Patent Publication Number: US-11649089-B2

Title: Collapsible snack caddy

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/047,007, filed Jul. 1, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a collapsible snack caddy for transporting snacks and drink cups. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When attending a movie, concert, or a sporting event, a customer often purchases snacks or drinks to consume during the movie, concert, or sporting event. Typically, the snacks and drinks must be transported from a concession stand to the customer&#39;s seat. In managing snacks, drinks, and tickets, the customer may have difficulty where multiple snacks and drinks have been purchased. Further, the customer may have to produce tickets for inspection by ushers in order to have access to the designated seat on the tickets. Consequently, the customer needs a way to keep snacks, drinks, and tickets all together in one place for easy transport and access. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The collapsible snack caddy of the present invention overcomes the problem of managing snacks, drinks, and tickets at a theater, concert, or a sporting event. Particularly, the present invention is a collapsible snack caddy. When in an open configuration, the snack caddy forms a rectangular box-like structure with a height, a width, and a length. The snack caddy has a front side, a back side, left and right ends, a bottom, and an open top. The height of the sides and ends define the height of the snack caddy. The width of the ends defines the width of the snack caddy. The length of the sides defines the length of the snack caddy. Further, the snack caddy has one or more horizontally oriented drink cup straps extending across one or more of the inside corners of the box-like structure to secure drink cups to the adjacent side an end with of the corner. 
     The snack caddy is hinged at all four corners where the front side, the left end, the back side, and the right end are joined in sequence. In addition, the front side, left end, back side, and right end are hinged to the bottom of the snack caddy. The front side is divided into a rectangular left section and a rectangular right section connected together by a hinged center connector. Similarly, the back side is divided into a rectangular left section and a rectangular right section connected together by a hinged center connector. 
     The front left section and the front right section are further divided by a diagonal living hinge that divides each section into a trapezoid and a triangle. The back left section and the back right section are similarly divided by diagonal living hinge into a trapezoid and a triangle. 
     The bottom is divided into a left bottom panel and a right bottom panel connected by a hinged bottom center connector. A pocket is provided on the exterior surface of the bottom of the snack caddy to hold tickets, cell phone, or other flat objects when the snack caddy is in its folded flat configuration. Foldable handles are attached to each of the ends to facilitate carrying the snack caddy when filled with snacks and/or drinks. 
     The snack caddy as configured can be collapsed from the box-like configuration to a folded flat configuration when not in use to carry drinks and snacks. The front side and the back side fold inwardly along the diagonal hinges as the ends are simultaneously folded inward until the front side, the back side, and the ends lie flat on the bottom. The bottom, the front side, and the back side are then folded along the center connectors, and the snack caddy is retained in its flat position by a closure mounted on the external sides of the ends. 
     A shoulder strap can be releasably attached to the exposed exterior surface of the bottom so that the collapsed snack caddy can be easily carried when not in use. 
     Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a front perspective schematic view of a snack caddy in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a back perspective schematic view of the snack caddy in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a back elevation schematic view of the snack caddy in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a left end elevation schematic view of the snack caddy in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a top plan schematic view of the snack caddy in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a bottom plan schematic view of the snack caddy in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  7    is an enlarged back perspective view of the snack caddy (without a cup strap, carrier handles, or a shoulder strap) in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  8    is a front elevation view of the snack caddy (without a cup strap, carrier handles, or a shoulder strap) in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  9    is a right end elevation view of the snack caddy (without a cup strap, carrier handles, or a shoulder strap) in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  10    is a top plan view of the snack caddy (without a cup strap, carrier handles, or a shoulder strap) in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  11    is a bottom plan view of the snack caddy (without a shoulder strap) in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  12    is a exploded back perspective view of the snack caddy (without a cup strap, carrier handles, or a shoulder strap) in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  13    is a front perspective view of the snack caddy (without a shoulder strap) in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  14    is a front perspective view of the snack caddy partially folded (without a shoulder strap) in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIGS.  15   a - 15   f    are a front perspective views of the snack caddy showing the progressive steps as the snack caddy is folded from an open configuration in  FIG.  15   a    to a flat configuration in  FIG.  15   f    in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  16    is an image of the snack caddy in its folded configuration in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     [Terms Used as Identifiers] 
     A collapsible snack caddy  10  of the present invention overcomes the problem of managing snacks, drinks, and tickets at a theater, concert, or a sporting event.  FIGS.  1 - 11  and  13    show the collapsible snack caddy  10  in its open box-like configuration.  FIGS.  14 ,  15     f , and  16  show the collapsible snack caddy  10  in its closed flat configuration. 
