Holder for a beverage container having flexible walls

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a holder for a beverage container having flexible walls.

Known holders for beverage containers are for example a holder for a coffee-cup, a bicycle holder for a water bottle (bidon) and a cup-holder provided in the dashboard of an automobile. Said known holders are not suitable for use with square or rectangular shaped beverage containers having flexible walls, which containers are normally made of cardboard and/or plastic, and in many cases have to be placed in a refrigerator after pouring out some of the beverage contained in it in order to keep the remainder of the beverage fresh. When filled with beverage a square or rectangular shaped beverage container having flexible walls is by itself difficult to handle due to its weight and flexible walls. When opening a beverage container and pouring out the beverage, frequently beverage is spilt due to accidental excessive squeezing of said flexible walls by the human hand. An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a holder for a beverage container which is suitable for use with at least substantially square or rectangular shaped beverage containers having flexible walls and which holder can be efficiently stored in a refrigerator, to which end the invention provides a holder for a beverage container having flexible walls, comprising a pivotable handle and a space bounded by holding elements for holding therein the beverage container, the holder further comprising fixing means for fixing the beverage container in the space in the holder. An advantage of the holder according to the present invention is that using the holder, beverage containers having flexible walls are more easy to handle and spilling beverage by accidental excessive squeezing is avoided since the user can pour out the beverage whilst holding the handle of the holder, whilst the fixing means prevent the beverage container from dropping out of the holder during use. A further important advantage of the present invention is that since the handle is pivotable, the required space of the holder including a beverage container in for example a refrigerator is minimized.

It is preferable if the fixing means are adapted for applying pressure on walls of the beverage container. The beverage container can thus conveniently be fixed in the holder by means of friction due to the applied pressure on at least

some of its walls.

More preferably the pressure is applied perpendicular to side walls on side walls of the beverage container.

A further improved fixation of the beverage container in the holder is achieved when, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fixing means are adapted to deform a wall of the beverage container for fixing the beverage container in the holder.

Beverage containers present on a specific market normally have quite similar dimensions. A reason for this fact might be that the size of the beverage containers is more or less adapted to specific compartments of a refrigerator. To enable the holder according to the present invention to hold therein beverage containers of different dimensions, preferably the fixing means comprise two fixing elements which are mutually connected by a sawtooth connection for adjusting the fixing means to the size of the beverage container. A sawtooth connection is a very robust, easy to use and easy to fabricate connection. Another advantage of said sawtooth connection is that it can also be used to apply pressure on a wall of the beverage container, as mentioned above. On both fixing elements teeth of the sawtooth connection are present. Mutual engagement of the teeth of both elements results in a firm grip between both elements. Optimized fixture and minimized used space around the beverage container are achieved when the two fixing elements are U-shaped and, when mutually connected, surround the side walls of the beverage container.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention the pivotable handle is connected to a holding element and is pivotable from an active position, in which the handle is grippable by a user, to a passive position, in which the handle is pivoted such that the handle rests at least substantially flat against the holding element. Using the above-mentioned pivotable handle the required space for the holder is minimized when the holder, whether or not including a beverage container, is stored in for example a refrigerator or cupboard. The above-mentioned pivotable handle is realized in an easy manner when the pivotable handle comprises two strip elements which are both on their first ends pivotally connected around at least substantially horizontal axes with respect to the holding element, and are on their second ends pivotally around further at least substantially horizontal axes mutually connected by a further strip element.

To further enhance the ease of use of the holder, preferably blocking means are provided which limit the pivoting angle of the strip elements in the active position of the pivotable handle at a maximum pivoting angle smaller than or equal to 90 degrees with respect to the holding element. For completeness sake it is remarked that the holding element to which the handle is connected extends vertically along the back side wall of the beverage container when the holder is resting on a supporting surface. When the holder including a beverage container after use is stored in for example a refrigerator without pivoting the handle to the passive position, there is a chance that when closing the refrigerator door it hits the holder, more specifically the handle. The large advantage of limiting the pivoting angle of the strip elements in the active position at a maximum angle smaller than or equal to 90 degrees is that in case of contact between the handle and said door, the handle automatically pivots to the passive position. Possible lack of proper closure of the refrigerator door due to the handle not being folded in is thus avoided. Although an angle of 90 degrees in practice appears to suffice, an angle which is slightly smaller than 90 degrees is more optimal.

