Reversible end beverage holder

Abstract

A thermally insulative holder for two single-serving beverage containers, the holder having two reversible ends with an open-ended receptacle at each end and a removable cover that is frictionally engageable with the holder to selectively cover either of the reversible ends.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to beverage holders and, more particularly, to a thermally insulative beverage holder that is useful for carrying two single-serving beverage containers, most preferably 12 oz. cans, prior to, during and after consumption of the contained beverage.

2. Description of Related Art

Polymeric beverage holders useful for carrying single cans or bottles are well known. Such holders, sometimes referred to as “coozies,” are typically made, at least in part, of a thermally insulative polymeric material. Ordinarily, such beverage holders are made with a sidewall that is substantially cylindrical and a bottom that is unitarily formed or separately made. If separately made, the bottom is typically attached to the lower end of the sidewall around the circumference of the holder using an adhesive, by sonic welding, or by other similarly effective means. Alternatively, the sidewalls of conventional beverage holders are sometimes made so that at least the outwardly facing surface is curvilinear in both the vertical and circumferential directions to provide an outside profile that is distinctive in appearance and is more easily gripped by a user. Processes such as dip molding and injection molding are often used to make the subject articles.

Materials known for use in making conventional beverage holders can include, for example and without limitation, foamed or unfoamed, moldable polymeric resins, elastomers or combinations thereof. Examples of such polymers include polyurethane, polyalkenes, neoprene, polyurea, polystyrene, polyamides and polyisocyanates. Outer layers or coatings of a dissimilar material, such as a synthetic fabric, are sometimes provided to facilitate the application of printing or other graphics to the outside surface, or to achieve other benefits or effects in appearance and/or function. In some cases, an aperture is provided in the side or bottom wall to facilitate the ingress or egress of air during removal or insertion, respectively, of a can or bottle from a snugly fitting inside wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,665 discloses a container insulation apparatus having a wider diameter base than sidewall created by wrapping unicellular foam around a round disk that serves at the bottom and applying a vinyl coating to the sidewall to taper the sidewall sleeve above the round bottom. A hole is cut through the sidewall sleeve near the base end to function as a vacuum breaker during removal of a beverage container from the sleeve.

Other beverage holders have previously been disclosed that employ magnets to impart a magnetic field to the contained beverage. Such fields are taught, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,319 and other references cited therein to promote preservation and purification of the contained liquids, or to provide other perceived therapeutic benefits. FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,319 discloses the use of an axial ring magnet in the sidewall of an insulating beverage overlayer made of blown polymeric foam for such purposes. The use of a flexible magnet having ferromagnetic particles embedded in an elastically deformable sheet, or a plurality of bar magnets disposed around the circumference of a foam cylinder to impart a magnetic field to the beverage, is also disclosed.

Other beverage holders have previously been disclosed that employ magnets to stabilize a beverage container on an underlying support surface. U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,459 discloses the use of permanent magnets to retain dishes on a tray when transporting the tray to a table. U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,350 discloses an insulated beverage container holder having a recess in its bottom surface to receive a disk-shaped magnet that is attachable to the bottom for the purpose of maintaining the beverage container on an underlying support surface. U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,632 discloses another container for beverages having a magnetic base that stabilizes the container when placed on underlying metallic surfaces. In that device, the magnet is preferably of the ceramic type or else made by pouring a ferrous-metal-impregnated plastic into the base of the outer wall section and allowed to solidify while exposed to a magnetic field. The resulting magnet rests on the outer floor portion and is integral with the container so that its weight serves as ballast while the magnetic field clamps the container to an underlying metallic surface.

Applicant has previously disclosed a beverage holder having a single, large-diameter, disk-shaped magnet disposed in the sidewall as being necessary for providing a flat surface of sufficient area and a holding force strong enough to support the subject beverage holder and an associated beverage container in a stationary position on a vertical, ferrous-metal-containing wall. However, such large magnets are comparatively expensive for the holding force achieved and contribute to an undesirably high cost of manufacture for the subject beverage holder.

Another difficulty that has been encountered with conventional beverage holders relates to the diameter of the beverage container with which the holder is used. Because some canned single-serving beverages that are now popular have diameters slightly smaller than the diameter of a conventional soft drink or beer can, a can supported in the beverage holder can slide downwardly out of the holder when the bottom of the holder is tipped upwardly during consumption of the beverage. This is particularly likely where the beverage holder comprises a liner having a relatively slick inside surface. To overcome these problems, Applicant has recently disclosed a beverage holder that can accommodate cans or bottles of different diameters and exert a frictional holding force against a smaller-diameter beverage container to prevent axial slippage between the container and the holder, thereby preventing accidental spillage or possible injury to the user.

Notwithstanding the improvements and benefits that have been achieved through use of the beverage holders previously disclosed, Applicant has observed that users of the subject devices at outdoor events frequently carry one opened beverage container in the holder and carry a second, unopened beverage container in either their hands or in a pocket. When the first beverage has been consumed, the empty container is typically removed from the beverage holder and discarded, and the second beverage container is inserted into the beverage holder and is subsequently opened for consumption. The beverage in the second, unopened container is awkward to handle in one hand together wither the beverage holder, and typically undergoes undesirable warming while it is being carried prior to insertion into the beverage holder. Applicant has also observed that the empty beverage container removed from the beverage holder is often discarded onto the ground or under a stadium unless a convenient trash or recycling bin is nearby.

A thermally insulative holder for canned or bottled beverages is therefore needed that will conveniently accommodate two single-serving beverage containers, whether full or empty, pending, during and after consumption of the beverages by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A reversible beverage holder is disclosed herein that can be conveniently carried and will hold two single-serving beverage containers, most preferably 12-ounce cans but optionally also bottles, especially compact bottles having dimensions similar to cans. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the subject beverage holder has thermally insulative sidewalls comprising a polymeric foam material, and opposed end openings that will each receive a beverage container. The beverage containers are most preferably positioned so that the bottom ends are in close proximity inside the holder and the two container closures each face outwardly in a direction opposite from the other to facilitate drinking from the containers. A removable cover is provided to cover one end opening of the beverage holder while drinking from the container at the other end. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, each end of the beverage holder comprises a slidably engaged, molded polymeric receptacle having at least one biasing member that helps provide frictional engagement between the receptacle and the beverage container disposed inside it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The apparatus of the invention is further described and explained in relation to the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the reversible end beverage holder as disclosed herein, with the removable cover attached to the bottom of the holder, covering the lower of two beverage container receptacles;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the beverage holder of FIG. 1, additionally depicting a simplified diagrammatic view of one method for forming the thermally insulative liner;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation view, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, but with the cover removed from the position as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the removable cover from FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the removable cover of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the removable cover of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the removable cover of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 in an enlarged detail sectional view of a sidewall section of the cover as taken from FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the beverage holder of FIG. 1 containing a beverage can in each of the two beverage container receptacles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, beverage holder 10 preferably comprises substantially cylindrical, thermally insulative sleeve 12 having two open ends, two receptacles 14, 16 slidably engaged in opposite open ends of sleeve 12, and a removable cover 18 that is selectively engageable with sleeve 12 near either end. Sleeve 12 preferably further comprises a polymeric outer layer 26 most preferably made of a vinyl resin such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and a foamed polymeric inner layer 28 most preferably made of closed-cell polyethylene or another similarly effective material. A plurality of dimples or recesses 20 are preferably provided in the outwardly facing surface of outer layer 26, which recesses are frictionally engageable with similarly shaped projections 22 that project radially inward from the inside surface of the annular skirt of cover 18, as is further discussed below in relation to FIGS. 4-5 and 8-9. Alternatively, other similarly effective, releasable fastening devices can be used for releasably connecting cover 18 to sleeve 12 if desired.

Receptacles 14, 16 are preferably injection molded from a durable polymeric resin such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and preferably further comprise generally cylindrical sidewalls 30, 32 having an open end with outwardly flared lips 34, 36; inwardly projecting longitudinal ribs 38, 40; at least one elongate, longitudinal slot 42, 44 in the sidewall, inwardly projecting biasing tabs 46, 48, and end walls 50, 52, respectively. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, receptacles 14, 16 comprise three elongate slots 42, 44, respectively, that are circumferentially spaced around the generally cylindrical sidewalls 30, 32. A biasing tab 46, 48, is preferably connected to sidewalls 30, 32 at the end of elongate slots 42, 44 that is nearest the lip 34, 36 of the receptacle. Biasing tabs 42, 44 desirably provide frictional engagement between receptacles 14, 16 and any beverage container inserted into beverage holder 10. The length and diameter of sidewalls 30, 32 are preferably such that a conventional 12-ounce canned beverage will slidably engage ribs 38, 40 when being inserted into or removed from beverage holder 10, and will fit snugly inside receptacles 14, 16 when biasing tabs 42, 44 exert pressure against the sides of the container. As is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slots in the sidewall of receptacles 14, 16 preferably extend through a portion of end walls 50, 52 to provide clearance for the molding tool in making biasing tabs 46, 48.

Referring to FIG. 3, it is seen that the underside of lips 34, 36 preferably abuts against the end of sleeve 12 when receptacles 14, 16 are fully engaged and seated inside sleeve 12. Lips 34, 36 preferably serve as guides for the bottom and sidewalls of any beverage container being inserted into the respective receptacle. It is also apparent from FIG. 3 that a portion of outside layer 26 of sleeve 12 preferably extends over each end of polymeric foam layer 28 and between foam layer 28 and the associated receptacle lip. Referring to FIG. 2, polymeric foam layer 28 can be made, if desired, by shaping a rectangular strip of polymeric foam into a cylinder and thereafter gluing or heat sealing the ends together to form inside layer 28. In some cases, it may be preferable to co extrude outside layer 26 and inside layer 28 of sleeve 12.

Removable cover 18 is further described and explained in relation to FIGS. 4-9. Cover 18 is preferably molded from PVC or another similarly effective polymeric material and desirably further comprises inside end wall 56 having a plurality of radially extending ribs 58 providing strength and some rigidity to cover 18. Annular skirt 24 is connected to end wall 56 at circumferentially extending boundary 54, and preferably comprises annular recess 60 providing reinforcement to the side wall and a place for the user to conveniently grip cover 18 during application to, or removal from, sleeve 12. Although skirt 24 is depicted as having a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced projections 22 having a size and configuration making them frictionally engageable with recesses 20 in sleeve 12 (FIG. 2), it will be appreciated that skirt 24 can likewise be provided with recesses and sleeve 12 with projections, or that other known removable closure systems can be substituted if desired. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, cover 18 preferably further comprises a centrally disposed, outwardly facing recess 66 in end wall 56.

FIG. 10 depicts beverage holder 10 in its use configuration, with oppositely disposed beverage containers 68, 70 inserted into and fully seated in receptacles 14, 16. Removable cover 18 is frictionally engaged with the bottom portion of sleeve 12 and covers the downwardly facing closure end of container 70. The ends of containers 68, 70 preferably extend slightly beyond the ends of sleeve 12 to facilitate drinking directly from the containers without having the lips or mouth of the user make contact with beverage holder 10. The user can conveniently carry both beverage containers 68, 70 in one hand in the position shown until all the beverage in container 68 has been consumed. Cover 18 can then be removed from the bottom end of sleeve 12 and reinstalled over the end containing container 68, at which time sleeve 12 is rotated 180 degrees, so that container 70 is facing upwardly and container 68 is facing downwardly and secured by cover 18.

Because several rows of cooperatively sized, spaced and aligned recesses and projections are provided on sleeve 12 and cover 18, respectively, it can be observed in FIG. 10 that sleeve 12 and receptacle 16 can accommodate a somewhat taller container 70 if desired, while still providing frictional engagement between sleeve 12 and cover 18. Thus, for example, screw-cap bottles, particularly the so-called “keg-type” compact bottles, can be conveniently used as the drink containers inside beverage holder 10 if desired. Similarly, some popular beverages are packaged in cans having a diameter less than that of conventional 12-oz. beverage cans. The biasing tabs previously described in relation to FIG. 3 will desirably exert a biasing force against the sides of such smaller-diameter beverage containers, thereby reducing the likelihood that they will unintentionally slide out of engagement with receptacles 14, 16 during use of beverage holder 10.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-10, beverage containers to be transported in beverage holder 10 are preferably chilled or pre-cooled prior to inserting them inside receptacles 14, 16. The thermally insulative sidewalls of sleeve 12 will significantly slow the rate at which the contained beverages warm to the ambient temperature, particularly the beverage stored in the end to which cover 18 is first applied. After the first beverage is consumed, the second beverage can remain covered until such time as the user desires to open it, at which time the cover can be removed and reapplied to the opposite end of sleeve 12. After both beverages have been consumed, the containers can be retained in beverage holder 10 until such time as they can be safely and conveniently discarded, and perhaps replaced with two new beverage containers if further consumption is contemplated.

If desired, drink holder 10 can be made with a single receptacle adapted to hold two oppositely disposed drink containers. In such case, it may not be practicable to have an outwardly flared lip around each open end of the receptacle. Other alterations and modifications of the invention will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this specification in view of the accompanying drawings, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventor is legally entitled.

Claims

1. A beverage holder comprising a substantially cylindrical, thermally insulative sleeve defining a generally cylindrical interior with first and second open ends; two oppositely disposed receptacles for single-serving beverage containers, each receptacle having a generally cylindrical sidewall, one end wall, and an open end opposite the end wall, the end wall and sidewall of each receptacle being insertable into one of said first and second open ends of the holder sleeve; and a removable cover that is selectively engageable with the holder sleeve to cover one of the first and second open ends.

2. The beverage holder of claim 1 wherein the thermally insulative holder sleeve comprises a polymeric foam layer.

3. The beverage holder of claim 2 wherein the polymeric foam layer is closed cell polyethylene.

4. The beverage holder of claim 2 wherein the thermally insulative holder sleeve comprises a layer of polyvinyl chloride.

5. The beverage holder of claim 1 wherein the removable cover is frictionally engageable with the holder sleeve at one or more points adjacent to each of the first and second open ends.

6. The beverage holder of claim 5 wherein the removable cover further comprises an end wall, an annular skirt, and a plurality of engagement members projecting inwardly from said annular skirt.

7. The beverage holder of claim 1 wherein the end wall of each receptacle comprises an aperture.

8. The beverage holder of claim 1 wherein the sidewall of each receptacle comprises at least one elongate slot.

9. The beverage holder of claim 8 wherein the sidewall of each receptacle comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending slots.

10. The beverage holder of claim 1 wherein each receptacle further comprises at least one inwardly directed biasing member.

11. The beverage holder of claim 1 wherein each receptacle further comprises an outwardly flared, annular lip disposed around the open end of the receptacle, the annular lip abutting against the open end of the holder sleeve when the receptacle is fully inserted into the sleeve.

12. The beverage holder of claim 1 wherein the receptacle end walls are adjacent when the receptacles are fully inserted into the open ends of the holder sleeve.

13. The beverage holder of claim 1 wherein the receptacles are insertable into sliding engagement with the interior of the holder sleeve.

14. The beverage holder of claim 1 wherein receptacles are injection molded from a durable polymeric material.

15. The beverage holder of claim 1 wherein the receptacles comprise acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

16. The beverage holder of claim 1 wherein each receptacle comprises at least one longitudinally extending rib projecting radially inward from the receptacle sidewall.

17. The beverage holder of claim 6 wherein the holder sleeve comprises a plurality of outwardly facing, circumferentially spaced recesses into which the engagement members are receivable to establish frictional engagement between the removable cover and the sleeve.

18. The beverage holder of claim 1 in combination with two single-serving beverage containers.

19. A beverage holder comprising a generally cylindrical, thermally insulative sleeve having two oppositely disposed end openings, each end opening configured to receive a separate beverage container, and a removable cover member selectively engageable with the sidewall at first and second positions to selectively cover a desired one of the two oppositely disposed end openings, the beverage holder and cover member being reversibly repositionable to facilitate sequential consumption of beverage from each end of the holder.

20. The beverage holder of claim 19 wherein the thermally insulative holder sleeve comprises a polymeric foam layer.

21. The beverage holder of claim 20 wherein the polymeric foam layer comprises closed cell polyethylene.

22. The beverage holder of claim 20 wherein the thermally insulative holder sleeve comprises a layer of polyvinyl chloride.

23. The beverage holder of claim 19 wherein the removable cover is frictionally engageable with the holder sidewall at one or more points adjacent to each of the two oppositely disposed end openings.

24. The beverage holder of claim 23 wherein the removable cover further comprises an end wall, an annular skirt, and a plurality of engagement members projecting inwardly from said annular skirt.

25. The beverage holder of claim 19, further comprising a receptacle disposed inside the sleeve and configured to receive a beverage container through one of the two oppositely dispose end openings.

26. The beverage holder of claim 19 comprising two oppositely disposed receptacles positioned inwardly of the sleeve.

27. The beverage holder of claim 26 wherein each receptacle comprises a sidewall having at least one elongate slot.

28. The beverage holder of claim 27 wherein the sidewall of each receptacle comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending slots.

29. The beverage holder of claim 26 wherein each receptacle further comprises at least one inwardly directed biasing member.

30. The beverage holder of claim 26 wherein each receptacle further comprises an outwardly flared, annular lip disposed around the open end of the receptacle, the annular lip abutting against the open end of the holder sleeve when the receptacle is received within the sleeve.

31. The beverage holder of claim 26 wherein the receptacles are insertable into sliding engagement with the interior of the holder sleeve.

32. The beverage holder of claim 31 wherein the receptacles have end walls that are adjacent when the receptacles are slidably engaged with the holder sleeve.

33. The beverage holder of claim 26 wherein receptacles are injection molded from a durable polymeric material.

34. The beverage holder of claim 26 wherein the receptacles comprise acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

35. The beverage holder of claim 26 wherein each receptacle comprises at least one longitudinally extending rib projecting radially inward from the receptacle sidewall.

36. The beverage holder of claim 24 wherein the holder sleeve comprises a plurality of outwardly facing, circumferentially spaced recesses into which the engagement members are receivable to establish frictional engagement between the removable cover and the sleeve.