Patent Application
20200102111
The present invention relates generally to disposable cups. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cup which may form a closure for itself.
Disposable beverage containers (hereinafter “cups”) are often formed of a plastic, Styrofoam, paper or similar product. These cups have a large top opening which often must be covered for portability purposes and to prevent spills. In almost all instances, the cover used is made of a plastic that is separate from and/or is a different material from the cup material. This is inconvenient, expensive, and creates excess waste.
Therefore, what is needed is cup which may form a closure for itself which allows a user to drink from the cup through the closure.
The subject matter of this application may involve, in some cases, interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem, and/or a plurality of different uses of a single system or article.
In one aspect, a cup is provided which can form its own closure. The cup is formed of a body having side walls and a base. Two arc-shaped score lines are formed into the body or by the body. The score lines define flaps on opposite sides of the cup. To create the closure for the cup, the two flaps are folded inward, at the score lines, over the cavity. In so folding and closing, a first drinking spout and a second vent spout are defined on diametrically opposite sides of the cup. The cup, so closed, allows a user to drink from the drinking spout while the cup remains otherwise closed (save for the vent spout).
In another aspect, a blank for forming into a cup is provided. The blank is formed of a sheet body, and two arcuate score lines formed on or by the sheet body. Each arcuate score line extends from a top edge of the sheet body, down towards the opposite side of the sheet body, and then back to the sheet body at an opposite end. The score lines are spaced apart from each other and from the widthwise edges of the sheet body.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments.
Generally, the present disclosure concerns a cup which may form its own cover. The cup is generally formed of a single material type or class. Preferably the material may be recyclable, thereby eliminating the need for a separate and different-material cover required by the prior art. Currently, disposable cups and covers are almost always formed of different materials due to the impracticality of making a plastic cup and/or a paper cover. This is especially so for hot drink cups. Accordingly, the present disclosure teaches a cup formed of a single material such as a wax-impregnated paper, plastic-lined paper, or plastic cup, among others, with an integrated folding closure. When closed, the cup forms a drinking spout, with a vent diametrically opposite to the drinking spout.
The cup may begin as a flat blank. On the blank two arc shaped score lines are formed starting and returning at a top and extending to a distance from the top. The two arc shaped score lines are spaced apart from each other and from the two widthwise edges of the blank.
The blank may be formed into a cup by rolling the blank around a mandrel, such as a tapered mandrel, forming seams to connect widthwise ends of the blank, and connecting a base to the bottom of the cup.
Once the cup has been formed, it may be filled with a fluid, such as a drink, for example hot coffee or tea. The cup is filled partially, and in some embodiments may be filled to a recessed or protruding fill line of the cup identifying a maximum recommended fill. The fill line, in some embodiments, may be mark on the blank, such as by a printing, recession, protrusion, or the like. A user may then fold two diametrically opposite sides (“flaps”) of the cup inward, as allowed by the two arc score lines. In most embodiments, the flaps are part of, and integral with, the cup body. The flaps thus formed may engage with each other or may stay in place on their own. This folding causes two spouts on diametrically opposite sides of the cup, and at 90 degrees from the middle of each fold. In many embodiments, one of the spouts may be wider than the other, depending on score line positioning. In such an embodiment, the larger spout is intended for drinking, while the smaller one is intended for venting air to replace the exiting fluid. In a particular embodiment, a seam may be formed on the cup having overlapping layers of the cup material. This reinforced seam area may define the drinking spout portion. It should be understood that any arrangement and operation may be used without straying from the scope of this invention. The cup, so closed, prevents at least an appreciable amount of fluid from leaking through the cover except through the spout, and optionally the vent spout.
In certain embodiments, depending on blank shape, the vent side spout may have a height (as measured from a bottom of the blank) that is less than a drinking spout. This may allow for more ergonomic drinking, in some cases.
The two flaps may be connected to each other when folded inward to form the cover. Connection may be achieved in any number of ways to hold the flaps in place. For example, a pressure sensitive adhesive may be disposed on one or both flaps. In another embodiment, a slit may be formed in each flap, allowing them to interlock when folded downward. In yet another embodiment, a tab may protrude from an edge of a flap which may be engaged through a slit formed in the opposing flap.
The cup thus formed with the integrated closure has many advantages not present in the art. For example, when formed out of recyclable materials, the cup is single-stream recyclable. No separation of components is required. Further, it is more efficient to make a cup that does not require a separate closure because the separate covers need not be made, purchased, shipped, stored, and the like. Moreover, the spout formed by the closure configuration forms a mouthpiece which allows for easy, convenient drinking with less spills than when drinking from an edge of a cup. Further still, the elevation of the spout above the covering flaps decreases spilling because the fluid must elevate beyond the cover to be able to exit the cup through the spout.
The cup and blank of the present invention may be formed of any material. Examples of which the cup and blank may be formed include, but are not limited to, plastics, plastic-lined paper, wax-impregnated paper, paper, and the like. Preferably the material may be easily recyclable and/or compostable, but this is not required.
Turning now to
While several variations of the present invention have been illustrated by way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, or the inventive concept thereof. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and are inclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as set forth.
