cup holder

Abstract

To provide a cup holder which does not require cardboard or hard plastic containers, does not require a storage space for the cup holder, does not require the labor of folding a plastic bag, and does not require a special processing device or the like. [Solution] The product comprises a roughly rectangular main body 1a made of nonwoven fabric and having long and short sides, three cup fixing notches 8, 9 formed in the central region of the main body, and two handle notches 6 formed on both the left and right sides of the main body, the three cup fixing notches consisting of one single carrying cup fixing notch 8 and two double carrying cup fixing notches 9, the cup fixing notches consisting of long notches 4, 5 and one or more short notches 2, 3, the long notches and short notches intersect, and the three cup fixing notches are arranged in the width direction of the main body in the order of two carrying cup fixing notch, one carrying cup fixing notch, two carrying cup fixing notch, the one carrying cup fixing notch is located in the centre of the main body and the two carrying cup fixing notch is located symmetrically to the one carrying cup fixing notch. The cup holder can hold one or two cups simply by cutting and slitting a roughly rectangular nonwoven fabric, requires little storage space, prevents the cup from tilting, is easy to hold with one hand, is easy to carry, and can be handled by either a store clerk or a customer at a take-out store.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cup holder that is easy to hold in one hand when carrying a cup and is easy to carry. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when transporting a cup containing coffee or other beverages for takeout, a cup holder has been proposed that can secure the underside of the cup with a paper (cardboard / corrugated sheet) or non-flexible (hard) plastic container (Patent Document 1). Such paper / hard plastic holders require the effort of molding the holder and space to store the holder, and a bag is required to hold the paper holder when carrying the holder by hand. Also proposed is a packaging bag for takeout cup beverages, etc., that does not use cardboard or the like, but instead uses a plastic bag with a heat-sealed section to separate the space for the container, and processes the bottom of the plastic bag to create a gusset to accommodate the cup (Patent Document 2). With such plastic bags, one cup container tends to tilt and become unstable when placed in a two-cup plastic bag, requiring the effort of creating the gusset and specialized processing equipment for heat-sealing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-038596 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3215746 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a demand for a cup holder that does not require cardboard or hard plastic containers as in Patent Document 1, does not require a large amount of storage space in the cup holder, and does not require the time and effort of folding a plastic bag or special processing equipment as in Patent Document 2. The requirements for take-out containers at coffee and beverage shops are as follows: (1) The cup does not tip over, is easy to hold with one hand, and is easy to carry. (2) It can be used with one or two cups. (3) The cup holder itself has little storage space. (4) No hassle at the store (no assembly required), (5) In addition, it was inexpensive. Furthermore, the requests of processing manufacturers and distributors are as follows: (6) No special equipment is required. (7) It does not require labor or effort to process or fold the product into a bag. (8) No waste such as scraps is produced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] As a result of research into how to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventor came up with a cup holder that can be easily installed by simply cutting and slitting a roughly rectangular piece of nonwoven fabric, can hold one or two cups, requires little storage space for the cup holder itself, prevents cups from tilting when attached, is easy to hold with one hand, is easy to carry, can be handled by either store staff or customers at takeout stores, and is inexpensive. That is, the present invention comprises the following aspects: [1] A roughly rectangular body made of nonwoven fabric with long and short sides, three cup fixing notches formed in the central region of the body, and two handle notches formed on both the left and right sides of the body. A cup holder comprising: The three cup fixing notches include one notch for fixing one transport cup and two notches for fixing two transport cups, The cup fixing notch is composed of a long notch and one or more short notches, and the long notches and the short notches intersect with each other; The three cup fixing notches are arranged in the width direction of the body in the following order: two transport cup fixing notches, one transport cup fixing notch, and two transport cup fixing notches; The single carrier cup fixing notch is located in the center of the body, The two transfer cup fixing notches are located symmetrically with respect to the one transfer cup fixing notch; A cup holder for carrying one or two cups. [2] When the cup being transported is a cup whose diameter expands from the bottom to the top opening, The cup holder according to [1], wherein the length of the long cut is at least half the circumference of the cup at half its height. [3] The cup holder described in [1] has two straw fixing notches for fixing straws between the handle notches and the cup fixing notches at both ends of the long side of the cup holder, for a total of two sets of straw fixing notches for a total of four. [4] The cup holder described in [1], wherein the handle notches are formed in positions symmetrical with respect to the three cup fixing notches. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] With this cup holder, (1) The cup does not tilt, is easy to hold with one hand, and is easy to carry. (2) You can use one or two cups at the same time. (3) Because it is a film rather than a bag, the cup holder itself takes up less storage space and is lightweight. (4) There is no need to assemble the product in-store, which saves the staff time. (5) In addition, it is cheaper than conventional products. (6) No special equipment is required; processing can be done simply by making cuts. (7) No labor or effort is required to process or fold the product into a bag. (8) No scraps or other waste are produced. (9) It is made of a single material and can be easily disposed of as combustible waste. (10) It is made of nonwoven fabric and is easy to print the retailer's logo, trademark, etc. It has the following effects: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a cup holder. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of one form of cup holder with two cups attached. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of one form of cup holder with one cup attached thereto. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of one form of cup holder with a cup attached thereto. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the cup holder when being carried. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows another example of the shape of the cup fixing notch. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows another type of handle notch shape. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] This invention is a cup holder with a roughly rectangular sheet made of nonwoven fabric and a slit. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. <Nonwoven fabric> Nonwoven fabrics are selected in consideration of their light weight, storability, flame resistance, heat retention, soft texture, and low cost. The nonwoven fabric may be a single layer or a multi-layer structure, and can be a product with good heat retention. However, it is preferable that the product is lightweight and easy to carry. Methods for producing nonwoven fabrics include spunbonding, meltblowing, thermal bonding, chemical bonding, needle punching, and spunlace. Materials used for the nonwoven fabric include polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, and plant-derived biomass. When selecting a nonwoven fabric, it is preferable to use a material that will not tear or enlarge the notch when the cup is attached to the cup fixing notch. Although it is not an important factor, if the surface and back layers of a cup holder are made of different materials, it is preferable that the surface layer be soft to the touch as it will come into contact with the hand, and that it be made of a material that is easy to print logos or trademarks on.

