Beverage Container Holder and Methods of Using The Same

Abstract

A kit for holding a beverage container, comprising: a beverage container: and a leak-proof container holder having opposing ends and an elongated member having a proximal portion operably coupled to the leak-proof container holder, and a distal portion operably coupled to the waist portion of clothing or a belt. Only one opposing end is open, and opens into a hollow cavity. Walls of a first portion of the leak-proof container holder are adapted to releasably retain the beverage container. Walls of a remaining portion of the leak-proof container holder form a concave or convex shape, so that condensation from the walls of the beverage container may accumulate and be retained in the second portion of the container. A method for holding a beverage container, comprising: operably coupling the beverage container holder to the waist portion of clothing or a belt and releasably retaining the beverage container.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A beverage container holder, comprising:
 a leak-proof container ( 10 ) having a rim and an opposing bottom end,
 wherein only the rim is open, and opens into a hollow cavity, said hollow cavity ( 12 ) comprising a first portion ( 20 ) and a remaining portion ( 24 ), 
 wherein the first portion of the cavity ( 12 ) is between lateral walls  30 ,  28  of the leak-proof container ( 10 ), except 
 wherein a wall ( 22 ) of the bottom opposing end ( 36 ) curves inwardly and becomes coextensive with a lower extremity of the lateral walls ( 30 ,  28 ) of the leak-proof container holder ( 10 ), forming the remaining portion of the leak-proof container; 
 wherein at least one portion of the lateral wall of the leak-proof container holder has been cut away, so that the portion of the lateral wall that has been cut away is not in the same plane as a remaining portion of the rim of the leak-proof container, allowing an outside surface of a portion of a wall of a beverage container to be releasably removable from or insertable into the leak-proof container holder, so that the beverage container is manipulatable by hand by a user, without the use of a tool; and 
   an elongated member having a proximal portion operably coupled to the leak-proof container at a single junction between the proximal portion and the rim,
 and a distal portion operably coupled to a waist band of clothing or a belt. 
   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The beverage container holder of  claim 2 , wherein a width of the portion of the rim of the leak-proof container holder that has been cut away is about 0.8 in. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the elongated member is positioned relative to a plane of the remaining portion of the rim of the container holder so that the plane of the remaining portion of the rim of the container holder is from about 2 inches below the waist band or waist portion of the clothing or the belt of a wearer to about 4 inches above the waist band or waist portion of the clothing or the belt of a wearer. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the proximal portion of the elongated member is not less than ½ inch. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the elongated member narrows toward the distal end, so that the distal portion easily overlaps the waist band or the belt of a pair of jeans, pants, or shorts compared to the distal portion having a wider distal end. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the proximal portion of the elongated member is not less than the width at the junction between the proximal and distal portions. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the leak-proof container is made of a moldable foamed plastic or a metal or a metal alloy. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage container holder of  claim 4 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of styrofoam, polyvinylchloride, silicone elastomer, organic elastomer, viton, sanoprene, EPDM. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the leak-proof container has a shape selected from the group consisting of a cubical shape, cylindrical shape, a conical shape, prism, or pyramidal shape. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the leak-proof container is one piece construction. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein a depth of the inwardly curving wall of the bottom end of the leak-proof container is at least 3/16 of an inch. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage container is selected from the group consisting of a drinking cup, can, or bottle, cylindrical, or conical beverage container of approximately 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, 12 oz, 16 oz, 20 oz, 24 oz, or 32 oz. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein its weight is between 1.5 oz. and 2 oz. 
     
     
         16 . A kit for holding a beverage container, comprising:
 a beverage container; and   the beverage container holder of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         17 . A method for holding a beverage container, comprising:
 providing a beverage container and the beverage container holder ( 10 ) of  claim 1 ; and   releasably retaining the beverage container by inserting the beverage container between the walls of the first portion of the leak-proof container.   
     
     
         18 . The method for holding a beverage container of  claim 17 , comprising:
 removing the releasably retained beverage container from between the walls of the first portion of the leak-proof container; and   emptying the condensate from the second portion of the leak-proof container.   
     
     
         19 . A beverage container holder, comprising:
 a leak-proof container ( 10 ), comprising:
 a side wall ( 13 ), comprising a first inner surface ( 25 ),
 wherein the first inner surface ( 25 ) comprises first raised portions ( 34 ) extending longitudinally along the first inner surface ( 25 ) of the side wall ( 13 ) from below the rim ( 66 ) to the perimeter of the bottom member ( 17 ); and 
 
   a contiguous bottom member ( 17 ), comprising a second inner surface ( 29 ),
 wherein the second inner surface ( 29 ) comprises second raised portions ( 35 ) extending from the longitudinal axis ( 62 ) running through a center of the cavity ( 12 ), to form a right angle junction with the first raised portions ( 34 ), 
 wherein opposite first and second portions of the side wall are cut out, forming oppositely disposed openings running longitudinally from a rim at a top of the cavity; 
 wherein the first and second raised portions are adapted for holding a beverage container within a cavity ( 12 ) formed by the side wall and the contiguous bottom member ( 17 ), 
 wherein a first inner surface of the side wall and a second inner surface of the bottom member forms a contiguous boundary of the cavity, 
 wherein the second inner surface of the bottom member slopes inwardly to a center of the bottom member, so that condensate from cold beverage containers held within the cavity collects in a reservoir, 
 wherein a height of the second raised portions ( 35 ) from the inwardly sloping surface of the bottom member is adapted so a flat bottom is formed for supporting the beverage container, and 
 wherein said flat bottom runs in a parallel plane to said contiguous bottom member. 
   
     
     
         20 . The beverage container holder of  claim 19 , wherein the cavity ( 12 ) comprises at least three (3) first raised portions ( 34 ), radiating from the longitudinal axis ( 62 ) of the cavity ( 12 ) of the beverage container holder ( 10 ), protruding from the side wall ( 13 ), forming a right angle junction with the second raised portion ( 35 ) protruding from the bottom member ( 17 ), forming 120° arcs about the longitudinal axis ( 62 ). 
     
     
         21 . The beverage container holder of  claim 19 , comprising an insert having a frusto-conical shape that tapers radially inward in a direction toward the rim at the top of the cavity. 
     
     
         22 . The beverage container holder of  claim 21 , wherein first and second raised portions form a friction lock against the frusto-conical wall of the insert. 
     
     
         23 . The beverage container holder for holding a beverage container of  claim 6 , wherein the width of the proximal portion of the elongated member being not less than ½ inch results in the beverage container holder remaining upright when a wearer is walking or running. 
     
     
         24 . A kit, comprising:
 a beverage container;   the beverage container holder of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the lateral walls of the leak-proof container are adapted to releasably retain the beverage container in the first portion of the leak-proof container. 
   
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 24 ,
 wherein the beverage container  40  is in the first portion of the cavity  12 ,   wherein a portion  26  of the rim  133  of the leak-proof container holder  10  is not in the same plane as a remaining portion of the rim  31  of the leak-proof container holder  10 ,   wherein an outside surface  121  of a portion of a wall  135  of the beverage container ( 40 ) is adapted to be releasably removable from or insertable into the leak-proof container holder ( 10 ), so that the beverage container  40  is manipulatable by hand by a user  60 , without the use of a tool.