US3347354A - Bar caddy - Google Patents

Description

R. C. WEST Oct. 17, 1967 BAR CADDY I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1966 FIG! INVENTOR RICHARD c. WEST ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1967 c, WEST 3,347,354

BAR CADDY Filed Oct. 5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR RICHARD C.WEST

ATTORNEY 7 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention comprises a bar caddy having storage United States Patent provisions for'a plurality of items such as liquor containers, an ice'container, napkins, openers, drinking cups, and a mixing ingredient container and the like. It is basically a luncheon type box having a hingable lid for acces to the interior and a carrying handle. A pair of tin plates are contoured to fit within the box of polystryrene of other foamed or similar material such as light-weight rubber or cardboard. The tin plates are spaced apart in the box and are oriented relative to each other to conform apertures in vertical alignment, and they protect and cushion the contained items from shock and spillage; At one end of the box there is dis-posed holder means movable relative to the end of the box to hold napkins therebetween. A similar tin plate is affixed to the lid of the box and contoured to receive the taller items, thus providing a secure travelable container.

The present invention relates to a compact and inexpensive bar caddy which shock insulates the various items contained therein.

The invention may be viewed as a kit for converting a lunch box into a bar caddy or as a bar caddy per se. In either event a plurality of templates of lightweight shock absorbent materials, such as foamed plastic, is pro vided to fit Within a box or housing, in vertical spaced apart positions. The templates are generally apertured in conformance with the shapes of the items to be contained. The templates are also vertically disposed with conforming apertures in vertical alignment.

One of the templates is fixed in the lid of the housing and contoured to receive only the taller of the items, such as the tops of an ice container and a Wine bottle. The intermediate template is contoured for all items including for example paper cups, bottle openers, liquor bottles, and a container for mixing ingredients. In addition, a napkin holder is disposed at one side to locate items between the holder and a side Wall of the housing.

The lower template is contoured to receive most of the items excepting only the shorter items, such as the paper cups thereby lending rigidity to the base template.

The lid preferably hinges to the base of the box and is buckled thereto to complete the caddy.

With the foregoing in mind, it is among the objects of this invention to provide an efiicient but inexpensive bar caddy which positively locates all items carried therein.

It is another objects of the invention to provide a kit for converting a lunch box into such a bar caddy.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description thereof in the light of the accompanying drawing therein:

FIG. 1 shows the exterior of the housing or lunch box in perspective.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the opened box showing various items in dotted outlines contained therein,

FIG. 3 is a partial view in section of the box of FIG. 2 taken along the plane 3-3 thereof,

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the templates disposed in the base or lower half of the box, and

r 3,347,254 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the interior of the lid to show the third template.

Referring now to the drawing, the barcaddy is illustratedin perspective at 11 and includes a base portion 13, lid 15, carrying handle or strap 17, buckles 19, and hinge 21 (see FIG. 5).

' The caddy 11 may comprise a conventional lunch box or similar type housing. The interior is hollow and is fitted with a converting kit comprising base template 31, intermediate template 33 and upper template 35. p

The template 33 is apertured to receive three /2 pint bottles 41 (conventional liquor bottles), a mixing ingredient container 43, different type bottle openers 45 and 47, conventional plastic vacuum container 49, paper or the like drinking cups 51, and wine bottle 53. A wire napkin holder 55 is disposed adjacent one side wall of caddy 11.

The items depicted in the drawing are by way of example but do provide a rather thorough but compact inexpensive caddy. For example, the liquor bottles 41 may all three hold the same liquor such as scotch or they may contain scotch, bourbon, gin or vodka in any combination. The vial 43 includes Vermouth and olives and the dissimilar openers 45 and 47 are handy for opening beer, other mixes, or foods carried separately of the bar caddy.

The vacuum 49 may be used for ice or mixes. The wine bottle 53 may be substituted for by other similarly shaped bottles containing different liquids or may be used for mix. The quantity of paper cups 51 may be stacked as shown and the napkin holder 55 accommodates /z dozen or so napkins.

Considering now template 33, as seen in FIG. 4; it is apertured at 61 to accommodate the three liquor containers 41. Aperture 6.3- is provided for vial 43 and apertures 65 and 67 for the dissimilar openers 45 and 47. Aperture '69 is contoured to receive vacuum container 49 with its handle fitting recess 70. Drinking cups 51 are stacked in aperture 71 and wine container 53 fits aperture 73. An extra hole 75 is pictured for a container for other comestibles.

