Patent Application
20070264167
Inventions described herein relate generally to receptacles for securing articles in cups such as disposable cups, and more particularly to receptacles that provide for entry of a flexible cup by way of a channel narrower than the width of a cup incorporated into a shoulder for retaining a cup rim or wall and an interface that mates with the rim of such a cup providing containment of articles inside. Receptacles may include a seat for a seal against the cup rim. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.
No matter what one's occupation or hobby, it is often the case that one will have need to store small articles for retrieval at a later time. Countless variations of storage solutions have appeared on the shelves of retailers, utilizing drawers, lids, subdividing walls or inserts, bags, boxes, bins and a host of other concepts. Many of these solutions are designed to be durable, and the components of those solutions savable and sometimes cleanable should that be necessary.
For many, a cleaning step is rarely performed because the articles being stored are not likely to be dirty or to leave residues on the storage product. Others work with dirty articles that may be frequently rotated. A good example of such a one is an auto mechanic. As an engine or other automotive component is disassembled, parts that have been exposed to dust, grease, oil and other contaminants are removed and are needed to be stored for later reassembly. These parts are often not interchangeable, and parts of different sizes, lengths and forms need to be kept track of for the mechanic to know where they should be placed in reassembly. The systems of keeping track of parts vary from person to person, and might be simply placing removed components near the locations of reassembly, a parts tray in reliance on memory, or a more elaborate system of labeled containers identifying the parts and locations of reassembly.
Some containers that have been or might be used include paper envelopes, plastic bags, containers with dividers, small boxes, and even disposable drinking cups. Articles might be identified by a writing or label on the container, or alternately by writing on an article or tape wrapped around or attached to the article. Many containers are susceptible to being knocked over or off a table, or getting lost or tossed out in the trash. An open container might spill out its contents at least causing a difficulty for the storer but sometimes also resulting in lost parts or articles and damage thereto.
The disposable cup offers certain advantages as a storage container. Most are relatively inexpensive, and can be purchased for pennies each. Many are stackable, and thus may be efficiently stored in bulk. Most can be written on with a felt-tip marker, and thus are suitable for labeling of their contents. They are available in different sizes, and thus can accommodate articles of a number of shapes and sizes.
Even so, the disposable cup seems to have two properties which prevent its wide adoption as a generic storage container. First, most regularly use cups as temporary storage for beverages or small foods such as candy. In that use, a cup may be set on a countertop, table or windowsill and are easily bumped, knocked over or thrown away. Thus most do not see the disposable cup as a secure container for long-term storage. Second, there are generally not products for holding disposable cups as storage containers for other than beverages, rather the most common holding products take the form of cup dispensers, auto cup holders or cardboard or fiberboard containers which a cup might be inserted down into. Existing cup holders leave closure of the cup to separately provided lids, and do not serve to secure the contents against spillage or falling debris.
Reference will now be made in detail to some embodiments of the inventions, example of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Receptacles disclosed herein functionally operate to secure a thin-walled, flexible cup and to provide a closure for the cup interior thereby containing any contents within the cup. Referring to
Other components of the first exemplary receptacle 10 are better visible from the bottom and front sides, illustrated in
Referring back to
Illustrating the insertion and securement of a cup in the exemplary receptacle, direct your attention now to the three positions of
To insert the cup 11 into the receptacle 10, the cup may be squeezed from the sides. For an ordinary drinking cup, squeezing of the cup sides results in the rim taking an elliptical shape, while the bottom of the cup may remain relatively undisturbed. From the position shown in
The receptacles disclosed herein may accommodate many different types of cups, provided those cups are non-destructively flexible. Many disposable plastic drinking cups are well-suited for use with the receptacles. The first exemplary receptacle, for example, accommodates a 16 oz. polyethylene disposable cup available from the Solo Cup Company of Highland Park, Ill. Cups of that type have good elasticity, and may be temporarily deformed from 4 to under 3 inches wide (75%) at the rim without cracking or losing the original shape. Thus the width 20 between portions 23 in the first exemplary receptacle is about 2⅞ inches. Width 20 may be increased if desired, creating a receptacle that is easier to insert a cup into, but at the expense of a more solid feel or potentially some rocking of the cup on the shoulder. Likewise, a smaller width 20 can be used providing a more solid hold and feel of a cup in the receptacle, but makes insertion and extraction more difficult due to the increased squeezing pressure needed and potential cup breakage.
Other plastic compositions may also be selected if it is desired, for example to give the user a solid feel or to make the receptacle usable by those with weaker hands. Cups of less-flexible materials such as polystyrene or paper might be used as well, if a receptacle utilizes a large width 20 that does not require a deformation beyond the breaking properties of the particular material. Likewise, a cup from virtually any elastomer or other material with elastic properties while maintaining manual squeezability can be used, if a width 20 is selected appropriately. A receptacle for a cup made from a particularly elastic material, such as latex rubber, might utilize an even smaller width 20. Although it is possible to use a cup made from a squeezable non-elastic material, such as a semi-rigid cloth or metal mesh, users may find cups that spontaneously return to their original shapes easier to use.
To further understand the fit of cup 11 in the first receptacle, refer now to
In the cup shown in
Also in the upper wall area 15 of the profile of cup 11 of
In another alternative, channel 13 might be fashioned to accommodate the rim of a cup. As shown in
The first exemplary receptacle is designed to be constructed in three layers. A receptacle portion can also be formed as a part, attachable to a flat substrate such as a board, plate or metal, plastic or plywood piece. For this purpose, a substrate need not be completely flat, rather it might include concave portions inside the rim of a mounted cup, or intruding or protruding portions outside the a cup mating area as desired. A non-flat substrate could also be used provided that a tight fit between a cup rim and the substrate is not needed according to the tolerances of use. In
Comparing receptacle half to the first exemplary receptacle of
Although the half receptacle 40 could be fashioned by machining or another method, the half receptacle 40 might be advantageously manufactured in plastic using injection molding in perhaps a two-part mold substantially as shown, perhaps with slight tapers to holes 42 and to other vertical surfaces such as wall 25. Shown now in
For example, a person might want to provide cup storage near a workbench surrounded by cupboards or shelves. That person might attach half-receptacles to the underside of on overhang of the workbench or shelf, or to the underside of a cabinet with perhaps an additional filler board or block. That person might also build his own frame to accommodate the number of cups needed in his desired configuration.
A half receptacle, as shown or otherwise, could be packaged or sold as a unit, perhaps with any necessary fasteners or attachments and instructions for mounting and use. Alternatively, a number of half-receptacles could be packaged as a storage solution kit. Additionally, a storage solution kit might include a frame with receptacles formed therein or half-receptacles attached or attachable thereto. The frame might be provided in any state of assembly, from completed to uncompleted as desired. Receptacles included in such a kit or frame need not be all of the same size, rather receptacles of different sizes may be included that provide for a selected variety of sizes, volumes, diameters or any other metric of cups with in a kit, frame or upgrade.
Referring now to
In a further example, a half receptacle might be stamped from sheet metal. That example 61 is depicted in perspective in
Holes 63 left by the formation of shoulders 16 or stop 25 do not impair the function of movement or securement of a cup, as in this example interface 17 maintains sufficient contact areas. Holes 63, depending on the circumstances and the articles used, may prevent complete containment the contents of the cup, especially where the receptacle is subject to jostling or vibrations. In that case, it may be desired to fasten a receptacle such as that shown in
Stop 25 is not required, if shoulders 16 incorporate rearward restrictions 62 restricting the insertion-directed movement of a cup, forming an effective stop. If desired, the separation between rearward restrictions 62 may be closer together than restrictions 23 to make travel more difficult in the direction of insertion if restrictions 62 are contacted by the cup. Rearward restrictions might even completely join to form a single or composite stop, in this example contacting the cup sidewall rather than the rim. Alternatively, restrictions 62 may be positioned at about the same distance as restrictions 23, thereby making a two sided receiver without a stop, accessible from the front or the back, as depicted in
A receptacle may also be formed to receive or incorporate a seal for an inserted cup. One such exemplary half receptacle 70 is shown in perspective in
Seal 71, in this example, is compressible. Thus seal 71 applies sealing pressure against the rim of cup 11. A compressible seal might be made from many materials, including polyethylene or polyurethane cellular foams, polystyrene, or even felt. A compressible layer might be laminated or joined to a stiff backing thereby reducing wrinkling or tearing of the material in the receptacle and perhaps easing the insertion and removal of the seal into and from the receptacle. A seal may also incorporate a smooth surface for sliding against a cup rim and/or receptacle interior.
Now turning to
If desired, a seal may be pre-compressed at the contact points on seat 72, making the seal easier to slip in and out of a receptacle. This could be done with a foam through a pressing operation, with the application of heat, or the foam layer could be molded in a shape with reduced thickness at the seat contact. Seals of the construction of
A compressible seal may provide for a reduced interface gap at the rim of a cup in a receptacle. This might be desirable for storing certain volatile or atmospheric-reacting materials, for example paints, silicones or materials containing water. However, a seal need not be compressible for all uses, particularly those where it is merely desired to contain fine non-volatile materials or where it is desired to prevent contamination of the receptacle. In such a case, a seal might be made from a compressible or non-compressible material, for example cardboard, or even a solid block of material.
If a compressible seal is to be used, it may be desirable to separate a seal seat 72 and a cup rim, thereby providing for increased sealing pressure at the cup rim. The exemplary half receptacle 10 is designed to provide one type of separation. This is best viewed in
Recalling the example of
Reflecting on the examples shown and described, a cup receptacle may find utility in many trades, hobbies or circumstances. An auto mechanic or a do-it-yourself mechanic might utilize receptacles holding cups that may be discarded without significant expense. Thus even though cups may have become contaminated by grease, oil, dust, dirt or other contaminants from parts placed therein, the cost of replacing a cup may be so low that a user may prefer to replace a cup rather than clean it. If desired, the sides of the cups can be labeled, providing for identification of the contents. Such writing could be done before or after articles are placed in the cup, or written on after these have been inserted to a receptacle—as a receptacle could securely hold the cup against the pressure of a writing instrument. Clear cups might be used providing an easy viewing of any contents. A receptacle can be mounted to secure a cup not only at the level of a table, but also at eye-level for easy viewing or another level for increased organizational options. A receptacle as shown and described secures cups in both horizontal and vertical directions, and provides security against spillage and infiltration of unwanted material or debris.
Many other trades might find advantages in the use of cup receptacles. For example, a cake or pastry decorator might store candies of various kinds, and additionally frostings and other pasty materials. As a receptacle can provide a closure for a cup, drying of the contents is reduced while the cup is stored in a receptacle. Should frosting dry out or no longer be needed, it may be discarded in the cup eliminating a clean up step while at the same time providing for instantaneous access to many items stored to a receptacle array. Similarly, a gourmet cook might use a receptacle array for storing spices, placed at a convenient location in the kitchen for adding a pinch of this and a dash of that. He might also store pre-measured quantities of ingredients available for addition to a dish at just the right moment.
A gardener, agriculturalist or naturalist might utilize a receptacle array in a survey activity. Should she need to collect a soil or biological sample, she merely retrieves a fresh cup, places the sample inside and secures it in the array. She might label the cup with the source of the sample by the location of collection, a description of the contents, or other information with a marker. The array may be carried back to a laboratory in a frame or other carrier, and the samples retrieved and identified or analyzed as appropriate. On the other hand, an array might store transplants, for example saplings for an orchard or forest, to be carried to a planting site.
A cup and receptacle is good for storing small articles, but could also be used to store sandy, powdery, aggregate, slurry-like or pasty materials. Dry chemicals might also be stored in this fashion. For example, dyes or swimming-pool algicides might be stored in cups and kept at a convenient place near the location of use. Vitamins or medications in powdered form for livestock might be stored in cups, labeled per time of application, thereby providing a system to provide the correct compositions and quantities at the appropriate times.
A restaurant might use an array to store pre-measured quantities of detergents, soaps, bleaches or other cleaners, reducing the chance of an errant application of a careless employee. A woodworker could store nails, screws, small saw blades, drill bits, router bits and other hardware in a common receptacle array mounted to a wall over a counter. A jeweler could store collections of semi-precious stones, or alloy pellets in a ready-to-use state. Similarly, a dental technician might utilize a receptacle array in storing various composites, abrasives, metals, mold-shaping tools and other materials in making crowns and other dental appliances. These examples are but a few of the many applications to which the receptacles disclosed herein might be used, and in no way should these examples be read to limit any inventions described or claimed herein.
While the present systems, products and methods have been described and illustrated in conjunction with a number of specific configurations, those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the principles herein illustrated, described, and claimed. The present invention, as defined by the appended claims, may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The configurations described herein are to be considered in all respects as only illustrative, and not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
