U.S. patent application number 11/537288 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-21 for cup holder sleeve.
This patent application is currently assigned to DOUBLE TEAM INC.. Invention is credited to JOSEPH CHEUK MAU WONG.
Application Number | 20080041864 11/537288 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39091930 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080041864 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WONG; JOSEPH CHEUK MAU |
February 21, 2008 |
CUP HOLDER SLEEVE
Abstract
A cup holder sleeve comprises an elongated strip including a top
edge having a top length, a bottom edge having a bottom length, a
first distal edge and a second distal edge. The cup holder sleeve
is assembled by attaching the first distal edge to the second
distal edge and further includes a fold line extending from the top
edge to the bottom edge, wherein the elongated strip is folded
along the fold line for storage. In an exemplary embodiment, a
cut-out notch is located on the bottom edge of the elongated strip
and at the fold line, such that when a beverage container is placed
within the assembled cup holder sleeve, an extrusion at the fold
line and at the bottom edge of the elongated strip is substantially
eliminated by the cut-out notch.
Inventors: |
WONG; JOSEPH CHEUK MAU;
(DALY CITY, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PINNACLE PATENT LAW GROUP
1280 28TH AVENUE
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94122
US
|
Assignee: |
DOUBLE TEAM INC.
DALY CITY
CA
|
Family ID: |
39091930 |
Appl. No.: |
11/537288 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60822539 |
Aug 16, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/738 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/3865
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/738 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/00 20060101
B65D025/00 |
Claims
1. A cup holder sleeve comprising: an elongated strip including a
top edge having a top length, a bottom edge having a bottom length,
a first distal edge and a second distal edge, wherein the cup
holder sleeve is assembled by attaching the first distal edge to
the second distal edge; a fold line extending from the top edge to
the bottom edge, wherein the elongated strip is folded along the
fold line for storage; and a cut-out notch located on the bottom
edge of the elongated strip and at the fold line, wherein when a
beverage container is placed within the assembled cup holder
sleeve, an extrusion at the fold line and at the bottom edge of the
elongated strip is substantially eliminated by the cut-out
notch.
2. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the top length is greater than the
bottom length.
3. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the cut-out notch is one of a
semi-circular notch, a triangular notch, an oval notch, a
rectangular notch, and a trapezoidal notch.
4. The sleeve of claim 1 comprising a plurality of fold lines,
wherein a cut-out notch is located on the bottom edge and at each
of the plurality of fold lines.
5. The sleeve of claim 4 comprising a second set of cut-out notches
located on the top edge of the elongated strip and at each of the
plurality of fold lines.
6. The sleeve of claim 1 comprising a second cut-out notch located
on the top edge of the elongated strip and at the fold line.
7. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the elongated strip comprises one
of a paperboard material, a laminate of a paperboard layer and a
low density polyethylene layer, and a laminate of a high density
polyethylene layer and a low density polyethylene layer.
8. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the elongated strip comprises a
plurality of dimples for enabling a user to grip the cup holder
sleeve.
9. The sleeve of claim 8 wherein the plurality of dimples comprise
at least one of concave indentations and convex indentations.
10. A sleeve for use with a conical shaped container comprising: an
elongated strip including a top edge having a top length, a bottom
edge having a bottom length, a first distal edge and a second
distal edge, wherein the top length is greater than the bottom
length and the sleeve is assembled by attaching the first distal
edge to the second distal edge; at least one fold line extending
from the top edge to the bottom edge, wherein the elongated strip
is folded along the at least one fold lines for storage; and a
cut-out notch located on the bottom edge of the elongated strip and
at one or more of the at least one fold lines, wherein when a
beverage container is placed within the assembled cup holder
sleeve, an extrusion at the one or more fold lines and at the
bottom edge of the elongated strip is substantially eliminated by
the cut-out notch.
11. A cup holder sleeve for a conical shaped cup comprising: an
elongated strip including a top edge having a top length, a bottom
edge having a bottom length, a first distal edge and a second
distal edge, wherein the top length is greater than the bottom
length and the sleeve is assembled by attaching the first distal
edge to the second distal edge; a plurality of dimples disposed on
an outer surface of the elongated strip that contacts a user's
hand, wherein the plurality of dimples comprise at least one of
concave indentations and convex indentations; a fold line extending
from the top edge to the bottom edge, wherein the elongated strip
is folded along the fold line for storage; and a cut-out notch
located on the bottom edge of the elongated strip and at the fold
line, wherein when a beverage container is placed within the
assembled cup holder sleeve, an extrusion at the fold line and at
the bottom edge of the elongated strip is substantially eliminated
by the cut-out notch.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to a provisional
application entitled "Cup Holder Sleeve," Ser. No. 60/822,539,
filed Aug. 16, 2006, which is herein incorporated in its entirety
by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Cup holder sleeves are used to protect a user's hands when
the user is holding a cup that contains a hot beverage. Typically,
the hot cup is placed into the cup holder sleeve, which encircles
the outer surface of the cup and provides a cooler surface on which
the user can place her hand.
