Beverage container support apparatus

[0002] The present invention relates to a beverage container support apparatus and, more particularly, a beverage container support apparatus for supporting cylindrical or substantially cylindrical beverage containers as well as non-cylindrical multi-sided beverage containers.

[0003] Motor vehicles are typically designed with beverage container holders, configured to support beverage containers, and thereby facilitate consumption of beverages by passengers. Unfortunately, typical beverage container holders of the prior art are designed to support cylindrical beverage containers, and are not particularly suitable for multi-sided beverage containers having corners, such as a milk carton.

[0004] The present invention provides an adaptor configured to be received within a beverage container receptacle comprising a first section including a base, the base including a planar support surface, and at least one sidewall extending from the support surface, wherein the sidewall is configured to provide lateral support to a beverage container and a second section jointed to and depending from the upper section including a pedestal.

[0005] The present invention also provides a beverage container support apparatus comprising a first section including a planar support surface, the planar support surface including a throughbore disposed therein, and a plurality of sidewall sections extending from the planar support surface and configured to provide lateral support to a multi-sided beverage container, and a second section, depending from the first section, and including a receptacle communicating with the throughbore.

[0006] The present invention further provides an adaptor for receiving and supporting a rectangular beverage container over a cylindrical cavity comprising a frusto-conical base, configured to be seated in the cylindrical cavity, and a rectangular support formed integral with the base and extending upwardly from the base and co-extensive therewith and defining a cavity for receiving the rectangular container therein, said rectangular support including two pairs of opposed sidewalls perpendicular with each other.

[0007] The embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a beverage container support apparatus of the present invention, suspended above a typical vehicular beverage container holder;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a beverage container holder apparatus of the present invention disposed within a typical vehicular beverage container holder;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a beverage container support apparatus of the present invention, disposed within a typical vehicular beverage container holder, and supporting a milk carton;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a beverage container support apparatus of the present invention, disposed within a typical vehicular beverage container holder of the prior art;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a front sectional elevation view of an embodiment of a beverage container holder apparatus of the present invention, disposed within a typical vehicular beverage container holder;

[0013] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of detail A of FIG. 5;

[0014] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a beverage container support apparatus of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a beverage container support apparatus of FIG. 7;

[0016] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the beverage container support apparatus of FIG. 7;

[0017] FIG. 10 is a front sectional elevation view of the beverage container support apparatus of FIG. 7;

[0018] FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a beverage container support apparatus of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the beverage container support apparatus of FIG. 11;

[0020] FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of the beverage container support apparatus of FIG. 11; and

[0021] FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the beverage container support apparatus of FIG. 11.

[0022] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a beverage container holder apparatus 10 of the present invention. The apparatus 10 is configured for receiving and supporting a non-cylindrical, multi-sided beverage container, such as a milk carton (see FIG. 3). Non-cylindrical beverage containers are those which are not characterized by cylindrical cross-sections and/or which cannot be received within a typical beverage container holder 12 whose receptacle is characterized by a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical cross-section. In one embodiment, and referring to FIG. 2, the apparatus 10 is designed to be received within a typical beverage container holder 12. In this respect, and in this embodiment, apparatus 10 functions as an adaptor to adapt an existing beverage container holder to facilitate support of a non-cylindrical, multi-sided beverage container.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7-10, apparatus 10 includes a first upper section 18 joined to a second lower section 16. Section 16 is configured to be received in a typical beverage container holder 12. Section 18 is configured to support a non-cylindrical, multi-sided beverage container.

[0024] Lower section 16 is configured for insertion into a socket or receptacle 20 of a typical or conventional beverage container holder 12, thereby providing lateral stability to apparatus 10 (see FIG. 1). Beverage container holder 12 can be found in vehicles for securely supporting and holding beverage containers whilst the vehicle is in motion. In one embodiment, socket 20 is cylindrical and includes an inner sidewall 25 extending from a generally planar bottom. Lower section 16 is defined by a pedestal 30 including a base 32 and an outer sidewall 33 including a frusto-conical surface or a cylindrical surface (see FIGS. 1 and 10). In one embodiment, base 32 includes floor 36. Sidewall 33 projects or extends from base 32. In this respect, apparatus 10 is configured for reception within cylindrical socket 20.

[0025] In one embodiment, apparatus 10 can also support and hold cylindrical beverage containers. In this respect, cylindrical pedestal 30 is hollow, and open at upper end 44. Pedestal 30 includes inner sidewall 34 extending from floor 36 (see FIG. 8). Inner sidewall 34 includes a frusto-conical shaped surface. In combination, sidewall 34 and floor 36 define receptacle 40. Receptacle 40 receives insertion of cylindrical beverage containers or beverage containers comprising frusto-conical shaped sidewalls. Sidewall 34 provides lateral support to such beverage containers, while floor 36 provides vertical support to such containers.

