| Multi-pole magnetized beverage container holder -> Monitor Keywords |
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Multi-pole magnetized beverage container holderRelated Patent Categories: Supports, Brackets, Article Holding Means, Receptacle TypeMulti-pole magnetized beverage container holder description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070176069, Multi-pole magnetized beverage container holder. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120 of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 10/382,459, filed Mar. 5, 2003, entitled "Magnetized Beverage Container Holder", and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/866,326, filed Nov. 17, 2006, of the same title, which is incorporated herein by this reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to holders for beverage containers, and more specifically, to a magnetized beverage container holder used to secure a beverage container to a surface. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In numerous situations, for several reasons, people drink beverages from beverage containers, such as boating, tailgating, working, etc. For example, while boating a person may be exposed to heat and sun for several hours, and remaining hydrated is important. In many of these situations, finding a place to store the beverage container in which the container will not be inadvertently spilled or knocked over can be problematic. On a boat, for example, simply placing a beverage container on a flat surface is often unsatisfactory since the container may tip over as a result from typical movement of the boat rocking on the water. Likewise, when operating heavy machinery during construction or farming operations one might find it difficult or even impossible to retain a beverage without spilling. Similarly, at picnics or other outdoor gatherings, placing a beverage container on the ground may result in spilling as a result of a person or animal inadvertently kicking the container. [0004] Numerous container holders exist which attempt to solve the above-mentioned problems. For example, holders exist for the attachment to platforms, such as boats, in which a beverage container may be placed. Such holders are typically secured to the platform by screws, for example. While such a holder provides a place for container storage, it also has disadvantages. For example, the holder is permanently secured in one place on the platform, thus providing limited flexibility for storing such beverage containers. While additional holders may be installed in areas which are most convenient for such storage, the additional holders may cause clutter in those areas. Furthermore, if a person wishes to be in an area which does not have a holder installed, that person must either hold the container, or store the container in area which does have a holder, which may be inconvenient for the person due to having to move to the other area every time they wish to drink from the container. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a holder for a beverage container which is able to be moved from place to place with relative ease, and which helps to prevent inadvertent spilling of the beverage container. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] These and other needs are addressed by the various embodiments and configurations of the present invention. The invention provides a method and apparatus for mounting a beverage container holder to a mounting surface. The beverage container holder includes a magnet and may be mounted to any mounting surface which contains a ferrous material in sufficient quantity to produce sufficient attraction to the magnet to secure and hold the beverage container holder, and beverage container, to the mounting surface. [0006] In one aspect, the present invention provides a beverage container holder, including a holder which is adapted to receive a beverage container and a magnet operatively associated with the holder and operable to interact magnetically with a mounting surface. The magnet is operable to secure the holder to the mounting surface such that the side of the beverage container is at least substantially parallel to, and preferably, along substantially the entire height of the side, in contact with the mounting surface. The mounting surface may be substantially vertical, thus holding the beverage container holder and beverage container in a substantially upright position. In one embodiment, the holder includes a pouch on the holder adapted to receive the magnet and secure the magnet to the holder. In another embodiment, the magnet is secured to the holder using adhesive. In another embodiment, the magnet is embedded within the holder, and the holder includes a visual indicator and/or surface texturing indicating the location of the magnet within the holder. The magnet preferably has a total force of at least about 800 and more preferably about 800-12,300 gauss. [0007] The mounting surface includes a ferrous material, and in one embodiment, the mounting surface is a ferrous material. The mounting surface may also include a non-ferrous material with a ferrous material adjacent thereto which interacts with the magnet to secure the holder to the mounting surface. The ferrous material may be secured with a rivet or other mechanical fastening device. [0008] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for securing a beverage container to a mounting surface. The method includes providing a holder adapted to receive the beverage container, the holder being operatively engaged with a magnet, and placing the holder adjacent to the mounting surface. The magnet is operable to interact with the mounting surface and secure the holder and beverage container to the mounting surface, with a side of the beverage container being at least substantially parallel to the mounting surface. [0009] Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a holder for a beverage container. The method of manufacturing includes forming a sleeve portion of the holder, with the sleeve portion being adapted to receive the beverage container. A magnet is secured to the sleeve portion in a position such that the side of the beverage container is substantially parallel to a mounting surface when the beverage container is located in the sleeve and the holder is engaged with the mounting surface. A