Suspended containers

Abstract

A disposable package for consumable contents includes a container having a surrounding wall of upstanding, generally flexible material extending from a container bottom to a wide mouth defined by a rim formation of greater relative thickness than said surrounding wall, said mouth being of greater than two inch minimum horizontal dimension and being about as wide as the horizontal cross-section of a top of the container. The disposable package further includes a removable lid at least partially closing the mouth, the lid having a rim portion extending over and removably engaged with the rim formation to form at least part of an attachment of the lid to the container, the attachment being constructed to support the container and its contents when suspended by the lid, and a flexible suspending element extending from the lid and arranged to be engaged by a thin support element, the suspending element being sized and arranged, with a length less than about 5 inches, such that when engaged by said support element, the suspending element suspends the container by its lid in a position below the support, for at least one of display and transport. In some embodiments, a single suspending element extends from a rim region of the container, the element being located to suspend the package at a tilted orientation, such that the lid of the container, so suspended, extends at a greater angle to horizontal than does the lid of the container when rested upon said bottom. Also, a display rack is provided for displaying such disposable packages.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A disposable package for consumable contents comprising: 
 a container having a surrounding wall of upstanding, generally flexible material extending from a container bottom to a wide mouth defined by a rim formation of greater relative thickness than said surrounding wall, said mouth being of greater than two inch minimum horizontal dimension and being about as wide as the horizontal cross-section of a top of the container;    a removable lid at least partially closing said mouth, the lid having a rim portion extending over and removably engaged with the rim formation to form at least part of an attachment of the lid to the container, said attachment being constructed to support the container and its contents when suspended by said lid; and    a flexible suspending element extending from the lid and arranged to be engaged by a thin support element, the suspending element being sized and arranged, with a length less than about 5 inches, such that when engaged by said support element, the suspending element suspends the container by its lid in a position below the support, for at least one of display and transport.    
     
     
         2 . The disposable package of  claim 1 , wherein the suspending element comprises an element defining a single opening, through which said support element can be inserted for engagement.  
     
     
         3 . The disposable package of  claim 1 , wherein the suspending element is a flexible strand comprising comprising at least one of a cord, string, ribbon, thong, strap, filament and wire.  
     
     
         4 . The disposable package of  claim 3 , wherein the suspending element has a first and a second leg segment, each having a first end secured to the lid at substantially a common point and an opposite, second end, the second end of the first leg segment being joined outwardly with the second end of the second leg segment to form a loop.  
     
     
         5 . The disposable package of  claim 4 , wherein the common point is located generally in a rim region of the removable lid.  
     
     
         6 . The disposable package of  claim 4 , wherein the common point is located generally in a central region of the removable lid.  
     
     
         7 . The disposable package of  claim 3 , wherein the lid further comprises an aperture and the suspending element includes a formation that is larger than the aperture, the suspending element extending through the aperture to the formation, the formation creating interference with an underside of the lid to prevent passage of the formation through the aperture for causing transfer of a load on the lid, including a weight of the container, to the suspending element.  
     
     
         8 . The disposable package of  claim 7 , wherein the formation is formed by at least one end portion of the strand.  
     
     
         9 . The disposable package of  claim 8 , wherein the formation is a knot formed by said at least one end portion.  
     
     
         10 . The disposable package of  claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a plastic rim and the suspending element comprises an extension of the rim.  
     
     
         11 . The disposable package of  claim 10 , wherein the extension is an integral, free continuation of the rim portion of the lid, having a first and an opposite, second end, each being joined to respectively spaced apart areas of the lid, said free continuation of the rim portion and the areas of the lid from which it extends cooperating to define a continuous surface.  
     
     
         12 . The disposable package of  claim 10 , wherein the suspending element is joined integrally to said rim portion of said lid, and is at least one of positioned and movable to a position above the lid.  
     
     
         13 . The disposable package of  claim 12 , wherein the suspending element extends outwardly, as a flexible integral projection, from the rim portion of the lid to a free end which defines an opening through which said support element may be inserted.  
     
     
         14 . The disposable package of  claim 12  in which the suspending element extends inwardly from the rim portion of the lid.  
     
     
         15 . The disposable package of  claim 14  in which the suspending element extends inwardly, as a flexible integral projection from the rim portion of the lid to a free end which defines an opening through which said support element may be inserted.  
     
     
         16 . The disposable package of  claim 14  in which the suspending element is an integral projection in the form of an arch extending from a first region at which it is joined to the rim portion of the lid to a second region at which it is joined to the rim portion of the lid, said first and said second regions being spaced apart and there being open space below the arch which defines an opening through which said support element may be inserted.  
     
     
         17 . The disposable package of  claim 16  in which the arch is at least one of flexible and resilient, enabling the arch to be movable from a position at least one of near and below a level of upper extent of the lid to a position sufficiently above that level to enable unimpeded insertion of said support element.  
     
