Configurable cup holder

Abstract

A beverages holder, comprising a disposable cup ( 200 ) for containing the beverage and a carrier ( 100 ) for enabling a user to carry or support the cup, the holder being configurable in at least two of: a first configuration in which a portion ( 5,12 ) of the carrier ( 100 ) supports a base ( 201 ) of the cup; a second configuration in which the cup ( 200 ) is suspended beneath part ( 5,12 ) of the carrier; and a third configuration in which the carrier ( 100 ) provides a band around the cup ( 200 ).

1 . A vendable goods holder, comprising: 
 a receptacle for receiving goods and a carrier for enabling a purchaser of the goods to carry or support the receptacle, the holder being configurable in at least two of: 
 a first configuration in which a portion of the carrier supports a base of the receptacle;  
 a second configuration in which the receptacle is suspended beneath part of the carrier; and  
 a third configuration in which the carrier provides a band around the receptacle.  
   
     
     
         2 . A beverages holder, comprising a disposable cup for containing the beverage and a carrier for enabling a user to carry or support the cup, the holder being configurable in at least two of: 
 a first configuration in which a portion of the carrier supports a base of the cup;    a second configuration in which the cup is suspended beneath part of the carrier; and    a third configuration in which the carrier provides a band around the cup.    
     
     
         3 . A holder according to  claim 1 , which is configurable in the second configuration, wherein the carrier provides a handle graspable by a user in the second configuration.  
     
     
         4 . A holder according to  claim 1 , configurable in the third configuration wherein the carrier provides a handle graspable by a user in the third configuration.  
     
     
         5 . A holder according to  claim 1 , configurable in at least the second and third configurations wherein the carrier provides a handle graspable by a user in both the first and third configurations.  
     
     
         6 . A holder according to  claim 1 , configurable in the first configuration, wherein the carrier has an aperture defining portion through which the cup extends in the first configuration so as to be supported by a portion of the carrier opposed to the aperture defining portion.  
     
     
         7 . A holder according to  claim 1 , configurable in the second configuration, wherein the carrier has an aperture defining portion through which the cup or receptacle extends so as to be suspended from the carrier in the second configuration.  
     
     
         8 . A holder according to  claim 1 , configurable in at least the first and second configurations wherein the carrier has an aperture defining portion for providing an aperture through which the cup or receptacle extends so as to be supported by said portion of the carrier in the first configuration and through which the cup or receptacle extends in the second configuration so as to be suspended from the carrier.  
     
     
         9 . A holder according to  claim 6 , wherein the aperture defining portion comprises a frangible portion.  
     
     
         10 . A holder according to  claim 6 , wherein the aperture defining portion comprises a plurality of slits.  
     
     
         11 . A carrier according to  claim 6 , wherein the aperture defining portion comprises an aperture bounded by a slitted periphery.  
     
     
         12 . A holder according to  claim 6 , wherein the carrier has a plurality of such aperture defining portions.  
     
     
         13 . A holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises a blank having first and second ends that are couplable together to define the carrier.  
     
     
         14 . A holder according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second edges carry respective coupling portions one of which comprises a slot and the other of which comprises a flap or projection which extends through the slot.  
     
     
         15 . A holder according to  claim 14 , wherein the projection or tab also provides a handle.  
     
     
         16 . A holder according to  claim 14 , wherein each coupling portion comprises a slot and a projection or tab with the slot of one coupling portion being cooperable with the tab of the other coupling portion.  
     
     
         17 . A holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier has fold lines for facilitating adoption of said at least two of said first to third configurations.  
     
     
         18 . A carrier for use in a holder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises an endless band defining a cup or receptacle receiving region, the carrier being adapted to hold the cup or receptacle in at least two of: 
 a first configuration in which a support portion of the endless band opposed to the receiving region can be supported on a support surface, thereby enabling a cup or receptacle received by the receiving region to be supported in an upright condition on the support surface;    a second configuration in which a cup or receptacle is received by the receiving region and the carrier can be carried by the support portion so that the cup or receptacle is suspended below the support portion; and    a third configuration in which a cup or receptacle is received within the endless band and the cup or receptacle can be carried by a user grasping the carrier.    
     
     
         19 . A carrier according to  claim 18 , comprising a flat sheet having end portions and coupling means for coupling the end portions to define the endless band.  
     
     
         20 . A carrier according to  claim 18 , wherein the carrier comprises a flat sheet having end portions adhered together to form the endless band.  
     
     
         21 . A carrier according to  claim 19 , wherein the coupling means comprise at least one of: 
 cooperating tabs or projections, cooperating projections and slits, cooperating handle portions and slit and cooperating handle portions.    
     
     
         22 . A carrier according to  claim 19 , wherein the coupling means comprise handle portions holdable together to define the endless band.  
     
     
         23 . A carrier according to  claim 18 , wherein the receiving region comprises a depression.  
     
     
         24 . A carrier according to  claim 18 , wherein the receiving region comprises an aperture defining region defined by at least one of: 
 a frangible area of the endless band and slits or slots formed in the endless band.    
     
     
         25 . A carrier according to claims  18 , wherein the support portion provides an integral handle.  
     
     
         26 . A carrier according to  claim 25 , wherein the handle is provided by a cut out formed in the endless band.  
     
     
         27 . A carrier according to  claim 18 , wherein the cup or receptacle providing region is adapted to receive a plurality of cups or receptacles.  
     
     
         28 . A carrier according to  claim 18 , wherein the endless band is formed with fold lines for defining separate wall portions of the carrier in use.  
     
     
         29 . A carrier according to claims  18 , wherein the carrier is formed from at least one of: 
 paper, card, cardboard, a plastics material, corrugated paper, plastics or cardboard, rubber, reinforced cloth, leather.    
     
     
         30 . A blank for forming a carrier for use in a holder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the blank has opposed end portions and an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion having a cup receiving region and a part of the blank providing an integral handle portion for the carrier, the end portions of the blank being arranged to be coupled together to form an endless band in use.  
     
     
         31 . A blank according to  claim 30 , wherein the end portions of the blank having coupling means for releasably coupling together the end portions of the blank.  
     
     
         32 . A blank according to  claim 31 , wherein the coupling means comprise at least one of cooperating tabs or projections, cooperating projections and slits, cooperating handle portion and slit and cooperating handle portions.  
     
     
         33 . A blank according to  claim 31 , wherein the coupling means comprise respective handle portions provided by the end portions, the handle portions being arranged to be holdable together to define an endless band.  
     
     
         34 . A blank according to  claim 33 , wherein one of the handle portions defines a securing element receivable through an aperture in the other handle portion.  
     
     
         35 . A blank according to  claim 30 , wherein the cup or receptacle receiving region comprises at least one of slots, cut outs and fold lines for defining a depression for receiving a cup or receptacle in use.  
     
     
         36 . A blank according to  claim 30 , wherein the cup receiving region is an aperture defining region.  
     
     
         37 . A blank according to  claim 36 , wherein the aperture defining region comprises at least one of a frangible section, slit and an aperture.  
     
     
         38 . A blank according to  claim 30 , wherein the cup or receptacle receiving region is arranged to receive a plurality of cups or receptacles.  
     
     
         39 . A blank according to  claim 30 , separated by fold lines into a plurality of portions which define respective different walls of the carrier in use.  
     
     
         40 . A blank according to  claim 30 , further comprising projecting side portions for closing open sides of the carrier during use.  
     
     
         41 . A blank according to  claim 30 , wherein the blank is formed from at least one of: 
 paper, card, cardboard, a plastics material, corrugated card, plastics or cardboard or paper, rubber, reinforced cloth or leather.