Cup holder

Details Cup holder Cup holder

2001-12-04

2002-12-17

Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)

Receptacles

Pole or rod supported container

C220S739000, C220S738000, C220S902000, C220SDIG002

Reexamination Certificate

active

06494339

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to receptacles and, more particularly, to container attachments or adjuncts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
After paddling for a long period of time, most canoeists enjoy a sip of water or other beverage to avoid dehydration. Unfortunately, most open-topped canoes lack cup holders that permit ready access to a drink. Balancing a cup on the narrow gunwale or thwart of a canoe is virtually impossible. Of course, resting a cup upon the bottom of a canoe subjects it to inadvertent kicks by canoeists as well as tips by an unexpected waves. A need, therefore, exists for a safe, handy, and inexpensive cup holder for use by canoeists and others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the problems associated with retaining a beverage containers upright in a canoe, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a device that will snugly, yet releasably, hold a cup or like container in an upright condition upon a canoe gunwale or other support. The preferred device is formed from a resilient foam material that serves as an insulator to keep the beverage within the cup or container at a desired temperature. When suitably positioned upon a canoe gunwale, the device can serve as a bumper or rest for the knees and thighs of a paddler. Since the resilient foam material is buoyant, the device cannot sink if it falls from a canoe into a body of water.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cup holder of the type described that can be set up and used with minimal instruction and without tools. The cup holder can accommodate supports and containers of various sizes.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a cup holder for the purposes described which is lightweight in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and dependable in use. It is foreseeable that the cup holder will be used away from canoes, perhaps, by way of example only, in securing beverage containers to the armrests and backs of sporting arena seats or in securing beverage containers to the tops of dugout fences in ballparks.
Briefly, the cup holder in accordance with this invention achieves the intended objects by featuring a tube formed of a resilient foam material. The tube has a central passageway extending between its opposed ends. A bottom passageway extends downwardly from the central passageway to the bottom of the tube. The bottom passageway and the central passageway, when taken together, define a keyhole slot open at its bottom that extends the length of tube for receiving a support. A cylindrical bore penetrates the top of the tube and the central passageway for receiving a cup or other form of container.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2963256 (1960-12-01), Borah
patent: 3061089 (1962-10-01), Higgins
patent: 4973018 (1990-11-01), Agor
patent: 5169315 (1992-12-01), Bull
patent: 5485931 (1996-01-01), Barr, Jr.
patent: 5732862 (1998-03-01), Bull
patent: 6029938 (2000-02-01), Fava
patent: D422182 (2000-04-01), Miljanich
patent: 6179166 (2001-01-01), Dallas, Jr.
patent: 6267461 (2001-07-01), Dunagan et al.
patent: 6338419 (2002-01-01), Penney

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