Retaining means for insulated sleeve usable with universal cup holder

Abstract

A sleeve for receiving therein a convenience item, this sleeve being generally cylindrical in shape, having a substantially flat bottom, an open top, and being constructed of expansible material. In a first embodiment of this invention, the sleeve has a slot located at or near the juncture of the flat bottom with a cylindrically shared side. This slot enables a lower portion of the sleeve to be inserted over a restraining device, with the slot making it possible for the sleeve to be restrained, and caused to stay with the restraining device when the convenience item is removed from the sleeve. In another embodiment, VELCRO® is advantageously used to restrain the sleeve against removal with the convenience item from a drink recess.

1 . A sleeve for directly receiving therein a convenience item, said sleeve being generally cylindrical in shape, having a substantially flat bottom and an open top, and being constructed of expansible material, said sleeve arranged to directly and closely receive a convenience item, said sleeve having retaining means, located adjacent said substantially flat bottom, said retaining means making it possible to restrain said sleeve, and to cause said sleeve to stay with an associated restraining device when a closely-fitting item residing in said sleeve is removed from said sleeve. 
   
   
       2 . The sleeve as recited in  claim 1  in which said sleeve is an insulated sleeve capable of receiving therein, a beverage container to be maintained in either a hot or a cold condition, the expansible material of which said sleeve is constructed making it possible for a variety of sizes of containers to be received therein. 
   
   
       3 . An insulated sleeve for receiving therein a beverage container and serving to keep such container either hot or cold, said sleeve being constructed of expansible material so that a variety of sizes of beverage containers may be directly received therein, said sleeve being generally cylindrical in shape, with curved sides, said sleeve having a substantially flat bottom and an open top, and having retaining means, located in the bottom of said sleeve, at or adjacent said substantially flat bottom, said retaining means making it possible to restrain said sleeve, and to cause said sleeve to stay with an associated restraining device when a beverage container is removed from said sleeve. 
   
   
       4 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 3  in which the restraining device is part of a cup holder with which said retaining means of said insulated sleeve interfits. 
   
   
       5 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 4  in which said retaining means involves a slot located adjacent said substantially flat bottom of said sleeve, said slot permitting a lower portion of said sleeve to be stretched over the restraining device forming part of the cup holder, said restraining serving to restrain said sleeve, and to cause said sleeve to stay with the restraining device when a beverage container is removed from said sleeve. 
   
   
       6 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 3  in which said restraining device is part of a beverage recess located in a console of a vehicle, with which recess said insulated sleeve interfits. 
   
   
       7 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 6  in which said retaining means involves a first type of VELCRO® mounted on the exterior of said sleeve, with a second type of VELCRO® utilized in the beverage recess and serving as the restraining device. 
   
   
       8 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 3  wherein said substantially flat bottom is made of the same material as used for the sides of the sleeve. 
   
   
       9 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 3  wherein said substantially flat bottom is made of a first type of VELCRO®, so that the sleeve may be removably secured to a surface upon which a second type of VELCRO® may be used. 
   
   
       10 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 3  wherein said insulated sleeve has an enlarged upper opening to facilitate the insertion of a cup or can into said sleeve. 
   
   
       11 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 10  in which said enlarged upper opening incorporates the use of a soft, circularly shaped member utilized to assure said opening remaining distortion-free. 
   
   
       12 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 10  in which an upper portion of said sleeve of expansible material has been inserted through a soft, circularly-shaped member, latter member being held in operative relation with said sleeve by a portion of said sleeve being folded tightly over said circularly-shaped member. 
   
   
       13 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 10  wherein said insulated sleeve has first and second sides, with a different color on each side, with said sleeve able to be turned inside-out to reveal a different color on said second side, than was apparent from said first side. 
   
   
       14 . An insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold, said sleeve being constructed of expansible material so that a variety of sizes of beverage containers may be directly received therein, said sleeve being generally cylindrical in shape, with curved sides, said sleeve having a substantially flat bottom and an open top, and having a slot in said sleeve at the juncture of the flat bottom with a cylindrically shaped side, said slot permitting a lower portion of said sleeve to be inserted over a restraining device, said slot making it possible to restrain said sleeve, and to cause it to stay with the restraining device when a beverage container is removed from said sleeve. 
   
   
       15 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 14  in which the restraining device is part of a cup holder with which said insulated sleeve interfits. 
   
   
       16 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 14  in which the restraining device is part of a cup holder with which said insulated sleeve interfits. 
   
   
       17 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 14  wherein said insulated sleeve has first and second sides, with a different color on each side, with said sleeve able to be turned inside-out to reveal a different color on said second side, than was apparent from said first side. 
   
   
       18 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 14  wherein said insulated sleeve has an enlarged upper opening to facilitate the insertion of a cup or can into said sleeve. 
   
   
       19 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 18  wherein said enlarged upper opening incorporates the use of a soft, circularly-shaped member utilized to assure said opening remaining distortion-free. 
   
   
       20 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 18  wherein an upper portion of said sleeve of expansible material has been inserted through a soft, circularly-shaped member, latter member being held in operative relation with said sleeve by a portion of said sleeve being folded tightly over said circularly shaped member. 
   
   
       21 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 14  wherein said substantially flat bottom is made of the same material as used for the sides. 
   
   
       22 . The insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 14  wherein said substantially flat bottom is made of a first type of VELCRO®, so that the sleeve may be removably secured to a surface upon which a second type of VELCRO® may be used. 
   
