U.S. patent application number 13/242551 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-24 for cup assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to POWER SOURCE AND ASSOCIATES CORP.. Invention is credited to Sheng-Hung Lin.
Application Number | 20120125989 13/242551 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45465576 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120125989 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Sheng-Hung |
May 24, 2012 |
Cup Assembly
Abstract
A cup assembly includes two sleeves, a bottom element, a ring
and bosses. The sleeves are made of paper while the ring and bosses
are made of a plastic material. The first sleeve is made with a
lower edge and an upper edge. The bottom element is attached to the
lower edge of the first sleeve. The ring is formed on the upper
edge of the first sleeve. The bosses are formed on the first sleeve
against the ring. The second sleeve is made of paper with a lower
edge and an upper edge. The lower edge of the second sleeve is
located against the bosses as the second sleeve is provided around
the first sleeve. Thus, an adequate insulating space is defined
between the first and second sleeves.
Inventors: |
Lin; Sheng-Hung; (Taipei,
TW) |
Assignee: |
POWER SOURCE AND ASSOCIATES
CORP.
Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
45465576 |
Appl. No.: |
13/242551 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/403 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/3869 20130101;
B65D 81/3874 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/403 |
International
Class: |
B65D 3/28 20060101
B65D003/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 19, 2010 |
TW |
099140050 |
Claims
1. A cup assembly including: a first sleeve 10 made of paper with a
lower edge 11 and an upper edge 12; a bottom element 18, 19
attached to the lower edge 11 of the first sleeve 10; a mouthpiece
13 made of a plastic material and formed on the upper edge 12 of
the first sleeve 10; bosses 14 made of a plastic material and
formed on the first sleeve 10 against the mouthpiece 13; and a
second sleeve 2 made of paper with a lower edge 23 and an upper
edge 25 located against the bosses 14 as the second sleeve 2 is
provided around the first sleeve 10, thus defining an adequate
insulating space 21 between the first and second sleeves 10, 2.
2. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first
sleeve 10 is made of PE-coated paper.
3. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
mouthpiece 13 and the bosses 14 are provided on the upper edge 12
of the first sleeve 10 by injection molding.
4. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
mouthpiece 13 and the bosses 14 are made of a plastic material
selected from the group consisting of a conventional plastic
material, a biodegradable plastic material and a bio-plastic
material.
5. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bottom
element 18 is made of paper.
6. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the lower
edge 11 of the first sleeve 10 is an internally retroflex edge
engaged with the bottom element 18.
7. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bottom
element 19 is made of a plastic material.
8. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein the bottom
element 19 is made of a plastic material selected from the group
consisting of a conventional plastic material, a biodegradable
plastic material and a bio-plastic material.
9. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein the bottom
element 19 includes two annular grooves 15 for receiving the first
and second sleeves 10, 2 so that the insulating space 21 is
adequate and constant from top to bottom.
10. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including
a ring 22 made of plastic between the first and second sleeves 10,
2 near the lower edges 11, 23 so that the insulating space 21 is
adequate and constant from top to bottom.
11. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower
edge 23 of the second sleeve 2 is an internally retroflex edge in
contact with the first sleeve 10 so that the insulating space 21 is
adequate and constant from top to bottom.
12. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including
an annular lip 16 extending from the mouthpiece 13 so that an
annular gap 17 is defined between the annular lip 16 and the bosses
14 for receiving the upper edge 25 of the second sleeve 2.
13. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the
mouthpiece 13, the bosses 14 and the annular lip 16 are provided on
the upper edge 12 of the first sleeve 10 via injection molding.
14. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the
mouthpiece 13, the bosses 14 and the annular lip 16 are made of a
plastic material selected from the group consisting of a
conventional plastic material, a biodegradable plastic material and
a bio-plastic material.
15. The cup assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including
a thermal foaming layer 24 provided between the first and second
sleeves 10, 2.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a paper cup and, more
particularly, to a cup assembly including a paper cup located in a
paper sleeve, with an insulating space defined between the paper
cup and the paper sleeve.
[0003] 2. Related Prior Art
[0004] Many drinks such as coffee, juice and tea are contained in
disposable containers and sold. In consideration of convenience and
cost, many drinks are contained in paper cups. Paper cups are
however poor in insulating and actually not good for containing hot
drinks. That is, heat is easily transferred to a user's hand from a
hot drink via a paper cup. Thus, a user feels hot in his or her
hand and might get burnt in the worst scenario. Moreover, heat is
easily transferred to the environment from a hot drink via a paper
cup. Thus, the drink gets cold easily. On the other hand, heat is
easily transferred to a cold drink from the environment through a
paper cup. Thus, the cold drink gets hot easily. As discussed
above, the drink, hot or cold, loses its favor soon after it is
contained in the paper cup. Moreover, paper cups are weak generally
and could be deformed easily. In that case, a hot or cold drink
could be spilt or leaked easily. A spilt hot drink could burn a
user in the hand.
