US2509132A

US2509132A - Holder for paper cups

Info

Publication number: US2509132A
Application number: US510311A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carew Herman
Original assignee: Dixie Cup Co
Current assignee: Dixie Cup Co
Priority date: 1943-11-15
Filing date: 1943-11-15
Publication date: 1950-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1967-05-23

Description

May 23, 1950 H. CAREW 2,509,132

HOLDER FOR PAPER CUPS Filed Nov. 15, 1943 2 sneaks-sheet 1 Lg E472 U5 May 23, 1950 c w 2,509,132

HOLDER FOR PAPER cups Filed Nov. 15, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1950 HOLDER FOR PAPER CUPS Herman Carew, Easton, Pa., assignor to Dixie Cup Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application November 15, 1943, Serial No. 510,311

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a holder for paper cups as well as to the combination of a paper cup and holder, such as is highly desirable for use in drug, confectionary, and stores of similar character wherein individual soft drinks, sodas, and the like are dispensed, although the invention may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The instant application is a continuation-inpart of my co-pending application entitled Paper cup and holder therefor, filed March 8, 1941, Serial No. 382,300, now abandoned, and the broader or generic claims covering this invention are contained in that co-pending application.

It has long been desirable to use paper drinking cups or vessels in a, holder at soda fountains and similar locations where individual soft drinks and the like are dispensed. The use of such apparatus results in a material saving of labor in that the paper cup is destroyed after each usage and if the holders and cups are of proper relative sizes, the cups project sufliciently far out of the holder as to avoid any contact of the lips of the user with the holder, so that the holder need be washed only very infrequently.

In the past, extreme difficulty has been experienced in maintaining the cup within the holder until it has been used by a customer. When the holder was .tipped sufficiently during drinking to enable the customer to drain the contents of the cup, there was extreme danger of some of the contents as well as the cup becoming free of the holder and cascading down' over the wearing apparel of the user. Prior to my aforesaid co-pending application either the cup rested loosely in the holder or some mechanical means were utilized to maintain the cup in the holder, but these means required either a definite and tedious positioning of the cup relatively to the holder, or some manipulation of the holder by the operator. In the event the holder automatically engaged the rim of the cup, no manipulation was necessary, but such means were extremely objectionable in that there was danger of the user's lips or the contents of the cup contacting that portion of the holder, and so the holder had to be washed after each usage and there was no saving in labor over the use of the customary glass. In the case of conical paper cups. of a size to hold an ice cream soda or some similar confection, the danger of the cup falling out of the holder onto the ap parel of the user was aggravated by virtue of the top-heavy character of the cup. A highly satisfactory solution to this problem has been presented and claimed in my aforesaid co-pending application, the instant application is directed to another specific solution of the same problem.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a holder for a paper cup, especially a conical paper cup, designed to receive the paper cup apex first and establish a firm engagement with the cup sufiicient to prevent accidental dislodgment of the cup, regardless of the nature or structure of the paper cup, the engagement resulting by a relative substantially axial move! ment between the cup and the holder.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a holder for a paper cup-which holder includes a formation defining a cup receiving cavity, with means projecting into that cavity from the wall thereof to establish an engagement with the received cup.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a holder for a paper cup, especially a conical paper cup, which holder embodies a formation defining a cup receiving cavity, and, includes means projecting into that cavity from the wall thereof to provide a biting engagement with the wall of the cup.

It is also an object of thisinvention to provide a holder for a paper cup, especially a conical paper cup, which holder includes a formation defining a cup receiving cavity with a plurality of projections extending into the cavity from the wall thereof, the projections being spaced apart sufliciently so that each projection provides its own individual and separate gripping indentation in the wall of the received cup.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a holder for a paper cup which includes a formation defining a cup receiving cavity with means projecting into the cavity from the wall thereof in the nature of individual-separated projections, each of which has an inner surface disposed obliquely so that said surface slopes both downwardly and inwardly.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a holder for a paper cup, especially a conical paper cup, which holder embodies a formation defining a cup receiving cavity, and projections extending into said cavity from the wall thereof, each projection being obliquely shaped at its inner end, with the under.

