AU2002331981A1 - Beverage cup - Google Patents

Description

CONTAINERS

The present specification relates to containers and, in particular but not exclusively, to cups for containing liquids such as carbonated drinks. More particularly, the present invention relates to disposable cups made from plastics, paper or other lightweight sheet material and which have integrally formed lids.

Cups having integrally formed lids are known. For example, it is known from US 6164488 to provide cups made from paper or the like which have a flexible panel defined in a side wall thereof. The flexible panel is deflected to close over the top of the cup leaving an aperture for drinking from. However, to prevent spillage, these designs rely on a seal being created between the flexible panel and the inside wall against which it abuts. As such, the geometry and manufacture of these types of cups may be further complicated. GB 2269811 teaches a similar arrangement for closing a container with an integrally formed lid.

An alternative arrangement is known from WO 01/26980 whereby a plurality of panels hingedly attached to the upper edge of the side wall of the cup are provided. The panels each are generally trapezoidal in shape with one corner having an enclosed angle of greater than 90° and having hooked extensions which engage with each other and around a straw when the panels are folded flush with the upper edge of the cup. However, to close cups of this type may prove problematic in, for example, fast food outlets where a large number of drinks are being served in a relatively short period of time. It would also be desirable to improve the rigidity of the top portion of the cup, prior to insertion of a drinking straw, to allow for easier handling when it contains liquids. Thus there remains a need to provide cups which at least in preferred embodiments have integrally formed closure portions but which remain relatively simple both to produce and to use . Viewed from a first aspect, there is provided a cup having a side wall, a base, a first closure flap and a second closure flap, wherein said first and second closure flaps are integrally formed with the side wall, the first and second closure flaps being foldable about a first fold line and a second fold line respectively to a closed position, said first and second fold lines being non-rectilinear, and in the closed position the second closure flap overlying at least a portion of the first closure flap. Although the shape of the fold lines about which the closure flaps are folded may cause the closure flaps to be biased towards their respective closed positions after they have been folded over, the first or second closure flap is preferably provided with a retaining means for retaining the closure flaps in their respective closed positions. The retaining means may be an adhesive, for example a contact adhesive, but it is preferably a projection, such as a tongue, which engages with the other closure flap. The tongue may be locatable underneath the other closure flap, but preferably an opening in the form of a slit is provided in the other closure flap for receiving said tongue.

The closure flap having a tongue is preferably also provided with at least one shoulder portion which engages with the other closure flap when the cup is squeezed to further the relative displacement of the first and second closure flaps .

The distal edge of the tongue may be rectilinear, but preferably it is non-rectilinear to facilitate more readily the insertion of the tongue through the opening in the other closure flap. Preferably, the distal edge of the tongue is arcuate. The first or second closure flap not having retaining means is preferably provided with an aperture for receiving a drinking straw. The aperture may be formed by piercing a weakened region, for example with a drinking straw, or it may be pre-formed in the material making up the closure flap.

When the cup is in the closed position, the aperture- for receiving a drinking straw is preferably located proximal to the distal edge of the closure flap provided with the retaining means. More preferably, the aperture is located proximal to the distal edge of the tongue retaining means. The aperture is preferably located between the associated distal edge and the opposing sidewall of the cup. When a drinking straw is located in the aperture, upon squeezing the cup a portion of the distal edge engages with the drinking straw and thereby limits the relative movement of the first and second closure flaps . Alternatively, an aperture for receiving a drinking straw may be provided in both the first and second closure flaps effectively to lock the flaps in their closed position when the straw is inserted through both apertures.

As the second closure flap overlies at least a portion of the first closure flap, the possibility of the first closure flap opening accidentally is reduced. Thus, the possibility of the contents of the cup (typically a soft drink or other liquid) inadvertently being spilled is reduced. The provision of first and second closure flaps also improves the rigidity of the cup when it is closed. Preferably the second closure flap overlies at least 50%, by surface area, of the first closure flap and more preferably 60%, 70%, or 80% thereof .

The first closure flap and the second closure flap preferably lie face to face when they are both in their closed positions. This arrangement provides an improved seal at the top of the cup. The first closure flap is preferably profiled such that, when it is in its closed position, the free edge thereof substantially matches and lies in close proximity to, or abuts, the associated facing portion of the side wall of the cup. This further improves the rigidity of the cup.

