US4098403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Beverage carrier
Assignee: SWEETHART CUP COMPANY Inc
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Filing: 1976-12-20
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Granted: 1978-07-04
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Expires: 1996-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A cup carrier having a band made of resilient plastic material and having a plurality of cup engaging sections, each of which is intended to surround more than half the circumference of a cup. A web for supporting the cups from the bottoms is suspended beneath the band by a plurality of downwardly converging strips. The carrier is nestable with other identical carriers.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:19
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/22; B65D1/24; B65D1/243; B65D2501/00; B65D2501/24; B65D2501/24006; B65D2501/24012; B65D2501/24019; B65D2501/2405; B65D2501/24063; B65D2501/24076; B65D2501/24089; B65D2501/24108; B65D2501/24121; B65D2501/24133; B65D2501/24146; B65D2501/24152; B65D2501/24197; B65D2501/24203; B65D2501/2428; B65D2501/24343; B65D2501/24687
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A cup carrier comprising an upper band adapted to engage the side walls of a plurality of cups intermediate their tops and bottoms, said band forming at least two cup engaging sections each being generally arcuate in shape and having an angular extent of more than 180° so as to surround more than half the circumference of the cup, said cup engaging sections being flexible to enable the sections to be flexed outwardly to effectively increase their diameter so that they may receive any one of a plurality of different cups of a diameter greater than the normal diameter of each section, a plurality of strips connected and extending downwardly from spaced points on the band, a web connected to the strips for supporting the bottoms of cups in the carrier, said band, strips and web being integrally molded of a plastic material, and said strips converging in a downwardly direction enabling identical carriers to be nested with the band, strips and web of one carrier being disposed in close proximity to the band, strips and web of another carrier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A cup carrier comprising an upper band adapted to engage the side walls of a plurality of cups intermediate their tops and bottoms, said band forming at least two cup engaging sections each being generally arcuate in shape and having an angular extent of more than 180° so as to surround more than half the circumference of the cup, said cup engaging sections being flexible to enable the sections to be flexed outwardly to effectively increase their diameter so that they may receive any one of a plurality of different cups of a diameter greater than the normal diameter of each section, a plurality of strips connected and extending downwardly from spaced points on the band, a web connected to the strips for supporting the bottoms of cups in the carrier, said band, strips and web being integrally molded of a plastic material, and said strips converging in a downwardly direction enabling identical carriers to be nested with the band, strips and web of one carrier being disposed in close proximity to the band, strips and web of another carrier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cup carrier as described in claim 1 further characterized by said band also having connecting sections which join the cup engaging sections to form an endless loop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cup carrier as described in claim 2 further characterized by said band having three cup engaging sections connected together by straight connecting sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cup carrier as described in claim 2 further characterized by at least two strips extending downwardly from each cup engaging section and being arcuately spaced apart less than 180°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cup carrier as described in claim 3 further characterized by stacking means connected to certain of the strips adjacent their top for engaging the top of the band of an identical carrier when the carriers are nested together, to prevent jamming of the carriers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cup carrier as described in claim 2 further characterized by each cup engaging section being approximately 240° in circumferential extent, the connecting sections of the band being straight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cup carrier as described in claim 1 further characterized by outwardly extending offsets provided in the band at the cup engaging sections, and certain of said strips being connected to the band at the offsets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-07-03 | 1982-01-02 | 1982-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-03 | 1986-01-02 | 1986-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-03 | 1990-01-02 | 1990-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |