Cup Holder for the Visually Impaired

Abstract

A cup holder that suspends a beverage below a human wrist. A wrist strap is connected by a preferably flexible suspension to a beverage support. The device may be adjusted for different sized wrists and cups and to modify the distance between the cup and the wrist. The user may release the cup at any time and it will be supported below the wrist by the invention. Angling the wrist downward automatically delivers the cup into the hand of the user. While the cup is supported, the user may rotate and swing their arm freely without upsetting the orientation of the cup. Use of this cup holder requires no visual ability.

1 . A receptacle holder comprising:
 (a) a wrist mount member adapted to grasping a human wrist;   (b) a receptacle member;   (c) a means for supporting said receptacle member below said wrist mount member;   (d) said supporting means coupled to said wrist mount member by a first pivotal coupling;   (e) said supporting means coupled to said receptacle member by a second pivotal coupling; whereby said receptacle member is maintained in a substantially consistent and upright orientation over a range of orientations of said wrist mount member that is typically achievable by said human wrist, and whereby said receptacle member remains in a position substantially below said wrist mount member regardless of the orientation of said wrist mount member.   
     
     
         2 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1  wherein said wrist mount member comprises an opening whereby said wrist mount member partially encircles said human wrist. 
     
     
         3 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1  wherein said wrist mount member comprises a means of adjusting the inner circumference of said wrist mount member whereby said wrist mount member may be tightened around said human wrist. 
     
     
         4 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1  wherein said receptacle member comprises an aperture accommodated to holding a beverage container with a graduated side profile. 
     
     
         5 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 4 , wherein said aperture comprises a means of adjusting the circumference of said aperture to accommodate beverage containers of different external dimensions. 
     
     
         6 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 4 , wherein said receptacle member comprises a heat insulating sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1  wherein said receptacle member comprises a means of adjusting the location of the connection between said second pivotal coupling and said receptacle member whereby the rotation axis of said receptacle member with respect to said supporting means may be modified. 
     
     
         8 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1  wherein said receptacle member comprises an aperture and a support means accommodated to holding a beverage container with a straight, substantially vertical side profile. 
     
     
         9 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1  wherein said receptacle member comprises a bin receptacle comprising a bottom surface and a plurality of side walls whereby a plurality of objects may be contained and supported and whereby said objects may be retrieved individually by the hand of said human wrist. 
     
     
         10 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1  wherein said receptacle member is adapted to supporting a hand tool. 
     
     
         11 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1  wherein said supporting means is collapsible whereby said supporting means is capable of becoming shorter in length. 
     
     
         12 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting means comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         13 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 12 , wherein said first pivotal coupling comprises
 (a) a guide substantially spanning the width of said wrist attachment member;   (b) said flexible member passing through and slidably coupled to said guide;   (c) said wrist attachment member comprises an articulating surface;   whereby said flexible material may slidably pass through said guide and said flexible material may slidably pass over said articulating surface when the orientation of said wrist attachment member changes.   
     
     
         14 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said first pivotal coupling comprises a universal joint. 
     
     
         15 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1 , wherein
 (a) said supporting means comprises one or more proximal links;   (b) and an equal number of distal links each of which is pivotally connected on a third pivotal axis to its link of said proximal links, said third pivotal axes being spaced from said first pivotal axes.   
     
     
         16 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1 , wherein
 (a) said supporting means comprises one or more proximal links;   (b) and an equal number of distal links each of which is slidably connected on a linear axis to its link of said proximal links.   
     
     
         17 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting means comprises a spring which produces a resistive force when said supporting means is elongated and a damper which produces a resistive force when said supporting means changes in length whereby said supporting means elongates smoothly and automatically when a force is applied to said receptacle member. 
     
     
         18 . The receptacle holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting means comprises a means of adjusting the maximum length of said supporting means. 
     
     
         19 . A method of supporting a plurality of objects below a human wrist, comprising providing a receptacle holder comprising:
 (a) a wrist mount member adapted to grasping said human wrist;   (b) a receptacle member;   (c) a means for supporting said receptacle member below said wrist mount member;   (d) said supporting means coupled to said wrist mount member by a first pivotal coupling;   (e) said supporting means coupled to said receptacle member by a second pivotal coupling; whereby said receptacle member is maintained in a substantially consistent and upright orientation over a range of orientations of said wrist mount member that is typically achievable by said human wrist, and whereby said receptacle member remains in a position substantially below said wrist mount member regardless of the orientation of said wrist mount member.   
     
     
         20 . A method of supporting a container below a human wrist, comprising providing a receptacle holder comprising:
 (a) a wrist mount member adapted to grasping said human wrist;   (b) a receptacle member;   (c) a means for supporting said receptacle member below said wrist mount member;   (d) said supporting means coupled to said wrist mount member by a first pivotal coupling;   (e) said supporting means coupled to said receptacle member by a second pivotal coupling; whereby said receptacle member is maintained in a substantially consistent and upright orientation over a range of orientations of said wrist mount member that is typically achievable by said human wrist, and whereby said receptacle member remains in a position substantially below said wrist mount member regardless of the orientation of said wrist mount member.