Preferably, the second closure flap extends only partway across the opening when folded to the closed position. This advantageously reduces the amount of material required to form the cup and also reduces the vertical height of the second closure flap when the cup is open and in an upright position. Reducing the vertical height in this way advantageously allows the cups to be filled using conventional soft drink dispensing apparatus, as commonly used in fast food outlets. This problem arises because, if the cups are too tall when open, the closure flaps will foul the dispensing taps when the cups are placed on the drip tray. Similarly, if the cups are too broad, if two or more are placed adjacent to each other on the drip tray they may not align properly with the taps on the dispensing apparatus. Thus, by reducing the height of one of the closure flaps, current drink dispensing apparatus may be used without modification. If the cup is to be formed from paper or other lightweight sheet material, the reduction in height of the second closure flap also advantageously reduces the size of the sheet of material required to form the blank. Indeed it is preferable that the vertical join for the cup, as defined by each edge of the blank, bisects the taller first closure flap as the required curvature of the upper and lower edges of the blank further reduces the size of the sheet material required. Alternatively, in arrangements whereby the first and second closure flaps extend only partway across the cup, the vertical or near vertical join may be provided between the first and second closure flaps. This improves the appearance of the cup and advantageously reduces the likelihood of the seam failing.

A gap on the upper edge of the side wall may be provided between the first and second closure flaps to prevent the formation of a sharp point between these flaps. Preferably, however, a sealing tab is provided between the first and second closure flaps. The sealing tab may be folded over before or after the first closure flap is closed to help seal any gaps present between the first closure flap and the side wall.

Preferably, however, the sealing tab is hingedly attached to a free edge of the first or second closure flaps so that, when the associated closure flap is folded to the closed position, the sealing tab simultaneously folds inwardly about a central fold line. Preferably a sealing tab is provided on each side of the first or second closure flaps. Preferably each sealing tab is hingedly attached along one edge to a closure flap and along another edge to the side wall, and these hinges are substantially perpendicular to each other and are bisected by a central fold line.

Preferably the first and second non-rectilinear fold lines are concave towards their associated closure panels as this configuration causes the first and second closure flaps respectively to be biased towards their closed positions once they are folded inwardly out of the plane of the side wall . The provision of sealing tabs assists to bias and lock the closure flaps in the closed position. To aid the folding of the first and second closure flaps, fold lines are preferably formed on the surfaces thereof. These fold lines are preferably fan-shaped.

The first and second fold lines may be made up of a plurality of rectilinear folds angled relative to each other, but preferably they are curved and preferably together they define a smooth curve for each of the rectilinear folds. The first closure flap and/or the second closure flap are preferably provided with an aperture, for example in the form of orthogonal slits, for receiving a drinking straw or the like. Most preferably both the first and second closure flaps are provided with apertures which align when the flaps are folded to their closed positions to enable a drinking straw to be inserted through both of them. This arrangement advantageously provides a further positive locking mechanism to retain the closure flaps in their closed position. If the apertures are to be formed as slits in both the first and second closure flaps, the slits in the first and second closure flaps are preferably angularly offset from each other, for example through 45°, as this reduces the size of the resultant aperture and grips the straw more tightly once it has been inserted. Two orthogonal slits are preferably formed in each closure flap.

In addition to, or instead of, the apertures for receiving a straw, a portion of the side wall and/or at least a portion of the first and second closure flaps may be removed to allow the contents of the cup to be poured or to allow the cup to be drunk from directly. The removal of this portion of the cup may be simplified by providing a perforated tear line or a zip strip, for example. Preferably the removable portion is provided in the region between the first and second closure flaps, whether or not a sealing tab is provided, as this region is generally the uppermost point on the cup and lends itself to drinking or pouring from.

The cup is preferably provided with at least one physically deformable member which may be so deformed to identify the contents of the cup, for example to show which type of drink is in the cup. The deformable members may be embossed dimples or tabs which may be provided in the side wall of the cup or on the first and/or second closure flap(s) . A region of the outside of the side wall may be provided with a different surface texture from the remainder thereof . This textured cup body may improve the rigidity of the cup and/or improve insulation of the cup to reduce hand contact. The differently textured surface may also serve to reduce binding of the cups when they are stacked one inside the other.

