SYSTEM FOR INTERCONNECTING CONTAINERS

Description

The present invention is directed to a system for joining containers together, whereby complementary connectors on the containers are linked together to allow a first container to support one or more containers. Each of the containers may be filled with a food or beverage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various systems have been proposed for connecting food and beverage containers, to allow the containers to be conveniently carried by a person in one hand.

English et al. —U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,444 discloses a lid for a drink cup with an integral hanger. A second container, for example a carton filled with French-fried potatoes, is provided with a hole or slot that engages the hanger component of the lid.

Bartelt—U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,631 discloses a device for connecting two containers. A strip of material is attached to the side wall of a first container and the strip is formed into a loop. The second container may be placed in the loop.

Rosenfeld—U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,362 discloses a first container, which is provided with a slot in the side wall. A condiment holder has a tab that is inserted in the slot. For example, a small cup of ketchup can be attached to a larger container filled with French-fried potatoes.

Tsao—U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,265 B1 discloses a carrier for multiple containers, such as drink cups and boxes of popcorn. Tabs extending from the carrier may be inserted into slots in the containers, allowing the containers to be hung from the carrier.

Liu—U.S. Pat. No. 7,980,406 B2 discloses a clip that attaches to the rim of a drink container. The clip has a lower hook section that can be inserted in a slot in the side wall of a second container, thereby allowing the second container to hang from the rim of the drink container.

Despite the proliferation of prior art devices, the need remains for a universal system for connecting containers, which does not rely on a specially designed lid and does not interfere with the seal between the lid and cup. Furthermore, there remains a need for a system that can be used with a wide range of container shapes and sizes. Additionally, there remains a need for a system that does not rely on a slot or other opening created in the side wall of the supporting container, so that the supporting container may be filled with a liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system of interconnected containers is provided, as well as a method for interconnecting two, three, four or more containers. The system includes a first container, a second container, a male connector and a female connector.

The male connector has a body, with an inner face, and a hook supported by the body. The inner face of the male connector is affixed to an exterior of the first container with an adhesive. The end of the hook may be oriented upward or downward. In certain embodiments of the invention, the hook is resilient and the end of the hook is able to pivot away from the wall of the container, to which it is attached. The hook of the male connector may be biased towards the wall of the first container, to avoid getting in the way, when the hook is not engaging the female connector attached to a second container.

The female connector has a body, with an inner face, and a loop supported by the body. The inner face of the female connector is affixed to an exterior of second container with an adhesive. The loop of the female connector is spaced away from the wall of the second container. The loop may be a length of material supported at either end by the body of the female connector. Alternatively, the loop may be an aperture in a tab extending from the body of the female connector.

The first and second containers may be interconnected by inserting the hook of the male connector into the loop of the female connector. If the hook of the male connector is oriented upward, the first container is able to support the second container. For example, the first container may be a beverage cup and the second container may be a bag of popcorn. Alternatively, the hook of the male connector may be oriented downward, whereby the second container is able to support the first container. In the latter example, the second container, having the female connector affixed thereto, may be a beverage cup and the first container, having the male connector affixed thereto, may be a bag of popcorn. With the first and second containers interconnected, both containers may be carried by a person using one hand, by lifting the container that is supporting the other container.

Also within the scope of the invention is to interconnect a third container with either the first or second container. A second male connector having a body, with an inner face, and a hook supported by the body with an end oriented upward, may be affixed to the exterior wall of either the first or second container. A third container having an aperture therein may be hung from the hook of the second male connector. The third container may be a sealed bag of candy with a seam having a hole therein, or the third container may have a slot or other aperture through the wall of the third container. In another embodiment of the invention, a second female connector may be affixed to the third container, and a loop on the second female connector may engage the hook of the second male connector.

