Container cover and holder

Abstract

The present invention includes a device for covering a plurality of first containers. The device preferably includes a plurality of similarly shaped cover materials configured to cover the plurality of first containers and substantially prevent dust from settling on top surfaces and rims of the first containers. Each of the plurality of similarly shaped cover materials preferably comprises a projecting edge that is connected to the cover material in a manner wherein when the cover material covers the top surface of the first container, the cover material is positioned lower than a horizontal rim axis defined by the edges of the rim of the first container. The low position of the cover material and the size of the projecting edge are preferably configured to allow a bottom portion of a second container similar to the first container to be laid on top of the cover material and to abut the projecting edge so that the second container is substantially prevented from moving laterally.

1 . A device for covering a container, the container comprising a body, the body defining a hollow interior, and a top surface covering the hollow interior of the body, the top surface comprising a rim that surrounds the periphery of the top surface, the top surface and the rim being exposed to dust settling on the top surface and the rim, the container further comprising a rim intersection in between the container and the rim, the rim intersection also being exposed to dust settling thereon, the device comprising: 
 (A) a cover material;    (B) a projecting edge connected to the cover material, the projecting edge configured to substantially surround the periphery of the cover material, the projecting edge comprising an interior wall positioned adjacent to the cover material and an exterior wall positioned distal to the cover material relative to the interior wall, the interior and exterior walls being substantially parallel to each other, the projecting edge further comprising a wall connector substantially perpendicular to the parallel walls, the substantially parallel walls and the wall connector defining a container rim receiver, the container rim receiver configured to receive and surround the rim of the container, the wall connector configured to lay on the rim of the container thereby allowing the cover material to cover the top surface of the container; and    (C) an exterior wall extension connected to the exterior wall, the exterior wall extension being configured to cover the intersection between the rim and the container to prevent dust from settling thereon.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover material handle connected to the exterior wall, the cover material handle being configured to be grasped by a user when detaching the device from the container.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the projecting edge and the cover material are shaped and sized so that a bottom portion of a second container similar to the container in  claim 1  substantially interlocks with the projecting edge and the cover material in a manner that substantially prevents the second container from moving laterally.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the rim comprises edges that lie on a substantially uniform horizontal rim axis and wherein the cover material is attached to the protruding edge in a manner that causes the cover material to be positioned lower than the horizontal rim axis when the cover material is placed on top of the top surface of the container, the lower position of the cover material being configured to allow a bottom portion of similar container to be laid on top of the cover material and to abut the projecting edge so that the similar container is substantially prevented from moving laterally.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of similarly shaped cover materials, the plurality of similarly shaped cover materials being configured to be placed on top of multiple containers.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising an elongated connecting material attached to each of the plurality of similarly shaped cover materials.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one pair of opposing flexible flaps attached to the elongated connecting material, each of the opposing flexible flaps being configured to bend toward the elongated connected material when grasped by a user and form substantially dull surfaces, the substantially dull surfaces being configured to provide comfort to a user who is holding the device.  
   
   
       8 . A device for covering a plurality of first containers, each of the plurality of first containers comprising a body, the body defining a hollow interior, and a top surface covering the hollow interior of the body, the top surface comprising a rim that surrounds the periphery of the top surface, the rim comprising edges that lie on a substantially uniform horizontal rim axis, the top surface and the rim being exposed to dust settling on the top surface and the rim, the device comprising a plurality of similarly shaped cover materials configured to cover the plurality of first containers and substantially prevent dust from settling on the top surfaces and the rims of the first containers, each of the plurality of similarly shaped cover materials comprising a projecting edge that is connected to the cover material in a manner wherein when the cover material covers the top surface of the first container, the cover material is positioned lower than the horizontal rim axis, the low position of the cover material and the size of the projecting edge being configured to allow a bottom portion of a second container similar to the first container to be laid on top of the cover material and to abut the projecting edge so that the second container is substantially prevented from moving laterally.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the projecting edge is configured to substantially surround the periphery of the cover material, the projecting edge comprising an interior wall positioned adjacent to the cover material and an exterior wall positioned distal to the cover material relative to the interior wall, the interior and exterior walls being substantially parallel to each other, the projecting edge further comprising a wall connector substantially perpendicular to the parallel walls, the substantially parallel walls and the wall connector defining a container rim receiver, the container rim receiver configured to receive and surround the rim of the container, the wall connector configured to lay on the rim of the container thereby allowing the cover material to cover the top surface of the container.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein each cover material comprises an exterior wall extension connected to the exterior wall, the exterior wall extension being configured to cover an intersection between the rim and the container to prevent dust from settling thereon.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a cover material handle connected to the exterior wall, the cover material handle being configured to be grasped by a user when detaching the device from the container.  
   
   
       12 . A device for holding a plurality of containers, each container comprising a body, the body defining a hollow interior, and a top surface covering the hollow interior of the body, the top surface comprising a rim that surrounds the periphery of the top surface, the device comprising: 
 (A) a plurality of similarly shaped rings;    (B) at least one connecting material that connects the plurality of similarly shaped rings;    (C) at least one pair of opposing flaps attached to the connecting material, the pair of flaps being configured to provide comfort to user when carrying the plurality of containers using the device.    
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein each of the ring comprises a structure that is parallel to a vertical axis, and wherein each ring further comprises at least one ring extension that is attached to the ring and is positioned substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis, the ring extension being configured to abut the rim to allow the holder to hold onto the container.