Clipper Detachable Handle for Disposable Cups

Abstract

A detachable cup handle apparatus enables a user to conveniently carry a cup by hand without touching the cup. The apparatus offers a clip that allows the user to securely hold all types of insulated cups with a lip. The apparatus comprises a loop with a protrusion clip that hooks onto the cup while the clip presses against the edge to retain the apparatus on the cup. The apparatus is light-weighted and compact and ensures against toppling of the cup being held when the cup is placed atop a surface. Further, the apparatus provides commercial coffee/tea houses an economical and convenient add-on offering to their customers when purchasing beverages of extreme temperatures being contained in insulated cups. Thus, the apparatus enhances the user's safety, significantly minimizes burning injuries, and reduces the liability of the commercial coffee/tea houses.

Claims

1. A detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup comprising: a grip; a retainer; a cup support; the grip comprising a first grip, a side grip, and an arched grip; the side grip being positioned between the first grip and the arched grip; the retainer being terminally positioned on the first grip opposite the side grip of the grip; the retainer comprising an upper clip, a lower clip, and a rim hook for detachably securing to a rim of the disposable cup; the rim hook being terminally positioned on the first grip opposite the side grip of the grip; the upper clip being perpendicularly attached to the first grip adjacent the rim hook; the lower clip being terminally and perpendicularly attached to the arched grip; and the cup support being terminally positioned on the arched grip opposite the lower clip of the retainer.

2. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grip, the retainer and the cup support are integrally formed of at least one material.

3. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 1 comprising: wherein the lower clip of the retainer is resilient; wherein the lower clip is movable to engage and disengage with the upper clip; and wherein the retainer is securely attached to the rim of the disposable cup when the lower clip is engaged with the upper clip.

4. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the upper clip of the retainer comprising an upper clip hook; the upper clip hook being terminally positioned on the upper clip; the lower clip comprising a lower clip tab and a lip retainer; the lip retainer being terminally positioned on the lower clip opposite the cup support across the lower clip for engaging a lip of the disposable cup; the lower clip tab being terminally positioned on the lower clip adjacent the lip retainer; and wherein the lower clip tab is movable between an engaging position and a disengaging position with the upper clip hook.

5. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the lower clip of the retainer comprising a release slot for a user to move the lower clip between engaging and disengaging the upper clip; and the release slot being positioned on the lower clip opposite the lip retainer.

6. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the retainer comprising a front retainer wall and an end rib; the front retainer wall being terminally positioned on the first grip of the grip; the front retainer wall being oriented perpendicular to the first grip; the end rib being a portion of the first grip; the end rib being positioned between the front retainer wall and the upper clip; and wherein the front retainer wall, the end rib, and the upper clip form the rim hook for removably securing the retainer on the rim of the disposable cup.

7. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the cup support comprising a linear support and a peripheral support; the linear support being terminally positioned on the cup support opposite the lower clip of the retainer for linearly supporting an exterior side of the disposable cup; the peripheral support being terminally positioned on the cup support adjacent the linear support; and the peripheral support being oriented perpendicular to the linear support for supporting a circular surface of the disposable cup.

8. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the cup support comprising a linear support and a peripheral support; the linear support being terminally positioned on the cup support opposite the lower clip of the retainer for linearly supporting an exterior side of the disposable cup; the peripheral support being terminally positioned on the cup support adjacent the linear support; and the peripheral support being oriented perpendicular to the linear support for supporting a cylindrical surface of the disposable cup.

9. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 8, wherein the peripheral support is sized substantially larger than the linear support.

10. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 6, wherein the front retainer wall and the end rib are laterally curved to fit the cylindrical surface of the disposable cup.

11. A detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup comprising: a grip; a retainer; a cup support; the grip comprising a first grip, a side grip, an arched grip, and a grip loop; the side grip is positioned between the first grip and the arched grip; the retainer being terminally positioned on the first grip and the arched grip, opposite the side grip of the grip; the retainer comprising an upper clip, a lower clip, and a rim hook for detachably securing to a rim of the disposable cup; the rim hook being terminally positioned on the first grip opposite the side grip of the grip; the upper clip being perpendicularly attached to the first grip adjacent the rim hook; the lower clip being terminally and perpendicularly attached to the arched grip; wherein the lower clip of the retainer is resilient; wherein the lower clip is movable to engage and disengage with the upper clip; and wherein the retainer is securely attached to the rim of the disposable cup when the lower clip is engaged with the upper clip; and the cup support being terminally positioned on the arched grip opposite the lower clip of the retainer.

12. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 11, wherein the front retainer wall and the end rib are laterally curved to fit the cylindrical surface of the disposable cup.

13. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 11 comprising: the upper clip of the retainer comprising an upper clip hook; the upper clip hook being terminally positioned on the upper clip; the lower clip comprising a lower clip tab and a lip retainer; the lip retainer being terminally positioned on the lower clip opposite the cup support across the lower clip for engaging a lip of the disposable cup; the lower clip tab being terminally positioned on the lower clip adjacent the lip retainer; and wherein the lower clip tab is movable between an engaging position and a disengaging position with the upper clip hook.

14. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 11 comprising: the lower clip of the retainer comprising a release slot for a user to move the lower clip between engaging and disengaging the upper clip; and the release slot being positioned on the lower clip opposite the lip retainer.

15. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 11 comprising: the retainer comprising a front retainer wall and an end rib; the front retainer wall being terminally positioned on the first grip of the grip; the front retainer wall being oriented perpendicular to the first grip; the end rib being a portion of the first grip; the end rib being positioned between the front retainer wall and the upper clip; and wherein the front retainer wall, the end rib, the upper clip, and the lower clip form the rim hook for removably securing the retainer on the rim of the disposable cup.

16. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 11 comprising: the cup support comprising a linear support and a peripheral support; the linear support being terminally positioned on the cup support opposite the lower clip of the retainer for linearly supporting an exterior side of the disposable cup; the peripheral support being terminally positioned on the cup support adjacent the linear support; and the peripheral support being oriented perpendicular to the linear support for supporting a circular surface of the disposable cup.

17. A detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup comprising: a grip; a retainer; a cup support; the grip comprising a first grip, a side grip, an arched grip, and a grip loop; the side grip is positioned between the first grip and the arched grip; the retainer being terminally positioned on the first grip and the arched grip, opposite the side grip of the grip; the retainer comprising a front retainer wall, and end rib, an upper clip, a lower clip, and a rim hook for detachably securing to a rim of the disposable cup; the rim hook being terminally positioned on the first grip opposite the side grip of the grip; the upper clip being perpendicularly attached to the first grip adjacent the rim hook; the lower clip being terminally and perpendicularly attached to the arched grip; wherein the lower clip of the retainer is resilient; wherein the lower clip is movable to engage and disengage with the upper clip; and wherein the retainer is securely attached to the rim of the disposable cup when the lower clip is engaged with the upper clip; the front retainer wall being terminally positioned on the first grip of the grip; the front retainer wall being oriented perpendicular to the first grip; the end rib being a portion of the first grip; the end rib being positioned between the front retainer wall and the upper clip; wherein the front retainer wall, the end rib, the upper clip, and the lower clip form the rim hook; and the cup support being terminally positioned on the arched grip opposite the lower clip of the retainer.

18. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 14 comprising: the upper clip of the retainer comprising an upper clip hook; the upper clip hook being terminally positioned on the upper clip; the lower clip comprising a lower clip tab and a lip retainer; the lip retainer being terminally positioned on the lower clip opposite the cup support across the lower clip for engaging a lip of the disposable cup; the lower clip tab being terminally positioned on the lower clip adjacent the lip retainer; and wherein the lower clip tab is movable between an engaging position and a disengaging position with the upper clip hook.

19. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 16 comprising: the lower clip of the retainer comprising a release slot for a user to move the lower clip between engaging and disengaging the upper clip; and release slot being positioned on the lower clip opposite the lip retainer.

