DISPOSABLE HOLDER FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINER

There is provided a disposable beverage container holder. A disposable beverage container holder formed by cutting and welding a synthetic resin film folded in half, including: a beverage container receiving portion formed in a cylindrical shape by joining the synthetic resin film by welding; and a handle portion including the folded part and formed continuously from one of two opposing positions on an upper end of the cylindrical receiving portion to the other, wherein the synthetic resin film is cut so that an upper edge of the receiving portion forms an obtuse angle at an upper end of the joint part.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in more detail.

A disposable beverage container holder according to the present invention is a beverage container holder formed by cutting and welding a synthetic resin film folded in half, characterized by comprising: a beverage container receiving portion formed in a cylindrical shape by joining the synthetic resin film by welding; and a handle portion including the folded part and formed continuously from one of two opposing positions on an upper end of the cylindrical receiving portion to the other, wherein the synthetic resin film is cut so that an upper edge of the receiving portion forms an obtuse angle at an upper end of the joint part.

An example of the synthetic resin film that can be used in the present invention is a polyolefin film. Examples of polyolefin include polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, polystyrene, blends of two or more of these polyolefins, etc., and high-density polyethylene is preferred.

An example of the synthetic resin film folded in half is a film produced by cutting a cylindrical film formed by inflation molding in the longitudinal direction thereof.

The thickness of the synthetic resin film is, e.g., in the range of 10 to 50 μm, and preferably in the range of 20 to 40 μm.

The diameter of the cylinder formed by the beverage container receiving portion is set to a value between minimum and maximum outer diameters of a beverage container such as a beverage cup to be held by the receiving portion.

For example, when cups of several sizes (outer diameters) are used, it is preferable to prepare beverage container holders corresponding to each cup size.

The handle portion preferably has a length suitable for carrying the beverage container holder by holding the handle portion with a hand or by hanging the handle portion over the hand. For example, the handle portion has a length of 10 to 30 cm, and preferably 13 to 22 cm.

The handle portion preferably has a width of about 3 to 7 cm.

The boundary region between the handle portion and the beverage container receiving portion is preferably formed by making a curved cut so that the width of the handle portion gradually decreases from the beverage container receiving portion toward the handle portion.

For example, the beverage container holder of the present invention has a shape shown inFIG. 2.

That is, the beverage container holder1of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a beverage container receiving portion3formed in a cylindrical shape by joining a synthetic resin film by welding; and a handle portion4including the folded part and formed continuously from one of two opposing positions on an upper end of the cylindrical receiving portion to the other, wherein the synthetic resin film is cut so that an upper edge of the receiving portion forms an obtuse angle at an upper end of the joint part.

FIG. 1shows a form of the disposable beverage container holder of the present invention when in use.

The disposable beverage container holder1can easily and safely hold a beverage container2by a simple operation of placing the beverage container2such as a beverage cup in the cylinder formed by the beverage container receiving portion3of the disposable beverage container holder1. When taking a beverage out, the disposable beverage container holder1also allows the user to safely carry the beverage without spilling it by holding the handle portion4with his/her hand or by hanging the handle portion4over his/her hand.

The beverage container holder1of the present invention uses a synthetic resin film folded in half, and the folded part serves as the handle portion4of the holder. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, there is thus no joint in the handle portion4. This ensures that the handle portion4does not tear like a handle portion joined by welding, thereby providing high strength. As shown inFIG. 1, the beverage container receiving portion3is formed so that its upper edge forms an obtuse angle α with a vertex at the upper end of the joint part5. This can avoid concentration of load stress on the upper end of the joint part5and can disperse the stress extensively in the upper end of the beverage container receiving portion3. This makes the beverage container receiving portion3less likely to tear from the joint part5, and thus significantly improves the overall strength of the beverage container receiving portion3.

The upper end of the joint part5may have any shape such as, e.g., a shape of a vertex of a triangle as shown inFIG. 1(a), a gently curved shape as shown inFIG. 1(b), or a shape of a flat vertex as shown inFIG. 1(c).

The obtuse angle is, e.g., larger than 90 degrees and smaller than 180 degrees, and preferably 95 degrees to 170 degrees, and more preferably 100 degrees to 160 degrees.

