TWO CELL CUP

Abstract

A two cell cup for a cup holder is provided. The two cell cup includes a first cavity housing, a second cavity housing and a first rim. The first cavity housing forms a first cavity with a first opening. The second cavity housing forms a second cavity with a second opening. The first rim is generally circular in shape. Moreover, the first rim partially defines the first and second openings to the first and second cavities. The first and second openings of the first and second cavities are located within the first rim.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/110,039, same title herewith, filed on Oct. 31, 2008, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

It is common for individuals traveling in vehicles to snack on foods. However, it can be difficult, if not dangerous, to handle food containers while driving. For this reason and for other reasons stated below, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a container that contains foods that is easy and efficient to utilize in a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The above-mentioned problems of current systems are addressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. The following summary is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding some of the aspects of the invention.

In one embodiment, a two cell cup is provided. The two cell cup includes a first cavity housing, a second cavity housing and a first rim. The first cavity housing fauns a first cavity with a first opening. The second cavity housing forms a second cavity with a second opening The first rim is generally circular in shape. Moreover, the first rim partially defines the first and second openings to the first and second cavities. The first and second openings of the first and second cavities are located within the first rim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the detailed description and the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a two cell cup of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the cup of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cup of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front side view of the cup of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6A is a side view of stacked cups of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a partial cross-sectional side view of area 602 of the stacked cups in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a cup of FIG. 1 with a cover and product inside of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the cup of FIG. 1 being positioned in a cup holder of a vehicle of one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of a cup of FIG. 1 with product inside placed in a cup holder of a vehicle of one embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof

Embodiments of the present invention provide a two cell cup that can among other things be positioned in a cup holder of a vehicle. Referring to FIG. 1, a side perspective view of an embodiment of the two cell cup 100 is illustrated. As illustrated, the cup 100 includes a first (main) cavity housing 120 and a second cavity housing 140. The first cavity housing 120 and the second cavity housing 140 are fanned generally in a truncated cylinder shape that is sized and configured to fit is a standard cup holder of a vehicle, such as, but not limited to, a cup holder found in an automobile, a SUV, a minivan, a truck, a boat, a plane and the like. The first cavity housing 120 forms a first cavity 102. A first end 107 of the first cavity housing 102 has a first cavity opening 101 to the first cavity 102. A second end 109 of the first cavity housing 120 includes a support base 110. The support base 110 is designed to support the cup 100 in an upright position when resting on a surface. The second cavity housing 140 includes a first end 141 that includes a second cavity opening 103 to the second cavity 104 and a closed second end 143.

The cup further includes a circular outer rim 106. The outer rim 106 is operatively coupled to a portion of the first end 107 of the first cavity housing 120 and a portion of the first end 141 of the second cavity housing 140. A lip portion 112 further extends radially from the outer rim 106. Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is an inner rim 108 that extends across a portion of the outer rim 106 to define the first and second cavities 102 and 104. In one embodiment, the first cavity housing 120, the second cavity housing 140, the outer rim 106, the inner rim 108 and the lip portion are integrally formed in a mold. Any type of material that can be formed in a mold and exhibits characteristics as described below can be used in this embodiment. In one embodiment, the material used is a styrene block copolymer and crystal styrene blend. In one embodiment the cup 100 is made of a clear material. In another embodiment, the cup is colored.

Referring to FIG. 2, a top view of the cup 100 is illustrated. As illustrated, the first cavity 102 is separated from the second cavity 104 via rim 108. Rim 108 is generally in an arc shape, as explained above, that extends across a portion of the outer rim 106. The shape of the second rim 108 along with the stiffness of the material of the cup prevents the cup from folding up on itself when positioned in a cup holder. As FIG. 2 further illustrates, the first cavity is formed generally in a crescent shape and the second cavity 104 is generally formed in a triangle shape in this embodiment. In one embodiment the overall diameter of the cup 100, including lip 112, is approximately 3.94 inches. However, other diameters are possible and the present invention is not limited to a specific diameter of the cup 100. Also illustrated in FIG. 2 is a center line 201 that bisects the cup 100 in half. This illustrates, that a first portion 204 of the first cavity housing 120 and a second portion 206 of the first cavity housing extends beyond a center point 203 of the cup 100. That is, the first cavity housing 120 extends beyond 180 degrees with respect to center line 201. This design prevents the cup 100 from tipping over when the base portion 110 is resting on the surface which is further discussed below. Also illustrated in FIG. 2 is a raised portion 202 in the first cavity housing 120. In particular, the base 110 of the first cavity housing 120 has a raised portion 202 that allows fluids coming out of products contained in the first cavity 102 to be pooled away from the products.