[0003] Typically, an unassembled cup holder sleeve is an elongated
strip cut out from a flat sheet of paperboard and folded along at
least one fold line so that the two distal ends can be attached to
one another to form the sleeve. When the sleeve is assembled and
placed around the cup, the cup holder sleeve fits snugly around the
side walls of the cup. For a conical shaped cup where the side
walls typically slope inward, e.g., because the bottom
circumference of the cup is smaller than top circumference, the cup
holder sleeve tends to "billow-out" at the bottom edge of the
sleeve at the fold lines. This "billowing-out" or extrusion is
particularly pronounced when the cup is relatively small, e.g., a
12 ounce cup, because the inward slope is more pronounced in
smaller cups, and most cup holder sleeves are designed for medium
or large sized cups.
[0004] While this extrusion does not adversely affect the
protective function of the sleeve when the user is holding the cup,
it does become a problem when the user tries to place the cup in a
cup holder, such as that in a vehicle. Most modern cars include
receptacles that are designed to hold beverage containers, e.g.,
cans, bottles, cups, so that a driver can safely operate the car
with two hands without discarding the beverage. In order to reduce
or eliminate spillage, the receptacles are designed to hold the
beverage containers snugly. For a cup with a sleeve, it is very
difficult if not impossible to place the cup/sleeve assembly in a
receptacle because of the extrusion at the bottom edge of the
sleeve. In most cases, the sleeve must be removed from the cup so
that the cup can properly fit into the receptacle. Nevertheless, if
the driver/drinker removes the sleeve so that the cup can be placed
in the receptacle, the driver cannot drink the beverage because the
cup surface is too hot to hold. If the driver decides to hold the
cup/sleeve assembly, instead of placing the cup in the receptacle,
then the driver must drive with one hand, which can be a safety
hazard.
SUMMARY
[0005] Accordingly, a cup holder sleeve is described that comprises
an elongated strip including a top edge having a top length, a
bottom edge having a bottom length, a first distal edge and a
second distal edge. The cup holder sleeve is assembled by attaching
the first distal edge to the second distal edge and further
includes a fold line extending from the top edge to the bottom
edge, wherein the elongated strip is folded along the fold line for
storage. In an exemplary embodiment, a cut-out notch is located on
the bottom edge of the elongated strip and at the fold line, such
that when a beverage container is placed within the assembled cup
holder sleeve, an extrusion at the fold line and at the bottom edge
of the elongated strip is substantially eliminated by the cut-out
notch.
[0006] According to another exemplary embodiment, a sleeve for use
with a conical shaped container comprises an elongated strip having
a top edge with a top length, a bottom edge with a bottom length, a
first distal edge and a second distal edge, where the top length is
greater than the bottom length. The sleeve also includes at least
one fold line extending from the top edge to the bottom edge, so
that the elongated strip can be folded along the at least one fold
lines for storage. Additionally, the sleeve includes a cut-out
notch located on the bottom edge of the elongated strip and at one
or more of the at least one fold lines.
[0007] In another embodiment, a cup holder sleeve for a conical
shaped cup comprises an elongated strip including a top edge having
a top length, a bottom edge having a bottom length, a first distal
edge and a second distal edge and a plurality of dimples disposed
on an outer surface of the elongated strip that contacts a user's
hand. The dimples comprise concave indentations and/or convex
indentations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying drawings provide visual representations
which will be used to more fully describe the representative
embodiments disclosed here and can be used by those skilled in the
art to better understand the representative embodiments and their
inherent advantages. In these drawings, like reference numerals
identify corresponding elements, and:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an elongated strip according to an
exemplary embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cup holder sleeve of
FIG. 1 around a conical shaped cup according to an exemplary
embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a plan view of an elongated strip according to
another exemplary embodiment; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cup holder sleeve of
FIG. 3 around a conical shaped cup according to an exemplary
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The present invention is related to a cup holder sleeve,
which when assembled and placed around a conical shaped cup, is
substantially without extrusions at the bottom edge at a fold line.
The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary
skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in
the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various
modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic
principles and features described herein will be readily apparent
to those skilled in the art. For instance, while the preferred
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated being utilized
for a cup, those skilled in the art would readily recognize that
the present invention could also be used for any type of container,
such as a canister. Thus, the present invention is not intended to
be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest
scope consistent with the principles and features described
herein.
[0014] According to one embodiment, a cup holder sleeve comprises
an elongated strip that has a top edge, a bottom edge and two
distal edges, which when attached, form the sleeve. In an exemplary
embodiment, a cut-out notch is provided at the bottom edge of the
elongated strip and at a fold line that extends from the top edge
to the bottom edge. When the sleeve is assembled and placed around
a conical shaped container, e.g., a cup, the extrusion at the fold
line is substantially eliminated by the cut-out notch. In another
embodiment, when the sleeve has more than one fold line, a cut-out
notch is provided at the bottom edge and at each of the fold lines.