The disposable beverage container holder of the present invention is preferably a beverage container holder in which the beverage container receiving portion is further provided with a welded part so that the cylindrical portion of the beverage container receiving portion has a tapered inner diameter that gradually decreases toward a lower edge of the receiving portion.

In one mode of the welded part, the welded part is formed by a plurality of stages of welded parts, which are provided at intervals and extend substantially horizontally, and the plurality of stages of welded parts are formed so that the welded parts in each stage are located closer to the centerline of the cylindrical portion from the upper edge toward the lower edge of the beverage container receiving portion.

The beverage container holder in this mode will be described with reference toFIGS. 3(A),3(B), and3(C).

In the beverage container holder in this mode, the beverage container receiving portion3is provided with a plurality of stages of welded parts5a(FIG.3(A)),5b(FIG.3(B)), or5c(FIG.3(C)), which are provided at intervals and extend substantially horizontally, so that the cylindrical portion of the beverage container receiving portion3has a tapered inner diameter that gradually decreases toward the lower edge of the receiving portion. The plurality of stages of welded parts are formed so that the welded parts in each stage are located closer to the centerline of the cylindrical portion from the upper edge toward the lower edge of the beverage container receiving portion. For example, as shown inFIG. 3(A), the welded part may be a plurality of stages of welded parts5aconnected to the joint part5and having a length increased toward the lowermost stage. As shown inFIG. 3(B), the welded part may be a plurality of stages of welded parts5bformed so as to be slightly separated from the joint part5and having a length increased toward the lowermost stage. As shown inFIG. 3(C), the welded part may be a plurality of stages of welded parts5chaving the same length and formed so that the distance from the joint part5to the welded part5cgradually increases toward the lowermost stage.

Regarding the number of welded parts in each of the plurality of stages of welded parts5a,5b, or5c,2to7welded parts, and preferably 3 to 6 welded parts are formed on respective sides of the beverage container receiving portion.

The degree of the taper of the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion is preferably set according to the outer diameter of a beverage container to be used and the degree to which the outer diameter of the beverage container varies.

In this mode, the beverage container receiving portion is tapered by forming the plurality of parallel welded parts5a,5b, or5c. This eliminates the need to cut off a part of the resin film in order to taper the beverage container receiving portion. This mode is therefore advantageous in that such a part of the resin film that is to be discarded is not produced.

In another preferred mode of the welded part of the beverage container receiving portion formed so that the cylindrical portion has a tapered inner diameter that gradually decreases toward the lower edge of the receiving portion, the welded part is formed in a substantially linear shape starting from the upper end of the joint part and extending toward the centerline of the cylindrical portion of the beverage container receiving portion from the upper edge to the lower edge of the beverage container receiving portion.

The beverage container holder in this mode will be described with reference toFIG. 4.

In the beverage container holder1in this mode, welded parts5dare formed in the beverage container receiving portion3so as to have a substantially linear shape starting from the upper end of the joint part5and extending toward the centerline of the cylindrical portion of the beverage container receiving portion3from the upper edge to the lower edge of the beverage container receiving portion3so that the cylindrical portion has a tapered inner diameter that gradually decreases toward the lower edge of the receiving portion.

The degree of the taper of the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion, e.g., the angle between the substantially straight line formed by the welded part5dextending toward the centerline of the cylindrical portion of the beverage container receiving portion3and the joint part5, is preferably set according to the outer diameter of a beverage container to be used and the degree to which the outer diameter of the beverage container varies.

In this mode, the beverage container receiving portion is tapered by forming the welded parts5d. This eliminates the need to cut off a part of the resin film in order to taper the beverage container receiving portion. This mode is therefore is advantageous in that such a part of the resin film that is to be discarded is not generated.

In the mode in which the welded parts5dare formed so that the cylindrical portion of the beverage container holder has a tapered inner diameter that gradually decreases toward the lower edge of the receiving portion, a mode can be employed in which each portion surrounded by the substantially linear part formed by the welded part5d, the joint part5, and the lower edge of the beverage container receiving portion is removed. Namely, a mode can be employed in which the beverage container receiving portion has the joint part formed so that the cylindrical portion of the beverage container receiving portion has a tapered inner diameter that gradually decreases toward the lower edge of the receiving portion.