Referring to FIG. 3, a side view of the cup 100 is illustrated. As illustrated, the embodiment of the cup 100 the second cavity housing 104 does not have the same depth as the first cavity housing 120. In particular, in embodiments the second cavity housing 104 is designed to hold dips, sauces and the like for products such as fruits, vegetables and meats held in the first cavity housing 120. Hence, the cup is designed so that the user can dip the product contained in the first cavity 102 in the sauce or dip of the second cavity 104. To ensure the product can reach the sauce or dip, the depth of the second cavity 104 is less than the depth of the first cavity 102. Moreover, the size of the second cavity 104 in relation to the first cavity 102 is selected so that the sauce or dip will not run out before its associated product runs out. In one embodiment, the volume of the first cavity 102 is 10.0 cubic inches and the volume of the second cavity 104 is 1.5 cubic inches. An example height of the cup 100 between the base 110 and rim 106 is approximately 1.93 inches and an example width of the base across the side view is 2.06 inches. These dimensions are just examples, the present invention is not limited to a specific dimensions.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the cup 100. This view also illustrates that the second cavity housing 140 is not as deep as the first cavity housing 120. An example width of the base 110 across the front view is approximately 2.91 inches. A cross-sectional view along line 5-5 is illustrated in FIG. 5. This illustration further illustrates the raised portion 202 in the base 110 of the first cavity housing 120. Also illustrated in FIG. 5 is that rim 106 and rim 108 are on the same plane. This allows for a cover to effectively seal the contents of the first cavity 102 from the contents of the second cavity 104 as further discussed below. An example height of the second cavity housing 140 of approximately 1.05 inches is also provided. As with the prior examples of dimensions, the present invention is not limited to specific dimensions. Further illustrated in FIG. 5 is ridge 302 that extends around a parameter of the cup proximate the first end 107 of the first cavity housing 120 and the first end 141 of the second cavity housing 140. Ridge 302 helps in separating stacked cups 100. Two stacked cups 100a and 100b are illustrated in FIG. 6A. A close up view of section 602 is illustrated in FIG. 6B. As illustrated in FIG. 6B, when stacking cups 100a and 100b ridge 302 of cup 100a engages rim 106 of cup 100b thereby spacing lips 112 of the cups 100a and 100b apart from each other. This allows for easy separation of stacked cups 100a and 100b.

Referring to FIG. 7, a cup 100 containing a product 704 in the first cavity 102 and a dip or sauce 706 in the second cavity 104 is shown. In one embodiment a removable cover 702 is used to seal the contents 704 and 706 in the cup 100. In one embodiment a gas exchange system is used that seals the cover 702 on the rims 106 and 108 to maintain the contents freshness and keeps contaminates away from the product. In one embodiment, a pealed seal surface is used on rims 106 and 108 so that the cover can be pealed off when ready for use. As discussed above, the rims 106 and 108 are in the same plane so that a single cover seals the contents of the first cavity 102 from the contents of the second cavity 104. In particular seal 701 seals the cover 702 with rim 106 and seal 703 seals rim 108 thereby separating the contents of the cavities 102 and 104 from each other.

An illustration of a cup 100 being positioned to be placed in a cup holder 804 of a portion 802 of a vehicle is illustrated in FIG. 8. As illustrated, the cup 100 is aligned with the cup holder 804 and then placed in the cup holder 804. A cup 100 with a content is placed in cup holder 804 is illustrated in FIG. 9. As illustrated, the lip 112 of the cup 100 engages a surface around the cup holder 804 to prevent the cup 100 from falling into the cup holder 804. Hence, at least the lip 112 has a larger diameter than the diameter of the cup holder 804. The shape of the inner rim 108 (which as discussed above is generally in the form of an arc that extends across portion of the outer rim 106) and the stiffness of the material prevent the cup from folding up on itself and falling into the cup holder.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A two cell cup comprising:

a first cavity housing forming a first cavity with a first opening;

a second cavity housing forming a second cavity with a second opening; and

a first rim generally circular in shape, the first rim partially defining the first and second openings to the first and second cavities, the first and second openings of the first and second cavities being within the first rim.