The cup may be made from paper, e.g., waxed paper, or other lightweight sheet material such as plastics material. To the extent that the cup is formed from sheet material, the present invention also extends to a blank or blanks for forming the cup.

Where a blank is preformed from plastics sheet material on a mould, the present invention extends to the mould having ribs defined thereon in an arrangement which results in a blank having the preferred arrangement of folds for preforming a cup according to the present invention. Preferably the mould includes an offset central portion to assist in removal of excess material at the upper edge of the cup by a single cutting action. The cup may be made from a plastics material, for example, by thermoforming .

Viewed from a further aspect, which is considered to be of merit independently from the invention according to the first aspect described herein, there is provided a cup having a side wall, a base and an upper closure portion, wherein the upper closure portion is formed integrally with the side wall and comprises a plurality of triangular closure panels interspaced with joining panels, the closure panels being defined by substantially rectilinear fold lines along their base and sides and being foldable inwardly about their base to a closed position in which their upper points are in close proximity to, or touch, each other at a location displaced vertically above the side wall of the cup.

Thus, the upper end of the cup may be sealed by folding inwardly integrally formed triangular closure panels. The arrangement of triangular closure panels forms a pyramidal shape in the closed configuration imparting substantial rigidity to the upper region of the cup. Preferably, each joining panel is bisected by a fold line which permits the faces of the joining panel either side of the fold line to abut one another in the closed position. The abutting two surfaces of each joining panel together provide a reinforcing rib that further improves rigidity. Thus in the' closed configuration, the cup has an integral lid with a plurality of ribs formed from the joining panels which radiate outwardly from a central region of the lid to the side wall of the cup. These ribs lie preferably in a vertical plane, bisecting the planes of adjacent closure panels. Preferably ends of those ribs extend slightly beyond the half way point and interlock in a spiral form.

The free edges of the joining panels are preferably configured so that they lie substantially parallel to each other when the closure panels are folded to the closed position. Preferably the free edges also lie in close proximity to each other in order to reduce the relative movement therebetween and to improve the rigidity of the cup .

Although the cup may comprise, for example, four, six, seven, eight or nine closure panels, preferably it comprises five closure panels as this provides a good compromise between simplicity and rigidity of the resultant cup. Five closure panels also provides a design which is simpler to close than a design having, say, six or seven closure panels, whilst maintaining a distinctive shape.

The closure panels are preferably symmetrical in shape and, most preferably, they are equilateral triangles. All corners of the closure panels are less than 90°, preferably less than 70°.

At least one of the closure panels may be provided with an aperture, for example in the form of two orthogonal slits, for receiving a straw.

In one arrangement, two adjacent joining panels are provided with apertures for receiving a straw and, when the closure panels are folded to the closed position, said two joining panels having apertures formed therein are folded outwardly and over the outside of the closure panel having an aperture formed therein such that a straw may be inserted through the apertures formed in the closure panel and the joining panels. The insertion of the straw thus locates the joining panels in position and limits the opening of the closure panels. The apertures in the joining panels may be, for example, orthogonal slits or a hole formed therein.

The cup may be made of a plastics material, for example by thermoforming or vacuum forming.

Advantageously, if the cup is formed from a plastics material, the joining panels may be provided with male and female features which engage, when the closure panels are being folded to the closed position, and retain the closure panels in the closed position.

Alternatively, the cup may be made of paper or other lightweight sheet material, such as a sheet of plastics material. If the cup is formed from paper or other lightweight sheet material, the joining and/or closure panels may be provided with interlocking tabs and/or slots to retain the closure panels in the closed position.

Advantageously, the inventors in the present case have recognised that when the cups described herein are made from a sheet of plastics material the same techniques as traditionally used for producing cups from paper-based sheet material may be employed. Thus, it is possible to produce cups from plastics material without modifying substantially equipment previously used to produce paper cups. The recognition of this possibility is considered to be patentable in its own right.