As shown inFIG. 5, in the beverage container holder1in this mode, the beverage container receiving portion3has substantially linear welded parts5dformed so that the cylindrical portion of the beverage container receiving portion3has a tapered inner diameter that gradually decreases toward the lower edge of the receiving portion.

The present invention also relates to a beverage container holder in a form before use, comprising: the beverage container holder; a holder base extended from the lower edge of the beverage container receiving portion; and separation means for allowing the beverage container holder to be separated from the holder base by pulling.

The separation means is not particularly limited as long as it is separation means for allowing the beverage container holder to be separated. Preferably, the separation means is discontinuous cuts, a groove, etc. An example of the discontinuous cuts is perforations etc., and an example of the groove is a cut groove etc. The holder base may have a hole that allows a plurality of the beverage container holders in the form before use to be bundled together.

A mode of the beverage container holder in the form before use will be described with reference toFIG. 6.

FIG. 6(A)shows a mode in which the separation means is the discontinuous cuts (perforations), andFIG. 6(B)shows a mode in which the separation means is the groove (cut groove).

In a beverage container holder6in a form before use shown inFIG. 6(A), the beverage container holder including the beverage container receiving portion3and the handle portion4is connected to a holder base8having holes9via perforations7as the discontinuous cuts. In a beverage container holder6in a form before use shown inFIG. 6(B), the beverage container holder including the beverage container receiving portion3and the handle portion4is connected to the holder base8having the holes9via a cut groove7bas the groove.

The beverage container holder in the form before use is convenient because the beverage container holder can be provided when necessary by separating it from the holder base by pulling.

The present invention further relates to a beverage container holder product, comprising: a holder bundle formed by stacking a multiplicity of the beverage container holders in the form before use; and a retaining member that fastens and retains the holder bundle so that the holder bundle can be hung.

As described above, the base of the beverage container holder in the form before use has the hole. The holder bundle can therefore be fastened by inserting a rod or a string through the hole of each holder.

The retaining member used herein is formed by a fastener that is inserted through the hole formed in the base of the beverage container holder in the form before use, a cover that serves to assist in fastening the holder bundle, and a hanger that allows the holder bundle to be hung on a hook etc. when in use.

The fastener is in the form of a rod or a string, and is made of metal, wood, synthetic resin, etc. For reusability, the fastener is preferably made of synthetic resin, especially the same synthetic resin as that of the beverage container holder in the form before use.

The cover is formed to cover a part of the holder bundle, and the cover may be formed integrally with the hanger. For reusability, the cover and the hanger are also preferably made of the same synthetic resin as that of the beverage container holder in the form before use.

A mode of the beverage container holder product of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 7.

FIG. 7(A)shows a mode in which the separation means is the discontinuous cuts (perforations), andFIG. 7(B)shows a mode in which the separation means is the groove (cut groove).

A beverage container holder product10shown inFIG. 7(A)includes: a holder bundle formed by stacking, by fastening and retaining via the holes9, a multiplicity of the beverage container holders in the form before use, in each of which the beverage container holder including the beverage container receiving portion3and the handle portion4is connected to the holder base having the holes9via the perforations7as the discontinuous cuts; and a retaining member that fastens and retains the holder bundle so that the holder bundle can be hung. The retaining member is formed by a cover11that covers a part of the holder bundle, a hanger portion11aformed integrally with the cover11, and fasteners12.

A beverage container holder product10shown inFIG. 7(B)includes: a holder bundle formed by stacking, by fastening and retaining via the holes9, a multiplicity of the beverage container holders in the form before use, in each of which the beverage container holder including the beverage container receiving portion3and the handle portion4is connected to the holder base having the holes9via the cut groove7bas the groove; and a retaining member that fastens and retains the holder bundle so that the holder bundle can be hung. The retaining member is formed by a cover11that covers a part of the holder bundle, a hanger portion11aformed integrally with the cover11, and fasteners12.

By merely hanging the beverage container holder product of the present invention on any convenient place by using the retaining member, a necessary number of beverage container holders can be easily provided when necessary by separating them from the holder bases by pulling. The beverage container holder product of the present invention therefore achieves high efficiency and high workability.

Another mode of the beverage container holder product of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 11.

A beverage container holder product10shown inFIG. 11is formed by a holder bundle formed by stacking a multiplicity of the beverage container holders6in the form before use, and a retaining member26. The retaining member26is formed by a holder cover27, a hanger28, and fasteners29(seeFIG. 11(a)).

The holder cover27is shaped to cover a part of the holder bundle of the multiplicity of beverage container holders6in the form before use, and is formed by a front surface27a, a spine portion27b, and a rear surface27c. Each of the front surface27aand the rear surface27cof the holder cover27has two holes corresponding to the holes9of the beverage container holders6in the form before use (27dto27g).

The hanger28has holes (28a,28b) and a hanging portion28cthat allows the holder bundle to be hung, and the two fasteners29are provided so as to be inserted through the holes of the hanger28.

The holder bundle of the multiplicity of beverage container holders6in the form before use, and the holder cover27are unified by the hanger28and the two fasteners29via the holes27dto27gof the holder cover and the holes9of the beverage container holders6in the form before use.

By merely hanging the beverage container holder product in this mode on any convenient place by using the hanging portion of the holder hanger, a necessary number of beverage container holders can be easily provided when necessary by separating them from the holder bases by pulling. The beverage container holder product in this mode therefore achieves high efficiency and high workability.

A method for manufacturing the beverage container holder in the form before use will be described below.

By way of example, the beverage container holder in the form before use, for example, the beverage container holder shown inFIG. 2, can be manufactured according to a method shown inFIG. 8.

As shown inFIG. 8, a continuous cylindrical synthetic resin film13fed in a folded state from a forming machine is heat-welded by heat sealing along thick lines14extending at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the film. The separation means for allowing the beverage container holder to be separated, namely the discontinuous cuts (e.g., perforations) or the groove (e.g., a cut groove), and as necessary, holes16and/or a plurality of parallel welded parts (corresponding to5a,5b, or5cinFIG. 3) or welded parts (corresponding to5dinFIG. 4) as straight lines extending toward the centerline of each cylindrical portion, which are used to taper each beverage container receiving portion, are formed along lines15in the longitudinal direction of the film. Lastly, the synthetic resin film13is cut with a cutter along the heat-welding lines14and cut lines17,18, and as necessary, a part of each beverage container receiving portion (each triangular portion interposed between the welded part5dand the joint part5shown inFIG. 4) is cut away. A plurality of beverage container holders in the form before use can be thus manufactured at a time.

As can be seen from the figure, the synthetic resin film13is cut along the cut lines17so as to form protrusions in each contact portion between the holders so that the upper edge of each beverage container receiving portion forms an obtuse angle.

This manufacturing method is advantageous because the beverage container holders in the form before use can be efficiently manufactured by a very simple process. This manufacturing method is also economically and environmentally advantageous because only a small amount of the cylindrical synthetic resin film13is discarded, and most of the cylindrical synthetic resin film13is used for manufacturing.

The beverage container holder shown inFIG. 5can be manufactured according to, e.g., a process diagram shown inFIG. 9.

As shown inFIG. 9, a continuous cylindrical synthetic resin film13fed in a folded state from a forming machine (FIG. 9a) is heat-welded and cut along melt cut lines19,20(FIG. 9b) to form a basic holder pattern21. Separation means22for allowing the beverage container holder to be separated, namely the discontinuous cuts (e.g., perforations) or the groove (e.g., a cut groove), and holes23are formed along lines in the longitudinal direction of the film (FIG. 9c).

Then, the synthetic resin film13is cut with a cutter along cut lines24(FIG. 9d) to remove unnecessary portions25. The beverage container holders in the form before use can thus be manufactured (FIG. 9e).

As shown in the process diagram shown inFIG. 9(seeFIGS. 9bto9c), the basic holder pattern21in this example is a combination of two beverage container holders in the form before use, which are inverted with respect to each other. Two holders are thus manufactured at a time.

According to this manufacturing method, not only the beverage container holder of the present invention can be efficiently manufactured by a very simple process, but also only a very small amount of the cylindrical synthetic resin film13is discarded, and most of the cylindrical synthetic resin film13is used for manufacturing. This manufacturing method is therefore advantageous environmentally as well as economically.

