CA2012491A1

CA2012491A1 - Holder for drink carton and method of using

Info

Publication number: CA2012491A1
Application number: CA 2012491
Authority: CA
Inventors: Cynthia C. Park; Martin W. Park
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-07-28
Filing date: 1990-03-19
Publication date: 1991-01-28
Also published as: GB2234159A; GB9000598D0

Abstract

HOLDER FOR DRINK CARTON AND METHOD OF USING
Abstract of the Disclosure A holder for a rectangular drink carton having flexible sides comprises the bottom wall and four orthogonally related sides walls which provide a rectangular receptacle for the drink carton. A pair of handles extend outwardly from a pair of opposed side walls. The drink carton is inserted into the receptacle of the drink holder, and a straw is inserted into the carton. The carton is held by grasping the handles while the contents of the carton are removed through the straw.

Description

Background and Summarv Z

This invention relates to a holder for a drink carton having flexible sides and a method which enables the contents of the car~on to be drunk without squeezing the flexible sides of the carton.
Fruit juices and other beverages or drinks are often packaged in rectangular fiberboard cartons. A popular size of such a drink carton holds about 8 to 9 fluid ounces of beverage and is sold under the name Tetra Pak. The contents of the ~ ' ~
carton are removed by inserting a straw through the top of the ~;
carton and sucking on the straw.
A problem arises particularly when such a carton is used by a toddler or young child. The sides of the carton are flexible, and when the child saueezes the carton too hard, the contents can be forced through the straw, thereby causing a mess and a loss of the beverage.
The invention provides a holder for the drink carton which protects the sides of the carton from being squeezed and whlch provides convenient handles for holding the carton. The holder includes a bottom wall and four side walls which provide an open-topped receptacle for the carton. A pair of handles extend outwardly from opposite sides of the holder. The carton is inserted into the receptacle, and a straw is inserted into .
the carton. A child or other user can raise the carton by grasping the handles, and the flexible sides of the carton are protected by the holder.

Descri~tion of the Drawina The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing in which -- ~
Fig. 1 i9 a perspective view of the inventive drink- ;
holder and a drink carton contained therein;
-201Z~91. ~
Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the drink holder;
Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the drink holder;and Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the drink holder. -,,, DescriPtion_o_ Specific Embodiment The numeral 10 designates generally a drink holder for a drink carton 11. The particular drink carton illustrated is a conventional container which is sold under the name Tetra Pak and is commonly used to package fruit drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, and other beverages. The carton is formed from waxed ` -fiberboard and includes four orthogonally related rectangular ~
side panels -- two wide panels 12 and two narrow panels 13 -- a ; ;
rectangular top panel 14, and a rectangular bottom panel. The ;
carton typically holds ~.45 ounces of beverage. It will be understood, however, that the drink holder can be used for the other types of containers.
The drink holder 10 includes a bottom wall 15 and four orthogonally related side walls 16, 17, 18, and 19 which extend vertically upwardly from the bottom wall. The bottom and side walls form an open-topped receptacle 20 which has a rectangular ;
horizontal cross section and which is sized to receive the drink -carton 11 relatively snugly. A pair of handles 21 extend laterally outwardly from the narrow side walls. - ~
The drink holder is advantageously molded from high ~-impact polystyrene. In one specific embodiment of the drink ~-holder, the inside surfaces of the side walls provided rectangular horizontal dimensions of 2-9/16 inches x 1-11/16 -~
inches and the height of the side wall was 2-15/16 inches. A ~ ; ~
Tetra Pak carton typically has horizontal dimensions of about -2-1/2 x 1-9/16 inches and a height of about 4-3/16 inches. The height of the side walls of the holder can therefore vary from Z0~2491.

about 2-1/2 inches to about 4-3/16 inches. For a snugger or looser fit, the horizontal dimensions of the sides can range from about 2-1/2 x 1-9/16 inches to about 2-3/4 x 1-13/16 inches.
When the carton is inserted into the drink holder, the -~
majority of the surface area of each of the side panels of the carton is covered by one of the side walls of the drink holder.
The carton conventionally is provided with a weakened area 23 which can be pierced by a straw 24. The carton is held by grasping one or both of the handles 21, and the flexible sides of the carton are not touched or squeezed while the contents of the container are sucked through the straw.
If desired, the drink holder can be provided with only one handle 21, or the handles can be omitted entirely. In that event the user grasps the side walls of the drink holder. The drink holder has sufficient rigidity to prevent sqeezing of the sides of the carton.
The drink holder also provides desirable insulation for the carton both during use and during storage or transportion.
The contents of the carton will remain colder longer when the carton is inserted into the holder.
While in the foregoing specification, a detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention was set forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood ~-that many of the details herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims

1. A method of drinking from a drink carton having rectangular flexible sides comprising the steps of:
inserting the drink carton into a drink holder having a bottom wall and four orthogonally related side walls which form a rectangular receptacle for the drink carton, inserting a straw into the drink carton, holding the drink holder, and withdrawing the contents of the drink carton through the straw.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the drink holder includes a handle extending outwardly from one of the side walls of the drink holder, the drink holder being held by grasping the handle.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the drink holder includes a pair of handles extending outwardly from a pair of opposing side walls of the drink holder, the drink holder being held by grasping the handles.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the drink carton has a volume of about 8 to 9 ounces.

5. A holder for a drink carton having flexible sides, the holder comprising a bottom wall and four orthogonally related side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall which provide a rectangular receptacle for the drink carton, and a pair of handles extending outwardly from a pair of opposing side walls.

6. The holder of claim 5 in which the dimensions of the rectangular receptacle are within the range of about 2-1/2 inches x 1-9/16 inches to 2-3/4 x 1-13/16 inches.

7. The holder of claim 6 in which the height of the side walls is within the range of about 2-1/2 to 4-3/16 inches.

8. The holder of claim 6 in which the handles extend from the sides which provide the short dimension of the receptacle.

9. The holder of claim 5 in which the holder is formed from high impact polystyrene.

10. A holder for a drink carton having flexible sides, the holder comprising a bottom wall and four orthogonally related side walls which extend upwardly from the bottom wall and which provide a rectangular receptacle for the drink carton, the dimensions of the rectangular receptacle being within the range of about 2-1/2 inches x 1-9/16 inches to 2-3/4 x 1-13/16 inches.

11. The holder of claim 10 in which the height of the side walls is within the range of about 2-1/2 to 4-1/8 inches.