Hands-free beverage holder

Abstract

The presently disclosed subject matter is generally directed to a hands-free holder that can be worn by the user to secure a wide variety of beverage, refreshment, or snack containers. Specifically, the holder includes a receptacle that removably yet securely holds a beverage bottle, can, or other container. The holder further includes a harness that releasably supports the receptacle and secures it to the user's body. The harness comprises a pair of shoulder straps and an adjustable chest strap, both releasably engaged with the receptacle. In some embodiments, the shoulder straps can be secured together at a back pad which can be positioned adjacent to the wearer's back.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container holder assembly comprising:
 a receptacle defined by a top edge comprising an open mouth, a bottom edge comprising a bottom face, and a sidewall, wherein the open mouth is operably connected to an internal cavity; and   a harness comprising a pair of shoulder straps and a chest strap;   wherein each shoulder strap and the chest strap are defined by a first end, a second end, and a length therebetween, wherein the first end of the shoulder strap and the first end of the chest strap are attached to a first connector, and wherein the second end of the shoulder strap and the second end of the chest strap are attached to a second connector;   wherein the receptacle comprises a set of opposing links at or adjacent to the top edge and a set of opposing links at or adjacent to the bottom edge;   wherein each connector releasably attaches to a corresponding link; and   wherein the internal cavity is configured to house a container.   
     
     
         2 . The container holder assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a back pad that allows a portion of the length of each shoulder strap to criss-cross. 
     
     
         3 . The container holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the container is selected from a bottle, can, cup, flask, canister, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The container holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the links and connectors are selected from clips, snaps, loops, buttons, magnets, zippers, ties, hook and loop closure, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The container holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is constructed from a flexible or semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         6 . The container holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is constructed from one or more insulative materials selected from foam, neoprene, fabric, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The container holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is constructed from one or more elastic materials, allowing the cavity to be easily stretched to accommodate containers of various shapes and sizes. 
     
     
         8 . The container holder assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the elastic materials are selected from stretchable fabric, elastomer, elastic, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene/vinyl acetate, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The container holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder straps and chest straps are constructed from one or more elastic materials. 
     
     
         10 . The container holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one or more shoulder strap or chest strap comprises an adjuster that allows the length of the strap to be elongated or shortened. 
     
     
         11 . A method of hand-free transporting a container, the method comprising:
 configuring a container holder assembly on a user such that the receptacle is positioned on a front side of the user's chest, wherein the container holder assembly comprises:
 a receptacle defined by a top edge comprising an open mouth, a bottom edge comprising a bottom face, and a sidewall, wherein the open mouth is operably connected to an internal cavity; and 
 a harness comprising a pair of shoulder straps and a chest strap, 
 wherein each shoulder strap and the chest strap are defined by a first end, a second end, and a length therebetween, wherein the first end of the shoulder strap and the first end of the chest strap are attached to a first connector, and wherein the second end of the shoulder strap and the second end of the chest strap are attached to a second connector; 
 wherein the receptacle comprises a set of opposing links at or adjacent to the top edge and a set of opposing links at or adjacent to the bottom edge; 
 wherein each connector is releasably attached to a corresponding link; and 
 wherein the internal cavity is configured to house a container; 
   attaching the first end of the first shoulder strap to a link at the top edge of the receptacle and attaching the second end of the first shoulder strap to the opposing link at the top edge of the receptacle;   attaching the first end of the chest strap to a link at the bottom edge of the receptacle and attaching the second end of the chest strap to the opposing link at the bottom edge of the receptacle;   positioning a container within the cavity of the receptacle;   wherein the container can be transported by the container holder assembly without the use of the user's hands; and   wherein the receptacle top and bottom edges contact the front of the user.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising sliding a portion of the lengths of the shoulder straps through a back pad configured adjacent to the user's back. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the container is selected from a bottle, can, cup, flask, canister, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the links and connectors are selected from clips, snaps, loops, buttons, magnets, zippers, ties, hook and loop closure, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the receptacle is constructed from a flexible or semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the receptacle is constructed from one or more insulative materials selected from foam, neoprene, fabric, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the receptacle is constructed from one or more elastic materials, allowing the cavity to be easily stretched to accommodate containers of various shapes and sizes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the elastic materials are selected from stretchable fabric, elastomer, elastic, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene/vinyl acetate, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the shoulder straps and chest strap are constructed from one or more elastic materials. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein one or more shoulder strap or chest strap comprises an adjuster that allows the length of the strap to be elongated or shortened.