EXAMPLES

First Example

Manufacturing of Beverage Container Holder in the Form Before Use (Separation Means: Perforations)

A method for manufacturing the beverage container holder in the form before use shown inFIG. 5will be described with reference to the process diagram ofFIG. 9.

A cylindrical film13made of high density polyethylene and having a thickness of 30 μm (FIG. 9(a)) was heat-welded and cut along melt cut lines19,20to form a basic holder pattern portion21. Perforations22(6 mm-long cut portions and 1.5 mm-long non-cut portions) were formed in the basic holder pattern portion21with a perforation cutter, and holes23were formed (seeFIGS. 9(b) and9(c)).

Subsequently, the basic holder pattern21was cut along cut lines24to remove removal portions25. Beverage container holders6in the form before use were thus manufactured.

As shown in, e.g.,FIG. 10, the beverage container holder6in the form before use thus obtained had the following size.

The width3aon the handle portion side of the beverage container receiving portion3: 12 cm, the length3bof the beverage container receiving portion3: 8 cm, and the width3con the holder base side of the beverage container receiving portion3: 10.2 cm;

The width8aof the holder base: 10.2 cm, and the length8bof the holder base: 1.5 cm; and

The diameter9aof the hole9: 5.5 mm, the length9bfrom the end of the holder base to the center of the hole9: 7 mm; and the distance9cfrom the center of the hole9to the centerline X-X′ in the longitudinal direction of the holder1: 4 cm.

The vertex of the joint part5of the holder1had such a gently curved shape as shown inFIG. 1(b), and the angle α was 160 degrees.

Second Example

A method for manufacturing a beverage container holder product (separation means: perforations) will be described with reference toFIG. 11.

200 of the beverage container holders6in the form before use manufactured in the first example were stacked to form a holder bundle. In this example, a retaining member26was formed by a holder cover27, a hanger28, and fasteners29.

A plate of high-density polyethylene having a thickness of 1 mm was used as the holder cover27for the beverage container holder product10. The holder cover27was formed to have a front surface27acovering 90% or more of the beverage container receiving portion3of the beverage container holder1and having holes27d,27e(hole diameter: 5 mm, located 7.5 mm away from the upper end, and distance between the holes: 9 cm) at positions corresponding to the holes9of the holder, a spine portion27bformed continuously with the front surface27a, and a rear surface27cformed continuously with the spine portion27band having holes27f,27g(hole diameter: 5 mm, located 7.5 mm away from the upper end, and distance between the holes: 9 cm) at positions corresponding to the holes9of the holder. The boundary between the front surface27aand the spine portion27band the boundary between the spine portion27band the rear surface27cwere processed so that the plate could be easily folded.

Both the hanger28and the fasteners29were made of high-density polyethylene.

Holes28a,28bwere formed in the hanger28at positions corresponding to the two holes9formed in the holder base8of the beverage container holder6in the form before use, and a hanging portion28cthat allows the holder bundle to be hung on a hook etc. when in use.

Each fastener29had a rod shape with a diameter of 5 mm. One tip end of the fastener29was processed to serve as a stopper when the fastener29was inserted in the hole of the hanger28, and the other tip end thereof was processed to serve as a stopper against the hole of the beverage container holder6in the form before use. That is, the one tip end of each fastener29was processed so as not to allow the fasteners29to easily come off once inserted into the holes of the hanger28, and the holes28a,28bof the hanger28and the other tip end of each fastener29were processed so as not to allow the beverage container holders6in the form before to come off from the fasteners29when the fasteners29were inserted through the beverage container holders6via the holes9thereof.

The holes28a,28bin the hanger28, the holes27d,27ein the front surface27aof the holder cover27, the holes9formed in the holder base8of the beverage container holders6in the form before use, and the holes27f,27gin the rear surface27cof the holder cover27were aligned, and the fasteners29were inserted therethrough from the rear surface27cside of the holder cover27. The beverage container holder product was thus manufactured.

Third Example

Disposable Beverage Container Holder

One of the holders bundled in the beverage container holder product (separation means: perforations) manufactured in the second example was separated along the perforations by pulling to obtain a disposable beverage container holder.

In the disposable beverage container holder thus obtained, a beverage container, which was a coffee cup with a lid, was able to be easily placed and held in the cylindrical beverage container receiving portion of the holder. The disposable beverage container holder holding the beverage container was convenient to hold with a hand or to hang over the hand, and no coffee spilled from the cup. The handle portion and the beverage container receiving portion had enough strength.

Fourth Example

Manufacturing of Beverage Container Holder in Form Before Use (Separation Means: Perforations)

Manufacturing of a beverage container holder in the form before use will be described according to the manufacturing method shown inFIG. 8.

A cylindrical film13made of high-density polyethylene and having a thickness of 30 μM (width when folded in half: 51 cm) was heat-welded in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical film13along its entire width at intervals of 12 cm by using a 2 mm-wide flat heat sealer, thereby forming heat-welding lines14. Two lines of perforations15(having 6 mm-long cut portions and 1.5 mm-long non-cut portions) were formed with a perforation cutter at positions that were located on both sides of the centerline dividing the cylindrical film13into two in the longitudinal direction and located 1.5 cm away from the centerline. Four holes16with a diameter of 5 mm were formed in each quadrilateral surrounded by the two lines of perforations and the two heat-welding lines, such that the holes in each quadrilateral were separated from each other by 9 cm in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical film and by 1.5 cm in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Subsequently, in order to form handle portions, the cylindrical film13was cut with a width of 7 cm and a height of 17.5 cm along each cut line17with a cutter so as to form a gentle curve in each boundary region between the handle portion and the beverage container receiving portion and a protrusion (height: 3 mm, angle: 130 degrees) in each contact portion between the holders. The resultant cylindrical film13was cut with the cutter along both the centerline18dividing the cylindrical film13into two in the longitudinal direction and each heat-welding lines14(the middle of the line). Beverage container holders in the form before use were thus manufactured.

Fifth Example

Manufacturing of Beverage Container Holder in Form Before Use (Separation Means: Cut Groove)

Manufacturing of a beverage container holder in the form before use will be described according to the manufacturing method shown inFIG. 8.

A cylindrical film13made of high-density polyethylene and having a thickness of 30 μm (width when folded in half: 51 cm) was heat-welded in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical film13along its entire width at intervals of 12 cm by using a 2 mm-wide flat heat sealer, thereby forming heat-welding lines14. Cut grooves15(two cut grooves) were formed at positions that were located on respective sides of the centerline dividing the cylindrical film13into two in the longitudinal direction and located 1.5 cm away from the centerline. Four holes16with a diameter of 5 mm were formed in each quadrilateral surrounded by the two cut grooves and the two heat-welding lines, such that the holes in each quadrilateral were separated from each other by 9 cm in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical film and by 1.5 cm in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Subsequently, in order to form handle portions, the cylindrical film13was cut with a width of 7 cm and a height of 17.5 cm along each cut line17with a cutter so as to form a gentle curve in each boundary region between the handle portion and the beverage container receiving portion and a protrusion (height: 3 mm, angle: 130 degrees) in each contact portion between the holders. The resultant cylindrical film13was cut with the cutter along both the centerline18dividing the cylindrical film13into two in the longitudinal direction and each heat-welding line14(the middle of the line). Beverage container holders in the form before use were thus manufactured.

Sixth Example

Manufacturing of Beverage Container Holder in Form Before Use (Separation Means: Perforations and Tapering)

A beverage container holder in the form before use having a tapered beverage container receiving portion was manufactured by performing the operation similar to the fourth example except that welded parts corresponding to the plurality of parallel welded parts5ainFIG. 3were formed with a 2 mm-wide flat heat sealer after forming the holes16.

Seventh Example

Manufacturing of Beverage Container Holder in Form Before Use (Separation Means: Perforations and Tapering)

A beverage container holder in the form before use having a tapered beverage container receiving portion was manufactured by performing the operation similar to the fourth example except that welded parts corresponding to the welded parts5dinFIG. 4were formed with a 2 mm-wide flat heat sealer after forming the holes16.

The distance between the substantially linear shape formed by the welded part5dand the straight line formed by the joint part5was set to be 5 mm at the lower edge of the beverage container receiving portion.

