GB2481972A

GB2481972A - Beverage Container Transportation Device

Info

Publication number: GB2481972A
Application number: GB1011525.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Carey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-08
Filing date: 2010-07-08
Publication date: 2012-01-18
Also published as: GB201011525D0

Abstract

A beverage container -carrying device comprising a flexible frustroconical sleeve and a carrying handle. The sleeve (2, fig 1) and handle 3 may be made out of woven polypropylene. Thus the sleeve is thermally insulating. The device allows for a beverage container to be easily carried and manipulated, the sleeve protecting the user from the heat of the beverage container.

Description

Beverage Container Transportation Device The present invention relates to a beverage container transportation device.

With the significant increase over recent decades in sales of take-away hot drinks and food such as coffee, tea and soup, the problem of providing a disposable beverage container whilst simultaneously insulating the user of the beverage container from the heat of the its contents has become more significant.

Various devices have been constructed to overcome this problem, such as corrugated cardboard sleeves or clutches' that fit around the circumferential wall of the beverage container so as to provide an insulating barrier between the hand of a user and the wall of the beverage container.

An alternative solution has been to corrugate the wall of the beverage container such that the users hand comes into contact only with ridges on the wall of the beverage container, with troughs in the corrugation providing an insulating air gap.

However all the solutions provided to date have a significant drawback in that the user in having to maintain the beverage container substantially vertically such that the contents are not spilled must hold their forearm at a substantially horizontal angle. Given that many take-away beverage container s are to be transported some distance, this can be uncomfortable to the user. This also only allows for one cup to be carried at a time in a hand. When travelling distances and through doors etc this can be difficult as your hands are being used for holding hot beverages. A separate disposable beverage tray can be used but this is adding an additional product and increasing waste Furthermore, the disposable nature of clutches merely contributes to the waste produced by the takeaway food and drink industry.

The present invention seeks to address these problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a beverage container transportation device comprising a carrying handle and a single sleeve adapted to snugly house a beverage container, the sleeve having an upper opening into which a beverage container may be lowered such that it is housed within the sleeve.

Provision of a sleeve to hold a beverage container and a handle attached to the sleeve allows a user to carry the beverage container with a substantially straight arm instead of having to bend their arm at the elbow so as to maintain the beverage container in an upright position and prevent spillage. Also, more than one drink can be carried in one hand safely Preferably the upper opening is substantially circular.

In one embodiment the sleeve comprises a lower opening through which part of a beverage container may protrude when it is housed within the sleeve.

Preferably the lower opening is substantially circular.

Provision of a circular opening at the lower par of the sleeve allows for the sleeve to cover only part of the side of the beverage container, thus reducing the material used to make the sleeve.

In one embodiment the sleeve comprises a base so as to support a beverage container. Preferably the base is substantially circular.

In some embodiments the sleeve is substantially frustroconical.

Provision of a frustroconical sleeve allows the sleeve to snugly fit a beverage container.

Preferably the carrying handle extends from the sleeve adjacent to the upper opening.

Provision of the handle extending adjacent to the upper opening allows the beverage container to be held in the most controllable manner.

Preferably the carrying handle is a substantially linear band the ends of which extend from the sleeve at points approximately diametrically opposed on the upper opening.

Preferably the sleeve is formed from a thermally insulating material.

Provision of a thermally insulating sleeve allows a user to grasp the beverage container in a manner allowing them to drink from it whilst protecting the users hand from the heat of the beverage container.

Preferably the sleeve is formed of a flexible material.

Preferably the carrying handle is formed of a flexible material.

Provision of a flexible material allows the beverage container to be easily folded and transported.

In one embodiment the sleeve is formed from polypropylene. Preferably the sleeve is formed from woven polypropylene.

In one embodiment the carrying handle is formed from polypropylene.

Preferably the carrying handle is formed from woven polypropylene.

Use of woven polypropylene is desirable as it is an excellent thermal insulator, strong, cheap and flexible.

In another embodiment the sleeve is formed from cardboard.

In one embodiment the carrying handle is formed integrally with the sleeve. In another embodiment the carrying handle is releasably attachable to the sleeve. In this embodiment the handle is preferably releasably attachable by means of press-studs.

Provision of a detachable handle allows a user to remove the handle so that they may more easily access the contents of the beverage container when the beverage container is not being transported.

By way of example a specific embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a front view of a transportation device made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an angled view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a front view of the device of Figure 1 wherein a beverage container is held within the device; and Figure 6 is a plan view of a transportation device made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to figures 1 to 4, beverage container transportation device 1 comprises a sleeve 2 and handle 3.

Sleeve 2 has an upper opening 4 and a lower opening 5. Both upper and lower openings are substantially circular in shape. The diameter of upper opening 4 is greater than the diameter of lower opening 5 resulting in sleeve 2 being substantially frustroconical in shape. Lower opening 5 is formed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of upper opening 4 Handle 3 is a substantially linear strap the ends of which extend from sleeve 3 from points that are diametrically opposed around the circular upper opening 4.

