Conventional soft-drink cups include a paper cup and a plastic lid configured to be press-fit together. The plastic lid may include an opening, typically positioned centrally, for receiving a plastic straw. As described, conventional soft-drink cups include multiple separate pieces that may require different disposal methods. It is therefore desirable to have a cup with all its components comprising a single material and thus requiring only one disposal method. For example, a cup that is entirely compostable is desirable.
In various embodiments, a cup includes a base having a circular bottom and a rim coupled to a perimeter of the bottom; a sidewall extending upwards from the base between an upper edge and a lower edge, the sidewall being continuously coupled to the rim at the lower edge; a plurality of closure panels integrally connected to and extending from the sidewall at the upper edge, the plurality of closure panels includes a first closure panel having a first cutout and a second closure panel having a second cutout; a straw connected to and extending from a second end of the sidewall and extending upwards from near the lower edge to beyond the upper edge; and a tab connected to and extending from a first end of the sidewall and attaching the first end of the sidewall to a second end of the sidewall. In certain examples, the plurality of closure panels is configured to be foldable between a closed position and an open position. In certain examples, when the plurality of closure panels is in the closed position: the first cutout and the second cutout overlap to define a straw receptacle configured to receive the straw, and the straw extends through the straw receptacle. In certain examples, the sidewall has a plurality of side fold lines connected to and extending from the upper edge towards the lower edge. In certain examples, the sidewall and the base define a content-receiving volume. In certain examples, the cup is biodegradable.
In some embodiments, the plurality of side fold lines extends from the upper edge towards the lower edge by at least 5% of the height of the cup.
In some embodiments, the plurality of side fold lines extends from the upper edge towards the lower edge by at most 20% of the height of the cup.
In some embodiments, the plurality of side fold lines is uniformly distributed about the content-receiving volume.
In some embodiments, the plurality of side fold lines includes five side fold lines.
In some embodiments, the plurality of closure panels includes a number of closure panels and the plurality of side fold lines includes a number of side fold lines, the number of closure panels equals to the number of side fold lines minus one.
In some embodiments, each closure panel of the plurality of closure panels is a segment of a circle.
In some embodiments, each closure panel of the plurality of closure panels is a semicircle.
In some embodiments, the cup is larger in size at the upper edge than at the lower edge.
In some embodiments, the straw receptacle is positioned at a first corner of a plurality of corners defined by the plurality of side fold lines at the upper edge.
In some embodiments, the straw has a triangular cross-section at least at the upper edge.
In some embodiments, the straw has a right-triangular cross-section at least at the upper edge.
In some embodiments, the plurality of closure panels integrally extends from a plurality of top fold lines.
In some embodiments, the cup comprises paper coated with a liquid-repelling coating.
In some embodiments, the liquid-repelling coating is bio-based polybutylene succinate.
In various embodiments, a blank for a cup includes: a sidewall extending between an upper edge and a lower edge; a plurality of closure panels integrally connected to and extending from the sidewall at the upper edge, the plurality of closure panels includes a first closure panel having a first cutout and a second closure panel having a second cutout; a plurality of straw panels connected to and extending from the sidewall from a second end of the sidewall, the plurality of straw panels configured to form a straw connected to and extending from the second end of the sidewall; and a tab connected to and extending from a first end of the sidewall and configured to attach the first end of the sidewall to the second end of the sidewall during cup assembly. In certain examples, the plurality of closure panels is configured to be foldable between a closed position and an open position. In certain examples, when the plurality of closure panels is in the closed position: the first cutout and the second cutout overlap to define a straw receptacle configured to receive the straw, and the straw extends through the straw receptacle. In certain examples, the sidewall has a plurality of side fold lines connected to and extending from the upper edge towards the lower edge. In certain examples, the blank is biodegradable.
In some embodiments, the plurality of side fold lines extends from the upper edge towards the lower edge by at least 5% of the height of the cup.
In some embodiments, the plurality of side fold lines extends from the upper edge towards the lower edge by at most 20% of the height of the cup.
In some embodiments, each closure panel of the plurality of closure panels is a segment of a circle.
In various embodiments, a method for forming a cup from a blank includes: rolling a plurality of straw panels of the blank into a straw having a triangular cross-section and connected to and extending from an upper edge of the cup towards a lower edge of the cup by at least 80% of the height of the cup; folding a sidewall of the blank along a plurality of side fold lines of the sidewall; rolling the sidewall to couple a base to the sidewall at the lower edge to define a content-receiving volume; and attaching a first end of the sidewall with a second end of the sidewall by affixing a tab connected to and extending from the first end of the sidewall to the second end of the sidewall. In certain examples, rolling the sidewall includes positioning the straw at a corner along a side fold line of the plurality of side fold lines of the sidewall.
Depending upon embodiment, one or more benefits may be achieved. These benefits and various additional objects, features and advantages of the subject matter provided by the present disclosure can be fully appreciated with reference to the detailed description and accompanying drawings that follow.
Certain embodiments provided by the present disclosure are directed to a container. More particularly, some embodiments provide a cup. Merely by way of example, some embodiments have been applied to a compostable cup. But it should be recognized that the subject matter provided by the present disclosure has a much broader range of applicability.
