Beverage container holder

Abstract

A holder for a beverage container, typically a can or a bottle, to provide supplemental cooling to the beverage. The holder includes a tab, pedestal, or other support means to support the bottom of the care or bottle above the holder bottom to create a space for an ice or an ice and water cooling medium. A sealing means between the holder and the beverage container permits the container and the holder to be tipped for drinking without spilling the ice or ice and water used to provide the cooling. Various seal means include single piece gaskets that fit on the holder, a seal ring that fits in a groove in the holder, a solid lip with a seal, multiple seal embodiments, and stretch membrane supports.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A holder for a beverage container comprising: 
 a housing such that the container will reside substantially inside the housing, the housing including 
 a bottom,  
 at least one container support means that supports the container above the bottom of the housing, thereby permitting a coolant medium to be placed in the housing, such that a substantial portion of the coolant medium is positioned below the beverage container,  
 at least one side wall having an inside surface and an exterior surface, the side wall creating an annular space between a portion of the exterior of the container and the inside surface of the side wall,  
 a top opening;  
   a sealing means integral to the housing such that the sealing means creates a seal between a portion of the exterior of the container and a portion of the housing, thereby preventing leakage of the coolant medium from the annular space when the housing is tilted: and    a seal containment means integral to the housing, such that the seal containment means holds the sealing means in place.    
     
     
         2 . A holder for a beverage container comprising 
 a housing such that the container will reside substantially inside the housing, the housing including 
 a bottom,  
 at least one container support means that supports the container above the bottom of the housing, thereby permitting a coolant medium to be placed in the housing, such that a substantial portion of the coolant medium is positioned below the beverage container,  
 at least one side wall having an inside surface and an exterior surface, the side wall creating an annular space between a portion of the exterior of the container and the inside surface of the side wall,  
 a top opening;  
   a sealing means integral to a portion of the inside surface of the housing side wall such that the sealing means creates a seal between a portion of the exterior of the container and a portion of the housing side wall, thereby preventing leakage of the coolant medium from the annular space when the housing is tilted: and a seal containment means integral to a portion of the inside surface of the housing, such that the seal containment means holds the sealing means in place.    
     
     
         3 . The holder of  claim 2  wherein 
 the housing is tapered.  
 
     
     
         4 . The holder of  claim 2  wherein the seal containment means forms a lip along the top of the inside surface of the housing and the sealing means is attached to the bottom of the seal containment means.  
     
     
         5 . The holder of  claim 2  wherein the seal containment means forms a grooved lip along the top of the inside surface of the housing and the sealing means is inserted into the grooved lip of the seal containment means.  
     
     
         6 . The holder of  claim 2  wherein the container support means is a plurality of tabs.  
     
     
         7 . The holder of  claim 2  wherein the container support means is at least one pedestal.  
     
     
         8 . The holder of  claim 2  wherein the coolant medium is ice.  
     
     
         9 . The holder of  claim 2  wherein the coolant medium is a mixture of ice and water.  
     
     
         10 . A holder for a beverage can comprising: 
 a truncated conical tumbler housing such that the beverage can will reside substantially inside the housing, the housing including 
 a truncated bottom portion having a diameter of approximately 2.7 inches,  
 a side wall having an inside surface and an exterior surface, the side wall creating an annular space between a portion of the exterior of the container and the inside surface of the side wall,  
 at least three support tabs integral to the bottom portion of the inside surface of the side wall, such that the tabs support the bottom of the beverage can above the bottom of the housing, thereby permitting ice and ice water to be placed in the housing, such that a substantial portion of ice and ice water is positioned below the beverage container,  
 a top opening having a diameter of approximately 3.6 inches;  
   a seal containment lip integral to the top of the inside surface of the housing; and a compliant seal integral to a portion of the inside surface of the housing side wall and integral to the bottom of the seal containment lip such that the compliant seal creates a waterproof boundary between a portion of the exterior of the container and a portion of the housing side wall, thereby preventing leakage of the ice and water from the annular space when the housing is tilted.    
     
     
         11 . A holder for a beverage container comprising: 
 a housing such that the container will reside substantially inside the housing, the housing including 
 a bottom,  
 at least one container support means that supports the container above the bottom of the housing, thereby permitting a coolant medium to be placed in the housing, such that a substantial portion of the coolant medium is positioned below the beverage container,  
 at least one side wall having an inside surface and an exterior surface, the side wall creating an annular space between a portion of the exterior of the container and the inside surface of the side wall,  
 a top opening;  
   a sealing means integral to the top of the housing side wall such that the sealing means creates a seal between a portion of the exterior of the container and the top of the housing side wall, thereby preventing leakage of the coolant medium from the annular space when the housing is tilted; and    a lip seal containment means integral to the top external edge of the housing, such that the sealing means may be positioned on the lip seal containment means to hold the sealing means in place.    
     
