Beverage Can Holder

Abstract

A beverage can holder that can be used with a conventional beverage can includes an elongate, generally cylindrical body portion, an upper end portion, and a lower end portion. The upper and lower end portions are adapted to engage the upper and lower ends of the can, respectively. The lower end portion has a bottom surface that is configured to stabilize the holder-can combination on a flat surface. The body portion is configured to be securely grasped. A first alternative embodiment has a lower end portion with multiple legs that increases the stability of the holder-can combination. A second alternative embodiment has a lower end portion with a large ring that supports the holder-can combination.

1 . A beverage can holder for attachment to a conventional beverage can having a cylindrical outer surface, an upper flange, and a lower flange, comprising:
 an elongate, generally cylindrical body portion that defines a longitudinal axis and which has upper and lower ends, the body portion having a surface configuration adapted to prevent the body portion from slipping when being grasped by a user;   an upper end portion connected to the upper end of the body portion, the upper end portion, when viewed from the side, projecting from the body portion at approximately a right angle, the upper end portion adapted to engage the upper flange of the beverage can; and   a lower end portion connected to the lower end of the body portion, the lower end portion, when viewed from the side, projecting from the body portion at approximately a right angle, the lower end portion adapted to engage the lower flange of the beverage can, the lower end portion having a bottom wall adapted to rest on a flat surface, the bottom wall being configured to engage the flat surface in surface-to-surface contact.   
   
   
       2 . The beverage can holder of  claim 1 , wherein the surface configuration of the body portion is selected from the group consisting of indentations, laterally extending grooves, and knurling. 
   
   
       3 . The beverage can holder of  claim 2 , wherein the indentations, grooves, and knurling are formed on surfaces of the body portion that are closest to, and farthest away from, the beverage can when the beverage can holder is attached to the beverage can. 
   
   
       4 . The beverage can holder of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end portion includes a laterally extending member having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the upper end of the body portion and the second end including a pair of spaced protrusions that in use engage the upper flange and are disposed on either side thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The beverage can holder of  claim 1 , further including a spur disposed at the upper end of the body portion adjacent the intersection of the body portion and the laterally extending member, the spur in use being disposed on the opposite side of the body portion from the beverage can. 
   
   
       6 . The beverage can holder of  claim 1 , wherein the lower end portion includes a first member and a second member;
 the first member being generally straight and connected at one end to the lower end of the body portion and connected at the other end to the second member; and   the second member being generally rounded and engaging the inner portion of the lower flange and a portion of the cylindrical surface, the bottom wall being included as part of the second member.   
   
   
       7 . The beverage can holder of  claim 1 , wherein the lower end portion includes a first member, a second member, and a third member;
 the first member being generally straight and connected at one end to the lower end of the body portion and connected at the other end to the second member;   the second member being generally rounded and engaging the inner portion of the lower flange and a portion of the cylindrical surface, the bottom wall being included as part of the second member; and   the third member including a ring that in use is disposed within the inner portion of the lower flange, the ring being connected to the end of the second member and including a pair of spaced legs that project outwardly of the lower flange and which include bottom walls adapted to rest on a flat surface, the bottom walls being configured to engage the flat surface in surface-to-surface contact when the bottom wall of the lower end portion engages the flat surface.   
   
   
       8 . The beverage can holder of  claim 1 , wherein the lower end portion includes a first member, a second member, and a third member;
 the first member being generally straight and connected at one end to the lower end of the body portion and connected at the other end to the second member;   the second member being generally straight and engaging a portion of the cylindrical surface; and   the third member defining a ring that in use is disposed concentrically about the outer diameter of the lower flange, the ring being connected to the end of the second member, the ring having a bottom surface that forms the bottom wall.   
   
   
       9 . The beverage can holder of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the upper and lower end portions are formed integrally. 
   
   
       10 . The beverage can holder of  claim 9 , wherein the body portion and the upper and lower end portions are formed in a stamping or molding operation. 
   
   
       11 . The beverage can holder of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the upper and lower end portions are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, or a plastics material. 
   
