Configurable cup holder
A beverages holder, comprising a disposable cup (200) for containing the beverage and a carrier (100) for enabling a user to carry or support the cup, the holder being configurable in at least two of: a first configuration in which a portion (5,12) of the carrier (100) supports a base (201) of the cup; a second configuration in which the cup (200) is suspended beneath part (5,12) of the carrier; and a third configration in which the carrier (100) provides a band around the cup (200).
This invention relates to a holder comprising a cup or receptacle and a carrier for the cup or receptacle and also to such a carrier and a blank or flat for forming such a carrier. In particular, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a holder wherein the receptacle is a cup for vendable goods such as goods purchased from a retail or consumer store or outlet, for example, goods such as hot beverages, snacks and so on.
Conventionally hot beverages are supplied to consumers in a disposable cardboard, polystyrene or plastics cup. Such cups can be difficult for the consumer to carry, especially when they contain a hot beverage.
Some venders of hot beverages provide the consumer with a paper napkin to wrap around the cup so as to protect the consumer's fingers. However, although a paper napkin may protect the consumer's fingers, it can also make the cup more difficult to hold securely and the paper napkin may easily be displaced or dropped.
Other venders package the hot beverage containing cup in a rectangular carrier bag which may be made from paper, card or plastic, for example. Such carrier bags only enable transportation of the hot beverage containing cup and the cup has to be removed from the carrier bag to enable the hot beverage to be consumed. Furthermore, the bases of such bags do not provide a stable standing area for the hot beverage containing cup because they tend to be soft and flexible. This means that there is a likelihood of spillage of hot liquid from the cup.
Other venders provide outer sleeves which consist of an endless band of corrugated card, recycled paper stuff or similar material that is supplied in a flattened form and opened out by the vendor or consumer so as to enable the hot beverage containing cup to be placed within the sleeve. Such sleeves do serve to protect the consumer's fingers and assist the consumer in carrying the cup. They do, however, also transmit heat.
Each of the above described prior arrangements provides only one way of carrying the cup or receptacle.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a holder comprising a cup or receptacle and a carrier for the cup or receptacle, the holder being capable of adopting at least one or more of the following:
-
- a first configuration in which a base of the cup or receptacle is supported by a portion of the carrier;
- a second configuration in which the cup or receptacle is suspended beneath a portion of the carrier, for example the cup may extend through an aperture provided by the carrier; and
- a third configuration in which the carrier provides a loop or band extending around the circumference of the cup.
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cup or receptacle carrier which is convertible between a flat strip or flat pack configuration for storage and transportation and a three-dimensional shape in which the carrier partially or fully encloses the cup or receptacle.
In one aspect of the present invention a cup or receptacle carrier provides a handle for enabling a user to hold the cup or receptacle without necessarily touching the side or wall of the cup or receptacle.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a carrier formed from a flat sheet or blank having edge portions and fold lines for enabling the sheet or blank to be formed into an endless or continuous loop having a three-dimensional shape. In an embodiment, the endless or continuous loop is formed without the aid of gluing enabling cheap manufacture.
As used herein, the term “fold-lines” includes any line about which the material forming the flat sheet or blank can be folded including, for example, seam lines or weakened or perforated areas.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a cup carrier, comprising an endless loop or band wherein part of the endless loop or band provides an aperture defining portion for receiving a cup or receptacle. The aperture defining portion may comprise an actual aperture, slits, perforations or a push out section. In an embodiment, the carrier provides a handle opposed to the aperture defining portion.
In one aspect the present invention provides a holder comprising a cup and a carrier for the cup, wherein the holder can adopt:
-
- a first configuration in which a base of the cup is supported by a portion of the carrier;
- a second configuration in which the cup is suspended beneath a part of the carrier; and
- a third configuration in which the carrier surrounds a peripheral side wall of the cup, wherein the carrier provides a handle graspable by a user in at least one of the above configurations, preferably in both said second and third configurations.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a carrier formed from a flat or blank wherein the flat or blank defines at least one handle portion which projects from an edge of the flat or blank or is defined within the body of the flat or blank. A double thickness handle can be provided to provide increased strength by providing two handle portions which can be grasped simultaneously by the user in use of the carrier. The handle portions may be provided at, for example, opposite edges of a flat or blank forming the carrier. The flat or blank may be formed with coupling means in addition to the handle. In an embodiment, the coupling means may cooperate with the handle.