2. The two cell cup of claim 1, further comprising:

a second rim defining remaining portions of the first and second openings within the first rim.

3. The two cell cup of claim 2, wherein the second rim is generally arc shaped coupled across a portion of the first rim.

4. The two cell cup of claim 2, wherein the first and second rim are in the same plane.

5. The two cell cup of claim 1, wherein the first cavity housing has a first depth and the second cavity housing has a second depth, the first depth being greater than the second depth.

6. The two cell cup of claim 5, wherein the first cavity housing includes a base configured to hold the cup upright when set on a surface.

7. The two cell cup of claim 5, wherein the first cavity housing is generally crescent shaped.

8. The two cell cup of claim 5, wherein the base of the first cavity housing extends beyond 180 degrees from a center point of the first rim.

9. The two cell cup of claim 5, wherein the base has at least one raised portion.

10. The two cell cup of claim 1, further including a ridge configured to space the first rims of stacked cup a select distance from each other.

11. The two cell cup of claim 1, further comprising:

a lip coupled to the first rim configured to engage a surface proximate a cup holder.

12. The two cell cup of claim 1, further comprising:

a removable cover.

13. The two cell cup of claim 12, wherein the removable cover is configured to seal contents contained in the first and second cavities.

14. A cup for a cup holder, the cup comprising:

a first cavity housing forming a first cavity having a first opening;

a second cavity housing forming a second cavity having a second opening, the first and second cavity housing configured to be received in the cup holder;

a first rim defining outer portions of the first and second openings, the first rim generally circular in shape; and

a second rim defining inner portions of the first and second openings, the second rim located within the first rim and extending across a portion of the first rim, the second rim having a shape configured to prevent the cup from folding up when in the cup holder, the second rim further in the same plane as the first rim.

15. A cup of claim 13, further comprising:

the first cavity housing and the second cavity housing having select depths, the first cavity housing having a greater depth than the second cavity housing;

the first cavity housing further having generally a crescent shape with a base configured to hold the cup in an upright position when not received in a cup holder.

16. The cup of claim 14, further comprising wherein the first and second rims have a peal sealed surface, the cup further comprising:

a removable cover sealed to the first rim and the second rim to keep items in the cavities fresh and free from contaminates, wherein the seal on the second rim further prevents contents of one of the first and second cavities from being mixed with the contents of the other first and second cavities.

17. The cup of claim 14, wherein the first rim has an outer diameter that is larger than the cup holder, the cup further comprising:

a lip extending from first rim proximate the outer diameter of the first rim, the lip configured to engage a surface proximate a cup holder when the cup is placed in a cup holder.

18. A cup comprising:

a generally circular first rim, the rim having an inner edge and an outer edge, the diameter of the outer edge being greater than a diameter of a cup holder;

a generally arc shaped second rim coupled across a portion of the first rim proximate the inner edge of the of the first rim to partition an interior area within the first rim into a first partition area and a second partition area, the second rim having a first edge and a second edge, the first rim and the second rim being in the same panel;

a first cavity housing having a first cavity, the first cavity housing having a first end and a second end, the first end having an opening to the first cavity, the first end further coupled to a first portion of the interior edge of the first rim and the first edge of the second rim, the second end of the first cavity housing having a closed base; and

a second cavity housing having a second cavity, the second cavity having a first end and a second end, the first end having an opening to the second cavity, the first end of the second cavity housing coupled to the second edge of the second rim and a second portion of the inner edge of the first rim, the second end of the second cavity housing being closed.

19. The cup of claim 18, further comprising:

the first cavity housing has a first and second portion that extends around a portion of the second cavity housing such that the portion of the second cavity housing is between the first and second portion of the first cavity housing, the first cavity housing having a base configured to hold the cup in an upright position when resting on a surface.

20. The cup of claim 18, further wherein a volume size of the second cavity is in proportion to a volume size in the first cavity based on a determination of how much product in the second cavity will be needed for the product in the first cavity.