Background of the Invention Arenas and stadiums used for entertainment and sporting events normally seat tens of thousands of people at one time. Consumption of food or beverages by fans or members of an audience is particularly common. In an effort to promote the sale of their products, suppliers, including food and beverage suppliers, often advertise in such locations to promote the sale of their goods and services. Most common promotions involve large signs and billboards, located both within and outside the facility.

One common problem at such large public events is the length of the lines at the concession stands and the restrooms. As a result, attendees often use the restroom facilities and obtain concessions in the same trip away from their seats to minimize the time away from the event. Often, individuals examine the length of the restroom and concession lines in determining the order of completing these tasks.

In many cases, men will purchase a single beverage during the trip to the concession stand. If the beverage is purchased prior to using the restroom, he will often rest the beverage on the top of a water flow control valve of an urinal.

If positioned just right, the beverage container will rest on top of the valve, however, there is a risk of spillage. Additionally, to date, advertisers have not taken advantage of the space in the restrooms to advertise their goods and services.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus for use in restrooms for holding beverage containers of various shapes and sizes that reliably holds such containers without spillage. In addition, it is desirable to provide an apparatus that provides space for advertising material for the promotion of goods and services.

Summary of the Invention These and other objects may be attained by a beverage container holder which, in one embodiment, supports a beverage container and attaches to a water control flow valve of an urinal. The beverage container holder includes a cup supporting portion and a base portion. The frustro-conical shaped cup supporting portion is sized to receive various size beverage containers and includes an attaching means for securing the holder to the control valve. The cup supporting portion also includes a circular retention ring to prevent the beverage container from being displaced and spilled. The cup supporting portion further includes a surface for displaying promotional materials. The arch shaped base portion extends from the cup supporting portion and includes an outer surface for displaying additional promotional materials. The holder can be fabricated from, for example, plastic or other suitable materials.

In one embodiment, the cup supporting portion attaching means couples the holder to the control valve so that the beverage container can be placed in the holder on top of the control valve. The base portion extends over the entire control valve body.

To use the holder, an individual places the beverage container on the upper surface of the cup supporting portion. The cup supporting portion supports the beverage container and prevents the beverage container from spilling. In addition to supporting the beverage container, the holder provides a plurality of surfaces for displaying advertising materials.

The above described beverage container holder enables a beverage container to be placed on top of the urinal control valve without risk of spillage. In addition, the beverage container holder provides a location for placement of advertising material. The advertising material will be viewed by both users of an urinal with and without beverage containers.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a front view of a beverage container holder in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of supporting device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cut-away perspective view of the beverage container holder shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cut-away perspective view of the beverage container holder attached to the supporting device shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side view of a beverage container holder in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description Referring to Figure 1, a beverage container holder 10 is configured to support a beverage container 14 and attach to a supporting device 20. Beverage container holder 10 includes a generally frustro-conical shaped cup supporting portion 24 and an arch shaped base portion 26 extending from cup supporting portion 24. Cup supporting portion 24 includes a closed first end 28, an open second end 30, and an attaching means (not shown in Figure 1) for securing holder 10 to supporting device 20. First end 28 is configured to support beverage container 14 and includes an upper surface 34 for displaying visible promotional materials. Cup supporting portion 24 further includes a circular retention ring 36 extending from cup supporting portion first end 28. Ring 36 prevents beverage

container 14 from being displaced from said cup supporting portion 24 and spilling.

Base portion 26 includes an outer surface 38 for displaying visible promotional materials. Promotional materials may be, for example, printed, etched, painted, temporary labels, or other known methods. In an alternative embodiment, base portion 26 includes at least one opening, or groove 40 so that holder 10 fits around supporting device 20. In another alternative embodiment, base portion 26 may include a plurality of surfaces (not shown) for displaying a plurality of promotional materials (not shown).

In one embodiment as shown in Figure 2, supporting device 20 is an urinal 60. Urinal 60 typically includes a water control flow valve 62. Flow valve 62 includes a body 64, an inlet pipe 66 connected to a water source (not shown), an outlet pipe 68, an outer cover 70, a nut 72, and a handle 74. Beverage container holder 10 attaches to flow valve 62 for supporting beverage container 14.

Specifically, cup supporting portion 24 extends over control valve 62 so that cup supporting portion first end 28 rests on nut 72. Arch shaped base portion 26 covers front of body 64 by extending from inlet pipe 66 to handle 74 and down to outlet pipe 68. In one embodiment, base portion 26 includes opening 40 so that holder 10 fits around handle 72 and pipes 66 and 68.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, cup supporting portion 24 further includes an attaching means 80 for securing holder 10 to control valve 62. In one embodiment, attaching means 80 includes a gripping lip 82 for coupling holder 10 to control valve 62. Specifically, the diameter of gripping lip 82 is the same or slightly smaller than the diameter of outer cover 70. Gripping lip 82 is able to sufficiently expand in size to fit over outer cover 70 so that cup supporting portion 24 is coupled to outer cover 70. In an alternative embodiment, gripping lip 82 may include a plurality of semi-circular segments (not shown) to increase the flexibility of gripping lip 82 making installation and removal easier. In another alterative embodiment, attaching means 80 includes a plurality of flexible

fingers (not shown) coaxially extending from first end 28, which deflect over outer cover 70 as holder 10 is extended over outer cover 70. The fingers return to their normal position when finger ends opposite first end 28 extend past lower portion of outer cover 70 and first end 28 becomes in contact with nut 72. The fingers extend into the space located between outer cover 70 and body 64 and clamp holder 10 to valve 62. Attaching means 80 allow holder 10 to be removed from supporting device 20 without damage so that holder 10 may be cleaned or replaced.

In another alternative embodiment as shown in Figure 5, beverage container holder 10 is secured to urinal 60 using a base portion attaching means 110. Specifically, base portion attaching means 110 couples holder 10 to control valve 62. In one embodiment, attaching means 110 includes at least one circular clamp 120 that attaches to valve 62, for example, outlet pipe 68. Attaching means 110, may in another embodiment, include a plurality of fingers (not shown) that extend from base portion 26 and secure holder 10 to outlet pipe 68 or body 64. Attaching means 80 and 110 may also include various adhesives as well as other devices such as a magnet (not shown).

In one embodiment, beverage container holder 10 is one-piece and fabricated from ABS, PVC, or other selected plastic. Holder 10, may also be fabricated from other materials, for example, various metals such as aluminum, or steel, to increase the life and durability.

In accordance with one embodiment, holder 10 is secured to supporting device 20. Particularly, after being fabricated, holder 10 is positioned above control valve 62 so that cup supporting portion 24 is centered over outer cover 70. Cup supporting portion 24 is then placed over outer cover 70 so that base portion 26 is in front of body 64 and extends from pipe 66 to handle 74. Holder 10 is pushed down over valve 62 until attaching means 80 is securely coupled to valve 62. Specifically, in one embodiment, gripping lip 82 expands over outer cover 70 as holder 10 is extended over valve 62. As gripping lip 82 moves past

outer cover 70, gripping lip returns to its normal size so that gripping lip 82 secures holder 10 to valve 62.

In using holder 10, as an individual enters the restroom, he will notice holder 10 secured to urinal control valve 62. The individual will likely read the advertising material located on upper surface 34 and base portion surface 38 as he approaches and places his beverage container 14 in or on holder 10.

The individual places beverage container 14 on cup supporting portion 24 so that container 14 rests on upper surface 34. Ring 36 prevents container 14 from being accidentally being knocked off as well as helping the individual place container 14 on surface 34. The individual will likely continue to read the advertising material on surface 38 when container 14 is in holder 10. When finished, the individual lifts container 14 from holder 10 and returns to his seat or previous activity.

When holder 10 becomes dirty, broken, or in need of replacement, holder 10 is separated from valve 62. Lifting holder 10 will cause attaching means 80 to release from valve 62 and holder 10 can be removed. Specifically, in one embodiment, as holder 10 is moved away from urinal 60, gripping lip 82 slightly expands and allows gripping lip 82 to pass over outer cover 70. A replacement holder can then be installed as described above.

The above described beverage container holder enables beverage containers of various shapes and sizes to be securely placed on top of a urinal control valve without spilling. In addition, the beverage container holder provides space for advertising material for the promotion of goods and services.

From the preceding description of various embodiments of the present invention, it is evident that the objects of the invention are attained. Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation. For example, the size of cup supporting portion 24 may altered to support various sizes and shapes of beverage containers 14.

Additionally, ring 36 may be positioned at various locations in respect to upper surface 34. In addition, holder 10 can be fabricated without ring 36 to function exclusively as an advertising device. Further, holder 10 may be used on control valves of toilets in both men and women restrooms, as well as modified to attach to other structures within the restroom, such as a paper towel holder, or a faucet.

Holder 10 may also be used in restaurants, bars, or other public or private facilities. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.