WO1998010687A1

WO1998010687A1 - Cup-holder

Info

Publication number: WO1998010687A1
Application number: PCT/CA1997/000633
Authority: WO
Inventors: Harry Pearson; Jaro Cekota
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-09-09
Filing date: 1997-09-09
Publication date: 1998-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1999-03-09
Also published as: CA2185055A1; AU4108897A

Abstract

The cup-holder (10) is provided with a number of cells (12, 14, 16, 18) for receipt of a cup. Each cell (12, 14, 16, 18) has a side limit which diverges upwardly and is defined by inter-connected alternatively inwardly (26) and outwardly (28) curved walls. The inwardly curved wall (26) is formed of flexible material which deforms resiliently outwardly as the cup is inserted into the cell to frictionally secure the cup therein. Each inwardly curved wall (26) has a continuous inner surface free of any openings therein save and except for a slit (40) formed adjacent to its intersection with the lower wall and, optionally, a vertically-extending line (70, 72, 74) of weakness. The line of weakness (70, 72, 74) is formed by a cut into but not through the latter said wall. The slit (40) and line (70, 72, 74) of weakness are provided to facilitate deformation of the curved wall.

Description

CUP-HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to holders for cups and more particularly to cup-holders which nest with like cup-holders and which have provision for frictionally engaging one or more cups therein.

Beverages sold at fast food outlets are usually served in disposable plastic or wax-coated paper cups. Cup-holders are provided if the beverages are to be consumed off the premises. The cup-holders allow a number of cups, usually four, to be carried by one person. They also stabilize the cups when they are resting on a table to lessen the possibility of spillage.

Cup-holders are usually composed of moulded paper pulp or plastic having openings for the cups. The openings are usually referred to as "cells" and they are provided with inwardly extending protrusions which press into contact with the side walls of the cups. The protrusions may be in the form of flaps, beads or rings and they act to prevent the cups from rocking or wobbling in the cells when the cup-holders are being carried.

Cup-holders are designed to nest together to facilitate transportation and storage. A shortcoming of many known cup- holders is that they do not nest very well. When the cup- holders are stacked, the outer walls of the cells of one holder fit into the openings of the cells of the holder immediately beneath it but the protrusions in the cells of the lower holder may engage the outer cell walls of the upper holder and impede the two holders from being separated.

Other known cup-holders have openings or "windows" formed in the walls of their cells. The windows are provided to weaken the walls so that they flex outwardly when cups are inserted into the cells. Windows have several disadvantages. First their edges, particularly their lower edges, tend to catch the edges of the windows of adjacent cup-holders in a stack and interfere with the separation of the cup-holders. Secondly such windows tend to impede the manufacture of the cup-holders. Cup-holders are formed by drawing paper pulp or plastic against the walls of a mould by means of heat and a vacuum. Any windows in the holders tend to cause a loss or an undesirable reduction in the pressure and hence impede the forming process . In general , the fewer the openings in the cup-holders during manufacture the better their "formability" or ease of manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the subject invention, selected areas of the walls of the cells frictionally engage the side walls of the cups . The cells lack flaps , beads , rings or windows and are to be contrasted with conventional cup-holders in this respect. The walls of the cells of the subject cup-holder are not damaged when the cup-holders are separated from each other in a stack unlike the flaps, beads, rings or windows of conventional cup-holders.

The cup-holder of the subject invention includes a cell for receipt of a cup. The cell has a lower limit, a side limit which diverges upwardly from the lower limit and terminates at an upper wall. The side limit of the cell is defined by interconnected alternatively inwardly and outwardly curved walls . Each outwardly curved wall extends between a pair of inwardly curved walls and each latter wall preferably has the shape of a wall of a truncated cone. The outwardly curved wall is formed of flexible material which deforms resiliently outwardly as the cup is inserted into the cell to frictionally secure the cup therein. Each inwardly curved wall has a continuous inner surface free of any openings therein save and except for a slit formed adjacent to its intersection with the lower wall. The slit is provided to facilitate deformation of the curved wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The cup-holder of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cup-holder; Figure 2 is an elevation of the cup-holder;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the cup-holder.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cup-holder; and

Figure 5 is an elevation of the cup-holder illustrated in Figure 4.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings .

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the cup-holder, generally 10, is in the form of a cellular tray having four cells generally 12 14, 16 and 18. Each cell receives a separate cup. Since the cells are of identical shape, only one 12 will be described in detail.

Cell 12 has a lower limit 20 and a side limit, generally 22, which diverges upwardly from the lower limit. The side limit terminates at an upper wall 24.

The lower limit is flat while the side limit is defined by interconnected alternatively inwardly and outwardly curved walls 26, 28 respectively. As illustrated each outwardly curved wall 28 extends between a pair of inwardly curved walls.

Each inwardly curved wall 26 has the shape of a portion of a cone. With reference to Figure 2 cone 26a is truncated by an imaginary plane 30-30 and cone 26b is truncated by plane 32-32. The latter plane is oriented at right angles to the plane of the sheet on which Figure 2 appears so that only its edge is visible in the Figure. As illustrated plane 30-30 diverges downwardly from the axis 34-34 of cone 26a.

With reference to Figure 1 a slit 40 is formed in each inwardly curved wall adjacent to its intersection with lower limit 20. The slit extends between the two outwardly curved walls 28a, b at opposite sides of the inwardly curved wall. The slit extends from the inner surface of the curved wall to its outer surface 41.

Each inwardly curved wall has a continuous uninterrupted surface free of any openings therein save and except for the slit.

With reference to Figures 1 and 3, a groove 50 extends between adjacent cells in the upper wall 24. A dome 52 is disposed at the top of each inwardly curved wall in the interior of the cup-holder and an elongated dome 54 is disposed at the top of each inwardly curved wall at the periphery of the cup-holder. A ridge 56 is disposed along the outer edge of the cup-holder.

At the centre of the cup-holder a downwardly extending hemispherical bowl 60 is formed. The bowl is within a generally rectangular ridge 62 having inwardly curved walls 64. With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the illustrated cup- holder differs from the cup-holder described above in that three lines of weakness 70, 72 and 74 are formed in each outwardly curved wall 76 of the cells. The lines are formed by scoring or cutting a narrow groove into the inner surface of the cell wall . The grooves extend into the cell wall but do not penetrate through to the outer surface of the wall.

Lines 70 and 74 coincide with the line of intersection of the outwardly curved wall 76 with the adjacent inwardly curved walls 78, 80 while line 72 lies midway between lines 70, 74. Each line extends from slit 84 formed at the lower edge of wall 76 and terminates at the upper wall 86 of the dome.

The lines of weakness serve to facilitate the outward flexure of the cell walls when a cup is inserted into the cells.

It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in the preferred embodiment illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cup-holder including: a cell for receipt of a cup and having a lower limit, a side limit which diverges upwardly from the lower limit and terminates at an upper wall, the side limit being defined by interconnected alternatively inwardly and outwardly curved walls, each outwardly curved wall extending between a pair of inwardly curved walls, each latter wall being formed of flexible material which deforms resiliently outwardly as the cup is inserted into the cell to frictionally secure the cup therein, each said inwardly curved wall having a continuous surface free of any openings therein save and except for a slit formed adjacent to its intersection with the lower wall, said slit facilitating such deformation.

2. The cup-holder as claimed in claim 1 further including a line of weakness formed in each said inwardly extending wall, said line extending into but not through the latter said wall.

3. The cup-holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said line of weakness coincides with the intersection of said inwardly extending wall with an adjacent said outwardly curved walls.

4. The cup-holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein a plurality of said lines of weakness are formed in each said inwardly extending wall, one said line coinciding with the intersection of said inwardly extending wall with an adjacent said outwardly curved walls and a second said line lying on said inwardly extending wall midway between the intersection of said latter wall and the adjacent outwardly extending walls.

5. The cup holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 where said line of weakness extends upwardly from said slit and terminates at said upper wall.