Abstract:
A carrier for one or a plurality of beverage containing cups such as those supplied to carry out customers of carry out restaurants, fast food restaurants and the like. The cup carrier constructed in accordance the present invention includes a one piece blank which can be folded to form a base with one or a plurality of openings for receiving a beverage cup to provide an easily set up cup carrier that stably suspends the cup or cups in an upright position when the carrier is supported by a handle structure positioned above the cups so that the force of gravity will maintain the cup or cups in an upright suspended position. A paddle insert is used to expand the number of cups that can be held by the cup carrier.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/077,546, filed on Mar. 11, 2005, which claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/552,194, filed Mar. 12, 2004, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a carrier for one or a plurality of beverage containing cups such as those supplied to carry out customers of carry out restaurants, fast food restaurants and the like. The cup carrier constructed in accordance the present invention includes a one piece blank which can be folded to form a base with one or a plurality of openings for receiving a beverage cup or cups to provide an easily set up cup carrier that stably suspends the cup or cups in an upright position when the carrier is supported by a handle structure positioned above the cups so that the force of gravity will maintain the cup or cups in an upright suspended position. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Spillage of beverages from hand carried cups is a well known problem to customers of carry out or fast food restaurants. Even when beverage cups are provided with a frictionally attached closure lid, it is difficult for a customer to carry a beverage cup or cups without spilling the beverage contents, especially when also carrying food products in a bag or the like during normal handling and transportation to a site of consumption of the beverage. 
     Various efforts have been made to facilitate the transportation of multiple cups from a point of purchase to a point of use. Such efforts include, placing the cups in an upright position in a paper bag which frequently results in the beverage cup tilting over and spilling the beverage internally of the bag. Another effort includes the provision of a compartmented tray constructed of cardboard or similar material to receive and frictionally engage the bottom ends of a plurality of beverage cups. While the use of such trays is more effective than using a paper bag and more effective than a customer gripping and carrying a plurality of cups in their hands, such trays provide a somewhat unstable carrier since the cups tend to tilt out of the trays especially if the trays are tilted or come into contact with a door, door frame or other stationery building structure, vehicle body or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The cup carrier in accordance with the present invention includes a one piece carrier preferably constructed of stiff cardboard, such as corrugated cardboard or the like formed from a single blank having a planar base having at least one or a plurality of circular openings therein for receiving one or plurality of tapered beverage cups with the periphery of each circular opening engaging the beverage cup received therein intermediate the ends thereof in order to stably support the beverage cup in an upright position and to prevent the beverage cup from tilting out of the opening in the base since the frictional engagement between the cup and the periphery of the opening and force of gravity will retain the beverage cup or cups in the openings in the base. Opposite edges of the base include upwardly converging support members which terminate in a handle structure located above the center of the base and the center of any cup or cups being supported by the base with the weight of the cups and beverages and the force of gravity maintaining the base generally in a horizontal position below the handle structure to effectively support a beverage cup or cups in an upright suspended position within the opening or openings in the base of the carrier. In addition, a paddle insert is presented which expands the number of cups that can be held by the cup carrier of the present invention. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a one piece cup carrier constructed from a cardboard blank having a central circular opening or a plurality of circular openings formed in a rectangular central portion of the blank when the blank is folded in a manner to form a cup carrier. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a cup carrier in which a fold line is provided outwardly from the openings in the base of the cup carrier to enable upwardly extending portions of the blank to converge upwardly to form a handle structure with the upwardly converging handle structure being spaced from any upper lip on the beverage cups or container and also spaced from any closure lid placed thereon to enable suspension of the beverage cups in a vertical position in the base. 
     A further object of the invention to provide fold lines in the upper portions of the handle structure to enable a short terminal end of each blank to be oriented in contacting relation with an opening formed therein to receive the fingers of a person carrying the cup carrier with the handle structure also being provided with a tab structure to retain the portions of the handles to be engaged by the fingers of a person carrying the carrier in contacting relation to maintain the carrier in a set up position to stably support the beverage cups when the cup carrier is being transported with a beverage cup or cups suspended through the openings in the base of the carrier. 
