Special receptacle or package – Portable segregating carrier for plural cylindrical... – Pendent from handle
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-14
2001-03-20
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
Portable segregating carrier for plural cylindrical...
Pendent from handle
C206S162000, C206S168000, C206S427000, C229S904000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202836
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to disposable food and beverage container carriers and more particularly to an improved disposable food and beverage container carrier having a plurality of carrier reinforcement panels which add strength, rigidity and durability to the carrier.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Disposable food and beverage container carriers are well known in the prior art. Such carriers are commonly used by spectators at media events like sporting events and musical concerts, to transport food and beverage containers obtained at concession stands to the spectator seating or viewing area. In addition, such carriers are also used to carry take-out food and beverage containers from fast food restaurants and delicatessens.
In order to make the use of these disposable food and beverage container carriers economically feasible, such carriers are typically manufactured from a single sheet of paper material, such as cardboard. The cardboard sheet is folded along an arrangement of predefined creases to assemble the carrier. A conventional food and beverage carrier A is shown in FIG.
1
. The carrier A shown therein generally comprises a beverage container support tray B and a handle G. The container support tray B includes an upper wall C and a vertically spaced lower wall D. A plurality of circular-shaped apertures E and F are defined respectively in upper and lower walls C and D. The apertures E in the upper wall C are aligned directly over the apertures F in the lower wall D so that food and beverage containers and the like, can be placed therein and securely held in the carrier A without tilting or sliding around. The handle G extends from the outer surface of the upper wall C and includes a elongated finger opening H. The carrier A is manufactured from a single sheet of cardboard which is folded along creases I, J, K and L. The food and beverage carrier of FIG.
1
and other like carriers, all suffer from a significant drawback, namely that they are rather flimsy in construction. Consequently, when such carriers are fully loaded with filled food or beverage containers, the carriers tend to collapse, tear, or fall apart. On some occasions the fully loaded carrier will collapse, tear, or fall apart to such a degree as to allow one or more of the filled containers to fall through the container apertures of the carrier.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved food and beverage container carrier which is more rigid and therefore, stronger than conventional prior art food and beverage container carriers, in order to insure that filled food or beverages containers can be transported without accidental spillage. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a food and beverage carrier having detachable coupon-like panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An improved carrier for transporting food and beverage containers, comprising a first container support wall for supporting an upper portion of a food and beverage container, a second container support wall for supporting a lower portion of a food and beverage container, and a plurality of reinforcement panels extending between the first and second container support walls for rigidifying the carrier, each of the reinforcement panels defining a pair of opposing edges, wherein at least one of the reinforcement panels is coupled to a reinforcement tab that has a side surface which is adhesively coupled to the interior of one of the first and second container support walls.
In one embodiment of the carrier of the present invention, at least one aperture includes gripping means for gripping the container.
In another embodiment of the carrier of the present invention, the carrier further comprises selectively re-useable reinforcement flaps extending along the edges of two of the plurality of reinforcement panels, the reinforcement flaps operating to reinforce the two of the plurality of reinforcement panels.
In still another embodiment of the carrier of the present invention, a detachable coupon-like portion can be provided in the reinforcement panels
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 367409 (1996-02-01), Hunter
patent: 2330699 (1943-09-01), Flamm
patent: 3123213 (1964-03-01), Kulig
patent: 3140036 (1964-07-01), Spery
patent: 3661417 (1972-05-01), Inman
patent: 3958744 (1976-05-01), Herglotz
patent: 4620664 (1986-11-01), Kaufman
patent: 4969595 (1990-11-01), Teasdale
patent: 5052552 (1991-10-01), Maroszek
patent: 5320216 (1994-06-01), Pangborn
patent: 5337947 (1994-08-01), Eskandry
Mohandesi J.
Sewell Paul T.
Zimmerman, Esq. Jean-Marc
LandOfFree
Food and beverage carrier does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Food and beverage carrier, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Food and beverage carrier will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2544696