Gyroscopic cup holder

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a gimbaled beverage container holder configured to attach to an external object, such as luggage handles or other transport device. The holder may include an outer ring, middle ring, and removable inner ring and may use a center of gravity two axes gimbal to stabilize a beverage in the container in a reduced spill, near vertical position. The beverage container may be accommodated within the removable inner ring, providing two axes, or the larger middle ring, providing one axis, wherein each ring may rotate independently. The outer ring may include at least one attachment device, such as an outer ring arm and/or an outer ring clip, to which may provide interchangeable attachments to most external objects or transport devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cup holder configured to hold and stabilize a beverage container, reducing the likelihood of a liquid being spilled out of the beverage container, the cup holder being configured to attach to an external object, the cup holder comprising:
 an inner ring configured to accommodate the beverage container;   a middle ring rotationally attached to the inner ring, creating a first axis of rotation, the middle ring having a diameter larger than the inner ring;   an outer ring rotationally attached to the middle ring, creating a second axis of rotation, the outer ring having a diameter larger than the middle ring; and   an attachment device extending from an external surface the outer ring, the attachment device configured to attach the cup holder to the external object.   
     
     
         2 . The cup holder of  claim 1 , wherein the inner ring is removable and the middle ring is configured to accommodate the beverage container. 
     
     
         3 . The cup holder of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment device comprises a device configured to secure the cup holder to a pair of handles that upwardly extend from a piece of luggage. 
     
     
         4 . The cup holder of  claim 3 , wherein the device configured to secure the cup holder to the pair of handles comprises:
 an outer ring arm extending from the outer ring, the outer ring arm comprising:
 an outer ring single hook arm; and 
 an outer ring multi hook arm configured to engage with the outer ring single hook arm, 
   wherein each of the outer ring single hook arm and the outer ring multi hook arm comprises a gripping gap region configured to accommodate and grip one of the pair of handles, securing the cup holder to the luggage.   
     
     
         5 . The cup holder of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the outer ring single hook arm comprises a single hook positioned at a distal end of the outer ring single hook arm, the single hook curving inwards toward the outer ring;   the outer ring multi hook arm comprises a plurality of hooks at a distal end of the outer ring multi hook arm, each of the plurality of hooks curving outwards away from the outer ring; and   the single hook is configured to engage with a desired hook of the plurality of hooks to close the outer ring arm around the handles, securing the cup holder to the handles.   
     
     
         6 . The cup holder of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment device comprises a strapping system extending from the outer ring, the strapping system comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a hook and loop strapping system and a strap with a clasp, the strapping system configured to attach the cup holder to the external object. 
     
     
         7 . The cup holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outer ring comprises a pair of outer ring pin orifices equally spaced about a circumference of the outer ring;   the middle ring comprises a pair of middle ring pivot pins and a pair of middle ring pin orifices equally spaced about a circumference of the middle ring;   the inner ring comprises a pair of inner ring pivot pins equally spaced about a circumference of the inner ring;   the middle ring pivot pins extend outwardly from the middle ring to align and engage with the outer ring pin orifices; and   the inner ring pivot pins extend outwardly from the inner ring to align and engage with the middle ring pin orifices.   
     
     
         8 . The cup holder of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment device comprises an outer ring clip comprising a T-shaped tab configured to engage with a removable and interchangeable securing attachment comprising a T-slot. 
     
     
         9 . The cup holder of  claim 8 , wherein the securing attachment is selected from the group consisting of a horizontal bar clip, a vertical bar clip, a combination horizontal/vertical bar clip, and a vent clip. 
     
     
         10 . A cup holder configured to hold and stabilize a beverage container, reducing the likelihood of a liquid being spilled out of the beverage container, the cup holder being configured to attach to an external object, the cup holder comprising:
 an inner ring configured to accommodate the beverage container;   a middle ring rotationally attached to the inner ring, creating a first axis of rotation, the middle ring having a diameter larger than the inner ring;   an outer ring rotationally attached to the middle ring, creating a second axis of rotation, the outer ring having a diameter larger than the middle ring; and   an outer ring arm extending from the outer ring, the outer ring arm comprising:
 an outer ring single hook arm; and 
 an outer ring multi hook arm configured to engage with the outer ring single hook arm, 
 wherein each of the outer ring single hook arm and the outer ring multi hook arm comprises a gripping gap region configured to accommodate and grip the external object, securing the cup holder to the external object; and 
   an outer ring clip extending from the external surface of the outer ring, the outer ring clip comprising a T-shaped tab configured to engage with a removable and interchangeable securing attachment comprising a T-slot, the removable and interchangeable securing attachment configured to secure the cup holder to an additional external object.