U.S. patent application number 11/016162 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-22 for paper-wrapped polymer beverage container.
Invention is credited to Lewis Bresler.
Application Number | 20060131317 11/016162 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36051522 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060131317 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bresler; Lewis |
June 22, 2006 |
Paper-wrapped polymer beverage container
Abstract
A beverage container having a polymer cup body wrapped in a
paper covering is disclosed. The paper-wrapped polymer beverage
container may provide thermal insulation while simultaneously
providing a means to display high quality printed matter to the
user. Such a container may include a polymer cup body having a
bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom. The cup body may
have a plurality of annular ribs disposed adjacent to one another
circumferentially around the side wall parallel to a plane defined
by the bottom of the cup body. A paper wrap may be disposed
circumferentially around an exterior of the cup body. A promotional
item may be attached to the paper wrap.
Inventors: |
Bresler; Lewis; (Phoenix,
AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOODCOCK WASHBURN LLP
ONE LIBERTY PLACE, 46TH FLOOR
1650 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Family ID: |
36051522 |
Appl. No.: |
11/016162 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/737 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/3874
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/737 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/00 20060101
B65D025/00 |
Claims
1. A beverage container, comprising: a polymer cup body having a
bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom, the bottom
defining a plane, the side wall forming an open end opposite the
bottom, the cup body having a plurality of annular ribs disposed
adjacent to one another circumferentially around the side wall
parallel to the plane defined by the bottom of the cup body; and a
paper wrap disposed circumferentially around an exterior of the cup
body.
2. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the side wall has a
length and the paper wrap extends the length of the side wall.
3. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the cup body
comprises a lip disposed on the open end thereof.
4. The beverage container of claim 3, wherein the paper wrap
extends from an underside of the lip toward the bottom of the cup
body.
5. The beverage container of claim 4, wherein the paper wrap
extends to the bottom of the cup body.
6. The beverage container of claim 5, wherein the paper wrap has an
external surface that is suitable for displaying printed
material.
7. The beverage container of claim 6, wherein the paper wrap has a
smooth external surface.
8. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the paper wrap
comprises a solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paper.
9. The beverage container of claim 8, wherein the SBS paper is clay
coated.
10. The beverage container of claim 9, wherein the SBS paper has a
thickness of between about eight and about fourteen mils.
11. The beverage container of claim 1, further comprising a
promotional item affixed to an exterior surface of the paper
wrap.
12. The beverage container of claim 11, wherein the promotional
item is removable from the paper wrap.
13. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the paper wrap is
affixed to the exterior of the cup body via an adhesive.
14. The beverage container of claim 13, wherein edges of the paper
wrap are at least one of adhesively overlapped and adhesively edge
joined.
15. The beverage container of claim 13, wherein the adhesive is
applied to an inside face of the paper wrap.
16. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein edges of the paper
wrap are crimped together.
17. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the polymer is
polypropylene.
18. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the paper wrap abuts
at least one of the ribs such that a thermally insulating gap is
formed between the cup body and the paper wrap.
19. The beverage container of claim 18, wherein the gap is an air
gap.
20. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the ribs has a
respective rib width, and the rib widths are the same for each of
the plurality of ribs.
21. The container of claim 1, wherein the ribs are disposed along
an entire length of the side wall that extends from the bottom of
the cup body.
22. The container of claim 1, further comprising a paper base
disposed on the bottom of the cup body.
23. A beverage container, comprising: a polymer cup body having a
bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom, the bottom
defining a plane, the side wall forming an open end opposite the
bottom, and a lip disposed on the open end, the cup body having a
plurality of annular ribs disposed adjacent to one another
circumferentially around the side wall parallel to the plane
defined by the bottom of the cup body; and a paper wrap disposed
around an exterior surface of the side wall, the paper wrap
extending from an underside of the lip to the bottom of the cup
body and having an external surface that is suitable for displaying
printed material.
24. The beverage container of claim 23, wherein the paper wrap
comprises a clay-coated, solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paper.
