Patent Application
20220204248
This invention relates to a flexible beverage holder that assists with insulating the contents within a can, cup or bottle.
Typically, insulated beverage holders provide a flexible material that the beverage is placed within that does not provide a handle. Alternatively, other insulated beverage holders provide a semi-rigid insulated material that the beverage is placed within. The semi-rigid beverage holder will in some instances provide a rigid handle that is integrated into the beverage holder.
The issue with the prior art is that the flexible beverage holder requires one hand to open the beverage holder so that the beverage can be inserted. While the alternative rigid insulated beverage holder does not require manual opening prior to inserting a beverage, the rigid holder is not collapsible for placement within a user's pocket. The device described and claimed herein allows for collapsing and easily allows for a user to place a beverage into the beverage holder without requiring the user to first open the beverage.
The present invention is a device which is comprised of a flexible insulation material that is attached to a plate with arcuate surface that provides an integrated handle. When the arcuate surface of the plate is attached to the insulated beverage holder, it causes the insulated beverage holder to open, thereby not requiring the user to hold the insulated beverage holder in an open or expanded position. Thus, a user can easily insert her or his desired beverage into the insulated beverage holder while merely holding the handle integrated into the plate.
Once the beverage is inserted the user may use the device to assist with drinking the beverage or may use the device to pour a beverage. For larger containers such as a two-liter bottle, this can be quite useful for safely pouring the contents of the bottle into a cup and insulating the contents of the bottle while it is sitting. For smaller beverages, this device is helpful with safely holding a beverage while drinking and quickly exchanging beverages because the plate causes the insulated beverage holder to maintain an opening at its top.
As an alternative embodiment, the arcuate plate with handle may slide into a track that is adhered to the flexible insulated beverage holder. In turn, the plate with handle may be removed from and attached to the insulated beverage holder as desired by the user.
This device is a flexible insulated beverage holder 10 that is attached to a rigid plate 15 and handle 20, which is described below in two separate embodiments: a first embodiment 5 and a second embodiment 50.
In this first embodiment 5 the device is comprised of a flexible insulated beverage holder 10, a rigid plate 15, and a handle 20. The rigid plate 15 provides two sides with each side having an arcuate surface. The arcuate surface of one side of the plate 15 is adhered to the insulated beverage holder 10, while the other side is integrated with the handle 20, which is shown in
The arcuate shape of the plate 15, as shown in
In addition to allowing a user to easily and quickly insert or remove a beverage from the insulated beverage holder 10, the handle increases a user's ability to maintain the drink, as well as allowing a user to use one finger around the handle 20 to carry a beverage within the device. Also, the rigid handle 20 and plate 15 assist with pouring a drink beverage when needed. For example, if the beverage container is a two-liter bottle. The rigid plate 15 assists with stabilizing the bottle within the insulated beverage holder 10 and the handle 20 assists the user with pouring.
Furthermore, this device provides significant portability because the insulated beverage holder 10 is flexible. Therefore, a user is capable of collapsing the insulated beverage holder 10 and placing it in a pocket or other small compartment.
This second embodiment 50 is comprised of an insulated beverage holder 10, a rigid arcuate plate 15, a handle 20, and a track 60. The track is further comprised of a first part 60a and a second part 60b. The first part 60a and second part 60b each provide a top, a bottom, a front side, a back side, a first side, and a second side. The tops and the first sides of the first part 60a and second part 60b are attached to the insulated beverage holder 10. The bottoms and second sides of the first part 60a and second part 60b lay over the insulated beverage holder 10 but are not attached to the insulated beverage holder 10. In turn, the track 60 allows the plate 15 to slide, or otherwise be placed, between the insulated beverage holder and the bottom side of the first part 60a and the bottom side of the second part 60b. The handle 20 is slid, or otherwise placed, between the second side of the first part 60a and the second side of the second part 60b.
The plate 15 with integrated handle 20 can therefore, be removed from the track 60 or inserted into the track 60 as the user desires. When the arcuate plate 15 and handle 20 are inserted into the track 60, the arcuate surface of the plate 15 forces the material of the insulated beverage container 10 to form into the arcuate surface of the plate 15. Therefore, the opening of the insulated beverage holder 10 will be forced into an open position while the plate 15 is placed within the track 60. It is anticipated that the handle 20 may incorporate an integrated bottle opener.
While the embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, certain modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to modify the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.
This application is a continuation of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 16/198,110, filed Nov. 21, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16198110 | Nov 2018 | US |
| Child | 17549748 | US |