     With reference to FIGS. and  1 - 11  and  13 , the collapsible snack caddy  10 , in the open configuration, constitutes a rectangular box-like structure with a length L, a width W, and a height H ( FIG.  7   ). The collapsible snack caddy  10  has a front side  14 , a back side  44 , a left end  92 , a right end  94 , and a bottom  74 , which together defining an inside volume. The collapsible snack caddy  10  has an open top. The front side  14 , the right end  94 , the back side  44 , and the left end  92  of the collapsible snack caddy  10  are joined in sequence at all four corners by left front corner hinge  18 , right front corner hinge  22 , right back corner hinge  48 , and left back corner hinge  52 . In addition, the front side  14 , the left end  92 , the back side  44 , and the right end  94  are hinged to the bottom  74  of the collapsible snack caddy  10  by left front bottom hinge  26 , right front bottom hinge  30 , right back bottom hinge  56 , left back bottom hinge  60 , left bottom panel hinge  78 , and right bottom panel hinge  82 . 
     The front side  14  is divided into a rectangular left front section  41  and a rectangular right front section  42  connected together by a hinged center connector  32 . Similarly, the back side  44  is divided into a rectangular right back section  71  and a rectangular left back section  72  connected together by a hinged center connector  62 . The connectors  32  and  62  are provided to accommodate the thickness of trapezoids  28 ,  24 ,  54 , and  58 . Further, the left front section  41  and the right front section  42  are further divided by diagonal live hinges  38  and  40  respectively. The diagonal live hinge  38  divides the left front section  41  into a left front triangle  16  and a left front trapezoid  24 . The diagonal live hinge  40  divides the right front section  42  into a right front triangle  20  and a right front trapezoid  28 . The right back section  71  and the left back section  72  are similarly divided by diagonal living hinges  68  and  70  into trapezoids and triangles. Particularly, the diagonal living hinge  68  divides the right back section  71  into a right back triangle  46  and a right back trapezoid  54 . The diagonal live hinge  70  divides the left back section  72  into a left back triangle  50  and a left back trapezoid  58 . 
     As best shown in  FIG.  6   , the bottom  74  is divided into a left bottom panel  76  and a right bottom panel  80  connected by a hinged center connector  84 . The center connector  84  is provided to accommodate the thickness of bottom panels  76  and  80 . A stretchable pocket  108  is provided on the exterior surface of the left bottom panel  76  of the collapsible snack caddy  10  to hold tickets, cell phone, or other flat objects. As shown in  FIG.  2   , left side foldable handle  98  is attached to left end  92  adjacent the open top, and right side foldable handle  100  is attached to right end  94  adjacent the open top. The handles  98  and  100  facilitate carrying the collapsible snack caddy  10  when filled with snacks and/or drinks. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the collapsible snack caddy  10  has one or more flexible drink cup straps, such as drink cup strap  96 , inside the collapsible snack caddy  10 . The drink cup strap  96  extends the corner of right back corner hinge  48  and is connected between the right end  94  and the right back trapezoid  54  of the box-like structure to secure drink cups to the adjacent sides of the inside corner. 
