Food container attachable to cup

Abstract

A food container (14) that can be mounted on a cup (12), includes a container bottom recess (30) that receives the top (22) of the cup. Walls of the recess form a groove (44) that extends around the container axis (26) and snaps onto a bead (24) at the top of the cup to hold the container securely to the cup. The groove (44) lies at the top of a leadin wall (42) that extends at an inward and upward incline, so the leadin wall is deflected by the cup bead until the bead snaps into the groove.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A person who buys food in a cup, such as coffee or a soft drink, may wish to purchase a second food that comes in a separate container such as donut holes or chicken pieces that can be eaten with the food in the cup. It can be awkward to carry both the cup and the container, and to eat the food in one or both of them. A container that facilitated the carrying of the cup and container and the eating of food out of one or both of them, would be of value.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a low cost container formed of a deformed sheet of plastic (with or without fibrous material in the plastic), is provided that can be easily and securely mounted on a cup or removed from it, and that facilitates eating food from the cup and/or the container. The cup is of the type that has a bead that projects radially outward from the top of the cup. The container has a bottom recess for receiving the top of the cup. The bottom recess walls form a groove that extends around a vertical axis of the container and that receives the cup bead. The container recess walls include a leadin wall that extends at an inward and upward incline, and that bends outward as the bead moves up the leadin wall until the bead snaps into the groove.

The container has a horizontal bottom wall with a straw-passing upward projection. The upward projection has a straw opening that can pass a straw so the contents of the cup can be drunk through a straw while the container is mounted on the cup. The projection can even project above the top wall of the container.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a container system of the invention with the cup and lid shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of container of FIG. 1 without the lid.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the container mounted on the top of the cup of FIG. 1, with the cup shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of area 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4A is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, but showing a cup bead in the groove.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the container of FIG. 1 and showing the lid of FIG. 1 in phantom lines.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a dual container of another embodiment of the invention, with the container shown in an open configuration and showing a portion of a cup in phantom lines.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the open dual container of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the dual container of FIG. 6 in a closed configuration.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the closed container of FIG. 8, with a portion of a cup and of a straw shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a container of another embodiment of the invention, wherein the container has a hinged lid, and wherein the straw-passing projection extends to and above the lid.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the container of FIG. 10, shown in a closed position and with a cup and straw shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of area 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an exploded isometric view of a container of another embodiment of the invention wherein the container is of square rectangular configuration, and also showing a cup in phantom lines.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the container of FIG. 13 in a closed position and mounted on a cup that is shown in phantom lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a food container system 10 of the present invention, which includes a cup 12 for holding food, especially liquid food such as coffee or soda, a container 14 for holding a second food such as donut holes or chicken pieces, and a lid 16 that can close the container. The cup 12 is a conventional cup of wax-coated cardboard of round cross-sections, which has side walls 20, and a cup top 22 with a bead 24. The bead 24 is commonly formed by rolling the cup top wall into a tight spiral of almost circular cross-section that is fixed in its spiral shape as by wax. The cup and container are centered on an axis 26 and the bead projects radially outward (with respect to axis 26), or “outward” from the top of the cup side walls. A person may want to purchase both the cup 12 and container 14 (with the lid) and eat the contents of the two of them together. For example, a person may want to purchase a cup of coffee in the cup 12 and donut holes in the container 14, or soda in the cup and chicken pieces in the container, and eat them together. Applicant constructs the container 14 so it can be easily mounted on the cup to facilitate carrying them and eating out of them.

FIG. 3 shows that the container has a bottom recess 30 which receives the top 22 of the cup. The container has sidewalls 32 and has a lower portion 34 with a bottom 36 that can rest stably on a horizontal surface such as a shelf 40 on which the container has been placed. Walls of the recess 30 include a leadin wall 42 that leads to a groove 44, and a horizontal cavity bottom wall 46 whose lower surface faces the groove. The container walls form a container cavity 52 that can hold a second food 54, while a first food 56 lies in the cup.

To install the container 14 on the cup a person places the cup top 22 within the bottom recess 30 of the container, with the cup bead 24 lying under the leadin wall 42. A person then presses down firmly on the container to cause the cup bead to deflect the leadin wall in a radially outward direction O (away from the axis). Finally, the cup bead 24 snaps into the groove 44, which retains the container on the cup until the container is forcefully removed. There is an interference fit between the cup bead 24 and the walls of the groove 44 after the cup bead lies fully in the groove, which seals the top of the first container 12. The leadin wall preferably has interruptions 42i (FIG. 2) to facilitate its deflection to pass the cup bead into the groove.

