US 5,326,064 A · Holder for preventing spills

Abstract

A holder comprises an upper section with a generally longitudinal slot forming a passage through a tubular wall member, a lower section with an open first end and an opposite second end, a connecting means for attaching the upper section with the lower section, and an end closure at the bottom of the lower section is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the lower section has a tubular wall member with a generally frustoconical inner surface. An apparatus comprises a container placed in the holder. In a preferred embodiment, the container may be placed on the connecting means of the holder. In another preferred embodiment, the container may rest on the frustoconical inner surface of the tubular wall member of the lower section of the holder. In yet another preferred embodiment, the container may be positioned on the end closure of the lower section. A method for decreasing spills from the container comprises positioning the container in the holder; restraining movements of the container inside the holder; directing a spill from the container through an existing annular gap between the outer surface of the container and the inner surface of the holder into a reservoir; and collecting a spill from the container in the annular gap in the holder which serves as the reservoir.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A holder comprising:

(a) an upper section formed from a tubular wall member having a first inner diameter at an open first end and a second inner diameter at an open second end, a generally cylindrical inner surface and a generally longitudinal slot forming a passage through the tubular wall member, said slot leading from the first end of the tubular wall member to a point between the first end and the second end of the tubular wall member;
(b) a lower section with an open first end and an opposite second end formed from a tubular wall member having a generally frustoconical inner surface, the lower section having a first inner diameter at the first end and a second inner diameter at the second end which is smaller than the first inner diameter;
(c) an end closure located at the second end of the lower section;
and
(d) a connecting means attaching the second end of the upper section to the first end of the lower section.

2 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a container with a top end and a bottom end, the top end and the bottom end connected by a generally tubular wall member having an outer surface and a first outer diameter at the top end and a second outer diameter at the bottom end;
and
a holder with
an upper section formed from a tubular wall member having a first inner diameter at an open first end and a second inner diameter at an open second end, a generally cylindrical inner surface and a generally longitudinal slot forming a passage through the tubular wall member, said slot leading from the first end of the tubular wall member to a point between the first end and the second end of the tubular wall member;
a lower section with an open first end and an opposite second end formed from a tubular wall member having a generally frustoconical inner surface, the lower section having a first inner diameter at the first end and a second inner diameter at the second end which is smaller than the first inner diameter;
an end closure at the second end of the lower section;
and
a connecting means attaching the second end of the upper section to the first end of the lower section;
wherein:
the container is placed in the upper section of the holder, with the bottom end of the container positioned on the connecting means of the holder, and the second outer diameter of the container is larger than the first inner diameter of the lower section which serves as a reservoir for any spills from the container.

7 more elements

A method for collecting spills from a container having liquids in an holder adapted for positioning in a vehicle console socket, said container comprising a top end and a bottom end, the top end with the bottom end connected by a generally tubular wall member having an outer surface and a first outer diameter at the top end and a second outer diameter at the bottom end, said method comprising:

(a) positioning the holder in the vehicle console socket, said holder having
an upper section formed from a tubular wall member having a first inner diameter at an open first end and a second inner diameter at an open second end, a generally cylindrical inner surface and a generally longitudinal slot forming a passage through the tubular wall member, said slot leading from the first end of the tubular wall member to a point between the first end and the second end of the tubular wall member;
a lower section with an open first end and an opposite second end formed from a tubular wall member having a generally frustoconical inner surface, the lower section having a first inner diameter at the first end and a second inner diameter at the second end which is smaller than the first inner diameter;
an end closure at the second end of the lower section;
and
a connecting means attaching the second end of the upper section to the first end of the lower section;
(b) positioning the container in the holder such that the container is positioned in the upper section of the holder;
(c) restraining movements of the container inside the holder;
(d) directing a spill from the container through an annular gap between the outer surface of the generally tubular wall member of the container and the inner surface of the tubular wall member of the holder into the lower section of the holder;
and
(e) collecting a spill from the container in the holder which serves as a reservoir.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Holder for preventing spills

Life of this patent

Holder for preventing spills

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20