U.S. patent application number 12/798654 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-13 for thermally insulated collapsible cup for hot or cold beverages.
This patent application is currently assigned to E&M Engineering, Inc.. Invention is credited to Duncan C. Fung.
Application Number | 20110248037 12/798654 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44760195 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110248037 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fung; Duncan C. |
October 13, 2011 |
Thermally insulated collapsible cup for hot or cold beverages
Abstract
A thermally insulated collapsible cup for hot or cold beverages.
The collapsible cup includes a flexible inner liner and a
multi-segmented outer shell including a top segment, a base
segment, and one or more intermediate segments. Each segment of the
outer shell includes an insulation layer adhered thereto. An
integral rubber sleeve extends around the periphery of each
intermediate segment. The flexible inner liner extends from the top
to the bottom of the collapsible cup and is secured and sealed at
the bottom of the base segment and at the rim of the top segment.
In an expanded configuration, internal screw threads at the bottom
of the top and intermediate segments engage external screw threads
on the adjacent segment there below and thereby maintain the cup in
an expanded configuration. The screw threads can be unscrewed in
order to convert the cup to a collapsed configuration.
Inventors: |
Fung; Duncan C.; (Richmond,
VA) |
Assignee: |
E&M Engineering, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
44760195 |
Appl. No.: |
12/798654 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/592.2 ;
220/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/3869 20130101;
B65D 21/0219 20130101; B65D 21/086 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/592.2 ;
220/8 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/38 20060101
B65D081/38; B65D 6/16 20060101 B65D006/16 |
Claims
1. A collapsible cup comprising: a plurality of rigid interlocking
tubular outer shell segments, said outer shell segments including
an inner side and an outer side; said outer shell segments
including a base segment, a top segment, and one or more
intermediate segments with said base segment including a bottom,
said top segment including a rim, and said intermediate segments
including a lower outer periphery; a flexible inner liner secured
to said rim of said top segment and extending there from to said
bottom of said base segment; a tubular insulating layer on said
inner sides of each of said outer shell segments; a tubular
integral sleeve secured around said lower outer periphery of each
of said intermediate outer shell segments; and screw threads on
each of said each of said outer shell segments, said screw threads
for engaging complementary screw threads on the adjacent segment
there below and holding said collapsible cup in an expanded
configuration.
2. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein said top segment of said
outer shell includes an inturned wall portion adjacent said rim,
said inturned wall portion including an outer periphery; and a
peripheral flange extending outward from said outer periphery of
said inturned wall portion.
3. The collapsible cup of claim 2 wherein said inner liner includes
a top portion with a peripheral groove therein; and said peripheral
flange of said top segment extends into said peripheral groove of
said top portion of said inner liner thereby securing said top
portion of said liner to said top segment of said outer shell.
4. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein said bottom of said base
segment of said outer shell includes an inner periphery; and a
peripheral flange extending inward from said inner periphery of
said base segment.
5. The collapsible cup of claim 4 wherein said inner liner includes
a base portion with a peripheral groove therein; and said
peripheral flange of said base segment extends into said peripheral
groove of said base portion of said inner liner thereby securing
said base portion of said liner to said base segment of said outer
shell.
6. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein said integral sleeves
include an inner periphery and screw threads on said inner
periphery; and said screw threads of said integral sleeves engaging
said screw threads on said top of said intermediate segments.
7. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein each of said tubular
insulating layers are secured to said outer shell segments with
adhesive.
8. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein said tubular outer shell
segments are constructed of materials selected from the group
including metal and plastic.
9. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein said tubular insulating
layers are constructed of polyurethane.
10. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein said flexible inner
liner is constructed of silicone rubber.
11. The collapsible cup of claim 10 wherein said silicone rubber
includes a Shore A hardness of 0.
12. The collapsible cup of claim 11 wherein said silicone rubber is
a food grade or FDA approved silicone rubber.
13. The collapsible cup of claim 3 wherein said top portion of said
inner liner includes a throat and screw threads on said throat; and
a lid threaded into said screw threads of said throat of said inner
liner.
14. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein said lid includes a
hinge thereon; and a flip up cover pivotally attached to and
rotatable about said hinge.
15. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein said integral sleeves
include an inward extending lower leg; and said inward extending
lower leg is in contact with said outer side of said outer shell
segments, whereby said lower legs of said integral sleeves provides
friction against said outer shell segments for controlling the rate
of expansion of said collapsible cup from the collapsed
configuration.
16. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein said integral sleeves
are constructed of silicone rubber.
17. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein said tubular outer shell
segments are of steadily decreasing diameter from said top segment
to said base segment.
18. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein said cup in said
collapsed configuration includes said base segment within said
intermediate segments and said intermediate segments within said
top segment.
19. The collapsible cup of claim 1 wherein said collapsible cup
includes an inner volume; the entire inner volume of said
collapsible cup is bound by said inner liner; and said inner liner
is constructed of food grade or FDA approved silicone rubber.
20. The collapsible cup of claim 15 wherein said integral sleeves
include an outer periphery; and said outer periphery of said
sleeves includes an indent therein.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to containers and particularly
to a an insulated drinking container for hot or cold drinks that
includes a rigid outer shell and a flexible inner liner that
enables the container to be folded or collapsed when not in use to
enable more efficient storage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Hot beverages, such as coffee or tea, are consumed by people
on a daily basis. Many people frequently visit convenience stores
or specialty coffee shops in order to obtain their favorite hot
beverage. Although these stores provide disposable cups for the hot
beverages, many of them sell their hot beverages at a lower price
if the customer provides their own container. Thus many regular
coffee drinkers carry their own hot beverage containers into the
store in order to obtain their drink at a lower price. After being
filled, many hot drink containers are carried into the workplace or
the home where they are then stored and used in those locations.
Over a period of time, a large number of hot drink containers tend
to accumulate in the home or the office.
[0003] One problem that arises with the accumulation of a large
number of hot drink containers is the large amount of space that is
required to store the containers. In current times, many of these
hot drink containers are quite a large size and require a
significant amount of shelf space during storage.
[0004] It would therefore be beneficial to reduce the amount of
shelf space taken up by hot or cold beverage containers. Although
collapsible containers have been proposed in the prior art, many
are for dry food storage items such as powders and others do not
include the ability to thermally insulate the materials held
within.
[0005] Thus, what is needed is a drink container that will keep hot
beverages hot and cold beverages cold while in use and that also
can be reduced in size to conserve shelf space when not in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a
thermally insulated collapsible cup for hot or cold beverages. The
thermally insulated collapsible cup includes a flexible inner liner
and a multi-segmented outer shell including a top segment, a base
segment, and one or more intermediate segments. Each segment of the
outer shell includes an insulation layer adhered thereto. An
integral rubber sleeve extends around the periphery of each
intermediate segment. The flexible inner liner extends from the top
to the bottom of the collapsible cup and is secured and sealed at
the bottom of the base segment and at the rim of the top segment.
In an expanded configuration, internal screw threads at the bottom
of the top and intermediate segments engage external screw threads
on the adjacent segment there below and thereby hold the cup in an
expanded configuration. The screw threads can be unscrewed in order
to place the cup in a collapsed configuration. The flexible liner
is a liquid-tight inner liner that holds liquid therein in both the
collapsed and expanded configurations. The insulation layers in
each segment thermally insulate any liquid within the liner,
maintaining the temperature of hot liquids or cold liquids within
the inner liner and mitigating heat transfer to the outer shell
thereby protecting the hands of a user while operating the cup.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
[0007] Several advantages are achieved with the thermally insulated
collapsible cup of the present invention, including: [0008] (1) The
collapsible cup of the present invention is thermally insulated,
thereby maintaining hot liquids or cold liquids at the desired
temperature. [0009] (2) The collapsible cup of the present
invention can be folded into a significantly smaller size for
storage thereby greatly reducing the amount of required storage
space. [0010] (3) The collapsible cup of the present invention
maintains its shape when expanded to its unfolded state. [0011] (4)
As the liner is molded in one-piece, the collapsible cup of the
present invention is capable of supporting liquids in both the
collapsed and expanded configurations. [0012] (5) The collapsible
cup includes rubber sleeves for providing proper friction for the
hand and for controlling the speed at which the cup converts from
the collapsed to the expanded configuration. [0013] (6) A screw
thread locking mechanism prevents unintentional collapsing of the
cup.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention will be better understood by reading the following
description along with reference to the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a
thermally insulated collapsible cup in its expanded configuration
according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a side view of the collapsible cup of FIG. 1 after
it has been folded or collapsed into a compact size for
storage.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a top view of the collapsible cup of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the collapsible cup taken
along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the left hand side of the top
segment of the collapsible cup of FIG. 4.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the left hand side of the
bottom segment of the collapsible cup of FIG. 4.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a top view of the collapsible cup in the collapsed
configuration of FIG. 2.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the collapsible cup taken
along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a top view of the collapsible cup including a lid
secured to the top of the cup.
[0024] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the collapsible cup taken
along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.
[0025] FIG. 11 is a side view of two collapsible cups according to
the present invention each in the collapsed configuration and
stacked upon one another for storage.
[0026] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the bottom portion of a
collapsible cup according to the present invention depicting an
alternative arrangement for anchoring the inner liner to the base
outer shell segment.