In an embodiment, a cup carrier comprises a flat or blank having opposite edge portions, a handle portion and a handle receiving portion, whereby, when the flat or blank is manipulated to bring the two edge portions together, the handle can be passed through the handle receiving portion so as to form the carrier. The flat or blank may be formed with fold lines to facilitate manipulation of the flat or blank to form the carrier. The fold lines may be such that the carrier adopts a rectangular or polygonal cross sectional shapes. An additional locking tab may be provided on at least one end portion.
In one aspect the present invention provides a holder comprising a cup or receptacle and a carrier, wherein the carrier comprises a flat or blank having a cup or receptacle receiving region and wherein, in order to use the holder, the cup or receptacle is placed on the receiving area and the flat or blank manipulated to bring edge portions of the blank together above the cup or receptacle to define a handle graspable by a user. In an embodiment, the receiving region comprises an aperture defining region so that the cup or receptacle is suspended from the carrier when the carrier is transported by a user. Generally, the side walls of the cup or receptacle will be gripped by the aperture by taking advantage of the fact that such cups or receptacles taper towards their bases. This provides a gimbal like support reducing the possibility of spillage even if the carrier swings as the user moves about. Such a carrier may be inverted so that, when the cup or receptacle is received through the aperture, a portion of the carrier provides a support for the base of the cup or receptacle and the region of the carrier bounded the aperture surrounds the peripheral side walls of the cup or receptacle. Where a handle or handle portion is provided on the carrier, then this will lie flat against the carrier in this configuration.
A carrier embodying the invention may be provided with a moulded plastic handle or a carrying cord in place of a handle for facilitating carrying and may be placed in a conventional paper carrier bag.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a cup carrier comprising a flat or blank having fastening or coupling means provided on opposite end portions of the flat or blank the fastening means being arranged to couple together to define the carrier, one of the fastening means comprising a tab and the other a slit or slot for receiving the tab. Additional cooperating tabs and slots may be provided.
A carrier embodying the invention may be provided with other forms of fastening or coupling means such as self-adhesive areas or regions or other forms of interlocking or coupling means.
A carrier embodying the invention need not necessarily be provided with coupling means, for example the carrier may be initially formed (for example moulded) as an endless band or loop.
A carrier embodying the invention may be provided with handle portions that a user squeezes together to define an endless loop. One of the handle portions may be provided with a locking flap to lock the handle portions together.
A carrier embodying the invention may be formed from a flat or blank having regions projecting from the main area of the flat or blank to define side walls of the carrier in use.
Generally, a carrier embodying the invention will enable at least part of a cup or receptacle carried by the carrier to be viewed.
A carrier embodying the invention is adapted to be provided as a flat or two-dimensional shape and to be manipulated to provide a three-dimensional carrier by the vendor or purchaser of the goods contained in the cup or receptacle to be received the carrier.
A holder embodying the invention capable of adopting the first and second configurations mentioned above may be sized so as to enable a plurality of cups or receptacles to be received by the carrier. In such a case, the carrier may be provided with a corresponding number of cup or receptacle receiving portions which may be of the same or different sizes or shape to enable different shapes and sizes of cup or receptacle to be accommodated, for example both a cup containing a beverage and a sandwich or other take away food container.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGS. 4 to 6 are perspective views showing three different configurations of a holder embodying the present invention comprising a carrier formed from the blank shown in
FIGS. 7 to 29 shows various different modified forms of the flat or blank shown in
FIGS. 30 to 35 show flats or blanks suitable for forming carriers for carrying 2, 3, 4, 3, 3 and 4, respectively, cups or receptacles; and
Referring now to the drawings
The carrier is in the form of a blank or flat which may be formed from, for example, a single sheet of card or paper which may be plain or corrugated. Other materials which hold their shape when folded or formed into an endless band or loop may be used such as, for example, synthetic rubber such as neoprene, rigid or semi-rigid plastic materials such as rigid polyolefins, for example polypropylenes or polyvinylchloride (PVC) and other semi-rigid plastic materials. Leather or reinforced or stiffened cloth may also be used. Where card, paper, cardboard or other relatively non-waterproof material is used, then these may be coated with a synthetic or other water resistant coating to improve wear. Decorative, advertising or informative printing may be applied to the blank and other decorating techniques such as inscribing, foiling or embossing may be used.