   
       12 . A beverage can holder for attachment to a conventional beverage can having a cylindrical outer surface, an upper flange, and a lower flange, comprising:
 an elongate, generally cylindrical body portion that defines a longitudinal axis and which has upper and lower ends, the body portion having a surface configuration adapted to prevent the body portion from slipping when being grasped by a user, the surface configuration of the body portion being selected from the group consisting of indentations, laterally extending grooves, and knurling, the indentations, grooves, and knurling being formed on surfaces of the body portion that are closest to, and farthest away from, the beverage can when the beverage can holder is attached to the beverage can;   an upper end portion connected to the upper end of the body portion, the upper end portion, when viewed from the side, projecting from the body portion at approximately a right angle, the upper end portion adapted to engage the upper flange of the beverage can, the upper end portion including a laterally extending member having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the upper end of the body portion and the second end including a pair of spaced protrusions that in use engage the upper flange and are disposed on either side thereof;   a spur disposed at the upper end of the body portion adjacent the intersection of the body portion and the laterally extending member, the spur in use being disposed on the opposite side of the body portion from the beverage can;   a lower end portion connected to the lower end of the body portion, the lower end portion, when viewed from the side, projecting from the body portion at approximately a right angle, the lower end portion adapted to engage the lower flange of the beverage can, the lower end portion having a bottom wall adapted to rest on a flat surface, the bottom wall being configured to engage the flat surface in surface-to-surface contact, the lower end portion including a first member and a second member;
 the first member being generally straight and connected at one end to the lower end of the body portion and connected at the other end to the second member; and 
 the second member being generally rounded and engaging the inner portion of the lower flange and a portion of the cylindrical surface, the bottom wall being included as part of the second member; and 
   the body portion and the upper and lower end portions being formed integrally in a stamping or molding operation from a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, or a plastics material.   
   
   
       13 . The beverage can holder of  claim 12 , wherein the lower end portion includes a first member, a second member, and a third member;
 the first member being generally straight and connected at one end to the lower end of the body portion and connected at the other end to the second member;   the second member being generally rounded and engaging the inner portion of the lower flange and a portion of the cylindrical surface, the bottom wall being included as part of the second member; and   the third member including a ring that in use is disposed within the inner portion of the lower flange, the ring being connected to the end of the second member and including a pair of spaced legs that project outwardly of the lower flange and which include bottom walls adapted to rest on a flat surface, the bottom walls being configured to engage the flat surface in surface-to-surface contact when the bottom wall of the lower end portion engages the flat surface.   
   
   
       14 . A beverage can holder for attachment to a conventional beverage can having a cylindrical outer surface, an upper flange, and a lower flange, comprising:
 an elongate, generally cylindrical body portion that defines a longitudinal axis and which has upper and lower ends, the body portion having a surface configuration adapted to prevent the body portion from slipping when being grasped by a user, the surface configuration of the body portion being selected from the group consisting of indentations, laterally extending grooves, and knurling, the indentations, grooves, and knurling being formed on surfaces of the body portion that are closest to, and farthest away from, the beverage can when the beverage can holder is attached to the beverage can;   an upper end portion connected to the upper end of the body portion, the upper end portion, when viewed from the side, projecting from the body portion at approximately a right angle, the upper end portion adapted to engage the upper flange of the beverage can, the upper end portion including a laterally extending member having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the upper end of the body portion and the second end including a pair of spaced protrusions that in use engage the upper flange and are disposed on either side thereof;   a spur disposed at the upper end of the body portion adjacent the intersection of the body portion and the laterally extending member, the spur in use being disposed on the opposite side of the body portion from the beverage can;   a lower end portion connected to the lower end of the body portion, the lower end portion, when viewed from the side, projecting from the body portion at approximately a right angle, the lower end portion adapted to engage the lower flange of the beverage can, the lower end portion having a bottom wall adapted to rest on a flat surface, the bottom wall being configured to engage the flat surface in surface-to-surface contact, the lower end portion including a first member, a second member, and a third member, wherein:
 the first member is generally straight and is connected at one end to the lower end of the body portion and is connected at the other end to the second member; and 
   the second member is generally straight and engages a portion of the cylindrical surface; and
 the third member defines a ring that in use is disposed concentrically about the outer diameter of the lower flange, the ring being connected to the end of the second member, the ring having a bottom surface that forms the bottom wall; and 
   the body portion and the upper and lower end portions being formed integrally in a stamping or molding operation from a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, or a plastics material.