The invention also extends to a blank or blank (s) for making a cup according to this further aspect.

Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cup according to the present invention;

Figures 2a to 2d show the steps for closing the cup shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a blank for forming a cup according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a blank for forming a preferred base of a cup for the first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a variation of the cup according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 6a and 6b show a further variation of the cup according to the first embodiment of the present invention in opened and closed configurations;

Figures 7 and 8 show cups according to the first embodiment of the present invention made from a plastics material;

Figures 9a and 9b show a mould in plan view and in perspective respectively, for forming a plastic cup of the type generally shown in Figure 7 or 8; Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a cup according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 11a to lie show the steps for closing the cup shown in Figure 10; Figure 12 shows a blank for forming a cup according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 13 shows the arrangement of the joining panels in a closed cup according to a variation of the second embodiment of the present invention having six closure panels;

Figures 14a to 14c show the steps in closing a variation of the second embodiment of the cup according to the present invention;

Figures 15 and 16a to 16c show cups according to the second embodiment of the present invention made from a plastics material; Figure 17 shows a perspective view of a cup according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in an open configuration;

Figure 18 shows a perspective view of the cup shown in Figure 17 in a partially closed configuration; Figure 19 shows a perspective view of the cup shown in Figures 17 and 18 in a closed configuration; and

Figure 20 shows a blank for forming a cup according to the third embodiment of the present invention. A preferred cup 1 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The cup 1 has a side wall 2, a base 4, a first closure flap 6 and a second closure flap 8. The first closure flap 6 is folded about a first curved fold line 10 and the second closure flap is folded about a second curved fold line 12 to their respective closed positions as shown in Figure 1. The first closure flap 6 is profiled to extend across the opening in the cup 1 and matches the profile of the associated section of the inside wall 2. Thus, folding over the first closure flap 6 substantially closes the cup 2. The second closure flap 8 extends only partway across the opening in the cup 1 when it is folded to its closed position.

As shown most clearly in Figure 2b, the second closure flap 8 is provided with first and second sealing tabs 14 and 16. The sealing tabs 14 and 16 are hingedly attached to the second closure flap 8 along vertical fold lines 18 and 20; and hingedly attached to the side wall 2 along horizontal fold lines 22 and 24. The first and second sealing tabs 14 and 16 are each provided with central fold lines 26 and 28 about which they fold over on themselves .

As shown in Figure 1, the first closure flap 6 is provided with a first aperture 30 (shown in phantom) and the second closure flap 8 is provided with a second aperture 32. The first and second apertures 30 and 32 align when the flaps 6 and 8 are in their closed positions to allow a straw (not shown) to be introduced into the cup. The apertures 30 and 32 in the closure flaps 6 and 8 are in the form of two orthogonal slits, but may equally be weakened regions which are pierceable, for example, by a straw. A series of fan-shaped fold lines 34 are embossed into the first and second closure flaps 6 and 8 to aid folding of the flaps to their respective closed positions .

The side wall 2 of the cup 1 is provided with four dimples 36 which may be depressed to indicate the contents of the cup, for example what the drink is or whether it is "diet" or decaffeinated.

A textured area 38 is provided on the outer surface of the side wall 2 to insulate the contents of the cup 1. Thus, the cup is less cold to the touch if the drink stored therein is cold. The textured area 38 may also advantageously prevent binding of the cups when they are stacked together and also improve rigidity of the cup. The cup 1 is made from a polymer coated paper and conventional techniques may be employed to emboss details such as fold lines and to stamp slits and apertures therein.

The construction of the cup 1 is also conventional but shall now be described briefly for completeness. The base 4 is stamped from a circular disk of paper and the side wall 2 is then wrapped around a mandril and heat sealed along a vertical edge thereof (not shown) . The lower edge of the side wall 2 is also sealed to the base 4. The cups are then stacked together with the closure portions open (as shown in Figure 2a) . A blank 46 for forming a cup 1 from paper material is shown in Figure 3. An adhesive strip 47 is provided along one edge of the blank 46 for joining the side wall 2 of the cup 1 when it is formed. The corresponding base 4 is formed from a circular cardboard blank 49 having an area for adhesion 51 provided circumferentially thereon, as shown in Figure 4. Adhesion can be by means of an adhesive strip, an adhesive applied to the area 51 or through heat bonding where a meltable material is used or applied. This method of construction may equally be used for sheets of plastics material . Referring to figures 2a-2d, once the cup 1 has been separated from the stack in which it is supplied, a liquid (not shown) may be introduced using a conventional drinks dispensing apparatus. The first closure flap 6 is then folded inwardly to substantially close the opening in the upper end of the cup 1, as shown in Figure 2b.