Generally a large number of blanks will be cut from a single sheet of the material using conventional cutting procedures.
As shown in
A cup or receptacle receiving region is provided generally equi-distant from the edge portions 1 and 14. In this embodiment, the cup receiving region 8 is defined by a central circular aperture 8a, a larger concentric circular fold line 8b and a plurality of slits 8c provided in the region between the circular aperture 8a and the circular fold line 8b. The slits 8c radiate outwardly from the common centre of the circular aperture 8a and the circular fold line 8b and are equally angularly spaced about the periphery of the circular fold line 8b.
The end portion 1 is shaped so as to provide a handle portion 1a which is, in this embodiment, a generally D or U shaped handle portion. The other end portion 14 is rounded or curved and a slit 13 is provided adjacent the end portion 14 for receiving the handle portion la. In this embodiment, the end portions 1 and 14 also carry coupling means in the form of a tab 16 arranged to be received in a slit 17. As shown, the slit 17 is provided at the end portion 1 in from the handle portion 1a while the tab 16 is provided in the end portion 14 closer to the end of the end portion than the slit 13. The tab is defined during the blank cutting process so that the majority of the periphery of the tab is separated from the remainder of the end portion but so that the tab remains attached to the remainder of the blank and can be pivoted or bent out of the plane of the blank.
The blank is also formed with four fold lines, 4, 6, 10 and 11 which separate the blank into a first portion 3, a second portion 5, a third portion 7, a fourth portion 9 and a fifth portion 12. As shown, the fold lines extend perpendicularly of the side edges 2 and 15.
The carrier is intended to enable a user or consumer to carry or support a cup or receptacle containing goods obtained or purchased from a supplier. In particular, the carrier is primarily intended for enabling a consumer to carry or support a disposable; generally cardboard or plastics, cup containing a hot beverage such as tea or coffee.
As will be explained below, the carrier 100 can be used with a cup or receptacle to define a number of different holder configurations. In each of these configurations, the blank is formed into an endless loop by folding the blank about the fold lines 4, 6, 10 and 11, passing the handle 1a through the slit 13 and passing the tab 16 through this slit 17.
Various configurations of holder using the carrier 100 will now be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.
A user or consumer may use any one or more of the holder configuration shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. Thus, for example, a user may carry the hot beverage from the place of purchase using the holder configuration shown in.
It will, of course, be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the carrier 100. Thus, for example, the cup receiving region 8 may be defined in different ways, different forms of coupling mechanism other than the handle portion 1a and slit 13 or tab 16 and slit 17 may be adopted and the location and/or number of the fold lines may be adjusted so as to accommodate cups having different aspect ratios. Indeed, the fold lines may be omitted so that the carrier forms a circular or elliptical rather than rectangular shape in cross sections. Also, the handle portion 1a may be omitted, in which case a user would grasp the top of the carrier in the holder configuration shown in
In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 7 to 29 illustrate various modifications of the carrier 100 shown in
The carriers 100 shown in
The modified carrier shown in
In this embodiment, when the end portions are coupled together, the tabs 16a and 16b are folded round respective edges of the portion 1c of the end portion 1 between the edge of the end portion and the slot 17a. When a cup is received in the cup receiving region the flaps 8j extend over a greater portion of the cup side wall than in the carrier shown in
It will be appreciated that many different combinations of the modifications shown in FIGS. 7 to 29 may be applied to the carrier shown in
Each of the carriers described above is designed to carry a single cup or receptacle. FIGS. 30 to 35 show carriers capable of carrying multiple cups or receptacles. These carriers are designed to be able to adopt the configuration shown in
The carriers shown in FIGS. 30 to 32 are based on the carrier shown in
The multiple cup or receptacle carriers shown in FIGS. 33 to.35 are based on the carrier shown in
In the above described embodiments, the carrier may be provided with an integral handle. As another possibility, the carrier may be provided with apertures for receiving a carrying cord.
