Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paper or paperboard cup – Including handle
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-30
2001-02-13
Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paper or paperboard cup
Including handle
C220S757000, C206S217000, C206S515000, C206S519000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186395
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a food or drink container and more particularly to a container with an integrally formed handle or handles which can be assembled from a stacking position to a position of use.
Stackable one-piece containers with an integrally formed handle are known, but these are relatively complex in their construction and their method of assembly and have the disadvantage that the handle may be unstable when the container is filled with hot food or drink.
An aim of the present invention is to provide an improved food or drink container which overcomes the above disadvantages.
According to the present invention there is provided a food or drink container comprising a cup-shaped part formed with at least one integral winged projection which can be folded from a stacking position for the container into a handle to hold and support the cup-shaped part wherein the winged projection has means to lock the free end of the handle to the cup-shaped part.
Preferably, the container is made from a plastics material by an injection moulding process.
Conveniently, the winged projection extends radially from the rim of the cup-shaped part to facilitate nesting of a plurality of the containers.
In an alternative construction the cup-shaped part has two winged projections extending radially from opposite sides of the rim of the cup-shaped parts.
The means to lock the handle is preferably an angle-shaped part with a series of parallel lateral grooves which clip onto a shoulder of the base of the cup-shaped part of the container.
The shape of the winged projection may take the form of a hollow tube section having a rectangular, round oval or octagonal cross-section to simulate a conventional cup handle.
Preferably, the winged projections have locking means to secure the winged projections together.
In a preferred construction the locking means is a pin on one winged projection engaging a hole in the other winged projection.
Embodiments of the stackable container will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a container with a single winged projection in the horizontal position, for stacking;
FIG. 2
is a similar view of the container to
FIG. 1
with the winged projection folded downwards in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of the container of
FIGS. 1 and 2
with the winged projection folded to form a handle;
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of a stack of nested containers, according to the invention, each container having a single handle;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of a stack of three nested containers each having two handles.
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a container with winged projections to be folded upwards;
FIG. 7
is a fragmentary section of the container of
FIG. 6
with the handle formed by the winged projections secured to the base of the container;
FIG. 8
is a side elevation of a modified container with locking means for the winged halves of the handle; and
FIG. 9
a
is a sectional detail of the locking means in the unlocked position while
FIG. 9
b
is a sectional detail of the locking means in the locked position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2775382 (1956-12-01), Kayat
patent: 2937783 (1960-05-01), Press et al.
patent: 4049187 (1977-09-01), Florian
patent: 5174965 (1992-12-01), Jones et al.
patent: 187 860 (1922-11-01), None
patent: 487264 (1938-06-01), None
patent: 881203 (1961-11-01), None
patent: 401 107 (1993-01-01), None
Moy Joseph M.
Shoemaker & Mattare
Welsford Peter Anthony
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