Special receptacle or package – Portable segregating carrier for plural cylindrical... – Pendent from handle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-08
2001-05-15
Gehman, Byron P. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
Portable segregating carrier for plural cylindrical...
Pendent from handle
C206S183000, C206S426000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230882
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to carriers for beverage containers, and more particularly relates to a foldable carrier with internal support members for carrying multiple beverage containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, a variety of beverage container carriers have been developed to aid consumers. These carriers are often seen at stadiums and amusement parks when a single customer orders multiple drinks and must transport them to his/her companions. Another common use for these carriers is at the ever popular drive-through window of fast food restaurants. Beverage containers placed in a carrier are less likely to spill and soil the vehicle's interior. A typical carrier may often include a paperboard box with several receptacles for beverage containers.
A paperboard carrier for carrying beverage containers, such as disposable bottles, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,967,003. The carrier is foldable and is constructed from a single blank. The beverage container receptacles restrain the top portion of the bottles from lateral movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,323 discloses a paperboard carrier for drink cups. The carrier is made from a single blank. Cups placed in the carrier are supported from the bottom and restrained laterally at the top of the receptacles.
Another carrier for drink cups is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,906. The carrier is foldable and has multiple drink receptacles. Partition panels extend from the top of the carrier all the way to the bottom in each receptacle. The partition panels are formed of material from an upper panel of the carrier. This limits the size of the upper panel and also the size of the receptacle opening in the upper panel.
In the previously described carriers, the beverage containers placed in the carriers are only restrained from movement in a direction parallel to the center line of the carriers at the top of the receptacles. There is no means for restraining movement of the bottom portion of the beverage containers in this direction. Additionally, these carriers do not provide a pressure or flexure fit for the beverage container. This increases the likelihood of the entire carrier tipping over and releasing the contents of the beverage containers. The partition panel which the cups rest on may disturb a cup that is completely full causing a spill. Also, the entire bottom panels of these carriers are solid and the interior support of the carrier extends downward from the upper panels all the way to the bottom of the carriers.
There is a need in the art for a carrier for beverage containers, formed from a foldable blank, that can be quickly and efficiently erected and loaded. There is a further need for a carrier that restrains beverage containers from movement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal center line of the carrier, both at the top and bottom of the beverage containers. There is still a further need in the art for a carrier that provides a flexure fit for beverage containers placed in the carrier. There is still a further need in the art for a carrier that provides internal support extending upward from the bottom of the carrier, requiring less material for the bottom surface of the carrier.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a foldable carrier that can be quickly and easily erected and loaded with beverage containers. The present invention also seeks to provide a carrier that restrains beverage containers from movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal center line of the carrier, both at the top and bottom of the beverage containers. The present invention seeks to provide bottom support legs formed of material from a bottom surface of the carrier extending upward from the bottom of the carrier; this reduces the amount of material needed to construct the carrier. The present invention also seeks to provide central support tabs formed of material from upper panels of the carrier. The present invention also seeks to provide a flexure fit for beverage containers placed in the carrier to further ensure stability of the loaded carrier. The present invention further seeks to provide a single carrier for beverage containers that can easily be split into multiple carriers.
The present invention accomplishes these objects by providing a carrier having a plurality of receptacles with internal support members positioned to straddle containers placed in the receptacles. The invention provides arcuate support members that restrain the top portion of the containers from movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal center line of the carrier and internal support members that restrain the bottom portion of the containers from movement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal center line of the carrier. The internal support members may comprise central support tabs formed of material from upper panels of the carrier and bottom support legs formed of material from a bottom surface of the carrier. The central support tabs extend from the upper panels towards side walls of the carrier. By using excess material from the upper panels and bottom surface to provide the internal structure of the carrier, this reduces the amount of material needed for the carrier. The central support tabs extend slightly into the interior of the receptacles creating a flexure fit when containers are loaded in the carrier. A longitudinal cut line allows a user to split the carrier into multiple smaller carriers.
Generally described, a first embodiment of the present invention provides a carrier comprising a sleeve having a plurality of upper panels. The upper panels are connected to a plurality of side walls which comprise a plurality of receptacles located in the upper panels on opposite sides of a longitudinal center line of the sleeve. A bottom surface is connected to the side walls. A plurality of internal support members extend from the upper panels to the bottom surface at an angle towards the side panels. The internal support members straddle the containers placed in the carrier. The internal support members may form a generally wishbone shape.
The present invention provides a carrier wherein each of the internal support members comprise a central support tab formed of material from the upper panels and bottom support legs formed of material from the bottom surface. The bottom support legs straddle a container placed in the carrier, restraining the container from movement in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the sleeve. The central support tab forms a tab head which engages the containers placed in the carrier forming a flexure fit and restraining the containers from movement in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the sleeve.
The present invention also provides a carrier with each of the upper panels defining arcuate support members on each side of the receptacles, further restraining the containers from movement in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the sleeve. The arcuate support members have a first and second end which are wider than other points between the first and second ends to resist torque.
The present invention also provides a carrier with a handle panel, including a handle opening, attached to the upper panels. The bottom of the handle opening is curved to prevent engagement with a lid covering the container when loading the carrier. The side panels of the carrier include a plurality of support tabs foldably connected to the side panels. The support tabs engage the bottom panels to provide structural stability to the carrier. A vertical cut line between adjacent beverage container receptacles allows a user to break the carrier along the cut line producing multiple carriers.
The present invention also provides a carrier wherein the internal support members provide tensile strength to the carrier. The bottom surface provides compression strength to the carrier.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a carrier that can be constructed from a blank and
Gehman Byron P.
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
Rock-Tenn Company
LandOfFree
Carrier for drink cups does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Carrier for drink cups, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Carrier for drink cups will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2548777