COLLAPSIBLE BEVERAGE HOLDER

Abstract

The present invention is a collapsible holder for beverage containers (e.g., cans and bottles) that may present the containers in an appealing “bouquet” fashion while separately securing the containers within the beverage holder. The beverage containers may be placed substantially vertically in holes arranged in a hexagonal arrangement, similar to a vase for flowers with a base for support against tilting. The beverage holder may be made of cardboard with a plurality of fold lines, cut lines, and scored lines.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/190,499 filed on Jul. 9, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to carrying and presenting beverage containers and particularly, a collapsible beverage holder. One use of the present invention would be for gift-giving to present beverage containers in a useful arrangement supported by specific cuts, folds, scores, and marks in an unassembled beverage holder and assembling the beverage holder by using the specific cuts, folds, scores, and marks.

Embodiments exist for presenting flowers or plants in a bouquet arrangement, made from cardboard, paperboard, or similar materials. Similar devices exist to display and carry beverage containers (e.g, cans, bottles) ornamentally in a bouquet type of arrangement, often suitable for presentation of gifts.

These various devices are cumbersome in use and construction. It would be advantageous to provide an apparatus that would include one or more of the features of 1) lightweight, but of sturdy construction; 2) easily assembled by the end user or other person to readily allow placement of beverage containers in a decorative display; 3) easily disasembled by the end user or other person to readily allow storing the device in a compact fashion; and 4) easily recycled or reused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a beverage display and carrying apparatus comprises; a base, a column inserted into the base, and an array of apertures supported within the column or a pedestal, wherein the array of apertures may support a plurality of beverage containers.

In another aspect of the present invention, a beverage display and carrying apparatus comprises; a base, a column inserted into the base, and a platform supported within the column or a pedestal, the platform comprising an array of apertures, wherein the base is comprised of a precut sheet with nonparallel fold lines for folding the sheet such that the base constitutes a flat bottom for the apparatus and sides of the base of a polygonal section with the sides of the polygon widening downwards.

in yet another aspect of the present invention, a beverage display and carrying apparatus comprises; a base, a column inserted into the base, and a platform supported within the column, the platform comprising an array of apertures, wherein the column is comprised of a precut sheet with nonparellel fold lines for folding the sheet such that the column constitutes a funnel-shaped portion of a prismatic section with the sides of a polygonal section widening upwards.

These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention, are specifically set forth in, or will become apparent from, the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a beverage container carrying apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a beverage container carrying apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a beverage container carrying apparatus, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view Of a beverage container carrying apparatus with the beverage containers removed, according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a pre-cut sheet for an exemplary base component, according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a pre-cut sheet for an exemplary column component, according to a still further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a pre-cut sheet for an exemplary divider component, according to a yet further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a pre-cut sheet for an exemplary platform component, according to a still yet further embodiment of the present Invention;

FIG. 9 shows another option for a pre-cut sheet for an exemplary platform component, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows yet another option for a pre-cut sheet for an exemplary platform component, according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11-14 illustrate views of an exemplary beverage container carrying apparatus, according to a still further embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 15-17 illustrate views of components of an exemplary beverage container carrying apparatus, according to a yet further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention relates generally to carrying beverage containers in a pleasing arrangement for presentation or gift-giving purposes. Although the following description may primarily discuss using beverage containers that are bottles, it is understood that the present invention may also be used for any application for carrying containers, such as cans, cups, glasses, buckets, or any other desirable containers.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters refer to like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a beverage container apparatus 10, which may carry a plurality of bottles 20. Another beverage container 22 may be the same type of beverage container as the rest or may be a different type of beverage container. The beverage containers 20, 22 may be situated inside apertures 18 (or holes, slots, indentions, and the like) that may be inside a platform 16. The apparatus 10 may further comprise a base 12 and a column 14. The base 12 may be six-sided with trapezoidal faces and the base 12 may widen downward. The column 14 may be funnel-shaped, widening at the top with a prismatic polygonal section shape.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of beverage container apparatus 30, with a base 32, a column 34, with a platform 36 supporting bottles 33 in a vertical position to simulate a “bouquet” arrangement reminiscent of a bouquet of flowers. The column 34 may be hollow, or otherwise comprise an empty chamber 40 in which additional beverage containers may be stored.

In FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of another exemplary apparatus 50 is shown. The apparatus 50 may comprise a base 52, a column 54, supporting bottles 56 and a storage chamber 58. In this embodiment, the bottles 56 are not necessarily situated precisely vertically, but may slant in various directions, possibly more reminiscent of a flower bouquet than the bottle arrangement shown in FIG. 2.

An overhead view is shown in FIG. 4, with the bottles removed. The apparatus 60 may comprise a platform 62 bound by a border 64 (optionally hexagonal) with an array of apertures 66 arranged to conveniently carry, present, and support beverage containers. It should be understood that although the apertures 66 are illustrated as being circular, the apertures 66 may be elliptical in shape or any other useful shape as desired.

A precut sheet is shown in FIG. 5 to be folded to construct a base for the apparatus. A precut sheet as described herein may be comprised of cardboard, paperboard, or other light, but sturdy materials. The precut sheet 100 may comprise a pluarlity of first tabs 102 and second tabs 104. Slots 106 may serve to matingly receive the first tabs 102 while slots 108 may serve to receive tabs 414 (shown in FIG. 6). Slots 106 may comprise retaining members 110 to help secure tabs in the slots 106. The bottom panel 112 of the base 100 may comprise straight edges 114 and support tabs 116 for further supporting the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1. Continuing with FIG. 5, first tabs 102 are shown to further comprise engaging members 120, side tabs 122, tab panels 124, first tab first folding line 132, first tab second folding line 136 and adjacent may be situated a pleating fold line 138. Second tabs 104 may comprise engaging members 140, tab panels 128, tab folding lines 146, second tab folding line 142, second tab second folding line 144, and second tab edges 148. The base may comprise a plurality of bottom tabs 102, 104 that are folded downward and inserted into bottom tab slots 106 within the precut sheet 100 to secure the bottom tabs 102, 104 under the beverage display and carrying apparatus (shown in FIG. 1).

FIG. 6 illustrates a precut sheet 400 for assembling a column, such as the column illustrated in FIG. 1. A plurality of panels 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 may comprise the faces of the column. Column-base tabs 414, with engaging members 416 and protrusions 418, may serve to mate with slots 108 from FIG. 5 to secure the column to the base. The sheet 400 may further comprise score lines 420, 422 and fold lines 424, 426, 428. Another fold line 434 may be situated between panel 412 and adhesive panel 430. An adhesive layer 432 may be applied to adhesive panel 430 such that adhesive panel 430 is bound to one fiat surface of panel 402 to form the conical polygonal shape shown in FIG. 1, folding along the fold lines where useful to form a column or pedestal.

Regarding the adhesive layer 432, the adhesive may comprise a tackifier resin. The adhesive may have a first tack after a first period of time for forming a repositionable bond, and a second tack after a second period of time, wherein the second period of time is loinger than the first period of time, and the second tack is greater than the first tack for forming a substantially permanent bond. The adhesive may comprise comprises one or more of: an acrylic polymer, a hydorcarbon polymer; or a urethane polymer. The adhesive may comprise one or more of: an acrylic polymer, a block co-polymer, a natrual, reclaimed, or styrene-butadiene rubber, a tackified natural or synthetic rubber, a co-polymer of ethylene an dvinyl acetate, an ethylene-vinyl-acrylicterpolymer, a polyisobutylene, or a polyvinyl ether. The invention may further comprise an embodiment wherein a pressure-sensitive adhesive in the adhesive layer 132 is selected from the group consisting of a cross-linked acrylic resinous material, an internally cross-linked acrylic emulsion, and a cross-linked co-polymer emulation of butyl acrylate and ethyl hexyl acrylate.

Continuing with FIG. 6, securement tabs 436 may comprise tab edges 438 and column tab fold lines 440. The securement tabs 436 may be folded towards a major axis of the assembled column such that the fold lines 440 form the border 64 shown in FIG. 4. A plurality of securement tabs 436 may be folded towards a major axis of the column and resting in contact with a top surface of an aperture panel, such as platform 62 in FIG. 4.

Proceeding to FIG. 7 a pre-cut sheet 300 for an exemplary divider component is shown. The divider component may be inserted into an empty chamber of a column for further structual support and/or to further support beverage containers stored within the chamber of the column. The divider component precut sheet 300 may comprise a first portion 302 and a second portion 304. A first slot 306 and a second slot 308 may be used to join two portions 302, 304 of the sheet 300 in a cross shape (e.g., approximately at a 90 degree angle between the two portions). Each portion may have a trapezoidal shape, with edge 310 being parallel with edge 322 and edge 312 parallel with edge 322. Skewed edges 314 and 318 may follow a complete trapezoidal shape for the respective portions.

A platform structure may be constructed from a precut sheet 200 shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows a precut sheet 200 to assemble a platform structure with nonparallel fold lines and a support panel 226 that may be folded downward and situated generally perpendicular with a major axis of the column (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and generally parallel with a plane of an aperture panel 206, the aperture panel 206 comprising the array of apertures 202. The aperture panel 206 may comprise a plurality of aperture panel tabs 208 for insertion within a plurality of support panel slots 224 in mating engagement. Aperture 204 may be situated at a center of the group of other apertures 202, optionally of a different size and/or shape of the other apertures 202. Aperture panel tab prongs 210 may serve to be inserted into support panel slots 224, along with folding along aperture panel fold lines 212. Support panel fold lines 222 may be used to direct folding of support panel tabs 220. The folding of the support panel 226 to an arrangement below aperture panel 206 may be accomplished by folding along interpanel fold lines 214, 216.

Another option for a precut sheet is shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 shows a precut sheet 900 to assemble a platform structure with nonparallel fold lines and a support panel 930 that may be folded downward and situated generally perpendicular with a major axis of the column (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and generally parallel with a plane of an aperture panel 910, the aperture panel 910 comprising the array of apertures 902. The aperture panel 910 may comprise a plurality of aperture panel tabs 912 for insertion within a plurality of support panel slots 928 in mating engagement. Aperture 904 may be situated at a center of a group of other apertures 902, optionally of a different size and/or shape of the other apertures 902.

Apertures 902 may be sized to fit various sizes of beverage containers. For example, perforations 906 may be used to remove a portion to create a hole to accommodate a larger diameter of container (such as a standard can of beer). In another example, perforations 908 may be separated to remove a smaller portion to create a smaller diameter hole to accommodate a smaller diameter of a different beverage container (such as a standard bottle of beer).

Aperture panel tab prongs 914 may serve to be inserted into support panel slots 928, along with folding along aperture panel fold lines 916. Support panel fold lines 926 may be used to direct folding of support panel tabs 924. The folding of the support panel 930 to an arrangement below aperture panel 910 may be accomplished by folding along interpanel fold lines 918, 920. Tabs 922 may comprise a straight fold lock underneath fold down tabs 914. The tabs 922 may lock in place when assembled precut sheet 900 for a platform is inserted into the column 14 of the beverage container carrying apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Yet another option for a precut sheet is shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 shows a precut sheet 1000 to assemble a platform structure with nonparallel fold lines and a support panel 1030 that may be folded downward and situated generally perpendicular with a major axis of the column has shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and generally parallel with a plane of an aperture panel 1010, the aperture panel 1010 comprising the array of apertures 1002. The aperture panel 1010 may comprise a plurality of aperture panel tabs 1012 for insertion within a plurality of support panel slots 1028 in mating engagement. Aperture 1003 may be situated at a center of a group of other apertures 1002, optionally of a different size and/or shape of the other apertures 1002.

Apertures 1002 may be flexibly and resiliently adjusted to fit various sizes of beverage containers. For example, support tabs 1004 may be created by cutting slits 1006 for the support tabs 1004 to flexibly urge toward and away from beverage containers inserted into an aperture 1002, accomodating various sizes of beverage containers and permitting repeated insertion and removal of beverage containers over several uses.

Aperture panel tab prongs 1014 may serve to be inserted into support panel slots 1028, along with folding along aperture panel fold lines 1016. Support panel fold lines 1026 may be used to direct folding of support panel tabs 1024. The folding of the support panel 1030 to an arrangement below aperture panel 1010 may be accomplished by folding along interpanel fold lines 1018, 1020. Tabs 1022 may comprise a straight fold lock underneath fold down tabs 1014. The tabs 1022 may lock in place when assembled precut sheet 1000 for a platform is inserted into the column 14 of the beverage container carrying apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 11-14 illustrate exemplary views of a beverage container carrying apparatus. The beverage container carrying apparatus my take a variety of forms, as illustrated, and may be composed of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, cardboard, plastic, styrofoam, or other suitable materials, which may be stamped into foldable pieces for simple construction. The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 15-17 may correspond to a modular beverage container carrying apparatus comprising one or more of a base, column, pedestal, platform, or some suitable combination of the foregoing. The embodiment may be formed of a single piece.

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary assembled base component, such as a base component assembled from the precut sheet 100 shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 16 illustrates a top view of an assembled base component. FIG. 17 illustrates an assembled column component such as a column assembled from the precut sheet 400 shown in FIG. 6.

As the precut sheets may be easily constructed into an apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, the present invention may also be dissassembled back into sheet form for convenient storage, transport, and recycling or reuse. All apertures should be understood to optionally comprise more than one set of perforations for choosing the size of the hole formed for carrying a beverage container, such as explicitly illustrated in FIG. 9. All apertures should be understood to optionally comprise support tabs that may be created by cutting slits for the support tabs to flexibly urge toward and away from beverage containers inserted into an aperture, accomodating various sizes of beverage containers and permitting repeated insertion and removal of beverage containers over several uses, such as explicitly illustrated in FIG. 10.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. Furthermore, a method herein described may be performed in one or more sequences other than the sequence presented expressly herein.

Claims

1. A beverage display and carrying apparatus, comprising:

a base;

a column inserted into the base; and

an array of apertures supported within the column;

wherein the array of apertures may support a plurality of beverage containers.

2. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the column carries at least one beverage container within the column and below the array of apertures

3. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the column comprises a hollow portion.

4. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 3, wherein a divider is situated within the hollow portion of the column.

5. A beverage display and carrying apparatus, comprising:

a base;

a column inserted into the base; and

a platform supported Within the column, the platform comprising an array of apertures;

wherein the base is comprised of a precut sheet with nonparellel fold lines for folding the sheet such that the base constitutes a flat bottom for the apparatus and sides of the base of a polygonal section with the sides of the polygon widening downwards.

6. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 5, wherein the base comprises a plurality of bottom tabs that are folded downward and inserted into bottom tab slots within the precut sheet to secure the bottom tabs under the beverage display and carrying apparatus.

7. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 5, wherein the platform is comprised of a precut sheet with nonparallel fold lines and a support panel that is folded downward and situated generally perpendicular with a major axis of the column and generally parallel with a plane of an aperture panel, the aperture panel comprising the array of apertures.

8. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 7, wherein the aperture panel comprises a plurality of aperture panel tabs for insertion within a plurality of support panel slots in mating engagement.

9. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 5, wherein a divider is situated within a hollow portion of the column.

10. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 7, wherein the column comprises a plurality of securement tabs that may be folded towards a major axis of the column and resting in contact with a top surface of the aperture panel.

11. A beverage display and carrying apparatus, comprising:

a base;

a column inserted into the base; and

a platform supported within the column, the platform comprising an array of apertures;

wherein the column is comprised of a precut sheet with nonparellel fold lines for folding the sheet such that the column constitutes a funnel-shaped portion of a prismatic section with the sides of the funnel-shaped portion widening upwards.

12. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 11, wherein the column carries at least one beverage container within the column and below the array of apertures

13. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 10, wherein the column comprises a hollow portion.

14. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 13, wherein a divider is situated within the hollow portion of the column.

15. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 11, wherein the precut sheet of the column comprises an adhesive applied onto a surface of a joining panel of the precut sheet for joining with a flat surface of a column side panel.

16. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 15, wherein the adhesive has a suppressed initial tack level that undergoes subsequent increase of adhesion due to the passage of time sufficient to permanently bond the joining panel to the flat surface of the column side panel.

17. The beverage display and carrying apparatus of claim 11, wherein the precut sheet of the column comprises a plurality of securement tabs that may be folded towards a major axis of the column and resting in contact with a top surface of an aperture panel.