the bottom 25 of the container holder provides a good heat insulation to effectively block heat transfer between the bean bag holder 100 and the surface on which it is placed.
Since the walls 64 and 66 also extend to the bottom of the bean bag 60, the beans or granules 67 can also be located in the area of the bottom of the bean bag 60 so that its bottom surface 63 can be flexible and conform to any shape surface on which the bean bag holder 60 is placed.
In addition, the present invention bean bag 100 can be conveniently machine washed after it is disassembled into the separate parts shown in
Defined in detail, the present invention is a container holder comprising: (a) a top ring cover, a container, and a bottom ring attachment, the top ring cover having a top circumference with circular inner cylindrical wall extending to a bottom interior circumference and an outer curved declining outwardly extending wall extending from the top circumference to a bottom exterior circumference, the circular inner cylindrical wall and outer curved wall joined at a top circumference to form a round opening of the top ring cover; (b) the container is a generally a cylindrically shaped apparatus having a first cylindrical section and a second cylindrical section, the first cylindrical section having a top round opening extending to a transverse outer ring which connects to a top of the second cylindrical section which has a closed flat bottom, with a short height circular wall vertically affixed to an outer side of the bottom of the container; (c) the bottom planar ring attachment having a planar ring containing a central round opening, and a first and second short height circular wall which are vertically affixed onto the planar ring, the first and second short height wall are concentric and separated by a gap which matches a thickness of the circular wall on the bottom of the container; (d) the top ring cover covers the top round opening of the container, the bottom planar ring attachment is affixed to the bottom of the container by insertion of the short height circular wall of the container into the gap of the bottom planar ring attachment, which creates an air gap between the bottom of the container and a bottom surface of the bottom planar ring attachment; (e) a double layer bag with a top opening having a top hem containing an elastic means, an outer wall and an inner wall with a gap between the walls, the double layer bag securely affixed to an outer side of the container by having the top hem of the bag detachably attached onto the top of the outer transverse ring of the container and retained thereon by the elastic means, the outer curved wall of the top ring cover shielding the top hem at the location where the double layer bag is retained on the outer transverse ring; (f) the top ring cover press fit onto the container so that the circular inner cylindrical wall is press fit within the first cylindrical section of the container; (g) a multiplicity of granules retained within the gap between the outer and inner walls of the double layer bag to provide a squeezable feel to the double layer bag; and (h) the combination of the top ring cover and container being sized to retain a beverage container therein.
Defined more broadly, the present invention is a container holder comprising: (a) a top ring cover and a container, the top ring cover having a top circumference with circular inner cylindrical wall extending to a bottom interior circumference and an outer curved declining outwardly extending wall extending from the top circumference to a bottom exterior circumference, the circular inner cylindrical wall and outer curved wall joined at a top circumference to form a round opening of the top ring cover; (b) the container is a generally a cylindrically shaped apparatus having a first cylindrical section with a wall and a second cylindrical section with a wall and with a smaller diameter than the first cylindrical, the first cylindrical section having a top round opening extending to a transverse outer ring which connects to a top of the second cylindrical section which has a closed flat bottom; (c) the top ring cover covers the top round opening of the container by having the top ring cover press fit onto the container so that the circular inner cylindrical wall is press fit within the wall of first cylindrical section of the container and is aligned with the wall of the second cylindrical section; (d) a double layer bag with a top opening having a top hem containing an elastic means, an outer wall and an inner wall with a gap between the walls, the double layer bag securely affixed to an outer side of the container by having the top hem of the bag detachably attached onto the top of the outer transverse ring of the container and retained thereon by the elastic means, the outer curved wall of the top ring cover shielding the top hem at the location where the double layer bag is retained on the outer transverse ring; (e) a multiplicity of granules retained within the gap between the outer and inner walls of the double layer bag to provide a squeezable feel to the double layer bag; and (f) the combination of the top ring cover and container being sized to retain a beverage container therein.
Defined even more broadly, the present invention is a container holder comprising: (a) a top ring cover and a container, the top ring cover having an interior wall and an exterior wall both joined at a top circumference to form a round opening of the top ring cover; (b) the container is a generally cylindrically shaped apparatus having a first cylindrical section and a second cylindrical section, the first cylindrical section having a top round opening extending to a transverse outer ring which connects to a top of the second cylindrical section which has a closed flat bottom; (c) the top ring cover covers the top round opening of the container by having the top ring cover press fit onto the container so that the interior wall is press fit within the first cylindrical section of the container; (d) a double layer bag with a top opening having a top hem containing an elastic means, an outer wall and an inner wall with a gap between the walls, the double layer bag securely affixed to an outer side of the container by having the top hem of the bag detachably attached onto the top of the outer transverse ring of the container and retained thereon by the elastic means, the outer wall of the top ring cover shielding the top hem at the location where the double layer bag is retained on the outer transverse ring; (e) a multiplicity of granules retained within the gap between the outer and inner walls of the double layer bag to provide a squeezable feel to the double layer bag; and (f) the combination of the top ring cover and container being sized to retain a beverage container therein.
Defined most broadly, the present invention is a container holder comprising: (a) a top ring cover and a container, the top ring cover having an interior wall and an exterior wall both joined at a top circumference to form a round opening of the top ring cover; (b) the container having a first section and a second section with a retaining means located at the intersection of the two sections, the first section having a wall and the second section having a wall with a smaller diameter than the first section, the first and second sections forming an interior chamber with a bottom wall on the second section; (c) the top ring cover covers the interior chamber by having the top ring cover press fit onto the container so that the interior wall is press fit within the first cylindrical section of the container and is aligned with the wall of the second section; (d) a double layer bag with a top opening having a top hem containing an elastic means, an outer wall and an inner wall with a gap between the walls, the double layer bag securely affixed to an outer side of the container by having the top hem of the bag detachably attached onto the retaining means of the container and retained thereon by the elastic means, the outer wall of the top ring cover shielding the top hem at the location where the double layer bag is retained on the outer transverse ring; (e) a multiplicity of granules retained within the gap between the outer and inner walls of the double layer bag to provide a squeezable feel to the double layer bag; and (f) the combination of the top ring cover and container being sized to retain a beverage container therein.
Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.
