The following invention relates to cups such as those utilized for drinking beverages and for containing liquids and other miscellaneous items. More particularly, this invention relates to sets of cups which can attach together in a variety of different ways.
At parties where beverages are being served, it is often desirable to move about while carrying a beverage. It is generally desirable to have one hand free with the other hand available to carry a cup or other beverage container. The free hand is thus available for a variety of different uses including carrying food, shaking hands, and a multitude of other uses.
In some instances, it is desirable to enjoy a mixed beverage with the two components of the mixed beverage beneficially kept separate for at least some period of time. The two components are then typically combined together before drinking. As an alternative, the two beverage components could be enjoyed separately rather than being mixed together. In other instances it is desirable to have both snacks and a beverage.
One method for enjoying such a mixed beverage (or beverage and snacks) is to merely carry two cups or other beverage containers. However, then the user does not have a hand remaining free. Because the two beverage components are typically combined together, the user only needs two hands available to hold the two containers for a short period of time, before drink component combination, but then the remaining empty cup must be somehow disposed of if one of the hands is to be freed. Accordingly, a need exists for being able to attach one beverage container to another beverage container when only one beverage container is required, but which containers are detachable from each other so that they can hold separate beverages when desired, such as two components of a mixed beverage.
One example of such a beverage mixture situation is where a primary beverage is being carried by the individual and then someone offers a “shot” of some other beverage to the individual. While the “shot” of the additional beverage could be added directly into the container carrying the first beverage, this removes control from the individual carrying the cup as to how and when and in what proportions to mix the two components together. Rather, control is given to the individual providing the “shot.” Utilizing two separate full size containers requires that the individual utilize both hands, leaving no hands available for other uses. Accordingly, a need exists for beverage containers which can be held to each other while one of the containers can still be used and a second beverage container is removably attachable from the first beverage container when desired, such as for receiving a “shot” to be enjoyed separately or through later mixing with a first beverage in the first container.
With this invention a cup assembly is provided with two separate assemblies removably attachable to each other, and each assembly able to carry a liquid (or non-liquid, such as a snack food) therein. In a preferred embodiment the first container is a standard plastic party cup. Such a standard plastic party cup typically has a flat circular lower end with a tapering side wall tapering up from the lower end to a rim. The rim is typically circular and has a diameter slightly greater than a diameter of the lower end. The rim could alternatively have some other shape. Typically, a large number of cups are provided with a similar size and shape so that they can nest together and efficiently utilize space when stored and not in use. The interior reservoir of the typical plastic party cup is open at the rim and open down to the lower end.
With this invention the typical prior art plastic party cup is modified in one or more ways. First, the cup or other container is modified to include one half of a fastener for fastening to a second short container. In one embodiment this fastener is in the form of a threaded exterior on the side wall of the first container, just above the lower end.
A short container, such as a short cup, is provided which preferably has a circular base sized similar to the lower end of the first container, and a side tapering up from the bottom to a lip opposite the base. A height of the side is less than a height of the first container from the lower end to the rim. Typically, this height is approximately one-third of the height of the first container. The short container has part of a fastener on an interior of the side just above the base. The base has a size similar to the lower end. Thus, the short container can be nested with its base adjacent the lower end and outside of the side wall of the first container and engage with the lower end of the first container. The short container is thus removably attachable to the first container.
The first container is primarily utilized by the individual. Should a second beverage be offered, such as a “shot,” the user disconnects the short container relative to the first container. The short container can then be removed from the first container and is available to contain the “shot” or other second beverage. Similarly, if a snack food is offered (e.g. peanuts), the second container can be removed from the first container and is available to carry the snack.
The individual holds the short container in one hand and the first container in the other hand. The individual can then combine at least a portion of the “shot” or other beverage in the short container with the beverage contained within the first container when desired by the individual. The short container can then be reattached to the first container and the mixed beverage can be enjoyed at the individual's leisure while keeping a second hand available for other uses.
By configuring the container of the lower end complemental with the contour of the base, the second container can attach to the first container in a second way. The second container is inverted and the base is brought into contact with the lower end where structures such as a foot and a skirt can press together and friction hold the first container to the second container in an inverted attachment.
Various forms of fasteners could also be utilized to hold the second container to the first container, most preferably in a nesting fashion. For instance, magnets could be utilized, suction cups, snaps, threads, friction fit complemental surfaces, or other fasteners, so as to removably hold the second container to the first container.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a set of two or more cups which can be removably attached together for use either separately or together.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a set of two or more cups which can attach together in at least two different ways to provide different functionalities.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of cups which are of different sizes and which can removably attach to each other.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of cups which are readily formed utilizing known cup forming techniques for disposable cups.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for attaching a set of two or more cups together in a removable fashion so that the cups can either be attached together or separated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for enjoying two separate beverages or other food items while still often having one hand free.
