CA2372845A1

CA2372845A1 - Device for unrolling a circumferentially extending portion of an outwardly rolled rim of a cup made of flexible material

Info

Publication number: CA2372845A1
Application number: CA 2372845
Authority: CA
Inventors: Paul S. Accadia
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-19
Filing date: 2002-02-19
Publication date: 2003-08-19

Abstract

A device for unrolling a circumferentially extending portion of an outwardly rolled rim of a cup made of flexible material has a main body with spaced front and rear wall portions connected together at their upper ends to form a U-shape in side view to enable the device to be placed over the rim of a cup with the front wall portion inside the wall and the rear wall portion outside the cup.
The main body has two laterally spaced blade members within the U-shape with downwardly facing cutting edges, the rear wall portion having a forwardly projecting unrolling member below the blade members. When the device has been positioned on the cup, downward movement of the device causes the unrolling member to pass below the rim and the blade members to cut through the rim at circumferentially spaced positions to form a cut rim portion. Subsequent upper movement of the device causes the unrolling member to engage and unroll the cut rim portion.

Description

DEVICE FOR UNROLLING A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING
PORTION OF AN OUTWARDLY ROLLED RIM OF A CUP
MADE OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a device for unrolling a circumferentially extending portion of an outwardly rolled rim of a cup made of flexible material.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] Cups made of a flexible material such as paper, paper wax or cardboard and having an outwardly rolled rim have been used for many years for liquids such as coffee.
It is also known to provide information, such as contest information, on a circumferentially extending portion of the outwardly rolled rim so that such information is normally hidden. A person has to unroll that portion of the rim to reveal the information. This is usually done by use of the person's hand or hands and requires a certain amount of dexterity.

(0003] It is an object of this invention to provide a device which simplifies the unrolling procedure described above.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0004] According to the invention, a rim unrolling device has a main body with spaced front and rear wall portions connected together at their upper ends to form a U-shape in side view to enable the device to be placed over the rim of a cup with the front wall portion inside the cup and the rear wall portion cup. The main body has two laterally spaced blade members within the U-shape with downwardly facing cutting edges, and the rear wall portion has a forwardly projecting unrolling member below the blade members. When the device has been positioned on the cup, downward movement of the device causes the unrolling member to pass below the rim and the blade members to cut through the rim at circumferentially spaced positions to form a cut rim portion, and subsequent upward movement of the device causes the unrolling member to engage and unroll the cut rim portion.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0006] Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a rim unrolling device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, [0007] Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof, [0008] Fig. 3 is a front view, [0009] Fig. 4 is a rear view, [0010] Fig. 5 is a side view, [0011] Fig. 6 is a top view, [0012) Fig. 7 is a bottom view, [0013] Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 3, [0014] Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the rim unrolling device about to be used, (0015] Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the rim unrolling device in initial engagement with a cup, [0016] Fig, 10a is a sectional view showing the initial engagement in more detail, [0017] Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the rim unrolling device pushed down over the rim of the cup, [0018] Fig. 1 l a is a sectional view showing the pushed down position in more detail, [0019] Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the rim unrolling device being moved upwardly, [0020) Fig. 12a is a sectional view showing the upward movement in more detail, [0021] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the cup showing an unrolled portion of the rim, and [0022] Fig. 14 is a similar view from another orientation.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring to the drawings, a rim unrolling device has a main body 12 of synthetic plastic material with spaced transversely curved front and rear wall portions 14, 16 connected together at their upper ends by a connection portion 18 to form a U-shape in side view. The main body 12 has two laterally spaced blade members 20, 22 within the U-shape and partially embedded in the main body 12 so that the blade members 20, 22 are retained therein. The blade members 20, 22 have downwardly facing cutting edges 24, 26.
The rear wall portion 16 has a forwardly projecting unrolling member 28 below the blade members 20, 22, and the front wall portion 14 has an outwardly inclined lowermost portion 30 to facilitate initial positioning of the device on a cup.

[0024] In use, the device is positioned on a cup 32 with an outwardly rolled rim 34 so that the front wall portion 14 is inside the cup 32 and the rear wall portion 16 is inside the cup 32. The device is then pushed downwardly to cause the unrolling member 28 to pass below the rim 34 and the blade members 20, 22 to cut through the rim 34 at circumferentially spaced positions to form a cut rim portion 36. The device is then pulled upwardly to cause the unrolling member 28 to engage and unroll the cut rim portion 36. A person can then read whatever is written on the cut rim portion 36.

(0025) A small integral loop 19 may be provided on connecting portion 18 to enable the device to be mounted on a key ring or chain or other key holder. Also, the front and/or rear wall portions 14, 16 may carry advertising material.

[0026] The advantages of the invention will now be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art from the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment. Other embodiments and advantages will also now be readily apparent, the scope of the invention being defined in the appended claims.
::ODMA1PCDOCS1F1AM LAW12173211 February 7, 2002

Claims

1. ~A device for unrolling a circumferentially extending portion of an outwardly rolled rim of a cup made of flexible material, said device having:
a main body with spaced front and rear wall portions connected together at their upper ends to form a U-shape in side view to enable the device to be placed over the rim of a cup with the front wall portion inside the wall and the rear wall portion outside the cup, the main body having two laterally spaced blade members within the U-shape with downwardly facing cutting edges, the rear wall portion having a forwardly projecting unrolling member below the blade members, whereby, when the device has been positioned on the cup, downward movement of the device causes the unrolling member to pass below the rim and the blade members to cut through the rim at circumferentially spaced positions to form a cut rim portion, and subsequent upper movement of the device causes the unrolling member to engage and unroll the cut rim portion.

2. ~A rim unrolling device according to claim 1 wherein the front wall portion has an outwardly inclined lowermost part to facilitate positioning the device on the rim of a cup.