Abstract:
A double rimmed beverage cup and holder is disclosed. A second rim encircles the outer surface of the cup a spaced distance below the rim encircling the cup opening. In use, the cup is secured within a holder having a handle for convenient hand grasping, and an annular groove matching the projecting second rim on the cup. The user manually snap fits the groove within the holder over the cup&#39;s second rim, thereby permitting reliable cup lid securing and removal while providing the user a more normally pleasant drinking or eating experience.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/816,018, filed on Jun. 23, 2006. This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to beverage cups and devices and methods for comfortably hand holding these cups. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Throwaway containers for hot and cold beverages are, of course, a ubiquitous part of our everyday life. The criteria for these containers are that they be inexpensive to fabricate and simple to use. Fast food outlets rush to provide us with a myriad of types of cups, often overlooking customer convenience. Cups may be uncomfortable when holding hot or cold beverages, and are frequently inconvenient while attempting to hand hold a cup while removing or re-securing a beverage cup lid.  
         [0003]     Devices and methods too numerous to list have been suggested in the past to overcome container deficiencies. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,029, issued Apr. 7, 1964, a beverage cup (10—FIG. 1) made out of foamed polystyrene is disclosed. The cup has the advantage of comfortably holding hot or cold drinks, and also features a shoulder (12—FIG. 2) which can form a support for a cup holder.  
         [0004]     Again, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,260, issued Jan. 31, 1995, a disposable paper cup (12—FIG. 2) for serving cold food products and beverages is disclosed. Utilizing built-in adhesives, the cold cup is converted into a hot cup by the addition of a fluted, insulating sleeve (14—FIG. 1).  
         [0005]     Additionally, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,449 B1, issued May 7, 2003, a two stage beverage cup (10—FIG. 1) is disclosed. An flanged upper portion (12—FIG. 1) is secured to a smaller lower portion ( 14 — FIG. 1 ), the purpose being to secure the smaller base within standard vehicle cup holders while enlarging cup beverage capacity by means of the added upper portion. Additionally the juncture of the upper and lower sections serves the dual purpose of providing a shoulder for connection to the vehicle cup holder, and also provides an air gap insulated area for comfortably holding hot or cold beverages.  
         [0006]     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,557, issued Jan. 19, 1999, discloses a dual sized container (10—FIG. 2) having an enlarged upper body portion (18—FIG. 2) and a smaller lower body portion (14—FIG. 2). A shoulder (16—FIG. 1) at the junction of the upper and lower portions secured the container  10  to a vehicle cup holder when the lower portion is placed within a cup holder. Additionally, fluted sides (15—FIG. 1) provide lateral support to the lower body portion  14  of the cup  10 .  
         [0007]     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,802 B2, issued Jan. 14, 2003, a beverage cup holder (10—FIG. 1) with an adjustable mounting system is disclosed. A clamp assembly (12—FIG. 1), integral with the cup member (11—FIG. 1) permits attaching the beverage holder  10  to a variety of vehicles, such as golf carts and bicycles.  
         [0008]     While the above noted devices and methods provide useful solutions for a variety of beverage cup deficiencies, they do not envision the economy in fabrication, and the significant added customer conveniences inherent in the present invention.  
         [0009]     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide for comfortable and secure hand holding of a beverage cup.  
         [0010]     Still another object is to provide for comfortable and secure hand holding of beverage cups with either hot or cold contents.  
         [0011]     An additional object is to provide fast and reliable beverage cup lid securing and removal while the cup is held in one hand.  
         [0012]     Yet another object is to provide for greater ease in holding a large size beverage cup in the small hands of children.  
         [0013]     A further object of the invention is to provide increased customer security and comfort while consuming the beverage cup contents.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     These and other objects are obtained with the double rimmed beverage cup and holder of the present invention.  
         [0015]     As noted above, fast food restaurants in their rush to supply customers with a simple, inexpensive throwaway beverage cup, tend to burden users with less than convenient procedures. For example, it is often necessary to remove a beverage cup lid while the cup is being held in one hand, or to re-secure the cup lid, a procedure difficult at best, and often extremely so when attempting to avoid a rim of a typical cup holder. Further, consuming the contents of a hand held beverage cup is an inelegant effort, acceptable only under the most casual of eating experiences. And the small hands of children often experience difficulty holding a large size cup.  
         [0016]     It occurred that these minor but troubling inconveniences associated with throwaway cups could be simply and economically overcome. To this end a paper cup, comprising the first part of this invention, and holder, comprising the second part of this invention, has been devised to eliminate these difficulties.  
         [0017]     The beverage cup can be fabricated in paper such as paperboard, or in plastic, with influences including economic considerations deciding the choice. Fabricating methods for disposable cups of this type are, of course, well known to the art. Typical cup dimensions can be, for example, 5½″ in height, with a 3¼″ top opening, and a 2⅜″ closed bottom. The sides of the cup are frustoconical in shape with a curled, generally semicircular rim at the top opening of the cup extending a full 360° of the top circumference of the cup opening, and the cup having a sealed base portion. The significant difference between the cup of the present invention and prior beverage cups is the existence of a second curled, generally semicircular rim a spaced distance below the first rim encircling the top opening of the cup. This second rim similarly completely encircles the external surface of the cup in a generally parallel plane to the first rim. The cup of the present invention, for the purpose of clarity of description, can be envisioned as being fabricated from two relatively typical paperboard cups by cutting an approximate 1″ top section off the top of a second cup, this second cup having a slightly smaller diameter opening in comparison to the first cup, then sliding the top opening of this cut section of the second cup over the solid base of the first cup until it is secured a short distance from the rim of the first cup. This cut section of the second cup can be constructed to be adhesively connected or otherwise affixed to the outer surface of the first cup immediately adjacent the rim of the first cup.  
         [0018]     The second part of this invention comprises a suitable holder for the above described double rimmed cup. The holder is separate from the cup and is comprised of a section having matching tapered sides to that of the cup of the invention for sliding over the base of the cup and then being manually positioned at a selected point along the outer surface of the cup. A series of upwardly extending finger like projections extend from the top edge of this section. Each of these projections contains a laterally positioned generally semicircular annular depression matching in opposed position the outwardly projecting generally semicircular second rim on the cup. The holder further comprises a handle depending from this section and extending a spaced distance away from the section for convenient positioning of the fingers of a hand around this handle. In a similar alternative holder, an annular groove comprising a semicircular annular depression matching in opposed position the second rim of the cup can be fabricated within the main body of the holder, a spaced distance below the rim of the holder. The complete holder assembly can be fabricated in a variety of materials, including plastic and metal, but paper such as paperboard would be preferred for economy.  
         [0019]     To use the double rimmed beverage cup and holder of the present invention, the holder is simply slipped over the solid base of the cup and raised upwards over the outer surface of the cup until the annular depressions in each of the projecting fingers on the holder (or the annular groove of the above noted alternative holder) snap into place over the extending second rim on the cup. The cup is now firmly secured for virtually any use the individual handling the cup desires. The contents of the cup may now be consumed in a normal, comfortable manner. And the previously difficult procedure of removing or securing a cup lid is now performed with confident ease.  
         [0020]     While paperboard is recommended for economy in fabricating both the cup and holder of the present invention, more durable materials can also be employed. In this case the holder can be repeatedly re-used, and the cups can be cleaned for additional service. Further, it is envisioned that the holder may be found useful for securing a number of different but similar sized cups. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one version of the double rimmed beverage cup and holder of the present invention, shown with the holder secured in place on the second rim of the cup.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a cross section of the double rimmed beverage cup as depicted in  FIG. 1 , without the holder in place.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the double rimmed beverage cup and holder of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the three basic components of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational, schematic view of the double rimmed beverage cup and holder of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the holder being secured over the full circumference of the second rim.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cup and holder depicted in  FIG. 1 , illustrating a beverage cup lid in place on the first rim.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of two cups similar to  FIG. 2  being nested together.  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 1 , illustrating an alternative holder shown partially broken away to depict the placement of the snap on annular groove within the holder. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     Turning now to the drawings wherein similar structures having the same function are depicted with the same numerals, in  FIG. 1 a  version of the double rimmed beverage cup  10  and holder  40  of the invention is depicted. As best seen in  FIG. 2  the cup itself has a first rim  14  encircling an opening  23  to the cup, with a second rim  16  integral with and encircling the outer surface of the cup positioned a spaced distance below the first rim. Typical dimensions for the cup can be, for example, 5½″ in height, with a 3¼″ top opening, and a 2⅜″ closed base. The cup has frustoconical side walls, with a first curled, outwardly projecting rim radially disposed around the circumference of the opening, and a similar outwardly projecting second rim encircling the outer surface of the cup positioned parallel to and a spaced distance, as, for example, 1″, below the first rim.  
         [0029]     In  FIGS. 2 and 3  one method for fabricating the beverage cup and holder of the invention is illustrated. The cup  10  can be fabricated in a variety of materials including plastic or metal, with paperboard an obvious choice for economy. The paperboard used can be coated with a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene to permit heat sealing of components. In this method the cup can be fabricated from a first section  20  and a second section  30  affixed together via, for example, heat sealing to form a complete cup. The first section is in the shape of a typical disposable beverage cup, having frustoconical side walls  12 , with an opening  23  defined by an outwardly curled rim  14  encompassing the circumference of the opening. The cup opening can measure approximately 3¼″ in diameter. The tapered sides  12  of the first section can extend approximately 5½″ from its rim to a radially disposed sealed bottom  26 . The sealed bottom  26  can have a portion of its outer rim bent perpendicular to form a wall  28  for facilitating heat sealing to the inner surface of the bottom edge of the first section&#39;s side wall so as to form a leak proof base for the cup. This sealed bottom can measure approximately 2¼″ in diameter.  
         [0030]     The second section  30  has a similar opening with a circumference encompassing outwardly curled rim  16 , and an open base. The top opening can measure approximately 3⅛″ in diameter. The tapered sides  13  of the second section  30  can depend, for example, approximately 1″ for the top edge  17  to a bottom edge  15  of the second section, defining an approximate 2⅞″ diameter base opening.  
         [0031]     In this method, the beverage cup  10  of the invention is fabricated by sliding the top opening of the second section  30  over the sealed base  26  of the first section  20  to a predetermined position along the side walls  12  of the first section. The first and second cup section are designed so that the inner surface of the second section&#39;s side walls  13  and the outer surface of the first section&#39;s side walls  12  are in contact, with the second section&#39;s rim  16  positioned a spaced distance below and substantially parallel to the rim  14  of the first section. Heat sealing or other appropriate means can then be employed to affix the two sections together to form the complete cup  10 .  
         [0032]     Also depicted in  FIG. 3  is a version of the beverage cup holder  40  of the invention. As noted above, paperboard would be an obvious choice for fabricating this throwaway item. The beverage cup holder  40  is comprised of a main body  18  with a confluent handle  24  for convenient grasping with the fingers of a user&#39;s hand, and a series of upwardly extending finger like projections  22 . The main body  18  of the holder has similar frustoconical side walls to that of the cup  10 , with a circular opening  42  at the top edge of the main body, with the side wall  34  tapering to a slightly smaller diameter circular opening  44  at the bottom edge of the main body. The main body can measure approximately 1½″ in width, with a 3″ top edge opening  42 , and a 2¾″ bottom edge opening. The integral handle  24  can be positioned to extend about 1″ away from and perpendicular to the main body, and extend 2″ below and parallel to the bottom edge  44  of the main body. Each one of the series (as, for example, 4) of the finger like projections  22 , which extend approximately ¾″ above the top edge of the main body, contain a laterally positioned annular depression matching in opposite configuration the curled, generally semicircular projection of the second rim  16  on the cup.  
         [0033]     As best seen in  FIG. 4 , a user simply slips the holder  40  over the base of the cup  10 , manually guiding the main body  18  until the annular depressions  32  in the finger like projections  22  snap over the projecting second rim  16  on the cup, firmly securing the holder to the cup.  
         [0034]     It should be noted that the above description of the cup  10  and holder  40  is but one possible structure for obtaining a secure snap fit between holder and cup. For example, in  FIG. 7  an alternative holder  46  for the beverage cup is shown. This holder is fabricated similarly to holder  40 , being comprised of a main body  48  with a confluent handle  24 . In place of the above mentioned finger like extensions, a circular groove  50  is formed within the main body  48  a spaced distance below the opening rim of the holder  46 , the circular groove mimicking in opposed position the curled, semicircular projection of the second rim on the cup. Again, this holder is simply slipped over the base of the cup and manually raised upwards until the annular groove  50  and second rim  16  snap cooperatively into place. And as for the cup  10 , a slightly larger second section (not shown) can be affixed adjacent to and positioned above the first rim of the cup to provide the double rim necessary to enable said secure snap fit. Or alternatively, a second rim can be impressed within the body of the cup itself during initial fabrication.  
         [0035]     In  FIG. 5  the beverage cup  10  and holder  40  are shown secured together, with the cup opening  23  closed with a typical beverage cup lid  36 . The lid encloses the cup opening in typical fashion by having a generally semicircular annular depression  38  at its periphery designed to snap fit over the generally semicircular projecting first rim  14  of the cup. With the holder firmly securing the cup, the often bothersome procedure of securing the lid to the cup, or alternatively removing the lid from the cup, is now performed with confident ease.  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates an important consideration for commercial use of the cup  10  and holder  40 . The cups can be fabricated for convenient nesting to facilitate storage of quantities of the cups.  
         [0037]     Thus it can be seen that the beverage cup and holder of the present invention offers new and significant improvements for commercial or home use. Lid removal or securing is now a snap on-snap off comfortable procedure. And user ambience is restored to a virtual quality restaurant experience.  
         [0038]     While the present invention has been disclosed in connection with shown in detail, various modifications and improvements will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit an scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.