Cup holder

Abstract

An apparatus for preventing tipping of a specially configured fluid container. The apparatus comprises a ring like member having each of a predetermined diameter, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined height and a plurality of gear like members secured to an inner surface of the ring like member, the plurality of gear like members having a first predetermined pitch, the plurality of gear like members for engagement with a plurality of gear like members disposed on a preformed predetermined member of such specially configured fluid container.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for preventing tipping of a specially configured fluid container, said apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a ring like member having each of a predetermined diameter, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined height; and    (b) a plurality of gear like members secured to an inner surface of said ring like member, said plurality of gear like members having a first predetermined pitch, said plurality of gear like members for engagement with a plurality of gear like members disposed on a preformed predetermined member of such specially configured fluid container.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said ring like member is engageable in a cup holder.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined diameter is an adjustable diameter.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further includes means disposed on an outer surface of said ring like member to prevent slipping.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus, according to  claim 4 , wherein said outer surface is one of a bottom surface and a vertical surface of said ring like member.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus, according to  claim 5 , wherein said outer surface is a bottom surface.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined height of said ring like member is between about ⅛ inches and about ½ inches.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined thickness of said ring like member is between about ⅛ inches and about ½ inches.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said gear like members are disposed at an angle of between about 20 degrees and about 65 degrees from a horizontal plane.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said gear like members are disposed at an angle of between about 25 degrees and about 35 degrees from a horizontal plane.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is engageable in at least one of a tray, a vehicle cup holder and a place mat.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus, according to  claim 10 , wherein said apparatus engageable in a vehicle cup holder is designed as an insert.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus, according to  claim 12 , wherein said insert is a snap-in insert having an adjustable diameter.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is made of one of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester and polyvinyl chloride.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus, according to  claim 14 , wherein said apparatus is made of polyvinyl chloride.  
     
     
         16 . A specially configured fluid container for use with an apparatus for preventing tipping, said specially configured fluid container comprising: 
 (a) a fluid container;    (b) a ring like member having each of a second predetermined diameter, a second predetermined thickens and a second predetermined height and having an inner surface engageable with an outer surface of said fluid container; and    (c) a plurality of gear like members secured to an outer surface of said ring like member, said plurality of gear like members having a second predetermined pitch, said plurality of gear like members for engagement with a plurality of gear like members disposed on an apparatus for preventing tipping of said specially configured fluid container.    
     
     
         17 . The specially configured fluid container, according to  claim 16 , wherein said second predetermined pitch is similar to said first predetermined pitch.  
     
     
         18 . The specially configured fluid container, according to  claim 16 , wherein said specially configured container is one of a cup and a glass having said ring like member engageable with an outer surface of said one of a cup and a glass.  
     
     
         19 . The specially configured fluid container, according to  claim 16 , wherein said ring like member and said plurality of gears are made of one of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester and polyvinyl chloride.  
     
     
         20 . The specially configured fluid container, according to  claim 19 , wherein said ring like member and said plurality of gears are made of polyvinyl chloride.