초록 ▼

A cup holder sidewall includes a recess adapted to receive at least part of a handle having upper and lower socket engaging portions received in sockets in upper and lower flanges defining the recesses. The socket engaging portions permit the handle to be displaced from the sidewall recesses to a po

A cup holder sidewall includes a recess adapted to receive at least part of a handle having upper and lower socket engaging portions received in sockets in upper and lower flanges defining the recesses. The socket engaging portions permit the handle to be displaced from the sidewall recesses to a position projecting outward from the sidewall to permit the handle to be grasped in one hand. The sidewall includes at least one flexible segment extending through the sidewall from the inner surface to the outer surface, which may also extend from the upper margin to the lower margin. Each flexible segment renders the sidewall sufficiently flexible to allow the sidewall to adjust to receive cups of varying sizes and shapes.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cup holder comprising: a sidewall having an upper margin, a lower margin, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the outer surface of the sidewall including at least one recess, each recess being defined by an upper flange and a lower flange, the upper and lower flanges extending outwardly fro

1. A cup holder comprising: a sidewall having an upper margin, a lower margin, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the outer surface of the sidewall including at least one recess, each recess being defined by an upper flange and a lower flange, the upper and lower flanges extending outwardly from the sidewall outer surface and the upper and lower flanges including at least one socket;at least one handle element adapted to be received at least partially within the at least one recess in the sidewall, each handle element including an upper and a lower socket engaging portion received in one of the at least one sockets the upper and lower flanges of one of the at least one recess, the socket engaging portions being pivotable within the sockets so as to permit the at least one handle element to be displaced from the at least one recess to a position projecting outward from the sidewall; andwherein the sidewall additionally includes at least one elastic segment that is more flexible than other sidewall rigid segments, the at least one elastic segment extending through the sidewall from the inner surface to the outer surface and extending from the upper margin to the lower margin, the at least one elastic segment being flexible to allow the sidewall to adjust to receive cups of varying sizes and shapes. 2. A cup holder comprising: a sidewall;a pair of handle elements adapted to be received at least partially within a pair of recesses in the sidewall, each of the handle elements including an upper socket engaging portion and a lower socket engaging portion, each received in one of a plurality of sockets;wherein the sidewall includes an upper margin, a lower margin, an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least two elastomeric segments extending through the sidewall from the inner surface to the outer surface and extending from the upper margin to the lower margin, the outer surface of the sidewall including the pair of recesses, each recess being defined by an upper flange and a lower flange, the elastomeric segments of the sidewall being flexible to allow the sidewall to adjust to receive cups of varying sizes and shapes; andwherein the upper flanges and the lower flanges extend outwardly from the sidewall outer surface and include the plurality of sockets, the socket engaging portions being pivotable within the sockets so as to permit the handle elements to be displaced from the pair of recesses to a position projecting outward from the sidewall. 3. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the sidewall comprises at least two elastic segments, and wherein the at least two elastic segments are diametrically opposed from each other. 4. The cup holder of claim 3, wherein the sidewall comprises at least two recesses, and wherein at least one of the two elastic segments are positioned on the sidewall between the at least two recesses. 5. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the sidewall comprises at least two recesses, and wherein at least two elastic segments are on a first portion of the sidewall and the at least two recesses are on a second portion of the sidewall opposed to the first portion. 6. The cup holder of claim 2, wherein the inner surface of the sidewall defines an opening having an adjustable diameter in accordance with the elasticity of the at least two elastomeric segments. 7. The cup holder of claim 6, wherein the at least one elastic segment comprises a plurality of preformed folds expandable to increase the diameter of the opening. 8. The cup holder of claim 7, wherein the preformed folds are on a first portion of the sidewall and the pair of recesses are on a second portion of the side of the sidewall opposed to the first portion. 9. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the rigid segments of the sidewall each comprise at least one mechanical locking portion which is coupled to at least one of the at least one elastic segments. 10. The cup holder of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the at least one mechanical locking portion which is embedded within at least one of the at least one elastic segments. 11. The cup holder of claim 9, wherein the at least one mechanical locking portion has a thickness less than the rigid segments of the sidewall. 12. The cup holder of claim 9, wherein the at least one mechanical locking portion comprises a slot adapted to receive a portion of the at least one of elastic segments. 13. The cup holder of claim 1, wherein the rigid segments of the sidewall comprise a plurality of ribs protruding from the outer surface. 14. The cup holder of claim 13, wherein the plurality of ribs are arranged substantially horizontally. 15. The cup holder of claim 13, wherein the plurality of ribs are arranged substantially vertically. 16. The cup holder of claim 15, wherein the ribs extend between the upper margin and the lower margin. 17. The cup holder of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of ribs include an upper end and a lower end which define a portion of the at least one recess. 18. A cup holder comprising: a sidewall comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, an elastomeric segment and a rigid segment, the outer surface of the sidewall including a recess defined by an upper flange and a lower flange, the upper and lower flanges extending outwardly from the sidewall outer surface and the upper and lower flanges including at least one socket, wherein the inner surface of the sidewall defines an opening which may be adjusted in accordance with an elasticity of the elastomeric segment of the sidewall; anda handle element adapted to be at least partially received within the recess of the sidewall, the handle element including a socket engaging portion received within the socket so as to permit the at least one handle element to be displaced from the recess to a position projection outward from the sidewall. 19. The cup holder of claim 18, wherein the sidewall comprises at least four elastomeric segments. 20. The cup holder of claim 19, wherein the sidewall comprises a first portion comprising at least two recesses with at least one of the elastomeric segments positioned on the sidewall between the at least two recesses, and a second portion, opposed to the first portion, comprising at least three of the elastomeric segments.