20. The detachable handle adapted to removably attach to and safely support a disposable cup as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the cup support comprising a linear support and a peripheral support; the linear support being terminally positioned on the cup support opposite the lower clip of the retainer for linearly supporting an exterior side of the disposable cup; the peripheral support being terminally positioned on the cup support adjacent the linear support; and the peripheral support being oriented perpendicular to the linear support for supporting a circular surface of the disposable cup.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view of the present invention being attached to a disposable cup.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention indicating the direction of section cut A.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention being attached to the disposable cup taken along line A-A in FIG. 3.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a right-side view of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a top view of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a front view of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 8 is an isometric perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 9 is an isometric perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 10 is an isometric perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

[0017] All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0018] As can be seen in FIG. 1 to FIG. 10, the present invention, named Clipper Detachable Handle 10, offers a user a comfortable and efficient handle to grasp when holding an insulated, disposable cup 90 containing a liquid, which can be of an extreme temperature. The clipper detachable handle 10 of the present invention provides a clip that allows the user to securely hold all types of insulated cup with a lip at the opening. More specifically, the clipper detachable handle 10 is configured generally in the shape of a loop with a protrusion that hooks onto the inside edge of the disposable cup 90 while the clip presses against the outside edge of the disposable cup 90 to retain the clipper detachable handle 10 on the disposable cup 90. The clipper detachable handle 10 can be easily removed by the user, reused on any other cup with a lip, or stored away conveniently. Additionally, the clipper detachable handle 10 is light-weighted and compact, thereby allowing the user to save space whether in use or storage and ensuring against toppling of the disposable cup 90 being held when the disposable cup 90 is placed atop a surface. The clipper detachable handle 10 has a shape designed for the comfort of the user and can be made in various sizes to fit different sizes of hands. The clipper detachable handle 10 can help people with hand arthritis holding a paper cup or any insulated cup with liquid in it. Furthermore, the clipper detachable handle 10 provides any commercial coffee/tea house an economical and convenient add-on offering to their customers when purchasing beverages of extreme temperatures being contained in insulated disposable cups. Thus, the clipper detachable handle 10, as an add-on, enhances the user's safety, significantly minimizes burning injuries, and reduces the liability of the commercial coffee/tea houses.

[0019] As seen in FIG. 1 to FIG. 2, the clipper detachable handle 10 of the present invention comprises a cup support 20, a grip 30, a retainer 40, while the disposable cup 90 comprises a rim 91, a protruding lip 92, and a cup wall 93. The grip 30, the retainer 40 and the cup support 20 of the clipper detachable handle 10 of the present invention can be integrally formed of at least one material including, but not limited to, plastic, polymer, composite material, metal, steel, stainless-steel, or any other suitable material. More specifically, the grip 30 comprises a first grip 31, a grip connector 32, a side grip 33, an arched grip 34, and a grip loop 35. The side grip 33 is positioned between the first grip 31 and the arched grip 34. The retainer 40 is terminally positioned on the first grip 31 opposite the side grip 33 of the grip 30. Further, the retainer 40 comprises an upper clip 43, a lower clip 45, and a rim hook 51 for detachably securing the present invention to the rim 91 of the disposable cup 90. The rim hook 51 is terminally positioned on the first grip 31 opposite the side grip 33 of the grip 30. The upper clip 43 is perpendicularly attached to the first grip 31 adjacent the rim hook 51, and the lower clip 45 is terminally and perpendicularly attached to the arched grip 34 of the grip 40. The cup support 20 is terminally positioned on the arched grip 34 opposite the lower clip 45 of the retainer 40. The cup support 20 provides support to the clipper detachable handle 10 when the clipper detachable handle 10 is clipped on the outer wall of the disposable cup 90. The cup support 20 is positioned against the cup wall 93 of the disposable cup 90 when the present invention is in use with the disposable cup 90 and is terminally and colinearly connected to the retainer 40.