     
         12 . A holder for a beverage container comprising: 
 a housing such that the container will reside substantially inside the housing, the housing including 
 a bottom,  
 at least one container support means that supports the container above the bottom of the housing, thereby permitting a coolant medium to be placed in the housing, such that a substantial portion of the coolant medium is positioned below the beverage container,  
 at least one side wall having an inside surface and an exterior surface, the side wall creating an annular space between a portion of the exterior of the container and the inside surface of the side wall,  
 a threaded top opening;  
   a screw-on seal containment means which may be screwed onto the threaded top opening of the housing; and    a sealing means integral to the screw-on seal containment means such that the sealing means creates a seal between a portion of the exterior of the container and the housing side wall, thereby preventing leakage of the coolant medium from the annular space when the housing is tilted.    
     
     
         13 . A holder for a beverage container comprising: 
 a housing such that the container will reside substantially inside the housing, the housing including 
 a bottom,  
 at least one container support means that supports the container above the bottom of the housing, thereby permitting a coolant medium to be placed in the housing, such that a substantial portion of the coolant medium is positioned below the beverage container,  
 at least one side wall having an inside surface and an exterior surface, the side wall creating an annular space between a portion of the exterior of the container and the inside surface of the side wall,  
 a threaded top opening;  
   a screw-on seal containment means which may be screwed onto the threaded top opening of the housing; and    a sealing means positioned between the screw-on seal containment means and the housing such that the sealing means creates a seal between a portion of the exterior of the container and the housing side wall when the screw-on seal containment means is tightened, thereby preventing leakage of the coolant medium from the annular space when the housing is tilted.    
     
     
         14 . A holder for a beverage container comprising: 
 a housing such that the container will reside substantially inside the housing, the housing including 
 a bottom,  
 at least one container support means that supports the container above the bottom of the housing, thereby permitting a coolant medium to be placed in the housing, such that a substantial portion of the coolant medium is positioned below the beverage container,  
 at least one side wall having an inside surface and an exterior surface, the side wall creating an annular space between a portion of the exterior of the container and the inside surface of the side wall,  
 a top opening;  
   a first detachable lid which may be attached to the top opening of the housing, the lid having an upper threaded portion;    a screw-on seal containment means integral to the lid which may be screwed onto the upper threaded portion of the lid; and    a sealing means integral to the screw-on seal containment means such that the sealing means creates a seal between a portion of the exterior of the container and the detachable lid, thereby preventing leakage of the coolant medium from the annular space when the housing is tilted.    
     
     
         15 . A holder for a beverage container comprising: 
 a housing such that the container will reside substantially inside the housing, the housing including 
 a bottom,  
 at least one container support means that supports the container above the bottom of the housing, thereby permitting a coolant medium to be placed in the housing, such that a substantial portion of the coolant medium is positioned below the beverage container,  
 at least one side wall having an inside surface and an exterior surface, the side wall creating an annular space between a portion of the exterior of the container and the inside surface of the side wall,  
 a top opening;  
   a first detachable lid which may be attached to the top opening of the housing, the lid having a vertical extension, the extension having a lip;    a snap-on seal containment means which may be assembled over the extension of the lid; and    a sealing means positioned between the snap-on seal containment means and the lid such that the sealing means creates a seal between a portion of the exterior of the container and the housing side wall when the snap-on seal containment means is depressed, thereby preventing leakage of the coolant medium from the annular space when the housing is tilted.    
     
     
         16 . A method of fabricating a beverage container holder comprising: 
 injection molding a tumbler housing including support means for the beverage container;    injection molding a seal containment means;    assembling a seal means to a seal containment means to form a sealing subassembly; and    attaching the sealing subassembly to the holder.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  comprising 
 molding the seal means to the seal containment means.  
 
     
     
         18 . A method of cooling a beverage container in a housing comprising 
 adding ice to the housing by placing the ice in the open top of the housing;    placing the beverage container partially within the housing;    supporting the beverage container above the bottom of a housing such that the ice is positioned substantially below the beverage container; and    sealing between the housing and the beverage container to prevent leakage when the beverage container is tilted.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  additionally comprising 
 placing the housing in a vehicle cup holder when not in use.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  additionally comprising 
 adding water and ice to the housing by placing the ice and water in the open top of the housing.