The second closure flap 8 is then folded about the second curved fold line 12 to its closed position. As shown in Figure 2c, the sealing tabs 14 and 16 fold inwardly about their central fold lines 26 and 28 as the second closure flap 8 is folded to its closed position. As shown in Figure 2d, the second closure flap 8 in its closed position overlies the first closure flap 6 face to face therewith. The sealing tabs 14 and 16 serve to finally locate the first closure flap 6 and also create an overlap at each side thereof to seal the cup 1. The sealing tabs 14 and 16 also serve to improve the rigidity of the top of the cup 1 in the closed position. The first and second curved fold lines 10 and 12 serve to bias the first and second closure flaps 6 and 8 to their respective closed positions once they are deflected inwardly out of the plane of the side wall 2. The curved fold lines 10 and 12 also cause the cup 1 to adopt an oval cross-section at its upper end, rather than the circular cross-section at its base 4.

A straw (not shown) may be inserted through the apertures 30 and 32 in the first and second closure flaps 6 and 8 .

An alternative arrangement of the cup according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 5. In this arrangement, rather than providing the embossed dimples 36 in the side wall 2 of the cup 1, they are provided in the first closure flap 6 in a region which the second closure flap 8 does not overlie.

A further alternative is shown in Figures 6a and 6b. In this arrangement five identification tabs 40 are provided in the second closure flap 8. The identification tabs 40 may be removed or folded over to identify the contents of the cup in much the same way as the embossed dimples 36 described herein may be depressed. Although the description thus far has been in relation to a cup formed from a coated paper, the cup according to the first embodiment of the present invention may alternatively be made from a plastics material, for example, by thermoforming. Manufacturing the cup 1 from a plastics material advantageously allows for details to be embossed onto the surfaces thereof. This additional detailing may aid product identification for consumers and/or make the cups 1 more attractive. It can also assist in making the cups more rigid, provides grip and can help to insulate the contents of the cup by reducing the surface area contact with the user. Examples of the type of detail which may be added to cups 1 produced from a plastics material are shown in Figures 7 and 8. The functionality of the cup 1 when produced from a plastics material remains substantially unchanged from the paper versions described above .

A mould 42 for forming a cup 1 from a plastics material is shown in Figures 9a and 9b. The mould 42 has a skirt 44 which is configured to facilitate removal of the excess material at the open end of the cup 1 by a single cutting action.

A cup 101 according to a further embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 10. The cup 101 has a side wall 102 and a base 104 and is formed from a polymer coated paper employing conventional techniques (as described above in relation to the first embodiment) .

The cup 101 is provided with five outer closure panels 106a-106e which are each hingedly attached along a rectilinear fold line 108a-108e to an upper edge of the side wall 102. Two hingedly attached joining panels 110 are provided between adjacent outer panels 106 (only the joining panels 110a'' and 110b' between the closure panels 109a and 109b are referenced) . The fold lines which define the closure panels 106a-106e and the joining panels 110 are embossed onto the paper blank prior to assembly of the cup 101. The rectilinear fold lines 108a-108e cause the cup 101 to adopt a pentagonal cross-section at its upper end, rather than the circular cross-section at its base 104.

An aperture 112 is provided in one of the outer panels 106a to allow a straw (not shown) to be inserted into the cup 101. A set of four dimples 114 are embossed into the side wall 102 to allow the contents of the cup 101 to be identified. An area 116 of the outer surface of the side wall 102 has a different texture to that of the remainder of the side wall . These features are generally the same as described above for the first embodiment of the cup 1 according to the present invention.

