Cradle device for assisting in carton pouring

Abstract

A cradle or holder device is adapted, in use, to engage a liquid-filled carton or like container so as to enhance pouring of the contents from the carton. The device includes a body member including a backing portion and a carton gripping portion for gripping and holding a carton. The backing portion and gripping portion define a space having a cross section corresponding to that of the carton so that the carton, when received in the space, engages the inner surface of the backing portion and the inner surface of the gripping portion. A handle is affixed to the outer surface of the backing portion so as to enable gripping thereof by a user to thereby enable pouring from a carton received in the space.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a holder or cradle device that is adapted to slide onto a liquid-filled carton or other container so as to enhance pouring therefrom.

[0002] 1. Background of the Invention

[0003] Conventional cartons and other containers, such as standard milk and juice cartons, are relatively easy to hold and pour from for most people but can be a challenge for those who, because of age, illness or infirmity, have limited hand and/or wrist strength. As will appear, the present invention is concerned with a device which makes pouring from a carton or other container easier and while clearly not limited to such applications, is of particular usefulness in home care and nursing home settings.

[0004] 2. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In accordance with the invention, a cradle or holder device is provided which is adapted to slide onto a carton or other container and which, when in place, assists a user to pour from the carton. The device includes a handle which is adapted to be gripped by a user and the device itself is of an overall construction which provides a good balance in holding the carton and pouring therefrom.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cradle device for engaging a liquid-filled carton or other container for a liquid or semi-liquid so as to enhance from the carton, the device comprising:

[0007] a body member including a backing portion having inner and outer surfaces, and a carton gripping portion, having an inner surface, for gripping and holding a liquid-filled carton, the backing portion and the gripping portion defining a space having a cross section corresponding to that of the carton so that the carton, when received in the space, engages the inner surface of the backing portion and the inner surface of the gripping portion; and

[0008] a handle affixed to the outer surface of the backing portion so as to enable gripping thereof by a user to thereby enable pouring from a carton received in the space.

[0009] Preferably, the gripping portion comprises first and second side walls and a pair of spaced, coplanar front wall members formed integrally with the side walls, extending orthogonally thereto and extending parallel to the backing portion.

[0010] The backing portion preferably comprises an elongate back wall of substantially greater longitudinal extent than the side walls and the front wall members.

[0011] In accordance with an important feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the back wall and side walls include gripping elements extending outwardly therefrom at respective top edges thereof into the space. Preferably, the gripping elements are inclined inwardly from the side walls and the back wall. Advantageously, the gripping elements of the side walls are of a substantially triangular shape.

[0012] In one preferred embodiment, the front wall members include facing edges of a convex shape.

[0013] In an advantageous implementation, the side walls each include a recessed area adjacent to the back wall. Preferably, the recessed area is of a curved shape which is of greatest depth at a point adjacent to but spaced from the back wall and which terminates at a point spaced from the back wall substantially one half of the width of the corresponding side wall. Advantageously, the back wall includes indented areas in opposite side edges thereof.

[0014] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention as adapted for use with cartons, there is provided a cradle device for assisting pouring from a liquid-filled carton of a substantially square shape and including tented top portion forming or including a pour spout, the device comprising:

[0015] a body member including a backing portion having inner and outer surfaces, and a carton gripping portion, having an inner surface, for gripping and holding a liquid-filled carton, the backing portion and the gripping portion defining a substantially square space having a cross section corresponding to that of the carton so that the carton, when received in said space, engages the inner surface of the backing portion and the inner surface of the gripping portion, the gripping portion comprising first and second side walls and a pair of spaced, coplanar front wall members formed integrally with the side walls and extending orthogonally thereto, and extending parallel to the backing portion, the backing portion and the side walls including gripping elements extending outwardly therefrom at respective top edges thereof into said space for engaging the tented top portion of the carton; and

[0016] a handle affixed to the outer surface of said backing portion so as to enable gripping thereof by a user to thereby enable pouring from a carton received in said space.

[0017] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in, or apparent from, the detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a container cradle or pourer device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the device of FIG. 1; and

[0021] FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) are schematic side elevational views showing four steps in the use and removal of the device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, one preferred embodiment of the carton pouring cradle or pourer of the invention is shown. The cradle or pourer is generally denoted 10 and, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a main body portion 12 and a handle 14. The main body portion 12 includes a back wall 16, a pair of opposed, parallel side walls 18 and 20, and first and second coplanar front wall members or elements 22 and 24 which are affixed to and extend orthogonally to side walls 18 and 20 and which lie in a plane parallel to the back wall 16. Front wall members 22 and 24 are spaced apart to form a gap 26 therebetween as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0023] Although the following designations are somewhat arbitrary depending on how pourer 10 is viewed, pourer 10 includes what might be referred to as a “carton gripping portion” formed by a pair of “arms,” comprised of side wall 18 and front wall member 22, and side wall 20 and front wall member 24, which, in use, partially surround a carton (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3) on three sides, and a “backing” portion comprised of back or rear wall 16 which, in use, engages the remaining side of the carton and thus also helps grip the carton. The handle 14 is attached to the outwardly facing surface of rear wall 16 and enables easy holding, by a user, of a carton gripped by the pourer device 10, as is described in more detail below.

[0024] Before considering pourer 10 in more detail, it will be appreciated that the size and shape of pourer device 10 can be varied to accommodate cartons and other containers of various sizes and shapes. However, the description here will focus on a milk carton or juice carton including a peaked folded top which may be openable by separating joined portions at the top of the carton folds, or which includes a pouring spout built into the top. The general shape of such a conventional carton is indicated at C in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(d).

[0025] Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 3, as shown, rear wall 16 includes an upper, inwardly slanted or angled lip portion 16a which, in this specific embodiment, includes a central indentation or scooped out area 16b. Side walls 18 and 20 also include respective upper, inwardly slanted or inclined lip portions 18a and 20a. As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2, lip portions 18a and 20a are generally triangular in shape with a forwardly offset peak. In use, lip portion 16a engages a side part of the peaked top of a carton while lip portions 18a and 20a engage in the inwardly slanting portions or folds in the peaked top of the carton. The purpose of lip portions 16a, 18a and 20b is to grip the top of the carton and thus assist in affixing or mounting the pourer device 10 on the carton. However, these lip portions are designed so as to not grip too firmly, and thereby to enable the carton, when empty, to be pushed upwardly through body portion 12 and separated from pourer device 10.

[0026] Side walls 18 and 20 include curved cutout portions (indicated at 18b in FIG. 1, for side wall 18) which, as illustrated reduce the area of the side walls adjacent to rear or back wall 16 and thus reduce the contact area with a carton held by pourer 10.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, front wall members 22 and 24 each terminate in a shallow V-shaped edge, denoted 22a and 22b, respectively, so that gap 26 between wall members 22 and 24 is smaller centrally of members 22 and 24 and increases in width above and below the area of smallest width. Back wall 16 includes scalloped edges or cut-outs 16c in opposite edges thereof extending from the lower or bottom edges of the respective side walls 18 and 20 adjacent back wall 16.

[0028] Although the pourer 10 may be made of other materials, in a preferred embodiment, the body or cradle portion 12 is made of plastic and, advantageously, of a polycarbonate or PERSPEX® (typical thickness: 3 mm) which is heat treated to allow formatting and processing. For example, the cradle portion can be cut out from a flat sheet or the plastic material to form a suitably shaped blank which is then heated and formed into the final product.

[0029] Similarly, the handle 14 is also preferably plastic and, advantageously, is moulded polycarbonate and/or PERSPEX® (typical diameter: 16 mm). Handle 14 is adhered or affixed, by suitable processing (e.g., chemical bonding) to cradle portion 12.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d), in use of the device, the pourer or cradle device 10 is slid downwardly over a carton, indicated in dashed lines at C, as shown in FIG. 4(a) until the device 10 is firmly located in the carton folds, i.e., so lips 16a, 18a and 20a engage the top portion of the carton as described above.

[0031] The latter position device 10 is shown in FIG. 4(b) and, in this position, the contents of the carton can be poured out by allowing the weight of the carton to tilt the combination cradle device - carton to a pouring position. This is extremely easy to achieve even for a person with very limited hand strength.

