Cup carrier with thumb holds and curved stabilizing walls

Abstract

A molded cup carrier of resilient material for holding cups of different shapes and sizes, the cup carrier comprising at least one cup-holding socket, at least two stabilizing posts positioned around each socket and a center cavity defined between the sockets. Each socket includes a floor within each socket having a cup-contacting surface upon which a cup can rest when inserted into the socket. One embodiment includes the stabilizing post having a thumb hold disposed on the top surface of the stabilizing post to aid in preventing a user's thumb from slipping off the top surface of the post. Each stabilizing post may also include at least one curved stabilizing wall extending inwardly and downwardly into a respective socket. The molded cup carrier may also include a peripheral rim wherein a portion of the peripheral rim is inwardly arced.

1 . A cup carrier of resilient material comprising:
 at least one cup-holding socket to hold cups of different shapes and sizes;   at least two stabilizing posts positioned around the socket;   a cup-contacting surface upon which a cup can rest when inserted into the socket; and   at least one stabilizing wall extending inwardly and downwardly from each of said stabilizing posts into the socket, each said stabilizing wall includes a curved portion wherein said curved portion includes an upper end, a lower end, and a tangent line of the curve, the tangent line having a slope wherein the slope increases along the curve from the upper end to the lower end.   
     
     
         2 . The cup carrier of  claim 1  wherein the slope is substantially horizontal at the upper end of the curved portion and substantially vertical at the lower end of the curved portion. 
     
     
         3 . The cup carrier of  claim 1  wherein the curved portion has a substantially parabolic shape to provide a cup-contacting point located in an upper region of said socket. 
     
     
         4 . The cup carrier of  claim 1  wherein the curved portion of the stabilizing wall is configured to exert a desirable amount of gripping force against a beverage cup when the beverage cup is received in the socket. 
     
     
         5 . The cup carrier of  claim 1  further comprising at least two cup-holding sockets with a downwardly extending center cavity defined therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The cup carrier of  claim 1  wherein at least one stabilizing post has a top surface and includes a thumb hold disposed on the top surface. 
     
     
         7 . The cup carrier of  claim 6  wherein said thumb hold is a recessed portion of the top surface. 
     
     
         8 . The cup carrier of  claim 6  wherein said thumb hold is a projection extending upwardly from the top surface. 
     
     
         9 . The cup carrier of  claim 1  further comprising a peripheral rim wherein said rim has at least one portion being inwardly arced. 
     
     
         10 . The cup carrier of  claim 1  wherein each stabilizing wall defines a slot therethrough extending up from a respective opening and terminating at a point proximate the upper edge of the stabilizing wall. 
     
     
         11 . The cup carrier of  claim 1  wherein the cup carrier is formed at least partially of molded pulp. 
     
     
         12 . A cup carrier of resilient material comprising:
 at least one cup-holding socket to hold cups of different shapes and sizes;   at least two stabilizing posts positioned around the socket wherein at least one post includes a top surface and a thumb hold disposed on the top surface;   a cup-contacting surface upon which a cup can rest when inserted into the socket; and   at least one stabilizing wall extending inwardly and downwardly from each of said stabilizing posts into the socket.   
     
     
         13 . The cup carrier of  claim 12  wherein the thumb hold is a recessed portion of the top surface of at least one stabilizing post. 
     
     
         14 . The cup carrier of  claim 12  wherein said thumb hold is contoured to receive a thumb. 
     
     
         15 . The cup carrier of  claim 12  wherein said thumb hold is adapted for preventing a user's thumb from sliding off of the stabilizing post. 
     
     
         16 . The cup carrier of  claim 12  wherein the thumb hold is a projection extending upwardly from the top surface on at least one stabilizing post. 
     
     
         17 . The cup carrier of  claim 12  wherein each said stabilizing wall includes a curved portion that includes an upper end, a lower end, and a tangent line of the curve, the tangent line having a slope wherein the slope increases along the curve from the upper end to the lower end. 
     
     
         18 . The cup carrier of  claim 17  wherein the slope of the tangent line is substantially horizontal proximate the upper end of the curved portion and substantially vertical at the lower end of the. 
     
     
         19 . The cup carrier of  claim 17  wherein the curved portion has a parabolic shape. 
     
     
         20 . The cup carrier of  claim 12  wherein the cup carrier is formed at least partially of molded pulp. 
     
     
         21 . A molded cup carrier of resilient material for holding cups of different shapes and sizes, said cup carrier comprising:
 at least two cup-holding sockets;   at least two stabilizing posts positioned around each said socket wherein at least one post includes a top surface and a thumb hold disposed on the top surface to resist a user's thumb from slipping off the top surface of said post;   a floor within each said socket having a cup-contacting surface upon which a cup can rest when inserted into the socket;   at least one curved stabilizing wall extending inwardly and downwardly from each stabilizing post into a respective socket; and   a downwardly extending center cavity defined between the sockets.   
     
     
         22 . The cup carrier of  claim 21  further comprising a plurality of corners wherein at least two sockets are disposed proximate one of the corners, each corner having a top surface and a portion of the top surface outwardly extending, and wherein a stabilizing wall extends inwardly and downwardly from each corner into a respective socket. 
     
     
         23 . The cup carrier of  claim 22  further comprising a peripheral rim spanning between the plurality of corners around a perimeter of the carrier wherein a portion of the peripheral rim is inwardly arced. 
     
     
         24 . The cup carrier of  claim 21  wherein the cup carrier is faulted at least partially of molded pulp.