25. The beverage container of claim 23, further comprising a
promotional item affixed to an exterior surface of the paper
wrap.
26. A method of manufacturing a beverage container, the method
comprising: providing a polymer cup body having a bottom and a side
wall extending from the bottom, the bottom defining a plane, the
side wall forming an open end opposite the bottom, the cup body
having a plurality of annular ribs disposed adjacent to one another
circumferentially around the side wall parallel to the plane
defined by the bottom of the cup body; and affixing a paper wrap
around the cup body such that the paper wrap abuts at least one of
the ribs such that a thermally insulating gap is formed between the
cup body and the paper wrap.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein affixing the paper wrap around
the cup body comprises extending the paper wrap along a length of
the side wall.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein affixing the paper wrap around
the cup body comprises affixing the paper wrap around the cup body
via an adhesive.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the adhesive is applied to the
paper wrap such that edges of the paper wrap become at least one of
adhesively overlapped and adhesively edge joined.
30. The method of claim 28, wherein the adhesive is applied to an
inside face of the paper wrap.
31. The method of claim 26, wherein affixing the paper wrap around
the cup body comprises affixing the paper wrap by crimping edges of
the paper wrap together.
32. The method of claim 26, wherein the paper wrap comprises a
solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paper.
33. The method of claim 26, wherein affixing a paper wrap around
cup body comprises affixing a paper wrap having at least one
detachable promotional item.
34. The method of claim 26, further comprising affixing a
detachable promotional item to the paper wrap.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein is related
to the subject matter disclosed and claimed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. [attorney docket RHC-0011], filed Dec. 17,
2004, entitled "Paper-Wrapped Polystyrene Foam Beverage Container."
The disclosure of the above-referenced U.S. patent application is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to the field of beverage
containers. More specifically, the invention relates to
thermally-insulating, disposable containers having a body wrapped
by a paper wrap.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Disposable hot-beverage containers, such as coffee cups, for
example, are typically made of paperboard or polystyrene foam.
Paperboard cups may be desirable for a number of reasons. For
example, a paperboard cup may provide a high-quality printable
surface from the lip of the cup to its base. Also, paperboard cups
tend to be suitable for the attachment of promotional items, such
as detachable coupons, labels, stickers, or game pieces, for
example, that vendors frequently use for marketing purposes.
[0004] Paperboard cups, however, tend to be poor insulators of
heat. A paperboard cup containing a hot beverage, therefore, may be
difficult to hold. To compensate for the lack of insulation
provided by a single paperboard cup, a plurality of such cups may
be nested together. A separate cardboard wrap may be used to
provide insulation, or the cup may include handles.
[0005] Polystyrene foam cups typically provide better thermal
insulation than do paperboard cups. Accordingly, polystyrene foam
cups tend to be more suitable than paperboard cups for containing
hot beverages - at least in terms of thermal insulation. The
exterior surface of a polystyrene foam cup, however, typically does
not provide for high-quality printing. Also, polystyrene foam cups
are typically not as suitable for the attachment of promotional
items as are paperboard cups.
[0006] Disposable cups made of polymers such as polypropylene, for
example, provide an alternative to paper cups. Polypropylene cups
may be more durable, less susceptible to leaks and punctures, and
more economical than paper cups. Polypropylene, however, is a poor
thermal insulator. Also, the exterior surface of a polystyrene foam
cup typically does not provide for high-quality printing. Further,
it is well-known that consumers of high-end hot beverages have come
to expect that the beverage will be served in a paperboard cup.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,512 ("Barrett") discloses a
paper-covered polypropylene cup. The cup disclosed by Barrett
includes a plurality of vertical ribs projecting radially outward
from the outer surface of a side wall of a cup. Each of the ribs
has an outer face against which a wrap is disposed. The regions
encompassed by adjacent, vertical ribs, the interior surface of the
wrap, and the outer surface of the side wall may provide for
thermally insulating gaps. The cup disclosed by Barrett, however,
may not provide adequate side wall integrity to prevent side wall
deflection when being handled. For example, the side wall may be
easily deflected inward, constricting the volume of the container
and forcing out the contents of the cup.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,154 ("Chauhan") discloses a
thermoplastic container having a first set of horizontal annular
rings disposed adjacent to a top portion of a side wall of the
container and a second set of annular rings disposed in a middle
portion of the container. The annular rings (or "ribs") increase
side wall integrity and improve deflection characteristics over
prior art designs. The thermoplastic container disclosed by
Chauhan, however, may not provide sufficient thermal insulation to
serve as a hot-beverage container. Additionally, the container
disclosed by Chauhan does not have the desired look and feel of a
paper cup, and its exterior surface is not suitable for
high-quality printing.
