Multi-conforming beverage holder

Abstract

A multi-conforming beverage holder having a main body and a cuff. The main body is formed from one or more panels of insulating material having various edges, and the cuff is formed from one or more panels of elastic material having various edges. The edges of the main body are connected to generally form a cylinder having sidewalls, a bottom wall, and an open top edge. The edges of the cuff are connected to generally form a cylinder having sidewalls and open top and bottom edges. The open bottom edge of the cuff is connected to the open top edge of the main body. The cuff is operable to be folded downward from an unfolded position to a folded position to accommodate beverage vessels of various shapes and sizes. The holder may also include one or more grippers formed from nonslip material disposed on inner surfaces of the sidewalls of the main body and/or cuff, to retain beverage vessels more securely within the holder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-conforming insulating holder for a beverage vessel comprising:
 a generally cylindrical main body formed of a panel of insulating material; and   a generally cylindrical cuff formed of a panel of elastic material,   wherein the cuff is operable to be folded downward from an unfolded position to a folded position such that the holder is configured to retain a beverage vessel of a first size in the folded position and the holder retains a beverage vessel of a second size in the unfolded position.   
     
     
         2 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the insulating material of the main body is selected from a group consisting of neoprene, Ariaprene®, thermoplastic elastomer foam, closed-cell foam, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the elastic material of the cuff is selected from a group consisting of rubber, latex, polyester, elastane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the main body further includes an inner surface and an opposing outer surface, the inner surface including a bottom gripper formed of nonslip material. 
     
     
         5 . The holder of  claim 4  wherein the nonslip material of the bottom gripper is selected from a group consisting of silicone, rubber, sponge, cork, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The holder of  claim 4  wherein the bottom gripper further includes a plurality of gripping sections. 
     
     
         7 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the cuff further includes an inner surface and an opposing outer surface, the inner surface including a top gripper formed of nonslip material. 
     
     
         8 . The holder of  claim 7  wherein the nonslip material of the top gripper is selected from a group consisting of silicone, rubber, sponge, cork, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The holder of  claim 7  wherein the top gripper further includes a plurality of gripping sections. 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a multi-conforming insulating holder for a beverage vessel, the method comprising:
 providing a main body panel formed of insulating material having:
 a first top edge and a second top edge, 
 a plurality of first side edges and a plurality of second side edges, and 
 a plurality of bottom edges, 
   providing a first cuff panel and a second cuff panel formed of elastic material, each of the first and second cuff panel having:
 a top edge, 
 a first side edge and a second side edge, and 
 a bottom edge, 
   connecting the bottom edge of one of the first and second cuff panels to one of the first and second top edges of the main body panel and connecting the bottom edge of the other cuff panel to the other of the first and second top edges of the main body panel,   connecting the plurality of first side edges of the main body panel to the plurality of second side edges of the main body panel such that each of the first and second top edges form a round, open top edge, and the plurality of bottom edges define a bottom wall, and   connecting the first side edges of one of the first and second cuff panels to the second side edges of the other of the first and second cuff panels such that the top edges of the first and second cuff panels form a round, open top edge.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the insulating material of the main body is selected from a group consisting of neoprene, Ariaprene®, thermoplastic elastomer foam, closed-cell foam, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the elastic material of the cuff is selected from a group consisting of rubber, latex, polyester, elastane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further including the steps of providing a bottom gripper formed of nonslip material selected from a group consisting of silicone, rubber, sponge, cork, and combinations thereof and connecting the bottom gripper to the main body panel of the holder. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the bottom gripper further includes a plurality of gripping sections. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  further including the steps of providing a top gripper formed of nonslip material selected from a group consisting of silicone, rubber, sponge, cork, and combinations thereof and connecting the top gripper to one of the first cuff panel and the second cuff panel of the holder. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the top gripper further includes a plurality of gripping sections. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the edges of the main body are connected together via stitches. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the edges of the cuff are connected together via stitches. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the main body panel is connected to the first cuff panel and the second cuff panel via stitches.