SAFETY STABILZERS

Abstract

The safety stabilizer is manufactured to be placed on a surface with a mating cup to be placed within its confines. The placement of the cup within the safety stabilizer gives the cup a wider base and a greater center of gravity. The greater center of gravity creates a situation where the cup has an increased stability preventing accidental spillage or even from being knocked over.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The applicants are not aware of any relevant prior art.

The safety stabilizer is designed for safety especially to eliminate the possibility of tipping of containers which. causes spillage. Spillage results in potential for slip and fall. It also results in the potential for burn injury. Both of these potential injuries cost money by limiting time an employee will be productive at work. Making break activates safer for all employees is a must for any safety minded company.

The tipping of a standard Styrofoam coffee cup is not unusual. This happens when someone bumps a table or in an outside setting when the wind picks up and blows the cup over. Also any simple hand gesture that contacts a cup causing spillage could turn into an injury or even a lawsuit. It has been discovered that the use of a safety stabilizer will essentially eliminate all of these potential problems. Inc savings from lost time and production from injury is sought after by anyone looking to increase production and the bottom line of a company.

It has been discovered that another aspect of the invention. is the manufacture a safety stabilizer constructed of a heavy plastic. This embodiment eliminates windblown accidents. The heavier base or stabilizer prevents the wind from blowing a cup over that has been placed within. a stabilizer of this invention, preventing an accident or injury. The heavier plastic stabilizers are reusable and recyclable. This embodiment is also dishwasher safe. They are nestable, making clean up and storage an ease. These heavier plastic stabilizers are manufactured in a variety of colors to help keep an individual's stabilizer separate from others. They can also be personalized for family groups, companies or other organizations.

THE INVENTION

The present invention is a stacking system for cups. The stacking system comprises alternatively stacking a whole cup that has predetermined dimensions, with a portion of a cup that has the same predetermined dimensions and a bottom, with a portion of a cup that has the same predetermined dimensions. This dimension of the portion of a cup is such that the cup bottom. does not extend to a bottom of the portion of a cup.

The invention includes in combination, a cup that has predetermined dimensions with a portion of a cup that has the same predetermined dimensions.

The invention includes in combination, a cup that has predetermined dimensions with a portion of a. cup that has the same predetermined dimensions where the portion of the cup is reversed top to bottom in the combination.

The invention includes a base for stabilizing a cup that has predetermined dimensions. The base is a. portion of a cup that has the same predetermined dimensions.

The present invention includes a base for stabilizing a cup that has a predetermined dimension. wherein the portion is a top approximately ½ of the cup of predetermined dimensions.

The present invention has a base wherein the base comprises two segments and the two segments are hinged together to form the base.

The present invention has a segmented base wherein opposite the hinge the segments have a fastening means. The present invention has another embodiment with a base wherein the fastening means is hook and loop. There is another embodiment with a base wherein the fastening means is a clip. There is another embodiment with a base wherein the fastening means is a snap button. Another embodiment is a base wherein the base is comprised of two segments and the two segments are attached to each other by a fastening means to form the base. There is also another embodiment with a base wherein the fastening means is hook and loop.

There are other embodiments with a base wherein the fastening means is a clip and a base wherein the fastening means is a snap button. A further embodiment is a base wherein the base has a solid bottom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a safety stabilizer nested with mating cups.

FIG. 2 shows a safety stabilizer below a cup.

FIG. 3 shows a cup placed within a safety stabilizer.

FIG. 4 shows a bottle of chemicals placed within a safety stabilizer.

FIG. 5 shows a propane torch within a safety stabilizer.

FIG. 6 shows a can of paint within a safety stabilizer.

FIG. 7 shows a safety stabilizer as hinged with a snap fastener.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment with a safety stabilizer hinged with a snap fastener.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a hinged safety stabilizer with a hook and loop fastener.

FIG. 10 shows a safety stabilizer with a gas cylinder placed within it.

FIG. 11 shows a safety stabilizer manufactured with a bottom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a safety stabilizer 2 nested with mating cups 4. The safety stabilizer 2 is manufactured and nested with the cups 4. The stabilizer 2 is also manufacture as a stand-alone product that nests with each other. These cups 4 and stabilizers 2 are manufactured from Styrofoam, plastic, rubber, glass, ceramic, wood, fiberglass, cardboard, post-consumer waste, composite materials, concrete and paper.

FIG. 2 shows the safety stabilizer 2 below a cup 4. The safety stabilizer 2 has an open bottom 6 that receives the bottom 8 of a cup 4. In this embodiment the open bottom of the safety stabilizer 100 sits on a surface. The safety stabilizer 2 is manufactured with a lip for ease of nesting and unnesting.

FIG. 3 shows a cup 4 placed within the safety stabilizer 2. The cup is now placed within the safety stabilizer 2. The safety stabilizer 2 allows the cup 4 to be place within the safety stabilizer 2 but not touching the surface that the safety stabilizer 2 is setting on. There is only the safety stabilizer 2 making contact with the surface of the table. It has been discovered that the wide base 102 of the safety stabilizer 2 creates a larger center of gravity allowing the cup 4 to be resistant to forces of energy that may be placed upon it. These forces of energy include wind, vibration. and actual force. The safety stabilizer 2 makes the possibility of the cup 4 overturning because of wind less likely. The safety stabilizer 2 also is resistant to accidental hitting of the cup 4. The cup will take a greater force to overturn it. It has been discovered that the cup 4 actually has a tendency to slide instead of overturning like it does without the safety stabilizer 2. It has also been discovered that the cup 4 within. the safety stabilizer 2 is also resistant to vibration such as a table being bumped or jarred. The safety stabilizer 2 prevents a cup 4 from spillage or being overturned when the table is bumped. The stabilizer 2 accepts the cup 4 and creates a greater center of gravity that distributes any force that is place upon it. This safety stabilizer 2 prevents the spillage of hot liquids that creates a burn hazard in a standard thermoformed coffee cup.

