Cradle device for assisting in carton pouring

Abstract

A cradle or holder device is adapted, in use, to engage a liquid-filled carton or like container so as to enhance pouring of the contents from the carton. The device includes a body member including a backing portion and a carton gripping portion for gripping and holding a carton. The backing portion and gripping portion define a space having a cross section corresponding to that of the carton so that the carton, when received in the space, engages the inner surface of the backing portion and the inner surface of the gripping portion. A handle is affixed to the outer surface of the backing portion so as to enable gripping thereof by a user to thereby enable pouring from a carton received in the space.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A cradle device for engaging a container so as to enhance pouring from the container, said device comprising: 
 a body member including a backing portion having inner and outer surfaces, and a container gripping portion, having an inner surface, for gripping and holding a container, said backing portion and said gripping portion defining a space having a cross section corresponding to that of the container so that the container, when received in said space, engages the inner surface of the backing portion and the inner surface of the gripping portion; and    a handle affixed to the outer surface of said backing portion so as to enable gripping thereof by a user to thereby enable pouring from a container received in said space.    
     
     
         2 . A cradle device according to  claim 1  wherein said gripping portion comprises first and second side walls and a pair of spaced, coplanar front wall members formed integrally with said side walls and extending orthogonally thereto and extending parallel to said backing portion.  
     
     
         3 . A cradle device according to  claim 2  wherein said backing portion comprises an elongate back wall of substantially greater longitudinal extent than said side walls and said front wall members.  
     
     
         4 . A cradle device according to  claim 3  wherein said back wall and said side walls include gripping elements extending outwardly therefrom at respective top edges thereof into said space.  
     
     
         5 . A cradle device according to  claim 4  wherein said gripping elements are inclined inwardly from said side walls and said back wall.  
     
     
         6 . A cradle device according to  claim 5  wherein said gripping elements of said side walls are of a substantially triangular shape.  
     
     
         7 . A cradle device according to  claim 2  wherein said front wall members include facing edges of a convex shape.  
     
     
         8 . A cradle device according to  claim 3  wherein said side walls each include a recessed area adjacent to said back wall.  
     
     
         9 . A cradle device according to  claim 8  wherein said recessed area is of a curved shape which is of greatest depth at a point adjacent to but spaced from said back wall and which terminates at a point spaced from said back wall substantially one half of the width of the corresponding side wall.  
     
     
         10 . A cradle device according to  claim 8  wherein said back wall includes indented areas in opposite side edges thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A cradle device for assisting pouring from a liquid-filled carton of a substantially square shape and including tented top portion forming or including a pour spout, said device comprising: 
 a body member including a backing portion having inner and outer surfaces, and a carton gripping portion, having an inner surface, for gripping and holding a liquid-filled carton, said backing portion and said gripping portion defining a substantially square space having a cross section corresponding to that of the carton so that the carton, when received in said space, engages the inner surface of the backing portion and the inner surface of the gripping portion, said gripping portion comprising first and second side walls and a pair of spaced, coplanar front wall members formed integrally with said side walls and extending orthogonally thereto and extending parallel to said backing portion, said backing portion and said side walls including gripping elements extending outwardly therefrom at respective top edges thereof into said space for engaging the tented top portion of the carton; and    a handle affixed to the outer surface of said backing portion so as to enable gripping thereof by a user to thereby enable pouring from a carton received in said space.    
     
     
         12 . A cradle device according to  claim 11  wherein said backing portion comprises an elongate back wall of substantially greater longitudinal extent than said side walls and said front wall members.  
     
     
         13 . A cradle device according to  claim 13  wherein said gripping are inclined inwardly from said side walls and said back wall.  
     
     
         14 . A cradle device according to  claim 13  wherein said gripping elements of said side walls are of a substantially triangular shape.  
     
     
         15 . A cradle device according to  claim 11  wherein said front wall members include facing edges of a convex shape.  
     
     
         16 . A cradle device according to  claim 12  wherein said side walls include a recessed area adjacent to said back wall.  
     
     
         17 . A cradle device according to  claim 16  wherein said recessed area is of a curved shape which is of greatest depth at a point adjacent to but spaced from said back wall and which terminates at a point spaced from said back wall substantially one half of the width of the corresponding side wall.  
     
     
         18 . A cradle device according to  claim 16  wherein said back wall includes indented areas in opposite side edges thereof.