Supports – Brackets – Article holding means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-16
2001-05-08
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Article holding means
C248S230500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227510
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a holder for a hand-sized container. More specifically, the present invention relates to a holder for hand-size containers for use in conjunction with a portable chair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many times when a person who is seated in a portable chair, such as a lawn or patio chair or a wheelchair, needs a place to set down a hand-size container the person is holding but no suitable place is within convenient reach. Such hand-held containers may hold a beverage, medicine, or some other liquid, food or small objects, for immediate use by the person. It is important that whatever the person places the container onto or into to free up the use of his hands keeps the container reasonably secure from spilling its contents. It is also important that the person's access to the container is not impaired and that he be able to set down and recover the container without difficulty. The problem of where to put such a container is exacerbated by the movable nature of a portable chair because circumstances may necessitate the relocation of the portable chair after the person has been seated. This problem is particularly acute when the portable chair is a wheelchair which may be moved from one place to another while the person remains seated.
Also, portable chairs may be used in congested areas where seating density or pedestrian traffic is high. Therefore, it is important that the size of whatever the container is placed onto or into be small so as to avoid interference with surrounding chairs or traffic. McMullen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,724 describes a holding device for use in conjunction with a portable chair that may be used to hold a hand-size container. However the holding device described in McMullen is unsuitably large, having as it does, in addition to means for holding a hand-size container, extra length to accommodate the attachment of other devices such as an ashtray or a fishing rod holder.
Furthermore, because of the low cost of many portable chairs, it is desirable that whatever is provided for the purpose of holding a hand-size container be inexpensive. Due to the portable nature of portable chairs and the fact that most portable chairs are also collapsible for transport and storage, it is desirable that whatever is provided for holding such a container also be light-weight and, if it is attachable to the chair, that it be easy to attach and detach. Additionally, any holder that is attachable to a portable chair should have sufficient strength to be resistant to sagging under the weight of a hand-sized container so as to avoid spilling the contents of the container, especially when the container is open-topped and full of a liquid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a holder that can securely hold a hand-size container within convenient reach of a person who is seated in a portable chair such as a lawn or garden chair or a wheelchair.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container holder that can be easily attached to and detached from a portable chair.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container holder that is no larger than is necessary for holding the hand-size container so that the portable chair may be used in congested areas where seating density or pedestrian traffic is high.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container holder that is inexpensive.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container holder that is light-weight.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container holder that is resistant to sagging under the weight of a hand-held container.
The present invention accomplishes all of these objects by providing a holder for a hand-size container for use in conjunction with a portable chair wherein the holder comprises an integral body portion and a clamping means for attaching the holder to a portable chair. The integral body portion consists of an annular band having an inside diameter sized to receive a hand-held container, first and second arcuate legs, and a horizontal double-beam-flange member having a top surface, a distal end, and a proximal end, the arcuate legs depending downwardly from the annular band to spatially separate the annular band from the horizontal flange member, the first arcuate leg intersecting the top surface of the horizontal flange member adjacent to the distal end of the horizontal double-beam-flange member and the second arcuate leg intersecting the top surface of the horizontal double-beam-flange member at a preselected distance from the proximal end of the horizontal flange member such that the annular band, the arcuate legs, and a portion of the top surface of the horizontal double-beam-flange member located between the arcuate legs cooperate to securely and removably hold and support a container placed within the annular band.
The clamping means is affixed to the proximal end of the horizontal double-beam-flange member so as to provide a means for removably attaching the integral body portion to a portable chair. In some embodiments of the present invention, the affixation of the clamping means to the integral body portion is by way of a part of the clamping means being integral to the integral body portion of the holder. In other embodiments, the clamping means is affixed to the proximal end of the horizontal double-beam-flange member by way of a mechanical fastener.
The present invention also includes embodiments in which the annular band is discontinuous wherein the discontinuity accommodates a protruding portion of a hand-sized container. For example, the discontinuity in the annular band may accommodate the passage of the handle of a coffee cup through the annular band to allow the holder to receive and securely hold the coffee cup.
These and other features and advantages inherent in the subject matter claimed and disclosed will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments thereof and to the appended drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 401121 (1998-11-01), Hartmann et al.
patent: 2936149 (1960-05-01), Reeg
patent: 4270724 (1981-06-01), McMullen
patent: 4513923 (1985-04-01), Ulics
patent: 4795211 (1989-01-01), Stern et al.
patent: 4826058 (1989-05-01), Nakayama
patent: 5813646 (1998-09-01), Bartholomae
patent: 5848722 (1998-12-01), Hanes
patent: 5853158 (1998-12-01), Riggle
patent: 5865412 (1999-02-01), Mason
patent: 5913452 (1999-06-01), Weigl
patent: 5984136 (1999-11-01), Mason
patent: 6059138 (2000-05-01), Labruyere
Sit 'n Fish device (packaging literature/illustration and photographs of the device).
Lizzi Thomas
Metz Schermer & Lewis, LLC
Ramirez Ramon O.
Szumny Jon
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