Heat flap cup sleeve

Abstract

A cup holder sleeve is formed in pre-assembled, flat-folded form by die cutting a long, flat band from paperboard material. The flat sleeve has fold lines scored into the band at spaced apart positions tapering toward each other, and side edges at opposite ends of the band. The opposite ends are folded flat at the fold lines so that the side edges overlap each other and are glued together at their overlapping surfaces. Within the flat sleeve are two "D" shaped flaps that when folded back 180 degrees upon the sleeve itself produce a double paperboard layer of heat protection for the fingers when placed on the cup.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a cup holder sleeve for use as an insulator on a container of a hot beverage such as coffee, tea, hot cocoa, etc. It is inexpensive to produce and can be produced with 100% recycled fiber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a means for protecting the user of a paper cup from the heat of a hot beverage. Although there are many types of insulating sleeves in use today, there is still a need for a sleeve that is inexpensive to produce, stores easily, is environmentally friendly, and most importantly protects the user's hand from the hot beverage in the container. Other sleeves do not address all four of these needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention provides beverage container holders (sleeves) which are environmentally friendly and which provide adequate insulation for protection from hot beverages.

[0004] A cup holder sleeve is formed in pre-assembled, flat-folded form by die cutting a long, flat band from paperboard material so as to have a parallel top and bottom curved or wavy edge. The top and bottom edges are parallel to each other so that a common die cutting knife may be used. This procedure eliminates the need for the use of two cutting knives with space between the sleeves and thus uses a minimum of paperboard material.

[0005] The flat sleeve has fold lines scored into the band at spaced apart positions tapering toward each other, and side edges at opposite ends of the band. The opposite ends are folded flat at the fold lines so that the side edges overlap each other and are glued together at their overlapping surfaces. The flat-folded form allows for compact storage.

[0006] Within the flat sleeve are two "D" shaped flaps that when folded back 180 degrees upon the sleeve itself produce a double paperboard layer of protection for the fingers. The flat sleeve has two "D" shaped die cuts at spaced apart positions. The "D" shaped die cut areas face one another with the rounded edges of the "D". The spine of the "D" is scored while the rounded part of the "D" is die cut through so that it can be folded back along the spine of the "D" and form a protective barrier for the fingers. When the "D" flaps are folded back 180 degrees, slight air gaps are formed due to the thickness of the paperboard. These air gaps further enhance the protective barrier formed by the "D" flaps.

[0007] The pre-assembled sleeve can be readied for use simply by squeezing on the outside surfaces so as to bow out the flat-folded band into an annular tapered sleeve with opened top and bottom ends for inserting a cup therein. The two opposing die cut flaps are folded back 180 degrees onto the sleeve after it is placed on a cup. The cup is grasped by the fingers and thumb at the folded back flaps. Folding back the flaps doubles the thickness of the sleeve which doubles the resistance to the heat of the liquid in the cup. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve is made of 100% recycled paperboard material and is printed with graphics. Also, one or more spots of heat activated glue can be applied on the inside of the sleeve if extra adhesion of the sleeve to the cup is desired. The performance of the above blank handling steps is well known in the paper products industry and is not described further within.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] As shown in FIG. 1, a cup holder sleeve 20 is formed from a long, flat band made from paperboard material so as to have a parallel top 5 and bottom 6 curved or wavy edges. The top 5 and bottom 6 edges are parallel to each other so that a common die cutting knife may be used. This procedure eliminates the need for the use of two cutting knives with space between the sleeves and thus uses a minimum of paperboard material, eliminating waste (good for the environment) and saving material (improving the cost).

[0009] The flat sleeve has fold lines, (FIG. 1) 1 and 2 scored into the band at spaced apart positions tapering toward each other, and side edges, (FIG. 1), 3 and 4 at opposite ends of the band. The opposite ends are folded flat at the fold lines, (FIG. 1) 1 and 2, so that the side edges, (FIG. 1) 3 and 4 overlap each other, (FIG. 2) 13 and are glued together at their overlapping surfaces, (FIG. 2) 13. The resulting flat-folded sleeve is thus pre-assembled and allows for compact storage.

