Beer pong cup holder

Abstract

The embodiments disclosed herein provide an apparatus that serves as a cup holder for the game of beer pong, also called Beirut. The beverage cup holder includes a frame for containing beverage cups. The frame includes one or more segments having an inner wall and outer wall. The inner walls of the one or more segments collectively define an inner region of the beer pong cup holder. An illumination device disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall of the one or more segments is arranged to shine light at least toward the inner region of the beer pong cup holder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beer pong cup holder, comprising:
 a frame for containing beverage cups, the frame including one or more segments, wherein the one or more segments, continuously or discontinuously, collectively define an inner region of the beer pong cup holder; and   an illumination device disposed on or within the one or more segments and arranged to shine light at least toward the inner region of the beer pong cup holder.   
     
     
         2 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination device is arranged to shine light persistently toward the inner region of the beer pong cup holder. 
     
     
         3 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 1 , wherein the inner region is substantially triangular. 
     
     
         4 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more segments comprise a plurality of straight segments. 
     
     
         5 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more segments include an inner wall and an outer wall, and wherein the respective inner walls of the one or more segments define the inner region of the beer pong cup holder and the illumination device is disposed between said inner wall and said outer wall of the one or more segments. 
     
     
         6 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 5 , wherein the illumination device comprises:
 an assembly arranged between said inner surface and said outer surface;   a light source; and   circuitry for providing power to said light source.   
     
     
         7 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 6 , wherein the light source and the circuitry for providing power to said light source are mounted with the assembly such that, when the beer pong cup holder is placed on a table for use, the light source and the circuitry for providing power to said light source are elevated from the surface of the table. 
     
     
         8 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 6 , wherein the light source is one of a cold cathode or a light emitting diode (LED) strip. 
     
     
         9 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 6 , wherein the light source is an ultraviolet light source and the light is ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         10 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 5 , wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are made from a material that is substantially transparent to the light. 
     
     
         11 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 5 , wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are coupled by a top wall. 
     
     
         12 . A beer pong cup holder, comprising:
 a panel having a top surface that includes a plurality of visual indicia, each indicating a respective location on which to position a beverage cup of a predefined size, wherein each of the beverage cups has a rim; and   a plurality of light sources coupled with the panel and arranged such that, when said beverage cups are arranged on the surface in accordance with the visual indicia, the light sources of the plurality of light sources are positioned between the beverage cups and persistently shine light upward toward the rims of the beverage cups.   
     
     
         13 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of light sources comprises ultraviolet light sources. 
     
     
         14 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 12 , wherein the visual indicia are embodied as relief in the surface of the panel. 
     
     
         15 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 12 , wherein the visual indicia are embodied as visual markings on the surface of the panel. 
     
     
         16 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of light sources includes a light source positioned halfway between geometric centers of each pair of respective locations on which to position a beverage cup of predefined size. 
     
     
         17 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of visual indicia includes visual indicia corresponding to 10 beverage cup locations. 
     
     
         18 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 17 , wherein the 10 beverage cup locations are arranged in a triangular manner. 
     
     
         19 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 18 , wherein the 10 beverage cup locations are arranged in a first row of 4 cups, a second row of 3 cups, a third row of 2 cups, and a fourth row of 1 cup. 
     
     
         20 . The beer pong cup holder of  claim 12 , wherein the panel is a playing surface of a beer pong table.