surface of the projection extending substantially horizontally so as to provide both a somewhat biting efiect and a shoulder efiect for holding the cup within the holder.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a holder for a paper cup, especially a convolutely wound paper cup, with separated projections extending into the cup receiving portion of the holder from the wall thereof, said projections being sufiiciently numerous so that at least one will engage over the exposed edge of one of the convolutions of the cup in a latching manner a'ndthus retain the cup in the holder against accidental 'dislodgment, such engagement being ei fected regardless of the relative circumierential position of the cup and holder at the time they are joined.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of a holder for a'paper'cup,

especially a conical paper cuppwhich hcl'derembodies a formation defining an open bottomed tubular cup receiving portion, the apexial portion of the conical cup extending through the opening in the bottom of said portion, and-the holder being provided with an annular series of separated and :spaced projections'extending' from the 'wall of said portion directly into the cup receivingcavity near the bottorn'thereof to establish a tight frictional engagement with the cup wall sufiicient to prevent accidental-dislodgm'ent of the cup.

stilliia further=object=of this invention resides in the provision of a novel combination of a conicalxpaper :cup and: a iholderither'efor, Tithe holder being r arranged ':to effect a positive 'engagement with lthe cup, and regardless 'of the constructionof the' cup, upon an axial 'movement between theuzup and the holder without the need 6f any circumferential registrybetween the articles.

While some of the'more salient features, characteristics an'd advantages ofth'e present invention-'have been poin'tedoutyothers will be apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying'drawings, in which:

' Figure l is a top'plan view of'a *cup holder embodying the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is -a central vertical sectional view through the holder of Figure 1, illustrating "a conical paper cup in the holder in elevation, and 'show'ing'parts of the holderin elevation, for-purposes of clarity;

Figure -3 is a transverse "plansectional view through the holder itself taken substantiallyas indicated by theline'III-III of Figure '2;

Figure 4 is a'fra gmentary enlargementof the lower right-hand central portion of'Figure'Z;

Figure 5 is aside elevational'view o'f-the cup seen in Figure'2 turned'to' the 'left approximately ninety degrees 'from'the positionseen' in Figure "2, illustrating diagrammatically the effect on the cup of its engagementin' 'the holder;

Figure 6 is avlews'im'ilar in character to Figure 2, illustrating aholder' in section taken substantially asindicated by the line VI'VI of Figure 3, and illustrating acup-ofsomewhat diiferent construction than-the cupof Figure 2in position in the holder,'-the effect of the engagement with the holder on the 'cupbeing indicated diagrammatically; and

Figure '7 is -a fragmentary enlargement similar in character to Figure 4 illustrating the engagementbetween-the holder and cup of Figure '6.

'As shown on the drawings:

*In connection with paper cups'and holders'for the-individual dispensingof soft drinks and the like, itis desirable 'that'the attendant at the soda fountain never need'contact'a paper cup with his'handspriortd the use of the'cup by the customer, and it is further desirable that thea'ttcnfdlchanical part of the holder to establish such en- -gagement. Not only is it a waste of time, but it iis'hi'ghlyc'onducive to carelessness in handling,

and results frequently in a cup that is not held Within'the holderpand more frequently results in "the attendant'taking the paper cup in his naked hands and placing it in the holder in proper position. istated' above, the desirable way is for the attendant merely to grasp the holder, place 'it over a cup with an axial movement, and the latching engagement isestablished. Most frequently-especially with conical cups, the cups are kept in ---a-'suit-able holder'in inverted position, apexes up, and thecups are stacked in nested relationship so as to 'conserve space. The attendan'tthen merely grasps the holder near the bottomfihvertsit, places it over the uppermost inverted cup on the stack, and without at all touching thecup' picksthe cup up with-the holder, the latching engagement having been established upontheapplication'of the holder with aislight pressure. This latter course is the manner in which the instant invention operates.

In the drawings, I have illustrated the same holder associated with two conical cups of different constructiomto bringout more forcibly the fact that the holder operates satisfactorily withoutre'gard'to the particular construction of the cup, although 'a IIIIOIG'DOSitiVG engagement might be established with a cup of the character seen in Figures? and 35, than with the cup seen in Figure 6.

With reference now to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, it willbeseen that theholder selected for .illustratiomiindicatedbynumeral I may bergenerally of hour-glass shape and formed of .any suitable material, such as aplastic. The holder, if so desired, maybe'provided with a suitable handle 2although' the handle is not necessary, it being easy tcigraspthe holder'in the waist portion and elevate'the cup to the mouth. "Theholder itself isgpreferablytubular, thateis having an opening completely therethrough, to .facilitate cleansing when cleansingis necessary. .Theupper portion of the holder'isrformedtoidefine acup receiving cavity thaving a bottom opening 4, seen in Figure 1. Thiscavityis partiallydefined by a tubular extensioni spacedfrom theouter end lower portion 6 01" the holder whiclris flared to form a suitable base.

In connection with conical paper cups, ithas been found'desirable to effect the engagement between'the cup and the holder with the apexial region ofithe cup'thereby adding to the stability of'the'cup and holderboth when the cup is empty and whenitis filled withsome commodity. To this'e'nd, near the bottomof the cavity 3.an annular series of pinsflhas beenembedded in the wall of theholder,..in the illustrated instance, each pinextending withinboth the tubular extension 5 and the outer .wall portion 6. These pins may also be of any suitable material, and in the illustrated instance, the pins are shown as metal and'aslinserted in a smooth bore drilledin the holder wall.

-It will be'note'd that the'inner end of each pin is cut off obliquely as indicated at 8 so that such inner end slopes both downwardly and inwardly toward the axis of the holder. Each pin projects beyond the inner wall defining the cavity 3 and extends into the'cavity, as clearly seen in Figure 2. The under side of each pin extends substantially horizontally and the cutting of the inner edge ends abruptly so that there is a shoulder formation as indicated at 9 in Figure 2 on each pin. It will also be noted that the lower edge portion of the pin adjacent the shoulder is rela-' tively sharp soas to'resist an outward movement of the cup after engagement has once been established. I

; The pins 1 are fixed in position so as to form substantially an integral portion of the holder wall. Further, the pins are preferably spaced sufficiently apart-and so sized, to form projections within the cavity each capable of making individual and separate indentations in the wall of a cup. The projections or pins may be of any desired number, and are preferably equally spaced apart. In the illustrated instance, there are six projections or pins shown, and this number is highly satisfactory for practically every cup.

With reference to Figures 2 and 5, it will be seen that the cup Ill shown-associated with the holder is a convolutely wound conical paper cup made from a single'blank of material. The single blank maybe of substantially a sector shape, and may be wound 'from' one side edge to the other, the large arc of the blank defining the mouth edge of the finished cup. Thus, overlapping portions of the blank are provided, and these portions are preferably held together by a suitable adhesive. The edge of the outer overlappingportion of the blank defines a'substantially convolute line around the container as indicated at H and it will be noted that a portion of this edge as indicated at l2 in Figure 5 approaches the horizontal in its travel for at least a partial revolution about the cup. Such edge portion Hl2 will be Slightly free from the inner part of the cup, because the glue holding the overlapping portions together should not be brought completely to the edge of the outer overlapping portion to avoid any danger of glue being squeezed onto the exposed surface of the cup during the forming. operation and thus adhere to the next adjacent cup in a stack of nested cups. Consequently, the glue is kept back from the very edge and so the edge portion lI-l2 is free from the inner wall of the cup.

When theholder is placed axially over a paper cup, either the uppermost cup of an inverted Preferably these projections are sufiicient in number, and six is a satisfactory numberfor this purpose, so that at least one of the pins or projections will engage over the edgeportion H of the cup as indicated at l3 in Figures 2 and 5 and as seen very clearly in Figure 4 so that 'a latching engagement is provided between thatparticular projection or pin and the paper cup. As the cup is pushed into the holder or the holder pressed over the cup, the edge portion I2 will flex in passing the projection, and then expand into engagement beneath the horizontal under edge of the projection. It is not necessary that at the point of such latching engagement the 6. to the horizontal, but only sufficiently closely to the horizontal to permit a holding engagement, as'illustrated at 13 in Figure 2. Thus, the cup may be held in the holder against accidental dis lodgment by the one or two projections latchingly'engaged over'the edge of the outer convolution of the cup. However, the other projections'do not result in wasted effort,these projections also. frictionally engaging the wall of the cup in amanner tending to resist outward movement of the cup. After use, when the cup is withdrawn from the holder against the action of the holding elements for disposal, the effect of I the pins maybe noted onthe outside wall of the cup'as indicated at H in Figure 5. It will be notedlthat each of the pins has distorted the cup wall somewhat, while the pin engaged in a latching manner over the edge of the outer convolution has caused a distortion of the paper adjacent thispoint. Such is what usually happens with a holder of this type, although it is understood that the showing in-Figure 5 of the effect of the pins on the cup wall is diagrammatic and that the actual effect will not be identical with this disclosure at all times. However, the knife edge on the projections or pins mainly caused by the horizontally extending under surface of the pins is usually 'sufiicient to cause a surface distortion of the container when the latter is removed from the holder.