     
         18 . The disposable package of  claim 17 , wherein the arch is constructed to resiliently snap from a concave configuration, in which it lies below said level, to a convex configuration in which it extends above said level.  
     
     
         19 . The disposable package of  claim 1 , wherein a lower end of the suspending element includes one of a pair of interfitting connection features, and a region of the lid is configured to form another of said pair, the connecting features being so oriented on the respective suspending element and lid that a suspension force applied to the suspension element by said support element urges the interfitting connection features to engage in load-transmitting relationship to transfer the load of the container, via the lid, to the suspending element and thence to the support element.  
     
     
         20 . The disposable package of  claim 19 , wherein the connecting features are respectively of a male and a female construction.  
     
     
         21 . The disposable package of  claim 20 , wherein the male connecting feature is secured to the lower end of the suspending element and the female feature comprises a molded formation in a top surface of the lid.  
     
     
         22 . The disposable package of  claim 21 , wherein the male connecting feature on the suspending element comprises a tapered wedge and the female connecting feature comprises upward formations of the lid that define a wedge-receiving cavity.  
     
     
         23 . The disposable package of  claim 1 , wherein the suspending element has an end formation interfitting with a connecting formation formed in the material of the rim portion of the lid.  
     
     
         24 . The disposable package of  claim 1 , wherein the lid includes an integral upstanding projection and the suspending element is a flexible loop attached to the upstanding projection.  
     
     
         25 . The disposable package of  claim 24 , wherein the upstanding formation of the lid defines an opening through which the loop is threaded.  
     
     
         26 . The disposable package of  claim 25 , wherein the loop is defined by a strand having a retaining knot sized larger than the opening in the formation through which the loop is threaded.  
     
     
         27 . The disposable package of  claim 25 , wherein the loop is a continuous plastic loop.  
     
     
         28 . A disposable package for consumable contents, comprising: 
 a container having a surrounding wall of upstanding, generally flexible material extending from a container bottom to a wide mouth defined by a rim formation of greater relative thickness than said surrounding wall, said mouth being of greater than two inch minimum horizontal dimension and being about as wide as the horizontal cross-section of a top of the container;    a removable lid at least partially closing the mouth and having a rim portion extending over and removably engaged with the rim formation to form at least part of an attachment of the lid to the container, the rim formation of the container and the rim portion of the lid defining a rim region of the package; and    a single suspending element extending from the rim region, said element located to suspend the package at a tilted orientation, such that the lid of the container, so suspended, extends at a greater angle to horizontal than does the lid of the container when rested upon said bottom.    
     
     
         29 . The disposable package of  claim 28 , wherein the suspending element extends from the rim portion of the lid.  
     
     
         30 . The disposable package of  claim 28 , wherein the suspending element one of extends from and is engaged with the rim formation of the container.  
     
     
         31 . The disposable package of  claim 28 , wherein the suspending element comprises an opening, through which said support element can be inserted for engagement.  
     
     
         32 . The disposable package of  claim 31 , wherein the suspending element is a flexible strand comprising at least one of a cord, string, ribbon, thong, strap, filament and wire.  
     
     
         33 . The disposable package of  claim 3 , wherein the suspending element has a first and a second leg segment, each having a first end secured to the rim region of the package at substantially a common point and an opposite, second end, the second end of the first leg segment being joined outwardly with the second end of the second leg segment to form a loop.  
     
     
         34 . The disposable package of  claim 31 , wherein the rim formation of the container is defined by one of a rolled bead and a folded upper extension of the flexible wall of the container, and the suspending element comprises an elongated flexible strand formed into a free loop terminating in two extended end portions, both of which are captured in and secured between portions of said one of the rolled bead or the folded extension of the extension of the flexible wall of the container.  
     
     
         35 . The disposable package of  claim 30 , wherein a flexible element surrounds the exterior of the container immediately below and in load-transferring relationship with the rim formation of the container, said suspending element being attached to said flexible element.  
     
     
         36 . The disposable package of  claim 35 , wherein the flexible element comprises a so-called “zip tie” comprising an elongated strap of plastic having gripping formations on at least one of its sides, the strap inserted into a detent which engages a said gripping formation and prevents reverse movement of the band.  
     
     
         37 . The disposable package of  claim 36 , wherein an insulating sleeve is secured about the container by said elongated strap.  
     
     
         38 . The disposable package of  claim 36 , wherein said suspending element is secured to said strap in the vicinity of said detent by at least one of a pivot and a flexible joint.  
     
     
         39 . The disposable package of  claim 30  including a support sleeve movable relative to the exterior surface of the container, upwardly to a point of load transmitting engagement with the container, and said suspending element having at least a portion connected to said sleeve.  
     
     
         40 . The disposable package of  claim 39  including a support ring surrounding the container, engaged with a portion of the rim formation of the container, and said suspending element comprises two leg segments joined to form a loop for receiving said supporting element, opposite end portions of the leg segments joined in load-transferring manner respectively to said support ring and said support sleeve.  
     