Numerous advantages are associated with the system of interconnected containers of the present invention. The male connector and female connector may be affixed to virtually any size or shape of container, and the containers may be interconnected. Since the connectors are affixed to the exterior walls of the containers, one or both of the container may be a beverage cup filled with a liquid. The male and female connectors may be provided separately from the containers. A person wanting to interconnect two or more containers, for example, after a purchase at a concession stand, could affix the connectors to respective containers and link the containers together, as described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the male connector.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a female connector.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative design for the female connector.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a beverage container having the male connector affixed to the side wall.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a food container having the female connector shown in FIG. 3 affixed to the side wall.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the containers shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 after being interconnected.

FIG. 7 is a magnified view of the male and female connectors from FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention having the female connector shown in FIG. 2 affixed to a beverage cup and the male connector affixed to a food container.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the containers shown in FIG. 6, with a second male connector affixed to the food container and a third container that can be hung from the second male connector.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a beverage container provided with a male connector and a second container having a slot therein hanging from the male connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Without intending to limit the scope of the invention, the preferred embodiments and features are hereinafter set forth. All of the United States patents and published applications cited in the specification are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 1, male connector 1 has body 2 with inner face 3. Body 2 supports hook 4 having end 5 opposite the point of attachment to body 2. Adhesive layer 6, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, is coated on the inner face 3 of body 2 and covered with sheet 7, which is peeled off prior to affixing connector 1 to a container. Hook 4 need not coated with an adhesive and may be free to pivot at the point of attachment to body 2, shown as dashed line 8.

Referring to FIG. 2, female connector 9 has body 10 with inner face 11. Body 10 supports loop 12, which may be biased outward from body 10. Adhesive layer 13 is coated on inner face 11 of body 10 and covered with sheet 14, which is peeled off prior to affixing connector 9 to a container. Loop 12 need not be coated with an adhesive. The term “loop” is intended to include a closed or partly closed structure.

An alternative embodiment of a female connector is illustrated in FIG. 3. Female connector 15 has body 16 with inner face 17. Body 16 supports loop 18, which is formed by tab 19 having an aperture therein, such as hole 20. Adhesive layer 21 is coated on inner face 17 of body 16 and covered with sheet 22, which is peeled off prior to affixing connector 15 to a container. Tab 19 of female connector 15 need not be coated with an adhesive and is free to pivot relative to body 16 along dashed line 23.

The term adhesive may include any substance applied to one surface, or both surfaces, of two separate items that binds them together and resists their separation. By way of example, the adhesive may be non-reactive, such as pressure sensitive adhesives, drying adhesives, such as solvent-based and emulsion-based adhesives, contact adhesives and hot-melt adhesives, or the adhesive may be reactive. Of particular interest are pressure sensitive adhesives that are water resistant and can be applied to a beverage cup with condensation on the outside, for example, after the cup is already filled with a relatively cold liquid.

FIG. 4 shows container 30 having female connector 9 affixed to exterior wall 31. By way of example, container 30 may be a beverage cup in the shape of a conical frustum. Female connector 9 is sufficiently flexible for the body to conform to the curvature of exterior wall 31. In one embodiment of the invention, container 30 may be supplied to a retailer of food and beverages with the female connector already affixed to the exterior wall. Tab 19 may advantageously be biased against or in close proximity to exterior wall 31, to allow multiple containers to be stacked, one inside the other, and to avoid interfering with use of the container, when the female connector is not being used to interconnect a second container. Tab 19 may be provided with a low-tack, re-adherable adhesive, to temporarily bind the tab to an exterior wall of a container, when the female connector is not in use. In one embodiment of the invention, the female connector is able to flatten against the wall of the container to a thickness of 3 mm or less, in particular 2 mm or less, or even 1.5 mm or less.

