Cup assembly

A large cup and small cup are provided which are attachable together. With an upright attachment the large cup nests within a reservoir of the small cup. With an inverted attachment, the small cup has a base which can friction fit against a lower end of the large cup. The small cup includes structures such as a skirt and shelf which can exhibit a friction fit with a foot on the lower end of the large cup to facilitate the inverted attachment of the small cup to the large cup. A recess in the base of the small cup exhibits a friction fit with the foot to facilitate upright attachment when the large cup is nested into the small cup. In an alternative embodiment a fastener is provided including posts and slots in the small cup and large cup to couple the cups together when nested together.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

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.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

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.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral10is directed to an assembly of cups20,40(FIGS. 1-4). The cups20,40can attach together two different ways including nesting together (FIG. 1) for an upright attachment and stacking in a non-nesting fashion (FIG. 3) for an inverted attachment. The cups20,40can thus be either used separately or stored together when not in use separately.

In essence, and with particular reference toFIGS. 1-4, basic details of the assembly10are described according to a first embodiment. The assembly10includes a large cup20and a small cup40. The large cup20has a reservoir extending from a lower end30up to a rim22. The small cup40includes a reservoir extending up from a base50to a lip42. Attachments are provided between the large cup20and small cup40including an upright attachment (FIGS. 1 and 2) and an inverted attachment (FIGS. 3 and 4). Structures on the lower end30of the large cup20and the base50of the small cup40are configured to engage together with a friction fit in two different ways to facilitate either the upright attachment or the inverted attachment.

More specifically, and with reference toFIGS. 5-8, details of the large cup20are described according to this first embodiment. The large cup20is shown in one exemplary embodiment as a tapering thin walled disposable container, such as that which would be typically formed of moldable material such as polymeric hydrocarbon (e.g. polyethylene or other plastic) material, cellulosic fiber (e.g. cardboard), styrofoam, or other generally lightweight low cost moldable materials which are substantially water tight. The large cup20in this embodiment includes a taper in the side wall so that the lower end30has a lesser diameter (or other width if not of circular cross-section) than the rim22. The large cup20exhibits a radially symmetrical form about an elongate vertical central axis extending through a center of the lower end30and through a center of the rim22. While this taper could vary in slope, preferably this taper exhibits a constant angle slightly away from vertical to cause the rim22to have a larger diameter than the lower end30.

The sides of the large cup20are defined by surfaces including an outer wall24opposite an inner wall26. The inner wall26faces inward and defines a surface of a reservoir of the large cup20. The outer wall24is generally that surface which is gripped by a hand of a user when utilizing the large cup20. If desired, upper portions of the outer wall24, near the rim22, can include a series of overhanging ledges to allow the large cup20to be more easily held by a hand of a user and avoid slipping down out of the hand of the user. The rim22is 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 cups20from each other.

The large cup20preferably includes a step28in the outer wall24(and optionally extending into the inner wall26when constant wall thickness between the outer wall24and inner wall26is desired). This step28causes portions of the outer wall24above the step28to be slightly greater in diameter than portions of the outer wall24below the step28. A difference in this diameter is preferably similar to a thickness of the side wall of the large cup20between the outer wall24and inner wall26. In this way, when the small cup40has a similar wall thickness, and the small cup40is nested onto the large cup20, portions of the large cup20above the step28are flush with an outside wall44of the small cup40, to provide a fully integrated appearance and feel when the small cup40is attached to the large cup20in the upright attachment, with the large cup20nested into the small cup40.

The lower end30of the large cup20generally acts as a pedestal to allow the large cup20to rest upon a horizontal surface. This lower end30is also configured to have structures which provide a friction fit with the small cup40for attachment of the large cup20and small cup40together. The lower end30preferably includes a foot32extending down from the lower end30to a lower surface35. The foot32includes an outer surface33defining an outboard portion of the foot32and an inner surface34defining an inboard surface of the foot32. The lower end30is thus hollowed out somewhat inboard of the inner surface34of the foot32. With these various surfaces33,34,35, the foot32has a generally annular form which is radially symmetrical and with a constant annular width and constant depth. The foot32exhibits a constant distance away from the centerline of the reservoir of the large cup20.

