U.S. patent application number 14/121204 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-14 for hot drink cup sleeve.
This patent application is currently assigned to Robert Stevenson. The applicant listed for this patent is Robert Stevenson. Invention is credited to Robert Stevenson.
Application Number | 20160101903 14/121204 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55654950 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160101903 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stevenson; Robert |
April 14, 2016 |
Hot drink cup sleeve
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a hot cup sleeve with an adhesive section on
the inside of the hot cup sleeve. A detachable tab covers the
adhesive section until it is desirable for the adhesive section to
couple to the hot cup. The adhesive section is about the size of a
thumbprint, and the adhesive section should large enough to cover
the adhesive section completely, but should not extend excessively
beyond the edge of the adhesive section. The detachable tab extends
above the hot cup sleeve.
Inventors: |
Stevenson; Robert; (Kansas
City, MO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Stevenson; Robert |
Kansas City |
MO |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Stevenson; Robert
Kansas CIty
MO
|
Family ID: |
55654950 |
Appl. No.: |
14/121204 |
Filed: |
October 8, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/739 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2313/10 20130101;
B65D 81/3879 20130101; B65D 81/3876 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/36 20060101
B65D025/36; B65D 81/38 20060101 B65D081/38 |
Claims
1. A cup sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface
comprising an adhesive on the inner surface of the sleeve capable
of sticking to a cup wherein the adhesive is covered by a
detachable tab.
2. The cup sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve consists of an
elongated strip that is substantially in the shape of an isosceles
trapezoid further comprising two angled ends and a short bottom and
a long top.
3. The cup sleeve of claim 2, wherein the elongated strip has an
adhesive section on one of the two angled ends of the strip.
4. The cup sleeve of claim 1, wherein the outside of the sleeve has
an indicating mark on the opposite side of the sleeve from the
adhesive section.
5. The cup sleeve of 1, wherein the detachable tab is
disposable.
6. The cup sleeve of 1, wherein the adhesive is of a material that
adheres more strongly to the sleeve than the detachable tab.
7. The cup sleeve of claim 3, wherein the elongated strip
substantially in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid has a concave
short bottom.
8. A method of using a cup sleeve comprising the steps of Placing
the cup sleeve around a cup, wherein the cup sleeve has an inner
surface and an outer surface Removing a detachable tab covering an
adhesive on the inner surface of the cup sleeve Applying pressure
to the outer surface of the cup sleeve on the opposite side of the
adhesive section.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of forming
the cup sleeve by wrapping an elongated strip having two ends so
that one end is coupled to the opposite end.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the pressure applied to the
outer surface of the cup sleeve is applied on an indicating mark on
the outer surface of the cup sleeve.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the detachable tab is detached
after the cup sleeve has been placed around the cup.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the detachable tab extends
above the cup sleeve before it is detached.
13. A hot drink cup sleeve comprising a tape with an adhesive at
least partially covering one side of the tape, wherein the tape is
coupled to an inner surface of an elongated strip, and wherein the
elongated strip has two ends and a top and a bottom, and wherein
the two ends are coupled together to form a sleeve
14. The hot drink cup sleeve of claim 13, wherein the elongated
strip is comprised of corrugated paper.
15. The hot drink cup sleeve of claim 13, wherein the bottom of the
elongated strip is concave.
16. The hot drink cup sleeve of claim 13, wherein the adhesive
adheres more strongly to the hot drink cup sleeve than the
detachable tab.
17. The hot drink cup sleeve of claim 13, wherein the elongated
strip is substantially in the shape of an inverted isosceles
trapezoid wrapped into a sleeve, wherein the bottom of the inverted
isosceles trapezoid is concave.
18. The hot drink cup sleeve of claim 13, wherein an indicating
mark is on the outer surface of the elongated strip covering the
adhesive.
19. The hot drink cup sleeve of claim 13, wherein the adhesive tape
extends beyond the top of the elongated strip.
20. The hot drink cup sleeve of claim 13, wherein the hot drink cup
sleeve is disposable.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This document relates to a cup sleeves, and more
specifically to disposable sleeves for disposable cups carrying hot
drinks.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0002] None
BACKGROUND
[0003] In the past, coffee drinkers and drinkers of other hot
drinks primarily used cups made from Styrofoam to insulate their
hands from the hot fluid inside the cup. However, due to the
environmental concerns of Styrofoam, coffee vendors and other
vendors typically use paper and or recycled materials that do not
insulate against heat adequately, but are generally thought to be
preferred by consumers as they are perceived to be more
environmentally friendly. To offset the heat that passes through
these cups, vendors typically provide cup sleeves that allow users
to hold their cups with discomfort from the heat of the drink.