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cup carrier in a set up position with a beverage cup supported therein. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the cardboard blank from which the cup carrier of  FIG. 1  is formed. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cup carrier in set up position. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the blank from which the cup carrier of  FIG. 3  is formed. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a cup carrier illustrating a handle structure that maintains the cup carrier in set up position. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the blank from which the cup carrier of  FIG. 5  is formed. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a cup carrier in which the base includes three circular openings to receive three beverage cups. 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the cardboard blank from which the cup carrier of  FIG. 7  is formed. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a fifth embodiment of a cup carrier. 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the cardboard blank from which the cup carrier of  FIG. 9  is formed. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the cup carrier of  FIG. 9  depicting a cup with a lid. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a cup carrier that includes downwardly extending feet. 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the cardboard blank from which the cup carrier of  FIG. 12  is formed. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a cup carrier in which the base includes four circular openings to receive four beverage cups. 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan view of the cardboard blank from which the cup carrier of  FIG. 14  is formed. 
         FIG. 16  a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of a cup carrier in set up position. 
         FIG. 17  is a top plan view of the cardboard blank from which the cup carrier of  FIG. 16  is formed. 
         FIG. 18  is a top plan view of a cardboard blank from which a ninth embodiment of the cup carrier is formed. 
         FIG. 19  is a top plan view of a paddle insert with three circular openings. 
         FIG. 19A  is a top plan view depicting the use of a paddle insert with three circular openings that is on the base of a cup carrier with a single opening. 
         FIG. 19B  a top plan view depicting the use of a paddle insert with four circular openings that is on the base of a cup carrier with two openings. 
         FIG. 20  is a top view of a paddle insert configured with chain link center cut-out tabs. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before any embodiments of the present invention are described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its scope to the embodiments, details of construction, and arrangement of components set forth in the following description of illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, in describing the preferred embodiments, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a first embodiment of the cup carrier that is designated by reference numeral  10  and includes a flat base  12  having two circular openings  14  formed therein with upwardly extending support members  16  connected along fold line  17  to each of the side edges of the base  12 . The upper end of each support member  16  includes an upwardly extending handle member  20  connected to the support member  16  along fold line  21 . Each of the upwardly extending handle members  20  includes an elongated slot like opening  22  therethrough for receiving the fingers of a person carrying the cup carrier  10 . The handle structure generally designated by reference numeral  18  includes tabs  24  along at least one side edge of the upwardly extending handle members  20  that can be folded laterally to secure the handle members  20  in adjacent relation when the blank illustrated in  FIG. 2  is folded in a manner to form the set up cup carrier  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . the tabs  24  are formed by a pair of inwardly converging cut lines  26  so that the tabs  24  are aligned with each other when the blank is set up to enable the table  24  to be folded into overlying relation to a surface of one of the handle members  20  or folded to a position generally perpendicular to the members  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  to retain the handle members  20  in adjacent relation and to facilitate insertion of the fingers through the slot like openings  22 . In this embodiment, like all of the embodiments described herein, the cup carrier is constructed of one piece and can be set up or assembled without using glue or an adhesive. A cup or cups  28  can be easily dropped into the openings  14  when the blank is flat or the support members  16  folded upwardly after which the handle members  20  are brought together in aligned relation with the support members  16  upwardly converging position. The tabs  24  then can be bent to the position illustrated in  FIG. 1  so that the cup carrier with the cups therein can be easily handed to a customer and the customer can easily carry the cup carrier and cups to a desired destination without the cups tilting over or spilling beverages from the cups  28 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cup lip normally provided at the upper end of the cup  28  which receives and frictionally secures a cover lid on the cup has a periphery that is spaced from the inner surfaces of the upwardly extending support members  16 , thereby assuring that the cup lid will not become dislodged from the upper end of the cup  28  during normal handling of the cup carrier by a customer when carrying the cup carrier and cups to a desired destination. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  depict a second embodiment of the cup carrier that is generally designed by reference number  30  which includes a base  32  that includes two or more circular openings  34  for receiving beverage cups in a manner similar to that of the first embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 . A portion of the base  32  outwardly of the outer circumference of each of the circular openings  34  is provided with a cut out area  35  with the outer periphery of an outer portion of the area of the base having the opening  34  formed therein being separated from the side edges and end edges of the opening  35  as illustrated in the blank shown in  FIG. 4  from which the cup carrier  30  is formed. Extending upwardly from portions of the base  32  outwardly from the cut out area  35  is a pair of support members  36  connected to the base  32  along fold lines  37  to enable the support members  36  to be folded upwardly into converging relation as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The outer end portions of support members  36  include handle members  38  connected to the upwardly converging support members  36  along fold lines  39 . The handle members  38  include a lower edge  33  which facilitate insertion of the fingers below the lower edges  33  of the handle members  38  and grip the handle members  38  for effectively carrying cups suspended in the openings  34 . The outwardly extending relation of fold lines  37  from the interior or the circular openings  34  provides space for the upper lip of the cup supported by the cup carrier  30  and also provides space for the closure lid provided on the cup so that the closure lid will not be contacted and possibly dislodged during normal transport of the cup carrier  30  and cups therein to a desired destination. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  depict a third embodiment of the cup carrier that is designated by reference numeral  40  and includes a base  44  having two or more circular opening  42  therein with the side edges of the base  44  being connected to a pair of upwardly converging support members  46  connected to the side edges of base  44  along fold lines  47 . The upper edge area of one support members  46  includes an elongated slot like rectangular opening  48  adjacent the upper edge thereof with the slot like opening  48  being generally rectangular in configuration and of sufficient dimensions to receive the fingers of a person carrying the cup carrier  40 . The other support member  46  includes a cut out tab  50  having a bottom edge  52 , side edges  54  and a top edge  55  connected to the support member  46  along a fold line  56  so that the tab  50  is larger in size than the slot like opening  48  and can be folded through the opening  48  and bent upwardly along the outer surface of a support member  46  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . This structure forms an effective handle for carrying the cup carrier  40 . The tab  50  retains the upper ends of the support members  46  in adjacent relation to maintain the set up condition of the carrier  40 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  depict a fourth embodiment of the cup carrier that is designated by reference numeral  60  and includes a base  62  of rectangular configuration and elongated sufficiently to form three circular openings  64  therein. As illustrated three openings  64  are provided. However, it is pointed out that any number of cup openings can be provided but most take out orders do not exceed three or four beverage cups. If more cups are to be carried, a second cup carrier can be used to avoid a cup carrier being too large to handle. The carrier  60  includes a pair of upwardly converging support members  66  connected to the side edges of the base  62  by fold lines  67 . Each support member  66  terminates in a handle structure generally designated by reference numeral  68  and including a pair of handle members  70  oriented in contacting relation to each other. The side edges of the handle members  70  are provided with cut out bendable tabs  74  similar to the tabs  24  illustrated in  FIG. 1  and which functions in the same manner. Also, each of the support members  70  includes a slot like cut out members  72 . One of the slot like members  72  retains the cut out area as a tab  76  connected to the upper edge of the slot like opening along a fold line  78  so that the tab  76  can be pushed through the other slot like opening  72  to retain the handle members  70  in contacting relation when the handle member  70  is the opening  72  are aligned and tab  76  on one pushed through and folded upwardly along the outer surface of the other handle member  70  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . If desired, the tab  76  can be slightly larger and provided with rounded ends so that it becomes locked in position to retain the handle members  70  in assembled relation to lock the handle structure in view of the large number of beverage cups being carried by the cup carrier  60 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  depict a fifth embodiment of the cup carrier that is designated by reference number  80 . The cup carrier  80  includes a base  82  with a number of circular openings  83  (e.g., two as shown) suitable for receiving one or more cups  84 . In addition, the cup carrier  80  includes two upwardly extending support members  86 , which are connected to the base  82  along fold lines  88 . Further, upwardly converging roof members  89  are connected to each of the support members  86  along fold line  90 . The roof members  89  each terminate at a handle structure  91   a ,  91   b  along fold lines  92 . As depicted in  FIG. 9 , the fold lines  90  are positioned at approximately the same height as the top of the cup  93 , so that the upwardly converging roof members  89  are substantially coplanar to and in contact with the top of the cup  93  when the cup carrier  80  sits on a flat surface in its set up condition. In addition, the roof members  89  each have a length L 1  which is of sufficient dimension so that when the cup carrier  80  is placed on a flat surface in its set up condition, the support members  86  are not in contact with the cup  84 . The dimensions L 1  of the roof members as described above insure that the cup carrier can be set up without interference from the cup  84 . 