In some embodiments, the base 12, as shown in
In some embodiments, the sidewall 14 forms the body of the cup and is configured to engage with a user's hand during use. In various examples, the sidewall 14 extends between an upper edge 24 of the cup 10 and the lower edge 22 of the cup, such as across the entire height of the cup. In some examples, the height of the cup 10 is defined as the height when the cup is in a closed position (e.g., as the cup shown in
In certain examples, as shown in
In certain embodiments, the cup 10 further includes a tab 36, as shown in
In some embodiments, the plurality of closure panels 16 extends, such as integrally (e.g., as a continuous part), from the sidewall at the upper edge of the cup (see
In certain examples, the plurality of closure panels 16 includes a number of closure panels equal to the number of side fold lines of the plurality of side fold lines 28 minus one. For example, if the plurality of side fold lines 28 includes five side fold lines, the plurality of closure panels 16 includes four closure panels. In various examples, the plurality of side fold lines 28 includes a first side fold line adjacent to a plurality of straw panels 56 and a second side fold line adjacent to a securing tab 36, which when assembled, the first side fold line and the second side fold line overlaps. In various examples, the plurality of closure panels 16 includes a first closure panel 16a (see
In certain embodiments, the cup 10 further includes a straw 48, such as a straw extending integrally from the sidewall 14, such as from a second side 40 of the sidewall. In some examples, the straw 48 extends through the straw receptacle 46 at the upper edge 24 of the cup 10 and towards the lower edge 22 of the cup, such as by at least 70%, 80%, or 90% of the height of the cup (see
In some embodiments, the sidewall 14 is configured to form a body of a cup. In various examples, the sidewall 14 is configured to extend between an upper edge of the cup and a lower edge of the cup, such as across the entire height of the cup. In some examples, the height of the cup is defined as the height when the cup is in a closed position. In certain examples, the sidewall 14 is configured to be coupled to a base. In certain examples, when the blank 100 is constructed into a cup, the sidewall 14 and the base define a content-receiving volume. In some examples, when blank 100 is constructed into a cup, the sidewall 14 is narrower at the lower edge and wider at the upper edge. In certain examples, the sidewall 14 has a plurality of side fold lines 28 that, when blank 100 is constructed into a cup, extends from the upper edge towards the lower edge. For example, the plurality of side fold lines 28, when blank 100 is constructed into a cup, extends from the upper edge towards the lower edge by at least more than 5% of the height of the cup and/or by at most 20% of the height of the cup. In various examples, the plurality of side fold lines 28 helps divide the sidewall 14 into a lower portion 30 and an upper portion 32, such as divided at end points 34 of the fold lines 28. In some examples, the plurality of side fold lines 28 includes four, five, six, eight, or ten side fold lines.
In certain embodiments, the blank 100 further includes a tab 36, such as a securing tab, configured to secure the sidewall 14. For example, the tab 36 extends, such as integrally, from the sidewall 14, such as from a first end 38 of the sidewall. In some examples, the tab 36 spans a substantial portion of the height of the would-be-constructed cup, such as more than 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of the height of the cup. In some examples, the tab 36 is configured to attach the first end 38 of the sidewall 14 to a second end 40 of the sidewall. For example, when the tab 36 attaches, such as adhesively attaches the first end 38 and the second end 40 of the sidewall 14, the sidewall is configured to become circular at the lower portion.
In some embodiments, the plurality of closure panels 16 extends, such as integrally (e.g., as a continuous part), from the sidewall 14. In various examples, the plurality of closure panels 16 extends from a plurality of top fold lines 42. In some examples, each closure panel of the plurality of closure panels 16 is shaped as a segment of a circle, such as a semicircle. In certain examples, the plurality of closure panels 16 includes a number of closure panels equal to the number of side fold lines of the plurality of side fold lines 28 minus one. For example, if the plurality of side fold lines 28 includes five side fold lines, the plurality of closure panels 16 includes four fold closure panels. In various examples, the plurality of closure panels 16 includes a first closure panel 16a and a second closure panel 16b, a third closure panel, and a fourth closure panel. In certain examples, the first closure panel 16a includes a first cutout 44a and the second closure panel 16b includes a second cutout 44b. In some examples, the first cutout 44a of the first closure panel 16a and the second cutout 44b of the second closure panel 16b are configured to define a straw receptacle, such as when the plurality of closure panels 16 is in the closed position. In certain examples, the first cutout 44a and/or the second cutout 44b has a shape determined based on the shape of the straw to be received and/or held by the straw receptacle. For example, if the straw to be received and/or held is triangular, then the first cutout 44a and/or the second cutout 44b has a triangular shape. In certain examples, the cutouts are configured to define the straw receptacle at a first corner of a plurality of corners defined by the plurality of side fold lines 28 at the upper edge.
In certain embodiments, the blank 100 further includes a plurality of straw panels 56 configured to form a straw connected to and extending from the sidewall. In certain examples, the straw is constructed from a plurality of straw panels 56 and a straw tab 58 (e.g., as a straw panel of the plurality of straw panels) for securing the plurality of straw panels into the straw. In various examples, the plurality of straw panels 56 extends, such as integrally, from the second end 40 of the sidewall 14. In some examples, the plurality of straw panels 56 extends from above the first and the second cutoffs defining the straw receptacle at the upper edge and towards the lower edge of the cup, such as by at least 70%, 80%, or 90% of the height of the cup. For example, the plurality of straw panels 56 has an upper end 52 and a lower end 54, the lower end being positioned above the lower edge by less than 30% or 20% or 10% of the height of the cup. In various examples, the plurality of straw panels 56, when constructed into a straw, forms a triangular cross-section, such as a right-triangular cross-section, at least at the upper edge. In other examples, the plurality of straw panels 56, when constructed into a straw, forms another polygonal cross-section such as a square or a hexagon.
In some embodiments, a method for forming a cup (e.g., the cup 10 of
Although specific embodiments have been described, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that there are other embodiments that are equivalent to the described embodiments. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the disclosed subject matter is not to be limited by the specific illustrated embodiments.
This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/901,096 filed Sep. 16, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62901096 | Sep 2019 | US |