| Magnetic cup holder -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Magnetic cup holderUSPTO Application #: 20070295877Title: Magnetic cup holder Abstract: A cup holder made of material that embraces a cup and that may be shaped to resemble an animal or character. The cup holder may be adhered to a metallic surface via a magnet and may be placed in a conspicuous and hygienically favorable location (i.e. refrigerator) for ease of use by a child or toddler. (end of abstract) Agent: Grossman, Tucker, Perreault & Pfleger, PLLC - Manchester, NH, US Inventor: Deanne GAYDOS USPTO Applicaton #: 20070295877 - Class: 248311200 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Supports, Brackets, Article Holding Means, Receptacle Type The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070295877. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/805,274, filed Jun. 20, 2006, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a magnetic cup holder device and more specifically pertains to one which may adhere to magnetic surfaces (i.e. refrigerators) and which may retain a child's cup or bottle. The cup holder may include a magnet forming at least a portion of the back of the cup holder. The cup holder may be molded, for example, into the shape of an animal or character. The animal or character may contain segments (e.g., arms) that may engage all or a portion of the circumference of the cup (the arms creating a circle or space in which to place the cup) to retain the cup within the device. BACKGROUND [0003] Parents are often relegated to haphazardly placing cups or bottles on the floor, carpeted areas, counter-tops, or areas located distantly from the kitchen. This action challenges the child or caregiver's ability to independently access and retrieve a child's drink as needed. Additionally, the absence of a conspicuous and easily accessible storage receptacle may lead to unsanitary conditions and inaccessible storage locations (i.e. the kitchen counter). It also creates non-value added labor for the caregiver. [0004] Several devices involving magnetic and other receptacle holders have been developed which perform a varying range of functions including supporting objects for the convenience of their use and allowing the user ease of proximity to their objects. These devices also offer a consistent base that allow for practical storing and subsequent locating of the stored objects. This affords the user easy accessibility. However, a device has yet to be developed that may provide a conspicuous and easily accessible storage location for a transitional cup, spouted cup, straw cup, or bottle within the household. SUMMARY [0005] The present invention relates to a cup holder comprising an exterior surface that is capable of magnetically engaging a surface including extending features capable of retaining all or a portion of a cup outer surface, such as the outer cup circumference. The cup holder may include visual features that may allow for the user (a child) to identify the cup or bottle and to locate the cup on any given surface capable of supporting magnetic attachment. The extending features may provide mechanical type engagement with a given cup or may also magnetically engage a cup that itself includes features suitable for magnetic cup attachment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] The detailed description below may be better understood with reference to the accompanying figures which are provided for illustrative purposes and are not to be considered as limiting any aspect of the invention. [0007] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the magnetic transitional cup, spouted cup, straw cup, or bottle holder depicting the dimensional characteristics of the present invention, specifically the encapsulation of the cup. [0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of the magnetic spouted or straw cup holder depicting the magnetic mounting surface and its accompaniment to the body of the holder. [0009] FIG. 3 is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of a character that the holder may assume. [0010] FIG. 4 is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of a character that the holder may assume. [0011] FIG. 5 is an illustrative embodiment of a character that the holder may assume. [0012] FIG. 6 is an illustrative embodiment of a character that the holder may assume. [0013] FIG. 7 is an illustrative embodiment of a character that the holder may assume. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014] The present invention relates to a magnetic cup holder that allows for the storage of a user's cup in what may be considered a conspicuous and user-friendly environment. The cup may include a spouted or straw top which may be integral to the cup, as in what may be known as a "sippy" type cup for children. The magnetic cup holder may therefore amount to a product which may provide a toddler or child a location-specific device for storing a cup at a desired location within the household. [0015] This invention may therefore allow for the cognitive and accordant storage of a cup in a conspicuous and efficient area. The magnetic cup holder may be supported on a refrigerator or another commonly located ferrous surface (i.e., dishwasher, washing machine, etc.) for the storage and retrieval of the cup as may be desired by the user. The storage and retrieval process, to be completed by the infant/toddler, may therefore offer an organizationally sound basis of consistent and repetitive storage, as well as a convenient method to store the cup at various convenient locations. [0016] Placing the receptacle within the reach of the child may afford the user (i.e., the child) a disciplined venue for accessing the cup as needed thereby promoting independence. This placement may also minimize the user's dependence precipitated by locale uncertainty or inaccessibility. It may also reduce the potential for unsanitary conditions provoked by placing the cup on the floor or carpeted areas. In addition, this exercise may promote a cognitive component of a functional necessity by allowing the user to match the cup to a corresponding base. For example, wherein various cups may be present to accommodate the need of more than one child, various holders may be used so that the child may differentiate their own or designated cup. The designated cup/holder combination may be triggered by a specific cup color, character or cup shape. [0017] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary magnetic cup holder may include an enveloping figure enabling the user to place the spouted or straw cup in a conspicuous and hygienically favorable receptacle. The enveloping figure may include appendages such as arms, legs, feet, hands, etc., which may retain the cup. Accordingly, the holder may be fashioned in such a manner that the figure appears to be "hugging" the cup. That is, the magnetic cup holder may include extending features that engage with the outer surface of a cup. Such outer surface may include the outer circumferential surface of a given cup, and as alluded to above, may engage with all or a portion of the circumference. Preferably, the features that may engage with the cup may engage with 180-360 degrees of a given cup circumference, to retain the cup within the cup holder, including all values and increments therein. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the arm may engage more than 180 degrees of the cup circumference, and in particular, greater than about 270 degrees of the circumference. It may of course be appreciated that the greater amount of circumference engaged, the better the cup may be retained within the cup holder. In addition, while it may be sufficient for such extending features to engage and retain the cup, the cup holder may also include a base portion to provide additional support to the bottom of the cup when placed within the cup holder device. [0018] Optionally, the cup may also be made of a magnetic material, and the arms of the cup holder may be magnetic, thereby providing magnetic engagement of the cup holder with a given magnetic cup or bottle. The magnetic arms may include an entire arm section made of a magnetic material or magnetic insert, or may include magnets of a selected size selectively position on the arms to facilitate magnetic engagement. In addition, the cup holder may provide a form of mechanical engagement with the cup, or the arms may be configured to define an opening diameter that is less than the diameter of the cup, so that an interference type fit may be available to the user. In addition, the cup may include a bottom section that specifically includes some form of mechanical attachment means to mechanically engage with the bottom of the cup holder, including a magnetic engagement. Continue reading... Full patent description for Magnetic cup holder Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Magnetic cup holder patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Magnetic cup holder or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Stowable cup holder tray assembly Next Patent Application: Secure link bracket assembly Industry Class: Supports ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Magnetic cup holder patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.28385 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m |
||
