US20040177434A1

US20040177434A1 - Flush valve mounted drink holder

Info

Publication number: US20040177434A1
Application number: US10/385,756
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl Sputh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-12
Filing date: 2003-03-12
Publication date: 2004-09-16

Abstract

A flush valve mounted drink holder constructed of plastic and configured for mounting on the flush valve of a commercial urinal or toilet. The device is cylindrical in shape with a closed top and an open bottom. The top surface is substantially flat and provides a suitable surface for resting a beverage. The open bottom allows the device to fit over a flush valve with the device's cylindrical walls fitting snugly around the outer edge of the valve, thereby, providing stability to the device. The device is secured to the flush valve's hexagonal bolt via an adhesive square and is installed by simply sliding it onto a flush valve.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to beverage container holders and, more particularly, to a beverage container holder constructed of plastic and configured for mounting on the flush valve of a commercial urinal or toilet.

2. Description of the Related Art

People often gather at social activities where, due to lack of table space or other constraints, they must hold their beverage in their hands. For example, at sporting events, concerts, conferences, and evening establishments, people often must hold their beverage while participating or interacting. Typically, a person attending such a gathering will carry their beverage with them when visiting the restroom. He or she may then try to balance the beverage container on the edge of a sanitary fixture or its associated plumbing, often resulting in a spilled drink, broken glass or other unsafe conditions.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,885 to Lopez-Torres, Jr. addressed this problem with a beverage holder that attaches to the flush valve of a commercial urinal or toilet. The Lopez-Torres beverage holder is equipped with threading on its base that mates to the threading of a standard urinal or toilet flush valve. The device is configured to replace a flush valve cover and is installed by removing the flush valve cover, aligning the threading of the device with that of the valve, and connecting the device to the valve. Although, the device does provide a safe place for a person to rest a drink while in the restroom, it has several drawbacks. First, it is complicated to install and, in general, requires heavy tools and a level of mechanical skill not typically required of a waiter, waitress or other employee of an establishment where social gatherings typically occur. Second, installing the device is time consuming. Third, manufacture of the device requires the expense of threading. And finally, the device must be constructed of a material suitably rigid such that it can be threaded and is capable of receiving the torque necessary for a secure installation.

Additionally, although not a beverage container holder, U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,558 to Lakin discloses a device that attaches to a urinal flush valve for advertising purposes. The device is constructed of plastic and is cylindrical in shape with three flanges, two of which support set screws. An individual attaches the device to a flush valve by sliding it over the valve and tightening the set screws. The top surface of the device is angled and therefore is not suitable for holding a drink.

Consequently, none of the above patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a drink holder for a urinal solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a beverage container holder that is constructed of plastic and is configured for mounting on the flush valve of a commercial urinal or toilet. The device is cylindrical in shape with a closed top and an open bottom. The top surface is substantially flat and provides a suitable surface for resting a beverage. The open bottom allows the device to fit over a flush valve with the device's cylindrical walls fitting snugly around the outer edge of the valve, thereby, providing stability to the device. The device is secured to the flush valve's hexagonal bolt via an adhesive square. It is installed by simply being slid onto a flush valve and, thus, its installation does not require heavy tools, mechanical skill or excessive amounts of time.

The invention is manufactured via injection molding and, therefore, avoids costly materials and processes such as those associated with a threaded device.

Alternative embodiments of the invention incorporate a deodorizer, a tissue dispenser, a liquid soap dispenser, and a set of weight-activated flashing lights.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a beverage container holder configured for mounting on a flush valve that can be quickly secured in place by individuals possessing a low level of mechanical ability and without the use of tools.

It is another object of the invention to provide a beverage container holder configured for mounting on a flush valve that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a beverage container holder configured for mounting on a flush valve that can also be used to display advertisements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a beverage container holder configured for mounting on a flush valve that can be combined with either a deodorizer, a tissue dispenser, a liquid soap dispenser, or a set of weight-activated flashing lights.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention as used with a urinal. [0016]
FIG. 2 is an environmental, perspective view of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention as used with a toilet. [0017]
FIG. 3 is an environmental, perspective view of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention mounted on a flush valve. [0018]
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of FIG. 3. [0019]
FIG. 5 is a front view of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention secured to a flush valve, with the top portion of the flush valve shown in phantom lines. [0020]
FIG. 6 is a top perspective view a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention. [0021]
FIG. 6A is a bottom perspective view of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention. [0022]
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention that incorporates a deodorizer. [0023]
FIG. 7A is a bottom view of the alternative embodiment of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention that incorporates a deodorizer. [0024]
FIG. 7B is an exploded view of the alternative embodiment of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention that incorporates a deodorizer. [0025]
FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention that incorporates a liquid soap dispenser. [0026]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention that incorporates a tissue dispenser. [0027]
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention that incorporates weight-activated flashing lights. [0028]
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention that incorporates a retaining wall. [0029]
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a flush valve mounted drink holder according to the present invention that incorporates a perforated snap-out.[0030]
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. [0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 5 present environmental views of the preferred embodiment of the flush valve mounted drink holder, FIGS. 6 and 6A depict perspective views of the preferred embodiment, and FIGS. 7 through 12 illustrate alternative preferred embodiments. [0032]
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A, the preferred embodiment of the flush value mounted [0033] drink holder 10 is cylindrical in shape with a flat top surface 12 and cylindrical sidewall 11. An adhesive square 15 is attached to the underside of the top surface 16. The bottom of the invention 10 is open, thereby providing a cavity which can be used to cover the flush valve on a commercial urinal or toilet, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when mounted onto a flush valve A, the [0034] invention 10 provides a flat surface on which a beverage container C can rest. The invention 10 fits snugly onto the flush valve with the sidewalls 11 of the invention 10 resting against the outer edge of the flush valve and with the adhesive square 15 adhering to the hexagonal bolt B of the flush valve A as seen in FIG. 5. Additionally, the top surface 12 and sidewall 11 of the invention 10 can be used to display advertisements 13 and 14.
An alternative embodiment of the invention includes a deodorizer. As shown in FIGS. 7, 7A and [0035] 7B, the alternative embodiment 20 includes a pad of deodorizer material 28 that is secured, via an adhesive, to the top of a plate 25. The plate 25 has four notches 30 along its circumference that snap-fit together with four flanges 26 inside the embodiment's housing 29. When in place, the plate 25 forms the bottom of a cylindrical chamber within the drink holder 20. The top surface 22 of the drink holder serves as the top of the chamber and a row of holes 23 are spaced along the sidewall of the chamber to allow odor from the deodorizer material 28 to dissipate from the chamber. An adhesive square 27 is attached to the underside of the plate 25 enabling the embodiment 20 to be secured to a flush valve hexagonal bolt. Advertisements 24 can be displayed on the outer surfaces 21 and 22 of this embodiment of the drink holder 20.
A second alternative embodiment of the invention includes a liquid soap dispenser. As shown in FIG. 8, the second [0036] alternative embodiment 30 differs from the preferred embodiment in that it includes a water-tight chamber 31 with a pump nozzle 32. When depressed, the pump nozzle 32 dispenses liquid soap from the water-tight chamber 31. The pump nozzle 32 is secured to the drink holder 30 by a screw-on cap 33 which can be removed to allow for replenishment of liquid soap. The drink holder 30 can display advertisements 36 on its outer surfaces 34 and 35 and is secured to a flush valve by an adhesive square 37 attached to the underside of the water-tight chamber 31.
A third alternative embodiment of the invention includes a tissue dispenser. As shown in FIG. 9, this embodiment differs from the preferred embodiment in that it has a [0037] chamber 41 from which wet or dry tissue 42 is dispensed. The tissue 42 is pulled from the tissue chamber 41 via an opening 43 on the sidewall of the drink holder 40. Similar to the drink holder 20 that includes a deodorizer, a snap-fit plate (25 of FIGS. 7A-7B) forms the bottom of the tissue chamber, thereby allowing the replenishment of tissue.
A fourth alternative embodiment of the invention includes a set of weight-activated flashing lights. As FIG. 10 depicts, this embodiment incorporates a weight-activated switch and [0038] power source 51 attached to the underside of the top surface 55 of the embodiment 50. The weight-activated switch and power source 51 is connected via wiring 52 to two flashing lights 53. When a beverage container is placed on top of the drink holder 50, the weight-activated switch and power source 51 is activated and thereby causes the flashing lights 53 to flash on and off. The flashing lights 53 are positioned near an advertisement 54 displayed on the drink holder's outer surface and thereby call attention to the advertisement 54.
A fifth alternative embodiment of the invention includes a retaining wall. As shown in FIG. 11, this embodiment includes a retaining [0039] wall 61 extending upward from and running along the edge of the top surface 62. The retaining wall is between one-eighth and two inches in height and prevents a beverage from inadvertently sliding off of the top surface of the drink holder 60.
Finally, a sixth alternative embodiment of the invention includes a perforated snap-out. As shown in FIG. 12, a [0040] portion 71 of this embodiment of the drink holder 70 is perforated such that it can be snapped out of and separated from the drink holder 70. The snap-out 71 allows for an opening in the sidewall which can be aligned with the optical sensor D of an automated flushing mechanism thereby allowing the invention to be used with automated flushing mechanisms.
It is to be understood that features from each of the embodiments can be combined with those of other embodiments. It is further to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. [0041]

Claims

I claim:

1. A flush valve mounted drink holder, comprising:

a flat top plate having a periphery, the top plate having a surface area dimensioned and configured for supporting a drink container;

a sidewall depending from the periphery of said top plate, the sidewall defining a cavity adapted for insertion over a flush valve of a plumbing device; and

means for adhering said top plate to the flush valve.

2. The flush valve mounted drink holder according to claim 1, wherein said means for adhering comprises a double-sided adhesive pad attached to said top plate.

3. The flush valve mounted drink holder according to claim 1, wherein said means for adhering comprises a first strip of hook and loop fastening material attached to said top plate and a second, mating strip of hook and loop fastening material adapted for being adhesively secured to the flush valve.

4. The flush valve mounted drink holder according to claim 1, wherein said top plate is circular and said sidewall is cylindrical in shape.

5. The flush valve mounted drink holder according to claim 1, wherein said top plate and said sidewall are constructed of plastic.

6. The flush valve mounted drink holder according to claim 1, further comprising indicia bearing at least one advertisement displayed on the sidewall.

7. The flush valve mounted drink holder according to claim 1, further comprising a drink retaining wall between about one-eighth inch and two inches in height extending upward from the periphery of said top plate.

8. The flush valve mounted drink holder according to claim 1, further comprising a deodorizer disposed beneath said top plate.

9. The flush valve mounted drink holder flush valve mounted drink holder according to claim 1, further comprising a tissue dispenser disposed beneath said top plate.

10. The flush valve mounted drink holder according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid soap dispenser disposed beneath said top plate.

11. The flush valve mounted drink holder according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of weight-activated flashing lights is attached to said sidewall, whereby, when a beverage container is place on said top plate, said weight-activated flashing lights are activated.

12. The flush valve mounted drink holder according to claim 1, further comprising a perforated snap-out panel disposed in said sidewall, whereby, the drink holder is adapted for use with an automatic flush valve.