It will be noted that'preferably there should be a proportioning of sizes between the holder and the cup. That is, there would be a different size of holder 'for a cup approximately six ounces and for a cup approximately twelve ounces. If

there is to be a latching engagement with one or more of the pins and the edge portion of the cup, the cup should extend through the tubular part 5 or through the opening at the bottom of the re ceiving cavity a sufficient extent to provide such engagement. Likewise, the mouth end of the cup should project'sufflciently out of the holder so as to eliminate theprobability of contact of the users lips with the holder so that the holder need to washed only very infrequently. The proportioning of sizes between cups and holders need not be carried out to any considerable extent, however, two or three sizes of holders being usually 'sufllcient for complete soda fountain service.

In Figures 6 and '7 I have illustrated the use of the holder with a cup l5.of different construction than the, cup I!) above described. In this instance, the cup is conical, made of a single blank of material, but is not convolutely wound. The blank may besomewhat of a sector shape, and the'approximately radial edges are brought together with the margins thereadjacent in overlapping relationship to form a straight side seam 16 the parts of which may be held together with a suitable adhesive.

stantially as indicated at l! in the exaggerated showing seen in Figure'7. It will be noted that the pins or projections eachcauses its own in-' dividual and separate indentation in the Wall of the cup' and the effect is of a biting engagement with the .cupwall, as was the case with the previously described showing and illustrated in an' exaggerated manner in Figure 4. Such biting engagementis sufiicient to hold the cup in. the

holder; against accidental dislodgment, and when :thecupvis.removedfrom theholder for disposal there will be at least-in most cases, a surface distortion of the pup Wall as indicated at in Figure 6., in the same manner as previously discussed, this showing also being diagrammatic, In the event one of the pins or projections should contact the exposed edge of the seam 1'6, it will provide an added holding of the cup by virtue of a distortion of this edge as indicated at l8 in Figure 6. However, this will happen only comparatively rarely, and is not necessary for the adequate holding of the cup.

In operation, with substantially any form of conical paper cup, it is a simple expedient to merely push the holder axially over the cup, exert a slight degree of pressure, and there is a sufficiently firm engagement between the cup and holder. In the event the cup is of the convolute type, one or more projections of the holder will establish a latching engagement with a part of the outermost convolution. In the event the cup does not have any convolutions, the biting engagement present at all times is amply suflicient to hold the cup against accidental dislodgment during use.

It will further be appreciated that the cups themselves are highly economical, and the holder is of economical and extremely durable construction, and may be repeatedly used for a considerable time. Labor is saved by virtue of the fact that each cup is destroyed after one usage, and the holder, not becoming dirtied or contaminated for a length of time, can be repeatedly used without washing. Fountain service is materially expedited with the aid of the present invention due to the speed with which a holder may be placed over the terminal cup of the stack, and the cup withdrawn from the stack locked in the holder.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as follows:

1. As an article of manufacture, a conical paper cup holder having an open bottom cavity therein for the reception of a conical paper cup apex first, and an annular series of spaced pro-.- jeotions extending into said cavity in position to engage the wall of a conical paper cup, said projections each slanting oil downwardly and inwardly to provide a relatively sharp lower edge capable of biting into the wall of a cup extending through the open bottom of said cavity.

2. A holder for a conical paper cup, including a tubular portion shaped to receive therein a conical paper cup apex first and having an opening in the bottom through which the apexial region of the cup extends, and a plurality of spaced cup holding projections extending laterally inwardly beyond the irmer wall of said tubular portion, said projections each having an oblique inside face extending inwardly and downwardly so the lower edge is farther from the wall of said tubular portion than the upper edge.

