HANDS FREE BEVERAGE AND KEY RING HOLDER

Abstract

A container engagement retainment band for resiliently securing selectively about the surface of a container with a universal clip extending therefrom. The attachment clip provides dual selective access portions for band engagement by deformable adjacent ring portions allowing for clip placement and positioning about the band and selective attachment portion access via displacement of aligned portion thereon dependent on user's need or preference use accessibility.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to bottle and container attachment devices used to resiliently engage a container and provide additional utility for transport, storage and multiple unit groupings.

It will be seen that by having a resilient container retainment engagement band and an attachment clasp of the invention that a container of bottled water, soda or other beverage including, but not limited to canned drinks and even cups can be easily managed by hands free attachment to the user's person. This also would encourage persons to keep their drinks with them avoiding incidental non-user use, loss and misplacement and helping to maintain user's hygiene. The resilient container retainment band could be made of synthetic resin base materials as such including silicone or rubber materials having the needed elastomeric properties.

2. Description of Prior Art

Prior art devices of this type have provided a variety of different beverage container engagement and carrying devices, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,138,882, 6,073,796, U.S. Patent Publications 2002/005418 A1, 2003/0111496 A1, 2003/0127478, 2005/0274753, 2002/0005418 and 2009/0293328.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,882 a universal carrier for bottles, beverage containers and other packages is disclosed having a strap-like device defining an adjustable container engagement portion and an integrated attachment loop.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,796 an insulated bottle structure is disclosed having a strap and clip configuration for selectively attaching the bottle holder to a structure.

U.S. Patent Publication 2002/005418 A1 is directed to a bottle connector having an O-ring on which a bottle is received and an attachment strap extending therefrom.

Publication 2003/0111496 A1 claims a bottle carrying device which includes a bottle engaging member around the neck of a bottle with a hook detachably attaching to a support clip.

Patent Publication 2003/0127478 illustrates a bottle or utility holder having an O-ring secured on a bottle neck interconnected with a belt clip.

U.S. Patent Publication 2005/0274753 shows a bottle water carrying strap having a wrist engagement loop with a strap extending therefrom having a pair of circular flexible and resilient bottle neck engagement portions with a bottle receiving opening therewithin respectively.

Patent Publication 2002/0005418 discloses a bottle connector having a pair of O-rings divided into two adjustable circular segments that can engage the neck of a bottle.

Patent Publication 2009/0293328 illustrates an elastic band with indicia thereon that can be placed around a container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hands free beverage and key ring holder having a resilient container engagement band with a clip attachment ring and a clasp clip attached to the ring. The resilient band will snugly fit around different size container bodies affording the user the ability to then selectively secure the so engaged container to the user's person by the attached clasp clip. The resilient band can be marked with user identifiable indicia or color to identify the user's container from others. The resilient band is of a dimension that will allow the user to place it loosely around their wrist when not in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the container band and attachment clasp clip assembly.

FIG. 2 is a section on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the container band retainment clasp assembly engaged on a container ready for attachment.

FIG. 4 is a graphic illustration of the container band retainment clasp assembly positioned about a user's wrist when not in primary use.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of a first alternate integrated attachment clip assembly.

FIG. 6 is a graphic illustration of the first alternate container attachment band clasp assembly positioned on a user's wrist when not in primary use.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front elevational view of a second alternate form of the attachment clasp clip assembly.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the band clasp portion in deflected open position.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front elevational view of the first alternate attachment clip in band clasp open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a container retainment band clasp assembly 10 of the invention can be seen having a transversely flat resilient retainment annular band 11 capable of being stretched beyond its at rest cylindrical dimension and returning to shape repeatedly. The resilient retainment band 11 is preferably made of molded synthetic resin based compounds which are well known and understood by those skilled in the art.

A metal “split” type ring 12 of a contiguous respective loop is positioned on the band 11 to afford the selective attachment of ancillary items thereto. The split ring 12 is of an annular dimension allowing it to be freely movable on and about the band 11 to accommodate any required positional orientation needed. While a variety of items can be so attached to the split ring 12, the preferable use (as illustrated) is to engage an access clasp 13 as best seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Such access clasps are well known and are commercially available from a variety of supply sources and may be of different dimensional configurations. Primarily, such clasps are identified by a contoured loop with a pivoting or deflectable movable arm portion 14 that can be displaced from the continuous nature of the clasp body 15 to allow attachment by insertion therewithin and thereto such as a user's belt loop or purse (not shown).

This allows for the in use retainment of a container 16 as seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings to be resiliently engaged about its main cylindrical surface 16A with the split ring 12 positioning the attached clasp 13 for selective attachment, as required.