By substantially eliminating the extrusions in the cup holder
sleeve, the cup and the sleeve can be placed in a cup holder in a
car.
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates the elongated strip according to one
embodiment. The strip 100 includes a top edge 102, a bottom edge
104, and two distal edges 106a, 106b. In one embodiment, the strip
100 is slightly curved so that the top edge 102 is convex and the
bottom edge 104 is concave. A length of the top edge 102 can be
greater than a length of the bottom edge 104. The cup holder sleeve
is assembled by attaching the two distal edges 106a, 106b to one
another using any suitable coupling technique. In one embodiment, a
tacky material, such as glue, is applied to a first distal edge
106a and the other distal edge 106b is attached to the first distal
edge 106a via the glue. In another embodiment, the two distal edges
106a, 106b are attached to one another with a fastener, such as a
staple.
[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the strip 100 includes at least
one fold line 108 that runs from the top edge 102 to the bottom
edge 104 along the width of the strip 100. When the strip 100 is
folded along the fold lines 108, the sleeve can be easily stored
and shipped to a retailer. In another embodiment, the fold lines
108 are disposed in specific locations along the strip 100 so that
when the strip 100 is folded along the fold lines 108, the two
distal edges 106a, 106b overlap each other and allow the sleeve to
be easily assembled. The width, w, of the strip 100 is sufficient
that a drinker can easily grip the sleeve and protect his hand from
the temperature of the beverage. In one embodiment, the width, w,
can be between 2 inches and 4 inches. In another embodiment, the
width, w, can be 3 inches.
[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the cup holder sleeve includes
at least one notch 110 located at the bottom edge 104 of the strip
100 and at one or more of the fold lines 108. In one embodiment,
the notch 110 can be semi-circular, as shown. In another
embodiment, the notch 110 can be a triangle, or any other suitable
shape, such as a rectangle or trapezoid. The notch 110 allows the
bottom edge 104 of the strip 100 to remain in contact with a cup
when the cup holder sleeve is used with a conical shaped cup, as
shown in FIG. 2.
[0018] In another embodiment, in addition to the notches 110 at the
bottom edge 104 of the strip 100, a second notch 112 can be
provided at the top edge 102 of the strip 100 and at one or more of
the fold lines 108, as is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. In this
embodiment, any extrusions along the top edge 102 can also be
substantially eliminated.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the
strip 100 includes an embossed pattern 120 on at least a portion of
the cup holder sleeve 100 surface that allows the user to have a
better grip of the cup. The embossed pattern 120 can comprise
concave or convex dimples or a plurality of openings. In one
embodiment, the embossed pattern can be created using a
conventional press technique and result in a variety of textured
designs or patterns, such as a square pattern. The embossed pattern
120 enhances the user's comfort in gripping the sleeve, as well as
the appearance of the sleeve.
[0020] The strip 100 can be made from any suitable material, such
as paperboard, recyclable paper, or plastic. In one embodiment, the
strip 100 comprises at least two laminated layers, where an
outermost layer that contacts the user's fingers is suitable for
printing indicia and an innermost layer that contacts the cup
surface is an insulating material. For example, in an exemplary
embodiment, the outermost layer can comprise a high density
polyethylene material and the innermost layer can comprise a low
density polyethylene material, as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,814,253, entitled, "INSULATING SLEEVE FOR GRASPING CONTAINER AND
MANUFACTURING METHOD," filed on Oct. 15, 2002, and assigned to the
assignee of the present invention. In another example, the
outermost layer can comprise a high density polyethylene material
and the innermost layer can comprise a low density polyethylene
material, as is disclosed in co-pending patent application Ser. No.
10/349,468, entitled, "LAMINATED SLEEVE FOR A CONTAINER," filed on
Jan. 21, 2003, and assigned to the assignee of the present
application.
[0021] As stated above, in one embodiment, the cup holder sleeve is
assembled by folding it along the fold lines 108 and attaching the
distal ends 106a, 106b to one another to form a flat and smooth
seam. When the user holds the assembled cup holder sleeve anywhere
along the fold lines 108 and squeezes the sleeve inwardly, the
sleeve opens and the cup can be placed into the sleeve.
[0022] By providing the notch 110 at the bottom edge 104 (and
optionally at the top edge 102), and at the fold line 108,
extrusions are significantly eliminated when the cup is placed into
the sleeve. Accordingly, the cup with the sleeve can fit into a cup
receptacle in a car, and the driver can enjoy his hot beverage
while driving safely.
[0023] It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art
that the concepts and techniques described here can be embodied in
various specific forms without departing from the essential
characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are
considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.
The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims,
rather than the foregoing description, and all changes that come
within the meaning and range of equivalence thereof are intended to
be embraced.
* * * * *