[0001] This invention refers to a ring-shaped carrier which accepts various beverage cups
(e.g. coffee cups, soft drink cups etc). It consists of a ring/hoop (Fig. 1
A, Fig. 2
A, Fig. 3
A) in which the user can place the beverage cup and of a handle (Fig. 1
B, Fig. 2
B, Fig. 3
B) to carry the whole.
[0002] Till today, the most popular way for carrying beverage cups full of soft drinks,
coffee or any liquid in general, was the use of either paper/ carton beverage carriers
of 2 or 4 compartments, or drink carrier bags with pockets holding the drinks.
[0003] Our suggestion is simpler and refers to carrying one or more beverage cups using
a simpler and more cost-efficient construction that still provides functionality.
[0004] The advantages of this invention include:
- 1) The user's ability to carry a full beverage cup, in an upright position, without
spills (Fig. 3).
- 2) The user's safety, as the invention prevents any bums during the carrying of the
cup (especially when the cup contains a hot drink).
- 3) The user can hang it from motorcycles, bicycles etc and carry the cup and its content
unaffected by bumps and jolts.
- 4) The user will be able to drink while carrying the cup, as the cup may remain without
a lid, allowing the user to simultaneously drink from it.
- 5) The construction is simple, resulting in a very low cost and, consequently, its
adoption will not considerably weigh on the user.
[0005] The carrier consists of a cylindrical ring/ hoop of varying height, made of either
soft or hard plastic, in which the cup is placed. As the diameter of the cup's lips
is bigger than the diameter of the ring/ hoop's base (shaped as an inverted cone),
the cup will be brought into a fixed position after placed into the ring/ hoop (closer
to its upper open end), so that most of the cup's surface may be found under the ring/
hoop (depending on the said ring/ hoop's diameter). In this way, the cup will be trapped
into the ring/ hoop (Fig. 3
A). Moreover, the ring/ hoop will have a fitted handle, attached to diametrically opposite
sides of the ring/ hoop, so as to carry the whole while the cup remains trapped into
the ring/ hoop (Fig. 3
B).
[0006] Depending on the cost and the desired usability of placing the cup, the ring/ hoop
may be manufactured using soft or hard plastic.
[0007] If made out of soft material, the cup is more safely trapped and its height determines
the stability and durability of the whole.
[0008] This invention may be used for more than one cup if the user combines together more
handles or more rings/ hoops to simultaneously carry more than a single cup.
1. The carrier can be manufactured using different materials (soft or hard plastic, paper/
carton, metal, wire etc) and it is characterised by the user's ability to trap the cup into the invention's ring/ hoop. The invention
consists of a ring/ hoop (Fig. 1A, Fig. 2A, Fig. 3A) and a handle (Fig. 1B, Fig. 2B, Fig. 3B).
2. The beverage cup carrier, as defined in claim 1, comprises a ring/ hoop of varying
width (i.e. hoop height), into which the cup is trapped (Fig. 1A, Fig. 2A, Fig. 3A)
3. The beverage cup carrier, as defined in claims 1 and 2, comprises a ring/hoop whose
diameter depends on that of the cup to be used, so that the cup may be trapped into
the carrier closer to its upper open end; in this way, the cup will remain in an upright
position without spills (Fig. 3A).
4. The beverage cup carrier, as defined in claims 1, 2, and 3, comprises a handle which
may be adjustable and either detachable or permanently attached to the ring/ hoop
(Fig. 1B, Fig. 2B, Fig. 3B).
5. The beverage cup carrier, as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, allows its user to combine
together one or more beverage cup carriers by connecting their rings/ hoops to each
other, so that s/he may simultaneously carry more cups in the same way.
6. The beverage cup carrier, as defined in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, allows its user to
combine together one or more beverage cup carriers using their handles, so that s/he
may simultaneously carry more cups in the same way.
