U.S. patent application number 10/879154 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-30 for scald-preventive disposable cup holder.
Invention is credited to Hsieh, Wu-Chang.
Application Number | 20040262483 10/879154 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33538561 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040262483 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsieh, Wu-Chang |
December 30, 2004 |
Scald-preventive disposable cup holder
Abstract
A scald-preventive disposable cup holder is disclosed to have an
endless peripheral wall formed of paper material, a through hole
defined by the endless peripheral wall and extending through top
and bottom sides thereof, a -shaped cut formed in the endless
peripheral wall for enabling a part of the endless peripheral wall
to be turned outwards from the endless peripheral wall to form a
handle.
Inventors: |
Hsieh, Wu-Chang; (Kaohsiung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Family ID: |
33538561 |
Appl. No.: |
10/879154 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/311.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 25/2817
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/311.2 |
International
Class: |
A47K 001/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 30, 2003 |
TW |
092211941 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A scald-preventive disposable cup holder comprising an endless
peripheral wall formed of paper material, and a through hole
defined by said endless peripheral wall and extending through top
and bottom sides thereof, wherein at least one -shaped cut is
formed in said endless peripheral wall for enabling a part of said
endless peripheral wall to be turned outwards from said endless
peripheral wall to form at least one handle.
2. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
1, wherein the number of said at least one -shaped cut is 2 for
enabling a part of said endless peripheral wall to be turned
outwards to form two handles.
3. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
1, wherein the number of said at least one -shaped cut is 1 for
enabling a part of said endless peripheral wall to be turned
outwards to form a handle.
4. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
1, wherein said endless peripheral wall is formed of one single
layer of paper material.
5. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
1, wherein said endless peripheral wall is formed of two layers of
paper material.
6. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
1, wherein the part of said endless peripheral wall for turning
outwards to form said at least one handle has at least one
hole.
7. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
1, wherein said endless peripheral wall has ribs protruded from an
inner surface thereof.
8. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
1, wherein said endless peripheral wall has ribs protruded from an
outer surface thereof.
9. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
1, wherein said endless peripheral wall is formed of corrugated
paper.
10. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
1, wherein said endless peripheral wall has raised portions
protruded from an outer surfaced thereof.
11. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
1, wherein said endless peripheral wall has raised portions
protruded from an inner surfaced thereof.
12. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
1, wherein said through hole has a diameter gradually reducing from
the top side of said endless peripheral wall toward the bottom side
of said endless peripheral wall.
13. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
1, wherein said through hole has the same diameter in top and
bottom ends thereof.
14. A scald-preventive disposable cup holder comprising an endless
peripheral wall formed of two pieces of paper material, said two
pieces of paper material each having two distal ends respectively
bonded together and at least one extension lug extended from at
least one of the two distal ends for forming a respective handle
after bonding of the distal ends of said two pieces of paper
material.
15. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
14, wherein said two pieces of paper material are narrow strips of
paper material each have two extension lugs respectively extended
from the respective two distal ends for forming a respective
handle.
16. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
14, wherein said two pieces of paper material are narrow strips of
paper material each have one extension lug extended from one end
thereof for forming one handle.
17. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
14, wherein said two pieces of paper material are sheets of paper
material each have two extension lugs respectively extended from
the respective two distal ends for forming a respective handle.
18. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
14, wherein said two pieces of paper material are sheets of paper
material each have one extension lug extended from one end thereof
for forming one handle.
19. The scald-preventive disposable cup holder as claimed in claim
14, wherein said endless peripheral wall has a folding line on the
middle remote from the two distal ends of each of said two pieces
of paper material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a disposable cup
holder for holding a cup and more particularly, to a
scald-preventive disposable cup holder.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Disposable paper or plastic cups are intensively used in
coffee shops, fast-food chain stores, drive-through restaurants,
etc., for holding coffee, beverage, soup, or the like for takeout
ordering. However, it is scalding to hold a hot cup directly with
the hands. Some shops may provide clients with a paper cup holder
for holding the cup, preventing direct contact of the hands with
the cup. However, conventional paper cup holders simply have a
barrel-like cup body without handle. A cup holder of this design
simply postpones transferring of heat energy from the cup to the
user's hand. The high temperature of the content carried in the up
will still be transferred to the user's hand, causing the user to
feel uncomfortable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present
invention to provide a cup holder, which has a scald-preventive
handle that effectively reduces transferring of heat energy from
loaded cup to the user's hand. It is another object of the present
invention to provide a scald-preventive cup holder, which is made
of inexpensive paper material for disposable use. It is still
another object of the present invention to provide a
scald-preventive disposable cup holder, which is easy and
inexpensive to manufacture.