[0020] As seen in FIG. 6 to FIG. 7, the first grip 31 is terminally connected and positioned perpendicular to the front retainer wall 41 and terminally connected to the side grip 32 through the grip connector 32. The side grip 33 terminally connects the grip connector 32 and the arched grip 34. The arched grip 34 is terminally connected to the cup support 20. The first grip 31, grip connector 32, side grip 33, arched grip 34, and the lower clip 45 form the grip loop 35, which is closed loop and allows the user to securely and firmly hold the disposable cup 90 to attach the clipper detachable handle 10 on to the disposable cup 90 through the front retainer wall 41, the rim hook 51, the upper clip 43, and the lower clip 45. Additionally, the arched grip 34 includes, but is not limited to, a curved shape, to further provide a convenient grasp for the user to efficiently hold the clipper detachable handle 10 and the disposable cup 90. The loop shape of the clipper detachable handle 10 also separates the user's hand from the surface of the disposable cup 90, thus providing protection of the user from burning and any uncomfortable touch of the temperature extreme of the liquid inside the disposable cup 90 that the user is holding.

[0021] As can be seen in FIG. 4 to FIG. 5, the lower clip 45 of the retainer 40 is resilient so that the lower clip 45 is configured to be able to move so as to enable lower clip 45 to engage and disengage with the upper clip 43. Thus, the retainer 40 is securely attached to the rim 91 of the disposable cup 90 when the lower clip 45 is engaged with the upper clip 43. Additionally, the upper clip 43 of the retainer 40 comprises an upper clip hook 44, which is terminally positioned on the upper clip 43. The upper clip 43 includes, but is not limited to, a triangular shape. The lower clip 45 comprises a lower clip tab 46 and a lip retainer 47. More specifically, the lip retainer 47 is terminally positioned on the lower clip 45 opposite the cup support 20 across the lower clip 45 for engaging the protruding lip 92 of the disposable cup 90. The lower clip tab 46 is terminally positioned on the lower clip 45 adjacent the lip retainer 47 and the lower clip tab 46 is movable between an engaging position and a disengaging position with the upper clip hook 44. Further, the lower clip 45 of the retainer 40 comprises a release slot 49 for the user to move the lower clip 45 between an engaging and a disengaging position thus engaging or disengaging the lower clip 45 onto the upper clip 43, respectively. The release slot 49 is positioned on the lower clip 45 opposite the lip retainer 47. The lip retainer 47 engages the lower edge of the protruding lip 92 on the rim 91 of the disposable cup 90 when the lower clip 45 is engaged onto the upper clip 43 as seen in FIG. 4. When the clipper detachable handle 10 is attached to the disposable cup 90, the present invention enables the user to detach the clipper detachable handle 10 from the disposable cup 90 by holding the present invention while pushing the resilient lower clip 45 at the release slot 49 of the retainer 40 towards the side grip 33 of the grip 30 using a finger. The lip retainer 47 disengages the protruding lip 92 on the rim 91 of the disposable cup 90 and the user can easily remove the present invention out of the disposable cup 90.

[0022] As can be seen in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 to FIG. 7, the retainer 40 comprises a front retainer wall 41 and an end rib 42. More specifically, the front retainer wall 41 is terminally positioned on the first grip 31 of the grip 30 and oriented perpendicular to the first grip 31. The end rib 42 is a portion of the first grip 31. The end rib 42 is positioned between the front retainer wall 41 and the upper clip 43. Additionally, the front retainer wall 41, the end rib 42, the upper clip 43, and the lower clip 45 form the rim hook 51 for removably securing the retainer 50 on to the rim 91 of the disposable cup 90. The rim hook 51 provides space for the protruding lip 92 of the disposable cup 90 onto which the user chooses to hold. The front retainer wall 41 hooks to the inside edge of the disposable cup 90 when the clipper detachable handle 10 clips to the disposable cup 90, when the lower clip 45 is biased away from the front retainer wall 41 but stopped by the upper clip 43. The clipper detachable handle 10 presses against the outer edge of the disposable cup 90 thus allowing the user to securely hold the disposable cup 90 without touching the disposable cup 90. The clipper detachable handle 10 securely attaches to the disposable cup 90 with four locking mechanisms. Firstly, the rim hook 51 of the retainer 40 is engaging the top surface of the rim 91 of the disposable cup 90. Secondly, the front retainer wall 41 engages the interior surface of the disposable cup 90. Thirdly, the lip retainer 47 engages the lower surface of the protruding lip 92 of the disposable cup 90. Fourthly, the lower clip tab 46 of the lower clip 45 engages the upper clip hook 44 of the upper clip 43 to provide support of the retainer 40, as seen in FIG. 4 to FIG. 5.

