U.S. patent application number 11/719360 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-27 for carriers for cups.
Invention is credited to Donald V. Breton, Robert K. Hussey, Mangat Rai Sharma.
Application Number | 20090211937 11/719360 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34974530 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090211937 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sharma; Mangat Rai ; et
al. |
August 27, 2009 |
CARRIERS FOR CUPS
Abstract
Carrier for cups, said carrier being, more in particular,
produced from moulded fibre material. The carrier is arranged to
displace as such two or more cups and for displacing a double
number of cups through connection with a further carrier. To that
end, each carrier is provided with a connection section, in which
complementary locking means are provided. According to the
invention the locking means are both effective at an outer limit as
at an inner limit of the connection section. Because of that a very
stable locking is obtained. Further stabilisation can be obtained
in that at placing two carriers in each other a lip of the upper
one of the two carriers extends in the bottom portion of the
accommodation of an other carrier. By providing the cup to be
displaced additional stability is provided.
Inventors: |
Sharma; Mangat Rai;
(Jevnakar, NL) ; Breton; Donald V.; (North
Vassalboro, ME) ; Hussey; Robert K.; (Waterville,
ME) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HUSCH BLACKWELL SANDERS LLP
4801 Main Street, Suite 1000
KANSAS CITY
MO
64112
US
|
Family ID: |
34974530 |
Appl. No.: |
11/719360 |
Filed: |
November 24, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
November 24, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NL05/50053 |
371 Date: |
December 24, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/515 ;
206/564 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 9/17 20130101; E06B
9/08 20130101; E06B 9/581 20130101; E06B 9/86 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/515 ;
206/564 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/00 20060101
B65D021/00; B65D 1/34 20060101 B65D001/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 24, 2004 |
NL |
1027584 |
Claims
1. Carrier (1, 2; 31, 32) for cups (20; 50 ) comprising at least
two accommodations (4, 5; 34, 35) for cups (20; 50), wherein each
accommodation comprises three wall portions (8, 9, 10; 38, 39, 40),
wherein a circumferential wall portion (3; 33) is connected to said
accommodations, said circumferential wall portion comprising two
extremities (11, 12; 41, 42), interconnected by a connecting
section (13; 43), said connecting section comprises an outer limit
(14; 44) and an inner limit (35; 65), wherein the outer limit and
the inner limit are provided with complementary locking means (15,
16; 45, 46), arranged to provide in locking with the inner or outer
limit, characterized in that further complementary locking means
(17, 18; 47, 48) are provided, arranged to provide a locking at the
inner or outer limit.
2. Carrier according to claim 1 comprising three complementary
locking means.
3. Carrier according to claim 2, wherein two spaced complementary
locking means (15, 16; 45, 46) are provided and said further
complementary locking means (17,18; 47, 48) are spaced from the
line between said complementary locking means.
4. Carrier one of the preceding claims, wherein said outer limit
(14) is provided with a carrier strip (22).
5. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said
connection section (13) comprises a cavity (23) being nestable.
6. Carrier according to claim 5, wherein one of said complementary
locking means (17, 18) is adjacent to said cavity (23).
7. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said
complementary locking means comprise tabs, locking cams and locking
recesses cooperating therewith.
8. Carrier according to claim 5, wherein the locking tabs are
provided at the outer limit or inner limit of the connection
section and the locking cams are provided at the inner limit or
outer limit of the connection section.
9. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said
accommodation is provided with supporting edges (26, 56).
10. Assembly comprising two identical carriers (1, 2) according to
one of the preceding claims, connected to each other and locked
with said complementary locking means.
11. Assembly according to claim 10, wherein two spaced
complementary locking positions (62, 63) are obtained by engagement
of said complementary locking means of said two carriers, and a
further complementary locking position (64) is obtained by
engagement of said further complementary locking means, said
further complementary locking means being spaced from the line
through said two spaced complementary locking positions.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a carrier for cups
comprising at least two accommodations for cups, wherein each
accommodation comprises three wall portions, wherein a
circumferential wall portion is connected to said accommodations,
said circumferential wall portion comprises two extremities,
interconnected by a connecting section, said connecting section
comprising an outer limit and an inner limit, wherein the outer
limit and the inner limit are provided with complementary locking
means, arranged to provide in locking with the inner or outer
limit.