The cup 101 is supplied in an open configuration, as shown in Figure 11a, and is filled with a liquid while it is open. The closure panels 106 are then folded inwardly, along with the joining panels 110 provided therebetween, as shown in Figure lib. In the closed position, as shown in Figure lie, the closure panels 106 are displaced upwardly of the upper edge of the side wall 102.

In the closed position, the free edges of the joining panels 110 lie substantially parallel to each other, as shown in Figure 13. The edges are also arranged in close proximity, or in contact with, each other and this advantageously improves the rigidity of the cup 101. In effect, the joining panels 110 create a set of ribs that extend radially from the side wall 102 of the cup 101 to the central region, helping to stiffen the top of the cup and lock the closure panels 106 in their closed position. As shown, the ribs lie in an approximately vertical plane.

A blank 118 for forming the side walls and the closure portion of the cup 101 according to this second embodiment is shown in Figure 12. The blank 118 has an area for adhesion 119 provided along a vertical edge. Bonding can be achieved using adhesives or for certain materials using heat. The blank for forming the base portion is the same as the blank 49 shown in Figure 4 for the first embodiment of the cup 1.

An alternative arrangement of the cup 101 according to this second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 14a to 14c. In this arrangement, two apertures 120 are provided in adjacent joining panels 110a'' and 110b'. These joining panels 110a'' and 110b' are folded outwardly as the outer panels 106 are folded inwardly to the closed position, as shown in Figure 14b. The outwardly projecting joining panels 110a' ' and 110b' are then folded so that the apertures 120 align with the aperture 112 provided in the adjacent outer panel 106a, as shown in Figure 14c. The insertion of a straw (not shown) through each of the apertures 112 and 120 secures the joining panels 110a' ' and 110b' in position and prevents the closure panels 106 from opening.

In the same was as the cup 1 of the first embodiment could be formed from paper or a plastics material, the cup 101 according to the second embodiment may also be formed from a plastics material.

An example of a cup according to the second embodiment of the present invention formed from a plastics material is shown in Figure 15. If the cup 101 is formed from a plastics material additional detail may be applied thereto. Advantageously, the cup 101 when produced from a plastics material may have interlocking male and female members 122 and 124 provided on adjacent joining panels 110, as shown in Figures 16a to 16c. When the cup 101 having male and female members 122 and 124 is closed, these members engage with each other to retain the closure panels 106 in their closed position.

A cup 201 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 17. The cup 201 has a side wall 202 and a base 204. The cup 201 is formed from a polymer coated paper or a plastics sheet material employing conventional techniques (as described above) .

The cup 201 is provided with a first closure flap 206 and a second closure flap 208. The first closure flap is folded about a first curved fold line 210 and the second closure flap is folded about a second curved fold line 212 to their respective closed positions as shown in Figure 19. The first and second closure flaps extend only partway across the opening in the cup 201 when they are folded to their closed positions. This region of overlap provides a band of double thickness material which strengthens the top of the cup to resist displacement of the side walls when the cup is squeezed. The first closure flap 206 is provided with a slit 214 and the second closure flap 208 is provided with a tongue 216 locatable in said slit when the flaps are folded to their closed position.

The second closure flap 208 is provided with shoulder portions 217 and 219 which engage with the first closure flap 206 when the flaps are in their respective closed positions and the cup is squeezed. The engaging action of the shoulder portions limits the inward displacement of the sidewalls when the cup is squeezed.

The cup 201 is provided with first and second sealing tabs 218 and 220 similar to the sealing tabs of the cup 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The sealing tabs are hingedly attached to the second closure flap 206 along substantially vertical fold lines 222 and 224; and hingedly attached to the side wall 202 along substantially horizontal fold lines 226 and 228. The first and second sealing tabs 218 and 220 are each provided with central fold lines 230 and 232 about which the tabs fold over on themselves. Advantageously, the double thickness of the sealing tabs when the closure flaps are in the closed position improves the rigidity of the cup .

The first closure flap 206 is also provided with a circular aperture 234 for receiving a drinking straw (not shown) . The aperture may be pre-cut, or it may be an area defined by a weakened line which is pierced for example by the drinking straw upon insertion.

The aperture 234 is located such that when the first and second closure flaps 206 and 208 are in the closed position it is located proximal to the distal edge 236 of the tongue 216. In this arrangement, when a drinking straw (not shown) is inserted through the aperture, the distal edge of the tongue engages with the drinking straw when the cup is squeezed, thereby limiting the relative movement of the first and second closure flaps.

A series of fold lines 238, 240 and 242 are embossed onto the first and second closure flaps 206 and 208 to aid folding of the flaps to their respective closure flaps. To close the cup 201, the first closure flap 206 is folded inwardly such that the sealing tabs 218 and 220 are folded about their respective fold lines 230 and 232. The sealing tabs are thereby trapped between the first closure flap and the sidewalls of the cup. The second closure flap 208 is then folded inwardly and the tongue 216 inserted through the slit 214 provided in the first closure flap to retain the cup more securely in its closed position. A drinking straw (not shown) may then be inserted through the aperture 234 in the first closure flap. Alternatively, the second closure flap may be folded inwardly before the first closure flap. A blank 244 for forming the cup 201 according to the third embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 20. A forming flap 246 is provided along one edge of the blank to be attached to the opposite free edge to form the cup 201. The opposite edge of the blank and the forming flap may be joined using heat-sealing techniques or adhesive.

In this third embodiment, because neither closure flap 206 or 208 extends completely across the cup 201, the blank 244 is not necessarily as tall as the blank 46 required to form the cup 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Consequently, the cup 201 may have a vertical join (not shown) located between the closure flaps 206 and 208 to improve the appearance of the cup. Although the specification has been directed primarily to a cup, it will be appreciated that the embodiments described herein, and the variations thereof, may equally be used as containers for articles, food products and so on. Furthermore, whilst the cups may be primarily intended and adapted for use in dispensing liquids such as carbonated drinks, they can be used for more viscous drinks or products such as milk shakes and ice cream, and even for gels, powders and dry products, in particular food products such as pop corn and sweets . ^'

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS :

   1. A cup having a side wall, a base, a first closure flap and a second closure flap, wherein said first and second closure flaps are integrally formed with the side wall, the first and second closure flaps being foldable about a first fold line and a second fold line respectively to a closed position, said first and second fold lines being non-rectilinear, and in the closed position the second closure flap overlying at least a portion of the first closure flap.

   2. A cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first or second closure flap is provided with retaining means for retaining the first and second closure flaps in the closed position.

   3. A cup as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said retaining means is a tongue provided on the first or second closure flap.

   4. A cup as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tongue is locatable in an opening provided in the other of said first and second closure flaps.

   5. A cup as claimed in claim 3 or 4 , wherein the closure flap having said tongue is provided with at least one shoulder portion.

   6. A cup as claimed in any one of claims 3, 4 or 5, wherein the distal edge of said tongue is non- rectilinear.

   7. A cup as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 , wherein the distal edge of said tongue is arcuate.

   8. A cup as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 , wherein the other of said first and second closure flaps has an aperture for receiving a drinking straw.

   9. A cup as claimed in claim 8, wherein said aperture is formed by piercing a weakened region with the drinking straw.

   10. A cup as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein when the cup is in the closed position said aperture is located proximal to the distal edge of the first or second closure flap provided with said retaining means such that, when a drinking straw is inserted through said aperture, the distal edge engages with said drinking straw when the cup is squeezed.

   11. A cup as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said closure flaps substantially closes the upper end of the cup when folded about its respective fold line.

   12. A cup as claimed in claim 11, wherein a free edge of the first or second closure flap is profiled to substantially match the internal profile of an associated portion of the side wall of the cup when the closure flap is folded to the closed position.

   13. A cup as claimed in claim 1, 11 or 12, wherein in said closed position the second closure flap overlies the first closure flap to a position between the first fold line and a position equidistant between said first and second fold lines.

   14. A cup as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first and second closure flaps are arranged on opposing portions of the side wall .

   15. A cup as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein additional fold lines are formed in said first and second closure flaps to assist in folding said closure flaps to their respective closed positions.

   16. A cup as claimed in claim 15, wherein said ' additional fold lines are fan-shaped.

   17. A cup as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a tab is hingedly attached to the side wall of said cup and to an edge of said first or second closure flap, said tab being folded over on itself when the associated closure flap is folded to the closed position.