[0009] It would be advantageous, therefore, if there were available
a disposable beverage container having sufficient thermal
insulation properties to contain hot beverages, as well as an
exterior surface that is suitable for the attachment of promotional
items and for high-quality printing from the lip of the cup to its
base.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A beverage container according to the invention may include
a polypropylene cup body covered with a paperboard wrapping. The
cup body may have a bottom and a side wall extending from the
bottom. The side wall may form an open end opposite the bottom. The
cup body may have a plurality of annular ribs disposed adjacent to
one another circumferentially around the side wall parallel to a
plane defined by the bottom of the cup body.
[0011] The paperboard wrapping may be disposed circumferentially
around an exterior of the cup body, and may abut at least one of
the ribs such that a thermally insulating gap is formed between the
cup body and the paper wrap. The paperboard wrapping may provide
for high quality printing on the entire exterior of the cup.
Additionally, the paperboard wrapping may permit the use of
attachments such as those a beverage vendor may use as promotional
items. Examples of such promotional items include detachable
coupons, tear-off labels or stickers, or playing pieces for a
game.
[0012] Methods for manufacturing such a beverage container are also
disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIGS. 1 and 2 are isometric views of an example embodiment
of a beverage container according to the invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 depicts a method of making a beverage container in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of an example embodiment of a beverage
container according to the invention.
[0016] FIG.5 is a partial cutaway side view of an example
embodiment of a beverage container according to the invention.
[0017] FIG.6 is a detailed cutaway side view depicting a bottom
portion of an example embodiment of a beverage container according
to the invention.
[0018] FIG.7 is a detailed cutaway side view depicting a top
portion of an example embodiment of a beverage container according
to the invention.
[0019] FIGS. 8 and 9 are top and bottom views, respectively, of an
example embodiment of a beverage container according to the
invention.
[0020] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of another example embodiment
of a beverage container according to the invention.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a partial cutaway side view of the example
embodiment depicted in FIG. 10.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a detailed cutaway side view depicting a bottom
portion of the example embodiment depicted in FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0023] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an example beverage container
100 according to the invention. The beverage container 100 may
include a cup body 110 and a paper wrap 115. The cup body 110 may
be constructed of a polymer, such as polypropylene, for example.
The paper wrap 115 may be made of paperboard, such as solid
bleached sulfate (SBS) paperboard, for example. The SBS paperboard
may have a clay coating that provides a smooth finish onto which
high quality printing may be presented on the finished cup 100. The
paper wrap 115 may have a thickness of between about eight and
about fourteen mils. The paper wrap may have a smooth surface for
the display of printed material. Alternatively, the paper wrap may
be scored or ridged to provide additional slip resistance for a
user holding a cup, for example, or for decorative or other
purposes.
[0024] The cup body 110 may have a bottom 140 and a side wall 120.
The side wall 120 may extend from the bottom 140 and form an open
end opposite the bottom 140. The side wall 120 may include a lip
135, a top portion 130, and a plurality of ribs 125.