Other further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the included drawing figures, the claims and detailed description of the invention.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral 10 is directed to an assembly of cups 20, 40 (
In essence, and with particular reference to
More specifically, and with reference to
The sides of the large cup 20 are defined by surfaces including an outer wall 24 opposite an inner wall 26. The inner wall 26 faces inward and defines a surface of a reservoir of the large cup 20. The outer wall 24 is generally that surface which is gripped by a hand of a user when utilizing the large cup 20. If desired, upper portions of the outer wall 24, near the rim 22, can include a series of overhanging ledges to allow the large cup 20 to be more easily held by a hand of a user and avoid slipping down out of the hand of the user. The rim 22 is typically configured to be somewhat thicker than other portions of the side wall to provide a blunt surface for bringing into proximity to the mouth of a user and to facilitate removal of tightly nested stacks of large cups 20 from each other.
The large cup 20 preferably includes a step 28 in the outer wall 24 (and optionally extending into the inner wall 26 when constant wall thickness between the outer wall 24 and inner wall 26 is desired). This step 28 causes portions of the outer wall 24 above the step 28 to be slightly greater in diameter than portions of the outer wall 24 below the step 28. A difference in this diameter is preferably similar to a thickness of the side wall of the large cup 20 between the outer wall 24 and inner wall 26. In this way, when the small cup 40 has a similar wall thickness, and the small cup 40 is nested onto the large cup 20, portions of the large cup 20 above the step 28 are flush with an outside wall 44 of the small cup 40, to provide a fully integrated appearance and feel when the small cup 40 is attached to the large cup 20 in the upright attachment, with the large cup 20 nested into the small cup 40.
The lower end 30 of the large cup 20 generally acts as a pedestal to allow the large cup 20 to rest upon a horizontal surface. This lower end 30 is also configured to have structures which provide a friction fit with the small cup 40 for attachment of the large cup 20 and small cup 40 together. The lower end 30 preferably includes a foot 32 extending down from the lower end 30 to a lower surface 35. The foot 32 includes an outer surface 33 defining an outboard portion of the foot 32 and an inner surface 34 defining an inboard surface of the foot 32. The lower end 30 is thus hollowed out somewhat inboard of the inner surface 34 of the foot 32. With these various surfaces 33, 34, 35, the foot 32 has a generally annular form which is radially symmetrical and with a constant annular width and constant depth. The foot 32 exhibits a constant distance away from the centerline of the reservoir of the large cup 20.
While the foot 32 is preferably continuous as it extends circumferentially about the centerline of the large cup 20, the foot 32 could be broken into a series of separate feet spaced apart by gaps. Such multiple feet would still include the outer surface 33, inner surface 34 and lower surface 35, but these surfaces would be broken up by the gaps between the feet. As few as three feet (or two if the feet exhibit some circumferential length thereto) could conceivably be provided. Also, a number of feet larger than four feet could be provided.
The inside of the large cup 20 adjacent the lower end 30 typically includes an annular depression therein complemental with the foot 32, so that the foot 32 is formed by a substantially constant thickness for the material forming the large cup 20. This annular recess facilitates the nesting of multiple large cups 20 together. The foot 32 preferably has a diameter slightly less than a diameter of the outer wall 24 adjacent the lower end 30. Thus, a small ledge is defined by a distance between the outer surface 33 of the foot 32 and the outer wall 24 adjacent the lower end 30. This ledge preferably has a width similar to or slightly greater than a thickness of the side wall of the cup 20. This ledge as well as the outer surface 33 of the foot 32 facilitates seamless attachment of the small cup 40 to the large cup 20 when the small cup 40 has been inverted (
With continuing reference to
The outside wall 44 of the small cup 40 preferably has a diameter at the lip 42 which matches the diameter of the outer wall 24 of the large cup 20 above the step 28. The diameter of the inside wall 46 of the small cup 40 preferably matches a diameter of the outside wall 24 of the large cup 20 below the step 28. A height of the small cup 40 from the base 50 to the lip 42 is preferably similar to a distance that the step 28 of the large cup 20 is located above the lower end 30 of the large cup 20. Thus, when the small cup 40 is attached to the large cup 20 in the upright attachment with the cups 20, 40 nested together (
The base 50 of the small cup 40 defines a pedestal portion of the small cup 40 which can rest upon a surface. This base 50 also provides attachment structures for accomplishing both the upright attachment with the large cup 20 and the inverted attachment with the large cup 20. The base 50 includes a shelf 51 defining a horizontal surface in a plane substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the reservoir of the small cup 40. This shelf 51 extends radially inwardly from a skirt 52 which extends down (away from the lip) extending away from a perimeter of the base 50. This skirt 52 has an inside surface 53 facing inward toward the centerline of the small cup 40. The inside surface 53 of the skirt 52 has a diameter preferably matching a diameter of the outer surface 33 of the foot 32. A depth of the skirt 52 down to the shelf 51 is preferably similar to a depth of the foot 32 down to the lower surface 35. In this way, the foot 32 of the lower end 30 of the large cup 20 can press down against the inside surface 53 of the skirt 52 and against the shelf 51 to exhibit a friction fit, holding the base 50 of the small cup 40 to the lower end 30 of the large cup 20 when the small cup 40 has been inverted and the large cup 20 and small cup 40 have been brought together (
The base 50 includes a recess 54 within the reservoir of the small cup 40 which extends down into the base 50. This recess 54 is preferably radially symmetrical and preferably annular in form with a constant width and a constant depth. The dimensions of this recess 54 are preferably similar to that of the foot 32 of the lower end 30 of the large cup 20. The recess 54 is thus sized so that the foot 32 can exhibit a friction fit into the recess 54. The recess 54 includes an outside 55 opposite an inside 56 which are both cylindrical in form and radially symmetrical about the centerline of the reservoir of the small cup 40. A floor 57 defines a lower end of the recess 54.
The floor 57 is sized so that it can be brought into contact with the lower surface 35 of the foot 32 with the outside 55 pressing against the outer surface 33 of the foot 32 and the inside 56 of the recess 54 pressing against the inner surface 34 of the foot 32. These surfaces exhibit sufficient friction so that the entire small cup 50 can be securely held to the lower end 30 of the large cup 20 and with the lower end 30 of the large cup 20 located within the reservoir of the small cup 40. The upright attachment is thus facilitated (
While the recess 54 is preferably fully annular with a constant width and constant depth, the recess 54 could be broken into discreet separate recesses spaced apart by gaps in a manner similar to the way that the foot 32 could be broken into separate feet, as described in detail above. Preferably the recess 54 remains complemental with any such feet in the lower end 30 of the large cup 20 so that the feet can exhibit a friction fit into the recess 54. As an alternative, the foot 32 could be substituted with multiple separate feet but the recess 54 could still be a fully annular structure with the feet fitting into this full annular recess 54. Furthermore, the recess 54 could be substituted with separate discreet recesses spaced apart by gaps which could be provided in a greater number than the number of feet substituted for the foot 32 and large cup 20, so long as the position of any such feet in the large cup 20 can still fit into multiple ones of the recesses into which the recess 54 could conceivably be divided.
In use and operation, and with particular reference to
If a user wishes to have a taller cup assembly, the user can invert the small cup 40 and press the base 50 of the small cup 40 against the lower end 30 of the large cup 20 to provide a taller cup assembly 10 (
When solid food items are in the small cup 40, the large cup 20 could be nested partially into the small cup 40 and the user's hand could have a grip on the small cup 40 so that both cups 20, 40 can be full and carried in one hand. If the cups 20, 40 nest with some open space remaining in the reservoir of the small cup 40, such full stacking could occur with beverages as well.
With particular reference to
The slots 164 preferably include a first leg 166 extending up from the lower end 130 and a second leg 168 extending radially away from a bend 167 between the first leg 166 and the second leg 168. The slots 164 preferably have a width similar to a width of the posts 162. A depth of the slots 164 is preferably similar to a height of the posts 162. While at least one post 162 is provided and at least one slot 164 is provided, preferably three posts 162 and three slots 164 are provided each radially spaced similar distances from each other. Other numbers of posts 162 and slots 164 could also be provided. When the small cup 140 is nested upon the lower end 130 of the large cup 120 in the upright attachment, the posts 162 of the fastener 160 slide into the first legs 166 of the slots 164 of the fastener (along arrow B of
Other details of the small cup 140 and large cup 120 preferably match those of the cups 20, 40 of the assembly 10 (
This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified.
This application claims benefit under Title 35, United States Code §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/822,509 filed on May 13, 2013.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2868411 | Kesselman | Jan 1959 | A |
4854468 | Dahlquist et al. | Aug 1989 | A |
6562270 | Gannon et al. | May 2003 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2406556 | Apr 2005 | GB |
WO 03000560 | Dec 2003 | WO |
WO 2010034340 | Apr 2010 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61822509 | May 2013 | US |