Sleeve 2 and handle 3 are formed from woven polypropylene. The sleeve and handle may either be formed in one piece or formed separately and the handle subsequently attached to the sleeve.

Figure 5 shows the beverage container transportation device in use with a beverage container 6 having been placed through upper opening 4 such that it is supported by the sleeve. End 7 of beverage container 6 protrudes out of lower opening 5.

Figure 5 shows beverage container 6 without a lid, but a lid may of course be used with beverage container 6.

In use a beverage container 6 is lowered through upper opening 4. Flexible sleeve 2 deforms and moulds to the shape of the beverage container.

As the beverage container is lowered, the end 7 of the beverage container begins to protrude from lower opening 5. Owing to the frustroconical nature of beverage container 6, as the beverage container is lowered it reaches a point where the circumference of the beverage container is too great to pass through lower opening 5. At this point the beverage container is supported by sleeve 2. A user may then hold the device by handle 3 and transport beverage container 6.

The beverage container may be easily transported as the user may allow their arm to hang at their side. It is not necessary for the user to bend their elbow such that their forearm is substantially horizontal so as to maintain the beverage container in a substantially vertical position to avoid spillage. Thus the strain on the user's arm is greatly lessened.

Owing to the flexible nature of handle 3, when the user wishes to access the contents of the beverage container the handle may be folded out of the carrying position shown in the Figures and to one side, thus allowing easy access to the contents.

Furthermore, owing to the thermally insulating properties of the sleeve the user may take hold of the sleeve, and thus the beverage container supported therein, and move the beverage container in a manner suitable to access the beverage container s contents, whether this be by drinking, or by removing contents with a spoon or other such item.

It will therefore be appreciated that the benefits of a beverage container transportation device made in accordance with the present invention are significant. Not only is ease of transportation of a beverage container improved, but a thermally insulating sleeve is provided. Owing to its resilient construction the device may also be repeatedly re-used, thus cutting down on wasted material.

Turning to a second embodiment of the present invention, beverage container transportation device 8 comprises sleeve 9 and carrying handle 10. The device is substantially the same as the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, but instead of comprising a lower opening comprises base 11.

Base 11 is attached to sleeve 9 around its circumference 12. In the present embodiment base 11, like sleeve 9 and handle 10, is made from woven polypropylene.

When in use device 8 operates in much the same manner as device 1, but the beverage container does not protrude from the lower part of the sleeve, but instead rests upon base 11.

It will be appreciated that many variations of the embodiments disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example in some embodiments it may be preferable to have a handle that is releasably attachable to the sleeve so as to allow even easier access to the contents. A suitable means of attachment would be the use of press studs, but any suitable means may be used.

It will be appreciated that reference to a beverage container does not necessarily mean that the container holds a beverage. The beverage container could hold all manner of comestibles such as coffee, soups, solid foods, etc. In the present embodiment the beverage container 6 is a cup or a glass.

In some embodiments, particularly with modification so embodiment 2 disclosed herein, it may be preferable for the sleeve to be substantially cylindrical, square or rectangular, such that the carrying device can be used for bottles or non-frustroconical glasses. In these embodiments if a thermally insulating sleeve is provided the insulation may act so as to keep the contents of the bottle or glass chilled.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims: 1. A beverage container transportation device comprising a carrying handle and a single sleeve adapted to snugly house a beverage container, the sleeve having an upper opening into which a beverage container may be lowered such that it is housed within the sleeve.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the sleeve comprises a lower opening through which part of a beverage container may protrude when it is housed within the sleeve.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the lower opening is substantially circular.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the sleeve comprises a base so as to support a beverage container.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein the base is substantially circular.
6. The device of any preceding claim wherein the sleeve is substantially frustroconical.
7. The device of any preceding claim wherein the carrying handle extends from the sleeve adjacent to the upper opening.
8. The device of any preceding claim wherein the carrying handle is a substantially linear band the ends of which extend from the sleeve at points approximately diametrically opposed on the upper opening.
9. The device of any preceding claim wherein the sleeve is formed from a thermally insulating material.
10. The device of any preceding claim wherein the sleeve is formed of a flexible material.
11. The device of any preceding claim wherein the carrying handle is formed of a flexible material.
12. The device of any preceding claim wherein the sleeve is formed from polypropylene.
13. The device of any preceding claim wherein the sleeve is formed from
14. The device of any preceding claim wherein the carrying handle is formed from polypropylene.
15. The device of any preceding claim wherein the carrying handle is formed from woven polypropylene.
16. The device of any of claims 1 to 11 wherein the sleeve is formed from cardboard.
17. The device of any preceding claim wherein the carrying handle is formed integrally with the sleeve.
18. The device of any preceding claim wherein the carrying handle is releasably attachable to the sleeve.
19. The device of any preceding claim wherein the beverage container is a cup.
20. The device of any preceding claim wherein the beverage container is a glass.
21. The device of any of claims Ito 18 comprising a cup housed within the sleeve.
22. The device of any of claims 1 to 18 comprising a glass housed within the sleeve.
23. A beverage container transportation device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.