TABLE OF NOMENCLATURE
[0027] The following is a listing of part numbers used in the
drawings along with a brief description:
TABLE-US-00001 Part Number Description 20 collapsible cup 22 base
outer shell segment 24 top outer shell segment 26 intermediate
outer shell segment 28 tubular sleeve 30 interior volume 32 rim of
top segment 34 inner side of outer shell segment 36 outer side of
outer shell segment 38 top of rigid outer shell segment 40 bottom
of rigid outer shell segment 42 tubular insulating layer 44
flexible inner liner 46 base portion of inner liner 48 screw
threads at bottom of outer shell segment 50 screw threads at top of
outer shell segment 52 inturned wall portion 54 outer periphery 56
peripheral flange of top outer shell segment 58 top portion of
liner 60 peripheral groove 61 throat of liner 62 screw threads in
throat 63 inner periphery of base segment 64 peripheral flange on
base segment 66 peripheral groove in base portion of liner 68 inner
periphery of sleeve 70 screw threads on sleeve 72 inward extending
lower leg of sleeve 74 lid 76 hinge 78 flip up cover 80 outer
periphery of tubular sleeve 82 indent in sleeve 84 closed bottom of
base segment 86 pin
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] With reference to a first and preferred embodiment in FIG.
1, the present invention is a thermally insulated collapsible cup
20. The collapsible cup 20, depicted in its expanded configuration
in FIG. 1, includes a plurality of rigid interlocking tubular outer
shell segments including a base segment 22, a top segment 24, and
one or more intermediate segments 26. The collapsible cup 20
includes a tubular sleeve 28 secured around the lower outer
periphery of each intermediate segment 26.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the collapsible cup 20 can be folded or
collapsed into a collapsed configuration wherein the top segment 24
is collapsed around the outer peripheries of the intermediate
segments 26 and base segment 22 in which collapsed configuration
the tubular sleeves 28 are in contact with one another. The
collapsible cup 20 is liquid-tight in both the expanded and
collapsed configurations and is thermally insulated thus
maintaining the temperature of liquids within the cup. Thus, with
reference to FIG. 3, the interior volume 30 of the insulated
collapsible cup 20 will keep hot liquids hot or cold liquids cold
for a substantial amount of time.
[0030] Referring to the sectional view of the collapsible cup 20 in
the expanded configuration in FIG. 4, the top outer shell segment
24 includes a rim 32 and each interlocking outer shell segment 22,
24, and 26 includes an inner side 34, an outer side 36, a top 38
and a bottom 40. A tubular insulating layer 42 is provided on the
inner side 34 of each of the outer shell segments 22, 24, and 26.
The collapsible cup 20 further includes a flexible inner liner 44
that extends from the rim 32 to the bottom 40 of the base segment
22. The entire flexible inner liner 44 including a thick base
portion 46 is molded in one piece of food grade silicone rubber,
which is approved by the FDA for direct food contact. Thus the
inner liner 44 forms a continuous liquid-tight liner around the
entire inner periphery of the collapsible cup 20.
[0031] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the top segment 24 and
intermediate segments 26 each include screw threads 48 on the outer
sides 36 at the bottom 40 of the outer shell segment and the base
segment 22 and intermediate segments 26 each include complementary
screw threads 50 on the outer sides 36 at the top 38 of the
adjacent outer shell segment. Thus screw threads 48 at the bottom
40 of a rigid outer shell segment 24 and 26 can be threaded onto
complementary screw threads 50 of the adjacent segment 22 and 26
there below in order to lock the respective rigid segments with
respect to one another and thereby lock the collapsible cup 20 into
the expanded configuration.
[0032] With reference to FIG. 5, the top outer shell segment 24
includes an inturned wall portion 52 adjacent the rim 32. The
inturned wall portion 52 includes an outer periphery 54 and a
peripheral flange 56 extending outward from the outer periphery 54
of the inturned wall portion 52. The one-piece molded flexible
inner liner 44 includes a top portion 58 with a peripheral groove
60 therein extending around its outer periphery. The peripheral
flange 56 of the top outer shell segment 24 extends into the
peripheral groove 60 of the top portion 58 of the inner liner 44
thereby securing the top portion 58 of the inner liner 44 to the
top outer shell segment 24. The inner liner 44, being constructed
of soft silicone rubber, seals around the rim 32 of the top outer
shell segment 24. Preferably, the inner liner 44, constructed of
food grade silicone rubber, has a Shore A hardness rating of 0. As
shown in FIG. 5, the top portion 58 of the inner liner 44 wraps
around the entire top of the top outer shell segment 24 including
the rim 32. The top portion 58 of the liner 44 includes a throat 61
and may include screw threads 62 in the throat 61.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 6, the bottom 40 of the base outer shell
segment 22 includes an inner periphery 63 and a peripheral flange
64 extending inward from the inner periphery 63. The base portion
46 of the flexible inner liner 44 further includes a peripheral
groove 66 therein. The peripheral flange 64 of the base outer shell
segment 22 extends into the peripheral groove 66 of the inner liner
base portion 46 thereby securing the liner base portion 46 to the
base outer shell segment 22. As the base portion 46 of the liner 44
is an integral portion of the one-piece molded liner 44, the
collapsible cup 20 will be liquid-tight at the bottom of the
cup.
