Holder for Beverage Containers

Abstract

Holders for beverage containers are provided that can hold a beverage container in place and also seal or cover the beverage container, making it more difficult for foreign matter to enter the beverage container. The holder includes a base in which an actuator is mounted. Upper and lower rails are connected to and biased toward each other by the actuator. Upper and lower arms and upper and lower plates are, respectively, connected to the upper and lower rails. The upper and lower plates axially restrain the beverage container from above and below. A locking arm selectively engages at least one of the actuator and the upper and lower arms in a manner that supplements the biasing force provided by the actuator, clamping the upper and lower plates more tightly against the beverage container, and fixing the upper and lower plates in that condition, so that the beverage container is securely and tightly held between the upper and lower plates.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to beverage holders and, more specifically, to beverage holders that can be mounted to a variety of substrates, including substrates within vehicles such as boats, ATVs (all terrain vehicles), automobiles, and/or others.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Holders for holding beverages containers, in other words, drink holders, are known. Conventional drink holders are, for example, top-loading and side supporting or restraining during use. Such drink holders typically include a pocket or recess that accepts a beverage container, radially confining the beverage container with a ring or sidewall that concentrically surrounds the beverage container. In this configuration, tops of the beverage containers that are being held are purposefully left uncovered or exposed because users must be able to grab the container tops to remove the containers, upwardly, from the holders.

Various improvements have been made to such drink holders in an effort to make them more suitable for use in moving vehicles. One such improvement includes incorporating a gimbal joint as part of a mounting bracket system for the drink holder. Gimbal joint mounted drink holders also utilize a top-loading and side supporting pocket that can move with two degrees of freedom by, for example, pivoting about an X-axis and a Y-axis. Such gimbal joint mounted drink holders have become popular among boating enthusiasts because the two axis pivoting feature allows the pocket to stay relatively more level and plumb while the mounting bracket sways in unison with the boat.

Although such drink holders have proven sufficient for numerous applications, further technological development of drink holders might prove desirable.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides holders for beverage containers that can hold a beverage container in place and also seal or cover the beverage container. By sealing the beverage container while it is being held, it is more difficult for foreign matter to enter the beverage container and also more difficult for the beverages to spill out of the container. The holder can include a base in which an actuator is mounted. Upper and lower rails are connected to and biased toward each other by the actuator. Upper and lower arms and upper and lower plates are, respectively, connected to the upper and lower rails. The upper and lower plates axially restrain the beverage container from above and below. A locking arm selectively engages at least one of the actuator and the upper and lower arms in a manner that supplements the biasing force provided by the actuator, clamping the upper and lower plates more tightly against the beverage container, and fixing the upper and lower plates in that condition, so that the beverage container is securely and tightly held between the upper and lower plates. The locking arm can apply a clamping force in an axial direction through a beverage container being held between the upper and lower plates, or supplement the biasing force provided by the actuator by increasing axial force application, in addition to that generated by the actuator, so as to positively-lock a beverage container between the upper and lower plates.

According to some aspects of the invention, the holder allows a user to load and unload a beverage container into or out of the holder by using a true one-hand operation. A user can insert a beverage container into or remove the beverage container from the holder by using the same hand that is holding the beverage container during consumption of the beverage. Such true one-hand operation allows users to keep one hand on the steering wheel or controls of, for example, a boat or other vehicle, while being able to freely insert and/or remove the beverage container into and/or from the holder.

In one specific aspect of the invention, a holder for a beverage container is provided, the holder including a base that is mountable to a substrate that will support a beverage container and the holder itself. An actuator may be mounted to or within the base. An upper plate may be operably connected to the actuator, so that the actuator biases a bottom surface of the upper plate against a top wall of the beverage container. This provides an axially directed force against the beverage container, holding the beverage container in a vertical direction against an underlying support.

According to some aspects of the invention, the underlying support can be a lower plate that is operably connected to the actuator. The actuator may move the upper and lower plates simultaneously, but in opposing directions.

According to some aspects of the invention, the holder further includes a loading opening that accommodates side or lateral, that is, substantially horizontal loading of a beverage container into the holder, whereby the container is not lowered into the holder from above. The loading opening may extend between the upper and lower plates and define a loading direction that faces the base and extends transversely toward an axis defined between a pair of facing surfaces of the upper and lower plates. The loading opening may be a largely cylindrical void space, for example, defined by projecting perimeters of the upper and lower plates toward each other. In such embodiments, the holder is substantially devoid of obstructions, in other words, is continuously open, between the upper and lower plates, facilitating loading of a beverage container into the holder from all directions, with a possible exception being a direction that would require extending through the base of the holder.

According to yet other aspects, the holder can include upper and lower arms that extend from the upper and lower plates, respectively, extending toward the actuator. Upper and lower rails may extend between and connect the upper and lower arms to the actuator. The upper and lower rails may slidingly engage the base, for example, sliding into and out of a void defined therein. A hinge may be provided between at least one of (i) the upper rail and upper arm, and (ii) the lower rail and lower arm. A first hinge can connect the upper rail to the upper arm and a second hinge can connect the lower rail to the lower arm. This allows the upper and lower arms to fold inwardly against the base.

In some aspects of the invention, the upper and lower rails are movable between a retracted position in which a distance between the upper and lower rails defines a minimum height of the holder, and an extended position in which a distance between the upper and lower rails defines a maximum height of the holder. The actuator biases the upper and lower rails, and therefore also the upper and lower plates, toward the retracted position so as to clamp a beverage container therebetween, while allowing the holder to restrain and seal beverage containers of a variety of sizes, that is differing heights, differing diameters, differing shapes, and being made from different materials. Stated another way, the holder is configured to suitably hold, for example, coffee mugs or cups, thermoses, soft-drink or beer cans or bottles, water bottles, kitchen or wine glasses including stemware, plastic or paper-based disposable cups, and/or others.

According to yet other aspects of the invention, the actuator applies a biasing force that has a substantially constant magnitude to the upper and lower rails, through an entire range of travel defined between the retracted and extended positions.

According to some aspects of the invention, the actuator connects the upper and lower rails to each other such that movement of one of the upper and lower rails, in a first direction, is translated through the actuator into movement of the other one of the upper and lower rails in a second, opposite direction.

In some aspects of the invention, the actuator can be a spring assembly, for example, a constant force spring assembly. The constant force spring assembly may include first and second constant force springs which are rolled upon each other. Outwardly facing ends of the first and second constant force springs may face different directions. An outwardly facing end of the first constant force spring can be attached to the upper rail, while an outwardly facing end of the second constant force spring can be attached to the lower rail. The constant force springs can have spring rates that allow for suitably easy, or non-straining, one handed manipulation by a user, while transmitting sufficient tensile forces to pull the upper and lower plates toward each other, clamping them against the beverage container. Furthermore, parts of the first and second constant force springs can have sufficient columnar or longitudinal strength to push or assist in pushing the upper and lower plates away from each other, opening the holder and allowing withdrawal of the beverage container therefrom, for example, when the springs are being unwound by overcoming their spring forces in a manner that forces lengths of the springs to extend and push outwardly instead of their default function of winding up.

According to yet other aspects of the invention, at least one of the upper and lower plates includes a gasket, for example, a rubber mat or other resilient material. The gasket of the upper plate can engage a top surface of a beverage container, while the actuator is biasing the upper plate toward the beverage container or as locked-down by a locking arm, with sufficient force so that the gasket conforms to and seals against the top surface of the beverage container. Such sealing prevents substances from entering into or egressing from the container, whereby the beverage stays in the container and foreign objects stay out of the container when it is being held in the holder. The gasket may have an overall conical configuration, or a concave surface that interfaces the top surface or wall of the beverage container. The gasket can be made from any of a variety of suitably durable and/or resilient materials, have a relatively low durometer value and be FDA compliant, UV and ozone resistant, and dishwasher safe. The gasket and/or the top plate may include a drip edge or channel that extends across at least a portion of a perimeter thereof, and be configured to direct external water/liquid, such as rain, lake water spray, and/or others, away from the top of beverage container.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a beverage container holder in an extended position;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the beverage container holder of FIG. 1, in a retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the beverage container holder of FIG. 1, in a retracted position and folded-down or stored position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded pictorial view of the beverage container holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded pictorial view of a holder base of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded pictorial view of an actuator of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides beverage container holders such as holders 2 that are adapted to hold a beverage container 5 in place, while simultaneously sealing or covering the beverage container 5, for example, with its holding structure(s). Holder 2 includes a base 10, in which an actuator 20 is housed, and upper and lower clamp assemblies 30 and 40 that are movably attached to the base 10. Upper and lower clamp assemblies 30 and 40 define an opening 50 therebetween and each can slidingly advance and regress with respect to its position relative the base 10. Movements of the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 performed in synchrony with each other, while occurring in opposing directions, allowing manipulation of just one of the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 to effectuate movement of them both, facilitating movement of the holder 2 between a fully retracted, default position (FIG. 2), toward a fully extended or open position (FIG. 1). This may be achieved by operably connecting the actuator 20 to each of the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 such that they tend to close toward each other, allowing them to axially clamp the beverage container 5 therebetween, from both above and below, in a manner that is explained in greater detail elsewhere herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, base 10 is the component of holder 2 that is mounted to the mounting substrate and includes a housing back 12 and a housing front 14 that connect to each other. A back plate 15 is attached to the housing back 12 and is adapted for a particular type of mounting to a substrate, as desired. The illustrated back plate 15 includes a pair of rails that insert into corresponding channels of the base 10, allowing the holder 5 to be slidingly and removably engaged with the back plate 15. Back plate 15 further includes an opening that is provided between the rails and which removably accepts a locking post of the base 10 therein, such that the locking post and opening define a locking engagement between the base 10 and back plate 15, respectively, which allows the holder 5 to be quickly attached to and detached from the back plate 15 and its mounting substrate, in a manner that is described in greater detail elsewhere herein. Regardless of the particular mounting implementation of the holder 2, the housing back and front 12, 14 defines a void therebetween in which the actuator 20 is mounted.

Referring now to FIG. 5, actuator 20 is configured to bias the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 toward each other and also to translate movement of either one of the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 into movement of the other one of the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40, but in an opposite direction. The actuator 20 is nested between arcuate walls that extend from a forward facing surface of the housing back 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the actuator includes a spool 120, a pair of constant force springs 130, 135, a pivot gear 140, and a roller clutch 150 that cooperate with each other to force the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 to move at the same time in opposite directions, and also to facilitate locking down or selectively fixing the clamp assemblies 30, 40 with respect to each other. Spool 120 includes a columnar body with a flange that radiates outwardly at one end. A pair of grooves 122, 124 extends radially into the outer circumferential surface of the columnar body and flange, on opposing sides thereof and along the entire length of the spool 120.

Referring specifically now to FIG. 6, grooves 122, 124 accept and hold bent ends, such as tabs 131, 136, of springs that are, preferably, constant force springs 130, 135 that can be similar to those found in, for example, tape measure devices, and which extend radially inward therefrom. The engagement of tabs 131, 136 with grooves 122, 124 anchor the inside-most layers of the springs 130, 135 to the spool 120. This is done by coiling inserting the tabs 131, 136 into the grooves 122, 124, with the ribbon-like spring material of the springs 130, 135 extending in opposing directions and then coiling the springs 130, 135 concentrically about the spool 120, one-hundred and eighty degrees apart from each other. By doing this, end hoops 132, 137 extend in opposing directions from the spool 120. This allows the ribbon-like material of springs 130, 135 to unwind or pay out when the spool 120 is rotated in a first direction and rewind or coil back up when the spool 120 is rotated in the opposite direction. The unwinding and winding of springs 130, 135 can be smoothed or made less harsh, if desired, by providing a rotary damper 138 that has teeth which operably engage the teeth of the pivot gear 140. Preferably, rotary damper 138 only influences a closing stroke of the holder 5, without influencing an opening stroke thereof. This can be achieved by configuring the rotary damper 138 to (i) control flow of a damping fluid only when an input gear of the rotary damper 138 rotates in a closing direction which corresponds to the upper and lower plates 37, 47 moving toward each other, while (ii) freely permitting rotation of the rotary damper 138 input gear in the opposite or opening direction.

Still referring to FIG. 6, pivot gear 140 includes teeth gear 142 and a shaft 144 that extends axially from the pivot gear 140, through and into a throughbore of the spool 120. The shaft 144 of pivot gear 140 does not directly abut the spool but instead is connected thereto with an intervening one-way bearing or roller clutch 150 that has its outer race pressed into the throughbore of the spool 120. Namely, shaft 144 of pivot gear 140 inserts into a throughbore of the roller clutch 150 and the roller clutch 150, itself, is friction fit into the spool 120. In this configuration, rotation of the pivot gear 140 in a first direction can be transmitted through the roller clutch 150 to rotatably drive the spool. However, when rotating the pivot gear 140 in the opposite direction, the roller clutch 150 freewheels so that no torque is transmitted to the spool 120 for rotating it. This configuration also allows the spool 120 to overrun the pivot gear 140, so long as relative rotation of the spool 120 versus shaft 144 of the pivot gear 140 occurs in the direction in which the roller clutch 150 freewheels or does not engage.

Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, this unidirectional freewheeling relationship between the spool 120 and pivot gear 140 facilitates a mechanical positive locking feature that supplements, or optionally overrides, the default spring biasing of actuator 20 by manipulating a locking arm 160. For example, the unidirectional freewheeling relationship between the spool 120 and pivot gear 140 allows a locking arm 160 to rotate the spool 120, pulling in and tensioning the springs 130, 135, without forcing movement of the locking arm 160 when the spool 120 is being rotated in an opposite direction such as when a user is urging the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 away from each other, explained in greater detail elsewhere herein.

Locking arm 160 extends outwardly and angularly from the base 10. A pivot pin 162 extends perpendicularly from a lower end of the locking arm 160, to pivotally secure the lower end into molded bosses of the housing back and front 12, 14 of the base 10. A series of teeth 164 extends from a bottom end of the lower end of locking arm 160. The locking arm teeth 164 are aligned with and engage the teeth of pivot gear 140 such that pivoting the locking arm 160 down rotates the spool 120 in the opposite direction, thereby drawing or coiling the springs 130, 135 upon the spool 120 so as to tension them and pull the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 toward each other.

Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a knob 170 is attached to the end of the locking arm 160 that projects out of the base 10. Knob 170 includes teeth 172 that extend from its lower back side and which engage teeth 13 of the housing back 12 of base 10. A spring (not shown) biases the knob 170 toward the base 10. Furthermore, profiles of teeth 172 of the knob 170 and teeth 13 of housing back 12 correspond to each other so that when the locking arm 160 is pivoted down, the teeth 172 ramp over and slide across the teeth 13, which forces the knob 170 to overcome the biasing force of the internal knob spring, pushing the knob 170 out toward the end of locking arm 160 in a ratchet-like manner. An arm spring 174 biases the locking arm 160 in the upward-most position, to help ensure that the user input is required to pivot the locking arm 160 down for manually rotating the spool 120, tensioning the springs 130, 135, and clamping the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 upon a beverage container therebetween.

Referring specifically now to FIG. 4, once the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 are clamped down against a beverage container, to release such positively locking or clamping feature, a user pulls the knob 170 outward, toward the end of the locking arm 160 so as to separate and disengage the teeth 172 from teeth 13. Once the teeth are disengaged, then the locking arm 160 no longer locks-out or prevents movement of the upper and lower plates 37, 47 with respect to each other. Instead, with the locking arm 160 in its disengaged state, the upper and lower plates 37, 47 are again biased toward each other by the actuator 20 or moved away from each other by external forces that surpass such default biasing force, for example, a force applied by a user inserting a beverage into the holder 5.

In other words, when the locking arm 160 has been pivoted down, the arm 160 becomes temporarily fixed in position, which correspondingly temporarily fixes or prevents the spool 120 from moving, locking the upper and lower plates 37, 47 in position with respect to each other. Regardless of the particular configuration of locking arm 160 and the structure against which it locks, the locking arm 160 serves to bias or force the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 toward each other, tightening and locking the clamp assemblies 30, 40 against a beverage container 5, and then, when desired, to release the clamping assemblies 30, 40 from their clamping engagement with beverage container 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 move in a manner that corresponds to movement(s) of various ones of the actuator 20, locking arm 160, and release lever 180, because they cooperate with each other by way of, for example, actuator 20. Preferably, the end hoops 132, 137 of the springs 130, 135 are attached to posts on the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40 such that rotation of the spool 120 pushes or pulls the end hoops 132, 137 and correspondingly pushes or pulls the upper and lower clamp assemblies 30, 40.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, upper clamp assembly 30 includes an upper rail 32 that can include a front rail plate 33 and back rail plate 34 that are attached to each other, defining an open bottom that accepts the top of base 10 therein. In this configuration, the upper rail 32 slidingly envelopes the base 10 from above so that the upper rail 32 can move up or down along the height of base 10. The back rail plate 34 has a tab 35 that extends toward the front rail plate 33 and serves as the mounting structure against which the hoop 132 of spring 130 is attached. Upper rail 32 can be sized so that it easily glides over the surface of the base 10, such that to push the upper rail 32 upwardly, the spool 120 pays out a length of the spring 130 and that length, or payed-out portion, of spring 130 has sufficient columnar strength to push the upper rail 32 upwardly while the spring 130 unwinds and pushes against the interface defined between the tab 35 and hoop 132.

Still referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, generally, the opposite procedure occurs while pulling the upper rail 32 down and over the base 10. Namely, the spool 120 is rotated in the opposite direction which winds or coils up the payed-out portion of spring 130, onto the spool 120. This pulls the hoop 132 and upper rail 32 toward the spool 120, tensioning the spring 130 if a beverage container 5 (FIG. 1) is resisting downward movement of the upper rail 32.

Referring yet further to FIGS. 4 and 5, lower clamp assembly 40 includes a lower rail 42 that can include a pair of upwardly extending segments, one of which includes a gear rack 44 that is aligned with and engages the pivot gear 140 of actuator 20 such that rotation of the pivot gear forces linear movement of the gear rack 44. The corollary is also true, whereby linear movement of the gear rack 44 forces rotational movement of the pivot gear 140. In this configuration, the lower rail 42 slidingly inserts into an opening at the bottom of base 10, so that the lower rail 42 can move up or down inside of and along the height of base 10.

Still referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, like tab 35 of the back rail plate 34, lower rail 42 includes a tab (not illustrated), only the tab of the lower rail 42 extends toward a back wall of the base 10. The tab of the lower rail 42 serves as the mounting structure against which the hoop 137 of spring 135 is attached. It is noted that the hoop 137 of spring 135 is used primarily as a pulling structure for lifting the lower rail 42, since during typical use, a user will manually push the lower rail 42 downwardly away from the base 10 while pivoting a beverage container 5 into the holder 2 while horizontally loading the beverage container 5 through the opening 50.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, up and down movement of the upper and lower rails 32, 42 is translated into holding, clamping, and sealing of a beverage container 5 within the holder 2 by cooperating sets of (i) upper arm 36 and upper plate 37 toward the top of the holder 2, and (ii) lower arm 46 and lower plate 47 toward the bottom of holder 2. Upper arm 36 is connected to and extends in front of a top portion of the upper rail 32. A hinge can be provided along the length of the upper arm 36, between the upper rail 32 and plate 37, allowing the upper plate 37 to fold down compactly against the base 10 (FIG. 3).

Upper plate 37 has a generally circular perimeter shape, can include an annular lip that extends downwardly from its perimeter and a gasket 38 that is mounted to the bottom of the upper plate 37. The upper plate 37 can include a clip that selectively holds the upper plate 37 to arm 36, or selectively holds arm 36 to the upper rail 32, such that the upper plate 37 (alone or along with other components) can be quickly and easily removed from the rest of the assemblage. This allows multiple upper plates 37, having different configurations, to be implemented on a single holder 5, depending on the particular intended use of the holder 5 at a particular time. In other words, a first upper plate 37 can be attached to the holder when using the holder 5 for holding, for example, a ceramic coffee mug or some other beverage container. Then, the first upper plate 37 can be replaced with a second upper plate 37 having a different configuration when the holder 5 is being used to hold a non-beverage container item having non-analogous sizes, shapes, and configurations when compared to beverage containers, for example, when the holder is being used to hold a cell phone, remote control, infant care accessory, boating accessory, and/or other item that is to be held. The same is true for the lower plate 47 that is discussed elsewhere herein.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-3, attached to a lower surface of the upper plate 37 is a gasket 38 that preferably defines a generally conical configuration, with its concavity facing downwardly toward the beverage container. Gasket 38 is adapted to engage and seal against a top surface of a beverage container. Accordingly, gasket 38 is made from a material that is selected so that it can seal against a top wall of the beverage container 5 in a manner that prevents spilling therefrom or entrance of foreign matter into the beverage container 5 when it is mounted in the holder 2. Accordingly, gasket 38 can be made from any of a variety of suitable elastomeric and/or other resilient materials, for example, rubber-based or other materials that preferably have low durometer values, are FDA compliant, are UV resistant, ozone resistant, and are dishwasher safe.

Lower arm 46 is connected to and extends in front of a bottom portion of the lower rail 42. A hinge can be provided along the length of the lower arm 46, between the lower rail 42 and plate 47, allowing the lower plate 47 to fold up compactly against the base 10 (FIG. 3). Lower plate 47 includes a pair of shoulders that extends upwardly from its upper surface, adjacent a back edge of a generally circular perimeter shape. A mat 48 sits on top of the lower plate 47, the mat 48 being preferably made from the same material as gasket 38.

In light of the above, to use the holder 2, a user can use a single hand regardless of whether the user is utilizing (i) the holder's default automatic biasing (clamping or) holding and sealing feature provided by actuator 20, or (ii) the holder's positive mechanical clamping or holding and sealing feature provided by the locking arm 160. In using the default automatic biasing and sealing feature, the user can use the beverage container 5, itself, for operating the holder 2. A user horizontally aligns the beverage container 5 with opening 50 and may tilt the container slightly so that the bottom of the container touches at least part of the lower plate 47. The user pushes the beverage container 5 down against the lower plate 47, while sliding it across the plate 47, further into the opening 50. As the lower plate 47 is pushed down, the lower rail 42 pulls against hoop 137 which pulls or pays out a length of the spring 135 off from the spool 120. Doing so rotates the spool 120, which corresponding unwinds or pays out a length of spring 130 in the opposite direction from spool 120. The columnar strength of spring 130 is sufficiently strong to push the upper rail 32 upwardly, in preference to the spring collapsing or folding down into a spring channel extending through the base 10.

In this way, the upper rail 32 and thus also the upper arm and plate 36, 37 are moved in concert with the lower plate 47, only in the opposite direct. This allows the height of opening 50 to increase at twice the rate as compared to the rate at which the lower plate 47 is pushed down so as to quickly provide a large enough opening 50 to accept the beverage container 5, regardless of its own size and configuration. The user aligns the beverage container 5 within the opening 50, axially between the upper and lower plates 37, 47 and the user ceases pushing down against the lower plate 47. Upon so doing, the spring forces of springs 130, 135 rotate the spool 120 in the opposite direction which pulls in and recoils the payed-out lengths of the springs 130, 135 which pulls the upper and lower plates 37, 47 toward each other and tensions the springs 130, 135. Such tension biases the upper and lower plates 37, 47 toward each other which clamps and holds the beverage container 5 between the upper and lower plates 37, 47 and seals the gasket 38 against the top wall of the beverage container 5.

If the user wants to utilize the positive mechanical clamping or holding and sealing feature, this can be achieved by one-handed manipulation of the locking arm 160. It is contemplated that this feature may be utilized, for example, when the holder 2 is mounted on a boat and the boat experiences wavy conditions, when the holder 2 is mounted to an ATV and the ATV is being driven across rough, uneven terrain, when the holder 2 is being implanted in an aircraft and the aircraft is experiencing turbulence or is performing highly banked turning maneuvers, and/or otherwise.

Regardless, after positioning the beverage holder 5 in the opening 50, the user pushes down on the locking arm 160 which pivots the arm 160 about pivot pin 162 so as to pull the teeth 164 across the teeth 142 of pivot gear 140. This rotates the pivot gear 140 and its shaft 144 which engages the roller clutch 150 and correspondingly rotates the spool 120, from inside, in a direction that pulls in and recoils the payed-out lengths of the springs 130, 135. This pulls the upper and lower plates 37, 47, with even more force, toward each other, further tensioning the springs 130, 135. The locking arm 160 is held in place by the ratchet-like engagement of the knob 170 and the teeth 13 of base 10.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, base 10 can also house a release lever 180 that selectively engages the back plate 15, allowing the quick-release attachment of the holder 5 to the back plate 15 and therefore to the mounting substrate to which the back plate 15 is attached. Release lever 180 pivots about a pin 184 that extends through a bottom of housing back 12 of the base 10, and through a lower portion of the release lever 180. A release spring 182 biases a top portion of the release lever 180 away from the housing front 14 of the base 10. A locking post, that extend away from the spring 182, projects beyond the base 10 and engages with the opening of back plate 15, between the rails of the back plate 15, locking the holder 5 into the back plate 15. The locking post of release lever 180 preferably includes a ramped upper surface, whereby such ramped surface slides across the back plate 15 and correspondingly deflects the release lever 180 toward the housing front 14 during installation of the holder 5 upon the back plate 15. This allows a single holder 5 to be quickly interchanged between and mounted upon different mounting substrates by providing multiple back plates 15 upon such different mounting substrates and exchanging the holder 5 therebetween, as desired. For example, a user can mount back plates 15 onto a boat, an ATV, a car, and/or in other locations, allowing the user to carry a single holder 5 with them and install it upon whichever vehicle (or other location) the user is enjoying at the time.

Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.

Claims

1. A holder for a beverage container, comprising: a base being mountable to a substrate that will support a beverage container;an actuator mounted to the base; andan upper plate operably connected to the actuator such that the actuator biases a bottom surface of the upper plate against a top wall of the beverage container, providing an axially directed force against the beverage container that holds the beverage container in a vertical direction against an underlying support.

2. The holder for a beverage container of claim 1, the underlying support comprising a lower plate that is operably connected to the base, and the holder further comprising a loading opening extending between the upper and lower plates and defining a loading direction that faces the base and extends transversely toward an axis defined between a pair of facing surfaces of the upper and lower plates.

3. The holder for a beverage container of claim 2, wherein the actuator moves the upper and lower plates simultaneously and in opposing directions with respect to each other.

4. The holder for a beverage container of claim 3, further comprising (i) upper and lower arms extending from the upper and lower plates, and (ii) upper and lower rails that connect the upper and lower arms, respectively, to the actuator, the upper and lower rails slidingly engaging the base.

5. The holder for a beverage container of claim 3, further comprising a hinge between multiple ones of or along a length of at least one of (i) the upper rail, (ii) the upper arm, (iii) the lower rail, and (iv) the lower arm.

6. The holder for a beverage container of claim 3, wherein the upper and lower rails are movable between a retracted position in which a distance between the upper and lower rails defines a minimum height of the holder and an extended position in which a distance between the upper and lower rails defines a maximum height of the holder.

7. The holder for a beverage container of claim 6, wherein the actuator biases the upper and lower rails toward the retracted position.

8. The holder for a beverage container of claim 7, wherein the actuator applies a biasing force having a substantially constant magnitude to the upper and lower rails through an entire range of travel defined between the retracted and extended positions.

9. A holder for a beverage container, comprising: an actuator; andan upper rail connected to and extending above the actuator, the actuator biasing the upper rail downwardly toward the actuator;an upper plate connected to the upper rail and moving in unison therewith;a lower rail connected to and extending below the actuator, the actuator biasing the lower rail upwardly toward the actuator; anda lower plate connected to the lower rail and moving in unison therewith,wherein the actuator connects the upper and lower rails to each other such that movement of one of the upper and lower rails in a first direction is translated through the actuator into movement of the other one of the upper and lower rails in a second, opposite direction.

10. The holder for a beverage container of claim 9, the actuator comprising a constant force spring assembly.

11. The holder for a beverage container of claim 10, the constant force spring assembly comprising first and second constant force springs that are rolled upon each other, such that outwardly facing ends of the first and second constant force springs face different directions.

12. The holder for a beverage container of claim 11, wherein an outwardly facing end of the first constant force spring is attached to the upper rail and the outwardly facing end of the second constant force spring is attached to the lower rail.

13. The holder for a beverage container of claim 9, further comprising a base that houses the actuator and is attached to a mounting substrate.

14. The holder for a beverage container of claim 9, further comprising a locking arm that is movable to engage at least one of the upper rail, the lower rail, and the actuator, so as to prevent movement of the upper and lower rails so as to lock the holder.

15. The holder for a beverage container of claim 14, wherein the locking arm is movable in a first direction to lock the holder and in a second, opposite direction to release the holder such that the upper and lower rails are moveable while being biased toward each other by the actuator.

16. The holder for a beverage container of claim 15, the actuator comprising a constant force spring assembly including a first constant force spring having an end that extends in a first direction and is connected to the upper rail and a second constant force spring having an end that extends in a second, opposite direction and is connected to the lower rail.

17. The holder for a beverage container of claim 9, the upper plate comprising a gasket that engages a top surface of a beverage container that is being axially held between the upper and lower plates, the actuator biasing the upper and lower plates toward each other with sufficient force such that the gasket conforms to and seals against the top surface of the beverage container.

18. The holder for a beverage container of claim 17, the actuator comprising a spring having a spring rate of at least 2 pounds.

19. The holder for a beverage container of claim 14, wherein full movement of the locking arm applies a clamping force of at least 3 pounds in an axial direction through a beverage container being held between the upper and lower plates.