Non-spill steady cup holder

A non-spill steady cup holder (10) for beverage containers (12) comprises a panel (14) sized to snugly fit horizontally against an interior surface (16) of a paper bag (18). A facility (20) in the panel (14) is for holding a beverage container (12). When the panel (14) is placed within the paper bag (18), the beverage container (12) will be stabilized, allowing the paper bag (18) to be carried, to prevent the beverage from spilling out of the beverage container (12), wetting the paper bag (18) and losing the beverage from the beverage container (12). In other embodiments, a second beverage container (12) can be held in the panel (14), so that two beverage containers (12) can be carried in a side by side relationship within the paper bag (18). In still other embodiments, solid food can be held in the panel (14), so that a beverage container (12) and the solid food can be carried in a side by side relationship within the paper bag (18).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The instant invention relates generally to carry-out trays and more 
specifically it relates to a non-spill steady cup holder for beverage 
containers placed inside a paper bag. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Numerous carry-out trays have been provided in prior art. For example, U.S. 
Pat. Nos. 2,640,589 to Foster et al.; 4,757,937 to Maio et al; 4,823,959 
to Bixler and 5,205,474 to Stuart et al. all are illustrative of such 
prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to 
which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the 
present invention as heretofore described. 
FOSTER, THOMAS W. 
SCHECK, LEONARD E. 
BRADLEY, CARL L. 
DRIVEN-IN THEATER SERVICE TRAY 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,640,589 
An open-ended collapsible tubular tray composed of and from a single, 
integral and rectangular piece of fibrous sheet material such as 
paperboard so cut and scored that when folded it will provide 
substantially opposed, coextensive and spaced side walls. A bottom wall 
extends between the side walls and substantially from end to end of each 
side wall. A pair of top wall panels extend from side wall to side wall 
above and in spaced relation to the bottom wall. The top wall panels have 
adjacent edge portions spaced from one another to expose an area of the 
bottom wall thereby to provide a well between the tray ends. A well side 
panel depends from one of the adjacent edges of one of the top wall panels 
into contact with the upper surface of the bottom wall adjacent to the 
exposed area. A means is on the well side panel for effecting connection 
with the bottom wall. A pair of flaps have rounded sides struck from each 
of the top wall panels to provide portions of rounded article-receiving 
openings. A series of separate hinged sectors struck out from each top 
wall panel cooperates with the rounded flaps to complete the rounded 
article receiving openings. Each flap is hingedly connected to its 
respective top wall panel adjacent an end of the tray. A pair of 
tab-receiving slits are in the bottom wall, one adjacent each end thereof, 
and located directly beneath the hinge lines of the respective opening 
forming flaps. Each such flap has a locking tab portion at the end thereof 
projecting through the corresponding bottom wall slit and is frictionally 
engaged with the bottom wall at the ends of such slit. 
MAIO, PATRICK S. 
MURPHY, JOSEPH K. 
EASY SET-UP TRAY 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,937 
An easy set-up tray wherein in addition to the usual well defined by a tray 
for receiving food products, there is a top panel for receiving other 
products, including containers for drinks and the like. Each tray is of a 
one-piece construction and is provided in a substantially flat 
knocked-down state. When it is desired to erect or set-up the tray, side 
panels thereof are grasped and pulled apart with the result that the tray 
automatically erects and is locked in its erected or set-up position. The 
top panel is connected to the side panels by reversely foldable connecting 
panels so as to provide for a rigid structure. 
BIXLER, KENNETH D. 
CARRIER FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,959 
A carrier for beverage containers is provided which includes a plurality of 
container-accommodating sections arranged in laterally spaced relation. 