[0034] As further shown in FIG. 6, each tubular sleeve 28 includes
an inner periphery 68 and screw threads 70 on its inner periphery
68. The screw threads 70 of the tubular sleeve 28 engage the screw
threads 50 at the top 38 of each intermediate outer shell segment
26 thereby locking the tubular sleeves 28 to the intermediate outer
shell segments 26. The tubular sleeves 28 further include an inward
extending lower leg 72 that is in contact with the outer side 36 of
the outer shell segments 22 and 26. The lower legs 72 of each
sleeve 28 provides friction against the respective outer shell
segment 22 and 26 that it is in contact with and thus controls the
rate of expansion of the collapsible cup when expanded from the
collapsed configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, to the expanded
configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Preferably, the integral
tubular sleeves 28 are constructed of silicone rubber.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the collapsible cup 20 may
further include a lid 74 threaded into the screw threads 62 in the
throat 61 of the flexible inner liner 44. The lid 74 in FIGS. 9-10
includes a hinge 76 and a flip up cover 78 pivotally attached and
rotatable within the hinge 76 to provide access to the chink stored
within the collapsible cup 20. Although one specific embodiment of
a lid 74 is shown herein, other conventional lids are within the
scope of the invention for use with the collapsible cup 20
including lids with sliding covers, pop up nozzles, holes with
tubes extending there through, and snap on lids rather than lids
with screw threads.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the tubular outer shell segments 22, 24,
and 26 of a collapsible cup 20 according to the present invention
are of steadily decreasing diameter from the top outer shell
segment 24 to the base outer shell segment 22. Thus, as shown in
FIG. 4, in the expanded configuration when each outer shell segment
is turned counterclockwise with respect to the next lower segment,
screw thread 48 on the bottom of the segment will disengage from
screw thread 50 on the top of the next lower segment and the
collapsible cup 20 will fold to the collapsed configuration as
shown in FIG. 8.
[0037] With reference to FIG. 8, the inward extending lower legs 72
of the tubular sleeves 28 will exert friction on the base segment
22 and the sleeve 28 it is in contact with and function to hold the
cup in the collapsed configuration. The cup in the collapsed
configuration includes the base outer shell segment 22 nested
within the intermediate outer shell segments 26 and the
intermediate segments 26 within the top outer shell segment 24.
Flexible inner liner 44, being molded in one-piece of rubber and
secured tightly at the top rim 32 and to the peripheral flange 64
on the base outer shell segment 22, is liquid-tight in both the
expanded and collapsed configuration. The entire inner volume 30 of
the collapsible cup 20 is bound by the inner liner 44.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 8, the integral sleeves 28 of the
collapsible cup 20 include an outer periphery 80 and an indent 82
in the outer periphery 80. The indent 82 functions to hold the
collapsible cup is in the collapsed configuration. As the top 24
and intermediate 26 segments are collapsed toward the base segment
22, the inward extending lower legs 72 of the upper sleeves 28
engage the indents 82 of the lower adjacent sleeve and stop the
collapse of the outer shell segments.
[0039] With reference to FIG. 4, each of the tubular insulating
layers 42 are preferably secured to the outer shell segments 22,
24, and 26 with adhesive. The tubular outer shell segments 22, 24,
and 26 are preferably constructed of metal or plastic. The tubular
insulating layers 42 are preferably constructed of
polyurethane.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 11, a significant advantage realized with
the collapsible cup 20 of the present invention is that two or more
cups can be stacked in order to save shelf space. In FIG. 11, two
collapsible cups 20 according to the present invention are depicted
in the collapsed configuration and stacked one upon another for
storage.
[0041] With reference to FIG. 12 there is shown an alternative
arrangement for anchoring the flexible inner liner 44 to the base
outer shell segment 22. In the alternative embodiment of the
collapsible cup the base segment 22 includes a closed bottom 84 and
an integral pin 86 extending from the bottom. The flexible inner
liner 44 is molded in one piece with an opening in the base portion
46 of the inner liner 44 to accommodate the pin 86. The flexible
inner liner 44 is secured to the base segment 22 by placing base
portion 46 over pin 86. With pin 86 secured within the base portion
46 of the liner 44, the flexible inner liner 44 of the collapsible
cup can rotate about pin 86 and also remain liquid-tight.
[0042] As the invention has been described, it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that the same may be varied in many ways
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Any
and all such modifications are intended to be included within the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *