IP Library Granted Patent US 7,597,301
Granted Patent B2
US 7,597,301 · App. 11/588,158 · Granted Oct 6, 2009

Base capable of use with a support for holding an object

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,597,301
App. No.
11/588,158
Granted
Oct 6, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus capable of holding an object in cooperation with a cup holder of a vehicle comprises a support ( 110 ), a post ( 120 ) coupled to the support, and a base ( 130 ). The post has a first end ( 221 ) and a second end ( 222 ), and the base is capable of receiving the first end of the post. The base is sized to fit within the cup holder of the vehicle. A distance between the support and the base may be adjusted, and an angle between the support and the post may also be adjusted.

Claims (104)

1. An apparatus configured to fit within a cup holder of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a base comprising:

a floor;

a wall with an exterior side, the wall coupled to the floor and extending away from the floor in a first direction;

a column coupled to the floor and extending away from the floor in the first direction; and

at least one ridge located at the exterior side of the wall;

a threaded post having a first end and a second end; and

an adapter cup,

wherein:

the wall extends farther in the first direction than does the column;

when the base is coupled to the adapter cup, the floor and a portion of the wall is located within the adapter cup;

the at least one ridge is capable of providing friction between the base and the cup holder when the base is coupled to the cup holder;

the column is threaded;

the column is capable of receiving the first end of the threaded post;

the threaded post can be screwed into the column by rotating the threaded post in a first manner with respect to the column; and

the threaded post can be screwed out of the column by rotating the threaded post in a second manner with respect to the column.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

at least a portion of the base comprises a flexible material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the wall further comprises:

a rim extending outward from the wall, such that a circumference of the wall is increased.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the adapter cup comprises a floor with a perimeter and a wall coupled to the perimeter of the floor of the adapter cup; and

when the base is coupled to the adapter cup, a part of the exterior side of the wall of the base engages an interior side of the wall of the adapter cup.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the adapter cup comprises a floor with a perimeter and a wall coupled to the perimeter of the floor of the adapter cup; and

when the base is coupled to the adapter cup, a part of the exterior side of the wall of the base engages an interior side of the wall of the adapter cup.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the wall further comprises:

a rim extending outward from the wall, such that a circumference of the wall is increased.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:

the wall further comprises:

a rim extending outward from the wall, such that a circumference of the wall is increased.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:

the wall further comprises:

a rim extending outward from the wall, such that a circumference of the wall is increased.

9. A base capable of being coupled to a support to hold an object and further capable of fitting within a cup holder of a vehicle, the base comprising:

a floor having a center and a perimeter;

a wall with an exterior surface, the wall extends away from the floor in a first direction and is integral with the perimeter of the floor at an edge of the wall;

one or more ridges integral with the exterior surface of the wall;

a column integral with the floor at the center and extending away from the floor in the first direction; and

a post having a first end and a second end,

wherein:

the one or more ridges increase a circumference of the base;

the one or more ridges are capable of providing friction between the base and the cup holder of the vehicle when the base is coupled to the cup holder of the vehicle; and

the one or more ridges do not extend to the edge of the wall coupled to the floor.

10. The base of claim 9 , wherein:

the wall further comprises:

a rim extending outward from the wall, such that a circumference of the wall is increased.

11. The base of claim 9 , wherein:

the post is threaded;

the column is threaded;

the column is capable of receiving the first end of the threaded post;

the threaded post can be screwed into the column by rotating the threaded post in a first manner with respect to the column; and

the threaded post can be screwed out of the column by rotating the threaded post in a second manner with respect to the column.

12. The base of claim 11 , wherein:

the wall further comprises:

a rim extending outward from the wall, such that a circumference of the wall is increased.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the wall is coupled to the floor at an edge of the wall; and

the at least one ridge does not extend to the edge of the wall coupled to the floor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:

the wall further comprises:

a rim extending outward from the wall, such that a circumference of the wall is increased.

15. An apparatus configured of being coupled to a support to hold an object and further capable of fitting within a cup holder of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an adapter cup;

a base comprising:

a floor having a center and a perimeter;

a wall with an exterior surface, the wall extends away from the floor in a first direction and is integral with the perimeter of the floor at an edge of the wall;

one or more ridges integral with the exterior surface of the wall;

a column integral with the floor at the center and extending away from the floor in the first direction; and

a threaded post having a first end and a second end,

wherein:

the column is threaded;

the column is capable of receiving the first end of the threaded post;

the threaded post can be screwed into the column by rotating the threaded post in a first direction with respect to the column;

the threaded post can be screwed out of the column by rotating the threaded post in a second direction with respect to the column;

the one or more ridges increase a circumference of the base;

the one or more ridges are capable of providing friction between the base and the cup holder of the vehicle when the base is coupled to the cup holder of the vehicle; and

the one or more ridges do not extend to the edge of the wall coupled to the floor.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:

the wall further comprises:

a rim extending outward from the wall, such that a circumference of the wall is increased.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein:

the adapter cup comprises a floor with a perimeter and a wall coupled to the perimeter of the floor of the adapter cup; and

when the base is coupled to the adapter cup, a part of the exterior side of the wall of the base engages an interior side of the wall of the adapter cup.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:

the adapter cup comprises a floor with a perimeter and a wall coupled to the perimeter of the floor of the adapter cup; and

when the base is coupled to the adapter cup, a part of the exterior side of the wall of the base engages an interior side of the wall of the adapter cup.

19. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein

the wall is coupled to the floor at an edge of the wall; and

the at least one ridge does not extend to the edge of the wall coupled to the floor.

20. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein

the wall is coupled to the floor at an edge of the wall; and

the at least one ridge does not extend to the edge of the wall coupled to the floor.

21. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein

the wall is coupled to the floor at an edge of the wall; and

the at least one ridge does not extend to the edge of the wall coupled to the floor.

22. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein

the wall is coupled to the floor at an edge of the wall; and

the at least one ridge does not extend to the edge of the wall coupled to the floor.

23. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein

the wall is coupled to the floor at an edge of the wall; and

the at least one ridge does not extend to the edge of the wall coupled to the floor.

Assignments (3)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 12, 2012
From: BELKIN INTERNATIONAL, INC
To: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 027844/0525 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 10, 2007
From: BELKIN CORPORATION
To: BELKIN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 019951/0785 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2006
From: SEIL, OLIVER DUNCAN; QUINTEROS, ERNESTO; NALWAD, VIJENDRA
To: BELKIN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018473/0118 →