[0004] While hot cup sleeves are adequate for protecting hands and
while they work well as long as the drinker is holding the cup, the
sleeve often slides off the cup the moment the drinker sets the cup
down. This can cause the drinker to fumble the drink or the loose
sleeve can become entangled with other things, such as a cup
holder.
[0005] A need exists to make hot cup sleeves attach to hot
cups.
SUMMARY
[0006] An improved hot cup sleeve is disclosed here that attaches
to hot cups to prevent the hot cup sleeve from sliding off hot
cups.
[0007] In the preferred embodiment, an adhesive section is present
on the inside of the hot cup sleeve. A detachable tab covers the
adhesive section until it is desirable for the adhesive section to
couple to the hot cup. The adhesive section is about the size of a
thumbprint, and the adhesive section is large enough to cover the
adhesive section completely, but should not extend excessively
beyond the edge of the adhesive section. The detachable tab extends
above the hot cup sleeve. In the preferred embodiment, the
detachable tab is the source of the adhesive which is applied onto
the hot cup sleeve before the cup sleeve is rolled into a
sleeve.
[0008] In other embodiments of the invention, the adhesive section
can be accomplished in other ways. In one embodiment, the adhesive
section is double sided tape that may be attached to the inside of
the hot cup sleeve. A detachable tab is placed over the double
sided tape to cover the double sided tape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows an elongated strip that can be formed into a
cup sleeve by connecting each end.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows the hot cup sleeve on a hot cup with adhesive
engaged to the cup and sleeve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] The following detailed description of the invention
references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific
embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The
embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in
sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be
made without departing from the scope of the current invention. The
following detailed description and the associated drawings are,
therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the
current invention is defined only by the claims, along with the
full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
[0012] In FIG. 1, an elongated strip 100 is shown that is
substantially in the shape of an inverted isosceles trapezoid, with
angled ends 104 and 103, wherein the trapezoid is inverted because
it has a long top and a short bottom. The elongated strip has an
outer surface 109 that is the backside of the elongated strip 100
and an inner surface 108 that is the frontside of the elongated
strip 100. On the inner surface 108 is an adhesive section 101. The
adhesive section is covered by a detachable tab 102. The detachable
tab 102 extends beyond the elongated strip 100 so that it can be
accessed easily, and the tab is disposable. In the preferred
embodiment, the bottom is curved in a concave manner. This
elongated strip is substantially an isosceles trapezoid.
[0013] The detachable tab 102 can be removed to expose the adhesive
section 101. The detachable tab 102 prevents the adhesive section
101 from adhering to a surface that is not desired. Generally, the
desired surface for attaching is the hot cup.
[0014] The elongated strip 100 is generally made of an insulating
material and recyclable materials are preferred. This includes
fiber materials such as paper. Corrugated channels allow for air
pockets to provide added insulation to the material.
[0015] In the preferred embodiment, the detachable tab 102 holds
the adhesive 101. In manufacture, the detachable tab 102 with
adhesive 101 is placed onto the elongated strip 100. When the
detachable tab 102 is removed (which would occur when, referring to
FIG. 2, the elongated strip 100 is formed into a cup sleeve 200 and
is placed around a hot cup 201) the adhesive remains on the
elongated strip 100.
[0016] The elongated strip 100 can be wrapped around so that the
end 104 is in contact with the end 103. An adhesive section 107 is
shown on one end 103, and this adhesive section is a means to
couple the ends 103 and 104 together so that the elongated strip
forms a sleeve 200 shown in FIG. 2 that is capable of encircling a
cup, as. In FIG. 1, the angled ends 103 and 104 allow for simple
coupling and a tapered fit to the cup. In other embodiments, the
ends 104 and 103 can be coupled together with tape, staples, or
creases.
[0017] In FIG. 2, a hot cup sleeve 200 encircles a hot cup and is
attached to a hot cup 201. The sleeve 200 is attached to the cup
201 at the adhesive 101, which is shown dotted since it is on the
inside of the sleeve. On the outer surface of the sleeve, there is
an area for an indicating mark 202. The indicating mark 202 directs
the person holding the cup to remove the detachable tab 102 (shown
removed from the cup) or it can be used to indicate where the outer
surface of the sleeve should be pressed so that the adhesive 101
makes contact with the cup 201.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive 101 will adhere more
strongly to the elongated strip 100 than the detachable tab 102.
The adhesive 101 is self seal adhesive and in the preferred
embodiment, an acrylic based adhesive and the detachable tab 102
and adhesive 101 are applied to the elongated strip 100 with firm
pressure. The firm pressure imparts the adhesive onto the elongated
strip 100. The elongated strip is made from materials commonly used
for hot cup sleeves. The elongated strip 100 will then adhere to a
cup 201 when encircling a cup and after the detachable tab 102 is
removed.
* * * * *