Abstract:
A holding device for a first container and a second container where the second container may have a upper lip and the first container may have no lower lip. The holding device may include a bottom cylinder wall to frictionally engage an upper lip of the second container. and the holding device may include a truncated cone shaped wall to frictionally engage the first container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to stackable container assemblies and more particularly to a container holding device for holding different types of containers vertically. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various types of stackable container assemblies are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,636 discloses a stackable container assembly including a plurality of equal diameter cylindrical containers. A connector for securing the containers in coaxial stacked relation includes first and second cylindrical side walls which intersect at a transverse circular partition. Circular undercut grooves are provided on each of the side walls and are dimensioned to frictionally engage top and bottom peripheral rims on the containers. The connector may form a removable lid for one of the containers and may be utilized to package snack food items for marketing. 
         [0003]    However, these types of devices are not suitable when the container does not include the peripheral rim for frictional engagement. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A holding device for a first container and a second container where the second container may have a upper lip and the first container may have no lower lip. The holding device may include a bottom cylinder wall to frictionally engage an upper lip of the second container, and the holding device may include a truncated cone shaped wall to frictionally engage the first container. 
         [0005]    The holding device may be detachably connected to the first container. 
         [0006]    The holding device may be detachably connected to the second container. 
         [0007]    The holding device may include truncated cone shaped wall connected to the bottom cylinder wall. 
         [0008]    The holding device may include a locking tab to frictionally engage the upper lip of the second container. 
         [0009]    The locking tab may include a horizontal surface. 
         [0010]    The locking tab may include an inclined surface. 
         [0011]    The holding device may include a upper cylinder ring wall being connected to the bottom cylinder wall by a post. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a first holding device of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of a first container, the second container and the first holding device of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first container, the second container and the first holding device of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the first container, the second container and the first holding device of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of the first holding device of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom view of the first holding device of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of the second holding device of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-section view of the second holding device, the first container and the second container of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of the second holding device, the first container and the second container of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of the second holding device, the first container and the second container of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  illustrates a top view of the second holding device of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  illustrates a bottom view of the second holding device of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The present invention provides stackable containers which may be beverage containers being detachably connected (connected, detached and reconnected) in a secured coaxial orientation which may be a vertical orientation and the first container  111  may be a different size, different material, different shape than the second container  109 . As described below, the second container may have a upper lip  113  which may cooperate with it is the first holding device  100  or the second holding device  201  to form a friction fit, but the first container  111  may not have the lip (a bottom lip) positioned at the intersection of the bottom and side surface of the first container. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the first holding device  100  of the present invention which may include a base holding cylinder wall  107  which may form a detachably connected (connected, detached and reconnected) friction fit with the second container  109  which may be a beverage can or other appropriate container. The second container may include a continuous or noncontinuous upper lip  113  which may extend around the top surface of the second container  109 . 
         [0027]    The base holding cylinder wall  105  may include an inward extending locking tab  119  which may include a horizontal surface  115  and a inclined surface  117  to cooperate with the upper lip  113  of the of the second container  109 . There may be multiple locking tabs  119  spaced around the base holding cylinder wall  105 . The base holding cylinder wall  105  may be connected to a truncated cone shaped wall  121  which may include radial fingers  123  which may extend inwards from the truncated cone shaped wall  121  and which may be between a pair of slots  125  positioned at the top of the truncated cone shaped wall  121 . The radial fingers  123  may be rigid or flexible in order to cooperate with the side wall of the first container  111 . The truncated cone shaped wall  121  may include apertures  127  which may extend through the truncated cone shaped wall  121 . The first holding device  100  may be formed from metal, plastic or other appropriate material. 
         [0028]    The first holding device  100  includes an inward extending vertical wall  129  which extends inward from and connected to the truncated cone shaped wall  121  in order to cooperate with the upper lip  113  and the horizontal surface  115  in order to hold the first container  111  to the second container  109 . The first holding device  100  permits the first container  111  and the second container  109  to be positioned in a secure positioned coaxial relationship. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first holding device  100  of the present invention which may include a base holding cylinder wall  107  which may form a detachable connection (connected, detached and reconnected) with a friction fit with the second container  109  which may be a beverage can or other appropriate container. The second container may include a continuous or noncontinuous upper lip  113  which may extend around the top surface of the second container  109 . 
         [0030]    The base holding cylinder wall  105  may include an inward extending locking tab  119  which may include a horizontal surface  115  and a inclined surface  117  to cooperate with the upper lip  113  of the of the second container  109 . There may be multiple locking tabs  119  spaced around the base holding cylinder wall  105 . The base holding cylinder wall  105  may be connected to a truncated cone shaped wall  121  which may include radial fingers  123  which may extend inwards from the truncated cone shaped wall  121  and which may be between a pair of slots  125  positioned at the top of the truncated cone shaped wall  121 . The radial fingers  123  may be rigid or flexible in order to cooperate with the side wall of the first container  111 . The truncated cone shaped wall  121  may include apertures  127  which may extend through the truncated cone shaped wall  121 . The first holding device  100  may be formed from metal, plastic or other appropriate material. 