[0002] Such a carrier is generally known from EP 1489014 A1 and is
for example used for carrying beverage cups or other food stuff
containers in a restaurant from delivery point to the point of use.
Generally, carriers are known for containing two cups, four cups
and so on. However, this has the disadvantage that several kinds of
carriers should be kept in storage. To solve this problem, in the
prior art, a carrier is proposed, being provided with two or more
accommodations and complementary locking means. These locking means
are provided in a connection section. A second carrier being
identical thereto can be pressed with its connection section in the
connection section of the first carrier, after which locking is
realised by the complementary locking means. In this way an
assembly can be provided comprising two carriers having four or
more accommodations. In this way, it is possible to provide the
user, depending on the use, with carrier having two accommodations
or an assembly having four accommodations whilst only a single kind
of carrier should be kept in storage.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,335 shows a locking system for two
cardboard carriers at the containment part thereof. Near the
handles frictionally engaging lips are provided which do not result
in a locking feature.
[0004] Although, such a carrier is particular attractive, it has
been found that the structures known from the prior art are
insufficient stable. The complementary locking means are provided
near a limit of the connection section. After locking the assembly
obtained has one carrier locked at the inner limit, whilst for the
other carrier, locking is realised at the outer limit of the
connection section thereof.
[0005] The invention aims to provide a carrier, being more stable
without substantially increasing the size of the carrier.
[0006] This aim is realised in a carrier as described above in that
further complementary locking means are provided, arranged to
provide a locking at the inner or outer limit.
[0007] According to the subject invention at placing in each other
of two carriers, at one of the carriers there is both locking at
the outer limit of the connection section and at the inner limit.
The same is true for the other carrier, wherein locking is realised
at the inner limit and outer limit respectively. In this way spaced
apart lockings results increasing the stability of the assembly
comprising the carriers.
[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention three
complementary locking means are provided.
[0009] According to a further embodiment the carrier comprises a
moulded fibre material, i.e. a material that is 3-dimensionally
shaped by providing a slurry on a 3-dimensional mould and removing
the water in said slurry.
[0010] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention
the outer limit of the connection section of each of the carriers,
is provided with a carrier strip. This is positioned at the
location of the bottom of the "imaginary" accommodation adjacent
thereto. At subsequent introduction into each other of the
carriers, the carrier strips will be on the bottom of the
accommodation of the other carrier. By placing a cup in said
accommodation this strip is pressed onto the bottom of the other
carrier. The larger the weight of the cup, the more considerable
the pressure resulting therefrom. Both carriers are pressed into
each other with this pressure, so that an assembly results being
more stable at increasing of the weight to be carried.
[0011] Further stability can be obtained, in that the connection
section is provided with a nestable cavity. At introduction of the
two carriers, further stability is obtained because the end walls
of the related cavities engage into each other.
[0012] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising two
identical carriers as described above connected to each other and
locked with said complementary locking means.
[0013] Preferably depending on the position of one of said carriers
relative to the other one of said carrier the complementary locking
means at the outer limit of one carrier will engage the
compementary locking means at the inner limit of the other carrier
or the other way around. This means that preferably some of the
complementary locking means provided on the carrier will not become
effective during engagement, because it is the other one of the
complementary locking means which engages the other carrier.
[0014] The same applies preferably to the further complementary
locking means.
[0015] This means that the locking position is only one of the two
possibilities depending on which of the two carriers is positioned
on top of the other carriers.