   18. A cup as claimed in claim 17, wherein said tab is provided at each end of the first or second closure flap.

   19. A cup as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first closure flap and the second closure flap lie face to face when both folded to their respective closed positions.

   20. A cup as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first and second non-rectilinear fold lines are concave towards their associated closure panels.

   21. A cup as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first and second non-rectilinear fold lines are curved.

   22. A cup as claimed in claim 1 or any one of claims 11 to 21, wherein the first closure flap is provided with a first aperture and the second closure flap is provided with a second aperture and, when the closure flaps are folded to the closed position, the first and second apertures aligning to facilitate the insertion of a drinking straw into the cup.

   23. A cup as claimed in claim 22, wherein said apertures are each defined by two orthogonal slits in the first and second closure flaps .

   24. A cup as claimed in claim 23, wherein the orthogonal slits in the first closure flap are angularly offset from the orthogonal slits in the second closure flap.

   25. A cup as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a portion of the side wall and first and second closure flaps may be removed to provide an opening in the cup for pouring the contents of the cup.

   26. A cup as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein outwardly projecting dimples are formed in the side wall, or the first or second closure flap, of the cup to facilitate identification of the contents of the cup.

   27. A cup as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one marking tab is provided on the second closure flap to facilitate identification of the contents of the cup.

   28. A cup as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least a portion of the outside of the side wall has a different surface texture from the remainder of the outside of the side wall.

   29. A cup as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said cup is made from paper or other lightweight sheet material .

   30. A cup as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said cup is formed from a sheet of plastics material employing traditional paper-based construction techniques .

   31. A blank or blanks for making a cup as claimed in claim 29 or 30.

   32. A cup as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein said cup is made from a plastics material .

   33. A cup having a side wall, a base and an upper closure portion, wherein the upper closure portion is formed integrally with the side wall and comprises a plurality of triangular closure panels interspaced with joining panels, the closure panels each being defined by substantially rectilinear fold lines along their base and sides and being foldable inwardly about their base to a closed position in which their upper points are in close proximity to, or touch, each other at a location displaced vertically above the side wall of the cup.

   34. A cup as claimed in claim 33, wherein said joining panels are hingedly attached to said closure panels by fold lines which are bisected by a further fold line.

   35. A cup as claimed in claim 34, wherein parts of said joining panels on either side of said bisecting fold line abut one another in the closed configuration to define a vertical rib.

   36. A cup as claimed in any one of claims 33, 34 or 35, wherein the free edges of the joining panels are substantially parallel when the closure panels are in the closed position.

   37. A cup as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 36, wherein said closure portion comprises five closure panels .

   38. A cup as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 37, wherein the closure panels are equilateral triangles.

   39. A cup as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 38, wherein one of said closure panels is provided with an aperture for receiving a straw.

   40. A cup as claimed in claim 39, wherein two adjacent joining panels are provided with apertures for receiving a straw and when the closure panels are folded to the closed position said two joining panels having apertures formed therein are folded outwardly and over the outside of the closure panel having an aperture formed therein such that a straw may be inserted through the apertures formed in the closure panel and the joining panels.

   41. A cup as claimed in claim 39 or 40, wherein said aperture (s) is/are defined by two orthogonal slits.

   42. A cup as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 41, wherein said cup is made of a plastics material

   43. A cup as claimed in claim 42, wherein said joining panels are provided with male and female features which engage to retain the closure panels in the closed position.

   4 . A cup as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 41, wherein said cup is made of paper or other lightweight sheet material .

   45. A cup as claimed in claim 44, wherein said joining and/or closure panels are provided with interlocking tabs and/or slots to retain the closure panels in the closed position.

   46. A blank for making a cup as claimed in claim 44 or 45.

   47. A cup substantially as herein, described and with reference to figures 1 to 4; 2 to 5; 2, 3, 4 and 6; 7 and 9; or 8 and 9.

   48. A cup substantially as herein described and with reference to figures 10 to 13; 14; 15 or 16.

   49. A cup substantially as herein described and with reference to figures 17, 18 and 19.

   50. A blank substantially as herein described and with reference to figure 3, 12 or 20.