, In the lower template there are conforming recesses or apertures identified by the prime of the numbers of templates 33.

It will be apparent that no conforming recess aperture 71 is required. Thus, the template 31 is not correspondingly apertured for greater strength or rigidity. Similarly aperture 65. is unnecessary and as a matter of fact the numbers 65, 63 and 67" preferably indicate recesses rather than apertures, again for strength. Also height location is determined in this manner.

The template 35 (best seen in FIG. 5) includes a recess 73" and a recess 69". The recess 73" receives the top of container 53 and recess 69" receives the top of container 49. It is not necessary that these recesses conform to the entire shape of the taller items in order that the items be maintained in proper position. Thus template 35 is relatively narrow and is in fact only a partial template.

The napkin holder 55 is preferably a substantially U shaped fairly rigid wire which is imbedded in or disposed against the edge of lower template 31 and is slightly resilient in combination with template 33-, at least suificient to receive a few napkins between the wall 13 and wire 55, as seen in FIG. 3.

In marketing the kit it is thus apparent that it comprises the three templates, along with the wire 55 for the napkin holder and a tube of suitable glue for attaching the foamed plastic material to the walls of the housing. It should be mentioned however that spacers (illustrated in phantom at 101 in FIG. 3) may be employed in lieu of the glue, in which event the templates 31 and 33 are simply dropped into the base 13. The

spacers 101 are not necessary when the glue is employed.

Certain modifications may be made without departing from the principle of the invention as disclosed in the illustrated preferred embodiment and accordingly it is intended that the invention be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bar caddy having storage provision for a plurality of items including liquor containers, an ice container, napkins, openers, drinking cups, a mixing ingredient container and the like comprising in combination a lunchtype box having a hingeable lid, walls and a bottom; a pair of templates fitted within the box and secured therein in spaced apart relation; each template being apertured in conformance with the shape of the items to be received by it; said templates being oriented in the box relative to each other to dispose conforming apertures in vertical alignment; means maintaining the alignment; said templates being of foamed material several order of thickness greater than the walls of the box to protect and cushion from shock said items; holder means adjacent to a wall of the box and movable therefrom to receive and hold napkins; and a further template of foamed material affixed to the lid of said box and contoured to receive taller ones of said items.

2. The bar caddy of claim 1 wherein one of said pair of said templates is atfixed to the bottom of the box and is apertured at fewer locations than the other of said templates.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,171,700 3/1965 Parsell et a1 206-4 X 3,184,071 5/ 1965 Delire 22022. X 3,191,791 6/1965 Jackson 206-46 X 3,243,037 3/1966 Luertzing 20646 X LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A BAR CADDY HAVING STORAGE PROVISION FOR A PLURALITY OF ITEMS INCLUDING LIQUOR CONTAINERS, AN ICE CONTAINER, NAPKINS, OPENERS, DRINKING CUPS, A MIXING INGREDIENT CONTAINER AND THE LIKE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A LUNCHTYPE BOX HAVING A HINGEABLE LID, WALLS AND A BOTTOM; A PAIR OF TEMPLATES FITTED WITHIN THE BOX AND SECURED THEREIN IN SPACED APART RELATION; EACH TEMPLATE BEING APERTURED IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE SHAPE OF THE ITEMS TO BE RECEIVED BY IT; SAID TEMPLATES BEING ORIENTED IN THE BOX RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TO DISPOSE CONFORMING APERTURES IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT; MEANS MAINTAINING THE ALIGNMENT; SAID TEMPLATES BEING OF FOAMED MATERIAL SEVERAL ORDER OF THICKNESS GREATER THAN THE WALLS OF THE BOX TO PROTECT AND CUSHION FROM SHOCK SAID ITEMS; HOLDER MEANS ADJACENT TO A WALL OF THE BOX AND MOVABLE THEREFROM TO RECEIVE AND HOLD NAPKINS; AND A FURTHER TEMPLATE OF FOAMED MATERIAL AFFIXED TO THE LID OF SAID BOX AND CONTOURED TO RECEIVE TALLER ONES OF SAID ITEMS.

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