GB2539049A

GB2539049A - Cup holder

Info

Publication number: GB2539049A
Application number: GB1509807.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harrison Michael; Harrison Judith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-06-05
Filing date: 2015-06-05
Publication date: 2016-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2035-06-05
Also published as: GB2539049B; GB201509807D0

Abstract

A cup holder 10 formed as one-piece unitary member of flexible material comprises first and second sheets 22A, 22B connected to form a tubular sleeve 12 for receiving a cup 11. A carrying strap 13 extends upwardly between diametrically opposite sides of the sleeve 12. At least one pocket 14A, 14B is attached to the outer side wall of the sleeve. The pockets each have an open upper end and a closed lower end 15. In use, the pockets allow the user to carry the cup along with other items 18, such as drink stirring implements, sachets of milk, cartons of milk, or sachets of sugar.

Description

CUP HOLDER

This invention relates to a cup holder.

The consumption of take-away hot drinks is growing and generally such drinks are provided in disposable cups of paper or plastics material. A problem with such cups in that their side walls are thin and conduct heat and thus are difficult to hold when hot. Also the thin side walls can easily deform, with the result that the drink can spill and possibly burn the hand of the person holding the cup. Another problem is that only one cup can be safely carried in each hand, which can be inconvenient when purchasing drinks for more than two people.

UK Design Registration No. 4035899 discloses a cup holder comprising a tubular sleeve which encircles the side wall of the cup and a carrying strap which extends over the cup from diametrically opposite sides of the sleeve. The cup holder is formed as a one-piece member, for example by cutting a paper or plastics tube and interconnecting the ends of cut tails to form the carrying strap.

The tubular sleeve fits around the cup with the carrying strap extended over the cup, so that it can be used to carry hot drinks safely and is free to swing to avoid spillages. More than two cups, each having their own holder, can easily be carried in each hand.

I have now devised an improved cup holder of the type disclosed in UK Design Registration No. 4035899.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cup holder comprising first and second sheets of flexible material which are interconnected to form a tubular sleeve for receiving the cup, a carrying strap extending upwardly between diametrically opposite sides of the sleeve, wherein a pocket is attached to the outer side wall of the sleeve, the pocket having an open upper end and a closed lower end.

In use, the pocket allows the user to carry the cup along with other items, such as drink stirring implements, sachets of milk, cartons of milk, or sachets of sugar.

Preferably the cup holder comprises a pair of pockets which are preferably disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the sleeve.

Preferably the strap extends from respective points on the sleeve which are disposed intermediate the pockets.

Preferably the cup holder is formed as a one-piece unitary member and is preferably formed from a tubular substrate material which has first and second longitudinal side walls forming said first and second sheets respectively.

Preferably the bottom end of the or each pocket is closed by a seal which, for example, is formed by bonding, welding or heat sealing.

Preferably the outer longitudinal side edge of the or each pocket comprises a fold joining the first and second sheets.

Preferably the or each pocket comprises an inner longitudinal side edge defined by a seal, which for example is formed by bonding, welding or heat sealing, the seal also defining a longitudinal side edge of the sleeve and serving to connect the pocket to the sleeve.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of an example only and in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cup holder in accordance with the present invention when in use; Figure 2 is a plan view of a section of flat tubular substrate material, illustrating how the cup holder of Figure 1 is formed; and Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line iii-iii of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a cup holder 10 in accordance with the present invention 1 fitted to a disposable paper or plastics cup 11. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to holders for carrying cups and could apply to a holder for carrying any type of container such as a glass or a plant pot. The cup holder 10 comprises a tubular sleeve 12 having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the lower end of the cup 11 but which is less than the diameter of the upper end of the cup 11.

A carrying handle or strap 13 extends axially of the sleeve 12 from a first point on the upper side edge thereof to a second point on the upper end edge thereof which is disposed diametrically opposite the first point.

A tubular pocket 14a is attached to the outer side wall of the sleeve 12, the pocket having an open upper end and a lower end which is closed by a seal 15 The pocket 14a extends axially of the sleeve at a position intermediate the opposite ends of the carrying strap 13. A further tubular pocket 14b is disposed diametrically opposite the pocket 14a and is identical in construction. However it will be appreciated that the pockets could have different diameters and/or depths.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the cup holder 10 may be formed as a unitary member from an elongate web 19 of tubular paper of plastics material, which is flattened and comprises two face-to-face sheets 22a, 22b of material, which are connected along their opposite longitudinal side edges by fold lines 20. The web 19 is moved longitudinally of itself in the direction of the arrow. The sheets of material 22a, 22b are then sealed together (for example by heat sealing, ultrasonic welding or bonding) along successive transverse lines 21, which are spatially separated from each other by approximately 15 to 20 cm. The sheets of material 22a, 22b are also sealed together along two longitudinally-extending lines 23, which are spatially separated from respective longitudinal fold lines 20 by approximately 2 to 3 cm and are separated from each other by 7 to 10 cm. These measurements are exemplary only and will vary according to the size cup or other container that is to be held. The substrate 19 is then cut by a dye along the thick black lines 24 of Figure 2 to form each cup holder 10. It will be appreciated that the transverse seal 21 partly forms the seals 15 at the bottom of the pockets 14a, 14b and partly forms a seal 17 which joins the two parts of the strap 13 together at their distal ends.

Referring again to Figure 1 of the drawings, in use the pockets 14a, 14b may be used to carry other items 18, such as stirring implements, sachets of sugar and cartons of milk along with the cup 11.

A cup holder in accordance with the present invention is simple and inexpensive in construction yet conveniently allows cups and other items to be safely carried.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cup holder comprising first and second sheets of flexible material which are interconnected to form a tubular sleeve for receiving the cup, a carrying strap extending upwardly between diametrically opposite sides of the sleeve, wherein a pocket is attached to the outer side wall of the sleeve, the pocket having an open upper end and a closed lower end.
2. A cup holder as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a pair of pockets.
3. A cup holder as claimed in claim 2, in which the pockets are disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the sleeve.
4. A cup holder as claimed in claim 3, in which the strap extends from respective points on the sleeve which are disposed intermediate the pockets.
5. A cup holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the bottom end of the or each pocket is closed by a seal.
6. A cup holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cup holder is formed as a one-piece unitary member.
7. A cup holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cup holder is formed from a tubular substrate material which has first and second longitudinal side walls forming said first and second sheets respectively.
8. A cup holder as claimed in claim 7, in which the outer longitudinal side edge of the or each pocket comprises a fold joining the first and second sheets.
9. A cup holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each pocket comprises an inner longitudinal side edge defined by a seal, the seal also defining a longitudinal side edge of the sleeve and serving to connect the pocket to the sleeve.
10. A cup holder substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.