[0009] <Cup> (hereafter, Cup is Cup 31) The cups carried in the cup holder of this invention are intended to be symmetrical trapezoids with the top longer than the bottom in a front projection.The cup holder of this invention is designed to secure the cup at a desired location between half the height of the cup and the top of the cup.

[0010] <Cup fixing notch> There is one notch for fixing a single cup for transporting one cup and two notches for fixing two cups for transporting two cups. <Notch for fixing one transport cup> A central cup fixing notch is provided to fix a single cup and to be used as a holder. The single-carrying cup fixing notch is composed of a single-carrying short notch 2 and a single-carrying long notch 4. The single-carrying short notch 2 and the single-carrying long notch 4 intersect at right angles in the center of each notch, with the central portion of the single-carrying cup fixing notch being located near a long side center line 11 at a right angle to the long side at the center of the long side, and the central portion of the single-carrying cup fixing notch being located near a short side center line 12 at a right angle to the short side at the center of the short side. The length of the long notch 4 for single-piece transport is longer than the short notch 2 for single-piece transport. Twice the length of the long notch 4 for transporting must be the same as the circumference of the cup at the same height between half the height of the cup to be transported and the top of the cup. If it is larger than the circumference of the top of the cup, the cup will fall out, and if it is smaller than the circumference of half the height of the cup, the cup will be fixed below half the height of the cup, causing it to tilt and become unstable. The role of the short notch 2 for single-piece transport is to help stabilize the cup when attached and to make it easier to attach the cup to the cup fixing notch. If the short notch 2 for single-piece transport were not present, it would be difficult to know where to attach the cup when trying to attach the cup to the cup fixing notch, and the bottom of the cup would not easily fit into the cup fixing notch.

[0011] <2-cup fixing notch> Two two-cup fixing notches are provided to secure two cups for use as a holder. The two-cup fixing notches consist of a two-cup short notch 3 for carrying two cups and a two-cup long notch 5 for carrying two cups. The two-cup short notch 3 for carrying two cups is located near the long side center line 11 and does not overlap either end of the one-cup short notch 2 for carrying one cup. The two-cup long notch 5 intersects the two-cup short notch 3 at a right angle in the center. The position of the two-cup fixing notch for carrying two cups is determined with priority given to ensuring that when two cups are attached to the cup holder (Figure 2), each cup can be attached without tilting. The center of the two-cup fixing notch for carrying two cups is located near the long side center line 11, and the center of the two-cup fixing notch for carrying two cups is located approximately symmetrically with respect to the short side center line 12. The length of the long slit 5 for transporting two pieces and the role of the short slit 3 for transporting two pieces are the same as those described above.