FIG. 4 shows that the groove 44 in the container has groove portions 44p around the axis that each opens in a direction 50 that is radially inward I (towards the axis) and downward D (by an angle of at least 10° to the horizontal). The facing direction 50 preferably extends at an inward and downward angle of 20° to 70° to the horizontal. The leadin wall 42 has a top portion with a convex surface 54 that faces inwardly, with the convex surface merging with the groove 44. The convex surface 54 lies a distance G outward of the groove center line 62. It might appear that it is only necessary that the convex surface 54 lies below the outer side of the groove for the cup bead to remain captivated in the groove. However, applicant prefers to extend the groove walls to include an inner end 60 that extends downward to lie radially inside the bead. This resists radially inward movement of the cup bead that could result in the bead inadvertently moving out of the groove. The groove preferably extends by an angle B of at least 180° about the groove centerline 62. The leadin top convex surface 54 preferably extends radially inward of the groove outer side 64 by a distance C of at least 35% of the groove radius R.

The leadin wall 42 extends at an inward and upward incline A from the vertical of about 25° , although an incline E of about 15° can enable easier deflection of the leadin wall although with less tolerances allowed. Both the leadin wall 42 and the groove 44 extend around the entire axis of the container so there are leadin walls and groove portions on opposite sides of the axis, although they (especially the leadin wall) may have interruptions.

FIG. 3 shows that the container cavity bottom wall 46 has an upward projection 70 with a straw opening 72 in its top 73. FIG. 2 shows that the straw opening can comprise cross slits that are expanded by a straw. The projection reduces the possibility that a liquid in the cup 12 will spill into the container and wet a solid food in the container. The projection 70 preferably extends upward by a distance of at least ⅜ inch above the container bottom wall 46 for a container 12 whose bead has a diameter of about 3½ inches (2 to 5 inches). The height of the projection is between 10% to 60% of the width of the bottom of the container. The top of the projection 70 shown in FIG. 3 is below the top of the container 14.

FIGS. 6-9 show a food container system 100 that includes a double container 102 that is mountable on a cup 12. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the double container includes a bottom container 104 and a top container 106 that are connected by a hinge 108. The figures show lidding films 110, 112 on the open ends 114, 116 of the containers. When the two containers are pivoted closed, the open ends are closed on each other. The containers can each contain food, as where the cup holds coffee, one container holds cream and the other container holds sugar. One of the containers may hold an eating utensil such as a spoon with a short handle. When applicant refers to “food” he is including a utensil useful in the eating of food. The containers have tabs 120, 122 that facilitate opening and that latch the containers closed.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the double container in a closed position. The bottom container 104 has an upward projection 124 with a straw opening 125 at the top wall 126, that is similar to that of FIG. 3, except that the projection 124 extends to the top of the bottom container. The upper container 106 has a depression 127 in its top that has a lower wall 128 that has a straw opening 129 and that lies facewise against the top wall 126 of the bottom container projection. As a result, a person can project a straw though the two horizontal walls 126, 128 to drink fluid in the cup, without opening the double container.

FIGS. 10-12 show another food container system 130 that integrates different parts. The container system comprises a container 132 that has walls forming a cavity 134 and walls forming a bottom recess 136 similar to the recess of FIG. 3, for engaging a bead 24 at a cup top of a cup 12. The container includes a lid 140 that is joined to the container part by a hinge 142 formed in a plastic sheet that forms the container and lid. The container has a bottom wall 144 with an upward projection 146 that projects above the lid in the closed lid configuration shown in FIG. 11 and that has a straw opening 148. As a result, food in the cavity 134 is more isolated from liquid in the cup, since liquid from the straw is less likely to drip on food in the cavity 134 even when a wet straw is pulled out. Applicant prefers to form a deflection recess 150 in the lid that extends around the straw opening, which makes the inner edge 152 of the straw opening 154 more flexible to facilitate opening and closing the lid.

FIGS. 13-14 show another food container system 170 which is similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 10, except that the container 172 is of rectangular and especially square shape as viewed from above. A lid 174 is removable and reattachable to the container. An upward projection 176 in the bottom wall of the container projects to above the lid and has a straw opening 178. The lid has a straw opening 180 in the form of a circle, and has a circular deflection recess 182 that extends around its straw opening.

