Reusable cup holder

Claim 2

A plastic cup holder for cooperative association with a handleless cup to provide a graspable handle therefor comprising: an upper, expansible collar portion to receive and retain in releasable fashion a sidewall portion of said cup to be held adjacent said upper expansible collar portion and to substantially encircle said sidewall portion of said cup; a lower, spaced, cooperating support portion, said support portion having an upper surface adapted to releasably receive and engage the bottom of said cup to be held thereon; and an intermediate depending, extending shank portion forming a handle and being connected to and outwardly spaced from said upper collar portion and said lower extending support portion, said collar portion cooperating with said shank portion forming a handle to provide a continuous, closed encircling engagement for said cup.

Claim 3

The cup holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said upper expansible collar portion and said lower extending support portion are of sufficient cooperative extending depth and spacing to form a releasable friction locking engagement with said sidewall portion and said bottom of said cup, respectively, whereby said cup is securely held in releasable fashion.

Claim 4

The cup holder in accordance with claim 2 wherein said intermediate depending, extending shank portion is generally arcuate in overall configuration so as to form a hand graspable surface, spaced from the exterior surface of said cup to be held by said cup holder.

Claim 5

The cup holder in accordance with claim 3 wherein said upper expansible collar portion and said lower extending support portion are about in parallel, horizontal alignment with respect to said intermediate depending, extending shank portion.

Claim 6

The cup holder in accordance with claim 4 wherein said cup has an inwardly directed frusto-conical sidewall and a bottom with a concave portion and said upper surface of said lower extending support portion has a convex portion adapted to frictionally and releasably engage and retain therein said bottom of said cup.

Claim 7

The cup holder in accordance with claim 5 wherein the majority of said cup holder is of one-piece, integral construction and is of resilient plastic.

Claim 8

The cup holder in accordance with claim 6 wherein said convex portion of said lower extending support portion is recessed into the upper surface of said lower extending support portion so as to receive and retain therein a portion of said sidewall of said cup adjacent said bottom.

Claim 9

The cup holder in accordance with claim 7 wherein said intermediate depending, extending shank portion has the shape of a recognizable figure.

Claim 10

The cup holder in accordance with claim 8 wherein said upper expansible collar portion is C-shaped.

Claim 11

The cup holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said shank portion is releasably secured to said upper collar portion and to said lower support portion, said releasably secured shank portion including an upper portion and a bottom portion, with said upper shank portion and said upper collar portion including bulbous/receptacle means for releasably engaging said upper shank portion in said upper collar portion; said lower support portion including an extension for supporting said bottom portion of said shank portion; and said lower support portion and said bottom shank portion including bulbous/receptacle means for releasably engaging said bottom shank portion in said extension.

Claim 12

A cup holder for cooperative association with a handleless cup to provide a graspable handle therefore comprising: an upper expansible C-shaped collar portion of resilient plastic material having an inwardly canted frusto-conical sidewall, adapted to receive and retain therein, in a releasable friction fit, a portion of the sidewall of said cup adjacent said upper expansible, C-shaped collar portion and to substantially encircle said sidewall portion of said cup; and a spaced, cooperating lower extending support portion having on its upper surface a recessed convex portion with frusto-conical sidewalls adapted to receive and retain therein said bottom and a portion of said sidewall of said cup adjacent said bottom; and an intermediate depending, extending shank portion forming a handle, outwardly spaced from said upper expansible C-shaped collar portion and said lower extending support portion, generally arcuate in overall configuration so as to form a hand graspable surface, spaced from the exterior of said cup, said shank portion adapted to engage the spaced, opposed termini of said C-shaped collar to provide a continuous, closed encircling engagement for said cup.

Claim 13

A cup holder for cooperative association with a handleless cup to provide a graspable handle therefore comprising: an upper expansible C-shaped collar portion of resilient plastic material having an inwardly canted frusto-conical sidewall, adapted to receive and retain therein, in a releasable friction fit, a portion of the sidewall of said cup adjacent said upper expansible, C-shaped collar portion and to substantially encircle said sidewall portion of said cup; and a spaced, cooperating lower extending support portion having on its upper surface a recessed convex portion with frusto-conical sidewalls adapted to receive and retain therein said bottom and a portion of said sidewall of said cup adjacent said bottom; and an intermediate depending, extending shank portion forming a handle, outwardly spaced from said upper expansible C-shaped collar portion and said lower extending support portion, generally arcuate in overall configuration so as to form a hand graspable surface, spaced from the exterior of said cup, said shank portion adapted to engage the spaced, opposed termini of said C-shaped collar to provide a continuous, closed encircling engagement for said cup.

Claim 14

The cup holder in accordance with claim 11 wherein said shank portion is releasably secured to said upper collar portion and to said lower support portion, said releasably secured shank portion including an upper portion and a bottom portion, with said upper shank portion and said upper collar portion including bulbous/receptacle means for releasably engaging said upper shank portion in said upper collar portion; said lower support portion including an extension for supporting said bottom portion of said shank portion; and said lower support portion and said bottom shank portion including bulbous/receptacle means for releasably engaging said bottom shank portion of said shank portion in said extension.