     The first handle structure  91   a  includes a cut-out tab  94  that is connected to the first handle structure  91   a  along fold line  95 . The second handle structure  91   b  includes a cut-out tab  96  that is connected to the second handle structure  91   b  along fold line  97 . The opening defined by cut-out tab  94  is of suitable size to receive the fingers of the person carrying the cup carrier  80  and the opening defined by cut-out tab  96  is approximately the same size. When the cup carrier  80  is in its set up condition, the cut-out tab  96  of the second handle structure  91   b  may be pressed against the cut-out tab  94  of the first handle structure  91   a , folded through the opening defined by the cut-out tab  94  of the first handle structure  91   a , and folded upwardly. The cut-out tab  96  of the second handle structure  91   b  remains in continued contact with, and overlying relation to, the cut-out tab  94  of the first handle structure  91   a , causing cut-out tab  94  to be folded upwardly in adjacent relation to the outer surface of the first handle structure  91   a . Alternatively, the cut-out tab  94  of the first handle structure  91   a  may be pressed against the cut-out tab  96  of the second handle structure  91   b , folded through the opening defined by cut-out tab  96 , and folded upwardly, in continued contact with and overlying relation to cut-out tab  96  in a manner similar to that described above. This embodiment for a handle structure  91   a ,  91   b  forms an effective handle for the cup carrier  80  by frictionally retaining the handle structures  91   a ,  91   b  in adjacent relation to one another, and is suitable for use in other cup carrier embodiments described herein, including the cup carrier embodiments described above with respect to  FIGS. 5 ,  7 ,  12  and  16 . 
     This embodiment of the cup carrier  80  increases the stability of the cups  84  of the cups as they are being transported. As shown in  FIG. 9 , because the upwardly converging roof members  89  are in contact with the top of the cup  93 , they exert downward pressure on the cup  84  when the cup carrier  80  is in its set up condition. In addition and as depicted in  FIG. 11 , if the cups  84  are configured with lids  98 , the upwardly converging roof members  89  exert a downward pressure on the lid  98  to help securely hold it in place. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  depict a sixth embodiment of the cup carrier that is designated by reference number  100 . This embodiment of the cup carrier includes a base  101  with a number (e.g., two as shown) of circular openings  102  for receiving beverage cups as described above with respect to  FIG. 1 . The cup carrier  100  includes a pair of upwardly extending support members  103 . The support members  103  are connected to the base  101  along fold lines  104  allowing the support members  103  to be folded vertically upward as depicted in  FIG. 12 . The lower portion of each support member  103  includes two downwardly extending foot members  105 . The foot members  105  are formed out of the base  101  by cut out lines  106 . The top portion of each foot member  105  is rigidly connected to the support member  103 , allowing the foot member  105  and the support member  103  to move as one unit and causing the foot member  105  to extend downward when the cup carrier  100  is in its set up condition. The bottom portion of the foot member  105  extends downward and provides stability and support to the cup carrier  100  when it is placed upon a flat surface, which is independent of, or in addition to, any stability and support provided by the cups themselves when they are in the cup carrier  100 . 