Thus, the invention provides a food container system that includes a container that easily and securely mounts on the top of a common liquid cup in which coffee or soda is sold, wherein the cup has an outward projecting bead at its top. The container has a recess in its bottom that receives the top of the cup. The recess walls include walls forming a groove that receives the cup bead, and also includes a leadin wall that extend at an upward and radially inward incline to the groove. The leadin wall is deflected outward by a cup bead moving upward along the leadin wall, until the bead snaps into the groove. The bottom wall of the container cavity can have an upward projection with a straw opening for the reception of a drinking straw. The projection can extend up to the top wall of the container, and the container can have a circular deflection recess around a circular hole that receives the top of the projection. The system can include a double container that includes top and bottom containers that can open and close on each other. The container can be of circular shape or of rectangular and especially square shape as seen from above.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

Claims

1. A food container system that can hold first and second foods, where the first food lies in a cup that has a vertical axis (26) and side walls of round cross-sections and a cup top (22) with an outward-projecting bead (24), comprising:

a container (14) that forms a cavity (52) and that has a container lower portion (34) that forms a container bottom (36) that supports said container on a horizontal shelf when laid thereon, said container having bottom recess walls that form a bottom recess (30) that receives said cup top, said bottom recess walls forming a groove (44) that receives said outward-projecting bead of said cup;

said groove having a groove centerline (62) and the groove walls extend sufficiently along said groove centerline to securely hold to said bead;

said bottom recess walls form a primarily horizontal cavity bottom wall (46) at the bottom of said cavity, and said bottom recess walls form a leadin wall (42) that extends at an upward and inward incline to said groove.

2. The system described in claim 1 wherein:

said bottom recess has walls that form groove portions (44p) spaced about said axis, that each has a groove opening that faces (50) at an inward and downward incline to the horizontal, with the downward incline being at least 10°.

3. The system described in claim 1, wherein:

said leadin wall has at least one interruption (42i).

4. The system described in claim 1 wherein:

said leadin wall (42) has an upper end with an inwardly-facing convex surface (54) leading to said groove, said convex inwardly-facing surface lying a distance (G) radially outward of said groove centerline (62).

5. The system described in claim 1 wherein:

said container bottom wall (46) has an upward projection (70) with a projection top wall (73) having a straw opening (72) for passing a straw, so a straw can be inserted through the container into the cup.

6. The system described in claim 5 wherein:

said container has a top wall with a top wall hole (154, 180) therein, and said projection projects higher than said top wall and through said top wall hole.

7. The system described in claim 6 wherein:

said top wall of said second container has a deflection recess (150, 182) that extends around said stop wall hole and allows said top wall hole to shift position, whereby to facilitate projecting the projection up through the top wall hole.

8. The system described in claim 1 wherein:

said container comprises a double container (102) that includes bottom and top containers (104, 106), said bottom container (104) forming said double container lower portion and said bottom recess walls that form a groove (44);

said top container is pivotally joined along a hinge (108) to said bottom container and said bottom and top container are latchable together in a closed position of the double container.

9. The system described in claim 8 wherein:

said bottom container bottom wall (46) has an upward projection (124) having a straw opening (125) for passing a straw;

said top container has top and bottom walls with said top wall forming a recess with a space (128) for passing a straw with the space extending down to the level of a top of said projection and with said bottom wall of said top container having a straw opening (129) that allows a straw to be projected through said two straw openings (125, 129) into said first container.

10. A food container system that includes a container (14) that has a vertical axis and that can be mounted on a cup (12) that has a cup top (22) with an outwardly projecting cup bead (24), wherein:

said container has walls forming a food-holding cavity (52) including a bottom wall (36) for resting on a horizontal surface (40) when the container is not mounted on the cup, and said container has bottom recess walls that form a recess (30) constructed to receive said cup top, said recess walls forming a groove (44) that extends about said axis for receiving said cup bead, and said recess walls including a cavity bottom wall (46) that lies within said circular groove and that forms at least part of the bottom of said food-holding cavity.

11. The system described in claim 10 wherein:

said bottom recess walls also forms a leadin wall (42) that extends at an inward and upward incline from said bottom wall (36) to said groove (44) for guiding the cup bead as it moves into said groove.

12. The system described in claim 11 wherein:

said leadin wall extends completely around said axis, but with at least one interruption (42i).

13. The system described in claim 11 wherein:

said groove has a radius (R);

said bottom recess walls form a convex inside surface (54) at the intersection of said leadin wall and said groove, with the horizontal distance (C) between an inner side (64) of said groove and an outer side of said convex surface being at least 35% of the radius (R) of said groove.

14. The system described in claim 10, wherein:

said groove has a centerline (62) and has a groove inner side (60) that extends at an inward and downward incline to lie radially inside the cup bead.

15. A food container that includes a cup (12) with a cup top (22) and a container (14) that has a vertical axis (26) and that is mountable on said cup top, wherein:

said cup top has an outward projecting cup bead (24), and said container (14) has a bottom wall (46) forming a groove (44) for receiving said bead to hold said container on said cup, with said bead and groove forming an interference fit between them when the bead is received in the groove, to prevent spillage;

said container bottom wall has an upward projection (70) that lies over said cup top and that has an opening (72) through which liquid in said cup (12) can be withdrawn through said container (14).

16. The system described in claim 15 wherein:

said projection has a height of between 10% and 60% of the width of a bottom of said container.