[0023] As can be seen in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, the cup support 20 comprises a linear support 21 and a peripheral support 22. More specifically, the linear support 21 is terminally positioned on the cup support 20 opposite the lower clip 45 of the retainer 40 for linearly supporting an exterior side of the disposable cup 90. The peripheral support 22 is terminally positioned on the cup support 20 adjacent the linear support 21. Additionally, the peripheral support 22 is oriented perpendicular to the linear support 21 for supporting a circular/cylindrical surface of the disposable cup 90. Together, the linear support 21 and the peripheral support 22 extends the clipper detachable handle 10 linearly and circularly/cylindrically on the exterior body of the disposable cup 90, as seen in FIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the linear support 21 and the peripheral support 22 of the cup support 20 are of curved shape to not only effectively support the clipper detachable handle 10 and the disposable cup 90 when being held by the user, but also protect the body of the disposable cup 90 from any unintended damage, such as poking, piercing, pinching, etc.

[0024] As can be seen in FIG. 8 to FIG. 9, in alternative embodiments of the present invention, the cup support 20 comprises the linear support 21 and the peripheral support 22, wherein the peripheral support 22 is sized substantially larger than the linear support to provide further strength of support to the disposable cup 90. More specifically, the peripheral support 22 substantially extends the cup support 20 from the linear support 21 for strong, linearly and cylindrically supporting the exterior side of the disposable cup 90. The shape of the peripheral support 22 may include, but is not limited to, square, rectangle, diamond, oval, circle, dovetail, etc.

[0025] As can be seen in FIG. 10, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the front retainer wall 41 and the end rib 42 are laterally curved to fit the cylindrical/circular surface of the disposable cup 90. More specifically, the front retainer wall 41 together with the edge of the end rib 42, which forms the edge of the front retainer wall 41 adjacent the first grip 31, are circularly and cylindrically shaped to fit the body surface of the disposable cup 90 when the present invention is securely attached to the disposable cup 90.

[0026] To use the present invention, the user acquires the clipper detachable handle 10 and clips it onto the disposable cup 90 that the user chooses, as seen in FIG. 4, Firstly, the user holds the disposable cup 90 in one hand, and the clipper detachable handle 10 in another. The user pulls the lower clip 45 away from the front retainer wall 41 by inserting a finger into the release slot 49 and pulling the lower clip 45 towards the upper clip 43 on the clipper detachable handle 10 while holding the clipper detachable handle 10. Secondly, the user inserts the front retainer wall 41 of the clipper detachable handle 10 along the inside edge into the disposable cup 90. Once the protruding lip 92 of the disposable cup 90 is positioned into the rim hook 51 against the end rib 42 and the upper clip 43, the user releases the lower clip 45 to let the lower clip 45 to press against the outer surface of the disposable cup 90 and engage the lip retainer 47 of the clipper detachable handle 10 onto the protruding lip 92 of the disposable cup 90. Thirdly, the user releases the hand from holding the disposable cup 90 while still holding the clipper detachable handle 10 with the other hand. Now the clipper detachable handle 10 is securely attached to the disposable cup 90. Additionally, the user can conveniently move the clipper detachable handle 10 along the protruding lip 92 of the disposable cup 90. By holding the disposable cup 90 in one hand, the user can hold and maneuver the clipper detachable handle 10 along the protruding lip 92 of the disposable cup 90 to the desired location using the other hand. Furthermore, the user can remove the clipper detachable handle 10 when it is no longer needed. To remove the clipper detachable handle 10, the user pulls the lower clip 45 at the release slot 49 away from the outer surface of the disposable cup 90 using a finger while holding the disposable cup 90 using the other hand. Once the lower clip 45 is pulled away from the disposable cup 90, the user can slide the clipper detachable handle 10 along the rim 91 out of the disposable cup 90. The clipper detachable handle 10 can now be cleaned and used for another cup or stored away per the user's desire.

[0027] The clipper detachable handle 10 may be designed and manufactured in various shapes and sizes to comfortably fit hands of different sizes and for different sizes of insulated disposable cups.

[0028] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.