Claim 15

A cup holder for cooperative association with a handleless cup to provide a graspable handle therefore comprising: an upper expansible C-shaped collar portion of resilient plastic material having an inwardly canted frusto-conical sidewall, adapted to receive and retain therein, in a releasable friction fit, a portion of the sidewall of said cup adjacent said upper expansible, C-shaped collar portion and to substantially encircle said sidewall portion of said cup; and a spaced, cooperating lower extending support portion having on its upper surface a recessed convex portion with frusto-conical sidewalls adapted to receive and retain therein said bottom and a portion of said sidewall of said cup adjacent said bottom; and an intermediate depending, extending, releasable shank portion forming a handle, outwardly spaced from said upper expansible C-shaped collar portion and said lower extending support portion, generally arcuate in overall configuration so as to form a hand graspable surface, spaced from the exterior of said cup, said shank portion releasably secured to said upper collar portion and said lower support portion, said shank portion adapted to engage the spaced, opposed termini of said C-shaped collar to provide a continuous, closed encircling engagement for said cup.

Claim 16

A cup holder for cooperative association with a handleless cup to provide a graspable handle therefore comprising: an upper expansible C-shaped collar portion of resilient plastic material having an inwardly canted frusto-conical sidewall, adapted to receive and retain therein, in a releasable friction fit, a portion of the sidewall of said cup adjacent said upper expansible, C-shaped collar portion and to substantially encircle said sidewall portion of said cup; and a spaced, cooperating lower extending support portion having on its upper surface a recessed convex portion with frusto-conical sidewalls adapted to receive and retain therein said bottom and a portion of said sidewall of said cup adjacent said bottom; and an intermediate depending, extending, releasable shank portion forming a handle, outwardly spaced from said upper expansible C-shaped collar portion and said lower extending support portion, generally arcuate in overall configuration so as to form a hand graspable surface, spaced from the exterior of said cup, said shank portion releasably secured to said upper collar portion and said lower support portion, said shank portion adapted to engage the spaced, opposed termini of said C-shaped collar to provide a continuous, closed encircling engagement for said cup.

Claim 17

A cup holder for cooperative association with a handleless cup to provide a graspable handle therefore comprising: an upper expansible C-shaped collar portion of resilient plastic material having an inwardly canted frusto-conical sidewall, adapted to receive and retain therein, in a releasable friction fit, a portion of the sidewall of said cup adjacent said upper expansible, C-shaped collar portion and to substantially encircle said sidewall portion of said cup; and a spaced, cooperating lower extending support portion having on its upper surface a recessed convex portion with frusto-conical sidewalls adapted to receive and retain therein said bottom and a portion of said sidewall of said cup adjacent said bottom; and an intermediate depending, extending, releasable shank portion forming a handle, outwardly spaced from said upper expansible C-shaped collar portion and said lower extending support portion, generally arcuate in overall configuration so as to form a hand graspable surface, spaced from the exterior of said cup, said shank portion including an upper portion and a bottom portion, said upper portion of said shank portion including means for releasably engaging in said upper collar portion, said upper collar portion including means for receiving said releasable engaging means, said lower support portion including an extension for supporting said bottom portion of said shank portion, and said lower support portion further including means for releasably engaging in said bottom portion of said shank portion, said bottom portion including corresponding means for receiving said releasable engaging means, said shank portion adapted to engage the spaced, opposed termini of said C-shaped collar to provide a continuous, closed encircling engagement for said cup.

Claim 18

A cup holder for cooperative association with a handleless cup to provide a graspable handle therefore comprising: an upper expansible C-shaped collar portion of resilient plastic material having an inwardly canted frusto-conical sidewall, adapted to receive and retain therein, in a releasable friction fit, a portion of the sidewall of said cup adjacent said upper expansible, C-shaped collar portion and to substantially encircle said sidewall portion of said cup; and a spaced, cooperating lower extending support portion having on its upper surface a recessed convex portion with frusto-conical sidewalls adapted to receive and retain therein said bottom and a portion of said sidewall of said cup adjacent said bottom; and an intermediate depending, extending, releasable shank portion forming a handle, outwardly spaced from said upper expansible C-shaped collar portion and said lower extending support portion, generally arcuate in overall configuration so as to form a hand graspable surface, spaced from the exterior of said cup, said shank portion including an upper portion and a bottom portion, said upper portion of said shank portion including means for releasably engaging in said upper collar portion, said upper collar portion including means for receiving said releasable engaging means, said lower support portion including an extension for supporting said bottom portion of said shank portion, and said lower support portion further including means for releasably engaging in said bottom portion of said shank portion, said bottom portion including corresponding means for receiving said releasable engaging means, said shank portion adapted to engage the spaced, opposed termini of said C-shaped collar to provide a continuous, closed encircling engagement for said cup.

Claim 19

The cup holder in accordance with claim 10 wherein said upper shank portion is provided with bulbous engaging means and said upper collar portion is provided with receptacle means for cooperatively engaging said bulbous means and wherein said extension is provided with bulbous engaging means and said bottom shank portion is provided with receptacle means for cooperatively engaging said bulbous means.

Claim 20

The cup holder in accordance with claim 12 wherein said upper shank portion is provided with bulbous engaging means and said upper collar portion is provided with receptacle means for cooperatively engaging said bulbous means and wherein said extension is provided with bulbous engaging means and said bottom shank portion is provided with receptacle means for cooperatively engaging said bulbous means.

Claim 21

The cup holder in accordance with claim 13 wherein said upper shank portion is provided with bulbous engaging means and said upper collar portion is provided with receptacle means for cooperatively engaging said bulbous means and wherein said extension is provided with bulbous engaging means and said bottom shank portion is provided with receptacle means for cooperatively engaging said bulbous means.

Claim 22

The cup holder in accordance with claim 14 wherein said upper shank portion is provided with bulbous engaging means and said upper collar portion is provided with receptacle means for cooperatively engaging said bulbous means and wherein said extension is provided with bulbous engaging means and said bottom shank portion is provided with receptacle means for cooperatively engaging said bulbous means.