Detailed Description
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements throughout. In order to clearly illustrate some of the features of the present invention, it is not necessary to maintain the proportions of the parts in the figures.
Reference numeral 10 generally indicates a cup and bowl carrier 10 made of a reconstitutable material (resilientitative) such as molded fiber pulp. The cup carrier 10 may be manufactured by molding fiber pulp against a mold or die by processes and means well known in the art. In other embodiments, the cup carrier 10 may be made of other materials, such as plastic, foam, or other materials having desirable strength and recovery properties.
The carrier 10 has at least one container-retaining socket 12 and 14 molded therein for securely retaining the container. As shown in fig. 1, the carrier 10 includes four sockets 12 and 14, one at each corner of the carrier 10, with a central cavity 24 positioned between the sockets.
As shown in FIG. 1, the two sockets 12 are generally configured to receive beverage cups or other containers or objects having similarly sized bases. The other two sockets 14 are generally configured to optionally receive either (a) a beverage cup or other container or object having a similarly sized base or (b) a bowl or other container or object having a similarly sized base. That is, the socket 14 is basically designed to either hold a beverage cup or a holding bowl.
However, the carrier 10 may have sockets 12 and 14 in different configurations and numbers. For example, in one embodiment, the carrier 10 includes one or two sockets 12 and 14, while the remainder of the carrier 10 includes a substantially flat food carrying surface. The carrier 10 may also include a downwardly turned continuous peripheral edge or flange 26.
Each socket 12 and 14 may include stabilizing shoulders 20 and 22 positioned in spaced-apart arrangement around the sockets 12 and 14. As shown, each socket 12 and 14 is surrounded by two internal stabilizing shoulders 20 extending upwardly from an interior portion of the carrier 10 and one external stabilizing shoulder 22 formed in the corner of the carrier 10 where the respective socket 12 and 14 is located. As depicted, the stabilizing shoulders 20 and 22 are substantially equally spaced about each socket 12 and 14. As shown in fig. 4, the stabilizing shoulders 20 and 22 may extend upwardly to a height similar to the height of the top surface of the peripheral rim 26 of the carrier or may extend to a height above or below the top surface of the rim 26.
As mentioned above, each socket 12 is generally configured for receiving a beverage cup or container having a similarly sized base. Each socket 14 is generally configured for optionally holding either (a) a beverage cup or container having a similarly sized base or (b) a bowl or container having a similarly sized base.
Each socket 12 includes a stabilizing wall 28 extending downwardly and inwardly into the socket 12 from each surrounding stabilizing shoulder 20 and 22 to support a conventionally sized beverage cup within the socket 12. Each stabilizing shoulder 20 and 22 and the corresponding stabilizing wall 28 form a corner or junction 34 from which stabilizing wall 28 extends. As shown, each stabilizing wall 28 terminates in a lower edge 32 located above the socket bottom 42, thereby leaving the opening 38 around the base of the socket 12.
As best shown in fig. 1, each stabilizing wall 28 includes an upper or lead-in portion 27 and a lower portion 29. The upper portion 27 has a downward slope that is more gradual than the downward slope of the lower portion 29. This configuration of each stabilizing wall 28 enables the socket 12 to contact the small and large cups at the desired locations on the sides of the cups by having the stabilizing wall 28 extend further to the top portion of the socket 12, thereby enabling the stabilizing wall 28 to contact the smaller diameter cups at a relatively higher location and thus improved stability, while still enabling the socket 12 to accommodate larger diameter cups.
As shown, each stabilizing wall 28 may optionally include a slot 40 that bisects the wall 28 vertically. The slot 40 may extend upwardly from the opening 38 defined between the lower edge 32 of the stabilizing wall 28 and the socket bottom 42. Slot 40 may terminate at a location below stabilizing shoulders 20 and 22. The configuration formed by the openings 38 and slots 40 is commercially known as a tee slot ((S))). However, although shown in the drawingsBy way of construction, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, different types of openings and slots may be defined through the stabilizing wall 28. For example, in other embodiments, the configuration defined by the stabilizing wall 28 may be in the form of a triangle, rectangle, inverted Y-shape, etc., or any other suitable configuration now known or hereafter developed.
