Two-piece juice box holder

[0001] This application is based on an earlier filed provisional application filed on Dec. 1, 2003, Ser. No. 60/526,396, by the subject inventor and having a title of “JUICE BOX HOLDER”.

[0002] (a) Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a juice box holder and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an adjustable two-piece juice box holder for holding different sizes of flexible juice boxes and foil-like liquid pouches. The juice box holder is designed to prevent spillage when a box or pouch is opened and held by a user.

[0004] (b) Discussion of Prior Art

[0005] Heretofore, there have been a variety of different types of container holders, juice box holders and the like. For example, in U.S. Design Pat. 329,357 to Lebensfeld, a beverage container holder is illustrated. In U.S. Design Pat. 149,866 to Fry, a holder for a paper milk carton is shown. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,811 to Kelston, a squeeze resistant holder for a juice box is disclosed. The holder includes a hinged housing with an open top for inserting a straw into the top of the juice box. A stopper is included for covering a straw opening when the juice box is not in use. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,021 to Lyon, a holder for a liquid package is described. The holder is a hollow container with a hinged lid. The lid has sharp point for puncturing the top of the package and a mouthpiece for receiving a liquid from the punctured package. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,575 to Ravreby, a holder for an aseptic package is disclosed. The holder includes a container with a removable cover and stopper disposed under the cover for securing a straw hole. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,857 to Rosen, a liquid box holder is shown for holding a juice box. The holder includes a lid with drink spout, an air regulating valve and a fluid exit opening. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,435 to Wright, a receptacle for a box-style flexible beverage container is described. The receptacle includes sidewalls, a bottom and an open top for receiving the beverage container therein.

[0006] None of the above mentioned prior art patents specifically disclose the unique features, structure and function of the subject adjustable two-piece juice box holder for holding different size juice boxes and liquid filled foil-like pouches.

[0007] In view of the foregoing, it is a primary objective of the subject invention to provide a holder for juice boxes and the like and preventing spillage when the box is opened and a straw is inserted into an opening in the top of the box. The juice box holder is sufficiently rigid to prevent the squeezing of a flexible drink container and the spilling of liquid during the opening of the container and when drinking the liquid found therein.

[0008] Another object of the invention is the subject holder is made of lightweight plastic, it is rugged in construction and it is easily adapted for different sizes of juice boxes, foil-like liquid pouches, aseptic liquid packages and other similar containers used in holding liquid drinks.

[0009] Yet another object of the juice box holder is the juice box holder is designed to prevent young children from removing the juice box held therein. Also, the holder prevents the juice box from falling out of a semi-open top. The juice box holder also includes handles for ease in holding and carrying the holder.

[0010] The subject invention includes an angular shaped bottom housing having an open top, a closed bottom, a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. A top portion of the first and third sides includes an outwardly extending push button. A pair of vertical, parallel slits are disposed on opposite sides of the push buttons. The slits provide for forming a pair of flexible tabs in the top portion of the first side and the opposite third side. The flexible tabs with push buttons are used for releasably securing the bottom housing to an angular shaped top housing.

[0011] The top housing includes an open bottom, a semi-open top with a frame therearound, a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. The first side and the opposite third side include a lower button hole and an upper button hole. The button holes are used for receiving the push buttons on the tabs when the bottom housing is slidably received inside the open bottom of the top housing. Also, the first and third sides of the top housing include inverted “L” shaped handles extending outwardly and disposed next to the button holes.

[0012] These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those familiar with various types of juice box holders and other types of holders used in holding liquid containers when reviewing the following detailed description, showing novel construction, combination, and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the claims, it being understood that changes in the various embodiments of invention are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.

[0018] In FIG. 1, a perspective view of the subject adjustable two-piece juice box holder is shown as having a general reference numeral 10. The juice box holder 10 is made of durable and flexible hard plastic. Also the plastic material is rigid enough to prevent the squeezing of a juice box 11 or similar liquid container stored inside the holder 10. The juice box 11 is shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 3 and 4. The juice box holder 10 includes broadly an angular shaped bottom housing, having general reference numeral 12 and an angular shaped top housing, having a general reference numeral 14. In this drawing, the bottom housing 12 is positioned for slidable receipt inside the top housing 14.