   
       23 . A cup holder in combination with an insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold, said cup holder having curved, flexible arms able to receive beverage containers of a wide variety of sizes, said cup holder also having a base member disposed below said flexible arms, with said flexible arms and said base member being supported in a functional relationship by a generally vertically disposed spine member, said insulated sleeve being constructed of expansible material so that a variety of sizes of beverage containers may be directly received, said sleeve being generally cylindrical in shape, with curved sides, said sleeve having a substantially flat bottom and an open top, and having a slot located at or near the juncture of said flat bottom with a curved side, said slot permitting said sleeve to be inserted over said base member, said slot making it possible to restrain said sleeve, and to cause said sleeve to stay with said cup holder when the beverage container is removed from said insulated sleeve. 
   
   
       24 . The cup holder in combination with an insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 23  in which said sleeve is caused to reside between said flexible arms of said cup holder when said slot has been inserted over said base member. 
   
   
       25 . The cup holder in combination with an insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 24  in which an enlarged upper portion surrounds said open top, with said enlarged upper portion resting against upper portions of said flexible arms when said sleeve has been caused to reside between said flexible arms, thus to prevent the downward crumpling of said sleeve at the time a cup or can is inserted into said sleeve. 
   
   
       26 . The cup holder in combination with an insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 25  wherein said enlarged upper opening incorporates the use of a circularly-shaped member utilized to assure said opening remaining distortion-free. 
   
   
       27 . The cup holder in combination with an insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 25  wherein an upper portion of said sleeve of expansible material has been inserted through a soft, circularly-shaped member, latter member being held in operative relation with said sleeve by a portion of said sleeve being folded tightly over said circularly-shaped member. 
   
   
       28 . The cup holder in combination with an insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 25  wherein said insulated sleeve has first and second sides, with a different color on each side, with said sleeve able to be turned inside-out to reveal a different color on said second side, than was apparent from said first side. 
   
   
       29 . The cup holder in combination with an insulated sleeve for keeping a beverage container either hot or cold as recited in  claim 28  wherein said substantially flat bottom member is made of double sided VELCRO®, so that a VELCRO® surface is presented on the underside of said sleeve, irrespective of whichever side is outermost at a given time. 
   
   
       30 . The sleeve for directly receiving therein a convenience item as recited in  claim 1  in which said retaining means involves a slot located in said sleeve adjacent said substantially flat bottom of said sleeve, said slot permitting a lower portion of said sleeve to be stretched over the associated restraining device, the restraining device serving to restrain said sleeve, and to cause said sleeve to stay with the restraining device when the convenience item is removed from said sleeve. 
   
   
       31 . The sleeve for directly receiving therein a convenience item as recited in  claim 30  in which said open top incorporates the use of a circularly-shaped member utilized to assure said opening remaining distortion-free. 
   
   
       32 . The sleeve for directly receiving therein a convenience item as recited in  claim 1  in which the restraining device is part of a beverage recess located in a console of a vehicle, with which recess said insulated sleeve interfits, said retaining means involving a first type of VELCRO® mounted on the exterior of said sleeve, with a second type of VELCRO® utilized in the beverage recess and directly serving as the restraining device. 
   
   
       33 . The sleeve for directly receiving therein a convenience item as recited in  claim 32  in which said open top incorporates the use of a circularly-shaped member utilized to assure said opening remaining distortion-free. 
   
   
       34 . An insulated sleeve for directly receiving therein, a beverage container and serving to keep such container either hot or cold, said sleeve being generally cylindrical in shape, with curved sides, said sleeve having a substantially flat bottom and an open top, said sleeve having a slot located in a curved side adjacent said flat bottom, said slot being able to receive a restraining device extending into said slot, such that said sleeve will not be removed with a beverage container residing in said sleeve, when the beverage container is withdrawn from said sleeve. 
   
   
       35 . The insulated sleeve for directly receiving therein a beverage container as recited in  claim 34  in which said sleeve is made of expansible material so that a variety of sizes of containers may be received therein. 
   
   
       36 . An insulated sleeve for directly receiving therein, a beverage container as recited in  claim 34  in which said open top incorporates the use of a circularly shaped member utilized to assure said opening remaining distortion-free. 
   
   
       37 . An insulated sleeve for directly receiving a beverage container to be kept either hot or cold, said sleeve being generally cylindrical in shape, with curved sides and an open top, said open top utilizing a ring-shaped member preventing the crumpling of the top of said sleeve when a beverage container is inserted into said sleeve, said sleeve having a substantially flat bottom and having retaining means located near the juncture of the flat bottom with a cylindrically shaped side, said retaining means making it possible to restrain said sleeve, and to cause it to stay with an associated restraining device when the beverage container is removed from said sleeve. 
   
   
       38 . The insulated sleeve for directly receiving a beverage container to be kept either hot or cold as recited in  claim 37  in which the restraining means is part of a beverage recess located in a console of a vehicle, with which recess said insulated sleeve interfits. 
   
   
       39 . The insulated sleeve for directly receiving a beverage container to be kept either hot or cold as recited in  claim 38  in which said retaining means involves a first type of VELCRO mounted on the exterior of said sleeve, with a second type of VELCRO utilized in the beverage recess and serving as the restraining means. 
   
   
       40 . The insulated sleeve for directly receiving a beverage container to be kept either hot or cold as recited in  claim 37  in which in which said retaining means involves a slot located in said sleeve adjacent said substantially flat bottom of said sleeve, said slot permitting a lower portion of said sleeve to be stretched over an associated restraining device, so that the sleeve will not be removed when the beverage container is withdrawn.