     The collapsible snack caddy  10  as configured can be collapsed from a box-like open configuration ( FIGS.  1 - 11  and  13   ) to a flat configuration ( FIGS.  15   f    and  16 ) when not in use to carry drinks and snacks.  FIGS.  7  and  12    show the hinges that allow the collapsible snack caddy  10  to transition from is open configuration to a flat configuration. Particularly, the left back corner hinge  52  and left front corner hinge  18  of the left end  92  allow relative rotational movement between the left end  92  and left front triangle  16  and left back triangle  50 . Similarly, right front corner hinge  22  and right back corner hinge  48  of right end  94  allow relative rotational movement between right end  94  and right front triangle  20  and right back triangle  46 . The hinges  52 ,  18 ,  22 , and  48  are piano-type hinges. 
     The left end  92  and the right end  94  are also connected for relative rotational movement to the left bottom panel  76  and the right bottom panel  80  respectively by left bottom panel hinge  78  and right bottom panel hinge  82 . The hinges  78  and  82  are piano-style hinges. The right front trapezoid  28  is connected to the right bottom panel  80  by piano-style right front bottom hinge  30 . The left front trapezoid  24  is connected to the left bottom panel  76  by piano-style left front bottom hinge  26 . The left back trapezoid  58  is connected to the left bottom panel  76  by piano-style left back bottom hinge  60 . The right back trapezoid  54  is connected to the right bottom panel  80  by piano-style right back bottom hinge  56 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS.  7  and  12   , the right back trapezoid  54  and the left back trapezoid  58  are connected together for relative rotation by back center connector  62  engaging right back center connector hinge  64  and left back center connector hinge  66 . The left front trapezoid  24  and the right front trapezoid  28  are connected together for relative rotation by front center connector  32  engaging right front center connector hinge  36  and left front center connector hinge  34 . 
     The right bottom panel  80  and left the bottom panel  76  are connected together for relative rotation by bottom center connector  84 , piano-type left bottom center connector hinge  86  and piano-type right bottom center connector hinge  88 . The bottom center connector  84  is employed to compensate for the thickness of right bottom panel  80  and left bottom panel  76 . 
     The right back triangle  46  and the right back trapezoid  54  are connected together for relative rotation by means of right back living hinge  68 . The left back triangle  50  and the left back trapezoid  58  are connected together for relative rotation by means of left back living hinge  70 . The right front triangle  20  and the right front trapezoid  28  are connected together for relative rotation by means of right front living hinge  40 . The left front triangle  16  and the left front trapezoid  24  are connected together for relative rotation by means of left front living hinge  38 . 
       FIGS.  14  and  15     a - 15   f  show the sequential progression as the collapsible snack caddy  10  progresses from a fully open configuration ( FIG.  15   a   ) to a fully flat configuration ( FIG.  15   f   ). As best seen in  FIG.  14   , the collapsing sequence begins with the front side  14  and back side  44  folding inwardly with the simultaneous rotation of the living hinges  68 ,  70 ,  40 , and  38 , the bottom hinges  56 ,  60 ,  30 , and  26 , and bottom panel hinges  82  and  78 . The collapsing sequence progresses until the front side  14 , the back side  44 , and the ends  92  and  94  lie flat on the bottom  74  ( FIG.  15   c   ). The bottom  74 , the front side  14 , and the back side  44  are then folded along the center connectors  32 ,  84 , and  62 , and the collapsible snack caddy  10  is retained in its flat position by a closure  102  mounted on the external side of the left end  92  and the external side of the right end  94 . 
     An adjustable shoulder strap  104  can be releasably attached to the exposed exterior surface of the bottom  74  so as seen in  FIG.  16   , the collapsed snack caddy  10  can be easily carried when not in use. 
     In the illustrative description of the collapsible snack caddy  10  above, the collapsible snack caddy  10  is illustrated as rectangular in shape with sides that are longer than the ends are wide. As a result, the diagonal living hinges divide the sides into a triangle and a trapezoid shape. The collapsible snack caddy  10  could also be square in shape. With the square shaped collapsible snack caddy, the diagonal living hinges divide the sides into two triangle shapes. Further, for maximum flatness, the height of the sides should not exceed half of the width of the bottom. 
     One should also appreciate that the use of the terms such as “end”, “sides”, “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “front”, and “back” are for the purposes of part identification and not as an indicator of position or function. 
     While this invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the appended claims.