GB2225527A

GB2225527A - Container holder

Info

Publication number: GB2225527A
Application number: GB8825327A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Mark Zeller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-28
Filing date: 1988-10-28
Publication date: 1990-06-06
Also published as: GB8825327D0

Abstract

A holder for a container e.g. a plastics cup (4, Figs 2,3), paint pot, which can be stored substantially flat, comprises a first annular portion 1 adapted, in use, to surround the container adjacent its top, a second annular portion 2 adapted, in use, to surround the container at a position below the first annular portion 1 and a strip or handle portion 3 connecting the first and second annular portions. The holder may include a hinged lid 5 and a support 7 for a milk container, stirrer or paint brush. <IMAGE>

Description

CONTAINER HOLDER The invention relates to a holder for holding a container such as a plastics coffee cup which does not have a built in handle.

Plastics cups without handles are used in a number of catering situations and it is well known that these can be difficult to hold since they become very hot when filled with a hot beverage such as coffee.

The invention also has applications in other fields such as that of paint pots. Whilst many paint pots have built in handles these are generally in the form of a wire or strap which, in use, extends over the open top of the container and is not particularly convenient.

The present invention offers a holder for a container which is simple to manufacture, which can be stored flat so as to take up little space, and which can quickly and easily be attached to a container to provide a handle for holding the container. Moreover the holder is able to fit a range of container sizes without any adjustment to the holder.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a holder for a container which can be stored in a substantially flat configuration comprising a first annular

portion adapted, in use to surround the container adjacent its top, a second annular

portion adapted in use to surround the container at a position below the first annular

portion and a strap or handle portion connecting the first and second annular

portions.

The invention has particular application to containers which are frustoconical expanding upwardly to an open mouth and provided with a lip around the open mouth. In this case, the first annular

portion will surround the upper part of the container in abutting relation with the lip and the second annular

portion will have a smaller internal dimension than the first and will locate around a lower portion of the container. The holder can also be adapted for different shaped containers such as those having a stepped profile. The exact dimensions of the holder will depend on the dimensions of the container to which it is intended to be attached.

Embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a view of a first embodiment of the invention shown in a flat storage configuration; FIGURES 2 and 3 are sectional views through standard plastics cups to which a holder has been attached; and FIGURE 4 is a view of a second embodiment of the invention.

As can be seen from Figure 1 the holder in its simplest form comprises first and second annular portions 1 and 2 and a connecting strap or handle portion 3. The holder can be manufactured flat from any suitable material such as plastics by injection moulding or pressing or stamping or vacuum forming.

The thickness or stiffness of the material of the holder will be chosen in accordance with the weight of the filled container to which itis to be attached.

The holder is readily attached to a container simply by passing the annular portions over the container 4. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the strap portion then acts to provide a handle.

When used with a standard frustoconical cup 4 (Figure 2) the first annular portion 1 butts against a lip of the cup whilst the second annular portion 2 engages the cup with a friction fit. When used with a stepped cup (Figure 3) the second annular portion can butt against a stepped wall of the cup. In both cases the internal diameter of the first annular portion is greater than that of the second annular portion.

The embodiment of Figure 4 incorporates an integral container lid 5 which is connected to the first annular -portion by a short hinge strap 6. The lid will be formed with a peripheral flange to locate the lid on the container. A further formation 7 formed on the annular portion 1 provides a support for a milk or cream container. The portion 1 may include other formations such as a reduced or cut-away part (not shown) to facilitate drinking. -In other embodiments the support may be adapted to carry a stirrer or other implement such as for example, a paint brush.

For ease of storage the holder is manufactured to have a substantially flat form but the annular portions in particular may have circular or other curved crosssections.

The strap handle provides a useful surface for the printing of trade marks etc.

It will be appreciated that the holder is able to fit a range of container diameters since the first and second annular portions are able to move axially of a container wall until they are frictionally engaged therewith against further such movement. The strap or handle portion is flexible, or in some applications otherwise deformable to be adapted to different distances between the annular portions as measured axially of the container.

Whereas containers are most usually of circular crosssection it is envisaged that the holder may be adapted to fit other shapes of containers and the term "annular portion" as used herein is to be construed to include other than circular forms.

Claims

1. A holder for a container which can be stored in a substantially flat configuration comprising a first annular

portion adapted, in use, to surround the container adjacent its top, a second annular

portion adapted, in use, to surround the container at a position below the first annular

portion and a strap or handle portion connecting the first and second annular

portions.

2. A holder as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a lid for the container connected to the first annular portion.

3. A holder as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, further comprising a support formation attached to the first annular portion.

4. A holder as claimed in any of the preceding claims formed by stamping or-pressing a sheet of material.

5. A holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 formed by injection moulding of plastics material.

6. A holder as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the annular portions are circular and the internal diameter of the first annular portion is greater than that of the second annular portion.

7. A holder according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least the strap or handle portion is flexible.

8. A holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.