Eighth Example

Manufacturing of Beverage Container Holder in Form Before Use (Separation Means: Perforations and Tapering)

A beverage container holder in the form before use, which was intended to produce the beverage container holder shown inFIG. 5, was manufactured by performing the operation similar to the seventh example except that each portion surrounded by the substantially linear shape formed by the welded part5dshown inFIG. 4, the joint part5, and the lower edge of the beverage container receiving portion was removed.

Ninth Example

Manufacturing of Beverage Container Holder Product (Separation Means: Perforations)

Manufacturing of a beverage container holder product (separation means: perforations) will be described with reference toFIG. 7(A).

A cover as shown by “11” inFIG. 7(A)was prepared. Namely, a cover was prepared which was formed by a high-density polyethylene plate having a thickness of 1 mm, which had a front surface covering 90% or more of the beverage container receiving portion of the holder and had holes (hole diameter: 5 mm, located 7.5 mm away from the upper end, and distance between the holes: 9 cm) at positions corresponding to the holes9of the holder, and a part of which formed a hanger portion11aallowing a holder bundle to be hung.

100 of the beverage container holders in the form before use (separation means: perforations) manufactured in the fourth example were stacked and placed in the prepared cover. The holes9in the holders were aligned with the holes in the cover, and high-density polyethylene rods (two rods) with a diameter of 5 mm were inserted therethrough as the fasteners12. Both ends of each rod were melted by heat to fix each rod so that it wouldn't come off. The beverage container holder product was thus manufactured.

Tenth Example

Manufacturing of Beverage Container Holder Product (Separation Means: Cut Groove)

Manufacturing of a beverage container holder product (separation means: cut groove) will be described with reference toFIG. 7(B).

A cover as shown by “11” inFIG. 7(B)was prepared. Namely, a cover was prepared which was formed by a high-density polyethylene plate having a thickness of 1 mm, which had a front surface covering 90% or more of the beverage container receiving portion of the holder and had holes (hole diameter: 5 mm, located 7.5 mm away from the upper end, and distance between the holes: 9 cm) at positions corresponding to the holes9of the holder, and a part of which formed a hanger portion11aallowing a holder bundle to be hung.

100 of the beverage container holders in the form before use (separation means: cut groove) manufactured in the fifth example were stacked and placed in the prepared cover. The holes9in the holders were aligned with the holes in the cover, and high-density polyethylene rods (two rods) with a diameter of 5 mm were inserted therethrough as the fasteners12. Both ends of each rod were melted by heat to fix each rod so that it wouldn't come off. The beverage container holder product was thus manufactured.

Eleventh Example

Manufacturing of Beverage Container Holder Product (Separation Means: Perforations and Tapering)

A beverage container holder product (separation means: perforations and tapering) was manufactured by performing the operation similar to the ninth example except that the beverage container holders in the form before use (separation means: perforations and tapering) manufactured in the sixth example were used instead of the beverage container holders in the form before use (separation means: perforations) manufactured in the fourth example.

Twelfth Example

Manufacturing of Beverage Container Holder Product (Separation Means: Perforations and Tapering)

A beverage container holder product (separation means: perforations and tapering) was manufactured by performing the operation similar to the ninth example except that the beverage container holders in the form before use (separation means: perforations and tapering) manufactured in the seventh example were used instead of the beverage container holders in the form before use (separation means: perforations) manufactured in the fourth example.

Thirteenth Example

Manufacturing of Beverage Container Holder Product (Separation Means: Perforations and Tapering)

A beverage container holder product (separation means: perforations and tapering) was manufactured by performing the operation similar to the ninth example except that the beverage container holders in the form before use (separation means: perforations and tapering) manufactured in the eighth example were used instead of the beverage container holders in the form before use (separation means: perforations) manufactured in the fourth example.

Fourteenth Example

Disposable Beverage Container Holder

One of the holders bundled in the beverage container holder product (separation means: perforations) manufactured in the ninth example was separated along the perforations by pulling to obtain a disposable beverage container holder.

