Apparatus for holding a liquid container

Abstract

An apparatus is described to hold a liquid container on a horizontal support surface to reduce the risk of the container being knocked over. The apparatus is generally comprised of a container support that defines a container receiving socket, and a support surface engaging base part that is spaced outwardly of the container receiving socket and at least partially circumscribes the container support. Exemplary forms of the support surface can include a container receiving sleeve that is integrated with a formed base, upstanding container engaging members that are spaced about a flat base, flexible fingers that are integral with the base part, and a set of foldable tabs that can be folded upwardly from a flat base part.

1 . An apparatus to hold a liquid container on a horizontal support surface to reduce the risk of the container being knocked over, comprising: 
 a container support defining a container receiving socket configured to slidably and releasably receive a liquid container in an upright orientation with respect to the support surface;    a support surface engaging base part connected to and spaced outwardly of the container receiving socket and at least partially circumscribing the container support.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container support and support surface engaging base part are integral.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container support extends upwardly from the support engaging base part with respect to the support surface.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a container gripping surface on the container support.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a container receiving socket gripping surface comprised of dimples formed in the container support for releasably snapping over and axially capturing a container within the container receiving socket, wherein the support surface engaging base part is continuous and at least substantially circular.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , and wherein the support engaging base part defines a liquid receiving well between the container support and the support engaging base part.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support engaging base part is circular and the container support is substantially coaxial with the support engaging base part.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface defines a container support flange at least partially spanning the container receiving socket and further comprising container gripping dimples formed in the support surface axially spaced from the container support flange.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container support is comprised of a plurality of container engaging members spaced about an axis to define the container receiving socket and wherein the container engaging members are defined by an axial extent of one inch or more.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container support is comprised of a plurality of container engaging members spaced about an axis; and 
 wherein the container engaging members are axially hollow and tapered to permit a plurality of the apparatus to be axially stacked.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container support is spaced elevationally above the support engaging base part, and is comprised of a plurality of resilient fingers formed about and extending into the container receiving socket, the resilient fingers being bendable against a container forced into the container receiving socket to grip the container.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container support is comprised of a plurality of resilient fingers formed about and extending into the container receiving socket, the resilient fingers being of varied length dimension, and bendable against a container forced into the container receiving socket to grip the container.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container support is convex, rising upwardly from the support engaging base part with respect to the horizontal support surface, and is comprised of a plurality of resilient fingers formed about and extending substantially radially toward one another with respect to a central axis, and bendable against a container forced into the horizontal support socket to grip the container.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container support is convex, rising upwardly from the support engaging base part with respect to the horizontal support surface, and is comprised of a plurality of elongated resilient fingers formed about and extending into the container receiving socket, the resilient fingers being bendable against a container forced into the horizontal support socket to grip the container and sufficiently long to bend downwardly into contact with the support surface.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support engaging base part is formed as a flat disk from which the container support projects.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support engaging base part is formed as a disk, and wherein the container support is integral with the disk and formed of tabs disposed about the disk and a central axis, the tabs being configured to be folded angularly about non radial fold lines to form the container receiving socket.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support engaging base part is formed as a disk, and wherein the container support is integral with the disk and formed of tabs disposed about the disk and a central axis, the tabs being configured to be folded angularly about non radial fold lines to form the container receiving socket; and further comprising a pop out core piece releasably joined to the disk and disposed axially inward of the tabs.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus to hold a liquid container on a horizontal support surface to reduce the risk of the container being knocked over, comprising: 
 a container support defining a container receiving socket that is configured to slidably receive a liquid container in an upright orientation with respect to the support surface;    a disk, defining a support surface engaging base part; and    wherein the container support joins with and is substantially centered on the disk with the support engaging base part extending outward of and at least partially about the support surface.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the disk is flat and wherein the container support is comprised of tabs that are folded upwardly from the disk and angularly spaced about a central upright axis to define the container receiving socket.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the disk is flat and defines a stacking opening of complimentary shape to the container support.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the container support is comprised of a plurality of upstanding container engaging members spaced angularly about a central axis.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the container support is comprised of a plurality of upstanding container engaging members spaced angularly about a central axis and wherein the disk includes stacking openings of complimentary shape to the container engaging members.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the disk is flat and wherein the container support is integral with the disk and comprised of upstanding container engaging members spaced angularly about a central axis, and further wherein the disk includes stacking openings of complimentary shape to the container engaging members.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a container gripping surface on the container support.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus to hold an upright liquid container on a horizontal support surface to reduce the risk of the container being knocked over, comprising: 
 a flat disk formed of a flexible material and defining a perimeter;    wherein the disk defines a central container receiving opening disposed radially inward of the perimeter and formed about a central axis;    a plurality of angularly disposed tabs spaced about the container receiving opening;    wherein the tabs are foldable about non radial fold lines with respect to the axis from positions substantially coplanar with the flat disk, to substantially upright axial positions;    wherein the tabs include leg edges that in the upright positions, face inwardly and define a container receiving socket opening,    
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a pop out core piece releasably joined to the disk and spanning the central container receiving opening.