[0010] Within the flat sleeve are two "D" shaped flaps, (FIG. 1) 7 and 8, at spaced apart positions, that when folded back 180 degrees upon the sleeve itself, (FIG. 5) 7 and 8, produce a double paperboard layer of protection for the fingers, (FIG. 5) 16, and thumb, (FIG. 5) 17. The "D" shaped die cut areas, (FIG. 1) 7 and 8, face one another with the rounded edges of the "D", (FIG. 1) 14 and 15. The spines of both of the "D's", (FIG. 1) 9 and 10, are scored while the rounded part of the "D's", (FIG. 4) 14 and 15, are die cut through so that they can be folded back along the spines of the "D's", (FIG. 5) 9 and 10, and form a double-layer protective barrier for the fingers, (FIG. 5) 16, and thumb, (FIG. 5) 17. When the "D" flaps are folded back 180 degrees, slight air gaps, (FIG. 5) 11 and 12, are formed due to the thickness of the paperboard. These air gaps further enhance the protective barrier formed by the "D" flaps.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 3 the pre-assembled sleeve can be readied for use simply by squeezing on the outside surfaces with fingers (FIG. 3) 16 and thumb 17 so as to bow out the flat-folded band into an annular tapered sleeve with opened top (FIG. 3) 18 and bottom (FIG. 3) 19 for inserting a cup (FIG. 4) 21 therein. The two opposing die cut flaps (FIG. 4) 7 and 8 are then folded back 180 degrees onto the sleeve after it is placed on a cup (FIG. 4) 21. The cup (FIG. 5) 21 is grasped by the fingers (FIG. 5) 16 and thumb (FIG. 5) 17 at the folded back flaps (FIG. 5) 7 and 8.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve is made of 100% recycled paperboard material and is printed with graphics. Also, one or more spots of heat activated glue can be applied on the inside of the sleeve if extra adhesion of the sleeve to the cup is desired.

Claims

1. A cup holder sleeve is formed in pre-assembled, flat-folded form by die cutting a long, flat band a.) from paperboard material so as to have a parallel top and bottom curved or wavy edge. b. The top and bottom edges are parallel to each other so that a common die cutting knife may be used. This procedure eliminates the need for the use of two cutting knives with space between the sleeves and thus uses a minimum of paperboard material. c. The flat sleeve has fold lines scored into the band at spaced apart positions tapering toward each other, and side edges at opposite ends of the band. d. The opposite ends are folded flat at the fold lines so that the side edges overlap each other and are glued together at their overlapping surfaces.

2. A cup holder sleeve according to claim 1, a. The flat sleeve has two "D" shaped die cuts at spaced apart positions. b. The spine of the "D" is scored while the rounded part of the "D" is die cut through so that it can be folded back 180 degrees along the spine of the "D" and form a heat protective barrier for the fingers. c. The "D" Shaped die cut areas face one another with the rounded edges of the "D". d. Wherein within the flat sleeve are two "D" shaped flaps that when folded back 180 degrees upon the sleeve itself produce a double paperboard layer of heat protection for the fingers.

3. A cup holder sleeve according to claim 1, a. wherein the pre-assembled sleeve can be readied for use simply by squeezing on the outside surfaces so as to bow out the flat-folded glued sleeve into an annular tapered sleeve with opened top and bottom ends for inserting a cup therein. b. The two opposing die cut flaps are folded back 180 degrees onto the sleeve after it is placed on a cup. This doubles the thickness of the sleeve which doubles the resistance to the heat of the liquid in the cup. c. When the "D" flaps are folded back 180 degrees, slight air gaps are formed due to the thickness of the paperboard. These air gaps further enhance the heat protective barrier formed by the "D" flaps.

4. A cup holder sleeve according to claim 1, wherein said flat-folded form allows for compact storage.

5. A cup holder sleeve according to claim 1, wherein one or more spots of heat activated glue can be applied on the inside of the sleeve if extra adhesion to the cup is desired.