[0016] According to a preferred embodiment the locking position of
the further complementary locking means is spaced from the locking
position of the complementary locking means. Preferably two
complementary locking means are provided resulting in two locking
positions. The line through such locking positions is spaced from
the locking positions or positions provided by said further
complementary locking means. Through this spacing of the two
locking systems further stability will be obtained.
[0017] The invention will be further described in detail, referring
to preferred embodiments in the drawing showing:
[0018] FIG. 1 schematically in perspective a first carrier
according to the invention shown from a first side;
[0019] FIG. 2 the carrier according to FIG. 1 shown from a second
opposite side;
[0020] FIG. 3 in top view a detail of an accommodation;
[0021] FIG. 4 two carriers from which the assembly is made above
each other before assembly;
[0022] FIG. 5 the carriers merged to an assembly and having a cup
placed therein; and
[0023] FIG. 6 schematically in perspective a second carrier
according to the invention from a first side;
[0024] FIG. 7 the carrier according to FIG. 6 shown from a second
opposite side;
[0025] FIG. 8 in top view a detail of an accommodation;
[0026] FIG. 9 two carriers from which the assembly is made above
each other before assembly;
[0027] FIG. 10 the carriers merged to an assembly having a cup
placed therein; and
[0028] FIG. 11 the cross-section according to line XI-XI in FIG. 10
immediately before merging.
[0029] The first embodiment of the carrier according to the subject
invention is generally referred to in FIG. 1 by 1. This is
preferably made from a moulded fiber material. The carrier
comprises two accommodations 4, 5 for carrying cups 20 such as a
food stuff container. In each accommodation clamping means can be
provided for clamping and receiving such a cup. Such clamping
means, such as tabs, are generally known in the art and comprise
preferably T-shaped slots (FIG. 3).
[0030] Each accommodation is delimited by wall portions (8, 9, 10).
Furthermore, a bottom 21 is provided. The accommodations are
delimited fixed by a circumferential wall portion 3. The end
thereof is referred to by 11, 12 respectively. These extremities
11, 12 are connected via an outer limit 14. A dotted line indicates
an inner limit 28 and between outer limit 14 and inner limit 28 a
connection section 13 is delimited. 15 indicates locking cavities.
16 (see FIG. 2) are locking tabs. The locking tabs are embodied so
that they can cooperate with locking cavities 15.
[0031] 17 refers to a further locking cavity whilst 18 refers to a
further locking tab. Also these further locking cavity and further
locking tabs can cooperate.
[0032] As is also clear from FIG. 2, the outer limit 14 comprises
carrier strips 22, being part of the "imaginary" bottom of an
accommodation. 23 is a central cavity in the connection section 13.
Several strengthening features are present to increase the strength
of the carrier during support of cups. For example, strengthening
ribs 25 are provided as well as strengthening depressions 27.
[0033] To support a cup there are support edges 26 which will
receive the bottom parts of a cup within its protruding edge which
is shown in the broken-away part of FIG. 1. This provides stable
positioning of the cup relatively to the accommodation. Through the
presence of the T-shaped slots 24 any size of cup can be clampingly
received in the accommodation.
[0034] Although the circumferential wall portion has been shown as
being straight recessions can be provided to promote gripping of
the carrier. It is clear from the figures that the wall portions
comprises a depending part giving further strength.
[0035] In FIG. 2 a carrier 2 has been shown, identical to the
carrier according to FIG. 1 but shown from the other side. As
already indicated from this FIG. 2 details can be concluded being
not clear from FIG. 1.
[0036] The carrier shown in FIG. 1 and 2 can be used as such.
[0037] It is also possible to connect two carriers 1 and 2 such
that an assembly 6 results. This assembly 6 is shown in FIG. 5.
