Cup Holder and Cup with Handle

Abstract

A cup holder comprises a collar ( 2 ) and a handle ( 4 ), the collar ( 2 ) comprising a continuous loop of flexible sheet material, preferably card or cardboard, in which two opposed holes ( 6 ) are formed and which, in use, extends around and engages the outer surface of a cup. The handle ( 4 ) comprises an elongate strip of flexible sheet material, preferably card or cardboard, integral with each end of which are two elongate lugs ( 10 ) which extend divergently, the maximum distance between the outer edges of the lugs ( 10 ) being greater than the maximum dimension of the holes ( 6 ) in the direction of the length of the collar and the width of each lug ( 10 ) being less than the said maximum dimension of the holes ( 6 ), the two ends of the handle ( 4 ) being pivotally received in respective holes ( 6 ) with the two lugs ( 10 ) on one side of the collar and the adjacent portion of the handle being on the other side of the collar.

1 . A cup holder comprising a collar and a handle, the collar comprising a continuous loop of flexible sheet material in which two opposed holes are formed and which, in use, extends around and engages the outer surface of a cup, the handle comprising an elongate strip of flexible sheet material, integral with each end of which are two elongate lugs which extend divergently, the maximum distance between the outer edges of the lugs being greater than the maximum dimension of the holes in the direction of the length of the collar and the width of each lug being less than the said maximum dimension of the holes, the two ends of the handle being pivotally received in respective holes with the two lugs on one side of the collar and the adjacent portion of the handle being on the other side of the collar. 
     
     
         2 . A cup holder comprising two or more collars, a handle and a support ring, each collar comprising a continuous loop of flexible sheet material which, in use, extends around and engages the outer surface of a respective cup, each collar being connected to at least one of the other collars, the support ring comprising a continuous ring of flexible sheet material in which to opposed holes are formed, the support ring constituting an elongate strip of flexible sheet material which is constituted in part by portions of the collars or two which portions of the collars are connected, the handle comprising an elongate strip of flexible sheet material, integral with each end of which are two elongate lugs which extend divergently, the maximum distance between the outer edges of the lugs being greater than the maximum dimension of the holes in the direction of the length of the support ring and the width of each lug being less than the said maximum dimension of the holes, the two ends of the handle being pivotably received in respective holes with the two lugs on one side of the support ring and the adjacent portion of the handle on the other side of the support ring. 
     
     
         3 . A beverage cup including two support members and a handle, the support members being connected to opposed portions of the outer surface of the cup and having respective holes formed in them, the handle comprising an elongate strip of flexible sheet material, integral with each end of which are two elongate lugs which extend divergently, the maximum distance between the outer edges of the lugs being greater than the maximum dimension of the holes in the circumferential direction of the cup and the width of each lug being less than the said maximum dimension of the holes, the two ends of the handle being pivotably received in respective holes with the two lugs sandwiched between the inner surface of a respective support member and the outer surface of the cup and the adjacent portion of the handle being adjacently outer surface of the support member. 
     
     
         4 . A beverage cup as claimed in  claim 3 , in which these two support members are separate and are connected to the outer surface of the cup by adhesive or welding such that movement of the pairs of lugs in the spaces between the support members and the cup is possible. 
     
     
         5 . A beverage cup as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the handle is pivotably movable between a stowed position, in which it has two folds formed in it and is situated substantially in contact with the outer surface of the cup over substantially its entire length, and an operative position, which is rotated through substantially 90° with respect to the stowed position and in which it extends above the cup and may be used to carry it. 
     
     
         6 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A beverage cup as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the handle is pivotably movable between a stowed position, in which it has two folds formed in it and is situated substantially in contact with the outer surface of the cup over substantially its entire length, and an operative position, which is rotated through substantially 90° with respect to the stowed position and in which it extends above the cup and may be used to carry it. 
     
     
         9 . A cup holder as claimed in  claim 1  in which the flexible sheet material is card or cardboard. 
     
     
         10 . A cup holder as claimed in  claim 2  in which the flexible sheet material is card or cardboard. 
     
     
         11 . A beverage cup as claimed in  claim 3  in which the flexible sheet material is card or cardboard. 
     
     
         12 . A cup holder as claimed in  claim 1  in which the holes are substantially circular. 
     
     
         13 . A cup holder as claimed in  claim 2  in which the holes are substantially circular. 
     
     
         14 . A cup holder as claimed in  claim 3  in which the holes are substantially circular.