Cup holder

Abstract

A cup holder for holding a container or drink on seats in arenas, stadiums and other public venues. The holder has an engagement portion that holds the rear side of the seat, a basket for holding a container therein and a strip extending therebetween. The holder is provided with a hinge between the basket and the strip to allow the holder to be collapsed. The holder further is provided with a flange for preventing rearward movement of the holder when it is attached to a seat. The strip may be a set length or may comprise a pair of telescoping members to allow for the holder to fit over varying seat widths.

1 . A holder for a container in association with a seat, comprising: 
 a receptacle for holding the container near a front portion of the seat engaging the container at a level below an upper surface of the seat, the receptacle extending below the upper surface of the seat;    a strip extending from the receptacle, and having a first portion extending upwardly from the receptacle and a second portion extending horizontally from the first portion and abutting the upper surface of the seat; and    a U-shaped member for engaging a rear portion of the seat preventing movement of the strip and holder in a direction towards the front portion of the seat and preventing vertical movement of the strip near the rear portion,    wherein the strip    comprises a first length and a second length slidably joined together allowing for a length of the strip to be slidably adjusted.    
   
   
       2 . The holder as described in  claim 15 , wherein the receptacle can rotate about the axis from a first position when the receptacle is in an operational position and a second position when the receptacle abuts an underside of the strip.  
   
   
       3 . The holder as described in  claim 2 , wherein the receptacle has a sidewall that includes a tab projecting perpendicularly from the sidewall for engaging a slot in the strip.  
   
   
       4 . The holder as described in  claim 3 , wherein the tab engages the slot when the receptacle is in the second position.  
   
   
       5 . The holder as described in  claim 1 , wherein the strip first portion and the strip second portion are hinge coupled together about an axis for permitting the receptacle to rotate about the axis from a first position when the receptacle is in an operational position and a second position when the receptacle abuts an underside of the strip, 
 wherein the receptacle comprises÷an engagement means for engaging the container; and    further comprising a flange spaced apart from the engagement means and the U-shaped member the flange for preventing movement of the strip and receptacle in a direction towards the rear portion of the seat, the flange consisting essentially of a single layer, and optionally a tab protruding perpendicularly from the flange for engaging an optional slot in the strip second portion.    
   
   
       6 . The holder as described in  claim 5 , wherein the flange includes a the tab and the slot in the strip.  
   
   
       7 . The holder as described in  claim 6 , wherein the tab engages the slot when the holding means is in the second position.  
   
   
       8 . The holder as described in  claim 1 , wherein the strip first portion and the strip second portion are hinge coupled together about an axis.  
   
   
       9 . The holder as described in  claim 8 , further including a means for providing a friction contact between the first length and second length.  
   
   
       10 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A holder for a container in association with a seat, comprising: 
 a receptacle for holding the container near a front portion of the seat engaging the container at a level below an upper surface of the seat;    a strip extending from the receptacle and abutting the upper surface of the seat;    means for engaging a rear portion of the seat preventing movement of the strip and receptacle in a direction towards the front of the seat and preventing vertical movement of the strip near the rear portion; and    a flange extending from the strip, and spaced apart from the engagement means and the U-shaped member the flange for preventing movement of the strip and receptacle in a direction towards the rear portion of the seat the flange consisting essentially of a single layer, and optionally a tab.    
   
   
       12 . The holder as described in claims  1 , wherein the strip comprises a first length and a second length slidably joined together allowing for a length of the strip to be slidably adjusted.  
   
   
       13 . The holder as described in  claim 11 , further including a means for providing a friction contact between the first length and second length.  
   
   
       14 . The holder as described in  claim 11 , wherein the engaging means is a U-shaped member engaging the rear portion of the seat.  
   
   
       15 . The holder as described in  claim 1 , wherein the strip first portion and the strip second portion are hinge coupled together about an axis for permitting the receptacle to rotate about the axis from a first position when the receptacle is in an operational position and a second position when the receptacle abuts an underside of the strip.  
   
   
       16 . The holder as described in  claim 1 , wherein a hinge runs transversely along the strip first portion forming an axis for permitting the receptacle to rotate about the axis from a first position when the receptacle is in an operational position and a second position when the receptacle abuts an underside of the strip.  
   
   
       17 . A holder for a container in association with a seat, comprising: 
 a receptacle for holding the container near a front portion of the seat engaging the container at a level below an upper surface of the seat, the receptacle extending below the upper surface of the seat;    a strip extending from the receptacle, and having a first portion extending upwardly from the receptacle and a second portion extending horizontally from the first portion and abutting the upper surface of the seat; and    a U-shaped member for engaging a rear portion of the seat preventing movement of the strip and holder in a direction towards the front portion of the seat and preventing vertical movement of the strip near the rear portion,    wherein a hinge runs transversely along the strip first portion forming an axis for permitting the receptacle to pivot about the axis to rotate about the axis from a first position when the receptacle is in an operational position and a second position when the receptacle abuts an underside of the strip.    
   
   
       18 . The holder as described in  claim 17 , wherein the strip first portion and the strip second portion are hinge coupled together about an axis for permitting the receptacle to rotate about the axis from the first position when the receptacle is in an operational position and the second position when the receptacle abuts an underside of the strip.