The stabilizing wall 28 deflects outwardly as the cup is inserted into the cup-retaining socket 12. The deflection and compliance of the stabilizing walls 28 may be controlled by adjusting the thickness, density, material properties, shape and size of any openings or slots in the stabilizing walls 28, and/or the angle of the walls 28. The material, such as molded pulp, should be resilient so that the deflected walls 28 exert a gripping force on the inserted cup regardless of the size of the cup.
The socket 12 also includes a side wall portion 36 extending between each stabilizing wall 28. Additionally, the socket 12 may have a bottom 42 that includes an upwardly extending rib 44 having a top surface 46 on which the cup may rest. The socket bottom 42 is integrally molded with the side wall portion 36 surrounding the socket 12 between the stabilizing shoulders 20 and 22.
Attention is now directed to the sockets 14, as shown in fig. 4, each socket 14 having a lower portion 16 and an upper portion 18. The lower portion 16 of each socket 14 is designed to hold and support a beverage cup or similar sized and shaped container, while the upper portion 18 is designed to hold and support a bowl or similar sized and shaped container. Similar to the socket 12, the socket 14 also includes a stabilizing wall 30 extending downwardly and inwardly into the lower portion 16 of the socket 14 for supporting a beverage cup or similar container within the socket 14. As best shown in fig. 1, each stabilizing wall 30 may include an upper or lead-in portion 31, thereby allowing a larger diameter cup to be easily inserted into the socket 14 while still allowing the socket 14 to receive and grip a smaller diameter cup.
Similar to the socket 12, each stabilizing wall 30 within the socket 14 terminates in a lower edge 32 located above the socket bottom 42, thus resulting in an opening 38 around each base of the socket 14. Each stabilizing wall 30 may optionally include a slot 40 that bisects the wall 30 vertically. The slot 40 may extend upwardly from the opening 38 defined between the lower edge 32 of the stabilizing wall 30 and the socket bottom 42. The configuration formed by the openings 38 and slots 40 is referred to commercially asHowever, although shown in the drawingsBy way of construction, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, different types of openings and slots may be defined by the stabilizing wall 30. For example, in other embodiments, the configuration defined by the stabilizing wall 30 may be in the form of a triangle, rectangle, inverted Y-shape, etc., or any other suitable configuration now known or hereafter developed.
The socket 14 may also include a side wall portion 36 extending between each stabilizing wall 30. Additionally, the socket 14 may have a bottom 42 that includes an upwardly extending rib 44 having a top surface 46 on which the cup may rest. The socket bottom 42 is integrally molded with the side wall portion 36 surrounding the socket 14 between the stabilizing shoulders 20 and 22.
The socket 14 includes a shelf structure recessed within its upper portion 18. The shelf structure may be comprised of one or more shelves 50 and 52. In the illustrated embodiment, each socket 14 has two shelves 52 generally recessed within the two inner stabilizing shoulders 20 and one shelf 50 generally recessed within the outer stabilizing shoulder 22. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the shelf structure may be any suitable structure, including structures having more or less than three shelves. For example, the shelf structure may be formed by a single, substantially continuous shelf that substantially surrounds the entire socket 14. The containers held within the shelving structure can rest on the top surfaces 54 of the shelves 50 and 52.
As shown in fig. 1 and 4, the shelf structure is surrounded by side walls 58 formed in the sides of securement shoulder 20 and side walls 60 formed in the sides of securement shoulder 22. The sidewalls 58 and 60 may taper slightly inwardly. The upper inner edges 64 of stabilizing shoulders 20 and 22 define the size of the opening of the shelving structure, thereby defining the size and shape of the base of the widest container receivable within the shelving structure. The lower corner edges 62 of stabilizing shoulders 20 and 22 define the size of the shelf structure base, thereby defining the size and shape of the base of the widest container that can rest on shelf surface 54.