Each section includes a continuous peripheral rib which delimits an 
opening to receive a container. The rib comprises an outer flange and an 
inner flange which are interconnected along corresponding upper edges. The 
flanges depend divergently from the interconnected upper edges. Each rib 
is provided with a plurality of relatively spaced shoulders extruding into 
the rib inner flange and forming same into a plurality of flange segments 
arranged in an endwise circumferentially spaced relation. Each shoulder 
includes a top portion extending inwardly from the interconnected flange 
upper edges. Depending from the top portion are opposed side portions, the 
latter interconnecting the top portion with corresponding ends of adjacent 
flange segments. A plurality of rib extensions are provided; each of which 
interconnects portions of the rib outer flanges of adjacent 
container-accommodating sections and coacts therewith to form a continuous 
peripheral rim which encompasses all of the container-accommodating 
sections. 
STUART, AUREL E. 
TAYLOR, WILLIAM 
EASY SET-UP CARTON AND METHOD 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,474 
A blank and carry-out tray for carrying a variety of food products are 
provided. The tray is capable of transformation from a storage condition 
of a substantially flat configuration to an erect and upright useable 
condition by manipulation of a plurality of foldably connected portions 
that move similarly to a parallel linkage arrangement and which are 
provided with a locking mechanism that automatically lock the tray in its 
upright and useable condition. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a non-spill steady 
cup holder that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
Another object is to provide a non-spill steady cup holder that will 
stabilize one or more beverage containers within a paper bag, so that the 
paper bag can be carried without the beverage container spilling the 
beverage. 
An additional object is to provide a non-spill steady cup holder that will 
maintain the one or more beverage containers in an upright position within 
the paper bag when being carried. 
A further object is to provide a non-spill steady cup holder that is simple 
and easy to use. 
A still further object is to provide a non-spill steady cup holder that is 
economical in cost to manufacture. 
Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may 
be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 
attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are 
illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific 
construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended 
claims.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently 
throughout the attached drawings. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference 
characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 
through 13 illustrate a non-spill steady cup holder 10 for beverage 
containers 12 comprising a panel 14 sized to snugly fit horizontally 
against an interior surface 16 of a paper bag 18, as shown in FIGS. 5, 5A, 
6 and 6A. A facility 20 in the panel 14, is for holding a beverage 
container 12. When the panel 14 is placed within the paper bag 18, the 
beverage container 12 will be stabilized, allowing the paper bag 18 to be 
carried, to prevent the beverage from spilling out of the beverage 
container 12, wetting the paper bag 18 and losing the beverage from the 
beverage container 12. 
The holding facility 20, in FIGS. 1A to 7A, consists of the panel 14 having 
an opening 22 to receive the beverage container 12. The holding facility 
20, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 to 13 further consists of the 
panel 14 having a plurality of radial slits 24 extending outwardly away 
from the opening 22, to form a plurality of sectors 26 thereabout. When 
the beverage container 12 is inserted through the opening 22, the sectors 
26 will bend down and press against the beverage container 12. 
The panel 14, as shown in FIGS. 1, 1A, 5 and 5A, can have an aperture 28 
therein, so that a drinking straw or utensil 30 can be inserted through 
the aperture 28 in the panel 14 when placed within the paper bag 18. FIGS. 
3, 3A, 4, 4A, 5A, 6 and 6A show a flange 32 integral with and extending 
downwardly about the perimeter of the panel 14. The flange 32 will have 
more area to bear against the interior surface 16 of the paper bag 18, to 
better horizontally position the panel 14 therein and to add rigidity and 
strength to the panel 14. 
In FIGS. 2, 2A and 6 through 9, a second facility 34 is in the panel 14, 
for holding a second beverage container 12 in a spaced apart relationship 
from the first beverage container 12, so that two beverage containers 12 
can be safely carried together within the paper bag 18. The second holding 
facility 34, in FIGS. 2A and 6A, includes the panel 14 having a second 
opening 36 therein, to receive a second beverage container 12. The second 
holding facility 34, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9, further includes 
the panel 14 having a plurality of radial slits 38 extending outwardly 
away from the second opening 36, to form a plurality of sectors 40 
thereabout. When the second beverage container 12 is inserted through the 
second opening 36, the sectors 40 will bend down and press against the 
second beverage container 12. 
FIGS. 7 and 7A, shows a flange 42 integral with and extending upwardly and 
downwardly about the perimeter of the panel 14. The flange 42 will have 
more area to bear against the interior surface 16 of the paper bag 18, to 
better horizontally position the panel 14 therein, retain spills and to 
increase rigidity and strength to the panel 14. A carry handle 44 extends 
transversely across the panel 14 between the two holding facilities 20 and 
34, so that a person can transport the panel 14 by the carry handle 44 and 
to facilitate removal of the panel 14 from the paper bag 18. 
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, advertising indicia 46 can be printed upon the 
panel 14. In FIG. 4, 4A and 6A, advertising indicia 48 can be printed upon 
the flange 32. The panel 14 can be fabricated out of a strong durable 
material 50, from the group consisting of plastic, cardboard and egg crate 
molded pulp. 
The beverage container 12, as shown in FIGS. 5, 5A, 7 and 7A, is a soda cup 
52 with a removable lid 54. The beverage container 12 in FIGS. 6 and 6A is 
a soda can 56 with a retained cap 58. The beverage container 12 in FIGS. 6 
through 13, is a coffee cup 60 with a removable cover 62. The soda cup 52 
and the soda can 56 are normally served cold, while the coffee cup 60 is 
normally served hot. 
FIG. 9 shows a first set of coffee cups 60 stacked upon the covers 62 of a 
second set of coffee cups 60. The first set of coffee cups 60 in the first 
panel 14 will be inserted into the paper bag 18 first. The second set of 
coffee cups 60 in the second panel 14 is then inserted into the paper bag 
18 on top of the covers 62 of the first set of coffee cups 60. The two 
sets of coffee cups 60 are stabilized within the paper bag 18 by the two 
panels 14. 
FIGS. 10 to 13 show a structure 64 in the panel 14, for holding solid food 
in a spaced apart relationship from the beverage container 12, so that the 
beverage container 12 and the solid food can be safely carried together 
within the paper bag 18. The solid food holding structure 64 as shown in 
FIG. 10, consists of the panel 14 having a first segment 66 bent 
downwardly, a second segment 68 extending horizontally and a third segment 
70 bent upwardly, so that the solid food can sit upon the second segment 
68. The solid food holding structure 64 in FIG. 11, comprises the panel 14 
having a first segment 72 bent downwardly and a second segment 74 
extending horizontally, so that the solid food can sit upon the second 
segment 74. The solid food holding structure 64 in FIG. 12, consists of 
the panel 14 having an integral receptacle 76, so that the solid food can 
fit therein. The solid food holding structure 64 in FIG. 13, comprises the 
panel 14 having a large orifice 78, so that the solid food can fit 
therein. 
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
10 non-spill steady cup holder 
12 beverage container 
14 panel of 10 
16 interior surface of 18 
18 paper bag 
20 holding facility in 14 
22 opening for 20 in 14 
24 radial slit in 14 at 22 
26 sector of 14 at 22 
28 aperture in 14 
30 drinking straw or utensil for 28 
32 flange on 14 
34 second holding facility in 14 
36 second opening for 34 in 14 
38 radial slit in 14 at 36 
40 sector of 14 at 36 
42 flange on 14 
44 carry handle on 14 
46 advertising indicia on 14 
48 advertising indicia on 32 
50 strong durable material for 14 
52 soda cup for 12 
54 removable lid on 52 
56 soda can for 12 
58 retained cap on 56 
60 coffee cup for 12 
62 removable cover on 60 
64 solid food holding structure in 14 
66 first segment of 64 
68 second segment of 64 
70 third segment of 64 
72 first segment of 64 
74 second segment of 64 
76 receptacle of 64 
78 large orifice of 64 
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or 
more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods 
differing from the type described above. 
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and 
described are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be 
limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various 
omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and 
details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by 
those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of 
the present invention. 
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of 
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, 
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, 
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential 
characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.