[0005] To overcome the foregoing problems, there has been devised
at least one cup assembly including a paper cup located in a paper
sleeve, with an insulating space defined between the paper cup and
the paper sleeve. The paper cup includes a tubular body attached to
a bottom element by adhesion. The paper sleeve includes an
internally retroflex lower edge. Thus, transfer of heat is not easy
because of the insulating space. Moreover, the paper cup is
reinforced by the paper sleeve. The use of the conventional cup
assembly is however not without any problem. An upper edge of the
paper sleeve is in contact with an upper edge of the paper cup. In
fact, an upper portion of the paper sleeve is located very close to
an upper portion of the paper cup so that the insulating space is
thin near the upper portion of the paper sleeve. Hence, the
insulating effect of the insulating space is poor near the upper
portion of the paper sleeve. However, the user tends to hold the
upper portion of the paper sleeve while drinking the hot drink from
the cup assembly and feels hot or might get burnt in the worst
scenario. Moreover, heat is transferred to the environment from the
hot drink or transferred to the cold drink from the environment at
a considerable rate.
[0006] A paper cup includes an upper edge that is rolled, pressed
and then coated with a plastic layer. Thus, the upper edge of the
paper cup is made with a multi-layered configuration for providing
an adequate rigidity. The processing of the upper edge of the paper
cup is however complicated and therefore expensive.
[0007] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at
least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0008] It is the primary objective of the present invention to
provide an inexpensive, insulating cup assembly.
[0009] To achieve the foregoing objective, the cup assembly
includes two sleeves, a bottom element, a ring and bosses. The
sleeves are made of paper while the ring and bosses are made of a
plastic material. The first sleeve is made with a lower edge and an
upper edge. The bottom element is attached to the lower edge of the
first sleeve. The ring is formed on the upper edge of the first
sleeve. The bosses are formed on the first sleeve against the ring.
The second sleeve is made of paper with a lower edge and an upper
edge. The lower edge of the second sleeve is located against the
bosses as the second sleeve is provided around the first sleeve.
Thus, an adequate insulating space is defined between the first and
second sleeves.
[0010] In an aspect, the first sleeve is made of PE-coated
paper.
[0011] In another aspect, the mouthpiece and the bosses are
provided on the upper edge of the first sleeve by injection
molding.
[0012] In another aspect, the mouthpiece and the bosses are made of
a conventional plastic material, a biodegradable plastic material
or a bio-plastic material.
[0013] In another aspect, the bottom element is made of paper. The
lower edge of the first sleeve is an internally retroflex edge
engaged with an edge of the bottom element.
[0014] In an alternative aspect, the bottom element is made of a
plastic material. The bottom element is made of a conventional
plastic material, a biodegradable plastic material or a bio-plastic
material. The bottom element includes two annular grooves for
receiving the first and second sleeves so that the insulating space
is adequate and constant from top to bottom.
[0015] In another aspect, the cup assembly further includes a ring
made of plastic between the first and second sleeves near the lower
edges so that the insulating space is adequate and constant from
top to bottom.
[0016] In another aspect, the lower edge of the second sleeve is an
internally retroflex edge in contact with the first sleeve so that
the insulating space is adequate and constant from top to
bottom.
[0017] In another aspect, the cup assembly further includes an
annular lip extending from the mouthpiece so that an annular gap is
defined between the annular lip and the bosses for receiving the
upper edge of the second sleeve.
[0018] In another aspect, the mouthpiece, the bosses and the
annular lip are provided on the upper edge of the first sleeve via
injection molding.
[0019] In another aspect, the mouthpiece, the bosses and the
annular lip are made of a conventional plastic material, a
biodegradable plastic material or a bio-plastic material.
[0020] In another aspect, the cup assembly further includes a
thermal foaming layer provided between the first and second
sleeves.
[0021] Other objectives, advantages and features of the present
invention will be apparent from the following description referring
to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0022] The present invention will be described via detailed
illustration of six embodiments referring to the drawings
wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cup assembly in accordance
with the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cup assembly shown in FIG.
1;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cup assembly shown
in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cup assembly in
accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cup assembly in
accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cup assembly in
accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a cup assembly in
accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0030] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a cup assembly in
accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is shown a cup
assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present
invention. The cup assembly includes a paper sleeve 10 located in a
paper sleeve 2.
[0032] The paper sleeve 10 may be made of PE-coated paper. The
paper sleeve 10 includes a paper sleeve 10 and a paper bottom
element 18. The paper sleeve 10 is formed with a lower edge 11 and
an upper edge 12. The lower edge 11 of the paper sleeve 10 is an
internally retroflex edge engaged with a bent edge of the paper
bottom element 18, thus securing the paper sleeve 10 to the paper
bottom element 18.
