Cup Holder

Abstract

A cup holder for holding beverage containers in conjunction with shopping carts and the like. The holder includes a top including an aperture formed therein that is dimensioned to accept said beverage container; first and second sides extending from the top and including first and second hook portions, respectively, and a bottom including two sections interconnected to the first and second sides. All of the elements of the holder are integrally connected via folds for movement of the top, the first and second sides, and the first and second sections of said bottom between a first position, wherein the first and second sections of the bottom, the first and second sides, and the top extend along a common plane, and a second position, where the first and second sections of the bottom, the first and second sides, and the top are positioned to retain the beverage container.

1 . A holder for a beverage container, comprising:
 a top defining a first area and including an aperture formed therein that is dimensioned to accept said beverage container;   first and second sides extending from said top and including first and second hook portions, respectively; and   a bottom defining a second area smaller than said first area and interconnected to said first and second sides.   
   
   
       2 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein said hook portions are integrally connected to said first and second sides. 
   
   
       3 . The holder of  claim 2 , wherein said top is integrally attached to said first and second sides. 
   
   
       4 . The holder of  claim 3 , wherein said bottom comprises first and second sections having first and second slits, respectively, for interlocking with each other. 
   
   
       5 . The holder of  claim 4 , wherein said first and second sections of said bottom and integrally attached to said first and second sides, respectively. 
   
   
       6 . The holder of  claim 5 , wherein said first and second sections of said bottom, said first and second sides, and said top are integrally attached via folds that allow movement of said top, said first and second sides, and said first and second sections of said bottom between a first position, wherein said first and second sections of said bottom, said first and second sides, and said top extend along a common plane, and a second position, where said first and second sections of said bottom, said first and second sides, and said top are positioned to retain said beverage container. 
   
   
       7 . The holder of  claim 6 , wherein said sides taper from a widest dimension proximate to said top and a narrowest dimension proximate to said bottom. 
   
   
       8 . The holder of  claim 7 , wherein said hook portions are dimensioned to engage a horizontal bar on a shopping cart. 
   
   
       9 . The holder of  claim 8 , wherein said hook positioned are dimensioned to position said top above said horizontal bar of said shopping cart. 
   
   
       10 . A method of supporting a beverage container on a shopping cart, comprising the steps of:
 providing a holder comprising a top including an aperture formed therein that is dimensioned to accept said beverage container, first and second sides integrally extending from said top and including first and second hook portions, respectively, and a bottom comprising first and second sections integrally connected to said first and second sides and having first and second slits, respectively; and   folding said holder from a first position, wherein said first and second sections of said bottom, said first and second sides, and said top extend along a common plane, into a second position, where said first and second sections of said bottom, said first and second sides, and said top are positioned to retain said beverage container.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of hanging said holder on a horizontal bar on a shopping cart. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of placing said beverage contain in said aperture. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said top is positioned is positioned above said horizontal bar of said shopping cart after said holder is hung on said shopping cart.