Insulating beverage container holder

Abstract

A beverage container holder for holding a commercial beverage container has a generally spiral configuration in order to expand radially and axially to accommodate containers of different shapes and sizes. The holder is also compressible for portability and re-use, is adaptable to the ergonomic needs of a variety of users, and provides additional support to the sides of a beverage container. It may have a circular bottom portion with either an open or closed bottom surface or partially-circular bottom portion that is radially expandable along with the spiral upper portion.

1 . A beverage container holder comprising: 
 a bottom portion sized to hold a beverage container; and    an expandable upper coiled portion attached to the bottom and capable of looping around an exterior surface of the beverage container.    
   
   
       2 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion has an enclosed and stepped bottom surface.  
   
   
       3 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion has an open bottom.  
   
   
       4 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion forms a cylinder.  
   
   
       5 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion has a free end and is sufficiently radially expandable to slip over the wrist of a user.  
   
   
       6 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the upper coiled portion expands axially and radially to fit a variety of different-sized beverage containers.  
   
   
       7 . The beverage container holder of  claim 6 , wherein the upper coiled portion comprises at least two loops having a gap therebetween.  
   
   
       8 . The beverage container holder of  claim 7 , wherein the gap is covered with a flexible membrane.  
   
   
       9 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion and upper coiled portion further comprise an inner surface contacting the beverage container and an outer surface for contacting a hand of a person drinking the beverage.  
   
   
       10 . The beverage container holder of  claim 9 , wherein at least an outer surface of the beverage container holder is formed from a high friction material is used to enhance gripping by end user.  
   
   
       11 . The beverage container holder of  claim 9 , wherein the outer surface is textured.  
   
   
       12 . The beverage container holder of  claim 9 , wherein the outer surface has indicia printed thereon.  
   
   
       13 . The beverage container holder of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom portion and each coil of the upper coiled portion have an outer surface that tapers inwardly from a central portion thereof to at least an upper edge thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The beverage container holder of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom portion and each coil of the upper coiled portion has an outer surface that tapers inwardly from a central portion thereof to upper and lower edges thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The beverage container holder of  claim 9 , further comprising surface features which are provided on the inside surface of at least the upper coiled portion and which are configured to engage the outer surface of the container so that the at least the majority of the remainder of the inner surface of the upper coiled portion remains spaced from the container.  
   
   
       16 . The beverage container holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is manufactured of an insulative material.  
   
   
       17 . The beverage container holder of  claim 16 , wherein the insulative material comprises at least one of paper, polyethylene, polypropylene, TPU, TPE, TPR, Plastisol, silicone.  
   
   
       18 . The beverage container holder of  claim 16 , wherein the holder may be expanded and compressed repeatedly without losing its natural shape.  
   
   
       19 . The beverage container holder of  claim 18 , further comprising a spacer that extends inwardly from the inner surface of the bottom portion to define a region that is bounded by the spacer and that is of reduced diameter when compared to that of the inside surface of the bottom end of the bottom portion.  
   
   
       20 . A method of using a beverage container holder comprising the steps of: 
 placing a beverage container within the holder;    expanding an upper coiled portion of the holder to fit the beverage container; and    holding the beverage container holder by the hand.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of removing the beverage container from the holder for re-use.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of compressing the holder for storage.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the holder has a bottom portion and an upper coiled portion, and wherein the compressing step comprises compressing the upper coiled portion over or into the bottom portion such that the total height of the holder is no higher than twice that of the bottom portion.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the compressing step comprises compressing the upper coiled portion over or inside the bottom portion such that the total height of the holder is no higher than that of the bottom portion.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising slipping the beverage container holder over a wrist of the user and wearing the beverage container holder on the an arm of the user.