In the disposable beverage container holder thus obtained, a beverage container, which was a coffee cup with a lid, was able to be easily placed and held in the cylindrical beverage container receiving portion of the holder. The disposable beverage container holder holding the beverage container was convenient to hold with a hand or to hang over the hand, and no coffee spilled from the cup. The handle portion and the beverage container receiving portion had enough strength.

Fifteenth Example

Disposable Beverage Container Holder

One of the holders bundled in the beverage container holder product (separation means: cut groove) manufactured in the tenth example was separated along the cut groove by pulling to obtain a disposable beverage container holder.

In the disposable beverage container holder thus obtained, a beverage container, which was a coffee cup with a lid, was able to be easily placed and held in the cylindrical beverage container receiving portion of the holder. The disposable beverage container holder holding the beverage container was convenient to hold with a hand or to hang over the hand, and no coffee spilled from the cup. The handle portion and the beverage container receiving portion had enough strength.

Sixteenth Example

Disposable Beverage Container Holder

One of the holders bundled in the beverage container holder product (separation means: perforations and tapering) manufactured in the eleventh example was separated along the perforations by pulling to obtain a disposable beverage container holder.

In the disposable beverage container holder thus obtained, a beverage container, which was a coffee cup with a lid, was able to be easily placed and held in the cylindrical beverage container receiving portion of the holder. The disposable beverage container holder holding the beverage container was convenient to hold with a hand or to hang over the hand, and no coffee spilled from the cup. The handle portion and the beverage container receiving portion had enough strength.

Seventeenth Example

Disposable Beverage Container Holder

One of the holders bundled in the beverage container holder product (separation means: perforations and tapering) manufactured in the twelfth example was separated along the perforations by pulling to obtain a disposable beverage container holder.

In the disposable beverage container holder thus obtained, a beverage container, which was a coffee cup with a lid, was able to be easily placed and held in the cylindrical beverage container receiving portion of the holder. The disposable beverage container holder holding the beverage container was convenient to hold with a hand or to hang over the hand, and no coffee spilled from the cup. The handle portion and the beverage container receiving portion had enough strength.

Eighteenth Example

Disposable Beverage Container Holder

One of the holders bundled in the beverage container holder product (separation means: perforations and tapering) manufactured in the thirteenth example was separated along the perforations by pulling to obtain a disposable beverage container holder.

In the disposable beverage container holder thus obtained, a beverage container, which was a coffee cup with a lid, was able to be easily placed and held in the cylindrical beverage container receiving portion of the holder. The disposable beverage container holder holding the beverage container was convenient to hold with a hand or to hang over the hand, and no coffee spilled from the cup. The handle portion and the beverage container receiving portion had enough strength.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

1: Disposable Beverage Container Holder1a: Length of Holder12: Beverage Container3: Beverage Container Receiving Portion3a: Width on Handle Portion Side of Beverage Container Receiving Portion3b: Length on Handle Portion Side of Beverage Container Receiving Portion3c: Width on Holder Base Side of Beverage Container Receiving Portion4: Handle Portion4a: Width of Handle Portion5: Joint Part5a: Heat-Welded Part5b: Heat-Welded Part5c: Heat-Welded Part5d: Heat-Welded Partα: Obtuse Angle6: Beverage Container Holder in Form before Use7: Discontinuous Cuts (Perforations)7b: Groove (Cut Groove)8: Holder Base8a: Width of Holder Base8g: Length of Holder Base9: Hole9a: Diameter of Hole9b: Length from End of Holder Base to Center of Hole99c: Distance from Center of Hole9to Centerline X-X′ in Longitudinal Direction of Holder1X-X′: Centerline in Longitudinal Direction of Holder110: Beverage Container Holder Product11: Cover11a: Hanger Portion12: Fastener13: Cylindrical Synthetic Resin Film14: Heat-Welding Line15: Separation Means16: Hole17: Cut Line (Forms Handle Portion)18: Cut Line (Centerline)19: Melt Cut Line20: Melt Cut Line21: Basic Holder Pattern22: Separation Means23: Hole24: Cut Line25: Unnecessary Portion26: Retaining Member27: Holder Cover27a: Front Surface27b: Spine Portion27c: Rear Surface27dto27g: Hole28: Hanger28a,28b: Hole28c: Hanging Portion29: Fastener