In the majority of the embodiments described above, the cup or receptacle receiving region provides an aperture through which at least part of the cup may be passed. The aperture may be present in the carrier or may be defined by a frangible portion which is removed by pressure from, a user or by pressing the cup on to the blank or an already-formed carrier. As another possibility, the cup or receptacle receiving area need not necessarily define an aperture but may define a depression into which the cup or receptacle is seated. In this case, if the holder configuration shown in
In one aspect, the present invention provides a cup carrier formed from a blank into an endless band or loop which, in use, bounds or defines an aperture which receives the cup so that the band or loop surrounds and grips the cup and which also has an integrally provided handle for enabling a user to carry the cup.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a cup carrier formed from a blank into an endless loop having an integral handle, with a portion of the carrier defining a cup receiving region in which, in use, the cup sits beneath the handle.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a cup carrier formed from a blank into an endless loop defining a cup receiving region for supporting a cup in an upright position on a surface.
Although a carrier embodying the present invention is intended primarily for enabling a user to carry or transport disposable cups or receptacles containing a hot beverage, the carrier may also be used with disposable or non-disposable cups or other receptacles for containing cold beverages, take away food packets or containers (for sandwiches, pasta, salad etc) snacks and other consumer products including, for example, gardening items such as bulbs or the like to be planted.
In any of the above described examples, the receptacle or cup receiving region will be shaped and sized to receive a particular cup or receptacle and need not necessarily be circular but could be rectangular, for example. Where a carrier provides more than one receptacle or cup receiving region then these may have different sizes and/or shapes enabling for example both a beverage cup and a take away food packet or container to be carried.
Claims
1.-41. (canceled)
42. A carrier for enabling a purchaser to support or carry a receptacle containing purchased goods, the carrier being formed from a carrier blank as an endless loop with a portion of the wall of the loop being formed with an aperture, aperture defining region or depression to provide a receptacle receiving region, the carrier being deformable to provide at least two of:
- a first configuration in which the receptacle is receivable by the receptacle receiving region so that a base of the receptacle is supported on a surface region of the endless loop opposed to the receptacle receiving region, thereby enabling the receptacle to be supported in an upright condition;
- a second configuration in which the receptacle is receivable by the receptacle receiving region and the surface region provides a handle for enabling the purchaser to carry the carrier so that the receptacle is suspended below the handle; and
- a third configuration in which the receptacle is receivable within the endless loop so that the wall of the endless loop forms a band around the receptacle and provides a handle so that the receptacle can be carried by the purchaser grasping the handle.
43. A carrier according to claim 42, configurable in the third configuration.
44. A carrier according to claim 42, configurable in at least the second and third configurations.
45. A carrier according to claim 42, configurable in the first configuration, wherein the receptacle receiving region provides an aperture defining region for providing an aperture through which part of the receptacle can extend in the first configuration so that the base of the receptacle is supported by the surface region opposed to the receptacle receiving region.
46. A carrier according to according to claim 42, configurable in the second configuration, wherein the receptacle receiving region provides an aperture defining region for providing an aperture through which part of the receptacle can extend in the second configuration so that the receptacle is suspended from the carrier in the second configuration.
47. A carrier according to claim 42, configurable in at least the first and second configurations, wherein the carrier receptacle receiving region provides an aperture defining region for providing an aperture through which part of the receptacle can extend so that the base of the receptacle is supported by the surface region opposed to the receptacle receiving region in the first configuration and through which part of the receptacle can extend in the second configuration so that the receptacle is suspended from the carrier.
48. A carrier according to claim 45, wherein the aperture defining region comprises a frangible portion.
49. A carrier according to claim 45, wherein the aperture defining region comprises an aperture pre-formed in the carrier blank.
50. A carrier according to claim 45, wherein the aperture defining region comprises a plurality of slits or slots.
51. A carrier according to claim 45, wherein the aperture defining region comprises an aperture bounded by a slitted periphery.
52. A carrier according to claim 42, wherein the receiving region comprises a depression.
53. A carrier according to claim 42, wherein the carrier has a plurality of receptacle receiving regions each adapted to receive a receptacle.