3. A holder for a conical paper cup, said holder including a tubular portion to receive the cup therein apex first, and a plurality of spaced metallic pins embedded in the wall of said tubular portion, said pins being arranged in an annular series and having their inner ends cut obliquely to provide a relatively sharp lower edge 8. projecting inwardly farther than the upper edges thereof.

d. A cup holding receptacle, which comprises in combination a body portion and a base, a constricted wall area between said body portion and said base supporting a bottom end portion of a cup, and an annular series of spaced projections disposed oppositely of each other within said constricted area and frictionally engaging and indenting the side wall portion of the cup bottom end to secure the same in fixed position prior to and after said cup is up-ended during use in emptying its contents.

5. In a holder for an initially completely empty comically shaped flexible-wall cup, a receptacle body portion of generally complementary inside shape to that of the cup and having a supporting base portion joined thereto by a constricted wall area supporting the bottom end portion of the cup spaced from the cup apex and defining an opening through which the apex extends freely, and annularly spaced inwardly projecting means at said constricted wall area for frictionally engaging the outer surface of the empty cup bottom portion to secure the same in fixed position in response to simple axial assembly movement of the holder to lodge said cup bottom portion against said constricted wall area.

6. A holder for a paper cup, including a body part having a wall forming an open bottomed cavity for the reception of a, conical paper cup apex first, and metallic means supported by the wall of said body adjacent the lower end of said cavity comprising an annular series of elements projecting inwardly beyond the wall of the cavity for automatic frictional engagement with the wall of the cup to lock the cup in the holder against accidental dislodgement when the holder is pressed axially over the terminal cup of a stack.

7. A holder for a paper cup, includinga body part having a wall forming an open bottomed cavity for the reception of a conical paper cup,

apex first, and metallic means supported by the wall of said body adjacent the lower end of said cavity comprising an annular series of elements projecting inwardly beyond the wall of the cavity for automatic frictional engagement with the wall of the cup when the holder is pressed axially over the terminal cup of a stack to lock the cup in the holder against accidental dislodgement, said elements having relatively sharp edges on their inner portions to in effect bitingly engage theexternal cup wall.

8. A holder arranged to receive therein a convolutely wound conical paper cup having overlapping portions one of which provides an exposed edge on the outside of the cup, said holder including a body portion having a wall defining a cavity therein to receive the conical cup apex first with the apex projecting below the cavity, and a series of annularly spaced projections extending into said cavity from the wall thereof adjacent the bottom thereof, said projections being, sufficient in number so at least one will engage over the exposed edge on the cup upon axial relative movement between the cup and holder.

9. A holder for a paper cup, including a body portion having a tubular cup engaging wall defining a cavity for the reception of a completely empty paper cup bottom first, and a plurality of projections extending radially inwardly from points near the bottom of said cup engaging wall, each projection having an edge portion for automatic frictional engagement with the wall of the empty cup upon a mere relative axial movement between the cup and holder, and said projections extending inwardly a, sufficient distance to distort the empty cup wall and insure a positive holding of the cup against accidental dislodgement while in use in the holder.

10. A holder for a paper cup, including a body portion having a tubular cup engaging wall defining an open-bottomed cavity for the reception of a completel empty paper cup bottom first, with the cup bottom projecting below the cup engaging wall, and a plurality of projections extending radially inwardly from points near the bottom of said cup engaging wall, each projection having a relatively sharp edge for automatic biting engagement with the outer wall of the empty cup upon a simple relative axial movement between the cup and holder to maintain the cup in the holder against accidental dislodgement.

HERMAN CAREW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Merrill Feb. 27, 1877 Milligan May 1, 1877 Waters Jan. 1, 1889 Brown Feb. 23, 1897 Curtin May 11, 1915 Bike et al May 18, 1915 White June 27, 1916 Lang Oct. 10, 1916 Hill Jan. 23, 1917 Klin Sept. 4, 1917 Curtin June 14, 1921 Curtin Dec. 5, 1922 Martin July 10, 1923 Curtin Apr. 8, 1924 Barbieri Dec. 7, 1926 Barbieri May 28, 1929 Thomas Dec. 21, 1937 Rosay July 6, 1943