[0033] A plastic mouthpiece 13 is provided on the upper edge 12 of
the paper sleeve 10. The plastic mouthpiece 13 is directly provided
on the upper edge 12 of the paper sleeve 10 without having to roll
the upper edge 12 of the paper sleeve 10 beforehand. Several
plastic bosses 14 are formed on the paper sleeve 10 near the upper
edge 12. The plastic mouthpiece 13 and the plastic bosses 14 may be
made of a conventional plastic material, a biodegradable plastic
material or a bio-plastic material. The plastic mouthpiece 13 and
the plastic bosses 14 are provided on the paper sleeve 10 by
plastic injection molding, hot pressing, high-frequency waves or
ultrasonic waves. The plastic mouthpiece 13 and the plastic bosses
14 are preferably made one.
[0034] The paper sleeve 2 is made with a lower edge 23 and an upper
edge 25. The paper sleeve 2 is provided around the paper sleeve 10,
with an insulating space 21 defined between the paper sleeve 2 and
the paper sleeve 10. An upper portion of an internal side of the
paper sleeve 2 is in contact with the plastic bosses 14. Thus, the
thickness of the plastic bosses 14 becomes the thickness of the
upper portion of the insulating space 21. Therefore, the thickness
of the insulating space 21 is adequate near the upper edge 12 of
the paper sleeve 10 and the upper edge 25 of the paper sleeve 2.
The insulating effect of the insulating space 21 is good. Moreover,
the rigidity of the paper assembly is good.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a cup assembly in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The
second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except
providing a plastic ring 22 between the paper sleeves 10 and 2 near
the lower edges 11 and 23 of the paper sleeves 10 and 2. Thus, the
thickness of the plastic ring 22 becomes the thickness of the lower
portion of the insulating space 21. That is, the thickness of the
lower portion of the insulating space 21 is adequate. As described
above, the thickness of the upper portion of the insulating space
21 is adequate. Hence, the thickness of the insulating space 21 is
adequate and constant from top to bottom. The plastic ring 22 is
provided by adhesion or hot melting.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a cup assembly in
accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The
third embodiment is like the first embodiment except that the lower
edge 23 of the paper sleeve 2 is an internally retroflex edge. The
lower edge 23 of the paper sleeve 2 is in contact with the paper
sleeve 10. Thus, the thickness of the lower portion of the
insulating space 21 is adequate. As described above, the thickness
of the upper portion of the insulating space 21 is adequate. Hence,
the thickness of the insulating space 21 is adequate and constant
from top to bottom.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a cup assembly in
accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The
fourth embodiment is like the first embodiment except two things.
At first, the lower edge 11 of the paper sleeve 10 is a straight
edge, not an internally retroflex edge. Hence, the paper sleeve 10
is like the paper sleeve 2 but smaller. Secondly, there is provided
a plastic bottom element 19 instead of the paper bottom element 18.
The plastic bottom element 19 includes two annular grooves 15
defined in an upper face. The lower edge 11 of the paper sleeve 10
is fit in one of the annular grooves 15 while the lower edge 23 of
the paper sleeve 2 is fit in the other annular groove 15. Thus, the
thickness of the lower portion of the insulating space 21 is
adequate. As described above, the thickness of the upper portion of
the insulating space 21 is adequate. Therefore, the thickness of
the insulating space 21 is adequate and constant from top to
bottom. The plastic bottom element 19 is connected to the paper
sleeves 10 and 2 by injection molding of a conventional plastic
material, a biodegradable plastic material or a bio-plastic
material.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a cup assembly in
accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The
fifth embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except
including an annular plastic lip 16 extending from the plastic
mouthpiece 13. The annular plastic lip 16 is separated from the
plastic bosses 14 by an annular gap 17 for receiving the upper edge
25 of the paper sleeve 2. The plastic mouthpiece 13, the plastic
bosses 14 and the annular plastic 16 may be provided on the upper
edges 12 and 25 of the paper sleeves 10 and 2 by injection molding,
hot pressing, high frequency waves or ultrasonic waves. The plastic
mouthpiece 13, the plastic bosses 14 and the annular plastic 16 may
be made of a conventional plastic material, a biodegradable plastic
material or a bio-plastic material. The plastic mouthpiece 13, the
plastic bosses 14 and the annular lip 16 are preferably made
one.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a cup assembly in
accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The
sixth embodiment is like the embodiment except including a thermal
foaming layer 24 sandwiched between the paper sleeves 10 and 2.
When a hot drink is contained in the paper cup 1, heat is
transferred to the thermal foaming layer 24 from the paper sleeve
10 so that the thermal foaming layer 24 foams to improve the
insulating effect. The thermal foaming layer 24 does not affect or
blur any pattern provided on an external side of the paper sleeve 2
because the thermal foaming layer 24 is not in contact with the
external side of the paper sleeve 2.
[0040] As discussed above, the cup assembly exhibits several
advantages. At first, the cup assembly provides a good insulating
effect since the thickness of at least the upper portion of the
insulating space 21 is adequate. Secondly, the cup assembly is
inexpensive because the plastic mouthpiece 13 is provided on the
upper edge 12 of the paper sleeve 10 by injection molding, hot
pressing, high frequency waves or ultrasonic waves.
[0041] The present invention has been described via the detailed
illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can
derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the
scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall
not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the
claims.
* * * * *