CUP HOLDER

Abstract: A cup holder of the kind having two protruding flexible arms (2, 2') for retaining a disposable cup (3) is designed with a supporting surface (7) at the underside of the arms (2, 2'). There is hereby obtained a very simple structure, preferably made of single-curved surfaces, which is low-cost in manufacture.

Description: CUP HOLDER The invention relates to a cup holder of the kind which can be used together with a preferably conical disposable cup, a glass or the like, said cup holder having two protruding, flexible arms for retaining the cup said arms being moreover provided with a handle. From the specification to DE-AS no. 1,8,08,765 there is known a cup holder of this kind but which has several double curved surfaces and therefore is difficult to manufacture. This cup holder is moreover at its lower part designed with a circular supporting surface having in its turn an annular reinforcement. The flexible arms are arranged at the upper part of the cup holder. The object of the present invention is to provide a cup holder of this kind which is just as good at retaining cups as the known holder but which moreover is of a simpler design and therefore is cheaper in manufacture. The characteristic feature of the cup holder according to the invention is that the underside of the arms is provided with a supporting surface which - together with the bottom of the cup - is intended to abut on a support such as a tabletop. By letting the arms have a supporting surface at their lower ends there is no requirement of a support- OMPI ing surface for the cup in the cup holder. When placing a cup in the cup holder the table whereon the cup holder is placed will make a stop for the bottom of the cup because the cup will quite simply be in place in the cup holder when the bottom of the cup is pressed into abutment on the table. This structure gives a substantially larger contact surface between cup and cup holder than by the known struc¬ tures. This means that the transmitted frictional force becomes correspondingly greater and this in its turn results in a greater tolerance for cups of different sizes if the cup holder is given a suitable flexibility that does not vary too much with the travel. According to the invention the handle can have sub¬ stantially the same height as the arms. The structure is thereby further simplified. The cup holder can moreover be characteristic in that the underside of the handle is also provided with a supporting surface which can abut on the support. The stability of the cup holder against overturning is thereby increased. Finally, the cup holder can be characteristic in that the handle is substantially U-shaped and arranged between the arms, ie. the arms form the extension of the flanges or arms of the U. There is hereby provided a very simple design for the cup holder which is simple and low-cost in manufacture. The invention will be further described in the follow¬ ing with reference to the drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a side view of a cup and a cup holder according to the invention with the cup placed inside the cup holder, Fig. 2 is an inclined bottom view of a cup holder according to the invention, and Fig. 3 is a top view of the cup holder seen in Fig. 2. The cup holder shown in Fig. 1 reveals a handle 1 and one of two protruding, flexible arms 2 encircling a cup 3. The cup 3 is so arranged in the holder that the bottom of the cup is substan¬ tially flush with the supporting surface 7 of the cup holder. This will afford a highly stable combination between cup and holder partly because of the lowest possible mutual centre of gravity and partly because the handle 1 will also contribute to the support. Figs. 2 and 3 which can be seen together show more clearly the design of the cup holder. The second flexible arm 2' is positioned symmetrically with the first arm 2 and at their outer ends they form between themselves a slot 4. The U-shaped handle 1 has branches 5, 5' and a bottom 6. The point of rotation of the mutual displacement of the arms 2 and 2' being on the bottom 6, the holding part 2 will be capable of firmly grasping cups of different sizes while the supporting surface 7 is flush with the bottom of the cup. "BURE OMP The branches 5, 5' are seen to make an acute angle with the bottom 6. This ensures an advantageous spring action of the handle 1. Moreover, the cup holder becomes highly useful because the design of the handle 1 will guarantee a firm grasp for small as well as big fingers. The cup holder according to the invention can advantageously be manufactured of several different materials because the applied design of the handle 1 will ensure sufficient spring action. Examples of production materials are plastics, metal or moulded veneer. The cup holder can be manufactured of sheets which are bent after the punching out thereof. It is possible to make use of laminated material which is moulded just as it is possible to use die casting or vacuum forming.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. Cup holder of the kind which can be used together with a preferably conical disposable cup, a glass or the like, said cup holder having two protruding flexible arms for retaining the cup said arms being moreover provided with a handle, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the underside of the arms (2, 2') is provided with a supporting surface (7) which - together with the bottom of the cup (3) - is intended to abut on a support such as a tabletop. 2. Cup holder according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the handle (1) is of substantially the same height as the arms (2). 3. Cup holder according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the underside of the handle (1) is also provided with a supporting surface which can abut on the support. 4. Cup holder according to claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the handle (1) is substantially U-shaped and arranged between the arms (2), ie. the arms (2, 2 1 ) form the extension of the flanges or arms of the U.

Inventors: BOELLING HANS BENEDIKT, BOELLING, HANS, BENEDIKT
Applicants: BOELLING HANS BENEDIKT, BOELLING, HANS, BENEDIKT
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A47G23
IPC codes: A47G23