[0006] To achieve these and other objects of the present invention,
the scald-preventive disposable cup holder comprises an endless
peripheral wall formed of paper material, and a through hole
defined by the endless peripheral wall and extending through top
and bottom sides thereof, wherein at least one z,900 -shaped cut is
formed in the endless peripheral wall for enabling a part of the
endless peripheral wall to be turned outwards from the endless
peripheral wall to form at least one handle.
[0007] Further, protruding ribs may be formed on the inner or outer
surface of the endless peripheral wall to provide a heat isolation
effect.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the collapsed status of
a scald-preventive disposable cup holder with two -shaped cuts at
two sides according to the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but showing one handle turned
out of the respective paper sheet material.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates the cup holder opened for the loading of
a cup according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3A is a schematic drawing showing a cup holder of
double-layer paper material for the loading of a cup according to
the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the collapsed status of
a scald-preventive disposable cup holder with one -shaped cut for
one single handle according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing one handle turned
out of the respective paper sheet material.
[0014] FIG. 6 shows the open status of the cup holder shown in FIG.
4.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a top plain view of a cup holder with ribs on the
outside wall according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a front plain view of the cup holder shown in FIG.
7.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a plain view showing a cup held in the cup holder
according to the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a top plain view of a cup holder with ribs on the
inside wall according to the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a front plain view of the cup holder shown in
FIG. 10.
[0020] FIG. 12 shows a cup held in a barrel-like cup holder
according to the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 13 illustrates the collapsed status of a cup holder
formed of two narrow elongated strips of hard paper with extension
lugs at both ends of each elongated strip of hard paper according
to the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 14 shows the open status of the cup holder shown in
FIG. 13.
[0023] FIG. 15 illustrates the collapsed status of a cup holder
formed of two narrow elongated strips of hard paper with one
extension lug at one end of each elongated strip of hard paper
according to the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 16 shows the open status of the cup holder shown in
FIG. 15.
[0025] FIG. 17 shows the open status of a rectangular cup holder
according to the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 18 shows another alternate form of rectangular cup
holder according to the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of still another alternate
form of the cup holder according to the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 19A is a perspective view of still another alternate
form of the present invention, showing the folded status of the
extension lugs.
[0029] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of still another alternate
form of the present invention, showing a single hole formed in the
bonded extension lugs for handle.
[0030] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of still another alternate
form of the present invention, showing two holes formed in the
bonded extension lugs for handle.
[0031] FIG. 22 is a schematic drawing showing an I-cut on the
bonded extension lugs according to the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 23 is a schematic drawing showing a double Y-end cut on
the bonded extension lugs according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, two certain thickness paper sheet
materials are arranged in a stack and stamped into a cup holder 1
subject to the desired shape. During shape forming, two
substantially -shaped cuts 11 are formed in the cup holder 1 at two
opposite sides, thereby forming two handles 13. Further, two
vertical folding lines are formed in the cup holder 1 at two sides
and extended to the top and bottom edges of the cup holder 1 for
folding. Each handle 13 has one side connected to the cup holder 1
by a connection line 12, which allows the respective handle 13 to
be turned in and out of the respective -shaped cut 11, and a finger
hole 14. The finger hole 14 can be made having any of a variety of
shapes. When extended out, the finished cup holder 1 is shaped like
a tapered stub tube for holding a cup. Further, the bottom edge 10
of the cup holder 1 is smoothly upwardly curved (this will be
explained further).
[0034] The two handles 13 are respectively turned out of the
respective -shaped cuts 11 of the cup holder 1 (see FIG. 2), and
then the cup holder 1 is extended out (stretched into the
three-dimensional operative shape). Alternatively, the cup holder 1
can be extended out before turning the handles 13 out of the
respective -shaped cuts 11 of the cup holder 1. Thus, a cup 2 can
be inserted into the cup holder 1 and rested therein as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 9. When using the cup holder 1 to hold a cup 2
containing hot water, the user can hold the handles 13 with the
fingers, preventing direct touch of the fingers with the peripheral
wall of the cup holder 1 that absorbs heat from the hot water
contained in the cup 2. As indicated above, the cup holder 1 is
shaped like a tapered stub tube having a relatively bigger inner
diameter in the top side and a relatively smaller inner diameter in
the bottom side, it holds the cup 2 firmly in place. Further,
because the bottom edge 10 of the cup holder 1 is smoothly upwardly
curved, it has a certain prestress for supporting the load of the
cup and the contained substance in the cup.
[0035] The cup holder 1 can be made of a double-layer paper
material, having the outer layer of the double-layer paper material
properly cut to form the desired handles 13 and the inner layer of
the double-layer paper material printed with a logo at the location
corresponding to the handles 13 (see FIG. 3A).
