Abstract:
A beverage carrying assembly includes a panel that has a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge. The perimeter edge includes a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a front edge and a rear edge. The panel has a pair of major bend lines each extending from the front edge to the rear edge. Each of the major bend lines defines a first portion, a second portion and a middle portion wherein the middle portion includes openings for receiving beverage cups. The first and second portions each include grooves and insertion tabs for allowing multiple ones of the panels to be secured together in stacked configuration for holding several beverage cups.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to beverage carrying devices and more particularly pertains to a new beverage carrying device for carrying multiple beverages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a panel that has a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge. The perimeter edge includes a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a front edge and a rear edge. The panel has a pair of major bend lines each extending from the front edge to the rear edge. Each of the major bend lines defines a first portion, a second portion and a middle portion of the panel. Each of the first and second portions is positionable to define a carrying position so the panel is bent at each of the major bend lines such that each of the first and second portions are directed upwardly from the middle portion. The panel is comprised of a bendable material. The first portion includes a handle cutout extending therethrough. The second portion includes a handle aperture extending therethrough. Each of the first and second portions has a pair of grooves each extending inwardly from a corresponding one of the front and rear edges. Each pair of the grooves is positioned nearer to a corresponding one of the first and second lateral edges than a corresponding one of the major bend lines. Each of the grooves defines an insertion tab positioned between the corresponding ones of the grooves and the first and second lateral edges. Each of the first and second portions has a pair of tab cutouts extending therethrough. Each of the tab cutouts extends from the top side to the bottom side. Each of the tab cutouts insertably receives an insertion tab from another one of the assemblies. The middle portion includes a plurality of cup apertures extending therethrough. Each of the cup apertures extends through the top and bottom sides. Each of the cup apertures has a circular shape and insertably receives a beverage cup. The first and second portions are positioned in the carrying position and directed toward each other so the top sides of each of the first and second portions abut adjacent to each of the first and second lateral edges. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top side view of a beverage carrying assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a right side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a right side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 6  thereof, a new beverage carrying device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the beverage carrying assembly  10  generally comprises a panel  11  that has a top side  12 , a bottom side  13  and a perimeter edge  14 . The perimeter edge  14  includes a first lateral edge  15 , a second lateral edge  16 , a front edge  17  and a rear edge  18 . The panel  11  has a pair of major bend lines  19  each extending from the front edge  17  to the rear edge  18 . Each of the major bend lines  19  defines a first portion  20 , a second portion  21  and a middle portion  22  of the panel  11 . 
     Each of the first 20 and second 21 portions is positionable to define a carrying position. The panel  11  may be bent at each of the major bend lines  19  to define the carrying position. Each of the first 20 and second 21 portions may be directed upwardly from the middle portion  22  after the panel  21  is bent. The panel  11  may be comprised of a bendable material such as cardboard or other similar material. 
     The first portion  20  includes a handle cutout  23  extending therethrough. The handle cutout  23  extends through the top  12  and bottom sides  13 . The handle cutout  23  has a U-shape defining a bendable handle tab  24 . The handle tab  24  is outwardly bendable to form a handle opening  25 . 
     The second portion  21  includes a handle aperture  26  extending therethrough. The handle aperture  26  extends from the top side  12  to the bottom side  13 . The handle aperture  26  may removably receive the handle tab  24 . When the handle tab  24  is inserted through the handle aperture  26  the handle aperture  26  and the handle opening  25  form a handle  27 . 
     Each of the first 20 and second 21 portions has a pair of grooves  28  each extending inwardly from a corresponding one of the front  17  and rear  18  edges. Each pair of the grooves  28  is positioned nearer to a corresponding one of the first 15 and second 16 lateral edges than a corresponding one of the major bend lines  19 . Each of the grooves  28  defines a bendable insertion tab  29  positioned between the corresponding ones of the grooves  28  and the first 15 and second 16 lateral edges. 
     Each of the first 20 and second 21 portions has an attaching cutout  30  extending therethrough. The attaching cutout  30  extends through the top side  12  and the bottom side  13 . The attaching cutout  30  has a U-shape defining an attaching tab  31 . The attaching tab  31  is outwardly bendable to form an attaching opening  32  to receive a first lateral edge  15  or a second lateral edge  16  of another one of the assemblies  10 . 
     Each of the first 20 and second 21 portions has a pair of tab cutouts  33  extending therethrough. Each of the tab cutouts  33  extends from the top side  12  to the bottom side  13 . Each of the tab cutouts  33  defines a bendable cut out tab  34 . Each of the tab cutouts  33  may insertably receive an insertion tab  29  from the other one of the assemblies  10 . 