     
         41 . The disposable package of  claim 40 , wherein said support ring, said support sleeve and said suspending element comprise a single plastic molded piece.  
     
     
         42 . The disposable package of  claim 28 , wherein the suspending element comprises part of a supporting sleeve engaged upon the exterior of the container.  
     
     
         43 . The disposable package of  claim 42 , wherein the sleeve is a thermal insulating sleeve for the container.  
     
     
         44 . The disposable package of  claim 42 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of resilient thermoplastic foam.  
     
     
         45 . The disposable package of  claim 42 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of corrugated paper.  
     
     
         46 . The disposable package of  claim 42 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of a mesh material.  
     
     
         47 . The disposable package of  claim 42 , wherein the sleeve has opposed upwardly extending flexible first and second arms, said second arm extending through a slit in said first arm, said second arm lying across the top of the lid, and said first arm defining said suspending element.  
     
     
         48 . The disposable package of  claim 42 , wherein the sleeve includes a drawstring associated with an upper portion the sleeve, said drawstring constructed and arranged to simultaneously draw the sleeve close about the top of the package, define the suspending element for suspending the package from said support element, and provide for load transfer from the container to the suspending element.  
     
     
         49 . The disposable package of  claim 42 , wherein said sleeve is defined by a mesh fabric, a portion of the fabric extending above the lid, and holes in said upwardly extending portion of the mesh fabric providing for entry of said support element.  
     
     
         50 . The disposable package of  claim 42 , wherein the sleeve has upwardly extending retaining formations arranged to engage the rim portion of the lid and hold it in place on the container.  
     
     
         51 . The disposable package of  claim 50 , wherein a flexible suspending element is at least one of engaged with said sleeve and a formation carried by the sleeve.  
     
     
         52 . The disposable package of  claim 50 , wherein a formation carried by said sleeve defines said suspending element.  
     
     
         53 . The disposable package of  claim 28 , wherein the flexible material of which the container is formed comprises paper stock.  
     
     
         54 . The disposable package of  claim 53 , wherein the flexible material comprises drinking cup paper stock.  
     
     
         55 . The disposable package of  claim 54 , wherein the flexible material comprises coffee cup paper stock.  
     
     
         56 . The disposable package of  claim 53 , wherein the rim formation of the container comprises a rolled bead of the paper stock.  
     
     
         57 . The disposable package of  claim 56 , wherein the lid is a plastic lid capable of snap-fitting about the rim formation.  
     
     
         58 . The disposable package of  claim 28 , wherein the flexible material of which the wall of the container is formed comprises plastic foam, and the rim formation of the container has a thickness of foam greater than lower portions of the wall.  
     
     
         59 . The disposable package of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of a price tag, a greeting card and a product information tag is joined to the suspending element.  
     
     
         60 . The disposable package of  claim 28  including an outer heat-shrunk tamper-evident exterior seal.  
     
     
         61 . The disposable package of  claim 60 , wherein the seal surrounds portions of the container and the lid near the top of the container.  
     
     
         62 . The disposable package of  claim 28 , wherein an exterior surface of the container body carries printed text or decoration.  
     
     
         63 . The disposable package of claims  28 , wherein the lid has a clear central section through which at least one of the contents and an internal seal may be viewed.  
     
     
         64 . The disposable package of  claim 63 , wherein the lid comprises a central region of clear plastic and at least one of a colored and an opaque outer rim portion.  
     
     
         65 . The disposable package of  claim 63 , wherein the lid has a rim region and a central region integrally formed of clear plastic and at least one of a colored and an opaque rim member attached to at least partially cover the rim region.  
     
     
         66 . The disposable package of  claim 65 , wherein the rim member has a depending skirt that is heat-shrunk about the rim region of the cup to form an exterior seal.  
     
     
         67 . The disposable package of  claim 64  including a clear plastic film member and an annular rim member, the clear plastic film member extending across the central portion of the lid to define a viewing window, and having a pouring level skirt that depends past and is heat-sealed in an upper region of the container.  
     
     
         68 . The disposable package of  claim 28  in combination with a display rack on which the package is suspended by the suspending element.  
     
     
         69 . The combination of  claim 68 , wherein the display rack defines a horizontal support rod on which multiple units of said package are suspended, each by its suspending element.  
     
     
         70 . The combination of  claim 69 , wherein the display rack comprises at least two tiers of said rods, one above another, the length of the suspending elements of the packages being predetermined such that packages hanging from said one rod do not interfere with placement or removal of said packages on said another rod.  
     
     
         71 . The combination of  claim 69 , wherein the display rack comprises a rod bent in V-shape, and mounted on a support such that the rod provides two rod sections which diverge from one another.  
     
     
         72 . A multiple tier display assembly in which at least two tiers of the display are defined each by a rod bent in “V” form, said at least two tiers being generally aligned vertically with one another