         [0031]    The first holding device  100  includes an inward extending vertical wall  129  which extends inward from and connected to the truncated cone shaped wall  121  in order to cooperate with the upper lip  113  and the horizontal surface  115  in order to hold the first container  111  to the second container  109 . The first holding device  100  permits the first container  111  and the second container  109  to be positioned in a secure positioned coaxial relationship. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a top and bottom view respectively of the first holding device  100  of the present invention which may include a base holding cylinder wall  107  which may form a friction fit with the second container  109  which may be a beverage can or other appropriate container. The second container may include a continuous or noncontinuous upper lip  113  which may extend around the top surface of the second container  109 . 
         [0033]    The base holding cylinder wall  105  may include an inward extending locking tab  119  which may include a horizontal surface  115  and a inclined surface  117  to cooperate with the upper lip  113  of the of the second container  109 . There may be multiple locking tabs  119  spaced around the base holding cylinder wall  105 . The base holding cylinder wall  105  may be connected to a truncated cone shaped wall  121  which may include radial fingers  123  which may extend inwards from the truncated cone shaped wall  121  and which may be between a pair of slots  125  positioned at the top of the truncated cone shaped wall  121 . The radial fingers  123  may be rigid or flexible in order to cooperate with the side wall of the first container  111 . The truncated cone shaped wall  121  may include apertures  127  which may extend through the truncated cone shaped wall  121 . The first holding device  100  may be formed from metal, plastic or other appropriate material. 
         [0034]    The first holding device  100  includes an inward extending vertical wall  129  which extends inward from and connected to the truncated cone shaped wall  121  in order to cooperate with the upper lip  113  and the horizontal surface  115  in order to hold the first container  111  to the second container  109 . The first holding device  100  permits the first container  111  and the second container  109  to be positioned in a secure positioned coaxial relationship. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the first container  111 , the second container  109  and the first holding device  100  of the present invention. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  illustrates an assembled view of the first container  111 , the second container  109  and the first holding device  100  of the present invention. 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of the second holding device  201  of the present invention, and the second holding device  201  may include a base holding cylinder wall  205  to provide a friction fit with the second container  109 . The second holding device  201  maybe formed from plastic, metal or other appropriate material. The second holding device  201  may additionally include holding post  231  to connect the base holding cylinder wall  205  and to connect to the upper cylinder ring wall  233  which may provide a friction fit with the upper portion of the first container  111  and which may extend substantially vertically. The holding post  231  may be rigid or flexible. 
         [0038]    The base holding cylinder wall  205  may include an inward extending locking tab  219  which may include a horizontal surface  215  and a inclined surface  217  to cooperate with the upper lip  213  of the of the second container  109 . There may be multiple locking tabs  219  spaced around the base holding cylinder wall  205 . 
         [0039]    In addition, the second holding device  201  may include a discontinuous horizontal wall  237  which may extend around the base holding cylinder wall  205  and may extend inwards in order to cooperate with the upper lip  113  of the second container  109 . 
         [0040]    The second holding device  201  permits the first container  111  and the second container  109  to be detachably connected and positioned in a secure positioned coaxial relationship. 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the second holding device  201  of the present invention, and the second holding device  201  may include a base holding cylinder wall  205  to provide a friction fit with the second container  109 . The second holding device  201  maybe formed from plastic, metal or other appropriate material. The second holding device  201  may additionally include holding post  231  to connect the base holding cylinder wall  205  and to connect to the upper cylinder ring wall  233  which may provide a friction fit with the upper portion of the first container  111  and which may extend substantially vertically. The holding post  231  may be rigid or flexible. 
         [0042]    The base holding cylinder wall  205  may include an inward extending locking tab  219  which may include a horizontal surface  215  and a inclined surface  217  to cooperate with the upper lip  113  of the of the second container  109 . There may be multiple locking tabs  219  spaced around the base holding cylinder wall  205 . 
         [0043]    In addition, the second holding device  201  may include a discontinuous horizontal wall  237  which may extend around the base holding cylinder wall  205  and may extend inwards in order to cooperate with the upper lip  113  of the second container  109 . 
         [0044]    The second holding device  201  permits the first container  111  and the second container  109  to be positioned in a secure positioned coaxial relationship. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrates a top and bottom view respectively of the second holding device  201  of the present invention, and the second holding device  201  may include a base holding cylinder wall  205  to provide a friction fit with the second container  109 . The second holding device  201  maybe formed from plastic, metal or other appropriate material. The second holding device  201  may additionally include holding post  231  to connect the base holding cylinder wall  205  and to connect to the upper cylinder ring wall  233  which may provide a friction fit with the upper portion of the first container  111  and which may extend substantially vertically. The holding post  231  may be rigid or flexible. 
         [0046]    The base holding cylinder wall  205  may include an inward extending locking tab  219  which may include a horizontal surface  215  and a inclined surface  217  (not shown) to cooperate with the upper lip  213  of the of the second container  109 . There may be multiple locking tabs  219  spaced around the base holding cylinder wall  205 . 
         [0047]    In addition, the second holding device  201  may include a discontinuous horizontal wall  237  (not shown) which may extend around the base holding cylinder wall  205  and may extend inwards in order to cooperate with the upper lip  113  of the second container  109 . 
         [0048]    The second holding device  201  permits the first container  111  and the second container  109  to be positioned in a secure positioned coaxial relationship. 
         [0049]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of the second holding device  201 , the first container  111  and the second container  109  being detachably connected together in a secure position 
         [0050]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.