[0025] The ribs 125 may be integral to the side wall 120 of the
beverage container 100 such that the ribs 125 are visible on the
interior of the beverage container 100. The ribs 125 may be
annular, that is, circumferentially disposed around the beverage
container 100 in a direction parallel to a plane defined by the
bottom 140. The ribs 125 may be uniformly distributed along the
side wall 120, preferably from the bottom 140 to the top portion
130. The ribs 125 may offer resistance against, for example, the
inward squeezing of the cup when it is being held by a
consumer.
[0026] The paper wrap 115 may be disposed on the side wall 120 such
that the polypropylene cup body is masked from the consumer. The
paper wrap may be of a smooth material and may be suitable for
displaying printing material. The paper wrap 115 may be disposed on
the side wall 120 with an adhesive or by any suitable method. An
adhesive may be used to adhere the wrap 115 to the ribs 125, the
top portion of the side wall 120, or to the bottom 140.
[0027] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the cup body 110 of the
beverage container 100. The cup body may be constructed of
polypropylene or other suitably durable material and may be formed
by any technique known to those skilled in the art. The cup body
110 may include the lip 135, the top portion 130, the ribs 125, and
the bottom 140. The ribs 125 may be visible on the exterior of the
cup body 110 and may partner with the paper wrap 115 to create gaps
for insulation. The bottom 140 is shown with an interior base
portion 141, a transition portion 142 and an exterior base portion
143.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows one method of making the beverage container 100
comprising a paper wrap 115 and a cup body 110. In step 1, a first
edge 116 of a pre-cut paper wrap 115 may be adhered to the side
wall 120 of a cup body 110. The first edge may be adhered to the
side wall 120 through use of an adhesive. The first edge 116 may
extend from the bottom 140 in a substantially vertical direction to
the lip 135 of the cup body 110. The adhesive may be applied on the
paper wrap 115 on a side 117 that will be disposed against the cup
body 110. Alternatively, the adhesive may be applied to the side
wall 120 such that the wrap 115 may be adhered to the side wall 120
when wrapping.
[0029] At step 2, the paper wrap 115 may be wrapped around the side
wall 120, and pressed to adhere evenly and smoothly. Again, the lip
135 may be used as a stop to abut the wrap 115 against to help
ensure uniform cover. The wrap 115 may extend from the lip 135 to
the bottom 140. At step 3, wrapping of the paper wrap 115 to the
side wall 120 may be completed by pressing a second edge 118 of the
wrap 115 against the side wall 120 such that a seam 119 is formed.
The paper wrap 115 may be adhered to the side wall 120 and may
overlap the first edge 116 such that the seam 119 is formed between
the second edge 118 and the underlying paper wrap 115.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a side view of the beverage container 100 in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention. As shown, the
beverage container 100 may include a smooth paper wrap 115 that
extends from the bottom 140 of the beverage container 100 to the
lip 130.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a side view of the beverage container 100 with the
paper wrap 115 and the cup body 110 partially cut-away to expose
the interior of the beverage container 100. The bottom 140 may
comprise the interior base portion 141, the transition portion 142,
and the exterior base portion 143. The side wall 120 may comprise
the plurality of ribs 125 and the top portion 130. The ribs 125 may
be uniformly distributed along the side wall 120, preferably from
the bottom 140 to the top portion 130. The ribs 125 may be
"stepped" or in any other suitable arrangement such that a gap 118
is formed between the paper wrap 115 and the side wall 120.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a cut-away side view exposing the interior of the
beverage container 100 in the vicinity of the bottom 140. The
interior base portion 141, the transition portion 142, and the
exterior base portion 143 may be molded as one integral body.
Additionally, the bottom 140 may be molded such that it is integral
with the side wall 120, forming an integral cup body 110.
Alternatively, the bottom 140 may be attached to the side wall 120
such that a beverage contained in the beverage container 100 does
not leak or spill out of the beverage container 100 in a vicinity
of a seam between the side wall 120 and the bottom 140.
[0033] The exterior base portion 143 may serve as a resting base
for the beverage container 100 when the beverage container 100 is
placed, for example, on a flat surface such as a table. The
interior base portion 141 may be inset from the lowermost edge 121
of the side wall 120 by a distance D. The transition portion 142
may have a rise and a run that defines the distance D.
[0034] The paper wrap 115 may extend to the lower most edge 121 of
the side wall 120. The ribs 125 may be shaped such that gaps 118
are formed between the paper wrap 115 and the side wall 120 of the
beverage container 100. That is, the ribs 125 may each be generally
vertical, however, the ribs 125 may be "stepped" such that a rib
125A is further from a center of the beverage container than a rib
125B that is adjacent and below the rib 125A. In this way, the
beverage container 100 may form a generally tapered shape. Of
course, other arrangements consistent with alternative embodiments
of the invention may be used to form gaps 118 between the ribs 125
and the paper wrap 115.
[0035] The gaps 118 may be an insulating air gaps, helping to
protect the consumer's fingers from the heat or cold of a beverage
that may be contained in the beverage container 100. Additionally,
insulating air gaps such as the gaps 118 may help insulate the
contents of the beverage from the ambient temperature and retard
the cooling of a hot beverage or the warming of a cold beverage.
The insulating characteristics of the beverage container 100 may
also be adjusted by varying a thickness of the paper wrap 115 or of
the side wall 120.
[0036] FIG. 7 is a cut-away side view exposing the interior of the
beverage container 100 in the vicinity of the top portion 130. The
lip 135 may be formed by rounding the top portion 130 of the side
wall 120 or by any technique known to those skilled in the art.
Additionally, the lip 135 may provide a stop 139 against which the
paper wrap 115 may abut.
[0037] FIG. 8 is a top view and FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the
beverage container 100. The lip 135 is of substantially the same
round shape as the bottom 140 but has a larger diameter than the
bottom 140. In this way, the beverage container 100 has a tapered
shape. The ribs 125 are shown on the interior of the beverage
container 100, as are the interior base portion 141, the transition
portion 142 and the exterior base portion 143. The smooth paper
wrap 115 is shown on the exterior of the beverage container 100, as
are the interior base portion 141, the transition portion 142 and
the exterior base portion 143.
[0038] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an alternative paper
exterior 215 for a beverage container in accordance with an
alternative embodiment of the invention. The paper exterior 215
differs from the paper wrap 115 in that the paper exterior 215
includes a paper side wall 216 and a paper base 245.
[0039] FIG. 11 is a cut away side view of a beverage container 200
comprising a paper exterior 215 and a cup body 110. The cup body
110 may be the cup body 110 described with regard to FIG. 2. The
paper exterior 215 may cover both the side walls 120 and the bottom
140 of the cup body 110. The paper exterior 215 may include a base
245 that is closed such that the bottom 140 of the cup body 110 is
concealed. The base 245 may be adhered to the bottom 140 of the cup
body 110. Alternatively, the base 245 may be attached to the paper
side wall 216 such that the cup body 110 may be inserted into the
paper exterior 215. The ribs 125 and the paper side wall 216 may
form insulating air gaps 118. The paper exterior 215 and the side
wall 120 of the cup body 110 may be adhered to each other using an
adhesive or other suitable method. Additionally, the bottom 140 may
also be adhered to the paper base 245 by any suitable method.
[0040] FIG. 12 is a cutaway side view of a beverage container 200
in the vicinity of the base 245. The side wall 216 of the paper
exterior 215 may be folded at the lowermost edge 217 to form a
receiving portion 218. The paper base 245 may be inserted in the
receiving portion 218 and attached to a side wall 219 of the
receiving portion 218 using adhesive or by any suitable method. In
this way, the paper base 245 may be interconnected with the paper
side wall 216.
[0041] Thus, there have been described an insulated beverage
container with improved deflection characteristics and a method for
making such a container. It will be appreciated that numerous
modifications may be made to the example embodiments described
herein, and that such modifications do not depart from the scope of
the invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *