Abstract: Can carriers are provided with upwardly protruding can-receiving members having oppositely paired can-receiving recesses and can-stacking platforms. The can-receiving recesses each are defined by an annular locking ring is joined to a protective inverted cup-shaped cover wall sized and configured to closely correspond to the top bead of a conventional can. The locking ring thus seats below the top bead of the can thereby removably locking the can to the can carrier. A camming surface downwardly and radially outwardly extends from the locking ring and assists during the forcible insertion of a can into the can-receiving recess by urging the locking ring to bend and/or flex radially outwardly a sufficient amount to allow for the diametrically larger top bead to pass thereby. Once the top bead is seated in the can-receiving recess, the locking ring will again resiliently return to its normal state. Paired finger openings are preferably provided in association with a raised pad region.

Abstract: A self-locking bottle carrier is adapted to hold a number of bottles of the type having an annular neck flange protruding outwardly therefrom so as to allow the bottles to collectively be carried. The bottle carrier is most preferably a one-piece carrier body having a number of bottle-receiving apertures. These bottle receiving apertures are defined by a pair of opposed, generally horizontal support surfaces, and an opposed pair of resilient locking fingers. The locking fingers extend upwardly from respective ends of the horizontal support surfaces and converge towards one another so that an upper dimension of the aperture between the opposed locking fingers is less than a lower dimension of the aperture fingers near the support surfaces. The bottleneck flange is supported by the horizontal support surfaces such that the weight of the bottle and its contents cause these support surfaces to bow slightly downwardly which, in turn, urges the opposed locking fingers inwardly towards one another.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a carrying tray and, more particularly, to a tray which securely holds hot and cold drink cups of various sizes, and is adaptable to hold other items. A plurality of gripping elements in a cup receiving cavity grip and retain a chime-bottomed cup. A flat-bottomed cup is stably supported on a platform in the cup receiving cavity. Various inserts may be selectively used to more stably retain tall cups or to retain other items, such as ice cream cones and the like.

Abstract: A mechanism for dispensing container closures, one at a time, from a stacked array. A hand operated slide bar is positioned at the bottom of the closure stack. An upturned edge or finger is attached to the slide bar, thus enabling it to engage with the inside rim area of the closure and pull the closure from the stack. The finger on the slide bar is beveled so that it will slide beneath the container rim when the slide is returned to its inward position.

Abstract: A closure dispensing apparatus for dispensing closures one at a time from a stacked array. A crank mechanism pivoted at its center for rotation with a plurality of handles in radial alignment with the pivot point. The crank mechanism is positioned beneath the stack of closures so that movable lugs which are attached to each handle can one at a time interact with the rim of the bottommost closure in the stack and pull it from the apparatus. An inclined plane arrangement is used to cause each lug in its proper sequence to move into and out of a closure rim engaging position.

Abstract: A lid adapted to fit over the opening of a container with an opening therein which permits the contents of the container to be poured therethrough. A tab fitted into the opening in the lid and attached toward the center of the lid. A force applying area positioned in the central portion of the lid and attached to the tab so that the tab moves in an inward direction when a force is applied to the top of the lid. When the force is released from the top of the lid, the tab then assumes its original position within the opening, thus preventing the spilling of the contents within the container to which the lid is applied.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lid for a container which is designed to allow drinking of the contents while the lid is in place and to prevent spillage of the contents. The lid includes a generally circular body member and a sealing edge located along the periphery of the body member. A raised platform is integrally formed on the body member and is bounded by the periphery of the body member and an upstanding wall portion generally defined by a chord of the body member. A flipper valve is located on the platform and is generally radially aligned and hinged near the wall portion. The valve includes an integrally formed protrusion which provides a place for application of downward pressure to open the valve. The valve is such that lip pressure is sufficient to cause the valve to open. The platform provides a flat area extending to the edge of the container which allows the lip to make a complete seal over the portion of the lid which it contacts.