     The outer ends of the support members  103  are connected to roof members  107  along fold lines  108 , allowing the roof members  107  to be folded in a converging relation to one another. The fold lines  108  may be at approximately the same height as the top of the cup that is placed in the cup carrier  100  so that the roof members  107  provide downward pressure on the top of the cup in the same manner as the roof members  89  described above with respect to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . In addition, the roof members  107  are of sufficient dimensions so that when the cup carrier  100  is resting on a flat surface in its set up condition, with cups placed therein, the support members  103  do not contact the cups or otherwise interfere with set up of the cup carrier  100 . As depicted in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the upwardly converging roof members  107  terminate in handle structures  108   a ,  108   b  oriented in contacted relation to one another. The first handle structure  108   a  includes an elongated slot-like opening  109  of sufficient dimensions to receive the fingers of a person that is carrying the cup carrier  100 . The second handle structure  108   b  includes a cut-out tab  110  that is connected to the handle structure  108   b  along fold line  111  and is the same shape as the elongated slot-like opening  109  of the first handle structure  108   a . The cut-out tab  110  in the second handle structure  108   b  may be slightly larger in size than the elongated slot-like opening  109  in the first handle structure  108   a  and can be folded through the opening  109  and folded upwardly along the outer surface of the first handle structure  108   a . This structure  108   a ,  108   b  forms an effective handle for the cup carrier  100 . The cut-out tab  110  frictionally retains the upper ends of the handle structures  108   a ,  108   b  in adjacent relation and maintains the set up condition of the cup carrier  100 . In addition, the handle structure may also include inwardly converging tabs  111  along at least one side edge. These inwardly converging tabs  111  function in the same manner as the tabs  24  described above with respect to  FIG. 1 . It should be noted that this handle structure  108   a ,  108   b  may be used with other embodiments of the cup carrier, including the cup carrier embodiment described above with respect to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  depict a seventh embodiment of the cup carrier that is designated by reference number  120  and is similar in many respects to the first embodiment of the cup carrier  10  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The cup carrier  120  includes a base  122  and upwardly converging support members  124  that terminate in handle structures  125   a ,  125   b . In this embodiment, the base  122  includes four circular openings  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132  for receiving beverage cups in a manner similar to that of the first embodiment of the cup carrier  10 , depicted in  FIG. 1 . Two of the openings  126 ,  128  are formed in the base  122  so that their entire circumferences are within the interior space defined by the upwardly converging support members  124 . The remaining openings  130 ,  132  are defined in part by a portion of the base  122  that forms a partial ring  134  that is defined by cut line  136  between the base  122  and the support member  124  (as depicted in  FIG. 15 ). The partial rings  134  extend outward beyond the interior space between the upwardly converging support members  124  when the cup carrier is in its set up condition, allowing cups to be placed in the openings  130 ,  132 . Openings similar to the ones formed by the partial rings  134  of this embodiment may be added to other embodiments of the cup carrier of the present invention. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 15 , the first handle structure  125   a  includes an elongated slot-like opening  140  of sufficient dimensions to receive the fingers of a person that is carrying the cup carrier  120 . The second handle structure  125   b  includes a cut-out tab  142  that is connected to the second handle structure  125   b  along fold line  143  and is the same shape as the elongated slot-like opening  140  of the first handle structure  125   a . The cut-out tab  142  in the second handle structure  125   b  may be slightly larger in size than the elongated slot-like opening  140  in the first handle structure  125   a  and can be folded through the opening  140  and folded upwardly along the outer surface of the first handle structure  125   a . This structure  125   a ,  125   b  forms an effective handle for the cup carrier  120  and frictionally secures the handle structures  125   a ,  125   b  in adjacent relation to one another. In addition, the handle structures  125   a ,  125   b  may also include inwardly converging tabs  144  along at least one side edge. These inwardly converging tabs  144  function in the same manner as the tabs  24  described above with respect to the first embodiment of the cup carrier  10 , depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 16 and 17  depict an eighth embodiment of the cup carrier that is designated by reference number  160 . The cup carrier  160  includes a base  162  with a number (e.g., two as shown) of circular openings  164  configured to receive a drinking cup in the manner described above with reference to the first embodiment of the cup carrier  10 , depicted in  FIG. 1 . The base is defined by a pair of side edges  165 , located on the outside of the cardboard blank as shown in  FIG. 14 , and a pair of cut lines  167 . Extending upwardly from portions of the base  162  is a pair of upwardly extending support members  168 . Each upwardly converging support member  168  is connected to the base  162  by fold lines  169  to enable the support members  168  to be upwardly folded in a converging relation. As illustrated in  FIG. 16 , a small portion of the base  162  is within the interior space defined by the upwardly converging support members  168 , and the portion of the base that is defined by cut line  167 , which includes the openings  164 , extends beyond the interior space of the support members  168 . The support members  168  each terminate at a handle structure  170   a ,  170   b  connected to the support members  168  along fold lines  172 . The first handle structure  170   a  includes an elongated slot-like opening  174  of suitable dimension to receive the fingers of a person that is carrying the cup carrier  160 . The second handle structure  170   b  includes a cut-out tab  176  that is connected to the handle member  170   b  along fold line  178  and is the same shape as the elongated slot-like opening  174  of the first handle member  170   a . The cut-out tab  176  in the second handle member  170   b  may be slightly larger in size than the elongated slot-like opening  174  in the first handle structure  170   a  and can be folded through the opening  174  and folded upwardly along the outer surface of the first handle structure  170   a . This structure forms an effective handle for the cup carrier  160 . The cut-out tab  176  frictionally retains the handle members  170   a ,  170   b  in adjacent relation to one another to maintain the set up condition of the cup carrier  160 . 
