Abstract:
The cup carrier has a generally flat appearance. One end of the cup carrier is opposite a second end. A central portion and two sides connect the ends. The one end and second end further incorporate handles. At least one hole for inserting a cup is positioned in the central portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a cup carrier for holding and transporting beverage cups. 
         [0003]    2. Summary of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Carry trays for holding and carrying beverage cups are well-known and are in widespread use in carry out food restaurants, stadiums, convenience stores, coffee shops and the like. 
         [0005]    Typically, the trays comprise a main body portion provided with a number of cup-holding sockets. The number of cup holding sockets can vary, depending on the style of the cup carrier. Moreover, it is known to configure the cup-holding sockets so as to firmly accommodate drinking cups of different sizes. An example of a versatile cup-holding socket is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,008 to Vellieux, which structure involves flexible members in the sockets which deflect as the cup is inserted and exert a stabilizing force on the sides of the cup. Another approach has been to provide sockets of different sizes on the same cup carrier, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,065 to Vigue. 
         [0006]    Other cup carriers are formed from unitary blanks of paperboard and consisting basically of a basket portion with a central upwardly projecting handle forming dual compartments for the accommodation of, as an example, two beverage cups. An example of such a carrier is noted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,001 issued to Larry Eisman on Jun. 22, 1993. 
         [0007]    Such known carriers, because of the rectangular nature of the basket portion and the projecting side panels and handles, require the use of a substantial amount of material in defining the blank. The formation of such blanks is usually effected by the cutting a plurality of blanks, either sequentially or simultaneously, depending on the cutting apparatus, from an elongate sheet of appropriate flexible foldable material, normally paperboard. 
         [0008]    As carriers of the type involved herein are normally single use items, it is particularly desirable to maintain the cost thereof at a minimum while providing the convenience and practical considerations for which the particular carrier has been designed. Further, as such carriers are produced in vast numbers, it will be appreciated that even small economies in the production of the blanks from which the cartons are created can result in substantial savings. However, in light of the configuration of the conventional two-cup carrier, as compared for example to a conventional rectangular blank for a rectangular box, and as the cup carrier has specific structural and design parameters, it is normally difficult to provide for a maximum utilization of the blank material. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention provides for a cup carrier having a main body portion, cup-holding openings are provided in the main body portion, and handles extend from the main body for carrying. Preferably two or more cup-holding openings are provided. Preferably, the cup-holding openings have finger like projections to allow insertion of both larger and smaller sizes of cups. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a currently-preferred embodiment of the cup carrier of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with cups inserted in a carrying position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the cup carrier of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  with a cup inserted in a carrying position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the cup carrier of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the cup carrier  100  of the invention comprises a body portion, which in the illustrated embodiments, is a unitary, single-dimensional structure. In preferred form, the body portion is a unitary piece from a flexible material. The material may be any substance providing flexibility and tear resistance. Examples include but are not limited to nylon, propylene plastic, PVC, paper, thermoplastic and cloth. Handle  108  may be integral to the body and may include a flange to add stability and facilitate grasping. The body portion is defined by ends  120 ,  122  and sides  124 ,  126 . Ends  120 ,  122  and sides  124 ,  126  are separated by corners  109 . Corners  109  may be any shape including squared (not shown), rounded and concave (not shown). Where corner  109  is concave ends  120 ,  122  define handles  108 . 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cup carrier is provided with cup-holding openings  102 ,  104 . As shown cup opening  102  has a smooth approximately circular shape. The diameter is such that a cup may enter but not pass through the opening. Alternately, opening  104  has fingerlike projection  106  protruding into opening  104 . Fingerlike projections  106  are flexible and bend as a cup is inserted into opening  104 . Fingerlike projections  106  permit cups of a variety of sixes to be inserted into opening  104  without passing through. While opening  102  is shown without fingerlike projections it is understood that both opening  102  and opening  104  may contain fingerlike projections  106  or both opening  102 . Alternately, opening  104  may have smooth contours. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1A  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in a bent carrying position. When bent the unitary body of  FIG. 1  has a bottom  111 , a side  112  and a top  114 .corner  110  is formed between bottom  111  and side  112 . Side  112  may conform to any shape as the weight of the cup  116  is countered by a user hauling the cup carrier by handle  108 . 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the cup carrier  200  of the invention comprises a body portion, which in the alternate illustrated embodiment, is a unitary, single-dimensional structure. In preferred form, the body portion is a unitary piece from a flexible material. The material may be any substance providing flexibility and tear resistance. Examples include but are not limited to nylon, propylene plastic, PVC, paper, thermoplastic and cloth. As shown in  FIG. 2  where a more rigid material is used perforations, or score lines  203  and  205  may be incorporated to define bend points. Handles  208  may be attached to the body by any means and may include a flange (not shown) to add stability and facilitate grasping. The body portion is defined by ends  220 ,  222  and sides  224 ,  226 . Ends  220 ,  222  and sides  224 ,  226  are separated by corners  209 . Corners  209  may be any shape including squared (not shown), rounded and concave (not shown). Where corner  209  is concave ends  220 ,  222  define handles  208 . 
         [0019]    The cup carrier is provided with cup-holding openings  202  in a central portion. As shown cup openings  202  may have a smooth approximately circular shape. The diameter is such that a cup may enter but not pass through the opening. Alternately, openings  202  may have fingerlike projections (not shown) protruding into openings  202 . The fingerlike projections would permit cups of a variety of sixes to be inserted into openings  202  without passing through. While openings  202  is shown without fingerlike projections it is understood that openings  202  may contain fingerlike projections. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2A  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 2  in a bent carrying position. When bent the unitary body of  FIG. 2  has a bottom  211 , a side  212  and a top  214 . Corner  210  is formed between bottom  211  and side  212  and is defined by perforations or score lines  203  and  205 . Side  212  may conform to any shape as the weight of the cup  216  is countered by a user hauling the cup carrier by handle  208 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows unitary body  300  having handles  308  at either end. Score lines  303  and  305  are positioned either side of the holes  307  in the central portion of the unitary body  300 . Holes  307  may comprise at least two rows extending from one side to the other of the unitary body. As persons skilled in the art will appreciate, the cup carrier may be formed in common dimensions which are generally known in the industry. When formed as described, the cup carrier has advantages of small size, excellent strength and stability, low cube size, and easy de-nesting. Further modifications and variations of the illustrated embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.