Beverage container holder

Abstract

A beverage container holder includes an elongate tubular receptacle defining a hollow cavity therein and having a lateral cross-sectional area and a longitudinal length adapted to hold a beverage container, a closed liquid impermeable base end coupled to the tubular receptacle at one end. The tubular receptacle defines an open end opposite the base end. The open end communicates with the hollow cavity. The tubular receptacle includes a funnel section adjacent the open end. The funnel section is flexible, accordion-pleated or both flexible and accordion-pleated.

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A beverage container holder comprising:
 an elongate tubular receptacle defining a hollow cavity therein and having a lateral cross-sectional area and a longitudinal length adapted to hold a beverage container;   a closed liquid impermeable base end coupled to the tubular receptacle at one end;   the tubular receptacle defining an open end opposite the base end, the open end communicating with the hollow cavity, the radial cross-section of the open end sized to be larger than the largest radial cross-section of a beverage container; and   the tubular receptacle comprising an accordion-pleated funnel section adjacent the open end, the accordion-pleated funnel section being retractably extendible by increments between a retracted position and an extended position.   
     
     
         32 . The beverage container holder of  claim 31 , wherein the funnel section has a frusto-conical shape and the remainder of the tubular receptacle has a generally cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         33 . The beverage container holder of  claim 31 , further comprising a platform coupled to the inner surface of the base, the platform extending longitudinally into the hollow cavity and adapted to provide abutting support for the base of a beverage container. 
     
     
         34 . The beverage container holder of  claim 33 , wherein the platform comprises a plurality of ribs. spacers, struts, risers, studs or projections. 
     
     
         35 . The beverage container holder of  claim 33 , wherein the platform is an accordion-pleated column that is retractably extendible by increments between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
         36 . The beverage container holder of  claim 31 , wherein the funnel section is made of flexible material and the remainder of the tubular receptacle is made of rigid material. 
     
     
         37 . The beverage container holder of  claim 31 , further comprising an arcuate splash guard coupled to the rim of the tubular receptacle at the open end, the arcuate splash guard covering less than one-third of the cross-sectional area defining the open end. 
     
     
         38 . The beverage container holder of  claim 37 , wherein the arcuate splash guard has a partial-dome shape. 
     
     
         39 . The beverage container holder of  claim 38 , wherein the partial-dome shape is less than one-third of a full-dome. 
     
     
         40 . The beverage container holder of  claim 37 , wherein the arcuate splash guard is reversibly coupled to the rim. 
     
     
         41 . A beverage container holder comprising:
 an elongate tubular receptacle defining a hollow cavity therein and having a lateral cross-sectional area and a longitudinal length adapted to hold a beverage container;   a closed liquid impermeable base end coupled to the tubular receptacle at one end;   the tubular receptacle defining an open end opposite the base end, the open end communicating with the hollow cavity, the radial cross-section of the open end sized to be larger than the largest radial cross-section of a beverage container; and   the tubular receptacle comprising a funnel section adjacent the open end, the funnel section made with a flexible material having a Young's Modulus of less than 2 GPa.   
     
     
         42 . The beverage container holder of  claim 41 , wherein the funnel section has a Young's Modulus of less than 1 GPa. 
     
     
         43 . The beverage container holder of  claim 41 , wherein the funnel section is retractably extendible by accordion-pleated increments between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
         44 . The beverage container holder of  claim 41 , wherein the funnel section has a frusto-conical shape and the remainder of the tubular receptacle has a generally cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         45 . The beverage container holder of  claim 41 , further comprising a platform coupled to the inner surface of the base, the platform extending longitudinally into the hollow cavity and adapted to provide abutting support for the base of a beverage container. 
     
     
         46 . The beverage container holder of  claim 45 , wherein the platform comprises a plurality of ribs. spacers, struts, risers, studs or projections. 
     
     
         47 . The beverage container holder of  claim 45 , wherein the platform is an accordion-pleated column that is retractably extendible by increments between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
         48 . The beverage container holder of  claim 41 , further comprising an arcuate splash guard coupled to the rim of the tubular receptacle at the open end, the arcuate splash guard covering less than one-third of the cross-sectional area defining the open end. 
     
     
         49 . The beverage container holder of  claim 48 , wherein the arcuate splash guard has a partial-dome shape. 
     
     
         50 . The beverage container holder of  claim 48 , wherein the arcuate splash guard is reversibly coupled to the rim.