It has been discovered that Styrofoam cups 4 are inherently top heavy in their design. The safety stabilizer 2 eliminates the top heavy tendency by creating a larger center of gravity and dispersing the gravitational force that are place upon the cup 4.

FIG. 4 shows a bottle 10 of chemicals placed within the safety stabilizer 2. In this embodiment the safety stabilizer is manufactured from glass to prevent corrosion from the chemicals in the bottle 10. Once again the placement of the bottle within the safety stabilizer 2 reduces the possibility of spillage by creating a wider center of gravity. In this embodiment the glass safety stabilizers 2 are manufactured with a lip 104 to allow for nested and unnesting easily.

FIG. 5 shows propane torch 12 within the safety stabilizer 2. Standard propane torches 12 are inherently top heavy because of the added weight of the torch head 14. Without the torch head 14 the gas canister 16 is fairly stable. Once the torch head 14 is attached to the propane gas canister the torch 12 becomes top heavy. The safety stabilizer 2 allows the propane torch 12 to be placed within the stabilizer 2 and giving the torch 12 a greater center of gravity and preventing the torch 12 from tipping or from inadvertently being knocked over. The ability of the torch 12 to stand under adverse condition increases the level of safety when the torch 12 is in use. If the torch 12 is knocked over while a flame is present it creates a fire hazard. The use of the safety stabilizer 2 reduces the possibility for accidental fires or burns.

FIG. 6 shows a can 18 of paint within the safety stabilizer 2. With a can 18 of paint placed within the safety stabilizer 2 the likelihood of the paint can being kicked or knocked over are reduced. Once again, the safety stabilizer 2 creates a greater center of gravity making it much more difficult to spill or knock the can 18 over reducing the potential for mess, slip and fall or damage to other materials. This embodiment also is manufactured with a lip for ease on nesting and unnesting.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment where the safety stabilizer 2 as hinged 20 with a snap fastener 22. This embodiment allows the user to place the safety stabilizer 2 around large items by simply lifting the item slightly and placing the safety stabilizer around it.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment with the safety stabilizer 2 hinged 20 with a snap fastener 22. This embodiment allows the user to place the safety stabilizer 2 around a specific item without moving it far. The first half 24 and the second half 26 are joined together to form the safety stabilizer 2 and locking them together with the snap lock 22. The item is slightly lifted to create the space between the bottom of the item and the surface it sets on to give the greater center of gravity.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the hinged 20 safety stabilizer 2 with a hook and loop fastener 28. This embodiment uses the hook. and loop fastener 28 to connect the first half 24 and the second half 26.

FIG. 10 shows the safety stabilizer 2 with a gas cylinder 30 place within it. In this embodiment the safety stabilizer 2 is manufacture from concrete. This embodiment allows the gas cylinder 30 to be present without the fear of it tipping over or being knocked over.

FIG. 11 shows the safety stabilizer 2 manufactured with a bottom 40. The bottom 40 is manufactured from the same material as the safety stabilizer 2 and is used to capture any material that would dribble down the side of the item within the safety stabilizer 2 to prevent mess.

Another embodiment where the device 2 is manufactured from plastic that is reusable, dishwasher safe and recyclable.

The safety stabilizer 2 is manufactured from but not limited to Styrofoam, plastic, rubber, glass, ceramic, wood, fiberglass, cardboard, post-consumer waste, composite materials, concrete and paper.

The safety stabilizer 2 is manufactured to be nested. with mating cups 4 or as a stand-alone item to be used with other cups 4. Any type of cup 4 can be used with any type of stabilizer 2 as long as the cup 4 fits within the safety stabilizer 2 and does not make contact with the surface that the top of the base 102 does.

Claims

1. Stackinq system for predetermined dimension cups, said stacking system comprising alternatively stacking a whole cup having said predetermined dimensions, and a bottom, with a portion of a cup having the same said predetermined. dimensions, wherein the dimension of said portion of a cup is such that said cup bottom does not extend to a bottom of said portion of a cup.

2. In combination, a cup having predetermined. dimensions with a portion of a cup having said same predetermined. dimensions.

3. In combination, a cup having predetermined dimensions with a portion of a cup having said same predetermined. dimensions where said portion of said cup is reversed top to bottom in said combination.

4. A base for stabilizing a cup having predetermined dimensions, said base being a portion of a cup having said predetermined dimensions.

5. A base for stabilizing a cup having predetermined dimension wherein said portion is a top approximately ½ said cup of predetermined dimensions.

6. A base as claimed in claim 4 wherein the base comprises two segments and the two segments are hinged together to form said base.

7. A base as claimed in claim 6 wherein, opposite the hinge, the segments have a fastening means.

8. A base as claimed in claim 7 wherein the fastening means is hook and loop.

9. A base as claimed in claim 7 wherein the fastening means is a clip.

10. A. base as claimed in claim 7 wherein the fastening means is a snap button.

11. A base wherein the base comprises two segments and the two segments are attached to each other by a fastening means to form said base.

12. A base as claimed in claim 11 wherein the fastening means is hook and loop.

13. A base as claimed in claim 11 wherein the fastening means is a clip.

14. A base as claimed in claim 11 wherein the fastening means is a snap button.

15. A base as claimed in claim 4 wherein the base has a solid bottom.

16. A base as claimed in claim 1 wherein said safety stabilizer is manufactured from a group consisting of Styrofoam, plastic, rubber, glass, ceramic, wood, fiberglass, cardboard, post-consumer waste, composite materials, concrete and paper.