The resilient band 11 may have identifiable indicia 17 thereon shown positionally as a broken line indication on the exposed band surface 13A as will be evident to those skilled within the art. Additionally or alternately the band 11 may be color coded to indicate different user's attachment containers.

This indicia/color I.D. encoding may include personalized information, such as user's name, or telephone number, for example. It will thus be evident that such personalization will avoid drink user confusion and mistaken unauthorized divergent use by other parties. The indicia markings at 17 may be permanent or removable and reappliable dependent on user preference making the retainment band clasp assembly 10 reusable by others after initial use and personalization.

The synthetic material used for the band 11 may also be infused with photoluminescent retainment properties so as to glow in the dark when exposed to a strong light source for a preceding period of time.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the container retainment band clasp assembly 10 of the invention can be seen on a wrist W of a user's hand H when not in primary container engagement use keeping the device available for use, as required and could also be used as an ancillary item attachment vehicle using the clasp 13 as the item engagement element (not shown) and the resilient band 11 in reverse engagement orientation on the user as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing if so desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6, 8 and 9 of the drawings, a first alternate form of the invention 19 can be seen utilizing a transversely flat resilient retainment annular band 20 and an integrated user access clasp 21 as best seen in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The access clasp 21 has a selective access band engagement portion 22 and an integral selective access attachment portion 23. The band engagement portion 22 defines a band receiving ring 22A having oppositely disposed abutting shoulder portions 24A and 24B for forming a contoured passageway 25 therebetween upon translateral deformation deflection thereof through which the resilient band 20 can be inserted and retained as seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

The access clasp 21 selective attachment portion 23 has a loop formed by a pair of angularly disposed opposing elements 26A and 26B depending integrally from the respective shoulders 24A and 24B. The depending elements 26A and 26B are interconnected by a cross element 27 forming a retainment receiving portion. The depending element 26B has a pivoted movable longitudinally aligned portion 28 that can be displaced by applied force of the continuous nature of the clasp to allow attachment to the resilient band 20 by insertion therewithin and therethrough the connecting passageway 25 formed as noted by shoulder portions displacement retaining the resilient band 20 within the band engagement portion 22.

The access clasp 21 primarily allows for a variety of clasp attachment points by insertion therewithin and thereto such as a user's belt loop or other ancillary point of auxiliary attachments, so chosen.

It will be seen therefore that the first alternate form of the invention 19 allows for placement on the user's wrist W as seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings as a general multiple use holder configuration. Also, the alternate access clasp 21 can be used for a variety of alternate applications wherein a selective access clasp may be used functioning in the same aspect, as hereinbefore described.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, a second alternate form of the invention 29 can be seen wherein a modified integrated access clasp 30 is illustrated having a selective access band engagement portion 31 and an integrally selective attachment portion 32. In this form of the invention, the integrated selective attachment portion 32 has an aligned deformable element 33 as shown in broken lines which allows for the effective opening of the access clasp 30 by the utilization of an area of decreased transverse dimension at 33A of the element and the resiliency and inherent memory of the material so used which in this instance may be of synthetic resin material as is well known by those skilled in the art.

In this instance, placement can be achieved by pressure indicated by arrow P for access and translateral deflection of the shoulder portions SP for both the flat resilient retainment annular band 20 shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings as hereinbefore described and for auxiliary attachment, as noted.

Additionally, the integrated access band engagement portion 31 has a flattened band receiving area 34 which conforms to the transverse annular band 20 configuration to provide a more effective integration and comfort feature when the device is worn as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings on the first alternate form.

It will thus be seen that a new and useful and novel hands free beverage and key ring holder assembly 10, and access clasps 21 and 30 of the invention has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of item engagement orientation selection can be used and that it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore

Claims

1. A user access clasp having a selected band engagement portion and an integral selective access attachment portion, said band engagement portion having deformable oppositely disposed shoulder portions defining an insert passageway therebetween and in communication with said selective access attachment portion,said selective access attachment portion has a movable aligned access portion for attaching said clasp to said selected objects dependent of said band engagement portion.

2. The user access clasp set forth in claim 1 wherein said band engagement portion insert passageway is movable from a first parallel aligned abutting shoulder portions to a second offset spaced opposed shoulder portions defining said insert passageway therebetween.

3. The user access clasp integral selective access attachment portion set forth in claim 1 further comprises, a longitudinally aligned movable access portion from a first aligned closed position to a second non-aligned open position for attaching said access clasp to select objects independent of said band engagement portion.

4. The user access clasp set forth in claim 1 wherein said band engagement portion and said selective access attachment portion are of resilient non-ferrous metal.