Multiple Container Holder

Abstract

A holder for multiple containers, which thread into opposing open portions of one or more double container holders which hold the containers in opposed coaxial pairs. This allows for safe transport of multiple glass containers at one time by incorporating the cap, lid or top connection of several containers into one holder. This limits the movement of containers independently, restricting the motion to avoid glass on glass contact. The design could also be altered to cover or go around existing lids and caps so the connection device would be independent of the closed containers themselves.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to the field of holders or lids for containers or jars. More particularly, the invention pertains to holders or lids for glass containers which are capable of connecting multiple containers or jars.

Description of Related Art

The classical glass container is the Mason jar, a glass jar using a standardized ring holding a seal against a lip on the rim of the jar. First patented in 1858 by J. L. Mason in U.S. Pat. No. 22,186, the Mason jar is used today not only for the role of storing canned foods contemplated by Mason, but also as a drinking glass and for many other purposes. Glass containers are also used for containing mayonnaise or pickles or other food products.

Glass containers are difficult to transport safely, they are often a risk to themselves. It is difficult to transport more than one container at a time without risk of collision or shock damage. There is also a risk of lid leakage or loss through the cap of such containers.

Current designs for protecting glass insulate or separate the containers by physical objects and materials, not by restricting the motions of the containers relative to themselves and the containers around them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a holder for multiple containers, which thread into opposing open portions of one or more double container holders which hold the containers in opposed coaxial pairs. This allows for safe transport of multiple glass containers at one time by incorporating the cap, lid or top connection of several containers into one holder. This limits the movement of containers independently, restricting the motion to avoid glass on glass contact. The design could also be altered to cover or go around existing lids and caps so the connection device would be independent of the closed containers themselves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a double container embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention usable with six containers.

FIG. 3 shows another double container embodiment, with additional accessories.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Double Container Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows the invention in a form of a holder 104 which links two containers, 100 and 102 in a coaxial or top-to-top arrangement.

While the containers 100 and 102 are shown as conventional Mason jars or similar jars, it will be understood that the invention can be adapted for use with other types of jars, bottles or other containers within the teachings of the invention. The term “container” as used herein is intended to encompass all such jars, bottles or other containers. Equally, while the embodiments are described in terms of glass containers, it will be understood that the invention is also useful with containers made of other substances such as plastic or metal.

The double-container holder 104 of FIG. 1 has a body 110 with two facing open portions 106 and 114, each of which has a diameter and thread to match the threads 117 and 116 on the open end of one of the containers 100 and 102, respectively. When the containers 100 and 102 are threaded into the opposing open portions 106 and 114 respectively, the containers 100 and 102 are held firmly in position and cannot physically touch each other.

Preferably, the holder 104 will be made with open portions 106 and 114 which are threaded and sized to mate with the threads on a regular Mason jar (2¾ in or 70 mm outer diameter) or a wide mouth Mason jar (3⅜ in or 86 mm outer diameter). It will be understood, however, that other sizes and threads are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, if it is desired to provide a holder for two pill bottles, then the open portions 106 and 114 would be made with a smaller diameter to match the bottles, and the “thread” would be a split-thread arrangement for mating with the bayonet tabs on the bottles.

The holder 104 shown in FIG. 1 has a solid divider 108 separating the two open portions 106 and 114. The rims of the containers 100 and 102 press against the solid divider 108, so that the divider 108 seals against the rims and provides a barrier between the containers 100 and 102, so that the contents of the containers do not leak out or mix. If separate seals are used, as is typical in Mason jars and shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3, then the solid divider 108 can be omitted.

In some embodiments, the lip 112 and 113 of the open portions 106 and 114 is made long enough such that when the jars 100 and 102 are fully seated in the open portions 106 and 114, the lips 112 and 113 form a secondary seal by contacting a shoulder 120 and 121 on the containers 100 and 102.

Multiple Container Embodiment

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention which is usable with up to six containers, of which two 201 and 203 are shown in the figure. The six-container embodiment shown in the figure has three parallel double container holders 204, 206 and 208, each with open portions 212 and 218 sized and threaded to mate with the threads 214 and 216 of the containers 201 and 203, and, optionally, a solid divider 210, as described with respect to the double container embodiment of FIG. 1, above. Two containers can be threaded into each of the holders 204, 206 and 208.

Connector portions 220 connect the holders 204, 206 and 208. The connector portions 220 have a thickness sufficient to provide clearance between containers threaded into adjoining pairs of holders, so that each of the containers can be turned without interfering with adjoining containers.

A multiple container holder may incorporate a handle 202, which can also act as a linkage to additional holders or for attachment of accessories to the holder.

It will be understood that other multiple container designs than the six-container embodiment shown in FIG. 2 are possible within the teachings of the invention, usable with fewer or more containers or with other arrangements of holders. For example, a holder for use with eight containers could be formed with four multiple container holders arranged linearly or as two rows of two multiple container holders each. Or, the six-container embodiment could be formed with the multiple container holders arranged in a triangular rather than linear arrangement.

Example of Accessories

FIG. 3 shows how a multiple container holder 308 connecting two containers 303 and 304 can be used with some examples of accessories. In FIG. 3, a cheese grater 300 is fitted between the multiple container holder 308 and container 304. Similarly, a seal, heating pad, cooling pad or separator 302 is shown between the multiple container holder 308 and container 303, which seals against the upper lip 306 of container 303.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.

Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

Claims

1. A double container holder for holding two containers having open tops, the open top of each container having an outside diameter and a thread, the double container holder comprising a cylindrical body having two opposing coaxial open portions, each open portion having an inner diameter sized to encompass the outer diameter of a container and a holder thread for threading with the thread of a container.

2. The double container holder of claim 1, in which the inner diameter and holder thread of the open portions of the holder are sized and threaded to mate with the outer diameter and thread of a Mason jar.

3. The double container holder of claim 2, in which the Mason jar is a wide-mouth Mason jar.

4. The double container holder of claim 1, further comprising a solid barrier inside the cylindrical body between the two open portions.

5. The double container holder of claim 1, further comprising a removable seal inside the cylindrical body between the two open portions.

6. The double container holder of claim 1, in which the open portions further comprise a length ending in a lip, such that when a container is threaded into the open portion, the lip contacts a shoulder on the container.

7. A multiple container holder for holding a plurality of containers having open tops, the open top of each container having an outside diameter and a thread, the multiple container holder comprising:

a) a plurality of double container holders, each double container holder comprising a cylindrical body having two opposing coaxial open portions, each open portion having an inner diameter sized to encompass the outer diameter of a container and a holder thread for threading with the thread of a container; and

b) a plurality of connector portions separating the plurality of double container holders.

8. The multiple container holder of claim 7, in which the inner diameter and holder thread of the open portions of each of the double container holders are sized and threaded to mate with the outer diameter and thread of a Mason jar.

9. The multiple container holder of claim 8, in which the Mason jar is a wide-mouth Mason jar.

10. The multiple container holder of claim 7, further comprising a solid barrier inside the cylindrical body between the two open portions.

11. The multiple container holder of claim 7, further comprising a removable seal inside the cylindrical body between the two open portions.

12. The multiple container holder of claim 7, in which the open portions further comprise a length ending in a lip, such that when a container is threaded into the open portion, the lip contacts a shoulder on the container.

13. The multiple container holder of claim 7, in which the double container holders are arranged in a linear row.

14. The multiple container holder of claim 7, in which the double container holders are arranged in a plurality of linear rows.