[0032] When the level of the contents reaches a point where the carton is not easy to pour from, the cradle device 10 can be slid downwardly as shown in FIG. 4(c) so that the lower edge thereof contacts the surface of a table or the like, and pouring can be continued as when the carton is full.

[0033] The cradle device 10 can be removed from the carton C by simply pulling the device 10 downwardly off of the carton as shown in FIG. 4(d).

[0034] Advantageously, the handle 14 is provided with a material that enhances gripping, e.g., a covering of Neoprene® or the like, for some uses.

[0035] Although the invention has been described above in relation to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be effected in these preferred embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A cradle device for engaging a container so as to enhance pouring from the container, said device comprising: a body member including a backing portion having inner and outer surfaces, and a container gripping portion, having an inner surface, for gripping and holding a container, said backing portion and said gripping portion defining a space having a cross section corresponding to that of the container so that the container, when received in said space, engages the inner surface of the backing portion and the inner surface of the gripping portion; and a handle affixed to the outer surface of said backing portion so as to enable gripping thereof by a user to thereby enable pouring from a container received in said space.

2. A cradle device according to claim 1 wherein said gripping portion comprises first and second side walls and a pair of spaced, coplanar front wall members formed integrally with said side walls and extending orthogonally thereto and extending parallel to said backing portion.

3. A cradle device according to claim 2 wherein said backing portion comprises an elongate back wall of substantially greater longitudinal extent than said side walls and said front wall members.

4. A cradle device according to claim 3 wherein said back wall and said side walls include gripping elements extending outwardly therefrom at respective top edges thereof into said space.

5. A cradle device according to claim 4 wherein said gripping elements are inclined inwardly from said side walls and said back wall.

6. A cradle device according to claim 5 wherein said gripping elements of said side walls are of a substantially triangular shape.

7. A cradle device according to claim 2 wherein said front wall members include facing edges of a convex shape.

8. A cradle device according to claim 3 wherein said side walls each include a recessed area adjacent to said back wall.

9. A cradle device according to claim 8 wherein said recessed area is of a curved shape which is of greatest depth at a point adjacent to but spaced from said back wall and which terminates at a point spaced from said back wall substantially one half of the width of the corresponding side wall.

10. A cradle device according to claim 8 wherein said back wall includes indented areas in opposite side edges thereof.

11. A cradle device for assisting pouring from a liquid-filled carton of a substantially square shape and including tented top portion forming or including a pour spout, said device comprising: a body member including a backing portion having inner and outer surfaces, and a carton gripping portion, having an inner surface, for gripping and holding a liquid-filled carton, said backing portion and said gripping portion defining a substantially square space having a cross section corresponding to that of the carton so that the carton, when received in said space, engages the inner surface of the backing portion and the inner surface of the gripping portion, said gripping portion comprising first and second side walls and a pair of spaced, coplanar front wall members formed integrally with said side walls and extending orthogonally thereto and extending parallel to said backing portion, said backing portion and said side walls including gripping elements extending outwardly therefrom at respective top edges thereof into said space for engaging the tented top portion of the carton; and a handle affixed to the outer surface of said backing portion so as to enable gripping thereof by a user to thereby enable pouring from a carton received in said space.

12. A cradle device according to claim 11 wherein said backing portion comprises an elongate back wall of substantially greater longitudinal extent than said side walls and said front wall members.

13. A cradle device according to claim 13 wherein said gripping are inclined inwardly from said side walls and said back wall.

14. A cradle device according to claim 13 wherein said gripping elements of said side walls are of a substantially triangular shape.

15. A cradle device according to claim 11 wherein said front wall members include facing edges of a convex shape.

16. A cradle device according to claim 12 wherein said side walls include a recessed area adjacent to said back wall.

17. A cradle device according to claim 16 wherein said recessed area is of a curved shape which is of greatest depth at a point adjacent to but spaced from said back wall and which terminates at a point spaced from said back wall substantially one half of the width of the corresponding side wall.

18. A cradle device according to claim 16 wherein said back wall includes indented areas in opposite side edges thereof.