AU2011203304A1

AU2011203304A1 - A carrier for containers

Info

Publication number: AU2011203304A1
Application number: AU2011203304A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Ballard
Original assignee: JOLT CORP AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: JOLT Corp AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-07-08
Filing date: 2011-07-06
Publication date: 2012-02-02

Abstract

A carrier for containers including a flat base of sturdy material such as corrugated paper or plastic board adapted to carry one or more containers such as take-away coffee cups. The carrier comprises of four cup-sized apertures for the insertion of the 5 containers and four smaller, finger-sized apertures for the insertion of digits in order to securely grip the carrier. The carrier is therefore strong, easily storable and reusable. Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Description

1 A carrier for containers FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a carrier for containers with one or more apertures to receive and hold containers and one or more smaller apertures adapted for the insertion 5 of digits to assist in holding the carrier. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Coffee, soft drinks and other food and beverages are commonly sold at various outlets, including coffee shops, fast food restaurants and refreshment stands at public events. These food and beverage products are often held in containers such as paper or 0 plastic cylindrical cups and boxes, aluminium cans or plastic and glass bottles. Especially in the case of public events, lines for patrons waiting to be served are often quite long and it is common for a patron to purchase more than one food or beverage item at a time in order to reduce the number of times they have to wait in line, or to purchase food and beverage items for other people. However it becomes difficult for a patron to carry 5 multiple cups, boxes, cans or bottles away from the outlet. Attempts to carry multiple food or beverages containers often results in spillage. It is known that trays or carriers are often available with which to transport multiple food or beverages containers at one time. These usually take the form of a tray with either openings or pulp-moulded pockets, or a bag with handles, each of which has its 20 limitations. A bag tends to be bulky and usually only strong enough to hold two containers at a time. Trays with openings do not provide for easy carrying by the patron if they lack handles, and require considerable storage space if they do have handles, which is not always ideal in a small outlet. Foldable cardboard containers which can be delivered to the outlet for flat storage are known, however the assemblage is then required by staff 25 of the outlet which may cause service delays. Pulp-moulded or preformed carriers are also known, however the pockets are often small in comparison to the size of the beverage container, and so spillage can still occur as the food or beverage containers are not held securely in the carrier. Another disadvantage 2 of such carriers is that they are not robust, cannot withstand spillage of liquid or food thereon and are therefore not suitable for reuse. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide a carrier for food or beverage containers 5 that overcomes at least some of the above mentioned problems or provides the public with a useful alternative. It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a carrier capable of holding multiple food or beverages containers which can be easily and safely carried by the patron, does not require a large amount of storage space, and which is capable of being 0 reused. It is a further objection of the present invention to provide an advertising service or the printing of promotional material on the base of the carrier. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a broad form of the invention there is proposed a carrier for containers 5 comprising: a flat base including one or more first apertures for receiving the containers; and at least one second aperture located adjacent to an edge of the base, said second aperture adapted to receive a digit to assist in holding the carrier. Preferably the base is adapted for the printing of advertising or promotional 20 material. In preference the base is comprised of a sturdy, reusable material including but not limited to corrugated paper or plastic board. Preferably the base is of a rectangular shape with an approximate length of 270mm and an approximate width of 200mm; the first apertures are approximately 65mm in 25 diameter; and the second aperture is approximately 25 mm in diameter.

3 In preference the four first apertures are arranged in a square formation and located symmetrically to one another around the centre of the base; and two pairs of second apertures for the insertion of digits are arranged on opposite sides of the base. In a further form of the invention there is proposed a carrier for transporting one or 5 more cups of the type having a tapered side wall defining a circular cross section for carrying beverages, said carrier including a flat body including an outer peripheral edge and one or more first apertures dimensioned such that when the body is held substantially horizontally and a cup is inserted through an aperture from above, the edge of the aperture abuts with the tapered side wall of the cup and thereby supports the cup, the one or more 0 first apertures being disposed a sufficient distance inwards of the peripheral edge to ensure the body maintains structural integrity when loaded with full cups, and wherein said flat body further includes one or more second apertures positioned inwards of the peripheral edge but adjacent thereto to thereby accommodate one or more digits of a person holding the carrier. 5 Preferably the body is of a rectangular shape with an approximate length of 270mm and an approximate width of 200mm; the one or more first apertures are approximately 65mm in diameter; and the one or more second apertures are approximately 25 mm in diameter. In preference there are four first apertures arranged in a square formation and 0 located symmetrically around the centre of the body; and there are two pairs of second apertures arranged on opposite sides of the rectangular body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the 25 description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the carrier for food or beverage containers in use with four beverage cups; and Figure 2 is a top view of the empty carrier for food or beverage containers.

4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing 5 from the spirit and scope of the invention. While the following description refers to food and beverage containers, it is to be understood that the invention can be adapted as a carrier of any sort of container carrying any kind of material or product such as screws, nuts or other items stored in containers. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the 0 drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain of the parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration. Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a carrier for food or beverage containers 10 as shown in Figure 1 comprising of a flat surface 12 which has an 5 approximate length of 270mm and an approximate width of 200m, containing holes adapted to insert four beverage cups 20. Four large circular holes or apertures 14 are arranged in a square formation as illustrated in Figure 2. The food or beverage containers are placed in these apertures, which each measure approximately 65mm in diameter. 20 Thus the apertures are dimensioned to receive food or beverage cups in most common use, and the same size aperture can hold various sized beverage containers. Thus one type of container may be supported by its upper rim, whereas another may be supported by its wall, depending on the type and size of the container. However, the invention is adapted to the creation of different sized apertures in the manufacturing 25 process if necessary. The invention may also be adapted to support containers of a different form, by making the apertures square, rectangular or any other desired shape. While it is a preferred embodiment of the invention that there be four apertures for the insertion of containers, it is to be understood that the invention is also directed for use with one, two, three or any other number of apertures as required.

5 A total of four finger holes or apertures 16, each with an approximate diameter of 25mm are arranged as illustrated in Figure 2. Two finger apertures are placed parallel to and between the edge of the carrier and the larger apertures. This enables the user to strengthen their grip on the carrier by placing one or two digits through the apertures on 5 either side, or both sides if desired. This ensures that the user has a tight hold on the container and reduces the likelihood of spillage. While it is a preferred embodiment of the invention that there be a total of four finger apertures comprising of two apertures on each side of the base, it is to be understood that the invention is also directed for use with any number of finger apertures 0 in any configuration or arrangement on the base. The flat base 12 is to be made from material such as corrugated paper, cardboard or plastic board of a thickness and density sufficient to hold the weight of four food or beverage-filled containers. Being made from such sturdy material, the present invention is therefore an 5 improvement over current beverage containers in that it allows the carrier to be reused and thus reduces waste and cost. Such material can also be adapted to be printed with advertising logos or other promotional material. Another advantage of the present invention is that the carrier for food or beverage containers is made from a single piece of flat material, eliminating the need for folding by 20 the patron or outlet staff and at the same time reducing storage space. Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the 25 invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. It is to be noted that the term 'container' is intended to include but not limit to cups of paper, glass or plastic construction, cans and bottles containing drinks such as coffee, beer and soft drink, food such as popcorn, confectionery, take-away products and any 30 other product or material able to be contained. Thus the term is to include any article or 6 container in which products can be held including those cardboard or plasticised paper or card containers, and well as insulated polystyrene tumblers, and therefore the present invention can be used to hold any type of container. In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the 5 context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A carrier for containers comprising: a flat base including one or more first apertures for receiving the containers; and at least one second aperture located adjacent to an edge of the base, said second 5 aperture adapted to receive a digit to assist in holding the carrier.

2. A carrier for containers as in claim 1 wherein the base is adapted for the printing of advertising or promotional material.

3. A carrier for containers as in any one of the above claims wherein the base is comprised of a sturdy, reusable material including but not limited to corrugated 0 paper or plastic board.

4. A carrier for containers as in any of the above claims wherein: the base is of a rectangular shape with an approximate length of 270mm and an approximate width of 200mm; the first apertures are approximately 65mm in diameter; and 5 the second aperture is approximately 25 mm in diameter.

5. A carrier for containers as in any of the above claims wherein: the four first apertures are arranged in a square formation and located symmetrically to one another around the centre of the base; and two pairs of second apertures for the insertion of digits are arranged on opposite 20 sides of the base.

6. A carrier for transporting one or more cups of the type having a tapered side wall defining a circular cross section for carrying beverages, said carrier including a flat body including an outer peripheral edge and one or more first apertures dimensioned such that when the body is held substantially horizontally and a cup is 25 inserted through an aperture from above, the edge of the aperture abuts with the tapered side wall of the cup and thereby supports the cup, the one or more first apertures being disposed a sufficient distance inwards of the peripheral edge to ensure the body maintains structural integrity when loaded with full cups, and wherein said flat body further includes one or more second apertures positioned 8 inwards of the peripheral edge but adjacent thereto to thereby accommodate one or more digits of a person holding the carrier.

7. A carrier according to claim 6 wherein: the body is of a rectangular shape with an approximate length of 270mm and an 5 approximate width of 200mm; the one or more first apertures are approximately 65mm in diameter; and the one or more second apertures are approximately 25 mm in diameter.

8. A carrier for containers as in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein: there are four first apertures arranged in a square formation and located 0 symmetrically around the centre of the body; and there are two pairs of second apertures arranged on opposite sides of the rectangular body.

9. A carrier for containers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 5