[0036] According to the second embodiment of the present invention
as shown in FIGS. 4.about.6, two certain thickness paper sheet
materials are arranged in a stack and stamped into a cup holder 1
shaped like a tapered stub tube for holding a cup. During shape
forming, one substantially -shaped cut 11 is formed in the cup
holder 1, thereby forming a handle 13. The handle 13 has one side
connected to the cup holder 1 by a connection line 12, which allows
the handle 13 to be turned in and out of the -shaped cut 11, and a
finger hole 14. The finger hole 14 can be made having any of a
variety of shapes.
[0037] According to the third embodiment of the present invention
as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cup holder 1 has vertical ribs 11
protruded from and equiangularly spaced around the outside wall.
The vertical ribs 11 increase the wall thickness of the cup holder
1. When holding the cup holder 1 with the fingers, the fingers are
in contact with the vertical ribs 11, less heat energy will be
transferred from the cup held in the cup holder 1 to the user's
fingers.
[0038] According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention
as shown in FIGS, 10 and 11, the cup holder has vertical ribs 11
protruded from and equiangularly spaced around the inside wall. The
vertical ribs 11 increase the wall thickness of the cup holder 1.
When holding a cup with the cup holder 1, the vertical ribs 11
support the cup in place, and therefore less heat energy is
transferred from the cup held in the cup holder 1 to the peripheral
wall of the cup holder 1.
[0039] Further, corrugated paper material may be used to make cup
holders, achieving the desired heat insulation effect. A cup holder
can also be made having raised portions protruded from the inside
or outside wall.
[0040] According to the fifth embodiment of the present invention
as shown in FIG. 12, the cup holder 1 is made having the same inner
diameter in the top side as well as the bottom side for holding a
cylindrical can food or beverage.
[0041] According to the sixth embodiment of the present invention
as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the cup holder 3 is formed of two
narrow elongated strips of hard paper. The two narrow elongated
strips of hard paper of the cup holder 3 each have two extension
lugs 31 at the ends. The extension lugs 31 of the two narrow
elongated strips of hard paper are bonded together, forming a
respective handle. After bonding of the extension lugs 31, the two
narrow elongated strips of hard paper of the cup holder 3 are
stretched into an open status, thereby forming a circular cup
holder.
[0042] According to the seventh embodiment of the present invention
as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the cup holder 3 is formed of two
narrow elongated strips of hard paper. The two distal ends of the
narrow elongated strips of hard paper are respectively bonded
together. Each narrow elongated strip of hard paper has an
extension lug 31 at one end for forming a handle. After bonding of
the ends of the two narrow elongated strips of hard paper, the two
narrow elongated strips of hard paper are stretched into an open
status, thereby forming a circular cup holder.
[0043] Alternatively, the cup holder 3 can be made having a
rectangular shape with extension lugs 31 at two sides as shown in
FIG. 17. FIG. 18 shows another alternate form of rectangular cup
holder according to the present invention.
[0044] According to still another alternate form of the present
invention as shown in FIG. 19, the cup holder 3 is formed of a
narrow strip of hard paper curved into a barrel-like shape, having
two extension lugs 31 respectively extended from the two distal
ends and bonded together, thereby forming a handle.
[0045] According to still another alternate forms of the present
invention as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, hole or holes 311 are formed
in the bonded extension lugs 31 of the cup holder 3. Making a cut
312, for example, a crossed cut (see FIGS. 20 and 21), I-cut (see
FIG. 22), or double Y-end cut (see FIG. 23) on the bonded extension
lugs 31 and then inserting the finger through the cut 312 form a
hole 311 in the bonded extension lugs 31 of the cup holder 3.
[0046] FIG. 19A shows still another alternate form of the present
invention. According to this embodiment, the cup holder 3 is formed
of a narrow strip of hard paper curved into a barrel-like shape,
having two extension lugs 31 respectively extended from the two
distal ends and bonded together, thereby forming a handle. Each
extension lug 31 has a first lug portion 31A, a second lug portion
31B, a third lug portion 31C, and a respective vertical folding
line 31D between the first lug portion 31A and the second lug
portion 31B and between the second lug portion 31B and the third
lug portion 31C. Each extension lug 31 is folded inwards along the
respective vertical folding lines 31D to have the first lug portion
31A and the second lug portion 31B bonded together and the third
lug portion 31C bonded to the inside wall of the cup holder 3.
Further, the cup holder 3 has a vertical folding line 31E on the
middle remove from the handle (the extension lugs 31). Through the
vertical folding line 31E, the cup holder is collapsed into a flat
manner.
[0047] A prototype of scald-preventive disposable cup holder has
been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1.about.23. The
scald-preventive disposable cup holder functions smoothly to
provide all of the features discussed earlier.
[0048] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *