BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to drinking cups.
2. Brief Summary of the Prior Art
Drinking cups adapted for use with straws are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,240,415 a drinking cup with a straw incorporated therein. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,814 discloses a beverage container with an integrated straw stored in the container lid. U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,576 discloses a drinking cup with self-contained straws. The straws are positioned in between an inner and outer wall of the cup, and a rotatable lid can be positioned to open or close outlet apertures for the straws formed in the rim of the cup. U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,631 discloses a combination straw, lid and cup including a housing on the outside of the cup to contain the straw before use. U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,668 discloses a stackable, non-spillable drinking container. U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,876 discloses a bifrustoconical beverage container having a bottom formed into a fingerlike projection over which a special straw that can be attached. U.S. Pat. No. 7,845,513 discloses a beverage container with a straw stored in the container's lid. U.S. Pat. No. 8,464,896 discloses a straw holder for a conventional beverage cup or beverage cup lid. U.S. Pat. No. 8,733,582 discloses a stackable drinking cup having a lid with an integral two-part straw, the lower portion of the straw is formed inside the body of the cup, and the upper portion of the straw is stored in a recess in the lid until use. An alignment tab assists in properly fitting the lid to the cup such that the upper, flexible portion of the straw can be inserted into the portion of the straw formed in the cup's side wall.
In recent times, disposable drinking straws, especially disposable plastic drinking straws, have been identified as a source of environmental pollution, to the extent that some governmental organizations have banned the use of such straws. Alternatives to disposable plastic straws are known. For example, reusable metal straws are available. However, these must be cleaned after use, and may not be available when needed, such as when dining out. Paper straws are also available. While functional and inexpensive, paper straws may not be usable with some types of fluids, such as warm or hot drinks. Thus, there is a continuing need for an inexpensive, simple solution to the environmental problems resulting from the use of disposable plastic straws.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a stackable drinking cup with a formed-in-place, integral drinking straw. There is no need for using a separate disposable plastic straw with the cup. The present invention provides a stackable drinking cup. The drinking cup includes a generally frustoconical body having a truncated conical side, as well as a rim and a generally flat bottom. In addition, the drinking cup includes a sipping straw formed in the conical side. The sipping straw includes a tubular section extending from the bottom to the rim. The sipping straw has an inwardly extending lower opening at the bottom of the body, and a mouthpiece at the rim. The mouthpiece includes an upper opening for sucking fluid from the cup, and extends outwardly from the side. Preferably, in one aspect of the present invention, the lower opening has a larger cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the upper opening. Preferably in another aspect of the present invention, the lower opening has a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the upper opening. Preferably, the tubular section of the straw has an inner side and an outer side, such that the inner side of the cup is nestable within the outer side of another cup positioned within the cup. Preferably, the tubular section decreases in cross-sectional area from the bottom to the rim. Preferably, the outer side of the tubular section of the sipping straw extends inwardly from the side of the body of the cup. Preferably, the mouthpiece of the cup is nestable within the outer side of another cup positioned with the cup. Preferably, the inner side and the outer side of the tubular section of the sipping straw are generally concave. Preferably, the outer side of the tubular section forms a truncated conical section wider at the bottom than proximate the rim. Preferably, a horizontal cross-section of the outer side of the tubular section on a first plane forms an arc, and the horizontal cross-section of the inner side of the tubular section on the first plane forms an arc, with the arc of the inner side having a greater length than the length of the arc of the outer side.
In one aspect, the stackable drinking cup according the present invention preferably further includes a second tubular section formed in the side of the cup opposite the first tubular section, such that the drinking straw of a first drinking cup can nest within the second tubular section of a second drinking cup. In another aspect of the present invention, the stackable drinking cup preferably includes a first tubular section has a horizontal cross-section with a generally parallelpiped shape. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the stackable drinking cup preferably includes a first tubular section which has a horizontal cross-section of the first tubular section with a generally triangular shape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a stackable drinking cup according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational perspective view of the stackable drinking cup of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the stackable drinking cup of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4. is a bottom perspective view of the stackable drinking cup of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pair of stacked drinking cups according to FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a stackable drinking cup according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the stackable drinking cup of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a stackable drinking cup according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a first perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a stackable drinking cup according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a second perspective view of the drinking cup of FIG. 10.
FIG. 11 is a sectional elevational view of a pair of stackable drinking cups according to FIG. 9.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a stackable drinking cup according to the present invention.
FIG. 13. Is an elevational sectional view of a pair of stacked drinking cups of FIG. 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the Figures in which like reference numerals represent like elements in each of the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of a first embodiment of a stackable drinking cup 10 according to the present invention, as shown from above. The drinking cup 10 has a generally frustoconical body 20 with a truncated conical side 22 having a rim 24 and a generally flat bottom 26. A sipping straw 30 is formed in the conical side 22. The sipping straw 30 includes a tubular section 32 extending from the bottom 26 to the rim 24. The sipping straw 30 has an inwardly extending lower opening 50 proximate the bottom 26 of the body 20 (best seen in the perspective plan view of FIG. 3), and a mouthpiece 40 proximate the rim 24. The mouthpiece 40 includes an upper opening 52 for sucking fluid from the cup 10. The mouthpiece 40 extends outwardly from the side 22. The lower opening 50 has a larger cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the upper opening 52. The tubular section 32 has an inner wall or side 36 and an outer wall or side 34, such that the inner side of the cup 10 is nestable within the outer side of another cup 10 positioned within the cup 10 such as shown in FIG. 5. Preferably, in this aspect of the present invention, when the tubular section 32 projects into the interior of the cup body 20, the tubular section 32 decreases in cross-sectional area from the bottom 26 to the rim 24. Preferably, the outer side 34 of the tubular section 32 of the sipping straw 30 extends inwardly from the side 22 of the body 20 of the cup 10. Preferably, the mouthpiece 40 of the cup 10 is nestable (that is, fits within) within the outer side 34 of another cup 10 positioned within the cup 10, such as shown in FIG. 5. Preferably, the inner side 36 and the outer side 34 of the tubular section 32 of the sipping straw 30 are generally concave inwardly, as shown in the Figures. Preferably, the outer side 34 of the tubular section 32 forms a truncated conical section wider at the bottom 26 of the cup 10 than proximate the rim 24 of the cup 10.
Preferably, a horizontal cross-section of the outer side 34 of the tubular section 30 on a first plane forms an arc, and the horizontal cross-section of the inner side 36 of the tubular section 30 on the first plane also forms an arc, with the arc of the inner side 36 having a greater length than the length of the arc of the outer side 34.
A second embodiment of the stackable drinking cup 100 of the present invention is shown in the perspective view of FIG. 6 and top plan view of FIG. 7. The stackable drinking cup 100 includes a sipping straw 130 including a first tubular section 132 formed in the frustoconical body 120 as in the first embodiment of a stackable drinking cup 10 of the present invention. However, in the case of this second embodiment, the frustoconical body 120 includes an inwardly extending second tubular section 162 formed opposite the first tubular section 132 (180 degrees from the first tubular section 132) such that when drinking cups 100 of this second embodiment are stacked, the orientation of the mouthpieces 140 can be selected so that the mouthpieces 140 of successive drinking cups 100 can be varied. Thus, for example, the orientation of the mouthpieces 140 can be alternated in a stack of drinking cups 100 to balance the weight of the drinking cups 100, which may be desirable for shipping or dispensing purposes: A third or more corresponding tubular sections can be formed in the body of the drinking cup to provide alternative stacking orientations if desired, as long as the positions of the tubular sections are geometrically symmetric. For example, when a total of three tubular sections are formed, they should each be positioned 120 degrees from each adjacent tubular section (not shown).
A third embodiment of a stackable drinking cup 200 is shown in the perspective view of FIG. 8 and sectional elevational view of FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the drinking straw 230 includes a mouthpiece 240 as well as a first tubular section 232 having a prismatic shape with an outer wall 234, an inner wall 236, and a pair of side walls 238 each having a parallelpiped configuration. A second tubular section 262 is provided opposite the first tubular section 232, so that the drinking cups 200 of this third embodiment can be stacked as in the case of the second embodiment. The second tubular section 262 provides a recess 264 in the body 220 of the drinking cup 200.
A fourth embodiment of a stackable drinking cup 300 according to the present invention is shown in the perspective views of FIGS. 9 and 10. The drinking cup 300 is similar to the drinking cup 100 of the second embodiment, in the drinking cup 300 includes a straw 330 having a first tubular section 332 as well as a complementary second tubular section 362 formed in the body 320 of the drinking cup 300 opposite the straw 330. The first tubular section 332 includes both an outer wall 334 and an inner wall 336 spaced inward from the outer wall 334. However, in this case, both the outer wall 334 and the inner wall 336 are formed from a pair of generally flat, inwardly projecting, parallelpiped-shaped panels 335, 337, such that the horizontal cross section through the first tubular section 332 has a “V” shape, as does the horizontal cross section of the second tubular section 362. Drinking cups 300a, 300b of the third embodiment are also stackable, as shown in FIG. 11.
Preferably, in another aspect of the present invention, the lower opening of the tubular section of the drinking cup has a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the upper opening of the tubular section, and in particular, when the tubular section of the drinking straw extends outwardly from the body of the drinking cup.
A fifth embodiment of a stackable drinking cup 400 according to the present invention is shown in the perspective view of FIG. 12. The drinking cup 400 is similar to the drinking cup 100 of the second embodiment, in the drinking cup 400 includes a straw 430 having a first tubular section 432 as well as a complementary second tubular section 462 formed in the body 420 of the drinking cup 400 opposite the straw 430. However, in this embodiment, both the first tubular section 432 and the second tubular section 462 extend outward from the body 420 for the cup 400 rather than inwardly. The first tubular section 432 includes both an outer wall 434 and an innerwall 436 spaced inward from the outer wall 434. However, in this case, both the outer wall 434 and the inner wall 436 are generally flat, parallelpiped-shaped, and spaced from one another, and connected by a pair of generally flat, parallelpiped-shaped panels 435, 437, such that the horizontal cross section through the first tubular section 432 has a “U” shape, as does the horizontal cross section of the second tubular section 462. Drinking cups 400a, 400b of the fifth embodiment are also stackable, as shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 13 is a sectional elevational view of a pair of stackable drinking cups 400 of the fifth embodiment shown with the straw 430a of a first or upper drinking cup 400a oriented to fit within the recess provided by the straw 430b of a second or lower drinking cup 400b. Optionally, the first cup 420a could be rotated 180 degrees so that the straw 430a of the first cup 400a can be fit into the recess provided by the second tubular section 462 of the second cup 400b (not shown).
In general, the first tubular section can assume any geometry in its horizontal cross-section, provided that the outer wall of a first or upper drinking cup can fit within a second or lower drinking cup so that the cups can be stacked.
Various modifications can be made in the details of the various embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention, all within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20210177176
