U.S. patent application number 10/418903 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-13 for introduced in disposable cup.
Invention is credited to Gruber, Heleno.
Application Number | 20030209556 10/418903 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29274736 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030209556 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gruber, Heleno |
November 13, 2003 |
Introduced in disposable cup
Abstract
"IMPROVEMENT INTRODUCED IN DISPOSABLE CUP", according to which,
the external surface of the side wall (3) of the body (1) of the
cup, is provided with solid projections (4), configuring thermal
insulation elements, as well as elements of structural
reinforcement for the cup (1), these projections (4) may vary as to
shape, dimensions, number and position.
Inventors: |
Gruber, Heleno; (Sao Bento
do Sul, BR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEINBERG & RASKIN, P.C.
1140 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 15th FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10036-5803
US
|
Family ID: |
29274736 |
Appl. No.: |
10/418903 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/738 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/265 20130101;
B65D 1/44 20130101; B65D 1/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/738 |
International
Class: |
B65D 025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 18, 2002 |
BR |
PI0201311-8 |
Claims
1.sup.st) "IMPROVEMENT INTRODUCED IN DISPOSABLE CUP", cup whose
body (1) presents preferably cone section shape, manufactured in
plastic and produced with the traditional injection molding
process, and whose upper rim is provided with a short external edge
(2), characterized by the fact that, the external surface of the
side wall (3) of the body (1) of the cup is provided with solid
projections (4), configuring thermal insulation elements, as well
as elements for structural reinforcement for the body (1), these
projections (4) may vary as to shape, dimensions, number and
position:
2.sup.nd) "IMPROVEMENT INTRODUCED IN DISPOSABLE CUP", according the
claim 1, and at a first, among infinite other possible realization
shapes, characterized by the fact that the projections (4) consist
of thin radial walls (4a), configuring ribs or wings, arranged
longitudinally relative to the body (1), with a length equal or
less than the height of the mentioned body (1), arranged
equidistant among themselves or not.
3.sup.rd) "IMPROVEMENT INTRODUCED IN DISPOSABLE CUP", according to
claim 1, and another possible realization shape, characterized by
the fact that the projections (4) consist of several projections
(4b) of semi-spherical shape, distributed along all the external
surface of the wall (3), or only at a region of the same.
Description
[0001] This Invention patent is relative to an improvement
introduced in the disposable cup, this cup preferably in cone
section shape, manufactured in plastic and produced with the
traditional injection molding process, or vacuum forming, and whose
present improvement represents a substantial improvement of the use
conditions for these disposable cups relative to those actually
existing in the market, specially when these are used with hot
beverages.
[0002] According to technical knowledge, when these disposable cups
are used to serve hot beverages, the intense heat transmitted
through the thin walls of the cup burns the hands of the user, who,
to avoid this discomfort, is obliged to hold the cup by its upper
rim, where there is a small edge turned outside, and where the
liquid, and consequently its temperature, do not arrive. However,
this rim is the region of contact with the user lips, so that the
act of holding the cup at this part, besides being uncomfortable,
is also anti-hygienic.
[0003] And similarly, these disposable cups are also inappropriate
to serve ice cold beverages, since as a function of the low
temperature of the beverage, that on itself is uncomfortable to
touch, the cup "sweats", that is, the water condensates in the
external part of the cup, wetting the user hands, and sometimes,
even running down the user fingers, generating thus, a momentary
discomfort situation.
[0004] Besides, even when the user of this disposable cup could
holds it by its sidewall, he ends up holding it by the upper rim,
since this provides more structural stability to the cup. This
because, many times, when holding the cup by its side walls, due to
the thin wall thickness, associated to the malleability of the
manufacture material, this cup is easily deformed and crushed,
causing discomfort due to liquid spills, caused by overflow and
side spills between the rim and the user mouth.
[0005] Thus, considering these disadvantages, the user generally
uses two cups simultaneously, one inside the other, trying to
improve the use conditions.
[0006] In order to solve these problems, this "IMPROVEMENT
INTRODUCED IN DISPOSABLE CUP" was created, with the main purpose of
avoiding the direct contact of the user fingers with the side wall
of the cup, thus isolating the temperature of the product contained
inside the cup from the fingers of this user.
[0007] For this, this improvement consists in the provision, on the
external surface of the cup sidewall, of several solid projections,
orthogonal to the mentioned external surface, and configured as
ribs, wings, fins, protuberances, etc., and which may vary in
number, size, shape, location, etc.
[0008] Such projections configure "holding" elements as well as
spacers for the direct contact of the user fingers with the cup
side wall; that is, applied to disposable cups, besides serving as
support for the user to hold this cup, they have the main function
of isolating the temperature of the liquid inside the cup from the
user finger, particularly when this liquid is hot, avoiding, for
this user, the risk of burning his fingers when holding the cup to
drink the liquid.
[0009] Thus, these projections, solid and orthogonal relative to
the external surface of the cup side wall, added to the intrinsic
thermal insulation property of the plastics, do not propagate heat,
protecting, thus, the user when he holds the cup to drink the
liquid, through these projections.
[0010] Also, these projections protect the user fingers against
ice-cold beverages, isolating him from the contact with the low
temperature, and also from the contact with the moisture generated
at the external surface of the cup wall, thus, this user maintains
his fingers dry.
[0011] Additionally, these projections, besides the "holding"
function with thermal insulation, have the function of structure
and reinforcement of the cup sidewall itself, avoiding its
deformation or crushing at the moment when the user holds it to
drink the liquid inside it. This characteristic presents the
advantages of the fact that the use of only one cup each time is
sufficient, as well as the fact of extending the cup life, allowing
it to be used more than once, which does not happen this the usual
disposable cups.
[0012] Although this improvement was developed more specifically
for disposable cups, it is obvious it can be applied to
non-disposable cups and glasses, thus these objects improved as
such are equally protected by this invention.
[0013] For illustration, the drawings of this invention are
attached, through which it will be visualized better: FIG. 1 is a
perspective of a disposable cup, provided with this improvement in
one of its possible realization shapes; FIG. 2 is a cross section
of this cup, per line A-A shown in the former figure; FIGS. 3 and 4
are side views of two other possible cup realization formats thus
improved; FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate, respectively, cross sections of
the mentioned improved cups; FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate,
respectively, a side view and cross section of a disposable cup
provided with another possible realization shape for the
improvement object of this claim.
[0014] The purpose of this Invention patent is an "IMPROVEMENT
INTRODUCED IN DISPOSABLE CUP", cup whose body (1) presents
preferably cone section shape, manufactured in plastic and produced
by the traditional injection molding process, and whose upper rim
is provided with a short external edge (2), according to this
improvement, the external surface of the side wall (3) of the body
(1) of the cup is provided with solid projections (4), configuring
elements for thermal insulation between the temperature of the
product contained inside the cup (1) and the user fingers, when
holding this cup, as well as structural reinforcement elements for
the said cup (1).
[0015] These insulating projections (4) may vary as to shape,
dimensions, number and position, in one among the infinite possible
realization shapes, they may consist of thin radial walls (4a)
configuring ribs or wings, arranged longitudinally relative to the
body (1), with a length equal or less that the height of the
mentioned body (1), arranged equidistantly among themselves or
not.
[0016] In another possible realization shape, they may also consist
of several projections (4b) of semi-spherical shape, distributed
along all the external surface of the wall (3), or only in a region
of the same.
[0017] Even when this improvement was developed more specifically
for disposable cups, it is obvious it can be applied to
non-disposable cups and glasses, thus these objects improved as
such are equally protected by this invention.
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