[0026] Ribs 42 can be provided within receptacle 40 for supporting shorter containers. In one embodiment, and referring to FIGS. 4-6, 8 and 10, ribs 42 extend or project radially from inner sidewall 34 in an inwardly direction and towards the longitudinal axis 43 of receptacle 40.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10, upper section 18 includes a base 23 and sidewall sections 20a,20b,20c,20d.Base 23 presents a planar surface 231, configured to provide vertical support for a beverage container 14. Sidewall sections 20a, 20b, 20c, 20dextend from planar surface 231, and present planar surfaces 201a, 201b, 201c, 201drespectively which are configured to provide lateral support to a beverage container 14 resting on planar surface 231. Each of planar surfaces 201a, 201b, 201c, 201dis substantially orthogonal to planar surface 231. Substantially orthogonal means that planar surfaces 201a, 201b,201c, 201dare slightly tapered from an axis extending orthogonally from surface 231. The direction of the taper is in a direction remote from longitudinal axis 43. In one embodiment, planar surfaces 201a, 201b, 201c, 201dare disposed at an angle θ of between 1.0 and 2.5° from the vertical axis 2311 projecting orthogonally from surface 231 and in a direction remote to longitudinal axis 43. In one embodiment, sidewall sections 201a, 201b, 201c, 201dare joined to form a continuous sidewall 20 with four corners 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d.In this respect, sidewall sections 201a, 201b, 201c, 201dform a rectangular cavity, such as a square.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 8, in one embodiment, sidewall sections 20a, 20b, 20c, 20dinclude upper edges 321a, 321b, 321c, 321d. Opposing recesses (or cut-outs or notches) 28a, 28cand 28b,28dare disposed within sidewall sections 321a, 321b, 321c, 321drespectively, and extend from respective upper edges 321a, 321b, 321c, 321d.Recesses 28a, 28b,28c,28dprovide access for grasping, and removing, by hand, a beverage container 14 supported by upper section 18. In the embodiment illustrated, recesses 28a, 28b, 28c, 28dare U-shaped. Recesses 28a, 28b, 28c, 28dare particularly useful when the beverage container 14 is relatively short and does not extend or does not substantially extend above sidewall 20.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 8, where apparatus 10 is configured to additionally support cylindrical beverage containers, base 23 is provided with a throughbore 70 communicating with receptacle 40. In this respect, aapparatus 10 can be used to support non-cylindrical beverage containers by way of its upper section 18, and can also be used to support cylindrical beverage containers by way of lower section 16.

[0030] Apparatus 10 can be stacked with other apparati 10 to facilitate storage. Further, adaptor 10 includes locking means 48 to prevent upper section 18 from rotating when stacked with other adaptors 10 (see FIGS. 7 and 9). Locking means 48 includes tabs 50 configured for engaging and fitting within recesses 28a, 28c.In this respect, tabs 50 depend from base 23 of upper section 18 in a direction towards base 32 of pedestal 30. Tabs 50 are co-extensive and aligned with respective recesses 28a, 28c.Tabs 50 include substantially vertical edges 52, 54 extending or projecting from base 23 (see FIG. 9), joined by a substantially horizontal edge 56. Further, recesses 28a, 28cinclude respective pairs of substantially vertical inner edges 58, 60 and 62, 64 (see FIG. 8) configured for engaging and bearing against edges 52, 54, thereby locking one apparatus 10 versus another apparatus 10 such that the apparati 10 are substantially prevented from rotating relative to one another. Similarly, receptacle 40 of one apparatus 10 is configured to be received within receptacle 40 of another apparatus. To facilitate such locking action, vertical edges 52, 54 are co-extensive and aligned with edges 58, 60. Further, tabs 50 are disposed within planes which are disposed radially remote from the longitudinal axis 43 of the pedestal 30 relative to the exterior perimeter of the pedestal.

[0031] To stack apparati 10 upon each other, pedestal 30 of one apparatus 10 is received by and fitted within receptacle 40 of another apparatus 10. Simultaneously, edges 52, 54 of tabs 50 engage and bear against inner edges 58, 60 and 62, 64 of recesses 28a, 28c, respectively. By fitting tabs 50 within recesses 28a, 28cin this manner, relative rotation of apparati 10 when stacked one upon another is prevented.

[0032] The apparatus 10 can be affixed to an existing beverage container holder by hook and loop fasteners, such as VELCRO™, or by two-sided tape.

[0033] FIGS. 11-14 illustrate another embodiment of apparatus 10. In this embodiment, apparatus 10 does not include tabs 50. Further, sidewall 33 merges with sidewall sections 20a, 20b, 20cand 20d.Sidewall 33 also comprises a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal webs 80 extending between base 32 of lower section 16 and base 23 of upper section 18. Webs 80 are flexible and resilient, to facilitate insertion into existing vehicular beverage container holders 12 and accomodate varying diameters of socket 20.

[0034] To facilitate stacking, base 23 includes radiused corners 232a, 232b, 232c,232d.Radiused corners 232a, 232b, 232e,232dare disposed radially remote from the longitudinal axis 43 of the pedestal 1 relative to the exterior perimeter 301 of the pedestal 30. Radiused corners 232a, 232b, 232c,232dare co-extensive and aligned with corners 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d. Radiused corners are configured to fit within corners 24a, 24b, 24c, 24dand engage planar surfaces 201a, 201b, 201c, 201dof another apparatus 10.

[0035] Apparatus 10 can be injection molded. In one embodiment, apparatus 10 is manufactured from high impact polystyrene.

[0036] Although the disclosure describes and illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these particular embodiments. Many variations and modifications will now occur to those skilled in the art.