base portion may be formed and secured to a first end of the sleeve, substantially closing the first end of the sleeve. The sleeve portion may be formed by injection molding an insulation material into a sleeve form. The sleeve portion may also be formed by stitching end portions of a rectangular fabric together to form the sleeve portion. A pouch may also be stitched to the sleeve, the pouch being adapted to receive the magnet, and the magnet inserted into the pouch. The magnet may also be secured to the sleeve with an adhesive, where the adhesive is applied to at least one of the magnet and the sleeve portion, the magnet is positioned against the sleeve portion, and the adhesive is cured to secure the magnet to the sleeve portion. The magnet may also be secured to the sleeve by inserting the magnet into a preformed aperture in the sleeve. [0010] In yet another aspect, the holder is manufactured entirely using injection molding, particularly Reaction Injection Molded ("RIM") techniques. The magnet is mounted on an interior paramagnetic, superparamagnetic, metamagnetic, ferrimagnetic, or ferromagnetic (e.g., ferrous-containing) surface of the mold. The mounting surface is typically in the shape of a pin or protrusion. In the mounted position, the magnet is spaced from a surrounding interior mold surface. With the exception of the protrusion, the mold is preferably otherwise not paramagnetic, superparamagnetic, metamagnetic, ferrimagnetic, or ferromagnetic, or magnetically attractive, and even more preferably is diamagnetic or superdiamagnetic. In this mariner, the magnet is retained in a desired orientation relative to the mold surfaces during resin injection. As will be appreciated, the magnet may be retained in a desired position and orientation in the mold during resin introduction using, instead of magnetic attraction, a friction fit between the protrusion and magnet. The mold may be an open or closed mold. Resin is then introduced into the mold while the magnet is magnetically engaged with the protrusion. After the resin has cured and cooled, the holder, which contains the magnet embedded in the sidewall of the holder, is removed from the mold. The removal force applied to the holder is, of course, greater than the magnetic force of attraction between the magnet and the protrusion. [0011] In another aspect, the present invention provides a beverage container holder including holding means for holding a beverage container, and mounting means for mounting the holding means to a mounting surface. The mounting means is secured to the holding means such that, when the beverage container is located in the holding means and the holding means is mounted to the mounting surface, a side of the beverage container is at least substantially parallel to the mounting surface. The mounting means may include a magnet which is secured to the holding means. [0012] Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a system for holding a beverage container. The system includes a beverage container, a holder adapted to receive the beverage container, a magnet operatively engaged with the holder, and a mounting surface operative to engage with the magnet and secure the holder to the mounting surface. When the holder is secured to the mounting surface, a side of the beverage container is substantially parallel to the mounting surface. The mounting surface may be substantially vertical. [0013] In yet another embodiment, the exterior surface of the holder adjacent to the magnet is flat or substantially planar and is coplanar with at least a portion of the outer cylindrical surface of the holder. This provides an expanded area of contact with the mounting surface in the area of the magnet and additional contact area along a height of the outer cylindrical sidewall of the holder. The outer surface of the holder may be textured, roughened, to provide increased frictional force along the contact area between the holder and the mounting surface. In one configuration, the texturing is effected by sandblasting the inner surface of the mold at least in the area adjacent to the holder contact area. The mold surface will be pockmarked, thereby imparting a roughened surface to the holder. [0014] In yet another embodiment, a magnet assembly includes first and/or second polarized materials and a paramagnetic, superparamagnetic, metamagnetic, ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and/or ferrimagnetic backing plate. The backing plate preferably contacts the magnetic material and is adjacent to, or faces, the interior of the holder to decrease the magnetic force of attraction to the beverage container. [0015] These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure of the invention(s) contained herein. [0016] The above-described embodiments and configurations are neither complete nor exhaustive. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below. [0017] As used herein, "at least one", "one or more", and "and/or" are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions "at least one of A, B and C", "at least one of A, B, or C", "one or more of A, B, and C", "one or more of A, B, or C" and "A, B, and/or C" means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together. [0018] It is to be noted that the term "a" or "an" entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms "a" (or "an"), "one or more" and "at least one" can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms "comprising", "including", and "having" can be used interchangeably. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a beverage container holder for one embodiment of the present invention; Continue reading about Multi-pole magnetized beverage container holder... Full patent description for Multi-pole magnetized beverage container holder Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Multi-pole magnetized beverage container 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 Multi-pole magnetized beverage container holder or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Adjustable mounting bracket between a valve and an actuator Next Patent Application: Multi-pole magnetized beverage container holder Industry Class: Supports ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Multi-pole magnetized beverage container holder patent info. 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