[0019] The bottom housing 12 includes an open top 16, a closed bottom 18, a first side 20, a second side 22, a third side 24 and a fourth side 26. A top portion 28 of the first and third sides 20 and 24 includes an outwardly extending push button 30. A pair of vertical, parallel slits 32 are disposed on opposite sides of the push buttons 30. The slits 32 provide for forming a pair of flexible tabs 34 in the top portion 28 of the first side 20 and the opposite third side 24. The flexible tabs 34 with push buttons 30 are used for releasably securing the bottom housing 12 inside the top housing 14. While the flexible tabs 34 with push buttons 30 are shown in the drawings, it can be appreciated that other methods and devices of releasably securing the two housings 12 and 14 together will work equally well.

[0020] The top housing 14 includes an open bottom 36, a semi-open top 38 with a frame 40 therearound, a first side 42, a second side 44, a third side 46 and a fourth side 48. The first side 42 and the opposite third side 46 include a lower button hole 50 and an upper button hole 52. The button holes 50 and 52 are used for receiving the push buttons 30 on the tabs 34, when the bottom housing 12 is slidably received inside the open bottom 36 of the top housing 14. Also, the first and third sides 42 and 46 of the top housing 14 include inverted “L” shaped handles 54 extending outwardly and downwardly and disposed next to the button holes 50 and 52. The semi-open top 38 also includes an off-set rib 56. The rib 56 is used to prevent the juice box 11 from falling out of the holder 10 should it be turned upside down. Also, the rib 56 adds strength to the semi-open top 38 and prevents the top 38 from being pressed inwardly and squeezing the top of the juice box causing a liquid spill.

[0021] It should be noted that the second side 22 of the bottom housing 12 and the second side 44 of the top housing 14 provide a flat surface for adding various types of advertising, logos, brand names, animals and children's pictures to enhance the appeal and use of the juice box holder 10. Obviously, the other sides of the bottom and top housings 12 and 14 can also be used equally well for advertising.

[0022] In FIG. 2, another perspective view of the bottom housing 12 is shown with the flexible tabs 34 and push buttons 30 in the first side 20 and the opposite third side 24 and in an unflexed position in solid lines. Also, the buttons 30 and tabs 34, shown in dashed lines, are pushed inwardly, as indicated by arrows 58.

[0023] In operation, the buttons 30 are compressed inwardly by the user's thumb and index finger, when slidably inserting the bottom housing 12 inside the open bottom 36 of the top housing 14, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As the bottom housing 12 is telescoped upwardly inside the top housing 14, the flexible tabs 34 will automatically push outwardly and allow the push buttons 30, when indexed with the lower push button holes 50, to pop into the holes 50 as shown in FIG. 4. If the juice box 11 is a small container, the push buttons 30 can be released from the lower button holes 50, using the thumb and index finger. The bottom housing 12 is then further moved upwardly inside the top housing 14 until the push buttons 30 pop into the upper button holes 52, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0024] In FIG. 3, a perspective view of the juice box holder 10 is shown with the top housing 14 releasably attached around the bottom housing 12 with a small juice box 11 held securely therein. As mentioned above, the push buttons 30 are received in the upper button holes 52 of the top housing 14. The small juice box holder in this drawing typically has a height in range of 2½ to 3½ inches and a width and length in a range of 1½ to 2½ inches. An arrow 60 is shown for indicating how the bottom housing 12 can be raised and lowered inside the top housing 14 for adjusting the holder 10 to different size juice boxes and other juice containers.

[0025] In FIG. 4, a perspective view of the juice box holder 10 is shown with the top housing 14 raised on the bottom housing 12 and releasably secured for holding a large juice box 11 therein. In this example, the push buttons 30 are received in the lower button holes 50 of the top housing 14. The large juice box 11 shown in this drawing typically has a height in a range of 3½ to 4½ inches and a width and length in a range of 1½ to 2½ inches. While, the lower and upper button holes 50 and 52 are shown in the drawings, it can be appreciated that the holder 10 can have any number of button holes for adjusting to various sizes of juice boxes and the like.

[0026] In FIGS. 3 and 4, the two juice boxes 11 are shown with a straw opening 62 used for receiving a straw therethrough. The straw is not shown in the drawings. The semi-open top 38 with the off-set rib 56 is designed to provide ready access to different locations of straw openings in the top of various types and sizes of juice and drink containers using the subject two-piece adjustable juice box holder 10.

[0027] While the invention has been particularly shown, described and illustrated in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and modifications thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as claimed except as precluded by the prior art.