     The middle portion  22  includes a plurality of cup apertures  35  extending therethrough. Each of the cup apertures  35  extends through the top  12  and bottom  13  sides. Each of the cup apertures  35  has a circular shape and may insertably receive a beverage cup  40 . The cup apertures  35  are aligned with each other along an axis extending through the front  17  and rear  18  edges. The plurality of cup apertures  35  includes at least three cup apertures  35 . 
     Each of the cup apertures  35  is defined by a peripheral edge  36 . Each peripheral edge  36  has a plurality of cuts  37  extending outwardly from the peripheral edge  36  to form expansion tabs  38  between each of the adjacent cuts  37 . Each of the expansion tabs  38  may abut an outer surface  39  of the inserted beverage cups  40 . The expansion tabs  38  may be bent downwardly to selectively increase a diameter of the cup apertures  35  to match a diameter of the beverage cups  40 . The expansion tabs  38  may increase the diameter of the cup apertures  35  to a diameter that is less than the maximum diameter of the beverage cups  40 . 
     After the beverage cups  40  are inserted into the cup apertures  35  the first 20 and second 21 portions may be positioned in the carrying position. The first 20 and second 21 portions may be directed toward each other. The first 20 and second 21 portions may be bent near the grooves  28  so the top sides  12  of each of the first 20 and second 21 portions abut adjacent to each of the first 15 and second 16 lateral edges. The handle tab  24  may be extended through the handle aperture  26  and bent upwardly to abut the bottom side  13  of the second portion  21  to retain each of the first 20 and second 21 portions in the carrying position and to form the handle  27 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 , generally, a pair of assemblies  10  may be vertically stacked. Each of the first 20 and second portions  21  on a bottom assembly  41  may be positioned to define the carrying position. Each of the insertion tabs  29  on the bottom assembly  41  may be bent inwardly so each of the insertion tabs  29  abuts the top side  12  of the first 20 and second 21 portions. Each of the first 20 and second 21 portions of a top assembly  42  may be positioned to define the carrying position. Each of the attaching tabs  31  on the top assembly  42  may be outwardly bent to form the attaching openings  32 . 
     Each of the first 15 and second 16 lateral edges of the bottom assembly  41  may be extended through the attaching opening  32  of the top assembly  42 . Each of the bent insertion tabs  29  on the bottom assembly  41  may be straightened out and extended through a corresponding one of the tab cutouts  33  on the top assembly  42 . The first 20 and second 21 portions of the top assembly  42  may be bent near the grooves  28 . The top sides  12  of each of the first 20 and second 21 portions of the top assembly  42  may abut adjacent to each of the first 15 and second 16 lateral edges of the top assembly  42 . The handle tab  24  on the top assembly  42  may be inserted through the handle aperture  26  on the top assembly  42  to form the handle  27 . 
     In use, the panel  11  is bent along each of the major bend lines  19  to position each of the first 20 and second 21 portions in the carrying position. Beverage cups  40  are inserted into each of the cup apertures  35 . Each of the first 20 and second 21 portions are directed toward each other and the top sides  12  of each of the first 20 and second 21 portions are abutted adjacent to the first 15 and second 16 lateral edges of each of the first 20 and second 21 portions. The handle tab  24  is extended through the handle aperture  26  to form the handle  27 . 
     A pair of assemblies  10 , or more, may also be vertically stacked as shown in  FIG. 6 . Each of the first 20 and second portions  21  on a bottom assembly  41  may be positioned to define the carrying position. Each of the insertion tabs  29  on the bottom assembly  41  may be bent inwardly so each of the insertion tabs  29  abuts the top side  12  of the first 20 and second 21 portions. Each of the first 20 and second 21 portions of a top assembly  42  are positioned to define the carrying position. Each of the attaching tabs  31  on the top assembly  42  is outwardly bent to form the attaching openings  32 . Each of the first 15 and second 16 lateral edges of the bottom assembly  41  are extended through the attaching opening  32  of the top assembly  42 . Each of the bent insertion tabs  29  on the bottom assembly  41  are straightened out and extended through a corresponding one of the tab cutouts  33  on the top assembly  42 . The first 20 and second 21 portions of the top assembly  42  are then bent near the grooves  28 . The top sides  12  of each of the first 20 and second 21 portions of the top assembly  42  abut adjacent to each of the first 15 and second 16 lateral edges of the top assembly  42 . The handle tab  24  on the top assembly  42  is inserted through the handle aperture  26  on the top assembly  42  to form the handle  27 . The joined top  42  and bottom  41  assemblies may be disassembled to remove the beverage cups  40 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.