Supports – Brackets – Article holding means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-11
2001-07-24
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Article holding means
C248S310000, C224S926000, C224S482000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264153
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to beverage holding devices and more specifically to beverage holding devices that can be temporarily attach to a bar like those found on a lawn mowers, bikes, baby strollers, wheelchairs, walkers and the like.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
A number of mobile cup and beverage container holders have been invented. Most have been designed for automobiles which have a relatively smooth ride compared with the jolting (violently vibrating) motions experienced on a bike or lawn mower. A number of patents have been issued that are designed for use with moving equipment, but very little has been done to address the wide degree of movement that the cup holder must dampen.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,306 to Adamson for a “Shopping Cart with Adjustable Holder for Cups”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,175 to Wagnon for an “Anti-Rattle Bicycle Beverage Container Holder”, U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,683 to Shinaver for a “Carrier Attachment for Open-Top Containers, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,633,278 to Muniz for a “Bottle Holder for Grocery Carts” all show mobile beverage container holders, but none of them show a means to provide spring-action or shock absorbing features. Further, none allow for the multiple angles of acceleration and pivoting of the cup holder while mobile. In reality these designs would have great difficulty keeping a liquid in an open container from spilling. The disclosed invention solves this problem by using a resilient member that dampens shock (dampness vibration from all directions and also allows pivoting of the cup holder along two axis to keep it relatively level with respect to the net acceleration experienced by the holder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,335 to Frankel for a “Handle Support Assembly” shows a cup holder for a mower, but his design is rigidly mounted to the mower with an attachment assembly to which a cup holder may be attached. The disclosed invention does not use a separate attachment assembly, thus allowing easy removal. Instead, it integrates this function into the holder itself. Frankel's design also lacks any means of spring-action for either vertical forces or side forces. In general, no open container could be put in such a holder without spilling. Also because of the two part construction it can never be molded as a single plastic part. And finally, Frankel's design does not show any resilient means for holding the canned and bottled beverage securely in place and does not show a means to allow multiple sized beverage containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,183 to McConnell for a “Stroller Accessory Bar and Drink Holder” shows a mobile drink container holder which attaches to side bars of a push bar with a rigidly mounted attachment bar. A cup holder is shown which has a single axis pin pivot which requires a clamping strap to hold the cup in place. The pivot has no spring-action or way to limit rotation, the drink is allowed to swing until the holder of drink hit the attachment assembly. It does not show any vertical spring-action nor restrained resilient two axis pivoting as the disclosed invention to reduce sloshing of liquids. Finally, McConnell's design is not possible to construct from a single injection molded piece of plastic, as is the disclosed invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,257 to Gradei for a “Beverage Container Holder”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,381 to Morris for a “Beverage Container Support”, and U.S. Design Patent No. D255,635 to Valmassei for a “Beverage Container Holder” all show container holder with a single pivot axis, but only Valmassei's describe an integrated pivot. None disclose a means for two axis pivoting, show a means for absorbing vertical shock, or show a resilient means for holding multiple sized drink containers securely in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,259 to Franks for a “Swinging cup holder”, and U.S. Design Patent No. D367,998 for a Self-Leveling Beverage holder” both show a two axis pivotal holder design, but show no integrated vertical restrained. Neither can be molded from a single piece of plastic and neither show an active means for secure a drink container in the holder. Further Franks' design has many parts and designed to mount to a solid wall not a bouncing piece of equipment.
The disclosed invention also allows for the integration of the beverage container with the beverage container holder. A number of patents show sealed beverage containers for moving equipment, but none where found that showed a pivotal mounting means nor any means for resilient vertical shock absorption.
OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of our invention are:
a) Holder attachment allows easy mounting and removal of beverage holder from lawn mowers and bikes.
b) Convenient placement of beverages while mowing and bike riding.
c) Design allows simple single-action injection molds.
d) Integral spring provides shock absorption for beverage holder (allowing the holding of canned and bottled beverages with minimal spilling).
e) Beverage holder will except a wide assortment of beverage bottles and cans.
f) Beverage holder attachment and integral spring formed from a single piece of plastic.
g) Integral spring allows limited two axis of rotation and limited three axis of linear motion.
h) A beverage holder with shock absorption sufficient to allow carbonated beverages to be carried on high-vibration mobile equipment without significant foaming.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 255635 (1980-07-01), Valmassei
patent: D. 325495 (1992-04-01), Rowles
patent: D. 367998 (1996-03-01), Graw et al.
patent: 2633278 (1953-03-01), Muniz
patent: 3269683 (1966-08-01), Shinaver
patent: 4071175 (1978-01-01), Wagnon
patent: 4131259 (1978-12-01), Frank
patent: 4324381 (1982-04-01), Morris
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patent: 4765581 (1988-08-01), Wallace et al.
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patent: 5361950 (1994-11-01), Signal et al.
patent: 5425484 (1995-06-01), Kawand et al.
patent: 5464183 (1995-11-01), McConnell et al.
patent: 5490622 (1996-02-01), Tardif
patent: 5494306 (1996-02-01), Adamson et al.
patent: 5511754 (1996-04-01), Johannsen
patent: 5573214 (1996-11-01), Jones et al.
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patent: 5720458 (1998-02-01), Carpenter
patent: 5833194 (1998-11-01), Jones et al.
Olian Bruce
Ragner Gary Dean
King Anita M.
Wood Kimberly
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