This assembly 6 is obtained in the way shown in FIG. 4. In this
figure it is indicated that the two carriers 1 and 2 are in
positions having the connection sections above each other. After
that, the carriers 1 and 2 are pressed to each other. The wall of
the cavity 23 of the upper carrier 2 enters the accommodation of
the cavity 23 of the lower carrier 1. In this way a centring effect
is obtained. The centring effect is further enhanced by the
presence of the grip portions 16 which also have a complementary
effect, under which the fingers of the user are positioned at
lifting of the carrier. At further pressing into each other of the
carriers 1 and 2 the locking tabs 16 of the upper carrier 2 and the
locking cam 18 of the lower carrier 1 will move along the material
of the other carrier until the locking cavities 15, the locking
cavity 17 respectively are reached. Subsequently the locking lips
16 and locking cam 18 snap or engage the locking cavity 15, 17
respectively and both carriers 1, 2 are locked to each other. In
this way, four cups can be displaced with the assembly 6 obtained
in this way. The stability of the assembly is further enhanced in
that, in the position obtained, the strip 22 of carrier 2 is placed
on the bottom 21 of carrier 1. At placing a cup 20 the strip 22
will be pressed downwardly, so that the wall portion of the carrier
adjacent thereto, is pressed against a corresponding wall portion
of the carrier 1. At increasing weight of the cup this clamping
force will increase.
[0038] In FIGS. 6-12 a second embodiment of the carrier(s) of the
invention is shown. This carrier is generally referred to by 31 and
comprises two accommodations 34 and 35 for carrying cups 50 such as
a beverage container. Also in this embodiment three T-shaped slots
54 are provided. It is noted that one of the slots which functions
to possibly cooperate with a tab of another carrier is of a size
somewhat bigger than the other two slots (vide FIG. 8).
[0039] Each accommodation 34, 35 is delimited by wall portions 38,
39 and 40. A bottom 51 is provided. The accommodations are
delimited by a circumferential wall portion 33 is turned down over
a height of e.g. about 5 mm. Preferably there are no sharp edges to
promote destacking of a nested stack. The end thereof is referred
to by 41, 42 respectively. The extremities 41, 42 are connected via
an outer limit 44. A dotted line indicates an inner limit 58 and
between outer limit 44 and inner limit 58 the connection section 43
is delimited. 46 indicates blocking cavities. 16 (vide FIG. 7) are
locking tabs. Locking tabs are embodied so that they can cooperate
with locking cavities 45. 47 refers to a further locking cavity
whilst 48 refers to a further locking tab. Also these further
locking cavities and further locking tabs can cooperate. Comparison
with the first embodiment reveals that this locking cavity 48 has
more rounded corners to improve releasing from the mold and
denesting from the stack of carriers whilst furthermore the shape
is more diamant-like to decrease the size of the carrier.
[0040] 53 is a central cavity in the connection section 43.
Supporting edges for cup 50 are indicated by 26. Each accommodation
comprises three of said support edges. Reinforcements are present
comprising a depression 57 which can e.g. have a size of 5-8 mm.
Strengthening ribs 55 are provided. Assembly of two carriers 31 and
32 resulting in assembly 36 is substantially the same as in the
previous embodiment. In FIG. 10 the locking positions are shown. It
is clear that locking position 64 is spaced from the line between
locking positions 62 and 63 increasing the stability of the
assembly obtained. Further details can be obtained from FIG. 11 and
12. More in particular FIG. 11 shows clearly that in cavity 53 of
one carrier the other cavity 53 of the second carrier is received
with the bottoms of the cavities adjacent to each other. This is in
contrast to prior art structies wherein elevations are stacked into
each other, so that the top faces of two carriers are positioned
adjacent to each other. Through the structure according to the
invention it has surprisingly been found that the total height or
depth of the cavity 53 can be decreased relatively to using such
elevations resulting in a total decrease of the material to be used
for the carrier and subsequent lowering of production costs through
less use of material and less consumption of heat for drying the
material after molding.
[0041] It should be understood that in the above way a particular
stable structure is obtained. It will also be understood that the
subject invention is not limited to two, four accommodations
respectively. Each other number, one, three or more can be used for
each carrier. Furthermore, the carriers can have further features
being known as such from the prior art. These and further
embodiments are within the range of the appended claims.
* * * * *