While the foot32is preferably continuous as it extends circumferentially about the centerline of the large cup20, the foot32could be broken into a series of separate feet spaced apart by gaps. Such multiple feet would still include the outer surface33, inner surface34and lower surface35, 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 cup20adjacent the lower end30typically includes an annular depression therein complemental with the foot32, so that the foot32is formed by a substantially constant thickness for the material forming the large cup20. This annular recess facilitates the nesting of multiple large cups20together. The foot32preferably has a diameter slightly less than a diameter of the outer wall24adjacent the lower end30. Thus, a small ledge is defined by a distance between the outer surface33of the foot32and the outer wall24adjacent the lower end30. This ledge preferably has a width similar to or slightly greater than a thickness of the side wall of the cup20. This ledge as well as the outer surface33of the foot32facilitates seamless attachment of the small cup40to the large cup20when the small cup40has been inverted (FIGS. 6 and 8).

With continuing reference toFIGS. 5-8, details of the small cup40are described according to this first embodiment. The small cup40provides a second one of the pair of cups. While the small cup40is most typically smaller than the large cup20so that the reservoir of the small cup40does not hold as much as the large cup20, conceivably the small cup40could be the same size as the large cup20. The small cup20is preferably formed of a common material as that forming the large cup20and is manufactured utilizing similar techniques. The small cup40has a side wall extending up from the base50to the lip42with surfaces defined by an outside wall44and an inside wall46. These walls44,46taper as they extend from the base50up to the lip42. Preferably, this taper is a constant angle taper, but could vary in slope. The taper exhibited by the walls44,46preferably matches the taper of the outer wall24and inner wall26of the large cup20. If the taper of the cups20,40varies, preferably the taper of the small cup40matches a taper of the portion of the lower cup20closer to the lower end30. Examples of a non-constant taper might be a parabolic taper or a spherical form. Examples of a constant taper would be a frusto-conical form or a multi-sided pyramidal form.

The outside wall44of the small cup40preferably has a diameter at the lip42which matches the diameter of the outer wall24of the large cup20above the step28. The diameter of the inside wall46of the small cup40preferably matches a diameter of the outside wall24of the large cup20below the step28. A height of the small cup40from the base50to the lip42is preferably similar to a distance that the step28of the large cup20is located above the lower end30of the large cup20. Thus, when the small cup40is attached to the large cup20in the upright attachment with the cups20,40nested together (FIGS. 2,5and7), the lip42of the small cup40is adjacent the step28and the outside wall44of the small cup40is substantially continuous with the outer wall24of the large cup20. The outside wall44also has measurement lines in one embodiment, which encircle the small cup40parallel to and above the base50. For instance, a line midway between the base50and lip42can be labeled “one shot” and define a volume of 1.0 or 1.5 ounces, for a small cup holding about 2.0 to 3.0 ounces. The line or lines can be printed on the surface of the outside wall44(and/or inside wall46), or can be formed into the wall44,46such as in the form of a raised rib or groove. The line(s) can also be unlabeled or labeled with measurements, such as in ounces, milliliters or grams.

The base50of the small cup40defines a pedestal portion of the small cup40which can rest upon a surface. This base50also provides attachment structures for accomplishing both the upright attachment with the large cup20and the inverted attachment with the large cup20. The base50includes a shelf51defining a horizontal surface in a plane substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the reservoir of the small cup40. This shelf51extends radially inwardly from a skirt52which extends down (away from the lip) extending away from a perimeter of the base50. This skirt52has an inside surface53facing inward toward the centerline of the small cup40. The inside surface53of the skirt52has a diameter preferably matching a diameter of the outer surface33of the foot32. A depth of the skirt52down to the shelf51is preferably similar to a depth of the foot32down to the lower surface35. In this way, the foot32of the lower end30of the large cup20can press down against the inside surface53of the skirt52and against the shelf51to exhibit a friction fit, holding the base50of the small cup40to the lower end30of the large cup20when the small cup40has been inverted and the large cup20and small cup40have been brought together (FIGS. 3,6and8).

The base50includes a recess54within the reservoir of the small cup40which extends down into the base50. This recess54is preferably radially symmetrical and preferably annular in form with a constant width and a constant depth. The dimensions of this recess54are preferably similar to that of the foot32of the lower end30of the large cup20. The recess54is thus sized so that the foot32can exhibit a friction fit into the recess54. The recess54includes an outside55opposite an inside56which are both cylindrical in form and radially symmetrical about the centerline of the reservoir of the small cup40. A floor57defines a lower end of the recess54.

The floor57is sized so that it can be brought into contact with the lower surface35of the foot32with the outside55pressing against the outer surface33of the foot32and the inside56of the recess54pressing against the inner surface34of the foot32. These surfaces exhibit sufficient friction so that the entire small cup50can be securely held to the lower end30of the large cup20and with the lower end30of the large cup20located within the reservoir of the small cup40. The upright attachment is thus facilitated (FIGS. 1,2,4,5and7).

While the recess54is preferably fully annular with a constant width and constant depth, the recess54could be broken into discreet separate recesses spaced apart by gaps in a manner similar to the way that the foot32could be broken into separate feet, as described in detail above. Preferably the recess54remains complemental with any such feet in the lower end30of the large cup20so that the feet can exhibit a friction fit into the recess54. As an alternative, the foot32could be substituted with multiple separate feet but the recess54could still be a fully annular structure with the feet fitting into this full annular recess54. Furthermore, the recess54could 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 foot32and large cup20, so long as the position of any such feet in the large cup20can still fit into multiple ones of the recesses into which the recess54could conceivably be divided.

In use and operation, and with particular reference toFIGS. 1-4, the assembly10is usable in the following fashion. Initially, the large cup20and small cup40are provided either separate from each other (FIG. 1) or together (FIG. 2, or optionallyFIG. 3). The large cup20and small cup40can be utilized separately. For instance, one beverage can be provided in the large cup20while a different beverage is provided in the small cup40. As another alternative, the large cup20could hold a beverage while the small cup40holds some snack item (i.e. peanuts). When a user has consumed all of the beverage or items in the small cup40, the small cup40can merely be pressed onto the lower end30of the large cup20. The user thus has a hand freed up either for enjoying other food items, shaking hands, picking up other objects, etc.

If a user wishes to have a taller cup assembly, the user can invert the small cup40and press the base50of the small cup40against the lower end30of the large cup20to provide a taller cup assembly10(FIG. 3). A user could choose for decorative purposes to initially provide the assembly10with the small cup40attached to the large cup20in the inverted attachment to provide taller assemblies20. Should a user wish to carry a separate beverage or food item in the small cup40, the small cup40would be slid off of the large cup20, inverted to its upright orientation (FIG. 1) and then be available for containing other beverages or other items.

When solid food items are in the small cup40, the large cup20could be nested partially into the small cup40and the user's hand could have a grip on the small cup40so that both cups20,40can be full and carried in one hand. If the cups20,40nest with some open space remaining in the reservoir of the small cup40, such full stacking could occur with beverages as well.

With particular reference toFIGS. 9-18, details of an alternative assembly110are described according to a second embodiment of this invention. The alternate assembly110is similar to the assembly10(FIGS. 1-8) except as particularly identified herein. The alternate assembly110includes a large cup120with a lower end130and a small cup140with a base150. A fastener160is provided either separate from or in addition to the friction fit attachment exhibited by the assembly10(FIGS. 1-8). This fastener160includes posts162(FIGS. 15-17) extending inward from the small cup140, which are spaced slightly from the base150and within the reservoir of the small cup140. Slots164(FIGS. 9,11and12) are formed in the large cup120near the lower end130and outside of the reservoir of the large cup120.

The slots164preferably include a first leg166extending up from the lower end130and a second leg168extending radially away from a bend167between the first leg166and the second leg168. The slots164preferably have a width similar to a width of the posts162. A depth of the slots164is preferably similar to a height of the posts162. While at least one post162is provided and at least one slot164is provided, preferably three posts162and three slots164are provided each radially spaced similar distances from each other. Other numbers of posts162and slots164could also be provided. When the small cup140is nested upon the lower end130of the large cup120in the upright attachment, the posts162of the fastener160slide into the first legs166of the slots164of the fastener (along arrow B ofFIGS. 9,12,15and18). The small cup140is then rotated to cause the posts164to navigate through the bend167and into the second leg168(along arrow C ofFIGS. 9,12,15and18). The fastener160is thus effective in attaching the small cup140to the large cup120when utilizing the upright attachment.

Other details of the small cup140and large cup120preferably match those of the cups20,40of the assembly10(FIGS. 1-8). For instance, structures on the lower end130and base150are preferably similar to the extent needed to facilitate a friction fit when utilizing the inverted attachment (FIGS. 11,16and17). Movement of the large cup20and small cup140(along arrow A ofFIGS. 11,16and17) can facilitate such inverted attachment. This inverted attachment motion along arrow A is similar as the motion required to facilitate inverted attachment with the cups20,40of the assembly10(FIGS. 1-8).

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.