54. A carrier according to claim 42, wherein first and second ends of the carrier blank forming the carrier have respective coupling portions which are coupled together to provide the endless loop.
55. A carrier according to claim 54, wherein at least one of the coupling portions also provides the handle.
56. A carrier according to claim 54, wherein one of the coupling portions comprises a slot and the other comprises a tab or projection which extends through the slot to form the endless loop.
57. A carrier according to claim 54, wherein each coupling portion comprises a slot and a projection or tab with the slot and projection or tab of one coupling portion cooperating with the projection or tab and slot, respectively, of the other coupling portion to form the endless loop.
58. A carrier according to claim 54, wherein the coupling portions comprise end portions of the carrier blank that are adhered together to form the endless loop.
59. A carrier according to claim 54, wherein the coupling portions comprise at least one selected from a group consisting of: cooperating tabs or projections, cooperating projections and slits, cooperating handle portions and a slit and a cooperating handle portion.
60. A carrier according to claim 54, wherein the coupling portions comprise handle portions holdable together by the purchaser to define the endless loop and the handle.
61. A carrier according to claim 42, wherein the surface region provides the handle as an integral handle.
62. A carrier according to claim 61, wherein the handle is provided by a cut out formed in the endless loop.
63. A carrier according to claim 42, wherein the carrier blank has fold lines that facilitate deformation of the carrier to enable adoption of said at least two of said first to third configurations.
64. A carrier according to claim 42, wherein the carrier blank has fold lines that define separate wall portions of the carrier and that facilitate deformation of the carrier to enable adoption of said at least two of said first to third configurations.
65. A carrier according to claim 42, further comprising projecting side portions for closing open sides of the carrier during use.
66. A carrier according to claim 42, wherein the carrier is formed from at least one of a group consisting of: paper, card, cardboard, a plastics material, corrugated paper, plastics, cardboard, rubber, reinforced cloth, and leather.
67. A holder comprising a carrier in accordance with claim 42, and a receptacle adapted for operable engagement with the carrier.
68. A holder according to claim 67, wherein the receptacle is a beverage cup.
69. A holder according to claim 67, wherein the receptacle is a food container.
70. A holder according to claim 67, wherein the receptacle is disposable.
71. A blank adapted to form a carrier according to claim 42, wherein the blank has opposed end portions and an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion having an aperture, aperture defining region or depression to provide a receptacle receiving region, wherein the blank is provided with an integral handle portion that projects from one end portion and is arranged to be received by a slit, provided by the other end portion so as to couple the end portions of the blank together to form an endless loop in use.
72. A blank according to claim 71, wherein there are two handle portions and one of the handle portions defines a securing element receivable through an aperture in the other handle portion.
73. A blank according to claim 71, wherein the receptacle receiving region comprises at least one of the slots, cut outs and fold lines for defining a depression for receiving a receptacle in use.
74. A blank according to claim 71, wherein the receptacle receiving region is an aperture defining region.
75. A blank according to claim 74, wherein the aperture defining region comprises at least one of a frangible section, slit and an aperture.
76. A blank according to claim 71, wherein the blank has a plurality of receptacle receiving regions each arranged to receive a receptacle.
77. A blank according to claim 71, having fold lines that facilitate deformation of a carrier formed from the blank.
78. A blank according to claim 71, having fold lines that define a plurality of portions each providing a respective different wall region of the carrier in use and that facilitate deformation of a carrier formed from the blank.
79. A blank according to claim 71, further comprising projecting side portions, for closing open sides of the carrier during use.
80. A blank according to claim 71, wherein the blank is formed from at least one of a group consisting of: paper, card, cardboard, a plastics material, corrugated card, plastics or cardboard or paper, rubber, reinforced cloth and leather.
81. A vendable goods holder, comprising:
- a receptacle for receiving goods and a carrier for enabling a purchaser of the goods to carry or support the receptacle, the holder being configurable in at least two of:
- a first configuration in which a portion of the carrier supports a base of the receptacle;
- a second configuration in which the receptacle is suspended beneath part of the carrier; and
- a third configuration in which the carrier provides a band around the receptacle.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 12, 2005
Publication Date: Nov 3, 2005
Inventor: Clare Taylor (London)
Application Number: 11/104,299