Referring to FIG. 5, container 40 has male connector 1 affixed to the exterior of wall 41. By way of example, container 40 may be a paper bag containing popcorn. Alternatively, container 40 may be a bucket or cup of popcorn. In one embodiment of the invention, container 40 may be supplied to a retailer of food and beverages with the male connector already affixed to the exterior wall. In one embodiment of the invention, the male connector flattens against the wall of the container to a thickness of 3 mm or less, in particular 2 mm or less, or even 1.5 mm or less, to allow containers, such as cups or buckets, to be stacked one inside the other, or to allow a flexible bag to be folded flat.

It can be understood that the method of the present invention includes application of the male and female connectors to containers, immediately prior to the containers being filled with a food or beverage, or even after the containers have been filled. In one method of practicing the invention, a package containing a male and female connector can be provided at a concession stand to patrons who desire to interconnect two or more containers for easy transport. An advantage of the present invention is that a plurality of connectors, for example a mixture of two, three, four or more male and female connectors can be provided in a package that is relatively compact and easy to store. In one embodiment of the invention, the multiple connectors may be provided in a single package that flattens to a thickness of 10 mm or less, in particular 8 mm or less, or even 5 mm or less.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show container 30 and container 40 interconnected. Hook 4 of male connector 1 is spaced away from exterior wall 41 of container 40 and inserted into aperture 20 of tab 19 of female connector 15. Container 40 is supported by container 30, and both containers can be lifted by a person with one hand by grasping and lifting container 30.

Referring to FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown with the male connector affixed to the supporting container, and the female connector affixed to the container being supported. Female connector 9, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is affixed to container 52 on the exterior of wall 53. Loop 12 of female connector 9 is bowed away from body 10 and exterior wall 53 of container 52 to create a space to insert hook 4 of male connector 1 affixed to exterior wall 51 of container 50. In the example illustrated, male connector 1 is affixed to container 50 with hook 4 oriented upward, which allows hook 4 to be inserted in loop 12 of female connector 9.

Also within the scope of the invention is to interconnect three, four or more containers. For example, a second male connector may be affixed to either of the first and second containers shown to be interconnected in FIGS. 6 and 7. Referring to FIG. 9, male connector 60 is affixed to exterior wall 42 of container 40. Male connector 60 may be identical in form and function to male connector 1 shown in FIG. 1. Male connector 60 has body 61 and inner face 62 affixed to exterior wall 41 with an adhesive. Hook 63 is supported by body 61 and has end 64 oriented upward. The stability of the assembly may be enhanced by orienting connector 60 on the lower half of the exterior wall 41 of container 40. Additionally, the stability of the assembly may be enhanced by orienting connector 60 on the side of container 40 closest to the location where male connector 1 and female connector 15 are engaged, that is, relative to an imaginary vertical plane 42, bisecting container 40.

The third container may be sealed package 70 having sealed edge 71 with aperture 72 therein. Packages, such as package 70, are commonly used for candy and nuts and are referred to as pillow bags. It the embodiment illustrated, aperture 72 does not extend into the interior of package 70 and the contents remain sealed. Other package configurations besides a pillow bag may be employed in the present invention, such as block bottom bags and gusseted bags.

While the invention is illustrated with container 40 interconnected with container 30, in FIG. 9, it can be understood that a single male connector affixed to a container can be used to support another container having an aperture therein. For example, package 70 can be supported on container 40, by inserting hook 63 in aperture 72, regardless of whether container 40 is connected to container 30. Likewise it may be understood that additional male connectors can by affixed to the exterior wall of container 40, with the hooks of the connectors oriented upward, to hand additional packages having an aperture therein.

Another example of a container having an aperture therein being interconnected with a container having a male connector affixed thereto is illustrated in FIG. 10. Container 80 has exterior wall 81 with male connector 82 affixed thereto with hook 83 oriented upward. Male connector 82 may be identical in form and function to male connector 1 shown in FIG. 1. Container 90 is provided with aperture 91, in the form of a slot. Hook 83 is inserted into aperture 91 to support container 90 on container 80.

There are, of course, many alternative embodiments and modifications, which are intended to be included within the following claims.