[0012] <Handle notch> Handles that do not use strings but have holes punched into paper or plastic bags through which the hand passes are generally called "oval holes," and the size of the hole should be shaped so that an adult male's hand can fit through comfortably. The width of an adult male's hand (thumb to little finger) is approximately 80 to 100 mm, and taking into account the thickness of the fingers and grip style, a width of 90 mm or more and a vertical width of 25 mm or more is considered to be comfortable for holding. Therefore, the handle notch 6 should be 80 mm or more in width, preferably 90 mm or more, and 25 mm or more in vertical width, preferably 30 mm or more. The shape is preferably half of a roughly rectangular shape and half of a roughly elliptical arc or roughly oval shape. It is preferable that each handle notch is approximately symmetrical about the short side center line 12, that is, the center of the handle notch is on the short side center line. Other options include rectangular ones without arcs, such as oval ones, or ones with a (single straight) cut that is large enough to insert a finger. The handle notches are located in two places near the short side, and the two handle notches are positioned approximately symmetrically around the long side center line 11, and it is preferable that when the main body is folded at the long side center line 11, the two handle notches approximately overlap.

[0013] <Straw fixing notch> There are two sets of straw fixing notches 7 at two locations closer to the long side center line 11 than the handle notches 6, one set parallel to the short side center line 12, and two sets are required at positions symmetrical to the short side center line 12. The distance between the two notches in each set is preferably one-third to one-half of the straw 32 to be attached. Generally, straws 32 for iced coffee have a diameter of 4.5 mm, while wide straws 32 for tapioca have a diameter of 12 mm. If a larger diameter of 12 mm is used to accommodate both, the circumference would be approximately 37.7 mm, so the length of the straw-fixing slit 7 would be more than half of that. Since wide straws 32 for tapioca are usually wrapped in plastic film, the length of the straw-fixing slit 7 is preferably 20 to 30 mm.

[0014] <Cup holder seat shape and size> The cup holder seat can be roughly rectangular in shape. For aesthetic reasons, the corners can be rounded. However, a roughly rectangular shape is preferable to avoid generating waste and scraps. The length of the long side takes into consideration the clearance for the overlapping handle notches 6 when a cup is attached, the clearance for the straw fixing notches 7, the height of the lid, the space for printing logos and trademarks, etc. Therefore, it is preferable that the length of the long side is about 3.5 to 4 times the length of the long notch 4 for carrying one cup. The length of the short side is determined taking into consideration the length of one set of handle notches 6, etc. It is preferably about 5 to 6 times the length of the short notches 2 for carrying one item.

[0015] <Mass of cup holder, disposal> Lightweight is preferred, so a weight of 10g or less is preferable. Because cup holders are made of a single material, nonwoven fabric, they can usually be easily disposed of as combustible waste (although disposal methods vary by local government). [Example]

[0016] The present invention will be described below using examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0017] <Cup holder (main unit)> An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the plan view of one form of the main body 1a of the cup holder 1 in Figure 1. A polypropylene nonwoven fabric sheet is cut to a length of 400 mm (horizontal) and a length of 220 mm (vertical). <Cup fixing notch> From the point where the long side center line 11 and the short side center line 12 intersect, cut 20 mm up and 20 mm down along the long side center line 11 to make short notch 2 for single transport. From the center of short notch 2 for single transport, cut 110 mm evenly on both sides parallel to the long side to make long notch 4 for single transport. Short notch 2 for single transport and long notch 4 for single transport make notch 8 for single transport cup fixing. Leave a space of 20 mm from the top end of the short slit 2 for transporting one piece along the center line 11 of the long side, and cut 40 mm along the center line 11 of the long side to create the first (upper) short slit 3 for transporting two pieces. From the bottom end of the short slit 2 for transporting two pieces, leave a space of 20 mm from the bottom end of the short slit 2 for transporting two pieces along the center line 11 of the long side, and cut 40 mm along the center line 11 of the long side to create the second (lower) short slit 3 for transporting two pieces. From the center of the two short notches 3 for transporting two cups, cut 110 mm evenly on both sides parallel to the long side to create two long notches for transporting two cups 5. These cuts create two notches 9 for fixing two cups for transporting two cups.

[0018] <Straw fixing notch 7> On the extension line of the two long slits 5 for transporting the two straws, cut two 25 mm increments to the left from a point 80 mm from the right end to create two straw fixing slits 7 on the right side. Similarly, on the extension line of the two long slits 5 for transporting the two straws, cut two 25 mm increments to the right from a point 80 mm from the left end to create two straw fixing slits 7 on the left side. From the above, there are a total of four straw fixing notches 7.

[0019] <Handle notch 6> Starting from a point 40 mm from the right end on the short side center line 12, cut a rounded elliptical arc on the right end, connecting two points 45 mm above and below. From the upper point of the arc, cut 10 mm to the left, then cut 10 mm below. From the lower point of the arc, cut 10 mm to the left, then cut 10 mm above, to create the right-side handle notch 6. Starting from a point 40 mm from the right end on the center line of the short side 12, cut an elliptical arc that is rounded on the left end, connecting two points 45 mm above and below. From the upper point of the arc, cut 10 mm to the right, then cut 10 mm below. From the lower point of the arc, cut 10 mm to the right, then cut 10 mm above, to create the right-side handle notch 6. The mass of the cup holder 1 of the example manufactured according to FIG. 1 was 6.5 g.

[0020] <Other cup holders> Figure 6 is a plan view of a different form from Figure 1. The difference is that there is a cushion notch 22. The presence of the cushion notch 22 between the handle notch and the part where the cup is fixed allows this part to act as a cushion. <Other shapes of notches for fixing one cup for transporting one cup and two cups for transporting two cups> As shown in (a) of Figure 7, it can also be configured with one long notch 4 for transporting one item and two (or more) short notches 2 for transporting one item, or with one long notch 5 for transporting two items and two (or more) short notches 3 for transporting two items. As shown in (b) and (c) of Figure 7, the long notch 4 for transporting one piece and the long notch 5 for transporting two pieces can be configured so as not to be parallel to the long side, and the short notch 2 for transporting one piece and the short notch 3 for transporting two pieces can be configured so as not to be parallel to the short side.

[0021] <Other handle cutouts 6> As shown in Figure 8(a), the handle notch 6 can be a single line, or as shown in (b) it can be in the shape of a "U", or as shown in (c) it can be in the shape of a "U" with additional notches on both ends. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8(d), the handle notch 6 can be an arc, or as shown in (e), notches can be made to the right from both ends of the arc, or as shown in (c), it can be configured in the same shape as Figure 1.

[0022] <How to use> When carrying one cup in cup holder 1, the bottom of one cup is inserted into the intersection of short notch 2 for single cup carrying and long notch 4 for single cup carrying to secure the cup. The handle notches 6 on the left and right are overlapped, and the index finger through little finger are inserted into one of the overlapped handle notches 6 to hold and carry the cup. When carrying two cups in cup holder 1, insert the bottoms of the two cups into the intersection of short notch 3 for carrying two cups and long notch 5 for carrying two cups to secure the cups. Then, overlap the handle notches 6 on the left and right, insert your index finger through little finger into one of the overlapping handle notches 6, and hold and carry the cup (Figure 5). If a straw 32 is provided, the straw 32 is attached to the straw fixing notch 7 as shown in Figure 3 and carried. Alternatively, the device can be carried attached to the lid of the cup as shown in Figure 2. [Industrial Applicability]

[0023] The cup holder of this invention does not take up much storage space, does not require any prior work, is lightweight, can be installed by either store staff or customers, can be used to transport one or two cups, produces no waste or scraps during production, the cup holder itself is easy to dispose of, and is inexpensive, making it ideal for transporting cups of coffee and other beverages. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 1: Cup holder, 1a: (Cup holder) main body 2: Short notch for transporting 1 piece, 3: Short notch for transporting 2 pieces, 4: Long cut for transporting 1 piece, 5: Long cut for transporting 2 pieces, 6: Handle notch, 7: Straw fixing notch, 8: 1 piece of transport cup fixing notch, 9: 2 pieces of transport cup fixing notch 11: Center line of long side, 12: Center line of short side, 21: Cup holder, 22: Cushion notch 31: Cup, 32: Straw

Claims

1. A cup holder comprising a substantially rectangular body made of nonwoven fabric and having long and short sides, three cup fixing notches formed in the central region of the body, and two handle notches formed on both the left and right sides of the body, The three cup fixing notches include one notch for fixing a single transport cup and two notches for fixing two transport cups, The cup fixing notch is composed of a long notch and one or more short notches, and the long notch and the short notch intersect with each other; The three cup fixing notches are arranged in the width direction of the body in the following order: two transport cup fixing notches, one transport cup fixing notch, and two transport cup fixing notches; The single carrier cup fixing notch is located in the center of the body, The two transfer cup fixing notches are located symmetrically with respect to the one transfer cup fixing notch. A cup holder for carrying one or two cups.

2. When the cup to be transported is a cup whose diameter expands from the bottom toward the upper opening, 2. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein the length of the long cut is equal to or greater than half the perimeter of the cup at half its height.

3. 2. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein the cup holder has two straw fixing notches for fixing straws near the handle notch, for a total of two sets of straw fixing notches for a total of four notches.

4. The cup holder according to claim 1 , wherein the handle notches are formed at positions symmetrical with respect to the three cup fixing notches.

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