More preferably said maximum pivoting angle of the strip elements is therefore in the range of 55 degrees to 85 degrees, still more preferably in the range of 70 to 80 degrees. In a simple though effective embodiment in use friction between at least one of the strip elements and the holding element and/or between at least one of the strip elements and the further strip element prevents the handle from pivoting from the active position to the passive position as a result of gravity. In case said friction is larger than the effect of gravity on the handle, the handle remains in the active position, also when the holder is not being used. Obviously said friction only needs to be slightly larger than the effect of gravity, such that manual pivoting of the handle by the user from the active position to the passive position and vice versa still requires only little effort of the user.

In order to realize proper holding of the container in the holder and minimizing the used material thus manufacturing cost of the holder, holding elements are present at at least the bottom wall, the back side wall and two side walls of the container. In the context of the present invention by back side wall of the beverage container is meant the side wall of the container that is usually the side wall facing the palm of the hand of the user when pouring the beverage out of the

container. In order to be complete, the opening for pouring the beverage out of the container is further assumed to be located at the front side wall or at the top wall at a position nearby the front side wall.

For further decrease of cost of the holder, the holding elements are strip-shaped.

The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter by means of a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which reference is made to the following figures:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a holder for a beverage container according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the holder according to figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 is another isometric view of the holder according to figure 1 , in a different viewpoint compared to the viewpoint of figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a side view of a combination of a beverage container and the holder according figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a side view of the combination according to figure 4 in a different mutual orientation.

In figures 1 to 5 a holder 1 according to the present invention for a beverage container 100 is shown. Said holder 1 comprises a pivotable handle 2 as well as fixing means 3 for fixing a beverage container 100 in the space 4 of holder 1.

Space 4 is surrounded by holding elements 5, 6a, 6b and 7 as well as U-shaped parts 30 and 31 of the fixing means 3. From the top side of holder 1 a beverage container 100 can be placed in or be removed from holder 1. All components of holder 1 are made of plastic, more specifically ABS. Specific components, such as hinge components that will be described underneath, can however also be made of a metal, preferably aluminum or stainless steel.

In figure 4 is shown how the beverage container 100 is oriented while present in holder 1. Holding element 7 constitutes the bottom part of the holder 1 , which means the beverage container rests, when placed in space 4 of the holder 1 , with its bottom wall on element 7. Furthermore the bottom face of element 7 itself is flat, such that holder 1 , whether or not including a beverage container, can be placed with the bottom face of element 7 on a supporting surface. Holding elements 6a and 6b limit the movement of the container sideways and holding element 5 is in contact with the back side wall of the beverage container placed in holder 1. When

the holder 1 is placed on a supporting surface, holding element 5 extends vertically, as displayed in figure 2, along the back side wall of the beverage container.

On holding element 5 two hinges 51 and 52 are present. Pivotable handle 2 comprises strip elements 21 , 22 which both are on their one end pivotally connected to hinges 51 and 52 respectively. On their other ends strip elements 21 and 22 are mutually connected by a further strip element 25 by means of hinges 23 and 24 respectively. As a result the pivotable handle 2 is pivotable from an active position as shown in the figures and a passive position (not shown). For pivoting of handle 2 from the active position to the passive position further strip element 25 is moved downwards, as a result of which strip elements 21 and 22 pivot downwards with respect to holding element 5. In the passive position pivotable handle 2 rests almost flat against holding element 5 and thus only takes up very little space. In order to prevent pivoting of the handle 2 too far upwards, end stop 53 is provided on holding element 5. End stop 53, and more specifically portion 54 thereof, is shaped such that the angle a between strip element 22 and holding element 5 cannot exceed 90 degrees (see figure 2). Due to the fact that strip elements 21 and 22 are mutually parallel, also the angle between strip element 21 and holding element 5 cannot exceed 90 degrees.

As is shown in figure 2 in the active position of handle 2 angle a is 90 degrees. Friction present in at least one of the hinges 51 , 52, 23, 24 results in handle 2 remaining in the active position after use. In case end stop 53 would extend a little bit further downwards, the maximum angle a would be smaller than 90 degrees. This is particularly advantageous if the holder 1 including a beverage container is stored in for example a refrigerator. Due to the fact that angle a is smaller than 90 degrees handle 2 will be forced from the active position to the passive position in case of a horizontal force on further strip element 25. In practice this horizontal force is realized by for example a refrigerator door contacting further strip element 25 while closing the refrigerator. Due to the fact that the handle 2 pivots to the passive position in case of said contact, proper closing of the refrigerator door is not compromised. Although in practice an angle a of 90 degrees suffices, a slightly smaller angle yields a more optimal situation.