Each side wall 58 and 60 may optionally include an opening or slot 61, such as a triangular, rectangular, inverted Y-shape, or other shape, designed to accommodate the deflection and flexibility of the container itself when inserted. Each side wall 58 and 60 may also include an inwardly directed projection or buttress 59 extending into the upper portion 18 of the socket 14. The projection 59 forms an interference fit with a bowl or other large diameter container placed within the upper portion 18 of the socket 14. When the bowl is placed in the socket 14, the protrusion 59 collapses allowing the bowl to be loaded into the socket 14 while still providing sufficient friction to hold the bowl in place. As shown in FIG. 1, only the side wall 58 adjacent the internal stabilizing shoulder 20 is designed to include a protrusion 59 and a corresponding opening 61.
The recessed shelf structure may be of any suitable size and shape and may be used to receive containers of more than one size or shape. For example, the shelf structure may be shaped to receive a container having a circular base, a rectangular base, or any other shaped base. The carrier 10 may also include two or more different sized and/or shaped shelf structures to further enhance the ability of the carrier 10 to hold a variety of containers of different shapes and sizes.
As shown, a generally concave shelf structure rests on the lower portion 16 of the socket 14. However, it should be understood that the shelf structure may also be offset from or extend substantially beyond the lower portion 16. As shown in fig. 1, the central cavity 24 is inset and surrounded by the surface 56. The surface 56 is substantially planar with the top surfaces 54 of the shelves 50 and 52. Thus, as an option other than a bowl, the carrier 10 may also be adapted to carry long objects or containers (e.g., rolls of corn, mexican corn pancakes, hot dogs, or containers and sleeves containing such food items) diagonally from one side of the carrier 10 to the other on the surfaces 54 and 56. Additionally, the recessed shelf structure can also be used to place sandwiches while retaining the accompanying condiment in the lower portion 16 of the socket 14.
In addition to holding a conventionally sized beverage cup, the lower portion 16 of the socket 14 may also be configured to accommodate smaller containers, such as disposable paper or plastic condiment cups, coffee cups, serving cups (serving cups), and the like. These smaller containers may have a height such that they fit into the lower portion 16 of the socket 14, beneath a larger container, such as a bowl, held within the upper portion 18 of the socket 14. That is, the socket 14 may be adapted to simultaneously hold a smaller container in its lower portion 16 and a relatively larger container of the base in its upper portion 18.
The shelf structure is substantially concaveRecessed into half the depth of the socket 14. However, it should be understood that the shelf structure may be recessed to any suitable depth. As also shown in FIG. 4, the socket has a depth or height H1. Height H of socket 141And may be about one to four inches and in one embodiment about two inches. As also shown in FIG. 4, the top surfaces 54 of the shelf members 50 and 52 are positioned within the socket 14 at a height H2Where. Height H2May be about 0.5 to 3 inches and in one embodiment, the height is about 1.2 inches.
The carrier 10 can be configured to accommodate many different combinations of bowls, cups, and other containers. For example, the carrier 10 shown in the figures is generally square or rectangular in shape and includes four sockets 12 and 14. The illustrated carrier 10 can simultaneously accommodate a variety of combinations, for example, (i) four cups, (ii) two cups and two bowls, (iii) three cups and one bowl, and (iv) any other suitable combination of cups, bowls, and other containers.
The carriers 10 are conveniently stackable and shaped to allow empty trays to be nested one within the other to form a convenient and compact stack prior to use for ease of transport and storage. In one embodiment, the carriers 10 may be designed and manufactured such that when one hundred carriers 10 are stacked together, the stack of carriers 10 is approximately 25 inches high.
From the above description it can be seen that the cup and bowl carrier of the present invention is particularly well suited for its proposed use. Furthermore, since certain changes may be made in the above invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the following claims are to cover certain common and specific features described in this specification.
This application is not a related application to which this application refers.