       FIG. 18  is a depiction of a cardboard blank for a ninth embodiment of a cup carrier that is generally designated by reference number  200  and is similar in many respects to the cardboard blank for the seventh embodiment of the cup carrier  120  depicted in  FIG. 15 . The cup carrier  200  includes a base  202  and upwardly converging support members  204  that terminate in handle structures  206   a ,  206   b . The first handle structure  206   a  includes a cut-out tab  208  that is connected to the first handle structure  206   a  along fold line  212  which has a width W 1 . The cut-out tab  208  includes a bottom edge  210  of width W 2 , W 2  being greater than W 1 , and two upwardly converging side edges  214 . The second handle structure  206   b  includes a cut-out tab  220  that is connected to the second handle structure  206   b  along fold line  222 , which has a width of W 3 . In addition, the cut-out tab  220  includes a bottom edge  224  which has a width W 4 , W 4  being greater than W 3 , and two upwardly converging side edges  226 . The opening defined by cut-out tab  208  is of suitable size to receive the fingers of the person carrying the cup carrier  200  and the opening defined by cut-out tab  220  is approximately the same size. When the cup carrier  200  is in its set up condition, the cut-out tab  220  of the second handle structure  206   b  may be pressed against the cut-out tab  208  of the first handle structure  206   a , folded through the opening defined by the cut-out tab  208  in the first handle structure  206   a , and folded upwardly. The cut-out tab  220  of the second handle structure  206   b  remains in continued contact with, and overlying relation to, the cut-out tab  208  of the first handle structure  206   a , causing cut-out tab  208  to be folded upwardly in adjacent relation to the outer surface of the first handle structure  206   a . Alternatively, the cut-out tab  208  of the first handle structure  206   a  may be pressed against the cut-out tab  220  of the second handle structure  206   b , folded through the opening defined by the cut-out tab  220  in the second handle structure  206   b , and folded upwardly. The cut-out tab  208  remains in continued contact with, and overlying relation to, the cut-out tab  220  of the second handle structure  206   b , causing cut-out tab  220  to be folded upwardly in adjacent relation to the outer surface of the second handle structure  206   b . This alternative embodiment for the handle structures  206   a ,  206   b  frictionally retains the handle structures  206   a ,  206   b  in adjacent relation to one another and forms an effective handle for the cup carrier  200  and is suitable for use in the handle structures of other cup carrier embodiments of the present invention including the cup carrier embodiments described above with respect to  FIGS. 5 ,  7 ,  9 ,  13  and  16 . In addition, the handle structures  206   a ,  206   b  may also include inwardly converging tabs  230  along at least one side edge. These inwardly converging tabs  230  function in the same manner as the tabs  24  described above with respect to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 19  depicts a paddle insert  300   a  for use in conjunction with the cup carrier embodiments of the present invention. The paddle insert  300   a  includes a panel  301  number (e.g., three as shown) of aligned circular openings  302   a ,  302   b ,  302   c . The openings of the paddle insert  302   a ,  302   b ,  302   c , are approximately the size of the circular openings in the cup carrier embodiments described above. It should be noted that the openings of the cup carrier embodiments described above and of the paddle insert may be of varying sizes, to accommodate different sized cups.  FIG. 19A  depicts a paddle insert  300   a  with three circular openings  302   a ,  302   b ,  302   c  that has been placed or slid over the base  312  of a tenth embodiment of the cup carrier  310  that has one circular opening. The cup carrier  310  includes a base  312  that is connected to upwardly extending support members  314  along fold line  316 . The upwardly extending support members  314  terminate at a pair of handle structures  318  along fold lines  319 . Each handle structure  318  includes an elongated slot like opening  320  for receiving the fingers of the person carrying the cup carrier  310 . In addition, the handle structures  318  may include inwardly converging tabs  321  along at least one side edge. These inwardly converging tabs  321  function in the same manner as the tabs  24  described above with respect to the first embodiment of the cup carrier  10 , depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 19A , the paddle insert  300   a  is sized so that its width fits between the support members  314  of the cup carrier and its length extends beyond the base  312  of the cup carrier  310 . The paddle insert  300   a  may be placed or slid over the base  312  of a cup carrier  310  so that the center opening  302   b  of the paddle insert  310  and the opening of the cup carrier  310  are superimposed. A cup is placed into the superimposed openings of the paddle insert  300   a  and the cup carrier  310 , securing the paddle insert  300   a  to the cup carrier  310 . The remaining two openings of the paddle insert  302   a ,  302   c  may receive additional cups, allowing the single cup carrier  310  to hold three cups. It should be noted that although in the paddle insert  300   a  may also be used with other embodiments of the cup carrier that include a single opening. 
       FIG. 19B  depicts a paddle insert  300   b  with four circular openings  322   a ,  322   b ,  322   c ,  322   d . In the illustrated embodiment, the paddle insert  300   b  is placed over a cup carrier  330  that is similar in may respects to the first embodiment of the cup carrier  10 , described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, it should be noted that the paddle insert  300   b  may be used with other cup carrier embodiments having two circular openings. The cup carrier  330  depicted in  FIG. 19B  includes a base  332  that is connected to a pair of support members  334  along fold line  336 . The support members  334  terminate in a pair of handle structures  338 . Like the paddle insert  300   a , the paddle insert  300   b  has a width that is less than the distance between the support members  334  of the cup carrier  330  and a length that extends beyond the base  332 . In this embodiment, the paddle insert  300   b  is placed or slid over the base  332  of a cup carrier  330  so that the two center openings of the paddle insert  322   b ,  322   c  are superimposed with the circular openings of the cup carrier  330 . Two cups may be placed into the superimposed openings of the paddle insert  300   b  and the cup carrier  330 , securing the paddle insert  300   b  to the cup carrier  330 . The remaining two openings  322   a ,  322   d  of the paddle insert may receive additional cups, allowing the original cup carrier  330  with two circular openings to hold four cups once the paddle insert  300   b  is installed. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 20 , the center of a paddle insert  300   c  may include a number (e.g., three as shown) of overlapping cut-out tabs  340   a ,  340   b ,  340   c  arranged in a chain link fashion and connected to the paddle insert along perforated edges. The overlapping cut-out tabs are approximately the same size and shape as the circular openings of the cup carrier embodiments described above. As with the previous embodiments of the paddle insert, the paddle insert  300   c  is sized so that its width fits between the support members of the cup carrier and its length extends beyond the base of the cup carrier. The overlapping cut-out tabs  340   a ,  340   b ,  340   c  are configured so that at least one of them is superimposed with the circular openings in the base of a cup carrier when the paddle insert  300   c  is placed or slid over the base of the cup carrier. For example, if the original cup carrier has only one opening, then the paddle insert  300   c  may be placed or slid over the base of the cup carrier so that the overlapping center cut-out tab  340   b  is superimposed with the opening of the cup carrier. A cup may be forced through the cut-out tab  340   b , removing the cut-out tab along its perforated edge, and through the circular opening of the cup carrier, securing the paddle insert  300   c  to the cup carrier. The remaining openings  341  of the paddle insert  300   c  may receive additional cups. Further, the portions of cut-out tabs  340   a ,  340   c , that do not overlap with cut-out tab  340   b , are not removed from the panel  301  when the cup is forced through the tab  340   b . If the cup carrier has two circular openings, the paddle insert  300   c  may be placed or slid over the base of the cup carrier so that the two outer cut-out tabs  340   a ,  340   c  and the two openings of the cup carrier are superimposed. Two cups may be forced through the cut-out tabs  340   a ,  340   c , removing the cut-out tabs along their perforated edges, and through the openings in the base of the cup carrier, securing the paddle insert  300   c  to the cup carrier. The remaining openings  341  of the paddle insert  300   c  may then receive additional cups. Further, the portion of cut-out tab  340   b , that does not overlap with cut-out tabs  340   a ,  340   c , is not removed from the panel  301  when the cups are forced through the tabs  340   a ,  340   c.    
     The foregoing should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.