As mentioned above the fixing means 3 comprise two U-shaped elements 30 and 31. Since not all beverage containers present on a specific market are of equal dimensions, elements 30 and 31 are mutually adjustable by a sawtooth

connection 32a, 32b that is present between the ends of element 31 and the ends of element 30. By adjusting the positioning of both sawtooth connections 32a, 32b element 31 can be translated with respect to element 30 in direction 33.

Sawtooth connection 32 is designed such that element 31 is movable in the direction of holding element 5 due to slight deflection of element 30 (outwards) and element 31 (inwards) when pushing horizontally against element 31 in the direction of holding element 5. This results in teeth on element 31 of the sawtooth connections 32a, 32b passing over teeth on element 30. In practice after a beverage container is positioned in space 4 of holder 1 , element 31 is pushed in the direction of holding element 5 until the inner face 310 of element 31 contacts the front side wall of the beverage container, while the back side wall of the beverage container rests against holding element 5. Since most beverage containers are made of flexible walls of for example cardboard or plastic a further compression of element 31 in the direction of holding element 5 results in a slight deformation of the side walls of the beverage container. The specific design of the sawtooth connection prevents possibility of movement of element 31 in the opposite direction, meaning the direction away from holding element 5. This is realised, as is shown in figure 1 , by pointing the tips of the teeth on elements 30 as well as 31 in the direction of holding element 5. This means a firm fixation of the beverage container in space 4 of holder 1 is realized after placement of the beverage container and fixation thereof by pushing element 31 in the direction of holding element 5.

When a beverage container needs to be taken out of holder 1 buttons 34 and 35 (button 35 not visible in the figures) need to be pressed. Buttons 34 and 35 are part of element 31. This means when button 34 is pushed, the end of element 31 of which button 34 forms part deflects slightly inwards and the teeth on element 30 and element 31 of sawtooth connection 32a are being mutually disengaged. Thus while pressing buttons 34 and 35 movement of element 31 away from holding element 5 is possible. During this movement button 34, and more specifically its part 341 , slides through the slot 301 in element 30. The same counts for the button 35 on the other side of the holder 1. In this way the fixation of the beverage container by fixing means 3 is cancelled and the beverage container can be taken out of space 4 of holder 1.

In order to prevent accidental pushing of buttons 34 and 35, clip 56 can be used as a lock for one of both sawtooth connections 32a, 32b. Before

purchase of the holder 1 by a consumer (user), clip 56 is very convenient for hanging the holder 1 on a display in a store. After purchase of holder 1 by a user, clip 56 can easily be broken loose from the holder 1 since clip 56 is only connected to holder 1 by a thin wall 55. After breaking clip 56 loose from holder 1 , it can be positioned with its hole 540 around head 340 of button 34 (or around the head of button 35, at the choice of the user), after which the clip 56 is moved such that clip 56 is blocked behind head 340 of button 34. This can be achieved since the diameter of slot 541 of clip 56 is smaller than the diameter of head 340 of button 34. Furthermore the diameter of slot 541 is adapted to be only slightly larger than the outer diameter of part 341 of button 34. For completeness sake it is remarked that part 341 connects head 340 with element 31. Since the thickness of clip 56 is only slightly less than the distance between the back side of head 340 and the outer surface of element 30, presence of clip 56 behind head 340 makes disengagement of sawtooth connection 32a due to pushing of button 34 impossible. Element 31 can furthermore, if desired, be completely removed from element 30 and thus from holder 1 since the diameter of head 340 of button 34 is slightly smaller than the diameter of hole 345 of element 30. As a result, when head 340 is positioned at the location of opening 345, head 340 can be pushed completely through opening 345 and element 31 can be removed from holder 1. Obviously the above explanation also counts for button 35, present at the location of the other sawtooth connection 32b. Furthermore said possibility of removing element 31 entirely is also very convenient in relation to the ability to assemble the holder 1 , and more specifically element 31 onto element 30, after manufacture of the separate components of holder 1. Figure 5 shows a different manner of use of the holder according to the present invention. As is displayed, a beverage container 100 is positioned upside-down in holder 1. A firm fixation of fixing means 3 prevent slipping of the beverage container 100 downwards due to gravity. This way of use is obviously unsuitable for pouring a beverage in for example a cup. However, containers for beverages having a relatively high viscosity, like yoghurt, are known to be difficult to completely empty. In the position as shown in figure 5 the container empties by itself due to gravity. The beverage can be collected in any (not displayed) bowl or other suitable collector that fits in the available space underneath the container 100.